After a day of hanging around the house on Boxing Day (followed by some frantic packing!), we ventured down the 401 to Toronto for a week of holiday festivities with friends and family all over the GTA. Our first stop was in Mississauga to meet up with all the boys from Daddy's side of the family. Isabelle is the lone girl amongst 5 other boys, so she enjoyed being the centre of attention from Aunties and Uncles that rarely see a little girl in their midst. She hasn't seen them all since June but she picked up right where she left off and made a beeline straight for her cousin Matthew from Texas, who is always so good and patient with little ones. Oliver was a little more reticent to join in but once he saw cousin Michael's Francesco and Sho light-up vehicles, he got right into the action as well. The bigger cousins had lots to share about first years at university and upcoming university applications, and the three dads/brothers got a chance to catch up with each other. Ida and Claude were great hosts as always and Grandmaman and Grandpapa just seemed content to have everyone together in the same house and having fun. Over fifty years ago when they got married it must have been hard to imagine what was in store for them, 3 boys and 6 grandchildren later, celebrating the holidays in the GTA. It was a great opportunity to spend time together and to see the kids running wild playing all sorts of games. Oliver took quite a liking to the air hockey table downstairs and Isabelle was happy to chase and get chased all over the big house. We were sad to leave them after 3 days, with the Texans even leaving a bit early due to a rescheduled flight, which took Isabelle by surprised when she learned she would have to say goodbye immediately. We all enjoy our time together and we hope we can do it a bit more often in the coming years. If only the miles were shorter between us all....thank heavens for Skype!
One last visit with his racetrack before hitting the road
Air hockey tournament!
Shortest cousin chills with tallest cousin
Tossing the ball around with Jordan
Auntie Ida, hostess with the mostest!
Now he looks like a Queens guy!
Always ready for some cards with Grandmaman
The collection of cousins...a rare group shot!
1 comment:
Thank you Alyson and Gilles for sharing your update and for posting such wonderful pictures ... when we see all the Constants together, makes us content. Glad you were able to connect in Mississauga; and, generating new and priceless moments and memories for my Tante et my Mon Oncle, Claude, Ida, Jordan and Dillon and from Texas, Guy, Bonnie, Matthew and Michael - a Constant legacy! Without getting too emotional, it is the gift of sharing each other with each other.
Love always,
Monique and Wayne (Winnipeg)
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