Chris surprised me with a dinner for my75th birthday (can you believe that number?) at Stefanos Restaurant of course. I thought it would have been just family but there were about 35 of our friends as well. It was a lovely surprise.
On the following Saturday morning, the girls arrived at our house and told me to pack a bag. What now? Off we went to Vancouver for a pedicure and then lunch. Then on the road, only to find out we were going to a Whistler Ski Resort. Stopped for Mass, then checked into the hotel, a suite with 2 rooms. We ate, drank and talked until late. Next morning we were off to the spa for most of the day. It was divine. Massage, sauna, hot and cold pools. A delicious dinner followed and then a walk through the village. Checked out on Monday and headed home after being thoroughly spoilt.
Christmas dinner was at our house last year with all the family. We had very cold weather for a few days in early January, -14c during the day. Got a good dumping of snow in mid January.
We had a rough start to the year. Chris had to have an angiogram and they discovered he had a small blockage in one artery around his heart, no stent required. He went for an echo cardigan and now has to occasionally see the Heart Function Clinic as they are keeping tabs on him with regular tests and visits to the cardiologist. His back still acts up occasionally from the fall last year, especially after lots of activity. It is something he has to live with as well. We now call on the girls, in-laws and grandchildren to help with the outside work.
We finalized the sale of our beautiful Sapphire 101 condo. I will certainly miss it, even though we will still stay there when we visit. I guess some good things have to come to an end eventually.
Chris & I went to Barbados in April for 2 weeks to clear out our personal stuff from the condo. Whatever could not come with us we either left or gave away to our friends and family. We had a good rest, enjoying the beach and pool and visiting friends. We then spent 5 days in Ontario visiting Chris’ family and some friends. It was good to see everyone as it was since before COVID when we last visited. So glad I don’t live there, every where is so far. Spent lots of time on the freeway.
I tested positive for Covid for the first time in mid August. Thank goodness it was just like a bad cold.
We went to Nuevo Vallarta in October for 2 glorious all-inclusive weeks, lots of rest, relaxation & reading. We swam everyday in the ocean and pool. Good food and drinks. Just what we both needed.
Then back to the routine.
We wish you all a Blessed and Holy Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year 2025
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Christine and Brad were really busy this year. 7 years ago they bought the cabin and it was deemed time for the renovations to finally begin. They started with the bathroom and the deck but they still felt unfulfilled. They still felt the need for another child. So they got one: a large sport pontoon boat. Yes, they upgraded their old boat to a party boat and their summer was exceptionally better because of it. As they both are able to work remotely, the majority of the summer was spent at the cabin and on the new boat.
Brad kept himself busy this year with work and hockey. Travelling across Canada and the US for work while reprising his role as President of the Langley Girls Ice Hockey Association. Christine has also been busy with work. She travelled to Montreal with Master Care for a Franchise convention this April.
As if a boat was not enough, Brad & Christine welcomed another child into their family: Matthew. Mia and Matt are engaged! It happened in April while they were on a trip to Maui with his family. He got down on one knee on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean. Picture perfect. The wedding planning is well underway as their date has been set for Spring 2025.
Mia has been engulfed in wedding planning, work and being the mom of an active toddler.
Savannah is now 3 and got the best birthday present: a trip to Disneyland. She got to meet Mickey and Minnie and the Princesses as well as spend time with her parents, grandparents and aunties.
Savvy has been in dance classes, gymnastics, swimming, soccer and ice skating this year.
Emily is still at UFV and working at the same restaurant. She recently was promoted to a server which she is enjoying. Dance is still her passion and she performs with an adult hip hop group. In January, she is starting a volunteer position with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Langley. And in February she finally gets to go to Trinidad for carnival with her mom!
Jess is now in grade 9 and is still playing the trombone for the school band. She is still very passionate about hockey and made it onto a higher level team this past fall. In the summer, she picked up a new hobby: wake surfing behind the new boat. Last winter she got her refereeing ticket, so when she is not busy with her own hockey, she is on the ice reffing. She and her best friend started a baking YouTube channel. You can find them on Instagram: @baking.with_jebby or YouTube: @BakingwithJebby.
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Rachel & Ryan both celebrate their 50th birthdays this year. They went on a trip to Nicaragua in March for her 50th and thoroughly enjoyed the new experience. She even drove a scooter for the first time to tour a small island off the coast – which took all of one hour.
They went on a trip to Mexico in September with 3 other couples, most of whom are friends from high school, who are also turning 50. It was lots of fun.
