Act Three

Cousin L turned 1 recently and we were all at Grandpa and Grandma L’s to celebrate it.  The winter has blown some big drifts onto the yard and L, K, and cousin T spent some time enjoying them.

Grandpa traded off the snowmobile on a 4-wheeler, so of course everyone had to enjoy it.  K and L both took a number of rounds on Uncle B and Uncle M’s modified GT Racer.  There’s too much snow to go off the beaten path, but there are enough paths to make for an enjoyable time.

Uncle B and Grandpa also hitched the horses to the sleigh.  The sleigh isn’t big enough for everyone, so some have to ride in the calf-sled pulled behind it.  It was the afternoon of the second day and so everyone was operating on less than a full night’s sleep and had a really hard time staying awake.

Grandma F didn’t accompany Grandpa F on his annual mission trip to Mexico this year.  We had the pleasure of hosting her for a few days.  She brought her rainbow-bracelet loom with her and it was a hit.  L and K are very proud of their bracelets and are always asking to make more.

L has the misfortune of having his birthday fall during the winter break.  His Mom, who looks after him (and the rest of us) so well, planned a birthday party for him in the new year.  He was allowed to invite a few school friends over and they all enjoyed his lego-inspired cakes.

We decided to do something slightly different for Christmas this year.  Instead of giving Grandma and Grandpa a traditional gift, we gave them a complimentary weekend at the “Ingersoll Elms” bed and breakfast.  We went to see a Wesmen volleyball game on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning, Grandma gave L a drawing lesson.  This was part of L’s Christmas gift from her.

In the afternoon, we all went to the Manitoba Museum.  We got to see how the ancient Egyptians mummified bodies and were able to see the iconic ship, The Nonsuch.

The weekend was such a hit that we will probably do it again.  The month also involved a hit of a different kind.  We became an MPI statistic.  Pam and the kids were on the way to drop L off at school when this happened.

It was cold, we weren’t driving winter tires, and there were some deep ruts. Nobody was hurt, though the event seems to have been permanently etched into the minds of all the passengers.  We are hoping to get our car back this week.

Thanks Jack Frost for the reminder of flower gardens.

It has been great to spend time with family this Christmas, we are truly blessed to have families where people actually enjoy seeing each other and getting together.  It was cold! We still had fun in the snow even if it was only for short periods of time.

L and K both helped us celebrate the birth of Jesus by participating in the Christmas Eve Choirs.

For all the good cheer and thinking of the less fortuante I would not be honest with you if I didn’t admit to enjoying presents.  L did the victory dance when he opened his,

and K took a minute to figure out exactly what her present was, never doubting that it would be something good.

We have spent a few days at home enjoying our presents and remembering what it is like to just be us.  L and K do the mad scientist experiments very well.

There really shouldn’t be any special reason to feel relief at the end of October, except that Halloween costumes fall hot on the heels of K’s birthday.  Except that entire evenings and some days are spent in my sewing corner, trying to make the deadline.

A little of the past 2 weeks.  L&L got to go to a Bomber game, which bombed but they had fun.

We got to do some babysitting/playing with cousins.  Lots of fun was had, although I’m not sure the littlest L was always having fun without his mama.

Okay on to the stressful part.  Our birthday cupcakes got baked and decorated,

a unicorn (since named Stella) and riding habit for Sarah were sewn in time,

Jack-o-lanterns were carved, (although this wouldn’t have happend if K’s ballet teachers hadn’t quit half an hour before the dance class),

Finally, Gorzan the Gorilla leader from Lego Chima and Miss Pirate Princess made there appearance for the Halloween party at school and trick-or-treating.  Phew!  L might be right, I can’t help myself, but it’s fun.  I have to admit that the sewing that happens after the kids are in bed, is only technically for other people.

A clip from my unofficial UMass transcript…

I’m not sure that a trip to the supermarket has ever been as much fun, for me or for L and K, as this one was.  On the way home, I asked L and K what the names of the lucky lobsters were.  K had a ready response: Sophie and Louie. 

Pam and I have had a few lobster meals in our lives and I dare say that Tuesday’s supper was as good as any lobster dinner I’ve had in a restaurant.  We started with some mussels and then enjoyed the lobster with corn, baked potato, and a nice bottle wine from Mission Hill.  L and K were also big fans, though they had to enjoy their meal without the grape juice.
 

I think that part of what made the meal so enjoyable for L and K was watching Mom and Dad get the meat out of the lobsters.  We didn’t have fancy tools, so we just used knives and scissors.

We’ll definitely do this again.  Anyone want to join us?