OUR FALL COLOR CRUISE AND HALLOWEEN PARTIES FILLED OUR OCTOBER

Our fall colors cruise up the New England coast and into Canada continued through October 4th when we left the ship and started on our own adventure. We caught a taxi in Quebec City to take us to the car rental location where we rented a car for a few hours. We had several hours before boarding our train to Montreal so we decided to go to Walmart for some snacks for the following 4 days. We then had lunch at Tim Horton's restaurant. We had seen these restaurants all over Canada and were told we had to eat there. They specialize in coffee but also have sandwiches. The food was okay but we wondered what the big deal was about the restaurant. We then revisited a couple of the sights we has seen only out the bus window before it was time to get to the train station.

We were a little lost when we got the the station as we had no idea where to check in. Luckily a nice employee saw our quandary and took us back to the ticket counter to check in and weigh our luggage. We were relieved that there was only a weight limit, not a number of baggage limit, as we had been told. We waited about a half hour before it was time to board the train. On the train, we had seats facing each other with a table in between. It was a most comfortable ride. We loved seeing the beautiful scenery along the way.

We arrived in Montreal in the early evening and walked to the Marriott hotel where we were staying. It was a beautiful hotel and the suite in which we were in had a magnificent view of the city. The suite had two separate bedrooms and bathrooms with a living room off one of bedrooms. The rooms were nice but out bed was horrible. When we both laid on it we rolled to the center. I also woke up with some kind of bites on my face which I think were from some kind of spider or bug in our bed. We complained about the bed but it didn't seem any different on the second night. 

When we got settled, we walked back to the train station to find a place for dinner. By the time we got there, most places were closed but we did manage to find one restaurant opened. We were glad as we were tired and wanted a quick dinner so we could head back to the hotel for a good night's rest. 




After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we started out on our own for some sight seeing. Montreal has a subway system so we decided that would be the fastest way to see the sights we wanted to see. Braving yet one more mode of transportation, we managed to get to our first stop - a cathedral which the Canadians call their Notre Dame. It was magnificent.

After a walk through the old city, we boarded a boat for a river cruise on the  St. Lawrence. We loved seeing the city from the view of the river...the ferris wheel, the clock tower, the many bridges and islands, as well as the Olympic tower.

For lunch, we found a quaint little pizza cafe where we could sit outside and enjoy the weather, the scenery, and good food. It was then off to find the right bus to take us up to the top of Mount Royal, where we could look out over the entire city of Montreal. When we got off the bus, we found it was quite a walk up to the top of the hill but well worth it as the view was amazing.  We were proud of ourselves for having successfully managed subway rides and bus rides in the city.

For dinner, again we wanted something quick. On our GPS, we could see there were a couple of 5 Guys hamburger places within walking distance, if we took the subway one stop down. It took us a few wrong turns and a little back tracking but we finally found one. It was a little taste of home and we enjoyed it immensely. 

The next morning we had to rise real early to get to the train station as our train left for Toronto at 8:30. We had a quick breakfast at McDonald's in the station before boarding the train. Again we were sitting facing each other and the ride was very nice. Once in Toronto, we had planned to take a bus into Niagara Falls which meant arranging for a taxi to get us to the bus station. With a little research while on the train, we found there was a "Go" train that would take us into Niagara Falls which left from the same train station at which we would be arriving. When we arrived in Toronto, we immediately booked passage on the "Go" train, found a bite to eat for lunch, and waited for our train to leave. So much easier than trying to get to the bus station with all our luggage. The "Go" train wasn't as nice as the Via Rail trains we had taken from Quebec but it was nice enough. Upon arriving in Niagara Falls, Ontario we secured a taxi to take us across the border to our hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. 

Leaving the GO Train

Because of a phone call made in Toronto, our cab driver was waiting at the
train depot for us.

An interesting side note: As we approached Niagara 
Falls, Ontario, we knew we would need our passports to get across the border into the the United States. Gary started looking for their passports but they were no where to be found. It seems they had left them in the safe in their stateroom on the ship. Wondering what to do, we called the U.S. embassy in Toronto and asked what could be done. They said we would have no problem getting across the border since we had arrived in Canada by ship. He said if we had come in by plane and were trying to leave via the airport, we would not be allowed to leave until proof of citizenship could be obtained. We were lucky. When we got to the border, we gave the taxi driver our passports and Deon and Gary gave him their driver's license. After a few tense moments waiting, we were allowed into the United States. As a result, though, we didn't dare return to Canada to see that side of the falls for fear that Gary and Deon couldn't get back across the border. 




We found an Italian restaurant close to the hotel for dinner. It was very small and owned by a father and son. The food was good and we even got in on a birthday celebration for the son, the chief chef.  






