The lights are up, the house smells like baking, there is snow in the forecast and we are counting the days until the Christmas holidays when our family is reunited at Hilltop Lodge in Caledon. It has been another busy year, and it is time to reflect and remember the highlights of 2013 with our annual Christmas letter.

2013 has been a year to recover and regroup after a difficult 2012. Travel has been a wonderful remedy. In January, Paul and I went to the tiny island of Nevis for a week to play lots of tennis and golf. In March, we took the boys to Whistler for an incredible week of skiing. The snow was perfect, however, Paul and I had to work hard to keep up with our fearless boys, as they tirelessly conquered the steepest terrain. Our family’s favourite way to end the summer is with our annual trip to visit the Wells in Rothesay, N.B. This year, my Dad came along, and he taught us all how to play the card game Hearts. Hiking, water-skiing and hanging-out on the beach kept us busy and Miriam’s delicious cooking, including a lobster feast, kept us well fed. We had a wonderful family time and we cannot wait until we are all together again!!

Lexi survived her first year at Queen’s University. She loved every minute of it and we have more gray hair to prove it! In April, Lexi turned 19, and when home with the cousins for Easter Weekend, we surprised her with a stretch limo ride to George, a fabulous Toronto restaurant, to celebrate. Once her exams were done, Lexi and I headed to Utah for a week at a health and wellness resort. Days were spent hiking in the Red Mountains, horseback riding, mountain biking and canyoneering.  Nutritious meals and spa treatments rounded out each day- it was awesome! Lexi returned to Glen Bernard Camp for her 12^th summer, as a senior counselor. At the end of the summer, Lexi moved into a house in the student ghetto in Kingston, with six of her pals. The girls are all serious students, yet they manage to find time for keggers and pub-crawls. Lexi is enjoying her studies that include history, politics and marketing.  Lexi is getting involved with extracurricular activities including the Queen’s Vogue Charity Fashion Show and Habitat for Humanity. Lexi is going to Nicaragua to help build homes in February, following Poppa’s example. Keep well the road, Lexi!

Jack is back at Trinity College in Port Hope for grade 12. He loves boarding school, and has made friends with fellow students from around the world. Jack went to Barbados for a week in March to stay at the home of one of his school pals. Jack had an academic summer spending July in Cambridge, UK, taking Grade 12 English and then spent the month of August taking advanced functions in Toronto. This month Jack received his best report card ever, just in time for university applications!! The comments from his teachers made us proud: “Jack is a responsible, engaged and hard working student who is clearly motivated to do his best.”  If Jack keeps his foot on the gas, he will get into the university of his choice and we are delighted! Jack enjoyed his final season of high school cross-country running, once again qualifying for the Ontario Finals. The next few months will be exciting for Jack as he applies for universities, turns 18, teaches skiing over the holidays and then heads to South Africa with the TCS rugby team. Dig deep Jack- this is your year!!

Ross is fifteen years old and is in grade ten at Royal St. George’s College. Ross has happily adapted to his new role as the only-child-at-home. He is especially comfortable in his new bedroom suite, which makes up for having the smallest bedroom for years. The highlight of Ross’ year was the trip to Ecuador in July with Paul and me. We experienced all that Ecuador has to offer- the beautiful Andean Highlands, the stunning Galapagos Islands and the amazing Amazon. We snorkeled with giant sea turtles and sea lions, we swam with caimans and piranhas, and we straddled the equator at the Mitad del Mundo. In August, Ross returned to Camp Hurontario for his 9^th summer. As part of the leaders-in-training program, he went on a 16-day canoe trip in Northern Quebec. Ross loves to get involved at school, joining lunchtime clubs, playing trumpet in the stage band, debating in the Speakers’ Union and running on the cross-country team. His favourite subjects are computer engineering and English. Ross will take his Level-One Ski Instructor’s Course over the holidays, and then will ski race for one final season.  Ross’ adventures continue in early 2014, with a 4-day dog-sledding trip in Algonquin Park and a trip to China with his school band. Life is good, Ross!

Paul got a taste of retirement in 2013, when he finished at IBM, and took four months off to spend time with the family, travel, improve his golf game and learn how to fly-fish. Paul joined a small fishing club, close to our chalet, called the Caledon Mountain Trout Club, where he is perfecting the fine of art of casting. The club has a lovely dining room and a tennis court!  Paul played 45 rounds of golf and got into shape.  In September, Paul joined a small software company called DisclosureNet and is loving being back in the trenches doing what he does best- finding a small software company with lots of potential and helping it grow. So far Paul is not travelling on business and is home most nights for dinner. I am hoping that Paul continues to maintain a healthy life balance, as this new company grows.

Last May, after three years of looking, we finally found our dream home. Since then, it has been all about the move for me. We immediately put our home of 12 years on the market and hoped it would sell it quickly- it did not! Selling a home with three teenagers and two dogs is challenging! We sold at the end of August, moved the next week and we were settled and ready for our big family Thanksgiving celebrations in October. It was a whirlwind, yet it is with no regrets- we love our new home! The Humber River is in our backyard and my day is never complete without a walk by the river with Happy, our Border Terrier.  Lucy the Lab, is an old dog now, has retired from long hikes yet still is as sweet as ever. Over the summer, I tried to play more golf and the practice paid off. I lowered my handicap by ten strokes and won the Most-Improved Female Golfer Award at Lambton Golf Club. Tennis is still my favourite sport and I make sure I am on the courts, a lot! It has been a remarkable year, and we have a lot to be thankful for!!

Our warmest wishes this holiday season! May your New Year be filled with love, laughter and adventure! Our home email address is [email protected]… Please keep in touch!