Retro Weekend

Posted on May 29, 2006 by Martha

This weekend we are experiencing a heat wave in Chatham-Kent. The temperatures brought out the shorts, tank tops and summer sandals. On Saturday, Tom, Laura and I went downtown and strolled along King Street to take in the vintage and old muscle cars. It is Retro Fest and the city is a party town of 50’s music, dirty dancing, poodle skirts and cruising the drag. There were over 6oo cars, a Creedence Clearwater revival band and a foam party in Tecumseh park. We checked out a watering hole called River Rock which is the old Centre movie theatre for a brew. This is where Laura’s graduation prom is going to be held. Continue reading →

Half Marathon

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Eileen

Brian ran the Mississauga Marathon on Sunday morning. It was Mother’s Day and my job was to get him to the race start on time. It was actually really exciting to be at the start and hear the cannon go off. It took almost 12 minutes after the gun for Brian to cross over the start line. The runners all wore a micro chip attached to their running shoe that recorded their where abouts and their chip times. He reached his goal of under 2 hrs (1hr 42min) and was in the top 300 men running the event. He got a pressure blister on one foot but that was about it for any discomfort afterwards. He is pumped to train for the full Marathon next year. Well done Brian. More Photos Here.

Musical Beds

Posted on May 10, 2006 by Eileen

We are all snug in our new beds. Nick and I got a new pillow top KING size bed. The thing was so big that it was near impossible to get it up the staircase. We had to almost bend it in half and shove like there was no tomorrow to get it up the stairs. Peter got our Queen and Brian got Peter’s Double. Steve hates change so he was content to keep his ol’faithful. Big is beautiful.

Our New Neighbours

Posted on April 29, 2006 by Tom

Martha, Laura, and I have new neighbours living across the road. We had a woman that was interested in renting the little white house when Jaclyn announced she would like to live there. Jaclyn and her boyfriend Josh started sharing rent at the beginning of April and are getting settled into their new home. Well today they came across to visit and introduce us to their new roommate. They would like to introduce you to Continue reading →

Whats blooming?

Posted on April 28, 2006 by Eileen

Oh I’m so excited. I have my first blooms in the garden other than the yellow forsythia. My magnolia is struggling but will blossom late and my rhododendrons is about to burst forth with colour. Aren’t we a few weeks early or am I mistaken?

Spring dance

Posted on April 24, 2006 by Eileen

dusting off the tophat The spring semi formal dance enticed the Bako boys to get out and buy some new duds. The planning, msning and shopping leading up to the before party was quite the ordeal. This was all new to me. Their first dance and my first severing the ropes. They were really excited as the ratio was 70:30 girls to boys. They took cabs everywhere so it gave the parents a Friday off not having to drive kids around. A great Friday night was had by all.

Grease is the Word

Posted on April 10, 2006 by Eileen

grease Brian is having the time of his life participating in his high school musical production of Grease. He does not have a lead role or speaking part. Being his first time on stage he is Charming Charles the Jock who is one of the chorus members. He is in the background singing, dancing and being in character. He is in practically every other scene and he has 9 wardrobe changes.

He went to the cast finale party Saturday night and I think that made all the hard work worth while. The play performed 2 matinees, and 3 evenings with sell out crowds. We laughed and were wowed by the excellent talent from his school. Now Brian has to come down from his theatrical high and crack down to studying (catch up) for his upcoming Easter exams.

Cheerleaders and Hotrods

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Tom

shamrock Today was our best weather yet. We awoke to warm sun and clear breezes today. Our hotel has been filled to capacity by cheerleaders from across the country that are attending some national championship event. Add to that: Can-Am Days, assorted St Patrick’s Day revelry, and about 300 hotrodders attending the Run To the Sun Car Show and Myrtle Beach was rocking all day today. Martha and Laura spent the morning basting on the beach while I enjoyed watching the girls practice their cheerleading stunts near the pool area. Continue reading →

Ontario Winter Games

Posted on March 15, 2006 by Eileen

podium finish While everyone else has fled to places of fairer weather I headed north to Collingwood with Brian. He was participating in the Ontario Winter Games over the weekend. He raced Friday and Saturday and came in 9th for both his Classic and Skate style races. This is great as he made top ten. His sr boys relay made podium and they received the bronze medal. They were able to do really well on this final race of the season as the gold squad was at nationals in Thunderbay. This gave way for Brian and the other kids on the silver devo squad (b team) to place well and get provincial points.
Continue reading →

Broadway at the Beach

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Tom

martha & laura With an overcast morning and showers in the forecast we headed out on the morning shuttle down to an area called Broadway at the Beach. It’s basically a tourist trap shopping area built around a man-made lake (map). The girls had fun teasing the carp and ducks with some food they got from the feeding stations. The water boiled with fish, their mouths reaching up and wide open, all competing for a fish pellet. It all seemed so surreal and disturbing to me. Continue reading →

Family Jots and Thoughts

Connecting Our Extended Families