Season’s Greetings!

Wow! Another year has flown-by and it is Christmastime again! Last year at this time, we were just settling into our new home and new city… who would have guessed that twelve months later, we would feel so completely at home in Lakeville, Minnesota. As we trim the tree, bake the Christmas cookies and hang the lights, we continue with another one of our family traditions- our Christmas letter.

There’s Something About Lexi

Lexi is now six years old and is in grade one. She is our energetic, social butterfly, with many friends, numerous activities and lots to say. Lexi’s appearance has changed this year with her new hair style- no bangs, pierced ears and missing and new front teeth. Lexi loves to wear costumes and is famous for disappearing during a party at home and reappearing as a princess, cat, bride or Cinderella. Don’t let this frilly, feminine exterior confuse you… Lexi has been know to do flips on the trampoline in her Cinderella costume, wrestle with her brothers dressed as a bride or go rollerblading as witch to warm-up for Halloween. Her newly decorated bedroom is pink with a dress-up theme and the focal point is her desk where she loves to draw and write (often before the rest of us are awake). Lexi’s exotic tastes do not end with her apparel… shrimp is no longer her favourite food and she is absolutely sick of salmon… oysters are now the order of the day (thank you Granny Jane Freel). When Lexi isn’t busy with the usual stuff (friends, dressing-up, playing in the backyard), she is at Brownies, gymnastics, skating, soccer, basketball or swimming. Look-out world, here she comes!

Just Do it Jack!

Jack is a just-do-it kind of kid. He patiently waits until the moment is right and then when he is ready, whatever the skill, task or activity, Jack just does it! While in Florida last February, Jack daringly agreed to try swimming without his water wings. Much to his amazement, he was able to swim and has transformed overnight from a baby who hated to take baths to a boy who loves to swim, dive and play in the water for hours on end. The same kind of determination was shown this summer in New Brunswick when his sister and older cousins took off down a wooded trail on their bikes and he was left behind on his bike with training wheels. A few days later, after an inspiring lesson from Aunt Miriam, Jack mastered bike riding and was soon showing his neighbourhood friends how to ride a bike without training wheels. By far, Jack’s favourite athletic activity is his weekly hockey program. People are amazed that a child his size can skate so well… we just nod our heads and say knowingly, “Well, he is Canadian, eh.” Jack is at pre-school again this year and can hardly wait for kindergarten. Jack is learning his letters and letter sounds and has a keen interest in numbers. It would not surprise me at all, if one day Jack just started to read in typical Jack fashion. When he’s not at school, Jack keeps busy with his activities (hockey, music, swimming, baseball and gymnastics) and has fun in the afternoons with his neighbourhood pals (Nick, Nick, Nick, Jack and John). Jack is thrilled with his newly decorated space bedroom. Space is one of Jack’s passions along with frogs and toads, computer and Gameboy games, Lego and Scooby-Doo. Jack turns five on December 22nd and in the next year, I am sure he will continue to amaze us, on his own terms.

Ross the Boss

Ross is outgoing, talkative, loves to sing and he thinks he is four years old. At age two, Ross is the youngest member of our family. Despite his age and size, he commands quite a presence and so it is no wonder that his nickname is Ross the Boss. Ross loves to keep up with the big kids, whether it is jumping on the trampoline, climbing on the play structure or swimming in the pool- he won’t be left behind. In fact, Ross did learn to swim this past summer at the local country club pool and he is confident with his new skill. Ross earned quite a reputation in Florida, in November, for his outbursts around the pool regarding the wearing of his water wings. We insisted that he wear his water wings when one of us wasn’t in the pool with him and yet, “No wings!! No wings!!!” could be heard all over Palm Island. Ross spends most of his time hanging out with Mommy. Together, once a week, they attend a music class where he loves to participate. After the holidays, Ross starts a gymnastics class and swimming lessons, both of which he will surely love. Ross has a boundless enthusiasm for almost everything- he loves to play, loves people, loves to walk (“no stroller Mommy, I walk”), loves Paisley, loves to eat almost everything; in fact the only think he doesn’t love is sleep, which he apparently doesn’t need a lot of! The bottom line is this: Ross loves life and everyone loves him!

Star-Spangled Canadians

We have finally come to terms with the fact Americans know very little about Canada. It no longer offends us when people have not heard of Ottawa (Canada’s capital city), think Toronto is far north of Minneapolis (it is in fact south), think Pierre Elliot Trudeau is our Prime Minister (heck, George W. thinks the PM is Jean Poutine) or think Rothesay, New Brunswick is in Germany. Canadian news simply doesn’t make its way through the more pressing issues such as Elian or the Florida ballot count. Thankfully we read Maclean’s Magazine, Canadian Living and Report on Business and manage to keep abreast of important Canadian issues. All kidding aside, while one might thing there are so many differences between Canadians and Americans, there are actually few or no differences at all. People are people, no matter how you slice it. We are thrilled that we have landed in a neighbourhood full of so many great people with whom have a lot in common.

