Happy New Year! Amelia's 5th Birthday Celebration - Dec 28 - Jan 4th

Since the beautiful day December 27th, the rain stopped but it's been very foggy here at the lake, even in Duncan with the odd peep of sun. 

Quiet after the Christmas rush. Ray managed to get all the outside lights on the dock, ramp and front gardens in. The house is still decorated until after Amelia's birthday party here on January 4th. Although her actual birthday is on January 2nd, Kristi and Jason are having her "kids party" on Saturday the 3rd and then all the grandparents and friends are coming here to the lake on the 4th for lunch. Lucky girl 2 parties. :)

Ray's "Red Truck" puzzle he finished earlier in the month.

We ended up with unexpected company on the 28th. Steve and Dianne were coming back to the island from their week of Christmas at their son's in Coquitlam. They decided to stop in Duncan when they got off the ferry to look at a pickup truck ..... 3.5 hours later they were in our driveway for the night with the new truck. :) It was way too long of a drive to go home to Courtenay in the dark and negative temps driving a vehicle he's not used to, with Dianne driving their car. I had pizza ready to eat when they arrived. Notice the little red ribbon on the windshield.... on the back it says to Ray and Deb Love Steve and Dianne. lol

A lovely unexpected visit. We were all in bed by 9 pm and they were out the door at 9am heading home.

Tuesday, we headed into Duncan for some errands and purchased some fresh crab for our NYE Dinner at home. Unfortunately all the lobster is spoken for, so I'll have to be more prepared next year.

New Year's Eve afternoon, it's bright and finally sunny. Other than running a few errands in town and checking out our dock, we enjoyed the sunshine through the windows. lol Flat calm on the lake today. My last parcels arrived at the post office ..... for Christmas. Fortunately nothing that I had to have earlier.

Wednesday, New Year's Eve. We ate a fresh crab feast. Delicious!

After watching the ball drop at 9 pm for New Year's Eve in New York, we were off to bed.

New Year's day, we woke up to foggy skies again and very cold at -.5C. (31F)

Friday, back to clouds and raining by late afternoon. We are in for another stormy few days, I think. Video called Amelia as it's her birthday today. We are having her "adult party" here at our house on Sunday. Too many kids and parents for her kid birthday Saturday. :)

On Friday, Jason's friend Dani, gifted Amelia with her own PS5 controller for amputees. It works great for her "small" fingers. He also got her ear protection for the shop.

She also got bug collectors for Mommy's garden.

Mom and Dad got her a game to start programming (coding).

Ray's been busy finishing up the Disney Puzzle Amelia got him for Christmas, so she can see it and tear it up back in the box on Sunday. Definitely not a puzzle he would have picked lol It apparently was quite a challenge.

Sunday, Amelia's "Adult" birthday party at the lake. This one is for both sets of grandparents, Aunt Theo and her boys, and Theo's parents. There were too many kids and parents at her birthday party in Nanaimo to fit us all in at the same time. :) What a lucky girl. She had a unicorn birthday party yesterday. They try to make her birthday special so it's different than Christmas.

It won't be as fancy at our house lol

Sunday, Jan 4th. Everyone arrived by 11 am. We had a full house! This included 3 dogs. Olaf, Gizmo and Lily.

Everyone kept busy eating first. I bought way too much food lol

Deb, Nadine and Ivo

Nickolas and Alexandros, Theo's boys.

Granny and Papa Dale got Amelia a new babydoll with bunkbeds.

Ivo, Nickolas and Sara with Lily.

Theo, Kristi and Amelia with Olaf making sure he's ready to get any food that drops. lol

Amelia likes the new dinosaur shirt we got her.

Aunty Theo made her a special princess hat to go with her new princess costume.

We got Amelia a little "Wally" the robot. The controls are super easy for small hands.

Let's see how much cake I can stick in my mouth!

Once we finished the food, presents, and cake, everyone helped with taking down our large decorations and lights on the beams so Ray wouldn't have to.

Within 30 minutes everything is down to be packed. Thanks a bunch guys! By 3 pm everyone hit the road to Victoria and Nanaimo Whew! Tomorrow the work will start for us to put everything taken down away so we can start on the villages and tree.

Christmas Celebrations December 2025 - Dec 22 - 27th

Merry Christmas 2025

Christmas is finally here! Amazing a long awaited celebration that you wait so long for, is over in a flash!

