Some like it hot

But not this damn hot...It's hot in Baton Rouge. Other than that there's not much to report here. We've been having a good time. Jamie's been fishing, so he's pretty happy. We've been busy visiting people and shopping and eating...that's what we do here.

Nova Scotians in BR and NOLA in Halifax

This article was in the Chronicle-Herald the other day in Halifax. How appropriate that the Herald is educating Nova Scotians on the drinking habits on Louisiana, while we get to Baton Rouge. Coincidence?? I think not.

We're in Baton Rouge now and will be here until Aug. 9th when we go to Florida. I can't wait for the white sandy beach and surf.....ahhhhhhh.

On the road again...

Tomorrow we're leaving Oklahoma and headed to Dallas. It's about 3 1/2 hours to our hotel. We're going to Ikea while we're there...yay!! I won't be picking up any Euro-I live in a one room loft furniture or anything, but I'd like to see what they have.

We've had a great time in Oklahoma hanging with Nicole and T. Navarre has had an awesome time and has enjoyed the dogs, although they haven't been inside very much. Jamie and I went to the OKC National Memorial today and then to a Roman art exhibit at the OKC Museum of Art. The National Memorial is the most beautiful memorial I've ever visited. I've been to the manymemorials in Washington, D.C., Normandy, Nova Scotia, etc., but the design of the OKC memorial is awe inspiring. Butzer Design Partnership won the right to oversee the memorial construction by beating out 625 other design entries.

I really recommend anyone visiting OKC to see the memorial. We're sad to be leaving Auntie and Uncle T, but we'll see them again soon in Florida:) Happy trails...

Niagara Falls to St. Louis

Niagara Falls - Canadian side

Niagara Falls - American side

So many fun times in Windsor, Ontario...the 10th St. and Lombardy Crescent part of town to be exact:)

Navarre's friends in Windsor

I know this may be surprising, but our hotel in Illinois was in the middle of a corn field.

We loved St. Louis!

Halifax to Toronto

Daddy & I in St-Jacques, New Brunswick

4th of July in Levis, Quebec

Claire & I in Oakville with Lake Ontario in the background

The fake hair makes a return...

Uncle Steve and I at Terroni's in Toronto...how can I get one of those hams?

At Michelle's in Toronto...they don't know what they're in for!

Patience is a virtue

For those readers out there who don't really care what I have to say on the blog and just want to see pictures, hold your horsies and cool your jets. They'll be up when they're up.

Fireflies

While we were in Windsor at the Zaniers', we caught fireflies with the kids on several nights. I thought back to catching these with Dad in Mr. Roy's lot across the street from us. We loved doing that as kids. But, the fireflies all disappeared out of the lot for some reason. I don't know what happened to them. Pollution?? Not the right weather?? Who knows. All I know is it sure was fun to do that again. Then, I see them as I'm driving home from the special ed ice cream shop in Harrah...must be the right conditions for fireflies here too.

Day 10 and I hate corn

I'm sitting in an Illinois hotel "suite" (I use the word suite VERY loosely) right now. Our tub doesn't like to turn off; it takes some finagling to get it to work properly; there is not stove in our kitchenette (which could be my fault because I'm sure it said somewhere that there was not stove top here); and there is no door to close BBG off in her own little suite room so Jamie and I could have a nice night without having to tip toe around.

This is all after we drive for about, oh I don't know....12 gagillion miles of corn fields in Illinois. I now hate corn, popcorn, cream corn, and corn biofuel.

Partying at the Zaniers' for the past 4-5 days sure beats this.

Ciao.

Soy beans and the sauce

I know I haven't updated in awhile, but we've been busy. It's amazing how busy it can be travelling with an almost one year old. She's is an excellent traveller though...better than most adults I know.

Anyway, we spent 4 days in Toronto. It was awesome seeing Claire and David again. It's been too long........and we get to see them in Hali in September. I'm hoping the fake hair will be making an appearance in Nova Scotia. It was nice to spend some time with the hair too. We even got Navarre in on it. If I can remember, I will put up a pic from our wedding of Claire and her fake hair. It was gorgeous; she totally rocked it.

