Ottawa Geek Market and Capital Gaming Expo

A couple of years ago, we were vendors at the Geek Market Ottawa and we were introduced to the world of gaming – as in board games – because we were able to check out the other event that was happening at the same time.

Needless to say we had a busy day and we grabbed a game that we didn’t know about: Marvel Heroes.

Fast forward in 2015 where we took the game out and played for the first time.   When we initially purchased this game we still had kids who were a bit young.  But last fall, we felt that everyone could play even if our youngest would have to team up with someone.   So we played and loved it.   Turns out that the 8 years old daughter remind us the rules when we forget something.    

Somehow we were introduced to deck building games and we discovered Marvel Legendary and DC Deck Building which we are enjoying very much. Since then we are checking various board games (nothing like Monopoly or Risk) to see which one we would prefer…

 

Last week, I decided to participate to a contest in order to win tickets to the upcoming Ottawa Geek Market and the Capital Gaming Expo.   Turns out I won the tickets!   So I told my husband about it and we are planning to go with our four kids to the event.

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What is Ottawa Geek Market and Capital Gaming Expo?

The Ottawa Geek Market is a festival of all things geeky.  It provides an opportunity fr patrons to celebrate their favourite geeky fandoms through shopping, entertainment, video, and board gaming, and family-friendly activities such as a scavenger hunts, crafts, and cosplay (wearing costumes).   Focus is essentially on sci-fi, fantasy, comics, anime, steampunk, horror and gaming.

You can also shop for art, accessories, apparel, books, collectible toys and action figures, comics, costumes, games of all kinds, household items, jewelry, movies and props. 

This year, there will also be a masquerade which is a division-based amateur costuming competition for all geek-related costumes as well as costumes inspired by such works.  This will include anime, manga, gaming, movies, TV shows, comics and much more.   The masquerade is a great way to see cosplayers show off their superb costumes, craftsmanship and creativity.

The Capital Gaming Expo is a gaming convention which offers a large variety of types of games.  At this convention, you will be able to participate to activities like video games, board games, tabletop RPGs, collectible card games, living card games, miniatures, traditional card games, LARPing, and escape rooms.

There will be special guests, workshops, panels as well as tournaments.

As you can see there is a lot that you can do during an event like this.  If you purchase tickets for the Capital Gaming Expo, you have access to the Ottawa Geek Market.  However, the reverse is not true.  People who desire to access the Ottawa Geek Market only can purchase tickets for this.  

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So as you can see there will be plenty to see and experience during the week-end.   Our kids are getting excited to the possibility to try new games and maybe participate to tournaments.    We are newbies in these kind of board games but we can see the possibilities they can bring for us.   Since last fall we have been spending more time as a family in playing games on Saturday morning and these kind of board games can be challenging, competitive, and sometimes cooperative.   So far we have played Marvel Heroes, Marvel Legendary, DC Deck Building, Pandemic, and Ticket to Ride.   We also have Carcassonne, Crown & Kingdom, another version of Pandemic and a few other games we need to discover.  We also have a few that we don’t own but look forward to discover at the Capital Gaming Expo.   Our week-end in indeed booked for it!

The event of Ottawa Geek Market and Capital Gaming Expo will be happening on April 8 to 10, 2016.   Hours are 4pm-9pm on Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am – 5pm on Sunday.  It will be held at the Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe Avenue in Ottawa

Tickets for the Capital Gaming Expo are available for purchase directly from the website - http://cgexpo.ca/en/registration/.   Tickets for Friday are 10$ in advance and 15$ at the door.   Tickets for Saturday are 20$ in advance and 25$ at the door.  Tickets for Sunday are 15$ in advance and 20$ at the door.  Week-end pass is 35$ in advance or 45$ at the door.  The VIP pass is only available in advance and will cost 55$.  The VIP pass includes week0end access tot he event, Capital Gaming Expo tote bag, t-shirt, a deck of playing cards, a coaster, a notepad, and a collectible lanyard.

