Thoughts on our trip so far

It has been an interesting learning experience being in Montreal, Quebec, CA.

When you read about the city underground you get some sense of it, but until you experience it you have no idea. We literally walk 10 minutes to the Metro station then we are underground for most everything we need. The tunnels connect from station to shopping area, and you do not see the light of day until you return back to the station. Thus, why we are not cold and did not need many warm things after all.

It is a very interesting place. It feels like Europe with the language and the way things function as far as store hours from 9 to 5 and closed on the holidays. Nothing moves on January 1st for example. We remember this when we lived in England some twenty years ago. Then on the other hand you can see the influence of North America for example with the yellow school buses. Many of the same stores and products. So it is a good mix of both worlds actually which we have completely enjoyed. We will all miss the Metro, we have so enjoyed moving about catching trains. Some of the high lights have been simply playing in the snow, sledding and ice skating in the evening - it was a complete blast.

We are all looking forward to getting home into our own space, but have so enjoyed visiting with Fernando and the family.

Last week of December

This past week has been hectic, fun, exhausting and relaxing all at the same time it seems. Monday (12/27) we headed to downtown (Old Montreal) to visit a museum about the history of Montreal. What we didn't realize was just how cold this was going to be. It was 16F and downtown it was windy. The museum was very good until Samuel decided he had had enough of it. It was a two-year old tantum in full blown scale. Once we got outside in the freezing cold he was just fine. He likes to be on the move. After that wonderful event we decided we would split the group on Tuesday (12/28). So, the two little ones and the mother's went to a IKEA store. It was absolutely fantastic. I heard about these stores from friends in Europe, but going through one myself was just marvelous. You can check them out on-line at www.ikea.com. The rest of the group went to the Olympic Park and BioDome. They had a good time. It was definetly not a place for little ones. On Wednesday (12/29) we split the group again and took everyone but the little ones and Joabe Sr. to ice skating and sledding. It was an absolute wonderful time ice skating on a frozen pond. Victoria started out with this red bar that helped her get her balance. After practicing on the little area she was off to the races on the big pond. Before we left she was skating on single blades with the balance bar. She was amazing. We all couldn't believe it. She fell a few times and on the last tumble she asked if this was going to hurt in the morning as it hurt at that moment. Then we were headed to the sledding but it was closed. So we returned there this morning to just participate in the sledding activities. It was like a big water slide on a snow/ice slide! Victoria once again took to it like duck in the water. We all had a blast. Joabe, JoJo and Fernando then were off to see Old Montreal without any women or little ones - think they all needed some man time!!! :)

It has been a wonderful season of just hanging out together and enjoying so many new and different things around us. Being with Fernando and the family has been so good after not having seen them for four years.

As we look to the last day of the year, we remember this past year with the expectation of seeing one another and now looking forward to when we can spend more time together in the coming year. As Claudinha is working and Fernando will be studying French this coming year, we look ahead to the new year with them with much hope and expectation.

As we reflect on what we have accomplished and the things yet to be accomplished, hopes yet fullfilled and dreams yet to come to pass, we look and pray with much hope and anticipation for the coming year.

Happy New Year to each of you.

Christmas Day & Boxing Day (con't)

So, I did not yet find the camera/PC cord. Though I am using the extra I have with me. All I can say is that it is in a bag/suitcase, my goal will be to repack suitcase on Friday/Saturday. Oh, this is going to be fun. :(

Enjoy the few pictures of our couple of days.

Peace.

Christmas & Boxing Day

We spent a lovely Christmas Eve the typical Brazilian way - late dinner and stay up late. We started Christmas morning late - around 10:00ish. We had brunch and then Papai Noel (Santa Claus) made a visit to give everyone a little gift. It was a lot of fun. Joabe made a great Santa Claus! :) We read recently on a Christmas plaque:

* We first believe in Santa Claus
* We then don't believe in Santa Claus
* We then are Santa Clause
* Finally, we look like Santa Claus.

Boxing Day was spent going to church and participating in a French service. I had two very sleepy teen-agers. Their head was spinning due to the lack of understanding.

I'll post pictures later when I find my camera cord for the PC! Yikes. Need to go look for it now.

Some thoughts so far

Joabe and I have been commenting on how much the city reminds us of Europe. The Metro system is just fantastic. JoJo couldn't get over how you can move about to everywhere without using an automobile. Then to see people in the city walking, carrying there bags from shopping and back packs.