Thanks to Michelle and Adam too for their hospitality in the T-Dot. Their expecting a baby in November, so have fun for the rest of the summer and get some sleep while you still can!

And now we're in Windsor. Well, technically LaSalle, Ontario visiting the Zaniers. Brian & Julie are great people with great kids, and we have a damn good time when we're with them. I think Windsor may be the only other place in Canada I would ever live.

Last night was supposed to just be a regular ole night at the Zaniers. Brian BBQed; Julie cooked....had a great dinner...after the pedis Julie and I got:) So, we're having some cocktails before dinner, and Julie yells there is a fire in the stove. And we're like, "Julie, um, I don't think so...just don't breathe into the stove!" But, no...there was a small little fire from the element.

So, the oven's broke right now, but that's the least of our worries. So, dinner and Brian's parents come over and more drinks and the baby is naked in the kiddie pool having a great time, then the neighbors come over with their kids...good ole time. Then Navarre goes to bed and more drinks...the outdoor fireplace is going but we are running out of wood - that's a problem since there were killer mosquitos. Anyway, I digress...the boys solve this problem later on...it involves a soy bean field, a saw, potential coyotes & deer, not enough bug spray, some crazy wild banchees, and topless men.

I just have to leave it like that. There will be some pics later on...I promise! Julie stay tuned for the pics.

Tomorrow is Jamie's birthday. He's concerned about being another year older, but I told him that it didn't matter because he had already lost his hair, so no worries:)

Day 2 and Day 3

Sorry for no post on Day 2 or 3. When Navarre is sleeping in the play pen in the same hotel room as us, we can't really do much , so no update...we were really tired by the time we got to the hotel after driving all day and getting dinner and getting her ready for bed, etc.

So...here are the stats...

Day 2 - Edmonston, NB to Montreal
598 kms/375 miles
7.5 hours

Day 3 - Montreal to Missassauga, ON
578 kms/361 miles
7 hours

The GPS is working out great, except for Montreal. We arrived in Montreal right at rush hour, and it sent us on the most messed up route to the hotel that required illegal turns. I'm convinced there was a better route. C'est la vie.

She takes a nap in the morning in the car, then wakes up and plays a while with toys in her seat. Then we stop about an hour and half for lunch - let her play, crawl, whatever - then she takes about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon in the car. Then we have to entertain her until we reach our destination. She's been great!!

We're at Claire and David's in Missassauga now. It's nice not having to unpack the car, pack the car every night and morning. Next we'll be at Michelle's and Adam's in Toronto. Going swimming today after Navarre wakes up...pictures to come!

A random though that occurred to me during the drive yesterday at around 10:30 am...Why do prunes make you go, but plums don't necessarily make you go like prunes?? Jamie and I couldn't answer this question....Steve (Steve Owen, not SJM - although SJM if you know the answer feel free to send it...) if you're reading, leave a comment and let me know!!

Other observation...in Quebec I actually saw a police car with its lights covered up with a tarp that said "hors service" - that's the equivalent of "out of service" for you anglophones - so, is that like, "I'm a cop, but I'm off duty so do whatever the hell you want."????? It's Quebec...I guess so.

Peace out.

End of Day 1...there she blows

703 kms/440 miles
8 hrs and 12 mins

Lunch in Salisbury with a wind so strong I thought Navarre's sun hat was going to lift up and take her away.


More tomorrow...hard to type while holding BBG.

Day 1

We're leaving this morning, so just a note to say bye to Halifax.

Also, this is my 100th post! Is it odd that it's on the day we leave?? Something sort of eerie about that...

See you in Edmundston.

President

I've checked and re-checked our lists. I know it's time to get away because now instead of saying in my head "check" I say "President", which is a variation of "present" and which only certain members of the Louque family can appreciate.