Where did the winter go?

Although we are heading tentatively into spring, it was definitely a busy winter. With teaching 8 classes this term (each 3 hr long, once per week), I let the blog slide into inactivity. To balance out that vacuum, I thought I would show the whole season - all at once.

I know, not the greatest solution, but it is better than making 10 short posts and getting all those notifications at the same time.

Shall we dive right in?


Christmas morning with a 5-year-old who has never experienced Christmas (and might not again) was a blast! Fanfan took no time at all figuring out the process.

No translation needed.

It was great to share traditions but it was sometimes a challenge to explain their purpose.



in January, Parker moved to a single room at Waterloo for his second term. More space and less need to interact with others...

We went to our friends place (Terry & Theresa) for some sausage making and sledding. Yes, sausages (I thought the sled part was pretty self-explanatory). 

Terry is a master at making sausage

Wendy chose to make honey garlic

Once you got used to the cold meat, all was well

Fanfan's first time on a sled

The snow cooperated and gave us about 5 snow days where schools were closed - unprecedented in these parts. Sure picked a wild winter for their first winter experience!

Ying made her own birthday cake - a first (she doesn't own an oven!).

Tobogganing was a big hit (video - may have to use link at bottom of post)

Maddy's 8th birthday (dog) cookie

Maddy loved (past tense) her cookie

Potentially the last chance for a winter sport, Wendy took Ying and Fanfan skiing in the Kitchener area. I took photos and drank hot chocolate.

Adam and I went into Toronto (his spring break) for a 1.5 hr experience in a 737-800 simulator. Of course, a lunch at Five Guys was the proper way to start the day.

No MCAS to turn off...

We took a trip to visit Niagara in the early spring. Fanfan sat on a motorbike and got to hold some butterflies. She also got some ice cream from Cows in Niagara-on-the-Lake (much smaller than the one in P.E.I.).

No trepidation - probably gets it from her father (an edible insect scientist)

Wendy taught Ying how to make brownies (her mom's recipe) and just recently discovered DQ orange creamsicle dipped cones!

To finally prove that winter is over, our flowers are already blooming!

What does spring have in store for us in the next few weeks? Well, you will have to wait for some posts from our annual "term is over" trip. 

Here is where Wendy and I will be over the next 3 weeks:

• Munich
• Dachau (concentration camp memorial)
• Nuremberg
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber
• Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• Berlin
• Barcelona
• Lisbon - just the airport :-(

Take a look at this Google album to see more photos and videos from this past winter.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oEGNh2wssXvEX4wQA

We've gone empty nest!

Well, time certainly flies! We have officially become empty nesters. Both Adam and Parker have left home to go to school. We had planned on them taking turns going to school (they are nearly 5 years apart in age), but that is not how things have worked out. Cha-ching, cha-ching,...

Adam left first, just before Labour Day. He headed up to Canadore College in North Bay, about 4 hrs drive from home. He is in the Aviation Technology – Aircraft Maintenance and Avionics program. This is a 3-year intensive hands on training that seems to be right up Adam's alley. He is living in a basement apartment, sharing with his Dundas friend Neil, who is also going to Canadore for a different program. We don't have any current pictures of Adam of his move out date (we were at work), but if you check back to July 1, there are some pictures of him packing his first of several loads to head up to North Bay.

Parker left home last week. He is only about an hour away at Waterloo University in Kitchener-Waterloo. He is in the Bachelor of Arts & Business (Honours) Co-op program. He is planning to do a double major in Legal Studies and History. He is staying is residence at St. Jerome's University College (one of several colleges that are part of Waterloo U). It looks like a fantastic place to live and learn, as the Arts & Business program has a strong connection with St. Jerome's, having a number of his classes very close to his residence. He has a roommate and is on the 5th floor of a relatively new residence.

Parker heading out for his first day living away from home!

Parker setting up his room. 

Outside waiting for mom and dad to leave...

Parker's room a week later, after 'decoration'. He likes grey.

Adam is getting adjusted to his crazy schedule and the way things are run at the college. He really only had a few days during the Labour Day long weekend to get their apartment rearranged before classes began. We suspect that he may come up for air later in October, potentially coming back to our home for a few days.

Parker recently finished many days of orientation and was often too busy with friends to call us. Apparently there are a lot of females in Arts... and lots of card playing.  He is still figuring out textbooks and where everything is on campus. We dropped by just today to bring some things he needed, although he seems to forget that he has his own car there with him!  Maybe he will explore the area around the university with some friends.

Both boys seem to be adjusting well to not living under our roof. Time will tell whether they will see the opportunities and losses associated with living on their own. We are hoping that they have great adventures in their new environments.



And now, a teaser for a post that may come your way later this week...

Yes. That is a car booster seat.