We've been pretty busy in the last little while. November saw us having to go to Moncton to have a tooth out. It was pretty quick and painless and now he has a cute little gappy smile. We went a couple of days early to spend time at my brother's. We saw the Santa Claus parade there and also a giant gingerbread house. Brady came and spent one night with us. On our way home the weather got pretty windy and they cancelled the ferry crossing that night. The tooth fairy had to come to a hotel in Saint John instead of home.
We also went to the library to participate in the gingerbread house decorating night. It's been a few years since I've been there and done that. We had a great time. He worked so carefully on his house that we were the last ones to leave.
On December 1st we found a new Christmas book (The Polar Express), a chocolate advent calendar and Elf on the Shelf waiting for us on the counter when we got up. The countdown was on...
December 5 - 7 Brady came home for the first annual "Danielle Park Memorial Basketball Tournament". Organizers sold the 250 shirts they had made up, plus they've had to order more. Dani's dad Michael spoke about her as a person and her love for basketball. The 8 teams attending the tournament all lined up while her jersey was raised and hung on the gym wall. The gym was packed with people. It was a lovely and highly emotional tribute to an absolutely wonderful girl.
We trimmed our tree that Saturday night. The boys each got their new ornament - hockey skates. We watched a movie, had tons of food and tried to make a little bit of normal out of a very emotional weekend.
The next weekend was the Santa Claus parade. He was invited to be on two floats - the Boys and Girls Club one and the church one. We gave him the choice and he wanted to go with all his daycare friends. He had lots of fun. When we were going over what was involved in being on a float, he told me he planned on waving and then when it was over we could pick him up and hold hands and skip :)
Next came the church concert. He chose to be a donkey. He said he doesn't really like lambs and cows much. He did a good job with the actions to the songs and there was cake after so it was all good.
Christmas Eve meant opening new jammies and eating our gingerbread boys and leaving one out for Santa. Unfortunately our boy wasn't feeling great and he couldn't eat his supper or his cookie, and he fell asleep at 5:30. He was up a lot between 9 - 12:00 coughing. We actually thought we might have to make a trip to the hospital for a mask but things settled down eventually and we got a few hours of sleep in. Christmas Day he felt a lot better but had a really long nap.
He was very happy with Christmas, not crazy excited really, but just happy. He enjoyed every minute of it. We took our time and even stopped for a big breakfast in the middle of things and then went back at it later. He loved the whole season and everything he was a part of. He loved the tree and the lights and making cookies and watching Christmas specials and learning songs and making crafts. He just really enjoyed his whole Christmas and it was special.
Santa came through and brought everything on his list - a digger, a real toolbox and lego. He also got new hockey socks, jacket and stick, plus train bedding for his bunkbeds and some special construction books he wanted. Lots of other people knew he loved construction equipment because he has enough now to open his own company and he couldn't be happier. He got some Jake and the Neverland Pirates things which he loved too, as well as other fun things to play with and some cute clothes. I've had to rearrange and thin out to make room for everything.
Tomorrow night we go my grandmother's for an Italian-themed supper and our annual "string game", which ends in another gift. All the kids (ages 19 - 3) look forward to that.
Thank-you to everyone who sent gifts! He/we really appreciate them. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and wish you all the best for 2015. God Bless.