The next day we drove to the falls and were awed by the mere sight of it. We arranged to go on the 'Maid of the Mist' boat ride so we could get up close and personal with the falls. We donned pink ponchos and soon found ourselves drenched as the boat took us right up to the falls. We felt like we were in a major rain storm. We got some beautiful pictures and came to really appreciate the power of nature's water. 

Looking Good

The rest of the day was spent in and around Niagara....the visitor's center where we saw a movie about the history of the the falls, a drive to a nearby area for a different view of the falls, lunch at Dairy Queen, and then a drive into Buffalo to see the Buffalo Bills football stadium. A fun day.

Home of the Buffalo Bills

The water flowing fast as it approaches the falls

Amazingly breathtaking

The next morning, we left Niagara for the Buffalo airport where we boarded a plane to Detroit. In Detroit, we said good by to our traveling companions, Deon and Gary, as they flying to California and ourselves flying to Salt Lake City. We arrived in afternoon. As we drove home up the canyon to Park City, we realized the color of the fall leaves here were every bit as beautiful as in the areas we had just traveled to see fall leaves. We were glad to be home after being gone for two weeks.

Even in our own backyard the colors were gorgeous 

Pizza hot and ready to be eaten

We came home to a bit of pressure as we needed to get the word out and plan an Elder's quorum party for the following Friday. We quickly made flyers to handout on Sunday and sent around a sign up sheet for salads and pies. The party was a Pizza and Pie Progressive Party.  We started at the Smith's home where we ate salads. Everyone then came to our home for pizza and pop. We had an activity at our home where they were challenged to find as many pictures of Jack o Lanterns as they could. Some people really got into that game. We had hidden 44 of them and someone found 43. Pretty good. When we finished pizza, we all walked to the Sneddon's home for pie. We had almost 50 people in attendance which was a really good turn out for a school fall break weekend.

At our home enjoying pizza and pop

At the Sneddon's home for dessert

After the Elder's quorum party, we decided to leave the pictures of the jack o lanterns up so Aria could try and find them all. After dinner, she started her search and with the help of her parents found most of them, we think. As she found them we had her put them on the kitchen table and when we counted them we saw there were only 34, not 44. We looked all around and could not find any more so we had to assume that Aria had found some earlier and put them somewhere else. When we went to bed that night, we found 10 jack o lantern pictures under Paul's pillow.  Ha Ha....for a minute, we thought we had found the missing pictures until we counted the ones still on the table and found 10 less than we had counted earlier. Kailee had hidden these just to frustrate Paul.

We attended one of Jaiden's football games this month.  He has been injured for most of the season with a broken finger and a hip pointer. This game would be his last game if they didn't win so we thought we should go. He's a very aggressive player and played a good game until he was injured, once again. They lost, probably because they didn't have Jaiden playing. He was sad that they lost but, in reality, it was a good thing. Jaiden can now heel completely from his injuries.  

All his brothers came to watch him play

 

That next Sunday, we had Jake and Nicole and their family join Todd and Kailee at our home for dinner. After dinner, Todd took Aria and Eva out to the hot tub. Aria loves her cousins and tries to imitate everything the older girls do. Sadie was making a bridge with her legs so Aria (and Damon) had to do the same thing.

On the last Tuesday of the month, Paul worked in the temple as a sub. I had a hurt foot so I stayed home. While he was gone I went to the funeral for Neil Mahoney. He was a dear friend whom Paul had home taught with for years. He was 97 years old and lived a wonderful life.  He leaves behind his sweetheart, Doris, whom we love also. Paul and I attended the viewing the night before so we could express our condolences to her. 

On Halloween night, we went down to Todd and Kailee's to help hand out candy for them while they took the girls trick or treating. As always, we had dinner there for ourselves and Kailee's family. Her parents were here getting ready for a trip to Hawaii with Todd and Kailee. Jake and Nicole and their children also joined us along with Cam and Kara. I made potato soup to go into bread bowls. There were fruit and vegetable trays and a yummy Halloween chocolate cake which Kailee had made. When all the festivities were over and the kids were settled, it was time for Todd and Kailee to tell us all we needed to know as we were babysitting Aria and Avery for the week while they took Reese and Susie and Weston to Hawaii.  We spent the night in Lehi so we would be there as the left and to start our babysitting stint.  And thus ends the month of October.

An October post wouldn't be complete without pictures of other family members and their Halloween costumes....

Brave Ryan donned this Marajuana suit for their Halloween Party.
Medford has started many Hemp farms in the area, hence the suit, the brownies
and Katie's t-shirt that says 'We love Hempford.'