Ray, Deb, Aaron, Kristi, Jason, Dale, Nadine and Gizmo, Amelia and Olaf.

On Monday, I did last minute shopping for our Christmas Feasts. Tuesday, more prepping for dinner. Jason and Amelia arrived after lunch on Tuesday, with the rest of the bunch arriving Wednesday afternoon. Kristi is on call on Tuesday, so after she had a bit of sleep she arrived about 3pm. It's great to give Amelia a day to just enjoy being here before it got crazy so she didn't get too "wired up" and end up with a melt down lol She's so excited for Christmas this year.

She played with her puzzles with Grandpa. We went out for dinner at Jake's, so I didn't have to cook and make a mess in my kitchen before the "big cook". :)

Morning cuddles.

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Jason made up a charcutterie board for nibbles for the afternoon, showing off the charcutterie board he made me for my birthday. The rest of the crew arrived at 2 pm.

Jason's friend Aaron, Amelia and Nadine.

I made a ham dinner with scalloped potatoes.

After dinner, Amelia is able to open one present to play with. We bought her this dinosaur truck.

It's a hit!

I did most of the food prep and cooking but after that, I didn't have to touch a dish. I had a great kitchen cleanup crew. Thanks a bunch!

What ? you don't want your picture taken lol

Solving world problems lol

Jason and Aaron emptying all the boxes and bags of gifts to place them back under the tree for the morning after Amelia went to bed. Of course the majority of them were for her. :)

Christmas morning, we were all up by 6am much to Dale's disgust lol He usually gets up at 10 am on weekends, but when you have a granddaughter, who is almost 5, and very excited for Christmas, up you get!

Amelia helping Olaf with his stocking.

Sometimes the boxes are the best part!

Jason and Kristi got us Christmas napkins with all our names on them. Nadine and Dale got us napkin rings with our names on it. So funny, neither of them knew what the other was getting us. 

Knowing Amelia was getting a Brio train set for Christmas, I got her and Grandpa conductor hats.

Uncle Aaron spoiled Amelia. Here they are playing a new game he got her.

Amelia was a great little elf, handing out gifts and helping to unwrap them lol

My new apron from Pat.

Amelia wearing her new engineer's hat we got her.

Amelia managed this year, to keep unwrapping and handing out presents for the three hours it took. Last year we had 3 breaks and didn't finish until late in the afternoon. I made a wife saver's breakfast this morning so we didn't have to wait to eat after we were done opening.

Most of the group had a relaxing afternoon, Dale and Nadine even had a nap. lol I was busy getting the Prime Rib Roast on the barbecue and getting the fixin's together. 

Time to tidy up and get rid of all the boxes etc. Amelia stayed in her PJ's all day until picture time. At 3:30 we had our annual Christmas picture in front of the fireplace. Amazingly, Ray was able to get it in one take, including the dogs in the picture! Nadine and Amelia rarely smile for pictures.

Pat, Darryl and daughter Gail arrived at 5 for dinner with us. Their celebration with their family is not until tomorrow.

My Prime Rib Roast turned out fabulous, if I do say so myself. It's the largest roast I've done, 10.25 pounds. Nadine provided all the desserts for the 2 dinners. Tonight it's sticky toffee puddings.

Jason, with his long arms was able to snap a picture of us all. Starting at the end of the table clockwise, Pat, Darryl, their daughter Gail, Dale, Nadine, Deb, Ray, Jason, Kristi, Amelia and Aaron.

Merry Christmas!

Again, great cleanup crew!

Another great dinner with family and friends. 

Boxing day after I made a big breakfast, everyone was out the door by 11 am. Kristi and family had another event to go to at 4 pm. Sure got quiet around here. :)

Ray and I tidied up a bit then relaxed for the day. I even had a nap. lol Dinner tonight was at Pat and Darryl's for their big Christmas dinner.

Reegan, Emily, Grandma Betty and Adam

Ray, Deb, Ernie, Laura, Ashton and Sevie

Ray, Darryl and Sevie

Thing one, thing two and thing three, Pat's three grandchildren.

Back home for 9:30 pm. What a great few days. Time to relax a bit.

Here is a picture of the lake on the morning of the 27th. Finally some sunshine and no rain. I think it has rained every day for three weeks! Clear and Frosty!

Next up New Year's!