North to Alaska!

Well, so it seems.
Since we have arrived in Saskatoon on Wednesday it has been cold. Real cold.
Last night the temperature was supposed to dip to -40. That is really cold.
So cold that I will not be trying to get my outdoor walk in today. I value my nose and eyes too much for that kind of craziness.

We have had a great time so far. Tuesday we went to Toronto after having lunch with Eric and Lins and dropping the dog off in St. Thomas.

Once in Toronto, we settled into our hotel, had a swim, dinner at Swiss Chalet, another swim and then to bed. Wednesday morning we were up at 5:30 so we could get to the airport in decent time for our flight. We need not have worried at all. After all was said and done, we were sitting my gate with an hour to spare before boarding time. Good thing that there was a Starbucks right next to us…

Once on the plane, we sat on the tarmac for 2 hours as most flights were backed up due to the weather and the fact that every plane needed to go for de-icing…

Jack and Will really enjoyed the flight. It is kind of sad to say this, but they enjoyed the fact that the seats had their own individual entertainment systems in them more than anything else I think. But it made the flight go quickly which was very nice…

Once we had landed in Saskatoon we were greeted with -25 weather. Bit of a shock but it was fine.
Rosemary and Abi’s place has TONS of room for us all. We have been enjoying spending time playing games, chatting, snacking and playing the Wii.
I could seriously get used to having one of those Wii things… Schooling Nan last night in Wii play was especially fun We were joking that her Wii me looked like it needed counselling after losing so many contests. ha ha.

It is so cold this morning that we are not even going to church. We are going to have a quiet morning at home and then friends of Rose and Abi are coming out for coffee and a visit this afternoon.

Last night, Rose and Abi put on a Sabbath meal for us. It was really great. They have taken a good number of the Sabbath traditions and updated them for Christianity. It was VERY enjoyable and very reflective for me.
Nan and I think it might be something for us to try to with our Potluck Group next time we host. We will give all of your forewarning so you are not freaked out or anything. It is just a fantastic way to remember what God has done for us.

So, we are truly enjoying our vacation. We have been able to spend some really nice time together and we are not even half done yet. So nice.

Gettin’ stoked…

Today is my last official day of work before my holidays. I am so excited. We are going to visit my sister in Delisle, Saskatchewan. Don’t ask me where it is… it is near Saskatoon. I am not even sure where that is.. It is out in the prairies somewhere

The point is that we are leaving and not coming back for 2 weeks. This is a huge event for my family. I have not taken many holidays this year. I have taken the odd afternoon off to golf or ride my bike, and the odd day here and there to daytrip with the family but this is my only true “vacation” for the year. I am so looking forward to it.

I have a little bit of work to take. Not too too much. I have been working my butt off to try to not take a great deal. I have to admit that I am a little nervous about what will await me when I come home. I have not taken 2 weeks away from the business consecutively ever… Yikes. But, I am sure it will be fine. I have a great bunch of clients that have for the most part, all encouraged me to have a great time with my family and have let me know that they can hold things for me until I get back.

So, it is 2 weeks of family time with my sister, my other sister, my parents, my aunt and my family. Should be an absolute blast. It has been 3 and a half years since I have seen my sister I think. Definitely time to remedy that.

So, it should be great.
That being said, I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying for our friends the Osmonds in Belleville. Just last week, their 5 year old daughter Delaney was diagnosed with Leukemia… brutal.
And their roller coaster ride in the last week has been unbelievable. Delaney in now back in Kingston and undergoing Chemo treatments. I just wish I could reach out and give them all a big big hug right now. I know that there are lots of people who are.

So, this Christmas I will be stoked about family time. I will also be thinking about my friends as they go through a very difficult time. I have a hard time imagining my sons in hospital going through chemo treatment. I will be praying for them a lot.
If you think of them, pray for them. For Delaney that she will be able to handle the chemo okay and it will allow her body to heal quickly. For Davin, her little brother, to be able to handle the stresses of not having mom and dad around as much for a bit. For Steve, the father, who as most fathers is trying to be the man of the house and be stalwart at time, for strength and reliance on God. And for Lisa, the mother, who I can only imagine is beside herself with concern for her daughter.

Thanks

Blessed quietness…

Well maybe not quiet per se.

