Celeste & Glenn's Christmas Letter: Christmas blog 2015

Schwartz Christmas letter 2015

Season’s Greetings to one and all from Glenn, Celeste, and family.

I got a late start on our letter this year and then ran into some delays, so I decided to wait until after Christmas and include pictures from Dad’s birthday and our holiday celebrations. I think I may follow the same pattern in future.

We have had another good year, free from major strife, trauma, and serious health issues. We hope that you have been similarly blessed.

Our main activity in the last year has been babysitting Laura’s twin girls, usually three days a week unless Brett has a school holiday. They are an absolute joy! Being twins, they are learning things together and constantly playing off of one another. We could probably sell tickets to their show. They are rarely cranky (touch wood). We are obviously not as productive, but Celeste absolutely loves it and would probably do more. In my case, every time I think of my “to do” list I recall all the missed opportunities with our own kids due to work and other responsibilities and it immediately resets my priorities. Too bad our Vancouver boys are not as conveniently located.

In January we spent a week in Las Vegas. We have no interest in gambling, so we took in a few shows and generally wandered around taking in the sites and atmosphere. We took in the Criss Angel magic show and were a little disappointed. Just not our style. So we went to David Copperfield for comparison and liked his show better. Our highlight was “O” by Cirque de Soleil. We cheaped out and missed it last time we were there several years ago, so I was determined to see it on this trip. It was probably the best show we have ever seen (and priced accordingly). We also discovered the best lobster roll ever and a place that sells wickedly delicious popcorn. Another pastime was collecting pictures to send to the grandkids of us with costumed characters such as Elmo, Cookie Monster, Chewbacca, and Mario and Luigi.

We returned to a surprise 60^th birthday for Celeste that I had set in motion before we left.

In February we took the whole gang to Puerto Vallarta for a week. Sister Cheryl and family were at the same resort, so we hung out together quite a bit. We all enjoyed the pool and the beach every day.

Some of us took in a show one evening, and the boys went zip-lining one day.

Another day Celeste and I and Darren’s crew went for a pirate cruise to a nearby cove for some beach activities.

We also met up with Uncle Harold Mengel’s clan for a day at a water park. They were there at the same time, but at a different resort. Cousin Craig has twin granddaughters (about three-years-old at the time), so it was quite interesting to see their girls interacting with ours.

In June we took a one week river cruise in Europe. We started in Nuremburg, went south on the Main-Danube canal, then down the Danube to Budapest. We went through some very deep locks as we climbed out of the Main River watershed and descended into the Danube’s. We toured several small cities and towns and Vienna along the way and spent a couple of days in Budapest at the end. The food was great and we had a good connection with another couple with whom we spent a lot of time.

We had a full house for a weekend in September as Darren’s family and Celeste’s sister Angie and her daughter Katrina stayed at our place for the wedding of our nephew, Bryden Kuntz. A good time was had by all.

Celeste flew to Ottawa for a few days in November along with sisters Annette and Cecile to visit youngest sister Angie and family. Angie stayed with the visitors in their hotel and they had a multi-day shopping and chat session. They had their evening meals with Angie’s family, ably prepared by husband Frank.

We visited Vancouver in May, August, and December. We almost always join the boys at Telus World of Science and also take in as many of their activities as possible.

In August we went to Playland, an amusement park on the exhibition grounds that is open all summer. The boys really enjoyed it, especially the bumper cars.

Carla and Tyler continue to enjoy their downtown lifestyle, walking to all the trendy bars and restaurants. Carla has now been with CGI Group for five years maintaining their customers’ networks. Tyler continues in several part time jobs. He works many ‘Rider games for TSN and works frequently, usually on weekends, for the company that produces local content for SaskTel. He travels to cover Midget AAA hockey, roller derby, tractor pulls, etc. in places like Moose Jaw, Wilcox, Swift Current, Yorkton, Weyburn, Estevan, and probably some more places that I missed. They went south last Christmas to visit friends and family in Phoenix, Yuma, Palm Springs, and San Diego, but are home this year. They spent Thanksgiving weekend in Cypress Hills for a reunion of Tyler’s Step-Dad’s family, then went to Calgary for a few days of shopping. Unfortunately they had to return a few days earlier than planned for the funeral of another family member.

Darren is still employed at Teck Resources despite the extremely weak mining industry and many layoffs. He had a very demanding work year bringing a large project in on time and above expectations. Sue went back to work this fall with AECOM, the global engineering firm with whom she worked previously. She works mostly from home but has to go in to the office for occasional meetings. She really appreciates the flexibility and the travel time saved.

Their family likes hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

They took in a Women’s World Cup soccer game this summer.

Cameron graduated from playschool and is now in all-day kindergarten.

This year he has been in soccer, blastball (like t-ball), and swimming. He has a knack for gymnastics, like his Dad did, and was invited into an advanced program.

Justin is in grade one. He was also in soccer, swimming, and Tae Kwan Do. He loves the water like a fish. He really likes games (computer, card, and board) and won a kindergarten chess tournament.

Cameron is a pretty good gamer too and takes great pleasure in beating Grandpa.

They were here for Christmas last year. We had pretty good weather and we had a couple of pretty good tobogganing days. The boys also gave the bouncy castle a pretty good workout in the basement.

Sue and the boys, along with her sister and her boys, went to Cuba in April to celebrate their parents’ 45^th wedding anniversary. They again went to the cottage in Ontario for a few weeks in July, but were not able to stop in on their way home this year. They made it to Kelowna in August to see Sue’s folks. Poor Darren missed all those trips. The whole gang made it to Regina for a weekend in September for Bryden’s wedding, although Darren had to make a side trip to Trail, BC for work on the way here. They are spending the Christmas season in Kelowna this year and won’t be able to make it to Regina. We had Christmas in Vancouver a couple of weeks early.

Laura is still a pharmacist at Stapleford Pharmacy, working about three days a week on average, and Brett is still teaching grade seven at St. Matthew School. The twins turned two in September. They love books and would gladly page through them all day if you would let them. They often tell the story out loud in their own words and have learned the names of several dinosaurs.

They also love to sing and pick up new tunes after hearing them only a very few times. They talk a blue streak and continually surprise us with the things they pick up and reason out. And they are both full of personality and humour. The one challenge is that they are developing their own opinions on how things should be done, and they aren’t always in agreement with the adults. So far, a minor issue. Hopefully it stays that way.

A new Gold’s Gym recently opened right behind Laura and Brett’s house and both of them work out in one way or another several times a week. Brett also plays hockey about twice a week in winter and some slow-pitch in summer. In August they spent a week in Vancouver visiting Darren and Sue.

Our parents are all doing well, in their circumstances. They are all mentally sharper than we are. Celeste’s Mom is 87 and still lives at home with Celeste’s brother Tom. They each contribute to their mutual well-being.

Glenn’s Dad was 90 on December 15. He still has shingles pain, but it is bearable, and preferable to the drugged confusion he suffered from a couple of years ago. Glenn’s Mom is well for 89. She is less comfortable driving because her vision is declining. She is still OK for neighbourhood trips, but does not like to drive on the Ring Road, downtown, or at night.