OK...OK....OK...it's been long enough, I know!!!

Charlie writes: "It has been almost 3 weeks since my mom last posted some photos on here and I thought that I should give her a good swift kick in the "you know what" to get her going. I'm sorry that she has been keeping me all to herself...she gets like that sometimes. We've certainly been on the go since arriving here in NB - birthday parties, buying a house, unpacking, having my new cousin arrive...all in just a couple of weeks! I'm not going to say a whole lot...just share the info with the photos. So, here ya go......

Here is my Dad and his cousin in Gatineau, PQ. We stopped there overnight on our way home and had a great visit. They are boxing on this game called a "WI" (I think) They sure looked silly...and Rachel knocked my Dad out....oooops....I was probably not supposed to tell you that, but....

Now this is me helping Mom unpack some things once we arrived at Grammy and Grampy's....I'm such a big help!

Oh...here's a good one....my Mom and Dad and I went to visit my Auntie Aly and Uncle Craig a couple of weeks ago before cousin Sprout was born. They take me to this really cool little place that has the best milkshakes! Anyway, Mom decides that it's time to try something new (she's always putting something weird in front of me and expecting me to eat it all up with a big smile....someday I'll get her back) So, here I am trying my first dill pickle! It was not what I expected but I couldn't stop going back for more....

After the pickle lunch we did some shopping and got things ready for Sprout's arrival. Mom was convinced that he/she would come that weekend, but she was wrong! She waited until Friday, May 25th at 2:10pm to make her entrance into this world. So here is my new cousin, Kate Elizabeth....isn't she a cutie!!!! I can't wait to meet her. Mom and Dad say they'll take me to visit her in a couple of weeks (I've got a bit of a cold right now and I don't want to get baby Kate sick too!)

This photo....well this is me having a grand ol' time while baby Kate was being born! You see, it was my cousin's Chloe's birthday on Friday too, so I was at her party! We had lots of fun; I got to watch a bunch of kids play games and eat cake and pizza at the park ( i can't wait until I can eat cake and pizza...it looked yummy!!!)

This past weekend we went to visit my Grammy Jo-Jo and everybody at the farm. It was my Great Uncle's 60th birthday....wasn't that a party!!! I got to meet all my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. too!!! But the Big excitement was getting to take my first horse ride!!!! My cousin Chloe held me tight while cousin Josie lead "Rambo" the horse around the ring. It was soooo much fun...I loved it!!!!

Finally, all I'm going to say about this photo is "ya gotta live here to get it!!!!" aahhhh, it's good to be back in NB!!!!

Well, I think that's it for now, I'll try to keep Mom on her toes here in the next few weeks and keep you all updated a little better, but no promises....she's a bit crazy these days! We have found a house and will be finalising all that next Friday - they say we'll move in on June 27th if all goes well!!! It will be nice to have our own place, but I'll also miss staying with Grammy and Grampy....they've got EVERYTHING here that a little guy could want....plus....Grampy's almost got the pool ready!!! yahoooo! I hope you are all doing well and enjoy my photos! Take care and be sure to let me know how you're doing."

We're Here!!!! Sorry no photos to post just yet, but I just wanted to let you all know that we arrived at my Mom and Dad's at 12:30 pm today! We unloaded the U'Haul in 25 degree heat (we've definately brought some GREAT weather across the country with us!!) and now we're ready to hit the hey. Here's where we've been in the past few days.....

• Sunday - Sault-Ste-Marie to Sudbury, ON - spent the day with David's sister Heather.
• Monday - Sudbury to Hull, PQ - spent the night with David's cousin and family!
• Tuesday - Hull, PQ to St.Antonin, PQ (just an hour from the NB border - we just couldn't drive any further had to stop for the night)
• Wednesday - St.Antonin, PQ to Saint John, NB (we actually woke up at 4am this morning and were soooo excited to get here that we were on the road by 5:30am!!!

We've had an amazing journey and can't believe that we're finally here! Thank God we arrived safely!!!! We've seen so much and can't wait to share it with you. I'll get some photos on ASAP. Until then, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and we hope you have enjoyed crossing Canada with us!!!

Getting Closer!!! Hi again...sorry for the few days of suspence, but Northern Ontario isn't much for internet or cell phones...but it sure is BEAUTIFUL!!! So, here's what we've been up to the past few days...

• Thursday, spent the day touring Kenora, ON
• Friday, Kenora to Nipigon (just east of Thunder Bay)
• Saturday, Nipigon to Sault-Ste-Marie
• Sunday (tomorrow) we're heading for Sudbury and going to spend the day/night there with David's sister Heather....Charlie is VERY excited to see Auntie Heather!

We have seen sooooo much wildlife in the past 3 days, and on the trip overall.....black tail, white tail and mule deer, elk, antelope, buffalo and moose (this one just today!!!). We've seen coyote, fox (with a bird in it's mouth), hare, hawks, magpie, pheasant, wild turkey (right on the side of the highway!!), side hill gouger "marmot", prairie dog, ground hog. What David would do for a gun and a license...hee!hee!

We have been trying to eat both breakfast and lunch from the cooler in a park or something we find along the way. We keep repeating about 20 times/day "he sure is a good boy!" Charlie is being VERY accomodating...he sleeps, eats, plays, etc. all according to our "schedule"....yes, we are planning much of our day around what we think he'll do, but he sure does make it easy to have fun and enjoy the journey! So, here are a few photos we took along the way.

We spent the day on Thursday in Kenora touring around and getting the van serviced for the other half of the trip. We went on a great hike in the AM to Vernon Nature Trail. Charlie loves travelling this way...David on the other hand was happy to hand off the extra 20 lbs half way through!

