Visiting our Indian Friends

Remember we met an Indian family in our apartment building only to have them move out that same weekend?  Well, thankfully, they didn't move far.  And once they were settled and during March Break (March 12-16), we got together with them at their new place.  

We shared some Indian food at their apartment and enjoyed the views--they live on the 46th floor!  Then we went down and to the next building which was a giant rec center.  It is available for all the residents of their building.  It had a two-lane bowling alley, a TV/game lounge, an indoor swimming pool, a basketball court, an indoor running track and exercise area.  It also had a playroom/toy area for the kids.  It was perfect for a cold, snowy day.

March 5-8

We've now been here in Toronto over a month.  It's still cold and has snowed off and on several times during these weeks--and will most likely continue for a few more.  We've ventured out to the library weekly and have done some kind of tourist-type thing on Saturdays.  And we've also just enjoyed being inside with the warmth and watching the snow from our windows.

The Toronto Public Library system has 100 branches! Woah!!  The one that is closest to us is in the bottom of the tall City Hall building.  In the square just outside City Hall is an outdoor ice skating rink with large, lighted letters spelling Toronto.  So we get to see them every time we go to the library.  We usually spend time climbing on the large mound of snow/ice that is also in this area because we aren't from here and the kids are really interested in the snow. :D

Toronto's PATH and Aussie Meat Pies

Toronto has an underground shopping area with entrances all over the downtown area.  One day in which it was particularly cold but we wanted to get out and stretch our legs, we decided to go explore the PATH.  According to the Toronto PATH website, "The PATH has over 30 kilometres worth of shopping, services and entertainment. According to the Guinness World Records, it’s the largest underground shopping complex in the world."

Sugar Bush Maple Festival

On March 10th, we drove out to Bruce's Mill Conservation Area for a Sugar Bush Maple Festival.  

Baby is a ......???

Friday, March 9 we headed south across the border to New York.  Our health insurance doesn't work here in Canada so we have to go to the USA to visit a doctor.  On March 8 I hit 20 weeks, so this visit was to not only make sure things are still going well, but also to have the ultrasound!

I'm not very good at the selfie shots, but this shows my little belly.  

(And Sarah being silly!)

Everything looked good in the ultrasound--measurements were spot on as well as the heart beat.  It's always so wonderful to hear!  

We didn't think of anything clever to announce the gender, but we thought of this:

We are looking forward to Baby #3 later this year!  (And hopefully not in Canada, for those wondering...)  ;)

Mackenzie House Museum and Burrito Boyz

Saturday, March 3rd, we went to the Mackenzie House Museum.

Groceries!!

Even though we have a grocery store close by, it is pretty small and quite expensive actually.  So we were looking at trying out other grocery stores nearby or online.  We heard from others that the other stores, while having a bigger selection, are still expensive and harder to get to and from, especially with bags full of food.  We tried out the Wal-mart.com website but was declined because we had an American billing address for our credit card.  So we tried again, this time we put in our Canadian address because we changed the billing address.  It was declined again.  We figured they wanted a Canadian-issued credit card.  That we don't have.  And we don't want to get one just so we can get groceries from Wal-mart.

So we had to find something else.  Thankfully Paul found one that delivers Costco food to downtown apartments.  You don't have to have a Costco membership and they can deliver the same day if you get the order in before noon!  

We gave that a try, but I was just waiting for an email that said we were declined.  So I was definitely happy and surprised when I got a knock on the door that evening from the delivery guy!

He brought in so much food--because I ordered so much food! 😉

Ice Fest 2018

On Saturday, February 24th we went to an ice festival in downtown Toronto.  The theme this year was "Winter Hath Come".  

New Indian Friends

On Friday afternoon (Feb. 23), after coming home from the noontime concert we heard kid voices out in the hallway of our apartment building.  The kids were really excited and ran to the door to see who it was.  They've been missing their friends so hearing kid voices was a welcome and exciting thing.

We went out to meet who was out there.  Next door to us were some families from India, one with a boy a year younger than Glenn and a little girl around Sarah's age.  Wow!  Perfect!

So we introduced ourselves and got talking with them.  The little girls wanted to show their stuffed animals and dolls and the boys wanted to run around the halls.  It was great to have someone for the kids to play with and for me to have someone to talk with.  

We found out that the boy's birthday was on Sunday but they were having a party to celebrate on Saturday.  They invited us to come.  So we went!

Noontime Concerts

While walking to work, Paul noticed that this church was advertising free noontime concerts on Fridays.  He mentioned it to us and asked if we wanted to meet him sometimes.  Sure!  This church, called St. Andrew's, is just down the street from our apartment.  I love the outside!  It's beautiful!

Simple Pleasures and Simple Sight-Seeing

You never realize how important some kitchen tools are until you don't have them.  That was the case for us here.  We have an okay-stocked kitchen, but we didn't have a can opener!  

What?!  

We hadn't realized it until after we bought canned foods and wanted to use them in our dinner.  We looked for one at a few stores but couldn't find one.  Strange, right?  So, one time when we were at Rabba--our little grocery store--I asked the cashier where I could buy one and she said they had a small section with one in it.  

Yay!

I know it's simple, but it's been very nice to have these last few days.  

Our First Week in Toronto

The best thing about our first week was the arrival of a crib for Sarah!  We had struggled the first couple of nights, but then thought to ask the apartment staff if they had a crib.  Thankfully they did!  So they brought it that day(Wednesday) and it's been great!

A New Adventure in Toronto, Canada

What does going to Toronto, Canada for 4-5 months look like in suitcases?

Like this:

New Year's Eve

For New Year's Eve, we went over to the Halling's house.  They are some friends from our ward--and we recently found out that Brent and I are 5th cousins on the Snyder side!  So it was kind of like getting together with family too!

We participated in their family tradition of doing fondue.  It was fun!

Paul's Birthday

Happy Birthday to Paul!!

Christmas Dinner

We were excited that Kirsta, Morian, Devin, Mackenzie and Grandma Esther could come for the weekend!  They arrived around 4:30 on Christmas Day.  That evening we had a delicious Christmas dinner.  Again we tried to take a picture of all of us with the camera timer.  It's tricky!

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas!!

I had a hard time sleeping--and after waking up around 6:15 from a funny position and not being able to go back to sleep--I decided to just get up.  I was also really hungry!  I just had to eat something!

Glenn didn't get up until 8:35 or so!  When we were ready, we went downstairs to read the Christmas story and sing Christmas hymns.  That is another one of Paul's family tradition.  Glenn got to put the Baby Jesus sticker on another advent calendar he was working on.

Christmas Eve

December sure flew by and before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve!  Over the years we have combined some traditions from Paul's family, some from mine and added our own.  

Glenn and Paul enjoyed making "Merry Christmas" pizzas.

December Happenings

Like most years, December was pretty busy.  I had to continually take hormone medication and go in to the lab every few days to see how my levels were doing.  We continued to settle into our home, rearranging furniture and organizing our things.  We had little get togethers and play dates and the usual Christmas and end-of-the-year things.

Glenn sure is growing up!  I can't believe how grown-up he looks!  He isn't my little boy anymore!

Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus

The Wells Branch Library put on a special event in December.  The kids each got golden tickets that said "Believe" on them, some hot chocolate, a train whistle and a shiny silver bell.  The Polar Express was read out loud and then Mrs. Claus led us in singing some Christmas carols.  It was a fun evening!

We got a picture with her and also with Santa Claus!