Highlights, in pictures, of our time in Canada

After our time in DC, we drove up to Ontario, Canada...just over the border from Buffalo, NY.  We got to spend some time with my old college friend, and maid of honor at our wedding, Steph Waugh, and her (and her husband's) family!

During our time there, we got to take some walks to see the houses, flowers, and a local lighthouse.  We also got to go sailing with her and her husband, Pascal, at the Buffalo Canoe Club.  We took a trip north to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and then on to Fort Erie to see some of the local history of the area from the War of 1812.

It was a full trip...full of activity, food, fun, friends, and memories.  We plan to go back for more at some point.  We are so thankful for friends that "adopt" us as their own.  What a wonderful feeling to be a part of so many families!

The house we got to stay in, thanks to Steve and Kate for their hospitality!

View from the house

I really liked this sign

It was so peaceful and pleasant out on the Point

What a wonderful yard and the flowers here were gorgeous

My girl

Most of the houses had both Canadian and American flags flying

Another shot of the shore

Finding rocks and sticks

Sissi really enjoyed all the flowers to look at and take pictures of on our walks

We got to go to the Buffalo Canoe Club and try out some sailing

The boys on the beach

Jumping in the sky, they were so excited and got along super well

The view of the Canoe Club from under the walkway

Mac, playing in the mud

Indy and Pascal

The water is super shallow for a long way from the shore.  The boys had free reign to run and play.

Sissi and Ila making mud pies

The lighthouse just up the street from where we stayed

The history of the lighthouse

Straight on shot of the lighthouse

I really got into taking a bunch of flower shots on this trip, hope you enjoy them

Thomas and Gwangi

Indy, out on the boat

Steph, showing the girls how a life jacket works

Sissi, talking to Steph about being safe on the boat

The girls, waiting for us to pull away.  Pascal let all of the kids get a chance to steer the boat!

Trip to Niagara Falls

Some amazing shots of the falls were just too good to pass up

And, the gardens around the falls were very well maintained

Really liked this spot, I would have loved to have sat and read a book here

Family shot, thanks Kate!

The boys

A view of the American side of the Falls, we stayed on the Canadian side

My boy, Krypto

Another view of the American side of the falls

Boys, playing in the tree as we ate our picnic lunch after viewing Niagara

Ila and Sissi had their own tree to play in

Ila, what a sweet girl

Thomas, he and Nathan became fast friends

Mac, reading with her Aunt Sandy while Uncle Jeff took a nap

Thomas and Pascal

Droke, what a camera ham

Cute boy

Last trip of the day was Fort Erie

Have to get shots of Gwangi and cannons

The Commander's Quarters

Where the commander would have slept

His desk

Where the rest of the soldiers would have hung out, eaten, and played games

I love these old desks

One of the reenactors

Doing some shooting for the Fort's guests

The National Zoo

Our first blog post in a month and our first since we've returned to the US...has it really already been two weeks?!  

We've been trying to take it easy, we've been tired, Gwangi has been fighting a cough since we returned and Sissi has been a bit emotional.  So, for our first "field" trip beyond seeing a friend for a play date or a run to the store, we picked the National Zoo.  I'm thankful that our new phone's navigation system (that we've called "Rosie" after Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons) was able to get us there with only a small detour or two ;).

Here are a few pictures from our "safari" in Washington D.C.

My little girl, looking at all the water animals of the Amazon.

We were careful not to stand under the "not house trained" monkey.

I loved this plant, all throughout the Amazon forest.

With our friend Inna and her daughter, Lexie.

The girls, sharing a stroller.

We've seen a few of these elsewhere, lol...

The main reason we came to the zoo...to see the pandas.

Krypto was literally hugging the glass trying to talk to the Nautilus.  My guy just loves his sea creatures.

We were so far away from the lions...our view while at Mikumi was much closer, but this was probably safer.

On the sidewalk, I think he was a runaway and there was a lot of screaming going on as we walked past.  You wouldn't know that we were at a ZOO, aren't there supposed to be wild animals here?!

Thoughts During the Last Week of School

Wow!  The 2012-2013 school year is complete, I officially have a 5th, 3rd, and 1st grader and I can hardly believe it!  The kids asked if we could have chocolate cake for lunch on the last day of school..in AFRICA...so, I said YES!  

I feel like we've had a beautiful two year run here...lots of memories and projects completed at HOPAC, with the Sala Sala Kids' Club, with The Ocean, within our own family, and with our schooling.  

Tomorrow, we can officially say we're going back to the US "this month"...it's just 12 more days!

There are a lot of conflicting emotions and feelings going on right now.  There are things about reverse culture shock that I'm not sure that I'm ready for, that will surprise me, no matter how much I read about it or how much I pray.  I've been working hard to set things up in the States for us, housing, finances, school things, training for Indy and I... plus, there is the packing and giving away of stuff here in Dar as well.  Yesterday, I had some time where I literally laid in bed and felt like I was going to completely shut down and just wanted it all to go away, it was just too much to handle!

I'm excited about the end of this race, and the new beginning that we can see emerging as well!

Life, when we walk with our Lord, is always an adventure!

The "Dragon Son" that Gwangi made from his Legos.

Working on some school work.

Final 50 States "fill in the blank" quiz.

The boys did well, there were just a few that they needed prodding on to remember.  I probably should have quizzed them a month ago, we haven't reviewed it in about that many weeks, lol.