Spring has sprung!!!!....err, Merry Christmas...

After the stockings were stuffed on Christmas eve, I glanced at the thermometer before heading to bed. I don't think we have seen a Christmas eve temperature of 10.5 C before!

10.5 C on Christmas eve? Come on... this is Canada!

That clinched it. It was guaranteed to be a green Christmas this year. I sure hope we won't have to get out the lawnmower again. 

Haven't been posting much lately, but now I have the time off to putter on the computer and do a little stained glass. Below is a piece that I made for Wendy after we sold one to a good stained glass customer a few days before. 

Finished two of these just before Christmas

The next piece we are working on will be a large transom window for our friends. When I say large, I mean 64 inches wide.  It will take some time but we have designed the pattern and already have all the glass. Will post some photos when it is done.

Christmas itself this year has been a whirlwind. Although Wendy and I are both off until the new year, there was always something to do. Now that Christmas is over, things have slowed to a crawl and it is sometimes a little to quiet for us. 

Christmas tree 2014

Stockings all filled Christmas eve

Parker trying to keep his eyes open when my flash goes off...

...Adam trying not to have any expression at all...

...and Stanley, who does not mind smiling!

We opened presents in the morning at our house then packed up at 10:30 and did the same at Wendy's parents. Round 2 begins...

Maddy received a bone - seems to just be compressed dog food

Stanley and Wendy opening presents

Parker handed out presents to everyone

Adam didn't get much, except a car.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Adam didn't get as much as he usually does for Christmas because he will be getting his grandfather's car when he upgrades in the next few months. Adam had to do a long and involved treasure hunt and eventually got the news that his new GPS and bumper sticker would not really need to be installed in Wendy's car. 

Here is a link to an auto generated movie that Google made of Adam's treasure hunt. 

After a short time at home for some cooking and a nap, Adam drove us up to Mel and Murray's for more presents and a big Christmas dinner. Here is round 3...

I got some scotch glasses to go with some good scotch

Murray also got some liquids

Parker really wanted white hot chocolate - he got enough to last a year or two

Adam got Advanced Scuba lessons on the island of Roatan (in February)

Everyone got into the action!

As with every year, Wendy got a Coca Cola item!

Turkey dinner with family

Murray, the chef

More pictures to follow as the holidays continue!

Maddy's visitors

Maddy was in heaven with all the attention this week. She started off Sunday with a play date with her large dog friend, Abby (Maddy can walk underneath her, so she is quite big in comparison). Tired her out completely! She just had time for a quick nap before the arrival of Eric's parents, brother, and sister-in-law. They were on their way home from a tour in Italy and stopped in Toronto.  They stayed at our place for a few days while they recovered from the 9+ hr flight.

Maddy with Eric's dad, Paul.

Maddy decided that she loved everyone and was ready to receive a scratch from anyone, anytime. And there was a lot of that going on...everyone was home all week due to Spring Break for the kids.

Maddy with Eric's brother, Dave.

Maddy with Eric's sister-in-law, Sandra.

Maddy in her glory.

We had several big meals and sat in the living room a lot. Both Wendy and Parker practiced their piano for everyone, while Maddy demonstrated how to play with toys.

Eric's mom, Dianne.

The family all together for a concert.

Maddy also had a short play date with her neighbour dog friend, Penny (a dachshund). After all of the activity and the lack of sleep (everyone was home all day), Maddy finally remembered that she had started the week by losing an hour of sleep due to the spring-forward time change.  She was so over-tired that she kind of sunk into the couch. Anyone that has ever had jet lag should recognize this feeling!

What true jet lag looks like.

With all the talk of spring, and all the melting going on in the back yard (we had mud puddles everywhere), you'll never guess what happened?  

We got snow.  

Again.  

After everyone was headed back to Winnipeg on Wednesday in a major snow storm, I drove back home from Pearson airport (after almost 2 hours of driving on city streets - all the highways were functionally blocked). It was miserable for the whole day, but we woke up the next morning to a pretty back yard. Looks a little like a postcard from the Swiss Alps (without the mountains). 

After the storm.

It has partly melted since then, but I am not holding my breath for spring coming any time soon. The weather was just the right temperature, though, for Maddy to make some interesting patterns in the yard with her nicely trimmed (not bushy) feet.

Maddy tracks.

Busy week, busier weekend

Wow! That was one busy week and it looks like it will be even busier next week.

Parker's first broken stick

We started off with Parker's semi-final hockey game that could have been the last of his season. We were wrong... they now are in the finals in a few weeks.  And Parker needs a new stick. He's never broken one before, so he does it at the end of the season - before he grows out of it over the summer! Another $100 piece of hockey equipment that might end up playing on the driveway.

[Parker - if you are reading this, please note that we have a NEW garage door. NO driveway hockey.  Well, at least until your brother runs into it...]

We got more snow this week. Surprise! Only came down two or three days this week. It looks like it will melt just in time to be sloppy when the weather is warm enough to go out hiking. No big deal. It's all good. I'm not bitter.  

Snow sliding off the patio table

Our student, Stanley, is really starting to warm up to Maddy.  He and she are frequently seen sort of cuddling on the couch.  Don't tell him that she likes to stay close because he eats food, and she knows it.

Maddy's new friend

Today, Adam went for his final driving test and he passed with flying colours! He now has his full G licence and doesn't have to deal with these driving test things for another 50 or 60 years. Now we have the task of trying to pry Wendy's car out of his hands so she can drive it.  He can't use the practice excuse on us any more.

This weekend we are cleaning the house, going out to dinner, hosting Stanley's cousin overnight, then going to the airport to pick up my's parents, brother, and his spouse.  They are from Manitoba, but are flying back from a vacation in Italy via Toronto. They had not been to Italy since about 1964 or so (around the time I popped out... let's forget that looming landmark for now). Must be quite a few changes in the last 50 years! 

We twisted their arms and told them there was no use staying at a hotel then catching the next flight home the next morning!  Adam (the G driver) and I will pick them up in the evening and they will stay to recover until Wednesday morning before heading back to Winnipeg - where their weather has been worse than ours! My parents haven't visited our house for many years, so there are a few changes they will see. Even better, it is March break for the kids (starting today), so we all are going to be home for the entire time they are here. Glad we have 3 bathrooms.  Another good thing as that their jet lag will be not as bad as it could have been - TIME CHANGE time again!

Wendy and I expect to be driving to Stouffville to have dinner with her friend from Ottawa.  Traffic going north should be less intense by tomorrow, right? The only places you don't want to be this weekend is on the highway or at the airport. 

Wait.

Oh cr#p...!