Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas 2011

This year was an “off year” for Margaret-Ann and John… their children, Jeremy and Meredith and their families, spent Christmas Day with their in-laws. The result was a lot of coordinating and travelling to ensure that John and Margaret-Ann got together with their children and grandchildren to visit and exchange gifts.

Margaret-Ann and John had their grandsons, Will and Ben, for a pre-Christmas weekend and took them for an evening horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Brampton on December 10th. It was a very cold night, but both Will and Ben were amazed at all the lights at City Hall and in Gage Park.

Will, Margaret-Ann and Ben going for a carriage ride in downtown Brampton. December 10, 2011

A week later, on December 18th, Jeremy and Jennifer hosted a dinner at their house in Toronto. In addition to Margaret-Ann and John, Meredith, Michael and Jaye attended.

Will had a great time helping Margaret-Ann prepare appetizers for the dinner.

Will helping Margaret-Ann with the appetizers. December 18, 2011

While playing with Jaye in the kitchen, Jeremy learned quickly to remove dangerous weapons, in this case a wooden spoon, from Jaye’s grasp.

Jeremy and Jaye. December 18, 2011Jeremy and Jaye. December 18, 2011

Jennifer enjoyed some lively conversation while Ben posed for a picture.

Jennifer and Ben. December 18, 2011

Ben didn’t know which he liked better – his new book or John’s size ten-and-a-half shoes.

Ben in his new shoes. December 18, 2011

A day later on December 19th, Meredith and Michael took Jaye for her first meeting with Santa Claus at the Bramalea City Centre. In the picture she looks like one of Santa’s little elves.

Jaye with Santa. December 19, 2011

On December 23rd, Jeremy, Jennifer, Will and Ben drove to Brampton to have lunch with Margaret-Ann and John. While there, John snapped a few pictures of Jeremy and his family on the stairs.

Ben, Jennifer, Will and Jeremy on the staris. December 23, 2011Will, Jeremy, Jennifer and Ben on the stairs. December 23, 2011

After a quiet Christmas Eve by themselves, Margaret-Ann and John left Brampton early Christmas Day to drive to Michael’s parent’s, Eileen and Keith, in Odessa. Meredith, Michael and Jaye had driven to Odessa earlier in the week.

While opening presents, Meredith and Michael took time to  pose with Jaye in one of her new outfits for some pictures on the stairs.

Jaye, Meredith and Michael on Christmas Day in Odessa. December 25, 2011

Jaye liked her “new” desk. Meredith used the desk when she was a child and John refinished it for Jaye. In the background of the picture is Jaye’s rocking horse that Keith made for her.

Jaye in her desk with Meredith on Christmas Day in Odessa. December 25, 2011

For Christmas dinner, Jaye had a piece of bread for the first time – John’s honey-oatmeal batter bread.

Jaye has her first piece of bread (John's honey-oatmeal batter bread) on Christmas Day in Odessa. December 25, 2011

And for dessert, everyone enjoyed sampling Meredith’s ginger bread Christmas tree.

Meredith's Ginger Bread Tree on Christmas Day in Odessa. December 25, 2011

Keith and Eileen, as usual, were wonderful hosts and always enjoy spending time with granddaughter Jaye.

Keith and Eilleen with Jaye in Odessa. December 26, 2011

The next day, December 26th, Margaret-Ann and John posed with Jaye and said their goodbyes before heading out for the three hour drive back to Brampton.

Margarret-Ann and John with Jaye in Odessa. December 26, 2011

After Margaret-Ann and John left, Meredith, Michael and Jaye bundled up for a little outdoor time in Odessa.

Micheal, Jaye and Meredith bundled up for a walk in Odessa. December 26, 2011

Still in Odessa on December 27th, Jaye amuses herself with an HP bottle.

Jaye with her new favorite Christmas toy in Odessa. December 27, 2011

Although it was a bit of an effort to spend time with everyone during the holiday season, Margaret-Ann and John enjoyed every minute of it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Halloween

Here are Margaret-Ann and John’s scary -- and very cute -- grandchildren as they prepare to go trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

Will in his pumpkin costume for Halloween. October 31, 2011Will “The Pumpkin”

Ben in his dragon cosutme for Halloween. October 31, 2011Ben “The Dragon”

Jaye as a garden gnome for Halloween. October 29, 2011Jaye “The Garden Gnome”

Monday, October 17, 2011

A Day In The Park

On October 8th, a beautiful fall Saturday, Jeremy, Jennifer, Will and Ben met Holly, a professional photographer (check out her website at www.photosbyholly.ca -- her blog has the photos shown below) in Toronto’s High Park. The photo session was a gift from Jennifer’s sister, Heather. Below are some of the pictures taken by Holly that day. Nice work, Holly; and thanks, Heather!

Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

Jennifer, Jeremy, Ben and Will in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011Will the super hero in HIgh Park. October 8, 2011Ben in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011Ben and Will on a park bench in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011Will and Ben walking in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011Pirate Will and regular Will in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011Ben, Jerermy and Will; Jennifer and Jeremy in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011

Wil, Jennifer, Jeremy and Ben in Toronto's High Park. October 8, 2011

Friday, October 07, 2011

Autumn Day with Jaye

On this beautiful autumn day, sunny and 18 degrees Celsius, John drove up to Georgetown to go for a walk with his daughter Meredith and granddaughter Jaye. On the way downtown, they stopped at a park so Jaye could have a swing. Then it was back in the stroller for Jaye, and the group continued their walk to the new cheese shop in town. After sampling some wonderful cheese, it was back to Meredith’s house and lunch time for Jay. Another excellent adventure on a splendid fall day!

Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

Jaye on the swing at the park. October 7, 2011Jaye on the swing at the park. October 7, 2011John with Jaye on the swing at the park. October 7, 2011John with Jaye in the stroller. October 7, 2011John with Jaye., October 7, 2011John with Jaye., October 7, 2011

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Margaret-Ann’s New Ride

After nineteen-and-a-half years and just over 380,000 kilometres, Margaret-Ann’s 1992 Honda Accord was towed to its final resting place in Klunker Heaven on September 19th. Later that day, she and John went to the Mazda dealer in Brampton and test drove a Mazda2 GS (last year John bought a Mazda3 Sport GS there to replace his 1996 Honda Civic). Margaret-Ann picked up her new Mazda2 GS on September 28th and, although sad to say farewell to the faithful Accord, has really enjoyed the new car – Zoom Zoom!

Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

Margaret-Ann's 1992 Accord (almost 20 years old) on it's way to Klunker Heaven. September 20, 2011Margaret-Ann’s 1992 Honda Accord with the plates already off and waiting for the tow truck.

Margaret-Ann with her 1992 Accord (almost 20 years old) on it's way to Klunker Heaven. September 20, 2011Margaret-Ann puts on a brave face, hiding her tears behind dark glasses, as she says good-bye to her 1992 Accord.

Margaret-Ann's 1992 Accord (almost 20 years old) on it's way to Klunker Heaven. September 20, 2011Margaret-Ann’s 1992 Accord “on the hook” for the last time.

 

Say hello to the new kid on the block… Margaret-Ann’s silver 2011 Mazda2 GS

Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS. October 6, 2011Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS. October 6, 2011Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS. October 6, 2011Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS. October 6, 2011

Margaret-Ann’s 2011 Mazda2 GS on the right beside John’s slightly bigger 2010 Mazda3 Sport GS.

Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS beside John's 2010 Mazda3 Sport GS. October 6, 2011Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS beside John's 2010 Mazda3 Sport GS. October 6, 2011Margaret-Ann's new 2011 Mazda2 GS beside John's 2010 Mazda3 Sport GS. October 6, 2011

Margaret-Ann behind the wheel – Zoom Zoom!!!

Margaret-Ann in her new 2011 Mazda2 GS. October 6, 2011Margaret-Ann in her new 2011 Mazda2 GS. October 6, 2011

Saturday, October 01, 2011

Will Goes to School

William, Margaret-Ann and John’s oldest grandson, started junior kindergarten at public school on September 8th. We are just getting around to posting these pictures, since we were in Europe when the actual event took place. Enjoy the pictures!

Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

 

Will, Jeremy and Ben as Will goes to public school for the first day. September 8, 2011Will and Jeremy as Will goes to public school for the first day. September 8, 2011Will's first day at public school. September 8, 2011Will's first day at public school. September 8, 2011Will's first day at public school. September 8, 2011Jennifer with Will on his first day of puclic school. September 8, 2011