Some more pics from Quebec...

Abigail doing a Tsuks.. something twisty thing on a vault...

and Isabelle is doing some double tucky thing....

Trying to get the girls to take a picture together!! Almost impossible!

Spiders in Hammocks!!!

Lily got sick while we were away. Fever for 2 days.. So we rested on the beach in a hammock! She must of slept like that for 2 hours, while Hanlin played on the beach making castles.

This is MY breakfast....

Every single morning that I've been here...

an incredible cup of coffee, brewed nice and strong and layered with some steamy foamed milk and sweetened with sugar!!

(yes I do mix 10% with 15%.. you have a problem with that??)

Oh god... doesn't that look glorious.. I can't wait till morning...

A freshly baked croissant, you can't see it in the picture, but it's still steaming from the pasty shop!

(Frank runs to the store and gets them for me.. hell he's out for a run anyway.. might as well be productive at the same time. It's good for him to learn to multitask).

or sometimes I'll have a nice slice of freshly baked Apple Bread...

depends on my mood!

Then I sit and enjoy my wonderful breakfast,

while the 2 little creatures run around like feral animals screaming and fighting!

But while I have my coffee and croissants, I hear nothing... nothing but the sound of my ass getting bigger by the second..

and the first person to comment on the size of my butt when I get home will get a kick to theirs!!!

They have Kayaks that we are able to use here at the cottage..

(oh some people e-mailed me asking where we are..)

we're in Quebec's cottge country, In the Lanaudiere area.. in some itty bitty place called St. Alponse-Rodriguez, which is next to St. Beatrix, St. Damien, or St. Matha!!

we're surrounding by so many Saints that I don't think we'll have to attend church for a long time!

I love going on the kayaks! Great work out on the arms!

sugar comes along with everytime and she loves it!

I gave Abigail my camera, (with strict instructions to keep the strap around her neck), and told her to think about the angles and perspective of the image she was trying to capture.. then sent her loose!

and she came back with these..

Then she and her sister needed a rest!

Still Daddy's little girls!

OFF TO CONQUERE THE SEVEN SEAS!

LOOK OUT WORLD.. HERE I COME........

As soon as my mom unlocks the chain!

We got up this morning and Frank headed off on his bike in search of some eggs! Meanwhile, I gave into the whining and let the rest of them go swimming while we waited. He came back later not just with eggs, but with chocolate croissants and almond croissants...oh my god..

The older girls and I jumped into the car and took off for the pastry shop he found! Then we came back with even more!!!!!!! This wonderful magical small shop bakes their own bread (artisan bread) and croissants, makes all their own terrines, and pates, has the biggest selection of goat cheese AND sells specialty beers! I swear it was like it was designed for my family!

We didn't eat till almost noon, but my god it was good!

We had fresh berries, orange juice, lattes, croissants, danish, cheese, bacon, chocolate walnut bread, eggs.. and a bigger butt on me!

then we all headed back down to the beach for even more sun and water!! (and chocolate and wine!)

I got the "life guard" post.. aka..chasing after Lily when she tries to swim on her own! BUT it came with a glass of wine, so I didn't care too much!

well I guess the job came with some drawbacks...

spilled wine!!

This beach is beautiful.. soft soft sand everywhere you walk and its only chest deep at the raft! It's crystal clear and soo warm! Even I went in!

More pics to follow....

We've arrived!!

..and no one puked!!

We had every back window covered for the whole trip (I was only planning on covering Hanlin's, but when 1 saw it.. they all wanted it!), I got eye covers for them and I downloaded Sesame Street podcast for Hanlin to listen to while his eyes were closed and he was relaxed.

Our cottage

After a quick swim, we had a very late and light supper and headed off to bed ready for the beach in the morning!

..... And we're OFF..

11 hours.. 4 kids.. (2 that get car sick)..1 dog..2 bikes..a tulle..29-31 degree average driving temp and

NO AIR CONDITIONING

About 7 hours into the drive ..so far so good!

Doggie Air Conditioning

We figured out that if the sunroof and side window are opened at just the right amount, a wonderful breeze / tornado flows into the back to cool everyone down.

However, it misses the driver and his gorgeous passenger and instead lets the blaring sun beat down on our backs!!

HIOLY HOTNESS!!

We are having great weather here!! (although the humidex is wicked)

and the kids have found a way to cool themselves off.. by attacking Isabelle! She loved it and they had a ball!

and Lily even found a rainbow...