The White Stuff

I looked out the window this morning while it was still dark outside. Of course at this time of the year that could still be only 7:45 a.m. I heard a loud rumbling which turned out to be the garbage truck in front of our neighbour's home. The lights from the truck highlighted the large flakes of snow that were falling. Kind of a beautiful sight if you don't think of the end result of that snow piling up on the road. It is -4 C this morning and I don't think we are actually getting any significant amount of snow yet but as the day lightens, I can see snow on the rooftops and the accumulation of it on the edges of the lawns and sidewalks. Oh boy, I guess I should have gone shopping for boots when I didn't have to worry about snow. Hopefully, the sun will burn it away and I will have another opportunity to go get boots while the sun shines (or is that supposed to be 'make hay while the sun shines')! Whatever!

This and that

We went to a wedding on Saturday and I realized something. We are getting older. I remember when it seemed like mostly 'older' people were at my friend's wedding - friends of the parents of the bride or groom. I am not sure if the trend is toward more of the bride & groom's friends to be in attendance or if the older friends of the parents are 'dying off' or not invited anymore. Anyway, the ratio was definitely on the side of the younger ones!! Still, I guess we are grateful we were considered to be among the few invited or perhaps the few that were free to come. Guess being retired gives you a bit more free time (although it seems as if we are busier than ever)!

Have you noticed the increased price of wedding gifts and what is purchased is getting bigger and bigger? I remember receiving a painted metal cooking pot as a wedding gift. Mind you, that was 41 years ago! However, I still use that pot and it is almost in the same condition as when I got it. Guess they made things to last in those days! I remember we used to give towels for wedding gifts. Oh they still do that but now they are shower gifts. One thing is still the same. They still play 'games' at showers - a little more sophisticated but still....games.

Anyway, we have decided to write cheques instead of giving gifts. Everyone's taste is different so instead of people 'returning' their gifts with gift receipts, we have opted for a cheque in which they can buy something themselves or put it together with other cheques to buy a larger item. I guess that makes sense too.

I forgot my camera for the reception - something I seldom do. I had changed purses at the last minute and neglected to include it. I guess I have enough pictures of weddings on my computer now. It seems I take too many anyway and who looks at them anymore, except the screen saver!

Ok, off to work and different thoughts.

A Few Good Kids!!

I came home from our 10 days with our grandkids with a cold (again). I never seem to get away from there in good health. Guess I stay up too late, get up too early and just generally do too much while I am there. I usually love it, occasionally get upset but mostly enjoy all my adventures and misadventures with them. They are all so unique in their own way, it is just interesting interacting with them!

I went to music with our two+ year old and learned a few new songs (as well as remembered a lot of old ones), learned how to pull up my 'inner child' while stomping around in a circle and playing games! My imagination was stimulated with this one as she did not give time to let me read the story book but kept turning over the pages back and forth. In the end, I just made stories up about the pictures!

Grace is all dressed up for Princess birthday party!



exciting game

 Hockey was one of the things that I got to go to once but most of the games and practises were attended to by John.



Birthday boy!



The four munchkins!

I thought I would have taken more pictures and certainly intended to do so but I just never had the time!! But I have lots of memories!!

Goodbyes

It was sad to say goodbye after 10 days with the kids but it was time to head home. This is our goodbye picture.

School Begins

We have been enjoying our time with the grandkids. We've been to hockey practises, hockey games, birthday parties and such. We've been to the park, been to the grocery store, been out for walks, read books, made suppers, watched movies, and pretty well had a full weekend. We had a big turkey dinner on Saturday (with all the trimmings) and have almost finished all the turkey fixins'. The kids are definitely 'finished' with turkey! So, last night, John made his juicy hamburgers and everyone enjoyed them with salad and veggies (everyone has to have at least 3 pieces - apple, cucumber, strawberries). We ate about 5:30-5:45 pm and at 7:30 we were ready for a snack of ice cream, and a selection of either strawberries, bananas or chocolate sauce. Some opted for all three! Bed time went smoothly about 9 pm with individual prayers for each child. That's my favourite time!

This morning everyone was up early as they are having pictures taken today at school. We had Eggo's for breakfast and fruit and made up their individual lunches and they wanted to leave early so all were gone by 8:20 am! The walk to school is quite the adventure with grampa along!

Here's a few pics.

Grace ready for Princess birthday party - so cute!

Thanksgiving dinner

Sunset

Last night was phenomenal when it comes to sunsets. A picture really doesn't do it justice at all as you don't get the variation of colours and depths of clouds etc etc. But, you can see how bright and orange and yellow the sun was last night. Bright, bright, bright!!!

I stated out just wanting to catch the light on our willow tree in the backyard but realized by the end of the street that I had the setting on b/w instead of colour and then had to drive back to get a colour picture but the 'blaze' was not there (as you can see). But, the rear view mirror shows how bright it was. Beautiful!

Looking Back

In a few days we will be looking after our four grandkids for a week. I remember when our first grandchild, Joshua Lewis, was born. I arrived a week prior to the 'due date' and our daughter was a week overdue. We went through it together and simply enjoyed 'watching' our newborn grandson. There's something special about the first one - guess it's the experience of it all and the fact that you can just enjoy and spoil them and someone else looks after the training. However, having said that, grandparents are always training - they are to be an example for the next generation so that means being aware of what we say and do also. Just when you think they are not paying attention, they get you!

I hope the weather cooperates as we will be walking the kids to and from school unless it is raining and then we will have to 'pile in the car'! With the kids in school, we will only have the one granddaughter at home so we should be able to get a few things done or to visit some people too. Likely, the week will be gone before we know it!




floor hockey in the living room - acceptable!




newborn, Grace, 2010




Ethan with Grace




Christmas, 2004 (4 and 2 yrs old)




Happy Ethan at 9 months




Grampa and Ethan - best friends




the Three Muskateers!




I thought three was a handful!










2010 Halloween


and finally,

Summer 2012 - the whole family.

Looking forward to making memories and more pictures!!!