Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that is is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
~Augusta E. Rundel

Merry Christmas from Deep River Another year has hurtled by. We are older and a bit wiser (or perhaps just more experienced)...a few more wrinkles...a few more grey hairs. The kids are growing fast and grocery bills are reaching new heights. It seems like we should reach some sort of plateau in terms of the general business of ours lives, but it hasn't happened yet. What is new with us is also what is old with us. It has been a relatively uneventful year.

We're enjoying having Leslie's family close with both her brother's family & parents now just five minutes away. The kids love having cousins close, and we are really enjoying watching Mike & Lisa's little gal, Eva, grow & develop (now almost 18 months old and busy, busy, busy). Having family close allows us the freedom to take the occasional break from the kids...and the kids get the occasional break from us!!

Andrew continues to travel frequently for work. An exciting development has been the renewed interest in nuclear energy in the USA which has seen an American utility select AECL's Advanced CANDU Reactor as their technology of choice. Trips to Washington are now on Andrew's circuit as he spends time with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission helping them understand the technology base underlying CANDU reactor safety. All that and Andrew still squeezes in time to volunteer as a Leader with our local Scout Troop (in which David is a Scout). Leslie stays more than busy with supply teaching, volunteer work as a La Leche League Canada Leader & school volunteer, and now with home schooling Lauren & two classmates (read on).

Three out of four kids are having a great year at school. Meghan is in seventh grade with a teacher who loves art and literature, a perfect match for her. David is in sixth grade with a teacher who seems to bring out the very best in him. Once a kid who sat with his desk pulled up to the teacher's, he is now placed with kids who need a steadying influence (wow!). Biniyam is in fifth grade with a teacher who is wonderful in all ways except for phys. ed. He wants everyone to understand that quality daily physical education is just as important as language and math. Got that?!?! Lauren, sadly, has had a less than satisfactory fourth grade experience. Due to unresolved concerns about her classroom & teacher, we've chosen to remove her from school for the rest of the year. Leslie is home schooling her in a little cooperative along with two other parents who have also removed their children from the class. Everyone is feeling much happier now that the stressful school situation has been resolved.

We enjoyed some great time with family this summer. Andrew's mother, also referred to as The Queen, turned seventy in June. We joined family & friends in Oakville for the royal birthday party. In July, Andrew's parents were up to visit along with Andrew's cousin Martin Barrow and family from the Isle of Man. This is the second time they've been to see us in Deep River. We followed that with our usual trek to Saskatchewan via Manitoba, where we visited Leslie's family. We're looking forward to an exciting Christmas with Andrew's family joining us. We should number 10 adults, 12 kids (some nearly adults) and 4 dogs. We're hoping for lots of snow & nice weather so that the kids can spend time enjoying the great outdoors...and we can enjoy the peace that comes along with them enjoying the great outdoors. Leslie's busy making plans about how to fit everyone in to the house. It'll be cozy, but wonderful to be with family.