Biggest trip so far

“Ella, this is the furthest you’ve ever been!” was said a lot in the van we drove to Quebec and Ontario in May.

We rented a van and it was at capacity! We drove to Fredericton and stayed a night at Gram’s to kick things off. We even stopped on the side of the road in the rain so Rick could pick free fiddleheads.

The next day we drove to Melbourne to visit Grandpa Bob and Donna, and we got bonus visits in with Aunts and Uncles Judy,Terry, Spencer, Nancy, Cousin Chris, and Gran! Ella and Marshall were terrific in the van. It took us a while to get going, but once we did, we didn’t need to stop too often. Once in Perth Andover for coffees and a longer break at a rest stop near Quebec City for a late lunch.

Saturday Grandpa Bob made waffles with his $2 waffle iron (thanks to Spencer for the deal finding) and then walked over the bridge to Richmond to look at trinkets at Trillium Boutique and visit with the Watsons. Then there was a big turkey dinner at Bob’s place and the 3 of us went to Gran’s to pick more fiddleheads. I found out what Stinging Nettles are (ouch!), and the aunties and others looked after Ella for us.

Sunday we headed to Montreal to visit Nana for mother’s day! We had some delicious ribs and ice cream cake for supper. Sandra’s friend Avril joined us for the cake and Marshall grinned at her the whole time.

Monday was a big day – more waffles! (Marshall’s favourite) and a huge trip to IKEA where I shopped to my heart’s content (no really I was in there for 3 hours including lunch), and then Rick got to go to Game 6 which he says was quite amazing. The kids and I walked to St. Viateur bagels to pick some up for supper (Marshall was being fussy about supper) while Nana had a rest, and then we watched some of the game and looked for Rick.

Tuesday we were off to Ottawa for the week. Arrival at the hotel was a bit crazy – we arrived about 20 minutes before the conference started and the parking for the van was around the corner from the hotel and 3 floors underground! Rick managed to throw everything in the room before he left and made it on time. Me and the kids spent the afternoon in the room resting and organizing the ridiculous amount of stuff that travelling with kids requires. And it was then I found out that this particular hotel doesn’t have bathtubs. And Marshall doesn’t shower. Yikes!

Rick joined us after the workday was finished and we all walked to the Rideau Center for supper, then walked around the market area and the parliament buildings, then the boys swam, while the girls watched (and nursed).

Wednesday was a really big day for me and the kids. We walked to the Rideau Center to look for a new swimsuit for Marshall (how did I forget to bring HIS suit?) and Marshall counted everything in Spanish. On our way there he saw the boats on the canal and insisted he really really wanted to go on one. So after we found the swimsuit, I kept him going along by looking for the boats. We walked a fair bit. I managed to get him into a restaurant to eat lunch because I was too hungry to go on the boat before I ate. He resisted at first but finally gave in. We went to Zak’s and tried their famous milkshake. He ordered up a mini pogo kids meal with chocolate milk and proceeded to dunk his pogo in the milk…? The waitresses all laughed at my surprised “Marshall! what are you doing!!??” and said “don’t knock it till ya try it mom!” hahaha

We finally did make it to the boats with some adventures along the way (bought fruit at the byward market, and some Obama cookies and a latte, had a construction man carry my coffee down a long flight of stairs while I wheeled the stroller – and Ella – down) …

5 minutes after we were going, he asked when we could get off! LOL nice one! He did enjoy it though and I was able to get Ella out of the seat and nurse/change her.

After the boat ride we went through the Rideau Center again (only way I could figure to get back up onto the bridge) and got back to the hotel in enough time to head back down to the van.

Rick was a little concerned about me driving the van which was 1. a van 2. rented 3. parked in a “very tight” garage, and in 4. ottawa. However, he need never be worried! Though once I got down to the garage I understood about the “very tight” part of his worries. I had to drive the van out of the space in order to open the trunk for the stroller! And then it was 2-way trafic around a corner and up a steep ramp! When I saw this I yelped “What!? What!? What are ya nuts!?” and Marshall thought that was quite funny. Unfortunately I forgot Marshall’s bath bag in the hotel room so I parked in the loading area for the hotel and unloaded everyone, ran up to the room to get the back and back down to load everyone back in. Ugh! I got angry with Marshall because it was almost rush hour traffic and he was hopping up and down in his seat while I was trying to buckle him. I apologized to him for yelling at him once we got going. He said it was ok, and then gave me a lecture about yelling at Daddy. WHA?! Apparently I yell at daddy a lot. Sorry Daddy! Can’t get away with anything around here anymore! ;)

We had a nice visit with my aunt Bonnie, and then Marshall had his bath and shampoo while Bonnie played with Ella. We got home quite late and Marshall finally passed out around 10pm. Ella was sleeping in her stroller… and when I took her out, I saw why she was so relaxed! Poooopsplosion! So into the bath with her too! (we brought her baby tub luckily)

Whew! I told you it was a big day! Daddy arrived home a little while later.

