The Joys of January ~ looking back...

I'm re-visiting January still, with it ending a week before life seemingly changed in so many ways, with my father's accident. I know life will eventually settle into some normality again but it's a challenging time. It is good that God instructs not to worry about tomorrow, and we can trust that He holds us and the future in His hands.

Back to January... Scott's birthday celebrating traveled into Monday, the actual day. He enjoyed using his new camera around the house. :)

 I have a fondness for Scottie dogs for some reason~

 Just part of reflecting back over 50 years of a blessed life.

 What Scott wore to work.

 Enjoying Nora's card, after school.

 Watching Dad open gifts.

 Lewis was busy again, inventing a marble game, with dice carved out of wood.

 Always ready to enjoy a party.

 Celebrating James' birthday on Friday night at our favourite pizza parlour...

It was such a relief to move past all the birthday celebrations. I spent the next week putting away decorations and just recovering. Nora and I got back to our routines at home of just Mommy and her, doing work alongside each other.

 Or maybe more like Nora watches me work, and makes more of it for me!

Below is an example of a subtle message of some sibling rivalry going on in the house. Or maybe just resentment... good thing Nora can't read!! Unfortunately, it has been a challenging time in the behaviour department for Nora in the last while, which is not new, just worse. Too many power struggles, especially with trying to control her father. Around this time I booked an appointment with the family Dr. for a referral to a pediatrician that I've seen before. A positive step, but we still need to wait until May for a first meeting. So in the meantime, I've hid the easel. :)

 I suppose it could be worse~

 A lovely photo of Charles and Margarita.

With holidays over, it was a welcome relief to visit our friends again. Here we celebrated Megumi's birthday. She spoiled me for my birthday not much later. We had a great time together.

 H. is a big fan of Cinderella, so loves her blue dress.

 Thomas teaching Nora how to take selfies in the bathroom...

My birthday rolled around at the end of the month, which we had celebrated on the weekend by visiting Vancouver. Low key was fine with me, and I was just glad not to be working on it. I had a lovely lunch out with my friend Lynn, and then a quick gift opening time after school with Scott before he returned to work.

 Nice to get a few cards, but those older boys aren't doing so well now in this department!

 Mom and Dad dropped by with a cake, which was very thoughtful. Seeing
 them on my birthday always means so much; I'm so very spoiled. :)

 In reviewing these photos recently, I was especially glad to see this gift
card as I had forgotten about it being there. It has since been spent with ease!

 Wow! How did Nora know exactly which Willow Tree figurine to buy me?!

 A lovely Spring card in Winter.

 Rosie knows who will give her treats...

And to finish off the month, a birthday brunch at De Dutch Pannekoek House. (The Nutella options were very popular!) Here Nora models a sweet little coat that Ann's daughter wore at half Nora's age. Nora gets a lot of wear out of her clothes, although the dresses are too short by the time they fit across her chest! :)

Surprise!! ~ Jan. 4th

Reflecting back two months now, I would have to say I am glad that my friend convinced me that Scott needed a party for his 50th this year. Planning a surprise party through December was crazy, as Christmas is already a huge event to deal with, plus shift work.However, I had a lot of assistance especially with my in-laws agreeing to have it at their home. Besides family on both sides, I invited people that had known Scott before me, or met us as a couple at the same time. So forgive me if I didn't send you one of these, but you'll be invited to my party! ;)

As the weekend approached, the deceptions began to keep Scott out of the loop. As far as he knew, we were having a family party on Sunday, the 5th, which was why I was making the usual salads and shopping at Costco. What he didn't realize, as I plastered a sign across the garage fridge reading Scott, do not open! was that the fridge was now empty. Charles and James continued to shuttle food across town, as well as my parents just passing by to really pick up all the Costco food hidden at the side of the house. Poor guy actually cleaned the house to help me for Sunday, like I would ever protest that anyway. :)

The scheming became more elaborate as to how to get Scott to Mom and Dad's house. Well, I insisted we would go out for dinner by ourselves, and the kids would be babysat at their house etc. Last minute, Mom called asking for French bread from Safeway for Dad. (This was to ensure Scott approached the house from a certain direction, to not see all the cars parked further down the street.) He rolled his eyes about this, protesting, while his Mom insisted... "You know how your father needs his French bread!!" I would have to say I have never been more tense throughout one day, just hoping Scott wouldn't find out our plans. And he didn't!

 Dressed up for a dinner date with me, the glasses were a nice addition.

 Surprise! We're not going out for dinner until tomorrow
night now...and, there isn't going to be a family party.

 Nora was not told the details, but was close to figuring it out.
I quickly changed her into party clothes....

 A thoughtful gift from his brothers...

 The beautiful cake that friends picked up on my behalf.... delegation is good!

 Unsupervised, Nora had a blast at the dessert table...

Kim & Tom work on the trivia quiz about Scott, designed by Thomas.

 Older brother Doug.

 Brother Stewart and sister-in-law Charlene. These two saved me...
 doing all the work in the kitchen, directing James and Charles and
their girlfriends. I wrote the lists, they did the work. Thank you so much!

 Not exactly wanting to be part of the limelight, James was pulled up
 too for recognition.  He was Dad's 30th birthday gift a day later...

 Two-in-one parties are a bonus for me! Thanks for the yummy cake, Julie.

 Nieces Kailey and Kieren, and Julie's daughter Anna help "Uncle Scott" with gifts.

 Friend Tom went out of his way to create a hilarious, thoughtful gift for "Super Scott".

 Complete with cape and hand-painted mask... don't expect to see
this new super-hero often.  I need him too much. :)

 Just one of many funny and thoughtful gifts. 

 An amazing surprise was from Scott's best man John, his closest boyhood
 friend, who gave a moving speech. Scott, for once, was speechless in return. So nice...

 Mom and Dad laughed at some of John's stories recalled.

 Anna and Nora had a fun time exploring Nana's house.
Very sweet that they could be together, up way past their bedtime!

We left the party very late, helping to pack up all the leftovers and take down decorations. We stayed up until 1 am at home, going through the gifts and cards and decided to have another party after church with anyone free to come over. And we did... we basically repeated the party the next afternoon, with almost as much food, but this time Scott was able to direct it himself. So fun.

We can fight over who gets these... 

Thanks to everyone who made it a special celebration for Scott, it made the milestone that much less painful. Scott has since forgiven me, and we both had many laughs in retrospect as he realized why I made him take the kids to the movies one night or work later Saturday afternoon. As for me, I'm done with surprise parties for at least another decade. :) PS Send me more pictures... mine are limited, as I can't do everything!

 This lovely bouquet from Kent in Texas lasted for 6 weeks!