Kooky Kids

I love how free kids are. My niece was visiting and it was March and they all wanted to lay out and sunbathe. Check out Cooper's hat - he is wearing six toques.
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Old Friends and Reunions

When I was a child I had a wonderful family in my life. I considered the mother and father my auntie and uncle, and the children were as good as cousins. Actually, my mum went to boarding school in England with my Auntie Morag and they were the best of friends, since they were eleven years old.

When we were all babies our parents made the decision to move to Canada. One year, my mother's brother and his wife, and my dad, my mum, and my brother, who was one year older than I, immigrated to Canada. The following year, my Mum's best friend, Morag, her husband, and her three tiny boys followed us.

It was a new beginning for us all. Sadly, we had left our other relatives behind, but thankfully we had these two families.

Over the years we would always spend Boxing Day with these families. Auntie Morag was a huge influence in my life. I loved her dearly. She was the kind of person that always came to any event that was important to me. Auntie Morag and I had a special relationship, and going from what she said to me once, I know it was because she didn't have daughters, and from that we created something very dear to both of us.

At Christmastime, she would listen to my little girl's heart, and would give me that very special something that I really wanted. I remember getting my one and only Barbie at the ripe old age of eleven years. And then there was the year I got the pogo stick! What fun that was!

Sadly, at the young age of 55, Auntie Morag died of cancer. The saddest thing was that when she died we lost touch with her two of her boys. They were all grown-up men, and you know how women are the ones that keep the families together.

Then just before Christmas we had a wonderful phonecall. It was Alastair, her youngest son. He is just one year older than I. It was so odd to talk to someone that I have not spoken to in so many years!! He told me that he, his wife, and their two little girls would be coming our way and would we like to have a visit. Would we!! Oh my!!

When Alastair walked through the door fifteen years fell away and there was my old 'boy cousin'. Yes, he was now in his forties, but seriously, do they ever look old? Or do we just remember our dear friends the way we perceived and loved them when we were children?

Ray, Justine, Alastair, and Dominica

The City Children Enjoying the Country 'Cousins'

And just like Auntie Morag, Alastair and his family came bearing gifts! They had an Olympic shirt for each and every one of us, even Colt, who is living away from home. They also brought the four younger ones the Olympic mascots teddy bears!


It was a wonderful reunion!!! They have the most precious little girls and we had a lovely evening of catching up on all the years that have gone by. They have lived in Poland, France, England, and are now living in Canada. How wonderful to know that our next generation of children can grow up knowing each other. What a legacy to see the third generation still connected after 60 years of original friendship!

Austin and Ailish Having Fun

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My Crazy Little Niece

While at my sister's this Christmas, I had the pleasure of seeing her daughter's 'other' side. She is a hoot!! To me, I believe everyone should experience a boy. Well, my sister's first child is a sweet, kind little girl. But she is all girl. Ahria, on the other hand, is almost boy. *grin* I LOVE it!! Of course, I am partial to boys, so what can I say. *smile*

What I discovered while trying to take her picture is that this little girl can NOT just take a picture. She must perform. She is only two years old, but what an actress!! It wasn't until I was watching her totally UNable to take a normal picture that I realized who she resembled! My dad's sister, Auntie Lorna, in England. I told my Dad and he totally agreed. The ironic thing is that she even looks the spitting image of her!! Too cute!

So here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. My sister asked me to dress her and I had the pleasure of picking out a dress from her closet and putting her hair in the cutest little braids. I then stood her in front of the tree and told her Auntie wanted to take a picture. And this is what I got:




And finally, when I walked over to her and gently placed her hands by her side and said, "Ahria, just put your hands like this, okay?" this is what I got:

Look at her stiff little hands. She has no clue how to just stand still. She HAS to pose!! So cute!

Then later, at the dinner table, I wanted a picture of her and Briton cause they are so adorable. Well, here we go again. *laugh* Briton loves to have his picture taken and posed accordingly. Ahria....

She just couldn't resist...
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Boxing Day Night ... Into the Wee Hours

Part 4 - Later in the evening my brother took his daughter home to his house to have Christmas with her. This was the only time we had with Colt, so we did the gift giving from our family to Colt, and he to us.

All the Kids Watching Colt Open His Gifts

I was so impressed with his thoughtfulness. He doesn't have much, not having a well paying job, and having to support himself with rent and such, but all that aside, he still managed to bring gifts that were just right for each of us.