Thursday we laid low – swimming at the hotel in the morning, got some bagels from Rick’s conference. Though I felt like I was stealing! Especially when someone from the conference “told” on us (she wasn’t aware the boss had said it was ok, and was also unaware of who we were as she was new to the company). Then lunch at the hotel restaurant which was slooow food. Then naps. For supper we drove out to Erica and Rod’s place – they have Connor (3) and Ava and Luca (1) – born the same week as Stacey’s boys. The boys became fast friends and both were super sad to leave.

Friday Marshall and I took a load of stuff to the van, then went swimming again while Ella slept in her seat, then another load to the van and conference sandwiches, cartoons and packing in the room, with the promise of a Dino Museum later. Also on one of the trips down the elevator, Marshall was almost crushed by the door! What a scare! I had a suitcase and the stroller, and Marshall had a suitcase. The door started to close before we could get out of the elevator, and Marshall tried to stop it -he was kind of stuck in the doorway because his suitcase was caught on mine – and luckily a hotel employee was coming along and helped hold the door for us. Scary! I was shaken and made a complaint at the front desk. A lady later came to talk to me about it and said that the standard for elevator doors is 30lbs of pressure to stop the door! That’s scary! Especially since I couldn’t reach the open doors button from where I was behind my luggage. Beware the elevator doors friends!

When daddy was back, we all pitched in to take things to the van, and then rushed off to our Canadian Mint tour. Which I don’t highly recommend. It was interesting, but not worth the trouble really. Then off to the Dino Museum…which was closed for renos. boo. aaaand Meltdown. double boo. So we convinced Marshall to go to the Science & Tech Museum instead which was a big hit! And it was free because we arrived after 4 (closing at 5).

We arrived and Uncle Phil’s place (Greely) for a late supper and Nana met us there too with Marshall’s beloved bed! He was thrilled. Phil started teasing Marshall about sleeping out in the backyard and at first he didn’t believe him but then he got roped in and actually started to like the idea! Bev tried to discourrage the teasing by saying there were too many mosquitos out there etc. Finally Phil took him outside for a tour of the backyard before bed to appease him. Unfortunately, a screenless window had been left open and there were some mosquitos in our room – one buzzed Marshall’s ear and scared him – he totally freaked out thinking there was a bee in his room! I got him calmed down enough to go to sleep.

At breakfast – a nice spread! – Marshall gave Phil what-for “YOU HAVE MOSQUITOS IN YOUR HOUSE!” and Phil teased him about not having met Edward yet – who’s Edward? The really big mosquito I’m training to get little boys! Marshall just laughed and laughed. And he tried French Toast for the first time because Bev and he had so much in common and since Bev liked it… well he liked it too. So cute :)

After breakfast and all the loading – we took the cot with us – we stopped in for a playdate with Calder and Jake (oh and my old friend Melanie) in Gloucester. While we were there, some firemen came to the door checking smoke detectors. Marshall and Calder ran up to see who was at the door. Marshall arrived first – “It’s the COPS!” and turned and ran away. LOL A bit later, we heard a siren and a firetruck was parked in front of the house – the boys all ran outside to check it out. Calder got to get up in the driver’s seat and have his picture taken. Jake and Marshall weren’t interested…then they all ran around playing outside for a bit.

Then on to Orleans to Lana and Curtis’ place (and their boys Elijah and Ethan). We had a great visit, bbq and beer. Marshall didn’t want to eat until bedtime (of course) so he scarfed down a hotdog in bed. Unfortunately, he woke around 2am screaming about bugs and we couldn’t get him back to sleep for quite a while (Phiiiiiiil!?). Marshall and Ethan played really well together – so well in fact, that we had to go check on them ;) Here was Marshall on my iPhone calling Gram! yikes! After a tearful goodbye, we set off once again for Montreal.

Marshall started asking us “where we were going to sleep tonight?”

We had a nice catch-up with Shane and Colleen. We didn’t get to see Bronwyn, but Zoe was available. Marshall and Zoe played a bit but then we heard Marshall telling her off and saying he wasn’t going to play with her anymore. I went to see why – it was because Zoe had dropped a piece of poster gummy (Marshall saw this as Playdoh) on the floor in her room and wouldn’t pick it up. At our house, there is no playdoh aloud on the floor. I guess he plays by the rules!

After our visit we had a quick visit with Nana (tranferred cot back to her and loaded bike – for Marshall for next year – from Uncle Phil) … grabbed some more bagels to bring home… and continued East. We arrived at Grandpa Bob’s in time for supper and a nice visit, but we had to leave the next morning for Fredericton once again, supper, visit with Gram, sleep and off again to Moncton – Rick had a meeting at 4 he needed to prepare for, so we were home at lunch. We were pleasantly surprised to see our neighbour, who was looking after Bounce for us, had mowed our lawn! Much appreciated!

And that was the biggest trip so far. (with the kids) And the furthest Ella has ever been!
I will be making the kids even by taking Ella to Calgary in July!