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.
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.
While playing with Jaye in the kitchen, Jeremy learned quickly to remove dangerous weapons, in this case a wooden spoon, from Jaye’s grasp.
Jennifer enjoyed some lively conversation while Ben posed for a picture.
Ben didn’t know which he liked better – his new book or John’s size ten-and-a-half shoes.
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.
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.
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 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.
For Christmas dinner, Jaye had a piece of bread for the first time – John’s honey-oatmeal batter bread.
And for dessert, everyone enjoyed sampling Meredith’s ginger bread Christmas tree.
Keith and Eileen, as usual, were wonderful hosts and always enjoy spending time with granddaughter Jaye.
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.
After Margaret-Ann and John left, Meredith, Michael and Jaye bundled up for a little outdoor time in Odessa.
Still in Odessa on December 27th, Jaye amuses herself with an HP bottle.
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!!!