Cassidy knew that Colt was walking to work and decided on December 22nd to knit him a scarf. Did I mention that he had never knitted before? Nope. Never. He went to the store with his dad and picked out the wool he wanted. When he got home he discovered the needles he needed to use were at my friend's house. So he went on a two km sprint to get them. Once back, he had a quick (literally 3 minute) lesson in knitting and then began. He worked for the rest of that day, and by the end of the following day, right before bedtime, he was done. A beautiful warm scarf! Is there anything that boy can't do? Actually, we have discovered one thing he struggles with: writing.

Cassidy's pleasure is written all over his face.


Dane gave Colt a copy of the remarkable fiction short story that he wrote and illustrated about World War II.

Colt got a copy of the first blog I made: Raising My Boys In the Country. That has got to be the best gift. What child (not mine!) doesn't love pouring over stories about their own childhood!

We also exchanged gifts with my parents. I love giving to my mother because she is the most appreciative person. Anything you give her delights her.

Savannah has discovered the joy of gift giving!

Me and My Sister - So Glad I Have a Sister!

Cassidy, always a boy with a book in hand. Sneaking away for a few minutes respite from the craziness of the day!

We thought the evening was drawing to a close. After all, it was about 11:00 pm. And then...

Uncle Dave threw on the stereo FULL BLAST with Neil Diamond. Oh my goodness! We ALL love Neil Diamond. All that is, except for the teen boys. They decided they were not being roped in and so they slunk off to the basement to play some Play Station. But not the wee ones. Let the party begin! They danced and danced and danced until past 1:00 am!

And my mum was loving it all! While we adults stood around watching and smiling and taking pictures, she sat on the couch as their main audience clapping with a wide smile all over face and a glint of tears in her eyes.

Ray Got in On the Action

Then He Wangled My Mum into the Dancing.

The next thing I knew I saw Cassidy with a small sleepy child in his arms carrying him off to bed.

When all the children were tucked into bed we gave my sister the present that touched our hearts the most. It was just her, Dave, Ray and I, and it wasn't for any fanfare. It was simply something I wanted her to experience. There is a wonderful organization in China called Harmony House.

This home is a ministry in China that I learned about when I read the book Saving Levi.
That book began us on the journey to adopting our girls. I wanted my sister to feel that feeling in her heart that comes from having a connection with a child in another country.

So we decided to connect her with a foster child through Harmony House. In this small organization they take children that have been abandoned due to deformities, and they pay for surgery for them. These children then typically live in the home for about two years before they are then adopted into families.

There are 19 children that can be fostered, so it is a small home. If you read the story of Saving Levi, you would be so touched. This tiny baby boy was found badly burned and abandoned in a field. Through the book you will see how God spoke to the hearts of John Bentley and his family. How He showed how he would use this tiny baby boy to change the world. It is a story of love and triumph and you will be changed after reading it. As we were. And now because of that book we have two little girls living in our home that would otherwise probably not be.

Please consider fostering one of these children. You can go to their website and look at the pictures, read the profiles, and then choose the child you want to foster. In this way we were able to choose a little boy, Benjamin, for my sister. I thought I would choose a girl, since she has daughters, but when I saw his sweet little face I was so drawn to him. Wouldn't you be?
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Boxing Day With Uncle Carl and Jaymie

Part 3 - My brother had plans to bring his daughter over on Boxing Day and then it turned out that she, like some of our other children was slightly under the weather. We didn't mind. We were so thrilled to have her with us, that bug or no bug, we wanted the show to go on.

The cousins had a wonderful time, and it was great to get them all in one room.


The kids quickly decided that Uncle Carl made a wonderful target as a punching bag!

This was so cool! I had not seen Jaymie for Christmas or gift giving before, and I so didn't want her gift to not work. I was trying to make it dance on the charger! Silly me. Wondering why it didn't work. Feeling bad. And then the brain figured out the dancer comes OFF the charger and dances on the counter. She was such a patient little trooper while I was hounding out batteries and then trying to get the thingy-ma-bob to work!

Then Jaymie was enraptured. So precious!

