Thanksgiving This Year

Our daughter and her family flew home for Thanksgiving again this year. Travel is more challenging with three children. 

 

Normally we would meet them at Detroit airport with a borrowed van, help collect their luggage then all pile into the van for the drive to London. This time they had to manage on their own renting a vehicle big enough for a family of five with three little ones in car seats. It is a logistical nightmare. We were impressed with how well they managed.

They arrived on Thanksgiving Saturday around 10 p.m. a little later than planned as the border crossing was busier than expected. We didn't take pictures. It was late and the kids were tired. After a quick bath and story, they were happy to snuggle down to sleep in their lovely new tent.

This year we delayed closing our pool hoping our grandchildren would be able to use it when they visited. Thankfully we awoke to warm sunny weather perfect for swimming on both Sunday and Monday. It was fun unwinding in the pool before everybody arrived for Thanksgiving dinner. 

We loved swimming so late in the season with our grandchildren. 

Instead of swimming, our newest grandson enjoyed cozy cuddles.

This year we hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. My husband cooked both a turkey and spiral cut ham outside on his new Kamado ceramic smoker and grill. I prepared mashed potatoes, baked vegetables, cream corn and stuffing inside. My Mom brought pies (pumpkin and lemon meringue) and butter buns. My mother-in-law made salad. It was a fantastic feast with enough leftovers to last all week.

Our newest grandson slept through most of the festivities ... so sweet.

We managed to squeeze everybody around two tables in the dining room.

I love how our grandson was mesmerized by the flickering lights.

Our grandson was also entertained by ceiling fans and smiling faces too.

Thanksgiving Monday, we spent the morning swimming before heading to my brother-in-law's cottage near Bayfield. They call it "Lasting Memories Cottage" aptly named as so many happy memories are being made there.

 

 

It was a perfect day for a walk on the beach ... collecting stones.

Stones gathered from the beach were used to construct an Inuksuk back at the cottage. I think our son did a good job with a little help.

With tired kids, we left for home before the sun had set. Our sister-in-law sent us this photo ... a perfect end to a special Thanksgiving This Year.

This year, my husband and I both worked while our grandchildren were here. He was too busy to take time off and I have used all but three days of my vacation. I am saving those days for when they visit at Christmas and New Years. It wasn't a problem as they had planned activities with our parents every day.

In the mornings before work, our grandson would play and chat with me while I relaxed with a green tea latte in the living room. I learned to step carefully as Lego "disappeared" on that carpet. Our granddaughter woke up early enough only once to join in on the fun.

I managed to get a few snapshots showing how they spent their week while we were at work. They kept busy with lunches out, parks, visits to great grandparents' houses plus a trip to Stratford ... so many things.

My Mom (aka GG) joined the kids for story time one night ... so much fun.

In Stratford, they visited an "old" family friend Zibby and Gus where they posed for a group shot. I heard they enjoyed fresh baked treats.

Thursday night, they visited our niece and her husband to meet Pippin their kitten and play Wii.

Cuddles with the baby ... never get enough.

On Friday, we got off work a little early. My husband made good use of his Kamado smoker and grill making pizza for dinner ... very tasty treat.

Our grandchildren enjoyed another swim before dinner.

Our niece and her husband joined us for 'games' night Friday. Actually I sat and chatted while the 'kids' played Pictionary ... lots of laughs.

Saturday was a warm day, but rainy. Instead of going to Kustermans Berry Farm as planned, we went to Adventures on Wonderland - an indoor play area. Although it was crazy busy and noisy, our grandchildren loved it.

Our grandson loved these shakers. I could keep him entertained for ages.

On Sunday, my husband put his Kamado smoker and grill to work one more time preparing beef brisket for dinner. It was a relatively warm day so I went for one last swim with our grandchildren before finally closing the pool for the winter. 

As he often did, our littlest grandson slept through our 'good-bye" dinner. Our son had to drive home later that night while our daughter and her family started packing and preparing to fly home the next day. 

We enjoyed our week with the little ones and look forward to seeing them again at Christmas. They have not been home for Christmas since forever. I can't even remember when. This year they will be joining us for two weeks. I am super excited and already feeling more interested in decorating for the holidays. Only 60 more days ... yes I'm counting.

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Our Summer Staycation

Last week we took a week off to spend time with our daughter and her family who flew in from Boulder and our son and his girlfriend who joined us from Guelph. I've chronicled our Summer Staycation with photos and day-by-day descriptions capturing the hi-lights. It was a fun-filled week spent with family. 

Day 1 - Saturday

Our Staycation started with a drive in the pouring rain to Detroit Airport to meet our daughter and her family. We crossed the border at Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia. When my husband talked to the Border Crossing Guard, I had to chuckle.

We were driving our Audi TT which is basically a two seater. When the border crossing guard asked where we were going, my husband said we were meeting our daughter at the airport. He probably wondered where we planned to put her which prompted further questioning. When he found out she was arriving with her family and they would be driving separately, he then questioned our logic/sanity, but eventually let us pass. Next time, we should just say we're shopping. 

