Christmas Day in YOW

What a few days we've had! We went into the city. Three days, two nights at the Holiday Inn! My son and his family were here from Vancouver. They were staying at my daughter's house. We had so much fun. I cannot remember when we were together for Christmas. It was a long time ago.
Gifts were wrapped, and transported.


What a grand time, when extended families can be together. It's quite unusual for us. We've dumped Daisy off at the cat motel, the other two cats had extra rations (Annabelle and Hooper) at home. We tootled on in to the city, where cousins were having fun! Lots of cuddles.

Grampa and Bryony

Isabelle and Papa were busy in the kitchen. This stool is an old one, made by two-cut Kent when Josephine (11) was a wee one. Izzy and Papa brought out the family silverware. Iz is really growing and now needs only stand on the lower step.


Josee made cranberry sauce.


The rest of us visited. Stacie, my DIL, was working on the Globe crossword puzzle.


Taking photos is like herding cats, but sometimes it all comes together. Both Josee and Caitlin took some of these photos. It's fun!

Bryony and Cluny

Table is done! Isabelle did well, figuring out how many place settings.


Gramma and grandies.


Too soon, we were done. Back to the hotel we went. The lights are so much fun.

Boxing Day Baby!

What a busy time we've been having. Today it is my birthday. I expect there will be some fun to be had by all!

It is a poignant day for me. I met my birth mother once. It did not go well.  (Meeting my birth mother) I often think of my mother in the hospital, alone. She didn't tell her family, but lived with a foster family in Toronto until I was born.

Happily, I was adopted into a loving family. Both my parents have passed over.

In the meantime, we have had snow!

Notice the snowman feeder, the seed piled up inside.

We had Christmas with two of my three children, and their families. More on that later!

The grandies!

Well, it is an unusual Christmas for us. Daisy is safely ensconced in the cat hotel. I miss her terribly. I'm angry, too. I think Buster bullied her, and she associates (male) Hooper with that. She is always chasing him. I feel it's rather a betrayal of the family, she's just making much anger and frustration on my part. For someone prone to depression, it's been a time.

Happily, I had a wonderful day Sunday. I have to avoid some of the news. I feel so badly for those without, suffering from Climate Change, war or other trauma. That said, we have to watch our triggers, and step back when we have to.

We have three adult children, and 4 granddaughters. Jesse, my middle son, brought his family all the way here from Vancouver. What a journey, the two parents with a 7-month-old and a 3-year-old. They fared well, and ended up safe and sound at Caitlin's house.

I tracked their flight. There were a lot of people flying!


The cousins adore one another. They arrived Thursday, at 6 p.m. and hunkered down with cousins.  My son, Jesse, and daughter, Caitlin, haven't been together for Christmas with their children. We did Facetime Friday morning. They were having a blast. The girls are all sleeping together in Josee's room.  These are screen captures from our chat Friday.


Saturday the plan was swimming at the wave pool, but SUNDAY they came for a visit here. We were twins!


We had a fun play outdoors. Grampa got caught up on his curling and football.
Cluny is three. We played in the front yard, first.


After we rang the bell, off to find tracks in the snow. Mice friends had been busy. There were deer and turkey tracks, too.


I showed Cluny the dock, and stepped onto the ice, there was a loud CRACK. we all giggled and I hustled myself back onto the dock.

I showed Cluny the wood duck nesting boxes.

We moved on around the pond,through the woods.


Bryony is 7 months. So adorable!


After selfies, photos, and fun, SNOW ANGELS! Jess managed, even with Bryony on his chest!


We had fun with Lego, and blocks.

Cluny painted,

and then, a snuggle.

Dinner (spaghetti), a bath, jammies, and then they went back to Caitlin's house in the dark.
Merry Christmas!