After we took our trip to Montreal we appreciated Quebec City even more. But the temple is in Montreal, and I started wishing we could get down there to attend one more time. If we crossed the river way up in Quebec, toward Lévis, then we would already be on the Longueuil side where the temple is, and we wouldn't have to go onto the island or deal with Montreal traffic at all. It is only a 3 hour drive, which is doable— (we'd done a temple trip both ways in a day before) but if we were going to do a 7:30 evening session it would make for a pretty late night driving home. So I found a little room in a bed-and-breakfast type place (just bed, no breakfast) for Sam and me and we found an evening we could stay over. Malachi and Daisy would hold down the fort at home.
The street we stayed on was, coincidentally, named the same thing as our home street back in Quebec—Rue Richelieu. The town was called Beloeil (beautiful…eye?) and it was right along the Riviere Richelieu. Our house looked over this peaceful view.
We were home by early afternoon and kids were very glad to see us, especially when they saw we were bearing smoked meat and brisket and bagels for dinner that evening!
———
A few more memories and pictures from this late-November time:
Girls snuggled in Goldie's bed
———
Primary Activity at the Museum of Civilization
I walked Goldie and Teddy to their activity and then just had the nicest, quietest, most thoughtful walk home all by myself. It was a quiet, cloudy afternoon, threatening snow, and I felt almost unbearably homesick—preemptively homesick for Quebec—as I realized how soon we'd be leaving for Utah.
A Christmas tree had appeared in Place Royale by Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
You can see the funicular railway at the end of this street. I never did ride that up. Always hiked up the steps. The kids rode it with Seb once.
———
The youth had a District church activity that was a gift exchange and pajama party. The girls were happy to wear their pajamas.
Everyone else looked pretty cute in their pajamas too. I bought like 5 pairs of new pajamas in Quebec! Maybe 6. Somehow everyone needed new ones at once.
———
Such sad news! Benjo, the best and biggest toy store, announced it was closing in January. Sam was wishing we never even knew about that so he could just imagine it always being there after we left. I was just glad it didn't close sooner. We had time to go there a few more times. It started to feel sad and emptier after a few weeks, though—you could tell they were selling things and not restocking. But, they still had the train table, and the little ride-on train on weekends!
Riding the train
In the tunnel!
———
I bought this pretty shawl thingy (?) at a store near the Chateau. Ziggy put it on with my hat (bought in Russia years ago) and Sam's scarf and looked like a tiny Russian tzar!
———
Sam and I had a date at this cozy restaurant in a 400-year-old house. It's so cute! They serve traditional Quebecois, like pea soup and tourtière meat pie. Everything was delicious.
———
I looked outside one morning and was treated to the sight of some guy swordfighting (or…swordplaying? practicing sword maneuvers? he was not actually fighting with anyone) on his roof. I watched, fascinated, for quite some time.
———
Nests that Clementine made
Clementine drawing gnomes
Greek food with Goldie
I liked the bay windows in this building
I really love all these streets in the Montcalm neighborhood by Boulevard René-Lévesque.
Always fun to see Saint-Jean-Baptiste suddenly peeking out
Saint-Matthew cemetery covered with leaves
———
A little adventure with Daisy. Exploring stores we hadn't seen before.
Through the middle gate—Kent Gate
By the Chateâu. They were building the ice slide (that long thing behind Daisy), which sadly didn't open till after we left.
We went into one of the tiny shops and found a whole basement we didn't know existed! It was full of ornate mirrors and jeweled lamps like Aladdin's cave. We were so pleased!
And Daisy wearing the shawl now. Everyone liked wearing it, honestly.
———
Bunny ears
Matching Evie in pink velvet (even her shoes!)
Gus laughing at the silliness of a FOUR-year-old riding in the shopping cart! He was pleased but a little embarrassed. He has not ridden in a cart for a long time!
Primary after a lovely Primary Program (I played the piano for it and Teddy and Goldie both gave scriptures in French)
Maison de la Litterature. Used to be a church.
It's quite stark and white inside now, though still pretty. But not very churchy.
———
We met up with a family I learned about from my ministering assignment. They didn't attend church but were happy to meet us and let the kids play, and it was so fun to talk to them! The husband is Canadian (not Quebecois) and the wife is from the States, so it was really cool to hear about their experiences in Quebec (they love it there) and compare notes about learning French, trying to fit in, discovering new places, etc. My little kids really hit it off with their two daughters. We walked through a park along the river in Lévis (across the river from Quebec City) and enjoyed seeing a new part of the city while we got to know each other.
It was a chilly and rainy day, but we were bundled up and didn't mind!
Clementine and Eva were SO SLOW. They would stand next to each other and then Clementine would very solemnly and deliberately hand Eva rocks, and Eva would equally solemnly tuck them into her pocket. By the time we got across the park Eva's entire pocket was bulging with them. I thought it might rip right off of her snowsuit.
It was all very cute but the rest of us had to wait and wait and WAIT for them, and every time they would start to catch up, they would notice some more rocks and stop again.
Finally Daisy took matters into her own hands, went back, and escorted the two little girls along herself to keep them moving. Bless her.
The sun came out at last!
Charlotte drew this picture of her and Gus afterwards, and sent it to us. So cute!