Tickets are also available at

• Comic Book Shoppe 2 at 228 Bank St.
• Myths, Legends and Heroes at 240 Montreal Road
• Comic Book Shoppe at 1400 Clyde Ave.
• Kobold’s Corner at 430 Hazeldean Road in Kanata
• Boutique FDB at 114 St-Raymond Blvd in Gatineay
• MultiZone Aylmer at 181 Principale St.
• MultiZone Gatineau at 140 Greber Blvd.

For the Ottawa Geek Market only, tickets will be 10$ or 15$ for the whole week-end.   Note that on Friday you can enjoy a two-for-one deal which mean that if you bring a friend you will pay only 5$ each.   On Sunday if you come in costume, the price to enter will be 8$.  Finally, admission will only cost 5$ for the last hour of each day.  For this specific event only tickets will be available at the door and the only method of payment accepted will be cash.

Also for both events, you need to be aware that children 12 and under can be admitted for free when accompanied by an adult.  

Dragons Universe Party!

Today is my first ever party for a product I have been asked to present to other moms and their boys. 
Last month I was offered the opportunity to host a Mega Bloks Party for their new line called Dragons Universe.   My job is to invite a group of moms and their boys ages 5 to 8 and present the new line from Mega Bloks.    Food is also planned.
As I write this, my eldest son is vacuuming the first floor while his younger siblings are picking up the toys…
I am looking forward to this first ever party and I am a bit anxious about it.
In the box that I received from MommyParties, there was lots of goodies to share with the people who will attend.   Each child will receive a Mega Bloks Dragons Universe Egg to take home with them.  Inside there will be either a dragon or a fighter.    Also they will receive a Dragons Universe CD which contains a little video game.    For the moms, there will be a 25th anniversary coupon as well as a contest cards to fill in.   
Did I mentioned contest cards?  Yes indeed.   In my package I received the following product to give away as a draw.   Isn’t it amazing?

For more information about the Mega Bloks Dragons Universe, please go to http://www.megabrands.com/Shop/MEGA_Bloks/Dragons_Universe/
You can also visit their Dragons Universe website at http://www.megabrands.com/en/kids/dragonsuniverse/

Missed…. oups!

I missed one post in the National Blog Posting Month.
Oups…
Maybe I had too much things going on this week…   But yesterday was also Remembrance Day.   During our mom’s Bible Study we watch a small video about the veterans in Canada and we remembered them for 1 minutes at 11 o’clock.  
In the afternoon, I was so tired that I had to nap for 30 minutes.    When I woke up I was refreshed. 
It was also AWANA night… and I needed to go pick up the friends of Alexandre to bring them.   He had invited them to come for the evening.  
Tomorrow I have a busy afternoon.   I am hosting a Mega Bloks Dragons Universe party and there will be a bunch of kids ages 5-8 with their moms here.    So the objective today is to clean the first floor and keep it clean… LOL

Motherhood and birthdays

9 years ago, I became a mom.  My first born came into the world via cesarean and was frank-breech (which means bottom first and the feet close to his face).  

He got welcome with these words from his Dad "Welcome to the real world!".

Can anyone guess which movie inspired Dad?  

So today I am having a tween officially.  A tween who looks forward on what God has in store for him in the future.  A tween who has a heart to help and loves his siblings even if sometimes they do get in his stuff.  A tween who is growing up so fast that I need to catch my breath sometimes.

I love you Alexandre!  Tons and more. xoxo

To celebrate his birthday, I've put up a little something to show how he grew in the past nine years.  Enjoy!

A digital slideshow by Smilebox

Garage sale and lemonade stand.

What does a garage sale and a lemonade stand has in command?   Well, in our family they go hand in hand.

We were planning a garage sale for today.  The kids wanted to do something special for people in need.   So it was decided to do a lemonade stand and have some muffins and ask for donations.  This week, they decided that the money made during the day would go to Haiti.  So we made a little sign and made the lemonade and muffins yesterday.

Their little "entreprise" was fruitful and they collected up to 75$ for Haiti.  