Cute Nathan and Grace as Captain Hook and Tinkerbell

Just a note: We have had two snow storms already. A bit early. Is this suggesting a hard winter?  

And then there's Aria and Avery.......

Excited for Halloween. 

Avery loving her Grandpa

ANNUAL TRIP TO ST. GEORGE KICKS OFF THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

September 1st found the Fullers, the Richards and ourselves in St. George, Utah to watch the three productions at the Tuachan Theater there. This has become an annual trip for the Fullers and ourselves but, the last two years, Don and Dana have joined us. We secured a three bedroom condo at World Mark's Estancia and spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights there. The shows we saw were' When You Wish', 'Sound of Music', and 'The Little Mermaid'. Each show was unique and beautifully done in its own right. The weather was a little warm but by the time the shows began it was somewhat comfortable. Dave and Suzette joined us for the productions each night. During the days we hung out at the pool, went to the temple, and just visited. One of the days were able to go through Don and Dana's new home they are having built in St. George. They plan to live there 6 months out of the year, as soon as Don retires. We are so excited for them. This year we did a little more cooking at the condo rather then going out to dinner every night. That was a nice change. Of course, we had to have our fresh peach sundaes every night after the productions. It is always a fun four days with family. 

The day before we left St.George, we noticed an interesting car in the World Mark parking lot. It was painted in such a way as to remember the victims of 9/11. The owners were just getting into the car so we asked them about it. They said they have several such cars and take them around to different cities to ride in the local parades. We were so impressed with this couple's love of our country. 

Sunday morning before we left for St. George, we attended Garrett and Kristen Fuller's sacrament meeting so we could all be present for the baby blessing of their new little boy, Harvey. Garrett gave a beautiful blessing and we were glad we could be a part of this occasion. 

As soon as we got home from St. George, we bought peaches to start the canning process. The peaches were real late coming on this year because of our cold and wet spring. I was canning and freezing peaches almost right up to the weekend before we left for a cruise. I ended up canning 35 jars of peaches for ourselves and 24 pints for Mom and Dad. I didn't do any frozen fruit cocktail as we had several left over from last year. I did do 13 bags of slush. Hopefully that will be enough when added to what I still had in the freezer from last year.

On September 11, we attended the annual stake fair held out in the Stake Center's field. It was well attended despite the threatening weather. It had been raining all day but cleared just soon enough to set up the inflatables, booths, and food tables. They served sloppy joes, watermelon, chips and vegetables. It was surprisingly tasty. I brought cookies and cream brownies to add to the dessert table where there were a great variety finger foods to select from. It was a great community event.

Paul and Todd attended the BYU vs USC game on the second weekend of the month. We have been so discouraged with the team this year, (just like the last two years), we often wonder why we buy season tickets. I opted to let Todd have my ticket as he was home that Saturday and would be one of only a few games he would be able to attend. Surprising, we won in overtime 27 to 30. 

Picture taken from the TV as I watched from home

The last weekend of the month, Sam called and said he and Kathy were in Utah and would love to come visit us on Monday. We let them know that we would be leaving on a cruise that day but invited them to come to dinner on Sunday. We had a great visit with them. They are in the process of getting their home ready to put on the market. They are afraid the housing market is going to crash as soon the liberal California lawmakers begin to limit the number of oil drilling permits. That will definitely affect Bakersfield as oil drives that city's economy. Sam and Kathy are looking to move to Utah but not until Dad and Mom pass on. If their home sells, they will live in their 5th wheel in a trailer park if needed. We are so grateful for their constant care for Mom and Dad. They are such a blessing to all of us who live farther away. 

The sight as the ship was leaving the New York harbor.

As mentioned, we left for a cruise at the end of the month, Sept 24 to be exact. We took the red eye Monday night to Atlanta, Georgia and then boarded a flight to New York City. When we arrived at the airport, we got onto a transfer bus that took us to the ship terminal. There we met Deon and Gary. We boarded our Princess cruise ship soon after they arrived and spent 10 days cruising the east coast, up into Canada as far as Prince Edward Island, and then down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City. Our ports included Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine; St. John's, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Quebec City, Quebec. From there we, boarded a train to Montreal, Ontario where we spent a day and a half. We then got a train to Toronto and another train to Niagara Falls, New York. We stayed there a day and then drove to Buffalo, New York to catch our flight home to Utah. We were gone a total of two weeks and saw some amazing sites. I especially loved all the historical connections of many of the locations to our own American history. A fun, fun trip.


And then there's Aria and Avery......

Avery started to walk this month. She was really late in walking but she loving the new freedom she has.

Avery also started sitting at the big table for Sunday dinner.  No more high chair for her.

Aria building a tower from Jenga blocks and playing with the game of BLOKUS