January recap

Author by drewgulyas

I remember a time – early in the days of parenting and smart phones – right when the digital natives started figuring things out faster than the people who actually owned the phones – when if the kid got the phone they just started taking pictures. Turns out when those kids become adolescents the joke doesn’t get old. Thank goodness.

While in principle I detest phones at the table, I got it out tonight to mark a moment when we were marking a moment. Charlotte was halfway through her first set of exams in high school (should have happened in grade 9 or 10 but COVID scrambled her early high school experience). Ruby just got into the high school program of her choice and, from her parents perspective, it has a bit of an academic edge to it so we are quite pleased and We hadn’t acknowledged that achievement yet so we were sitting down together for that too. Arden learned the value of studying today by achieving a top mark on a math assessment. And Hil figured out that tonight was the only night in the next 8 when all five of us would be in the same place at the same time. So she made a carrot cake and we gathered. Dinner together wasn’t possible. Charlotte was working a shift at the pool. But desert was just right.

2023 has us all in good places.

This bunk bed continues to stand the test of time. They don’t share it anymore – but sometimes they do. On this night, Charlotte found Ruby after dinner deep in deliberations about which high school program to pursue and had generous and good counsel to share.
Colson (nephew) in the snow.
Charlotte is a licensed driver now.
Arden – just after I caught her eavesdropping, behind an almost closed door, while Ruby’s theatre group rehearsed downstairs.
Sabrina – the rescue dog that was almost the right fit. But not quite. We’re almost over saying goodbye to her.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by worms. Fascinated enough that I farm them as a hobbyist. I have this grand idea that one day I’ll be able to process all of our kitchen scraps into fertilizer for the garden. Except for the orange peels and the onion skins. Worms don’t favour citrus or onions. I was fascinated to find many worms squiggling in a neighbour’s driveway on a rainy walk this month. And more than a little perturbed that it was squiggling in the driveway in January when it should have been dormant below ground…Worms aren’t supposed to be at the surface in January in Ontario.
Arden loves the arcade just as much as I do. We’ve established a once a month routine. She’s a sucker for the claw games.
Niagara Falls
You can tell from the looks on their faces who was really interested in the long walk along the falls and who was ready to turn back.
Cousins and board games on New Year’s Day.

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Published by drewgulyas

2 thoughts on “January recap”

  1. I love reading your updates and seeing you and your 4 girls. Dang the grow up fast. So good to get a glimpse of your lives. And turns out you have a thing for worms!

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