We spent a very good day together yesterday as a family. Even though we were out and about the city, we spent it all together. It was quite insular really. We did not talk to many people besides ourselves other than those that we absolutely had to in order to get our errands done.

For a Saturday we were up early (regular time) in order to get the car into Handford’s for its winter checkup and a new battery. (Early is not really really early like some hockey families… that is just crazy stuff that…)

We dropped the car off for 8, then walked to the market downtown and had a nice little breakfast at Little Red Roaster. We sat in the market and ate leisurely then strolled around the market, bought a couple of things, then walked over to Novack’s.. Listen to me, this is becoming a commercial for the stores in London we patronize….

We had not even left the market when we got the call that the car was finished. Sweet! We had kind of hoped to hit City Lights Bookstore before leaving downtown but they do not open til 11 o’clock Saturdays so we did not get to go there.

It felt really nice to be walking around downtown in the snow and laughing lots. It certainly got us into the Christmas spirit I think.

From there, we boogeyed on up to Costco to pick up pictures and some various and sundry items and then home!

On our way home, we stopped at the dollar store to pick up some small stuff for Nan’s piano teaching, then to the video store. The boys received coupons on Hallowe’en to each rent a video.

Once home, we had lunch then just chilled.
I did some work around the house. The shower downstairs needed to be re-caulked, and the sink in the bathroom needed its drain cleaned a bit. Nan practiced and then we watched a family movie. Fun.

Relaxed the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
Great day.

Changes to how we live

Nan and I have been doing some very serious thinking about the priorities in our lives lately.
Somedays it seems simply overwhelming what we are involved in.

I am getting tired of the learning curve that my profession keeps me on. Sometimes, I think it would be really nice to be able to use what I have for a while without having to worry about what is the newest and greatest thing coming down the pipe that I will have to incorporate into my code.
To some, my sitting on the couch with my laptop in the evenings might not seem like work. It is.

Nan teaches piano and loves it. But it keeps us hopping. She is also a full-time mom. It simply amazes me how she keeps the Britton ship running so smoothly.

My boys.
Wow, my boys. They are growing so fast. I simply cannot fathom that Will is going to be 11 next month. This is frightening. Nan and I were talking about it just last week and we believe that we are fast approaching the time when my boys will want to spend more time with me developing than with their mom. That was difficult for Nan. She has been the ONE for the last 10 years and that is starting to change.
That is not a bad thing. It is good. Everyone goes through this and I am looking forward (with a little bit of healthy fear) to seeing my boys grow into young men.

So, I think we are going to make some changes in the decisions we make about how we spend our time. We had a wonderful weekend away this weekend and just had an absolute blast hanging out together. My boys are such fun to be with. Their senses of humour are quickly developing to the point that anyone is fair game now with sarcasm. Sweet.

The boys learned to swim in deep water this weekend. I am so thankful that this finally happened. It is something that I learned fairly early in life as did Nan and we wanted the boys to feel confident near water. They are all over it now.
Good days

Phew!

Been a busy 3 weeks….
I think we might see some semblance or order shortly though.
The boys are back to school today and like most other kids not too thrilled about it.
Nan is back to teaching lessons today.

When Nan went to take the boys to school today, she noticed the car doors open. Lo and behold, someone had gone through the car, and taken all the spare change. Punks!

They did not destroy anything, just took the spare change. Thank you Lord!
A neighbour of ours said the same thing happened to them a couple of weeks ago. He even had a cellphone and an ipod in his car and the perpetrator did not touch them at all.

Bizarre. But I am thankful that my car is not damaged.

Christmas Party

Last night we had the youth from the church over for a little Christmas shindig…
Good times.

Nan made some of her hot broccoli dip. yum yum yummy….
The youth generally sat around, talked, then decided to watch Home Alone.
What a great Christmas movie.
After they all left, we snuggled into bed only to hear William up being sick again.
Poor kid.
So we will keep socking the Gravol to him today.

Nan is out for breakfast with friends this morning, but she is not feeling all that great.
I wonder if that is from staying up late doing laundry from a sick boy or if it is that she is getting what the sick boy has.
Only time will tell I suppose.

This morning when the boys got up, we sat in the family room and played Tiger Woods on the X-Box.
Too much fun. They are getting so good.