Here is Charlie eating breakfast at Rushing River Falls, just outside Kenora, ON. He's becoming more and more interested in the camera than anything else as I've been taking LOTS of photos. I think we may have created a bit of a monster...a vain monster!!!

With Dad after dipping his fingers in the COLD rushing river!

And this one is lunch at Sandbar Lake Provincial Park just a few hours later.

mmmmm, good peas!

Our last stop of the day yesterday was at Kakabeka Falls....aka...."Niagara of the North". It was quite a beautiful spot....what do you think, does Charlie look like he's having a good time???

We arrived in Nipigon around 7:00pm and found a "quaint" little motel on the side of the highway. We got an early start today (7am - which just yesterday was 6am when we were on Central time) and so we thought we'd take a little detour....to the Caribbean!!!!

Just kidding....this is actually Lake Superior! We stopped here in Lake Superior Provincial Park and spent some time on the beach. Charlie just loved the feel of the sand in his fingers...

....and in his toes!

We will DEFINATELY be back to Lake Superior Provincial park one day.....it was absolutely breathtaking! And it's sooooo BIG!!!! Anyway, we arrived in Sault-Ste-Marie around 3:00pm, checked in to our hotel, went for a nice walk on the boardwalk, had dinner and now I'm heading to bed! We're getting lots of fresh air (it's been about 18 degrees for the past 4 days1) and it makes for a long day getting in and out of the car so often. We're still doing very well...no detours to airports....mind you I think David's drink of whiskey at night and my coffee/Bailey's in the morning sure helps us keep it all together....hee!hee! Lots of love to you all!!!!

Day 6 - Regina, SK to Kenora, ON...yes, you are reading that correctly....ON...as in ONTARIO!!! We're feeling like we're getting closer to home now; even though we know that it is going to take us approx 3 days to get through Ontario!!! We got up this morning at 5:30 am and were on the road by 8am after breakfast. We decided that there wasn't anything much we wanted to stop and see in Manitoba, so we'd do our best and push on towards Kenora, ON. Charlie is such a good boy!!! We stopped only to get gas, lunch at Subway and to change diapers. He was out of the vehicle for only about an hour total in the 800 kms that we covered! And he never complained once!!!! Anyway, we decided once we arrived here tonight that we are definately going to spend the day and night here tomorrow and head out for Thunder Bay on Friday AM....it's soooo beautiful here! We're going to do a hike and possibly a boat tour and David may even do some fishing???? All depends on what's open for the season.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos I took today that I thought I'd share....not much as we were in the van ALLLLLL Day!!!!

This was taken this morning at about 6am while the boys were watching Sportsdesk; watching the Canucks highlight...or should I say lowlights....from last night's game. Neither of them look too pleased with me or the TV, eh?

Here is Charlie eating an apple en route! We had about an hour and a half to Kenora and he woke up and wasn't exactly chipper....so....they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.....Charlie is no exception....he chewed on that apple with his 2 teeth for over an hour! GREAT way to pass the time!

Oh, and finally, here is a photo for Charlie's little cousin Austin.....

Charlie writes...."thanks for continuing to check up on me cuz...always great to hear from you! My Mom and Dad saw this sign today and I made them follow it cause I thought I was going to get to see you. We drove for a VERY long time looking for you, but we couldn't find you. So....I don't know what happened, but Mom told me that I'll get to see you real soon...can't wait for you to teach me some big boy stuff! Oh, and I agree with your last comment on my blog....we definately will go find a big moose someday and we DEFINATELY won't take my dad and uncle Roger along...maybe our Grampy's will help us out??? On second thoughts...that may not be such a great idea either...hmmm!!!!"

That's all for now, I'll keep in touch!

I told you I'd find SOMETHING to take pictures of today!!! Medecine Hat, AB to Regina, SK...not quite as many "Oh, my...pull over's" today...much to David's pleasure! So, after a wonderful visit in Medecine Hat, we did opt to get on the road again today and not stay another night to watch the game with fellow Canucks fans. Today was the first day I thought that Charlie and I just might have to get on a plane....Saskatchewan is VERY windy!!!! The trailer was swaying, the van was swaying, the canoe was swaying and David was....well, let's just say...stressed! But, after about an hour the wind seemed to calm down a bit (and therefore so did David) and everthing went well for the rest of the day.

Our first stop was in Swift Currant for lunch at a little playground. Here is Charlie in his first swing! I took a little video of it too, he was squealing, he was having soooo much fun!

Now....let's play a little game....where are we now?

If you guessed Moose Jaw, you're right....move ahead 3 spaces...If you guessed Deer Lake, go back 3 spaces (and don't get a hunting license any time soon, you may have a hard time identifying your target!!) Anyway, this is supposedly the world's largest Moose!!! Charlie thought he was pretty cool! While in Moose Jaw we again did the tourist thing and went on a tour of Al Capone's underground tunnels....that's right, Al Capone was in SK!!! They called Moose Jaw "little Chicago" in those days. It was a pretty neat tour...lots of gun fire, etc.

And finally, here is the little trooper returning from an evening dip in the pool. He's getting used to the water so he'll be all ready for summer at Grammy/Grampy's pool and Nana/Papa's beach!

We are having a wonderful journey, lots of laughs and so much excitement. Charlie is learning new things every day it seems...he now waves "bye/hi", gives a high "5" and I figure that by the time we get to Thunder Bay he'll know how to clap his hands too! He doesn't like to sit anymore...it's up, up, up...walking along (with our help of course) and smiling all the way!