Mike and Matthew Celebrate

October 27th is a doubly special day each year. It was the day Mike was born, 35 years ago, and the day Matthew was born 3 years ago. So this past weekend we all got together to celebrate their shared birthday.

It seems pretty evident that Matthew is going to be musically inclined: we know that because for the past couple months he has been insisting that he wanted a trumpet for his birthday. So guess what he got! And to make sure there will always be plenty of music in the Ferreira household, and to provide backup to Steve's rockin' Guitar Hero, his Uncle Mike and Auntie Robin got him a drumset. Oh joy! Poor wee Jack. With Matthew we tiptoed around and spoke in whispers whenever he slept; Jack...well that's a different story. He has learned to sleep through most things, and he is not even that bothered by the drumming, but those symbols can sure give a wee lad a fright and necessitate a diaper change.

In any event, we had a lovely time thanks to Kris and Steve. Kris made Mike his favorite: birthday cupcakes; and Matthew got to share those... plus his own Mickey Mouse cake. No sugar overload that weekend!

And since we won't be there for Halloween, the boys modeled their costumes for us as well. Have you ever seen a skunk as cute as that?

Thanksgiving 2008

After this past horrifying week on the stock market, saying 'Happy Thanksgiving' may have felt a bit like saying 'Have a nice cruise!' to the passengers on the Titanic, but giving thanks should be about acknowledging the blessings we have no matter how crazy things get sometimes. And we certainly do have so much to be thankful for: we have great kids who have found great partners to share their lives with; we have the most beautiful, loving grandchildren anybody could ask for; we are both healthy and - strangely - probably more fit than we have been in many years; we have a home that we love in a town that we love; and - this may sound corny but if so, too bad - we have each other to share these blessings with, and to support each other when the not-so-good things happen.

On to the weekend. Robin and Mike were in Ottawa for an engagement party hosted by Robin's Mom's side of the family. We missed them of course, but they had a great time in Ottawa and Mike got to meet lots more future family. Kristen and Steve and 'the boys' were down for the weekend so we took advantage of the amazing weather to go to Port Dalhousie to play on the beach and ride the Lakeside Park Carousel. This carousel was hand-carved by the Charles I.D. Looff Company between 1898 and 1905 and was brought to St. Catharines in 1921 when it was purchased to become a part of the Port Dalhousie amusement park. It is a Coney Island style carousel with 68 carved animals, 4 chariots and a functioning band organ. And it is still only 5 cents to ride!

Then on Sunday we went down to Queen's Royal Park by the lake. Matthew loves to go down to the lake to throw stones - and this year - chestnuts. This boy does not like being indoors when there is water to throw rocks into (be it our backyard pond or Lake Ontario), when there are flags to plant in the lawn to improve his golf game, and when there are soccer balls to kick around anytime, anywhere. Wee Jack, on the other hand, is still far more interested in eating and sleeping. In fact 'our little Sumo' is getting to be lovely and plump... and smiley and chatty....just the way we like 'em.

Here are a few photos from the weekend. None from Thanksgiving Dinner though. Although Kristen and Norah were very good in sticking to their highly successful efforts to become slimmer and more beautiful....I pigged out. Say no more!