Jacks took the dog out to the backyard this morning after breakfast to play with her. She had an absolute blast running away from him. It is hard to believe, but she can really go! Jackson cannot keep up to her. I don’t think any of us could keep up with her if she put her mind to it.

She is currently in her bed in the family room, resting, the boys are at Tiger Woods again and I am sitting here contentedly.
Great day so far.

Only 6 more big sleeps!

Woo hoo!

Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!
Santa’s coming!

I am so excited! I really really really like that guy!

First Christmas weekend.

Well, here we go again.
Busy busy busy.
I am almost happy to get back to work on Mondays because of how busy we are on the weekends.
Well, almost but not quite really.

Nan is officially done her piano teaching for the Christmas break now. Last year she continued into the last week of school but the students were just not there if you know what I mean…

Tomorrow we have a couple stores to hit in the morning. Thankfully they are not big shopping stores so we might just avert the craziness

Tomorrow afternoon we head to St. Thomas to drop the puppy and Lins and Eric’s and then we are off to Cambridge for the McGrath Christmas. I am so looking forward to sitting around and chatting with family and having a great ol’ time.

We will come back later in the evening, pick the pup up and get in for the night.

Sunday morning we will be prepping some food for a potluck for lunch, getting off to Sunday School, where we will be putting the last minute touches on the Sunday School concert skit, worship service, then off to the potluch for part of the afternoon.
Then back to the church for the SS concert.
Phew!
Home to bed and back to work.
Fun fun fun!!!

Another busy weekend.

Man, they really seem busy these days.
Tonight is the church Christmas banquet.
Tomorrow morning, we drop the puppy off at John and Christine’s and then head to Cambridge.
Once there, Bruce and I take off for Toronto to the Toronto International Motorcycle Show.
Nan, Will, Jacks, Lorraine, Aiden, Ethan and Austin are all going to Rocky Ridge Ranch for their Christmas open house. Wow, I feel kind of sorry for Nan and Lorraine handling all 5 of them at once.

Maybe I should be sending the Ranch a thank-you card as well….
Back to London Saturday night.
Teach Sunday school Sunday morning. Well, really we will be spending time working on our skit for the Christmas concert.
Then the worship service. Nan is playing piano, I am running the overhead.
Practice the skit with the teens on the platform after service.
Then home.
Lunch then get ready to go to Nan’s Christmas piano recital.
After the recital, our friends Paul and Jackie and their 4 kids might show up for a little visit.

busy busy busy. But very fun! I am looking forward to it.

I think Sunday night I am going to be ready for bed early though……

Free Saturday.

I cannot believe it!
We actually have a “free” day today!

I did not think that we had a free day until March 15 of next year…
Actually, Nan had it planned that we were going to do the Christmas decorations today on her birthday.

Side note: This program is brought to you by the most wonderful girl in the world… My wife Nan!
I love you babe. You are the best! Have a wonderful birthday. Make sure you do something for you today.

Now, back to our regular scheduled program.
Nan and the boys got really excited about doing decorations and the tree a couple of weeks ago and went for it.
Now, we have nothing organized that we have to do today. Yippeee!

Our friend Bruce Crow and his family were telling us about a store here in London called RELIKS. It is a sword and knife store that specializes in medieval stuff. We told the boys that we would take them there today. They are so pumped! We need to pick up a couple of things while we are out as well.
We also thought that we might go to Dr. Doo’s pet store and look for a coat of some description for the dog. I cannot believe that I actually just typed that. I mean, I grew up on the farm where all of our dogs stayed outside until our final dog Penny arrived. Here I am, Mr. Suburbia with a mutant rat that is called a puppy that my farm dogs would have eaten like a two-bite brownie talking about going and getting the puppy a sweater coat because she gets cold outside. I am a sucker. Our whole family is. Let’s not kid ourselves. This puppy has been loads of fun so far. A few mistakes, but loads of fun nonetheless.

Tonight, we are taking Nan out for dinner. It should lots of fun. The Koehlers and the St. Pierres are going out with us and we should have lots and lots of fun.

Have a great December 1st everyone.
I think that I am beginning to like December more and more now. Christmas has become more and more special to me since I now have children and I am getting older and older. The value of Christmas is no longer in gifts (I still love gifts, don’t get that confused please…) but in spending time together with family and friends that mean so much to us.