It wass a great learning experience as well as my oldest learned to speak directly to people and advertize the lemonade stand/muffins to people who were coming to the garage sale.

I'm proud of my kids for thinking about others in need.   May God continue to stir their little hearts more and more everyday!

RVHEA Homeschool Conference

Today is the RVHEA Homeschool Conference.  So it's time to get the curriculum for next year which will include Math U See for three kids, Easy Grammar grade 4 and other few things.    The rest of the things I need I will have to order somewhere else since it is French curriculum.   But the bulk will be done.

Also I am suppose to be able to meet other TOS Homeschool Crew members there.   Fun! 

And I am bringing door prizes from Sharon Crooks as well as a book and a game I had extra via Canadianladybug Reviews! .

And we will also bring some advertisement for LobsterNetwork.com as well as spread to word about the giveaways I have on my review blog.  

I am so blessed to have in-laws willing to come and babysit today!   The kids are looking forward in spending some time with them.

Fall day at Logos Land

We went to close the trailer yesterday and spent part of the day at Logos Land - Boat and Trailer are now resting for winter season....

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Apple Picking Time

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Summer Photo Essay

 This week the assignment is to create a photo essay of our summer...   Summer usually start June 21st but for us it started early June...  Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Refreshing 24 hours

Neither of us were feeling like going camping... so hubby thought I should go to the trailer by myself and take a break... I wasn't looking forward todrive by myself though.  So Saturday morning, hubby tells me to pack.    My things are in the entrance when suddenly the phone ring...   A Brown and it's a phone number from Quebec.   Who could this be?   I almost didn't answer because we don't know any Browns from Quebec.   But I picked up the phone anyway.   It was our friends who are missionary in Thailand - they are in the country for 4 months.   Anyhow, the two youngest came up with chiken pox and since I had asked her to call me when it happened... well we had to invite them for lunch. 

So my departure was postponed a bit.   But if my kids do get the chicken pox I think it was worth it!!!   Alexandre had it when he was 2 but the three others didn't and I don't really believe in the vaccine so I REALLY wanted them to catch it.   So now we count the days...  about two weeks it takes.

So I left around3 pm for the trailer.   Rainy day...  I hate driving in the rain.   But at some point on my drive it stopped.   I made a stop at the Wal-Mart in a city close to where the trailer is to buy some food and then up to the trailer.

My first gift from God was to hear and then see some woodpeckers in a tree close to the trailer.  Now if I could find the binoculors.   I gave them to hubby when he went to open the trailer back in May but we can't find them since then...  He doesn't remember where he put them.   Worst is that on Friday I discovered a Bird Sanctuary that we can go visit.   What's the point to visit a Wildlife Bird Sanctuary when you don't have binocular and the season for the birds to leave is from now until October.    So I go on a hunt...  and I found them.  At a place where I would least expect them.   Told hubby about it and he said that now he remember why he put them there so that we can access them easily on the trip if we needed them... Mmmm!  no comments since we couldn't find them on the trip.  At least now I have them...  Now if only I could find the otehr pair at home - where could they be???

So I had bible, Beth Moore study, crayons, pastels, paper, drawing book, cardstocks, two books, stamps, ink and so on.   Probably had too much...  But I did read a book about Ruth Bell Graham - Footprints of a Pilgrim.   I was touched by it.   I discovered a woman who was goind through the same things I am going through at times... Who would have thought that she had insecurities and was wondering about being a good mother to her children?   I sure didn't...

Anyhow, I also did some Beth Moore study - A woman's heart God's dwelling place.    I love her studies because I learn so much from them.    I also started doing making the christmas cards.   I got my stamps from Stampin' Up last week so I was planning what to do.    And I also took out my paper, pencils and pastels to draw a bit.   But by 3:30 pm or so I felt I needed to go back home so I left.

Arrived home around 5pm or so - I took my time as I was listening a teaching cd.    We had supper and after I realized that Jérémy was feverish.   We didn't had tylenol for him at home so hubby went to the pharmacy.    Jasmine was cranky also and Alexandre had diarrhea all day according to hubby.    Poor sweetpeas.  So I put my nurse hat and took care of my sick little boy...  