Museum Anyone?

Throughout the year we have once again achieved the ultimate tourist status of joining almost every possible family venue in the city of Minneapolis. We belong to the Minnesota Zoo, the Minnesota Science Museum, The Children’s Museum, Hennepin Parklands Underwater World. We feel like we belong to Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America because we are there so often. We are ready to be your tour guides, just let us know when you are coming?

Travels

We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to travel. In many ways, it is payback for all the time Paul spends away on business and it is with Paul’s frequent flyer points that we purchased most of these airline tickets. This year was a banner year with two weeks in Florida in February (at Palm Island and Disney), one week in Toronto in March, a long weekend in Muskoka for a family wedding in June, one week in New Brunswick in July (just the kids and me), one week at Grandview Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota and two weeks in Florida (Palm Island) in November. With Paul’s crazy job, it is on holiday that we get to spend quality, uninterrupted time as a family. We are all looking forward to our next big trip… a family ski holiday in Banff, Alberta in February. We also promise an extended visit to Ontario next summer.

Let’s Go Lianne

I know that I vowed last year not to get too involved with too many activities, but somehow one thing led to another and my dance card is full once again. In the spring and again in the fall, I coached Lexi’s soccer team. The Lakeville soccer program is unbelievable in its size and level of organization. I love coaching and I plan to continue to coach soccer for many years to come. This past fall, I volunteered to be one of Lexi’s Brownie leaders. Lexi and I both greatly look forward to our Brownie meetings and outings. Coincidentally, one of the other Brownie leaders is also Canadian and Lexi is becoming great friends with her daughter. I joined a book club last winter and after my neighbourhood friends heard about it and expressed an interest, I decided to start another book club of my own. I played golf in a ladies’ league every Tuesday throughout the summer and I have just joined a competitive indoor tennis league. Once a month I get together with a group of neighbourhood ladies for a game of Bunko (a dice game). I try to get to the health club to workout several times a week (thankfully Ross loves the babysitting room). I still love to walk and have become great friends with two other walking women, who also own big dogs. Between holding down the fort when Paul is away, taking care of three young children and all my outside activities, I am a very busy and happy person!

Mr. Operation

Paul’s new name is Mr. Operation. It seems like once a year, Paul decides it is time to go under the knife. First it was the big V, then he had his wisdom teeth removed and most recently Paul underwent Lasik surgery and can now boast about having, “fighter pilot” vision. No sooner had his eyes healed then Paul was whisked off to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona for an Executive Wellness check-up, compliments of his company. Paul’s health is great although the doctors think that perhaps he should lay off his nightly bowl of Haagen-Dazs and hold back a little when dining out on business. How strange it is, for the first time ever, Paul is watching what he eats and I am happy with my weight! Adaytum Software is continuing to grow and prosper and they were finally ready to go public in October when the NASDAQ took a nosedive into a bear market. Hopefully the IPO will happen in the New Year, once the Americans figure out who their leader is and the market gains some stability. In the meantime, Paul is working long hours and is traveling a lot!! In his spare time (in flight), Paul loves to write and has written some more articles for the Globe and Mail. Paul spends his weekends with us, wrestling with the kids in the basement playing catch in the backyard and going for long family walks. Paul tries his best to be home for 6 pm dinner (when he is in town) even if it means breaking the speed limit in his new Beemer. Overall, Paul loves life in the fast lane.

Visitors Galore

Once again, like years gone by, the inn has been full. Thank you to the following friends and family for coming from far and wide to visit us here: All of our parents (Karen and John, Larry and Marnie, Jane and Keith and Colin and Jane); Cassie and Makenzie Leslie; Mary and Kane Findlater; Miriam, Fraser, Adam and Darcy Wells; and Ron Rogers. Honorable mention goes to Diana Pratt and her children Michelle and Sean who almost made it here all the way from Ottawa, yet were turned around ten minutes from landing, due to fog.

Canadian, Eh?

A recent email from an Ottawa friend stated that the Canadian Identity isn’t hard to define. You know you are Canadian if…
1. You stand in line-ups at the movies, not lines.
2. You eat chocolate bars instead of candy bars.
3. You drink pop, not soda.
4. You know Toronto is not a province.
5. You know what 2-4 and mickey really mean on the May 24th long weekend.
6. You talk about the weather, with friends and strangers alike.
7. You’re not sure if the leader of your nation has ever had sex and you don’t want to know.
8. You drive on a highway, not a freeway.
9. You dismiss all beers under 6% as “for children and the elderly”.
10. You never miss “Coach’s Corner”.
11. You cook on a BBQ, not a grill.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love Lianne, Paul, Lexi, Jack and Ross