We stopped at Costco and a couple other places before arriving at the airport, so we didn't have long to wait.

It was so good to see them again. Our son-in-law headed to the car rental place while we helped collect luggage before taking a shuttle to join him still waiting in line. 

We managed to coordinate meeting at a nearby Biggby's for coffee followed by dinner at Thumb Coast Brewing Company in Port Huron. It was a good plan as everybody was hungry by the time we got there.

Day 2 - Sunday 

Our grandson loved the dinosaurs at the ROM when he visited in October and really wanted to see them again. Our daughter had two requests: visit the ROM and a beach. Since it was raining, this was our ROM day. 

We dropped off a vehicle for our son in Guelph, so he and his girl friend could drive to London after work then piled into our son-in-law's rental to drive to the ROM. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

For dinner, we traveled down memory lane eating at McSorley's, a restaurant our kids enjoyed when we lived in Toronto. Our grandchildren loved tossing peanut shells on the floor just as much as our kids did. 

After dinner, we walked to Maurice Cody, our daughter's old elementary school. It has changed quite a bit. There is an addition, new play equipment and a fancy Astro Turfed soccer field. We played a bit before the rain set in then headed home. It was a long day on the road for kids. I was surprised at how well they coped. 

Day 3 - Monday

Finally a beautiful, sunny day and perfect for Ipperwash Beach. The water was cold, but not too cold. We enjoyed splashing, wading and skipping stones while walking the length of the beach.

Wallygators was a perfect place for lunch after a morning on the beach.

After lunch, the kids enjoyed playing mini-golf beside the restaurant. It's a bit run down, but free, and just right for little ones.

Back at the beach, the Dads relaxed while the rest of us played. 

Day 4 - Tuesday

Another rainy morning, but the pool and hot tub were warm. The kids decided they liked swimming in the pool and jumping off the diving board. The hot tub became a favourite place to hang out and warm up.

We hosted a family barbecue and party to celebrate our son's 19th birthday. The kids were back in the pool as our guests arrived. Luckily the weather improved and we were able to eat outside.

Enough people in our family to justify two cakes for the occasion. 

Our grandchildren received beautiful customized "name" books from their Great Aunt, Uncle and cousin. Our grandson loves to listen to stories.

Day 5 - Canada Day

Morning cartoons after breakfast - Dinosaur Train - followed by a swim in the pool then lunch at 168 Sushi Buffet.

Keep eating and you can keep ordering using a handy dandy i-pad with each menu item displayed in pictures. It's a great deal, but oh-so-filling!! We rested after lunch before heading to my parents' house in Byron.

We joined in on Canada Day celebrations including a potluck barbecue dinner and evening fireworks on my parents' street. We had a great time, but really couldn't eat much after 168 Sushi.

My parents thoroughly enjoyed their neighbourhood Canada Day celebrations with the barbecues, tents and tables set up in their driveway. They look forward to this party every year. We didn't take photos, but the fireworks were spectacular. 

Day 6 - Thursday

Our son's actual birthday. The kids returned to 168 Sushi for lunch while we rested at home. We simply couldn't eat that much food two days in a row. The rest of the day was spent swimming and relaxing. We were all tired by day 6.

Late in the day, we drove our son and his girl friend back to Guelph, picked up their Guide Dog in training then took them out for dinner to celebrate his birthday one more time. This time with shots, not cake. It was a late night for us, but we had fun.

Day 7 - Friday

We woke up tired after getting home around midnight. We decided it would be a good day to relax. We ordered pizza and salad to have a backyard picnic for lunch and lazed about in the pool and hot tub. Later in the afternoon, the kids met their other grandparents and cousin for a bit of shopping and dinner. A quiet and relaxing day overall.

Day 8 (Departure Day)

Departure day is always a bit hectic. Grandparents visited for final good-byes. The kids enjoyed one last swim. Finally packing was done and the car was loaded. 

We drove together to Port Huron to enjoy lunch at the Thumb Coast Brewing Company one more time. It was a beautiful day, so we sat on the patio where we could watch the boats pass by and under the bridge.

Our granddaughter was covered in a rash she developed after having a fever for a couple days. Our grandson looked like he might be coming down with a fever. Still, it was nice to have lunch together then meet at Biggby's for coffee before saying our final good-byes.

We decided to take advantage of the weather and walk along the lake shore in New Baltimore before heading to Marine City to take in the sights and catch the ferry to Canada.

My husband took a few photos of the Audi TT and somebody commented that he must really like his car. That may be true, but it was the first time he took it on a ferry. 

The ferries are not very big. We'll have to cross here someday with our grandchildren. I think they would like it.

We enjoyed our Staycation and Family visit. It was fun and exhausting all at the same time. At least we didn't get sick like the kids. 

Our granddaughter was the first, then our grandson, then our son and now our son's girl friend. They all had a fever followed by a rash. Our son complained of headaches, nausea and dizziness. Thank goodness it only lasts about five days, so his girl friend should be feeling better by Monday. Let's hope nobody else in the family catches it.

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