Christmas, Birthday, New Years and Retirement!

December was a busy month!  Al officially retired on December 31st but his last day of work was December 21st (had to use up those holidays!).  At the company Christmas party earlier in December he was given a gift and card celebrating his years of employment...

 We spent Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day with our two daughters and two grandsons at our daughter, Alyssa's place. Four adults, one teenager, one baby and three cats in a 2 bedroom townhouse.

This was the Christmas Eve spread, needless to say, with only the six of us eating, there were lots of leftovers for nibbling Christmas Day.

Then it was time to get down to the important stuff!  Our annual Wii competition.

Corry and Alex played until Alex went to bed, then we all joined in. 

In the morning, while drinking Champagne and OJ we opened presents.  Santa was very good to us all with Alex getting extra because it was his first birthday too!

Christmas Dinner was held at my sister's house.  It was a small group this year, only the six of us and my sister, brother-in-law and nephew.  Our niece and her fiance were in England visiting his family.  This was also the first Christmas without my parents included.  My dad passed away in July and my mom is suffering from Alzheimer's and we felt it better for her to have a quiet day. 

For New Year's we got the ferry over to Nanaimo to spend a couple of days with friends Nancy and Doug!

We did the prerequisite celebrating and some planning for our upcoming Mexican Adventure!  The plan is to leave on the 23rd of January.  Why the 23rd you ask, well, it is Doug's 60th birthday on the 22nd of January and his son wanted him to be in town for that!  The nerve of some kids,lol!