Pictures from our road trip

Okay.   So I used smilebox to put pictures together to show all the things we have done during our road trip.   Mind you some pics are not the best but the grin on my kids face is jsut worth it....   Just to remind everyone of what we did is left Ontario to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania to Massachusetts, Massachusetts to Maine, Maine to New Brunswick, New Brunswick to Prince Edouard Island, Prince Edouard Island to New Brunswick, New Brunswick to Quebec (slept one night), Quebec to back home in Ontario.

We had a great time!   I would do it again...   

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Should we or not?

We are debating... should we go on a one week trip early September or not?   The weeks after that will become hectic with the rave and the grand opening with H.E.A.T. - but at the same time not too long ago we were on a month long trip.   Speaking of which...   I just realized I never put some pictures.   Mmmm!    Gotta do that.

The one week trip is tempting for sure.    One week in the States again - most likely in the Syracuse area.    We even got tempted to go back in PA - Yes Heidi and others from that state we might have gone back.   But honestly I'm a bit tired....  not sure I want to go that far...

So we are pondering, thinking hard, on what to do.   

Update on our roadtrip...

I know it has been since end of June I didn't update my blog...  A bit hard when the Wi-Fi connection of the camping site where we were staying is not working properly.   So I gave up on internet and funny enough I didn't really miss it....  Mmmm!   Sometimes I think I should get rid of Facebook but hey I am the main administrator of the H.E.A.T. group so.... I stick with it.

Anyhow, we had a great time in PEI.   We visited the potato museum.  Yes!   There is such a thing as a potato museum.   There was also a schoolhouse there so we visited it as well.    Even took some pictures that I might send to the Old Schoolhouse magazine.   But we did learned a lot about potatoes.   Even tasted some lobster flavored chips.   Interesting taste.   Tasted fudge made from potatoes too!   Delicious.

Before the CCSB convention, we went to visit Charlottetown.   We went to the Founders' Hall and to the SandLand which is a place where they made sculptures from sand.   It was Sandtastic!   

During the CCSB convention in Charlottetown, we had a free Losbter Dinner.   I had mussels for the first time.   Yummy in butter...   Bottom line I am expanding my taste buds....

Well now we are back in New Brunswick and will continue to home soon.   We have stopped to the home of Roger and Margie Urquhart which are pastoring a church here in Fredericton.    We met two years ago during the orientation sessions at the CCSB in Cochrane, AB and it was as though we never stopped connecting since then....  Amazing!    Anyhow, Margie offered to babysit last night and we went to see The Incredible Hulk movie which my husband was dying to see.    It was very good - better than the one they made a few years ago.

I feel I miss home even though I'm sure I will miss the travel once home.    But I can't wait to sleep in my BIG bed and to take it easy.   I guess I planned too much somehow... but it was fun.  

Being on the road - an extended field trip all right!!!

 I know it has been a while since I updated this blog…   But it’s kind of hard when you need a special authorization or when there is no internet at the site….  But hey I live with what we have.    To think that 10-20 years ago it would have been hard to see a computer on a camping site and to get connected to the internet while camping – I think it’s getting pretty good.

It has been a journey of learning – both for the kids and us.   The kids learned about guitar, pretzels, chocolate, Amish and so on.  We learned about travelling long distance with the trailer and how to live in a limited space for many weeks.   It is not finished yet.   We still have some road to do.   PEI is just around the corner… literally.

As I am writing this, we are close to Saint John, NB.    We left PA to MA where we stayed for a few days.   We discovered Cape Cod and the chip factory.   We ate swordfish and ”petoncles” as well as lobster roll and fried clams.   Love the first three but I could pass the fried clams.     At Cape Cod bay we had the opportunity to see a commercial boat unloading it’s cargo.   Very interesting how they do that.   We also met some wild seals in the water.  The kids loved it.    In the horizon, you could see hundreds of seals bathing in the sun on a small beach.

