Our Canada Day

Our Canada Day started the night before.  In a region where there are so many choices for Canada Day activities, we needed to make sure we were organised and had a plan for the next day.  When we have four boys in tow Edward & I don't usually have much time for a  'on the spot' couple's chat and if we try, end up having to scramble to get our children back where we need them to be or break up a fight or apologize for something they did. 

So we decided together that we'd drive 10min, park (for free) and take the bus shuttle ($3 for adults, children free) to Jacques-Cartier Park which is in Hull right beside the Museum of Civilization.  We had also checked the NCC (National Capital Commission) website to see what was going on at the park and what time shows were on. We arrived shortly after 10am and after 15minutes of a wildly look percussion improvisation by our boys and a bunch of other bucket, pots, tube bangers we went to watch 'The Flying Fools'  which is a diving team/ show.  The acrobatics were great and the 24m tower dive was pretty impressive. We then checked out the Canadian Military's children's obstacle course.  Afterwards we headed across the street to the Museum of Civilization where a giant screen was set up for all to watch the noon show that was on Parliament Hill.  We got comfy in the grass and brought out our lunch.  There weren't very many people and it was an AWESOME up close view of the fighter planes overhead, the show, the Queen's speech on the gian screen and the best, best part was seeing the Snow bird fly right over our heads...twice!   We then headed back to Jacques-Cartier Park for the rest of the afternoon for fancy face-painting (of course I did too (just love that kind of thing) and a few more activities. At 4pm we decided that it was time to get home.  We got back on the shuttle that took us to the parking lot. Once home, Johan, who had fallen asleep in the car napped for 3 hrs while I got dinner ready and the boys just hung out with Edward.  We had a nice dinner and then at 8:30pm got back in the car and headed for the parking lot to go see the fireworks behind the Museum (excellent UP CLOSE & RIGHT IN YOUR FACE).  We ended up not getting on the shuttle since it was going to cost another $3 each.  We walked to the park and stopped at Mc Donald's on the way for the all- important  pre-fireworks pitt stop.  The fireworks lasted for a whole 15 minutes. We made it home by 11pm.  It was our best Canada Day. After living in the area for almost 7 years we've finally figured out the most relaxing & fun way to get all the excitement in without even going to Ottawa. PHOTOS