December07-January08

Hello Nanny Carol (since you're the only one who reads this blog!!)
Make a brew and get your specs we've got alot to cover here!! Thankfully you were here for Christmas so, we don't need to go into too much detail there!
Just in case anyone else in cyberspace stumbles across this blog and wonders what the Hawley-Halligan Clan was up to in the past several months I will describe some of the more interesting details!
It was a very busy few months here. Uncle Carl and Auntie Liz were living with us until they obtained ownership of their new house. They have since moved out and are doing very well in Innisfil. We are hoping to visit them very soon. Mum really misses having Auntie Liz around. It was great coming home to the smell of a cooked dinner and a tidy house...alas, now I come home to breakfast mess and no more working out until the pick up phone call from Ollie, now its action stations as I come thru the door getting ready for Olls and Emms return!! So, Liz if you're reading this...if you can't find work in Innisfil, your job here as full time house maintainer is still available although the pay was abysmal and the benefits were atrocious but, alas its always an option!!
In December, Nanny Carol returned for Christmas. We went out one day all dressed up to have our photo with Santa...however, when we arrived...something was wrong with the camera so it looked unlikely however, that problem was remedied...so the photo shoot was back on...unfortunately, the models weren't up for it...so you will note in the photos that follow there is no Santa and me photo. Ollie did brave it out on Santa's lap however, the resultant photo wasn't worth publishing!! Fortunately for Ollie and Emma Santa doesn't take offense and decided to visit our house anyway! Ollie and Emma must have been very good boys and girls this year as Santa spoiled them rotten! It seems the theme this year was Thomas. Ollie received Cranky the Crane, James the brilliant red engine, the roundhouse and some DVD's!! Emma also received some Thomas friends so she now has a legitimate right to the Sodor Rail lines. She received Molly, a Thomas of her own and Toby too!! She is very good at sharing according to Ollie because Emma's engines commonly find there way into "the world's longest train" that Ollie constructs and then pulls around the kitchen and living room!
It was a quiet New Year this year. Nannie Carol was our only guest and she was in bed long before the midnight hour as she wasn't very well while she was visiting. Mum had to prescribe her some medicine so she could actually get some sleep...between her coughing and Emma's midnight chats poor ole' Nan didn't stand a chance of a good nights sleep!! Mum and Dad were in bed by 10:30 pm too!! We did set the alarm for midnight for the obligatory New Year's Eve smooch! They say whatever you are doing at midnight is what you'll be doing for the rest of the year...so, it looks like we'll be well rested here in 2008 at the Hawley-Halligan homestead!!
Shortly after New Year, Mum, Ollie and Emma took a road trip to Windsor to visit our friends the Havens! Kristi, Pete, Noah and Olivia were excellent hosts one weekend when Dad had to work. Ollie and "different Noah" (different because he's not cousin Noah) hit it off and had a wonderful time watching the wiggles together, crashing and bashing, and jumping in the puddles at the park (that was a particular favourite). We had such a great time that we are planning another visit in March. Unfortunately, Emma wasn't as impressed with the visit as she took ill. In fact, shortly after our return home Mum took her to work and discovered that Emms had an ear infection which was the cause of her fever and midnight wakings for extra cuddles....Not bad 14 months before the first use of antibiotics!! She is back to her usual self now thank-goodness!

Big news...January 31st, Emma started to walk. She was walking for ages holding on to anything or anyone but as soon as she had to venture unassisted in some way she would get down on her knees and walk on her knees (which appeared very labour intensive but yes, much more stable) so on January 31st she opted to stay on her feet and brave the distance between Mum and Dad! However, since she knows she can do it...she doesn't bother much again preferring to walk upright but on her knees between point A and point B. It didn't help that the day after her major accomplishment we were off to Cuba for a week of Sun and Sand. Sand it would seem is not the easiest surface to walk on when just in the early stages of learning....however, crawling in sand with sunscreen and waves is not the most fun either hence Emma quickly developed a preference for the pool rather than the beach. She was quite the water baby however, we were unable to get her out of the pool. If you sat poolside she would just crawl off into its depths!!
Ollie had a wonderful time in Cuba, he on the other hand loved the beach. He thought it was great...finally he met something that was allowed to crash and bash! The waves were always chasing us trying to crash and bash into our legs....we would try and outrun them but we weren't always successful!! Ollie also met a new friend named Nicole! Nicole and Ollie had a great time. Poor old Nicole's parents probably spent way more time than they wanted to in the company of Adam and I since Nicole was insistent that we share all our meals together and most of our mornings. Nicole loved to race like the "fastest engine in the world" she loved to "be like elephants" and she taught Ollie how to "be like a bunny rabbit". Ollie also had a very willing dance partner when, in the evenings after supper, the musicians would come around and play at the diner's tables. Ollie really enjoyed the band...in fact he told us exuberantly one evening, "I Love those Guys!". So many thanks to Nicole who enabled Mum and Dad to walk leisurely instead of having to have races, and who also saved our knees as we had a whole week off "being like elephants"...we miss Nicole now that we are home!!
Another big event....Mum's birthday...despite the joke cake candles....I had a wonderful 28th birthday thanks to Dad, Ollie and Emma. I was woken to a brilliant rendition of Happy Birthday which started with, "Dad, don't sing" and was quickly followed by, "now lets have ice cream cake"!! Ice cream cake was mentioned numerous times throughout the day and when Mum finally returned from her day at the spa after her manicure, pedicure, hair and makeup....we finally got to eat cake! You will see in some of the photos Ollie was not looking particularly happy. This is because when Ollie finally received his piece of cake, he said, "don't want that cake" very confusing this habit of his since he very obviously did want that piece of cake because when Mum gave it to Emma opting to give him the second cut of cake...you see the results in the photos...anyway, when his original piece of cake was returned and the fork was removed and replaced with a spoon sanity finally resumed!! Thanks to everyone who sent cards and phoned with well wishes for my 28th...much appreciated. Uncle Mike stayed home while Mum and Dad went out to dinner. Not such an easy task. We set out to find the restaurant once before having looked at the internet for directions...and ended up at the wrong place-the Viet Sun instead of the Thai Sun. This time we printed out the directions and took a map.....despite this we still could not find the restaurant...we stopped (ironically outside the Viet Thai) and asked two passers-by if they knew where it was...and they directed us to the Thai restaurant directly in front of us...I was wondering if they could also point out the nose on my own face for me!! As if we'd ask for directions to a restaurant we were parked in front of!! We then decided to go to the taxi rank we had seen and ask them for directions...taxi's know where everything is don't they...well next set of lights turn left and it will be on your right less then half a block down...so off we go....Turn Left...look right half a block down and there it is....THE VIET THAI!!! Finally, we called the restaurant and got the directions...arrived..and guess what....Adam commented that it wasn't busy...go figure...the VIET Thai was probably heaving!! Anyway...well worth the frustration as the meal was lovely!!
Ok...and now for some photos!!
Hope all are well...and to those of you who comment on my lack of blog updates...kindly leave a comment...so I know that their is a reason to do the updates.....much appreciated!
To those of you in the UK...we are looking forward to our trip in April...we miss you all very much!!
The Hawley-Halligans!