We took a day off and went to drop off some laundry to be done.   Then we drove to Wal-Mart.   I love the Wal-Mart in the states because you find things that you can’t find in Canada.   Loved the outlets too but where we were there was not that many and besides we already spent a bit in outlets in PA.     After that we drove in Plymouth – where the first thanksgiving happened between the Pilgrims and the Indians.   We saw the Mayflower II  but couldn’t go to the Rock of Pilgrims as they were doing construction around it.  Bummer…

The next day we drove to Boston.   Wish we could have found the Cheers bar so that hubby can see it.   But it was getting late and we didn’t.   Looks like the Boston Tea Party attraction burned many years ago which is a shame.   But we got to go to a free museum – thanks to our membership to museums in our hometown.    So we went to the Boston Children’s Museum and saved 44$.   Horray!    This was a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE hit with the kids.  They loved it…

On June 19^th, we left MA to drive to Maine (ME).   Mmmm!  How would I define the trip?  Interesting I guess…    We missed an exit  on the highway in Boston and ended up driving along a canal near Cambridge.    Oh boy what stress we had…..    A bridge coming to us with a sign saying cars only…. Oh uh.    11’ high.   We go through no problem… OUF.     But then around the corner there is another one and it’s too late for us to back up.  Besides with the sway control, you can’t back up that easily…   This time the bridge say 9’ high only.   Oh uh…   Not sure we can make it.   We go slowly…. VERY slowly under it.  Hubby got out and I drive ever so slooooooowly.    Took about 20 minutes to go under that bridge but we made it.     Quick we need to get out of this area as there is another one coming….    Finally we got to a bridge and got out of Boston.   Lots of stress but the a/c survived.      To relax we stopped in Kittery  - a place where I used to go when I was a young girl – more than 25 years ago.    We then drove to Scarborough, ME and set up our trailer.   Wassamki Springs campground is real nice and the people are very friendly.

June 20^th is going down memory lane.    So many memories coming to me.   First we went to Cabela’s a store that ressembles to Bass Pro Shop and then Wal-Mart again for supplies.   Then we drove to York, Maine.    We arrive next to the beach.    Ah!   The memories came to me… the beach with the rocks…. Long next to the road.  The Goldenrod Restaurant where I would go and see the salt water taffy being made….   Now the boys saw it too.   Still there believe it or not.   I could tell which hotel we stayed when I was younger.    We bought a box of taffy to taste – well okay I bought a big box so it will last a while.   The kids loved it… So good still after so many years.   The smell of the ocean is calling to me.    As we left the area we drove on route 1 and there on the road was that restaurant where we had stopped to eat hotdog and they were supposedly steamed but not eatable as they were crunchy.   Doesn’t look as though the restaurant is still open – nobody was there in the middle of the day.   Not surprising to be honest.   It was totally gross…  After this little drive, it started raining so we went back to the camping site.

June 21^st, we leave Wassamki Springs to drive to Bangor.   I didn’t like the campground there but we stayed only one night…    We had some laundry done and we put the kids to bed early as the next day we are driving back to Canada.   Hubby and I watched Camp Rock though.   I enjoyed it even though I think they could improve the acting a bit – but it was clean and there is good lessons to learn from it – from lying to fitting in the crowd.

June 22^nd – we are driving to New Brunswick.   To get to the camping site we had to take a ferry.  The boys loved it.    Last time we took a ferry Alexandre was 3 and Dominic was about the age of Jasmine right now – 6 months.    Now Alexandre will turn 4 in a few days.   How time flies.

Tomorrow we are planning to check out Saint John, New Brunswick...

Cape Cod Bay here we come....

Today is our first day in Massachusetts.    We decided to drive around Cape Cod Bay...   We went to the Cape Cod Chip Factory where there was a self-guided tour.   Couldn't take any pictures inside unfortunately.   But we got new flavors of chips.    I can imagine ourselves answering the questions of the cross-border people....

"Anything to declare?"

" Apart from Hershey chocolate, pretzels and chips.... Nope!"

