Home for Christmas

   We are off to Ontario early on Wednesday, December 19 - the skies are clear and the flight goes well with an early arrival at 12:30pm but long line ups at immigration negate that time gain and Greg is ready to pick us up and take us to Oakville where we will spend the next two and a half weeks with our family, sharing the townhouse that we own and our son and his wife are living in until the renovation is completed on their home.

 


 Dylan is happy that "Oma" and "Opa" are staying with them for the holidays - we even share the same bedroom and that makes grandparents happy when the little guy wakes at 7am and whispers "I'm awake!" and waits quietly for the answer he wants "Do you want to come and cuddle in our bed?"  A firm "Yes" comes and then Opa lifts him into our bed for a cuddle - brief - and then time for breakfast downstairs so mummy and daddy can have a short time to sleep in. Baby sister Megan is not a sleeper and they have been awake during the night so any extra sleep is much appreciated!

   Christmas is a magical time for small children and Dylan was excited to leave some milk and cookies for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer and then on Christmas morning, waking to find them gone and a "Thank you" note from the man in red himself. The presents were piled high under the tree and most of them were for the children. Uncle Derek was home also and we all had a great time sipping coffee and tea while we opened presents - then having Grandma Sally's breakfast casserole. Dylan asked Santa for tools and Santa brought exactly what he wanted - and a tool bench and hard hat! Aunt Jacque sent a wonderful barn just like on their farm complete with horses and tractors that kept Dylan's imagination piqued for several hours.

 



  Tara had spent many hours making this lion for Megan and the best part was that it was a very "chewable" friendly lion!

On Christmas Day, after the gift opening, we all packed up and drove to London, Ontario for Christmas with Tara's family. More gift giving ensued, followed by a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Most of us enjoyed the dinner, but Jack had come down with the stomach flu while driving to London and spent the time on the couch or in bed. After we arrived, we found that several of the McEvoys had also had the flu. On Boxing Day, Jack was feeling better so we continued with our plan to drive to Michigan to my sister's farm. Derek followed us in his car.

 The snow had started while we were driving and overnight, we got about 6  inches of the white stuff and it was a  beautiful sight in the country. But it was COLD and the next morning the ice had to be broken on the water buckets in the horse barn.

                











Sunday, December 30 was a very important event in our family. Greg and Tara brought their daughter to church for baptism. Tara's parents, Andy and Joan as well as her brothers Paul and Mark and their families came to church as well as Jack and I. Though I felt the beginnings of the flu that felled Jack, I went to church but did not shake hands or touch anyone. We were so proud to see our son and his family standing in front of the whole church making a promise  to raise their daughter Megan Siobhan in God's ways.

After the baptism, I took to my bed while the rest of the family enjoyed a lunch together downstairs - the flu had hit me, too! I also missed the New Year's Eve party at the home of our friends the Wildeboers - but that seemed to be the end of the flu in the family - for which we were grateful!

   While we were home, we visited Greg and Tara's renovation project. The roof is half off and the tarps are up to protect the interior.

On January 7, weather permitting, the rest of the roof comes off and the trusses will have arrived to build the new roof. Meanwhile, construction continues under the tarps with studs going up for the master bedroom and bath. Greg and Tara are kept busy choosing shingles, tubs and taps as well as the double sided fireplace that will grace the entrance hall and living room.

No stairway yet means that when you want to see the upstairs, you have to go up a ladder - Dylan was happy to try this but Oma and Opa stayed down and held the ladder and watched Megan.
    Sadly, all good times must come to an end and on Saturday, January 5, we returned to Mesa, Arizona and our RV. While there are no lovely grandchildren here to hug and kiss and play cars with, we do have lots of sun and warm days, pools and aquacise, hiking in the desert and good friends to chat with under the grapefruit tree!