Tuesday, January 1, 2013

(posted by Greg)

It seems hard to believe that it is January 1st and that we have already started a new year. The holidays seemed to speed by in a blur. Monica and I were quite busy:
- the office Xmas Party at the Giggle Dam in Port Coquitlam on December 13th
-the Beedie Group Xmas Party at the Red Robinson Theatre on Decembe 15th
-cleaning up the house for the season
-putting up the Xmas lights (yes- I waited until the coldest and wettest day again-apparently a tradition)
-Jesse came home on the 2st
-family get together and pot luck on December 22nd to make the pork pies which we traditionally have on Xmas morning- it was a lot of fun!
-shopping for food on the morning of the 23rd.
-Marley and I drove to Seattle to pick up Daniel on the afternoon of the 23rd.
-I made breakfast on the 24th at 7:00 am for most of my family (Since 1950 my older brother has been going to the cemetery to lay a family wreath. One of our favourite traditions is to have breakfast and go to the cemetery near my house where family and friends are buried to lay wreaths.- In many ways, this is the highlight of Xmas for me.)
-I did my last minute shopping and cooked a ham on the rest of the 24th while Jesse made perogies (Oma style)
-Marley, Monica,  and Jesse picked up Ross, Marley's boyfriend at the airport in the afternoon of the 24th and put a wreath near the bench which had been dedicated to Opa near the family home in Steveston.
-a nice Xmas Eve Dinner with all the kids, Ross, Ingo and Oma
-I prepared Xmas morning breakfast for all plus our neighbour, Ed.
-I cooked Xmas dinner all day Xmas day,- Monica had a nice visit with her mom and with the kids
-a nice family xmas dinner
--I collapsed in a heap on the 26th - Oh -did I mention that Santa brought me some dishpan  hands for Xmas.
-lots of relaxing and visiting in the run up to new years
-Monica and I got up early (4:00 am) on the 31st and drove Daniel back to catch his plane in Seattle
-Monica and I had a chance to visit my cousing Maurice and his wife Zelma in Seattle for a couple of houts
-a quick stop at Bellis Fair on the way home
-dinner and movies at Ingo's on New Year's eve
-another collapse in a heap on the 1st with a nice visit to Oma.

I am grateful that we are together and starting another new year. I appreciate the support and encouragemen which Monica and I get from everyone. Happy New Year to you all!