LOL

Anyhow, the drive yesterday was way too looooooooooooooooooong.   Nine hours total.   So we decided to cut the last long drive in two.   This morning we called the campground in NB and told them we will arrive one day later than planned.   Then we called a campsite in Bangor, ME and reserved for the night we had just cancelled in NB.   Better.   A trip of 6 1/2 hours cut in two.   Way better.   However, my kids did great but it is better to cut it.   Don't want to burn out my poor hubby who is driving with the RV behind us.

Now today....   Drove and discovered wonderful little towns.   Saw lots of boats in the water.   At the end I was thinking... when you see one, you see them all.   We went to walk on a beach and saw a lighthouse.   Showed the kids where to look to find seashells.   Got some.... and now they are starting they how collection of seashells.   Just like me when I was a girl.   If only I could bring them very early in the morning on a beach....  Oh well.

We saw a commercial fishing boat unloading his cargo of the day.   Very interesting.    We saw wild seals too!   Oh that was a huge success with the kids.   Jasmine slept during that time but that's okay.   Hubby decided to try something new for supper so he bought swordfish and scallops.    Now scallops we know.   Swordfish thought we never tasted.   It was superdelicious!!!!!    And the boys loved it too!  

Not sure what we will be doing tomorrow.    We shall see and I will keep everyone posted.

Touring in USA

So we are currently in vacation.   Being a while since we went to some place outside Canada.   We are gone for one month and a bit.   Never did  that before with the kids and the trailer.     We left for PA on Sunday June 8^th and drove for a long long time…    A bit long to be honest.   We learned a valuable lesson  - when over 8 hours of drive split it in two….    We discovered that Americans love to have when Rob calls Spaghetti highways….   Fortunately we had our GPS which is very useful when driving in the States.   To be honest, I don’t know how we would have reached our destination without it.

Day 1: Spaghetti highways, the turtle that we drove over… I wonder if she made it on the other side of the highway?, the wiuld turkeys I saw while drive next to a field, the tunnel we drove through, the ups and downs of the mountain….   At one point we went down for more than 30 minutes if not more without pressing the gas pedal.  

Day 2: Driving to Easton.   We left late so by the time we arrived we had to go to a grocery store.   Took us three times to get to one which was a Super Centre Wal-Mart.   No comments.    When we got out of there, we drove to Nazareth to go to Martins Guitar Factory.   We did the one hour tour which was very interesting and informative.    Did you know that their ukuleles are sold about 1000 to 2000$?    Unbelievable.   By the time we got out of there it was too late for the Crayola Factory.  Bummer.   We will have to come back another time for sure.   We met with Joshua and Jeff from Club Worship.   Jeff had brought a specialty from the area – Meadow Tea…  Deliiiiiiicious!   Very tasty!

Day 3: We drove to Camden, NJ to go to the Adventure Aquarium.   In there the kids were able to touch a shark, a stingray, a jelly fish, a shrimp, a starfish and one or two more things that I can’t remember what it is.    They had a blast in the Shark area when we went in a tunnel which we could see through and sharks were swimming all around us.   Cool!    At night we had a huge storm in PA and the whole county where the campground is located lost power for a few hours.

Day 4: That day we met with Heidi and her kids for some shopping in Lancaster.    We did the outlets and then went for lunch.   Disney Store was 50% off extra for the clearance section.   Found two pairs of sneakers for 2.49 each.   Amazing!   Found some clothes for Jasmine (size2) and some for the rest of the kids too.    After lunch we drove to Intercourse, PA to check out the Pretzel factory.   But because of the heat they were not making pretzels but we did learn about the process and the kids even made their own pretzel.   How fun is that?   We then went to the canning factory but being the end of the day we arrive during cleaning time.   Oh well.   We did bought some  special Salsa and some Pretzels during that trip.   After we parted with Heidi and the kids, we tried to find a medical clinic for Rob has he was having a reaction to a bandaid…   His skin where the sticky part was is all puffy and red and itchy.    They told him to go to the General Hospital in Lancaster which was 5 minutes away.   It was fast….   Our hospital in Ontario should come and learn from them.    However, the pharmacy we went to should come and learn from ours because boy was it long to get the prescriptions filled.    We also went to a Crocs booth in a mall to get some Jibbitz for the kids and new Crocs for Rob and I.   Oh!  Almost forgot about the Shoofly Pie we bought.  I really wanted to try this after reading about it in my Beverly Lewis novels.  

