Happy Birthday Jeremy

It's the last day of the year, so that means it is Jeremy's birthday.

The big boy turned four today.

Jeremy has been talking about birthday number four since my birthday at the end of November. So he finally got to celebrate it today.

He opened his presents from Tina and I. Later he opened his present from Corbin. Babcia took Jeremy to the store and picked his present - Jeremy was very excited by this.

Tina made Jeremy a Crown telling the world he is four today. Later, we all went out to Red Lobster for dinner, where Jeremy was serenaded by staff. He was all smiles.

The day was topped off by a birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Jeremy.

Posted by Adam

Christmas Travel Time - Goderich

The drive up to Goderich was uneventful. What was surprising was the lack of snow north of Grand Bend. Save for the icy piles left over from the snow fall two weeks ago, Goderich was bare. Very unusual.

We spent the day not doing much. Teegan and Madigan came over to Nanny's and brought their NintendoDS units. Corbin had fun playing different games with Teegan. At one point Teegan, Madigan, Corbin and myself were chatting using the PictoChat program. What brave new world we live in.

We had dinner at Bev & Gerry's along with Chris, Lisa, Teegan and Madigan. Next the kids opened presents. It was crazy. The boys were very excited with their GI Joe, Transformers and Robot presents. Later that night Tina and I along with Chris and Lisa went to Wal-Mart to check out the video game and movie selection.

I found a Harry Potter three-pack of video games for the PS2 for $29.84. A remarkable price considering that the latest Harry Potter game was on sale for $24.84. I had to call Tina over to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Corbin constantly rents these games, so I decided to buy it as a 'reward' for Corbin.

Sunday was a relaxing day. Tina did some more scrapbooking. We had lunch from A&W, hung around some more before packing the van and heading out to Brantford.

Posted by Adam

Christmas Day - What Did Santa Bring This Year?

Jeremy playing with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Van



Santa brought Corbin a new sled - all we need is some snow in Windsor. Yes, that is Corbin is in his underwear.

Santa always leaves a present on his way out. Corbin all most fell over getting the box. This year it was a single present for both boys: Headbangers Ice Hockey set.

Guess Who Spent Christmas Eve at the Hospital?

Earlier today, Jeremy took a nasty fall down the small staircase. He was carrying some toys and god only knows what he did. He fell on his arm. At first it didn't seem to bad, but as the day progressed he didn't use his left arm for much.

So Tina decided that after opening the presents, she would take Jeremy to the hospital to have him checked out.

Things didn't look promising. An x-ray confirmed that Jeremy had a buckle fracture (not sure if it was the ulna or radius) near his wrist. A buckle fracture is an incomplete break of the bone.

Jeremy now sports a nice new splint cast with bandaging. Follow up is with our family doctor. A search via Google reveals that buckle fractures heal quickly, usually about 3 weeks. So Jeremy should be healed up before his birthday party in January 2008.

I'll try to post a picture of Jeremy and his cast when I get a chance.

Posted by Adam

Christmas In Pictures

Merry Christmas

The house is clean and the shopping is done. It's time to sit back and relax with the boys and enjoy Christmas. Plenty of presents under the tree this year.

The Szymczak Family extends a Merry Christmas to all family and friends.

In Memory of Ciocia Helena

My mom called me at work today with news that my aunt, Helena, my mom's last surviving sibling, had passed at a hospital in Mlawa, Poland.

My aunt had been in poor health over the past few years. Things were getting worse over the past few months. She was admitted to the hospital about a month ago. My mom is arranging transportation to Poland.

I have wonderful memories of my Aunt. The last time I saw her was when she attended our wedding in Kitchener back in 1995. I remember climbing the flights of stairs to get to her fourth floor apartment in Szczecin. I remember taking the tram line out to the factory she used to work at. I remember the phone calls where she asked why I don't write her enough. I remember a person full of energy and happiness. I remember nothing but having a good time in her presence.

Ciocia Helena, you will be missed.

Ja Kocham Ciebie.

Adam