Christmas and birthday time

 

Garry and I celebrate our birthdays very close to Christmas. I was planning a bigger party for his 65th on the 22nd at the farm gym, but my plans took a turn during the day when more family members had positive covid test results. The grandkids were positive but were never really sick. Two daughter in law's were also positive with more symptoms. So it became a small group at home, with a lot of leftover Napoleon cake. It took me hours to make that cake! 

We went back and forth on Christmas Day plans and finally celebrated with video in three houses, with the last presents exchanged the next day on my birthday, when the final covid free family arrived to celebrate. There were two identical birthday cakes- one for the covid families and one here that I blew out candles on.

Back in Ukraine, the students got the warm sock presents (and board books for the babies)  I left for them, I got some photo thank yous on Facebook. They also got the first snows of the winter this week. 

We're here in Canada for about five weeks yet before our flight back is scheduled. 

Keeping busy

 Garry has been keeping busy, although he'll say he has nothing to do. He's out in the barn a couple times a day, looking for heifers in heat or helping one of the boys with something. This week he's going to start reffing basketball games at schools with our son Josh, apparently there's a shortage of vaccinated referees. Garry's been going to choir practices on Wednesday evenings because he's singing with them for Christmas this coming Sunday. 

Last week it was cancelled and he was able to go play basketball in Winnipeg with the boys, he even scored. There's a video, Crystal was at the game because I was babysitting the girls. 

Garry now has a physical Manitoba Covid vaccine card, so we don't have to make sure we have a charged device with his on to get into basketball games, or the arena. Last week Friday we got to see a very goal filled Winnipeg Jets game with Josh, thanks to our vet Ron.

This last weekend we got to see all the kids and grandkids together, there's even a photo.

I did my 30 minutes mile and a half on Jonah's treadmill this morning, now I need to get the Christmas letter written and hopefully in the mail by tomorrow morning!

Too much to write about

 

If you're wondering, yes, we are enjoying our time in Canada. Two weeks ago today we drove out to Saskatchewan to see our son Matthew and family. We had a lovely weekend and met some of their church family, actually sitting in the front pew with the same view as we get virtually when watching his sermons. We went on a few walks with them and got to know the girls again. How they have grown! 

Monday afternoon we drove back to Manitoba to join our friends Doug and Marcie and spent the next couple days hiking, hot tubbing and playing board and card games. It was a bit strange, not cooking, and we thank them for the invitation to vacation with them. 

We're home in St. Labre, starting to get ready for the holiday season, hanging out with the rest of the family.