Day 5:   We had planned to drive to Notthingham for do the tour of the Herr’s Snacks Factory but we decided instead to stay at the campsite and do laundry.   We bought a portable washer and dryer and they did an amazing job.   Unbelievable really how much water is taken out of the clothes with the dryer!!!  The shoofly pie is fabulous. 

Day 6:   Friday.   Rob is going to Club Worship in the evening.  So we are taking it slow.   Besides, Rob has some work to do.   So the kids and I went to the playground a bit and enjoyed the sun.    At the end of the afternoon, we went out because my neck is sort of stiffed .   We also went to see where Club Worship was.   Saw the guys and Rob drove me back to the campsite before heading there again for the event they had put on.

Day 7:   Destination Hershey.   We did the Chocolate Tour with Heidi and her family.   We also visited the Hershey Museum.   I never thought that the Hershey Kisses were sooooo old.   I mean these were created back in the early 1900s.   WoW!   Unbelievable.   Almost  Mr. Hershey had a very modest background with his family being Mennonites.    It was interesting how much he became “fancy” as he built his company.

Day8:   Driving to Plymouth, MA.   Took way longer that we thought.   We are learning…   We drove in 6 States in total.   Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York (crossed the Washington Bridge – unbelievable the traffic), Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 

As you can see, we are discovering and learning a lot.   Living with your family in a trailer takes some adjustments.   We are impressed with the kids because they are behaving so well during the long drives.   We might need to add a stop on the way to NB.   We shall see.  

In the days to come, we will discover the area where the First Thanksgiving .  We are planning to drive around Cape Cod Bay and visit the Cape Cod chip factory.

Factory Tours

Okay... so I am planning our trip and discovered this interesting website while looking for a chips factory to visit in PA...   Factory Tours USA list the different places where you can go to visit how things are made....   WoW!   This is super interesting since as homeschoolers I want my kids to learn.   So PA has tons of things to check out... but we are there only for one week so I guess this means that someday we will have to go back *grin*...

But I discovered a guitar factory that you can visit in Nazareth, PA which is located close to Easton, PA. Easton is where you can find the Crayola factory.    Since we are planning to go to the Crayola factory and my husband got himself a guitar last year... well I though we could do a detour to Nazareth...   

Since we will be driving through Massachussetts and Maine, I did my search for these states as well.   Discovered that there is a Cape Cod Chips factory near Plymouth... Yeah!

Overdue update....

I'm so into finishing the school year that I am not updating my blog as much as I should probably.  Then we will be gone on vacation (and I can't wait for it - I need one!!! real bad!!!!) that probably this blog won't be update as often as I would like....  But here is what happened since last week.

First - I finally told my mom about the church plant.   Oh she knew about it from two or three years ago but now it is a reality and the truck has been decked out promoting the church.   Well I expected her reaction and I got it all right....  when I hung up I had a black cloud over my head but I didn't realized it....    Got a really bad day on Friday   - that's when I realized that the black cloud was there....  borderline depression. 

But my friend in Quebec facebooked me and asked if they could come and visit....  Her common-law husband had to meet a client so she was coming down with the kids.   Sure why not?   Tried to invite her to church on Saturday night but they didn't come.  That's okay.    They came for Sunday's lunch.   We had a grand time...   Then supper time came around with my brother-in-law and his family.   Monday, my friend came back with the kids while her hubby was in meetings all day.

It was nice to see them as it has been three years I think we saw them.   We need to make a better effort.   Now they live in St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu.... near a place where they make the most fabulumouse cheese (see I am reading Geronimo Stilton .....).   