Rachel went with Master Care to Montreal for a convention in April. Ryan met her there at the end of the weekend and they spent 3 extra days there together.
Ryan turned 50 in November and Rachel surprised him with a weekend in Tofino on Vancouver Island and 2 of their friends joined them as a surprise for Ryan. They had a great time.
Christian turned 24 in April and changed his job earlier this year. He is now working with a coffee company servicing large companies using their coffee machines. He is still having problems with his foot after his accident. He had to get a special shoe and an orthopedic for it, and is still having pain when walking a lot. It has not stopped him from going camping and travelling. He is juggling university classes and work, so is kept busy. He is still tinkering with cars for his family and friends, when he has time.
Hannah is still part of his life. She is loved by all the family and we get to see her often. They both took summer classes to try and complete their studies earlier. They did lots of camping and road trips this summer.
Abbey is working hard to finish her University courses in December and her graduation ceremony is scheduled for next June. She was 23 in August. This year she has had to physically attend some classes at the campus as she had always been able to work online. She still works part time at the restaurant.
Abbey travelled with her cousin Taylor to Paris and Europe for about ten days in February. A very different experience as she is a beach and sun girl. She and Taylor did the ‘West Coast Trail’ on Vancouver Island in June. It’s a tough camping experience through the forests for a week. She went to Mexico with a group of her friends in July for a week, then to Barbados mid August for a week with a friend. Who knows where next. She has being seeing a guy – Evan, who is part of their friend’s group, and they are enjoying each other’s company.
Madison continues to work at doing eyelashes and taking courses for laser hair removal. Her salon moved to a larger space in the same building. She is enjoying what she is doing and is kept quite busy. They had a successful open house at their new location.
She loves to spend her spend her day off with Savannah, so some days we take her out of daycare and have fun. She has her group of friends and they are quite social. In March she was finally out of her teens – 20 years.
Jackson is still at London Drugs and getting lots of hours. He played lacrosse again for a while, this time it’s all big guys and a bit rough.
He turned 19 in June – legal age, so is now able to go to the bars. All his friends are now 19, so he has been busy celebrating with them.
He went for a week in July to Calgary for Stampede. He stayed with a high school friend who now lives there and had an amazing time. He started university in September and is doing computer IT courses and really enjoying it.
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Deborah and Kristien continue to be very social on weekends with their friends. They both work very hard during the week and are looking forward to arriving in Barbados on December 21st for two weeks. Kristien has been a big help to Chris around the house again this year. He stops by after work to help with outside jobs like managing the pool in the summer and raking the yard in the fall.
Deborah and her girlfriends went to Palm Springs for 3 nights to celebrate a birthday. They had a fabulous, kid & husband free time! She has been with Milieu now for 8 years and enjoys her role as a Shared Living Manager. The agency sent her to Vancouver Island in May to be a presenter at an Inclusion BC conference. She enjoyed it and got great reviews from participants.
Kristien still enjoys his job with Enterprise Paper and is looking forward to the big Christmas celebration they host at the Pan Pacific Hotel. In June, his dad Lisle and sister Karen came to visit for 2 weeks and he was so happy to have them here. Kristien and Deborah took some time off work to take them sightseeing and Lisle really enjoyed BC. They saw quite a bit in their short visit. Deb organized a day trip to Vancouver Island and we joined them along with another couple. The eight of us walked on the ferry and were met on the other side by a van with a driver/tour guide who showed us around Victoria taking us to some fun tourist spots.
In October, they hosted Ella – the 16 year old daughter of a friend from Barbados. She stayed with them for a month while she did some work experience at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Of course, Ella was taken on adventures visiting fun locations and checking out restaurants.
Amy did her return to work in January. It took some adjusting but she was happy to be back as were the people she supports who missed her! The day service location she worked from moved offices so she is now based out of the head office where her mom also works. Of course, Deb loves seeing her everyday doing what she loves.
In January, Amy also started back playing roller derby. She started slow, practicing with the C-level team but quickly moved up to the B-level. At her last game, she was awarded Overall Game MVP which was very exciting, especially to all of us that were there cheering her on! She has also been coaching their rookie program that started in September and has been asked to do it again in 2025. Amy will be 24 in April and still lives with us which is still a lot of fun – especially seeing the banter between her and her Grandad! Deb and Amy spent 10 days in Barbados together in August and Amy will be joining them for Christmas leaving home to meet them on December 24th.
Chris and Deidre's Journey From 1969 