Everyone has done wonderful with the traveling even the two little ones. Victoria has her backpack and things all together. She loves using the card for the Metro to open the entrance gate to pass. Samuel just sits and rides! You should see him with his coat, gloves and boots! He walks like the Michlen Tire guy. It is so funny. The weather is cold but has not been that extreme cold - thank goodness. Also, it is only a 10 minute walk to the Metro station. Once we are in the Metro we are all inside. So it has been good thus far.

Today we are headed to the park to do some typical winter activities - sledding and ice skating. Let's see how this works out. Then we'll have a typical Brazilian Christmas on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day we'll spend together resting and then we get to experience Boxing Day. In England Boxing Day was another day of eating, etc. Here it is more like our day after Christmas. I think we are going to skip the shopping and head to the Old city - weather permitting.

To each of you we wish a very special Merry Christmas. May it be a time for each of you spent with friends and family. May each of you also remember the reason for the season - the incarnation of God in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Elizabeth's 13th Birthday

It was an amazing day yesterday celebrating Elizabehth's 13th Birthday in Montreal with family from Brazil. We went to the largest shopping center in Montreal - and it was huge!!! It is four five floors two of which are underground. A lot of the same things we have, but shops which we don't have a as well. The variety in fashion boots, snow boots, etc is just amazing. The outerwear is just beautiful. Everyone in the shops speak French and English. I'm so glad for the English because I know absolutely nothing in French. Joabe and the older kids are doing really well with their French. When I go to speak with someone all that comes out is Portuguese!!!! Victoria is speaking Portuguese now as well. It is just wonderful to see her communicating with Fernando & the children.

Here are some photos of Elizabeth's wonderful day!

Enjoy.

Visit Art Museum of Montreal

It was a cold morning as we made our way to the Art Museum of Montreal. We bundled up and continued on our way. Remembering when we lived in England, when it rained if we didn't go out we would never go out as it rained so very much. So with the snow in Montreal!

First Trip on a Subway for the Andrade Children

It was a good trip on the subway yesterday afternoon to the mall. Though, it took us 45 minutes to get the little ones dressed for the 10 minute walk to the Metro. Once you are in the Metro, we were inside the entire time and it was so hot!!! We have found so different then our experience in the United Kingdom. In the UK it is cold everywhere. Here, all we have needed so far is a warm coat, long sleeve shirt and undershirt. Haven't needed any of those sweaters we packed.

Sharing some moments in photos

Arrived in Montreal!

We arrived in Montreal yesterday just in time for lunch! :)

On first arrival it reminds us alot of Nottingham, England. The space is small, lots of people walking on the streets, not much room for automobiles.

It was great seeing Fernando, Claudinha & family after four years. It has been a great reunion.

Then there was the time to unload the van and walk uphill a ways to the aparment and then up a flight of steep stairs. We all then decided we packed way too much stuff. So rule #1 - when traveling (no matter the weather) only one bag per person and one carry bag.

Then to sort out where to put the bags in order to get to them was a whole another story / event. We figured it out and we'll make it work over the next couple of weeks.

Typical Brazilian welcome yesterday. Claudinha's sister and husband came to visit and then another Brazilian couple came to visit. My older kids were thrilled with speaking only Portuguese and Victoria is coping very well. She is speaking a little more and Samuel is just going along for the ride. It has just been wonderful.

The other problem is that it is cold outside, but inside the apartment it is like tropical weather. The radiator heat is controlled by the building, not individual settings per apartment. It is 24C inside the house!!!! We opened a window last night just to get fresh air. So when you dress to go out, you need to dress and go. Now this is almost impossible with two two years old, one five year old and one six year old, and not to mention two teenagers!

Today we needed to get some Candian money, metro tickets and do some food shopping to stock the house. Tomorrow we'll begin our adventure on traveling through the city doing tourist things.

Last Stop State Side

Enjoying the picturesque surroundings

On the move to Montreal

What a wonderful night of rest. Amazing what a good night of rest can do for you!!! We all dropped into bed early and actually awoke before the alarm clock.

This morning we are on the last leg of this part of our journey --> getting to Montreal. It was extremely chilly as Joabe & JoJo loaded the car this morning. Crisp is a good word to describe it.

The snow on the pine trees is just beautiful and the dairy farms are just gorgeous. The country side of this part of the USA we have found very quaint and picturesque. It is our first "white christmas" as a family, that is in terms of snow. We have had a many "white christmas" as in sand on beautiful beaches!!! It is good to see and experience other things and the children are having a good time. Even Mr. Samuel was more like himself this morning. We are counting the hours until we Fernando & the family.