Tuesday, my dear husband drove the RV back to get the sway control installed.   Wednesdsay he drove the RV back to our spot in Logos Land with his mom.   They got stuck on the way because of no gas in the truck...  Hubby learned that when you pull the RV - if the light comes on, go put gas right away.  Like he says - He is learning on the job.... LOL

Gymnastics afternoon on Wednesday went okay....  Apart from Jérémy running around to do it too but he is not allowed.  Try to explain this to a 2 year old...   Good thing I needed to go to Costco for toilet paper.   There I found a book on drawing that I bought and told hubby to give to me for Mother's day....   LOL Typical, I buy the stuff that I like...   Anyhow, I can't wait to have it....

Hubby is formatting his old PC (which is not so old afterall) because he got a new one.   So his old one will go to me and he will redo the one I am using right now and set it up for the kids....   OUF!    Anyhow, my new PC will be red like a ladybug.   Cool!   Love it.  

Oh I got myself some Mary Jane Crocs... Fushia color....  LOVE THEM!  I had a pair of regular Crocs since December - thanks to my mom.   I needed something to put my feet in it since they were soooooo swolllllllen.    Love them.   Got some jibbitz to decorate them too (including the ladybug obviously!).    Hubby got himself a pair of close Crocs and a pair of sandals one.   I had bought him some jibbitz with Spiderman, Superman and Batman.   They are now on the sandals ones...   Nice!    We had bought a pair for Alexandre when a sport store was closing...  Dominic wanted one too!   We went to the store this week and got him a pair of Lighting McQueen ones (only pair there with his size believe it or not!!!).   Then when I went back yesterday for my Mary Jane ones, I bought another pair size 10-11 which were on sale.   Too big for Jérémy right now - he wears 8-9 but eventually.   Can't buy some for Jasmine right now.   Her feet are too small.   But this little girl will get some eventually - Mary Jane style.   As you can see we are now a Crocs addicted family...   No really, hubby likes them because they don't smell if you sweat in it (like other pairs of sandals he owned in the past...).  So the Crocs are coming with us on vacation!

Now I need to plan our stop to Boston...   I am thinking of sleeping in Plymouth as it is where the first pilgrims arrived in America.   And there is a nice coastal drive near by.   Boston being only 44 minutes away.

Thanks to our membership with museums here in the city, we can go to museums in the States and in Canada for free....   So there is a few in Philadelphia and Boston we can go too for free.   We will do that.   We also ordered the Entertainment books for Pennsylvania to use coupons for the things we want to visit.    The great thing is that they are on sale for 9.99$ right now.    Super!

Yes... yours truly can't wait to go on vacation.   Pennsylvania and Prince-Edouard-Island have been a dream for such a long time....  

Surprising the kids...

Last week-end we decided to surprise the kids!   It was homeschool week-end in a way since we went to two field trips in Toronto...  First stop the zoo!   All that time they thought we were lost to get to the trailer (ha ha)... when we got to the zoo at 9am on Saturday oh boy! what joy they had.    It was a great time...  if only Jérémy would fall asleep when he is tired though...  but no this little one want to see everything.   After a day at the zoo we surprised them once again by bringing them to Chuck E Cheese.  A first in our family but oh FUN FUN FUN!   We will go back for sure.  The kids loved it especially our oldest...   Now I am wondering if this is a christian company because they passed a Veggie Tales song on the screen.  Anyone knows???

The next day, we drove back home but before we went to the Ontario Science Centre to spend a couple of hours there.   We were able to go free because we are members of some museums in our area which are part of a network around Canada and the States.   It was fun again and the kids were able to explore different things. 

Check out some of our highlights of the week-end below!!!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

New dilemma...

This morning when I woke up, I had this strange feeling about the vehicule.  So I told my dear husband what I thought we should do before buying this old motor...

I think he needs to go to our regular dealer (the one we have been dealing with the last few vehicules) and get an idea of prices that they offer either for a used or a new vehicule.

Then, we will be in a more comfortable position to make a wise decision...   He told me he had the same feeling so we might do that.