Holiday happenings

Sorry I haven't been posting often. Mom and dad still have dial-up internet and I didn't want to be on the computer all the time either. We are really enjoying our stay. We had a big clan here for Christmas. We didn't win the furthest travellers award either. My uncle and family came from Medicine Hat, Alberta, a cousin on my mom's side came from Barbados and my brother's girlfriend came from Germany. Lots of laughs were shared as we exchanged gag gifts. But the biggest laugh came when we ran out of water right before my 6foot plus, huge cousin Everett was able to rinse off in the shower. Aunt Marj gathered about a cup of water from the water cooler and a kettle for him to finish up saying "we need more water, that is a big boy!"

The most heart warming moment was when Andrew proposed to Andrea in front of the gang. Yep, you read that right, it's official. Andrew and Andrea are fiances. We are so happy for them and didn't have to remind Andrew that Andrea is a great source of authentic German chocolate. He had a hundred reasons why he chose her above all others. We are so excited she will be part of our extended family. She is a ray of sunshine to us all.

The roughest part was that along with the laughs and love, we also shared a flu bug. I think everyone is about recovered. Myself and Dominique were two of the few who didn't catch it. Ivan was the first and most dramatic demonstration as he hurled all over himself and me while we were all playing games. Luckily dad has a carpet cleaner and we had changes of clothes for myself and Ivan, not to mention sympathetic family who all helped in the clean-up (and then got the bug themselves).

Dominique is growing up before our very eyes and Ivan astounds us daily with his learning. I read that he learns 8 new words a day. It shows. Since coming here two weeks ago, Dominique has learned to sit up on her own and has hurled herself out of her car seat on a chair when I turned around to get her food. She and Ivan also crashed out of my homemade sled (an old baby wash tub). Since then we've gotten the real sled out.

Saskatoon has changed since I've been here. It has grown and they've moved roads, but the sky is the same, the snow and cold are the same. It has been fun to be transported to other times while visiting or just breathing in the harsh cold (which has not been harsh at all by Saskatchewan standards).

Yesterday the trees and ground were shimmering with sparkling delicate frost. It could not have been more beautiful.

Have a happy New Year, from the snowy north.