How did this happen...?

The two kids Mary and I brought into this world, now both became parents this year! I still need to pinch myself every now and then that I am a parent. Even though Hilary and Mark are in their thirties now, have interesting professional careers, found wonderful life partners, did see a bit of the world during the past 20 years and now both look after a little baby. Wow....

Nora and Carly were both cleared by the hospital staff to go home. Nora had her first car ride and in their house Mary and Hilary had organized a few welcome signs, ballons and a diaper "cake".

The first few nights are never easy for a newborn and the parents. But it is all part of the amazing bonding between babies and their parents. Among the first few visitors were niece Fiona, aunt Sue and uncle Ralph.

And in the meantime little Brooks continues to steal our hearts. Most of the time he is a pure delight with his smiles and yapping. Getting him to take his needed naps can be a challenge....

Welcome to baby Nora

Today - October 25 - baby Nora was born in the Hamilton hospital. Carley was a week overdue, so the process was assisted a bit by the medical staff, but it still resulted in a very long process. In the end it was decided to perform a C-section (in Dutch: keizer-snede). Nora was 8.9 pounds at birth (3.4 kg), so a very healthy weight. Sunday morning at 7:17 AM Nora entered the world. Carly and Mark sent these photos: first before the contractions started; then some 15 hours later after the surgery.....

In the meantime, Brooks - blissfully ignorant about the fact that his cousin is born - continues to steal the show here: in the suitcase ready to travel, in the plane with his mother, upon arrival in Ontario, happy during a walk in the stroller, happy on the shoulders of Uncle Mark, and laughing out loud while being tickled in the tummy......

More Brooks photos......

Pictures tell a hundred stories they say. Brooks is such a happy little camper as much as he keeps his parents regularly a bit short of sleep. Below a few of the many pics that come our way....

 

In the meantime, Carly is ready to drop her baby girl. She is "all baby" as Mary says. Within the coming two weeks we expect the delivery to take place. I still can't believe both our own babies will be parents soon. Certainly not used to the idea of being a grandparent myself.....

While we had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner a few days ago (once again hosted by Sue & Ralph), my sister Ger celebrated her 82nd birthday with all her kids and grandchildren in the east of Holland.

Start of Fall

I made this photo my screensaver for the time being. Once pumpkins get displayed everywhere in Canada, you know the Fall season is around the corner. Brooks - with his little pumpkin-style hat - is checking out some pumpkins. You cannot resist smiling when seeing a photo like this.... 

Hilary and Brooks are back home in Penticton now that the sky is clear again after the terrible wild bush fires in their area. They got together with friends Hilary met while being a year in Australia and there was a nine month old baby. Brooks seemed to enjoy another little person's company....

Mary had her second knee surgery and now the 6-7 week long recovery requires her patience. The pain the first few weeks after the surgery is nasty, but we are already two weeks into that period now...

Meanwhile Ralph started another 3-4 day cycling trip to Windsor along Lake Erie with 3 or 4 camping stops along the way. Good for him! His colorful outfit and set of bags makes him well visible for the cars along his route. Just sent this photo to Ger and Bert, because Bert has done this kind of cycling for so many years himself. 

Family, family

Hilary, Carly and Mark went to Sarnia to visit the Vandenboom clan there, just before Hilary and Brooks went back to Penticton. The air is clear again there. In the meantime - in Holland - Bert celebrated his 84th birthday together with their kids and grandchildren. They went to play a fun minigolf game and had coffee and cake afterwards. They send me this nice group photo:

And this post will have a few photos again of our little super star Brooks...; such a cutie.....

Back in Penticton on the beach with his mama; not a bad spot to be (as long as there are no big bush fires nearby....). The air is clear again and the Okanagen Lake is as beautiful as always...

40 years Sue and Ralph

Fiona decided it was time that her parents had a proper wedding ceremony forty years after they met each other. The two of them did a brief townhall wedding after Fiona was born, but they never had a big wedding party. It had to be a surprise party Fiona decided, so secret planning went on for weeks. When Sue and Ralph arrived at the farm house where Ralph's sister Roos lives (and where they grew up with younger brother Mark and baby sister Tina), we were instructed to hide.....

The setting of the farm is very nice for wedding ceremonies, and both Tina and Roos had their weddings taking place there already. About 25-30 good friends and family were invited for the surprise party for Sue & Ralph. The ceremony master Rich had a fun short speech prepared and afterwards the guests had a nice meal together on a long table in the garden. The evening ended with dancing....

The dress Sue was made to wear after arriving at the farm was produced by Fiona under guidance of Hilary. Hilary also continues to make cute clothes for Brooks and kids of her friends. Brooks showing one of the "made by my Mom" pants (obviously aimed at his rapid growth if you look at the legs....):

Frequent flyer Brooks

Brooks is already a frequent flyer at four months old. The bush fires near Penticton kept going (and are now already burning for three weeks), so from Vancouver, Hilary flew with Brooks to Hamilton to stay with us in Fonthill again for a few weeks. Shayd drove back to Penticton and confirmed that the fires continue and the air quality continues to be poor. It is pure joy to have the little "mannetje" with us again. His smile is golden, but he can also protest loudly when having stomach cramps or when he is not in the mood to do one of his needed sleeps. Nice pics with Mary, Mark and me.....

This week we had a few campers in the "famjam": Marcy, Joe, Sue and Ralph camped in Algonquin Park and had fun cycling and canoeing together. It is a beautiful park just south-west from Ottawa.

In our neighborhood, Bill - who is in his early nineties - lets a bunch of people play at his private tennis court. It keeps him entertained, he says. Recently, Bill was also kept busy by one of the players making wasp catchers from used plastic bottles. He is always a good sport and still handles his beer ok.....