Transformers

A few weeks ago Wally slayed his fourth birthday.  Shelly and I weren't all that impressed as it was just after the holiday hustle and bustle, but that will be the way it is for him with an early January date.  It was just more toys, basically, and more wrapping paper and more people and more, more more....  Oh well, we had a relatively simple party.  He really wanted to have lots of Transformers around - it is his favourite go-to toy these days.

Shelly splashed together the cake, we had some pizza, the kids played and fought, it was a typical affair.

There hasn't been much of winter this year.  There isn't a whole lot of snow, it hasn't been too cold.  There is no consistency in winter yet.  For example we've got out to go tobogganing one day, but the next day it rained.  There has been a few in climate weather days with school cancellations, but I am not really too sure of the reason because it has been fine out for the most part.  I think I have only shoveled the driveway 1 or 2 times.  But I did use the snowblower once for a pretty big 10 cm dump.   I don't get it.  During December it rained and thunder stormed a few times, and there was lightning.  A person who I work with and farms, said that after such an event like that it means 6 weeks of an open winter.  Sure enough she hasn't been too far off.

Molly and Mia are best of friends and best of enemies.  They are 4 months apart, are in the same class at school, and are as inconsistent as the weather this winter with their behaviour and love for one another.  But where we go, Mia usually comes along.  If Molly isn't home, she'll be at Mia's.

Wally invited this guy Bennett to his birthday.  Their love of long blonde locks make these two nearly identical.  Their birthdays are only a couple weeks apart as well.  As the story goes, Bennett's grandmother was charged with the day care pick up and she grabbed Wally to take home!  (They go to the same day care.)  Both boys could use a haircut, but the long hair has served Trevor Lawrence, Samson and Joel Wright well, so maybe there is something to it.   They do look alike though.

Other then Molly, we all have a great deal to look forward to on February first.  It will be pretty easy to finish off the month and then enjoy the sabbatical.

New Year

2018 wasn't such a big year in blogging, but there were a few updates and stories that will be forever saved.  There may be more in 2019 with another sabbatical from work starting in February.  That always produces the travel recaps and some new content.  

My buddy is on/has been on a great trip which starting during the first of December and they aren't getting home until the middle of January.  It is nice to read about their journey and see the pictures.  I don't think he'd mind if I provided the link.  (http://tremainiacs.blogspot.com/)  I guess it is a bit more interesting if you knew him and the family, but to journal for 35 days on the road, in Africa, the middle east, central Asia, and down to Australia, and home, takes a bit of a commitment and attention to detail.  I know they usually get their blog printed and bound into a book which is makes a fine keepsake.

We didn't get up to too much over the holidays.  We spent a bit of time with the families, a bit of time with friends, and a bit of time at home with one another and out at the cabin.  It maybe wasn't so equal as it sounds, but we made it through the chaos.  Wally scored a number of transformers and rescue-bots.  He also really wanted a Light Saber, and sure enough he got one.  Molly on the other hand wanted a bounty of LOL dolls and other similar things that are small and easily lost.  Sure enough she got some, as well as a bit of Lego and clothes for both kids. Both kids even got a sleeping bag each, an air mattress, and a GT Snowracer.  They are lucky.   

So not too much going on right now.  The big news is that Shelly and I both have a big break from work starting in February until September.  I've got a trip booked to Cancun with some buddies from high school, then Shelly and I are planning on a bit of a trip south as well.  It isn't booked, but it looks like a Costa Rican week at a surf school on the beach which should be so much fun.  We will get to Atlanta at some point to see my sister....  Nothing planned to get out west to my brother's, but that doesn't mean we won't....  I will wait for warmer weather and get on a motorbike trip for sure.....