We love Little House on the Prairie, so it was fun to get my sister's daughters hooked, also.
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Christmas Day 2009

Part 2 - While the big kids were still sleeping some of the little ones were awake. St. Nicholas had already visited at our house as we celebrate Santa on December 6. So our children were aware that their cousins would be receiving from St. Nicholas on December 25th morning. But all the same, I was very proud of them because there was not a whisper about their gifts, while they saw their cousins opening their gifts from under the tree through-out the days we were visiting.

My sister was very considerate and tried to open them discreetly, so that our children wouldn't notice the number, but honestly, they didn't even notice or comment, for which I was proud of them. We had not yet had our family Christmas and so their patience was admirable!

Austin had fun being the garbage man, while collecting the St. Nicholas wrappings.

Pajama Cousins

D.S. Cousins

And of course, St. Nicholas made a drop for Colt, at our house on his way by with the other children's gifts. He knew I would be seeing Colt on December 25th!

Enraptured Audience

Everybody had a hand in preparing the food. I brought and made breakfast and desserts.

The first hit of the day was the Instant Cinnamon Rolls. So easy. So quick. But watch out! They do rise!! Oh my goodness. I thought they rose high when I made them at home, but at my sister's they took over the table!

Christmas Morning Cinnamon buns

Angel cake pan with solid bottom (not one that comes apart) OR
I used a 9 x 13 pan for the second batch

20 frozen dough dinner buns (2 bags)

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vanilla instant pudding mix

2 Tbsp cinnamon

3/4 cups raisins (optional)

1/2 cup melted butter.

1) Before going to bed Christmas Eve pour the frozen buns into the pan.

2) Sprinkle the remaining ingredients over the top in order given (do not mix them).

3) Cover and leave on counter over night

4) Christmas morning bake at 350 deg for 30 to 35 minutes, then turn out onto a plate.


These were so simple and so yummy!!!! We used whole wheat buns and they were delicious!

A tip: put a baking tray underneath to catch the raisens, sugar and goodies that decide to fall off during the baking process, or you will end up with a stinky oven.

And now for the desserts!

Linda, the chocolate trifle was a big hit! I make another trifle that is known as Justine's Trifle, but really, it came from my aunt 24 years ago, when I was living in her little island restaurant. I ate it loved it and learned the recipe. So here are two delectable, but very different trifles. I now have two that I will be known for.

Justine's Trifle

enough white cake to cover bottom of glass dessert bowl (about 4 litres size)
1 large raspberry jello package
2 bananas
1 large instant vanilla pudding package
1 large can (19 oz) can fruit cocktail
real whipping cream
shaved almonds (optional)

1) Make your cake mix and when it has cooled, break into a piece big enough to cover the bottom of the pretty glass serving bowl.

2) Make up the jello and pour it over the cake. The cake will rise slightly.

3) Drain the fruit cocktail and spoon the fruit cocktail over the cake and into the jello. It will still slightly rise. Let set in fridge.

4) Make up the instant vanilla pudding mix.

5) Slice up the bananas and cover the entire surface of the trifle with a layer of bananas.

6) Pour the vanilla pudding over the bananas. Smooth over the surface.

7) Whip up the whipping cream and smooth over the vanilla pudding.

8) You can decorate with some shaved almonds on top. Delectable!

Linda's Trifle

enough chocolate cake to cover bottom of glass dessert bowl (about 4 litres size)
2 packages of instant chocolate pudding mix
2 real Skor bars. Do NOT buy the chips
1 tub Cool-Whip

1) Break up the chocolate cake.

2) Make up one chocolate pudding.

3) Add some thawed Cool-Whip to make it milk chocolate colour.

4) Make up another chocolate pudding according to package directions.

5) Now begin to assemble your layers:

Put a layer of cake pieces, then a layer of chocolate pudding, sprinkle with Skor pieces, a thin layer of milk chocolate pudding, a layer of Cool-Whip.

6) Repeat the layers until your bowl is full. Sprinkle with Skor pieces on the top.

I actually doubled this recipe and made two bowls of the dessert and it was quickly gone!

My dad having his second bowl. He *says* he wasn't eating by the bowl so he could have a third bowl. I believe him, but millions wouldn't! :o)

Making Tree Decorations of Cookies

Girl Cousins

Dad and His Biggest and Littlest Boys

All Hands on Deck - Preparing the Turkey Dinner

I love the relationship between my mum and Ray. He knows how to play her, like he is here, and she loves it.

Hungry Little People

My Baby Sister's First Christmas Dinner - Delicious!

Relaxing Together

Grandad and Raine

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