ER Visit in Buffalo

Well, we found (thanks to Lucy) a Catholic Hospital in downtown Buffalo where Samuel and I spent a total of two hours while everyone else was at McDonald's down the street. We met a very nice Peditfician who confirmed that Samuel's breathing was not in distressed however he had a red right ear. Samuel struggles with RSV and the cold is not his friend with this. We were able to get an antibiotic and get on our way to Syracuse.

Thank goodness for health insurance. All we had to do was show our insurance card and we were well taken care of in the hospital. We knew we wanted to get this taken care of before crossing into Canada as I'm not sure how our health insurance would cover things while being in there. This was at the bottom of the list of to do's and I just never made it down that far of the list before we left.

From Glorious to Reality

Well we quickly go from glorious to reality, especially traveling 1900 miles with a two year old!! JoJo and I swapped seats in the car so I could sit beside Samuel as we are struggling with this cough. Thank goodness for quick reflections and a large roll of paper towels - as I caught his body expelling the sinus drainage junk!!! All in a days work for a parent. I was quite proud of myself as I caught most of it and very little landed on the carseat and Samuel - because that would have been disasterous!!!

Looks like we'll be in Syracuse around 3:00 this afternoon and now I'm looking online for a walk in clinic close to the hotel and one that will be open this afternoon. Don't really want to land in the emergency room anywhere. Samuel needs a steroid injection to get the lung inflammation down so he can rest his little lungs.

Will keep you all posted.

Northward to Syracuse, NY

All I can say is that God's mercies are new every morning!!!

Samuel did not have a good night last night and therefore neither did mom. Joabe came and helped me out around 3:30 this morning so I could get some sleep. He has no fever, but a horrible sinus drainage causing the asthmatic cough. Prayers greatly appreciated it.

The sunrise this morning did indeed remind us of God's unfailing love and mercies which are new every single day. The drive has been absolutely beautiful. The sun brightly shining and the snow glistening white like diamonds in the sky with the chill of winter which we have never experienced.

This part of the trip we dreaded the most as we are driving I90North following Lake Erie and then Lake Ontario. This is where the weather can be very treacherous, but the sun is shining bright and it is a glorious day.

Arriving in Mansfield, OH

Well, we have driven through short periods of snow fall and then it clears up. We are just 45 minutes away from our destination and the trip has been very good thus far. Samuel is still not feeling his best but maybe after playing a bit this evening he'll sleep well.

The eight hour trip today was really pretty easy. Now that we have 4,000 miles under our belt, I are more experienced with traveling with one another. If you want to have family "togetherness", pile six people with Christmas presents, and all the other stuff into a mini-van and hit the road. It will bring out the worst and the best in each of you!!!

As we have driven across the state of Ohio today I had forgotten how beautiful the dairy farms are in the wide open space. It has been quite a few years since I have seen them with snow on the ground. I am always thankful for my "city" life as working a farm is a lot of hard work.

Looking ahead to tomorrow's journey to Syracuse, NY we are most concerned about Buffalo as they have an advisory for lake effect snow until 10:00am tomorrow. I think when this journey is finished I will be able to work part-time in the weather storm center as I am watching the weather patterns.

Signing off for the evening.

Peace to each of you.
Amy & family

And the adventure begins.....

As Murphy's law would have it, if it could go wrong it will go wrong.  We were all snuck in our beds early last night knowing we had a very early start this morning at 4:00am.  Samuel, who always sleeps through the night, decided to awake screaming at 1:00am.  He woke everyone up  -- oh the joys of having little ones.  Got him down and within the hour we were doing the same drill.  So I walked the floor with him until about 3:00.  So, we were off a little later than planned this morning, but on the road packed in like little sardines.

We are just approaching Louisville, KY and the trees are covered in ice, and it just keeps getting whiter and whiter. 

We thought we share some pictures of us in the care - even Lucy (our GPS) who brings much decision as I review the paper map before following her lead  -- I'm not a good follower!

Another Trip About to Start

So, here we are.  Less than 24 hours away from another field trip for the Andrade family.  This time instead of summer heat and the desert in the SouthWest of the USA, we are headed north, way north to Montreal, Quebec, Canada!!!!!  Yes, we are going the wrong direction.  All the birds go south, and we are headed north.  We are going to see very special family members from Brasil who have moved to Montreal back in September.  We haven't seen them since August 2006.  We are so excited and yet holding our breath as we continue to pour over weather patterns, systems and lake effect snow for the norther part of New York.  We appreciate your prayers as we begin our treck north tomorrow morning.

We will stay Friday with my family in Mansfield, OH and then head out for Syracuse on Saturday.

We will post pictures as we are headed out tomorrow.

Happy Trails.......