We spent much of four days last week with family and had a memorable time. Our grandchildren came for an overnight visit and the better part of two days which my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed.
During their previous overnight we had asked them what special meal they wanted this time. Chicken corn chowder was the request, a new recipe for us but a favourite of the kids. Their step-father, a trained chef, does a great job on a recipe the kids first had at daycare and remembered fondly.
The girls helped me chop the vegetables and get the chicken ready. The youngest, a boy, helped measure and add everything to the pot. We had fun tasting the Jalapeño peppers this time round.
We started the day with pancakes made by the eldest grandchild, supervised by her grandfather. Meal prep and time are some of our favourite activities with the grandchildren.
New Year’s Eve with the whole family involved a variety of snacks and games as we waited for the count down. New Year’s Day included gifts and brunch followed by games again. The children had been out of the province for Christmas, so we exchanged gifts on New Year’s Day instead.
When the grandchildren stayed overnight at our house, they re-discovered the book their great grandparents had read for them in 2012.
How I remember that day! At that time, we had one grandchild, and my husband’s parents had come to visit and spend time with her. We had mentioned recordable books and during that visit, we recorded Frosty the Snowman. Little did we know that there would be two other great grandchildren to hear them read about Frosty.
The day of the recording, my father-in-law was emotional as he read his lines. You could hear it in his voice as he thought of how his young great grandchild could hear him read the story long after he had passed.
He died the next year. By that time, his second great grandchild had been born, another girl whom he held briefly before he died. Two years later, a boy was added to the family.
As I sat with the children while they listened to their great grandparents reading to them, again I heard the emotion in their great grandfather’s voice. I could see how touched the children were now, just like their great grandparents were when they recorded the book.
Our walking was confined to later in the week along the boardwalk when wind and cold felt like -25 C. However, we persisted. One day, ours was the only car in the parking lot. With the cold temperatures, the bay is full of ice again, as far as the eye can see.
Finally, my hope for peace in the new year is off to a terrible start! I fear for my country! I fear for our world!
Take care.