Julia is a hard kid to shop for. She won’t write a Christmas list, and she doesn’t tell you what she wants (other than screaming because she wants to pee, or screaming because she wants to eat, or screaming because she wants to sleep…) There are really only three or four toys for kids her age - and millions of variations on the same themes. Of course clothes are always a safe bet for a baby, and since they grow out of them quickly, there’s always a ready demand for something nice to wear. She’s got lots of cute outfits though, so it’s not like she’s wanting in that area either. She probably wouldn’t notice if we didn’t get her anything, but William sure would.

William and I bought a present “for Julia” a while back, and Erin and William wrapped it last night. I had to go out to return some things to the library and pick up some lip stuff from the drug store, and when I got back, he was sitting with the wrapped present clutched to his chest. He’d opened it up a little bit - “just to make sure it was still in there.” or something along those lines. I get the feeling he’s going to want Christmas every week once it’s done.

Simpson’s quote of the day: “I think you should ignore that.” - Smithers

They switched phones on me today, and the new phone is lacking some of the features that I’d come to know and love about the old phone. It makes me sad to think about it, so I won’t go on any longer about it.

I had an appointment with the knee doctor yesterday, and he said that I’d probably be back to normal in about 3 months. That sounds bad, but in reality, things are almost back to normal already. I walk more or less normally, I can do stairs, the knee bends as much as it ever could. It just needs some strengthening, and some time for the remaining swelling to go down. It’s been a long 3 months already, but it’s functional now, so I’m not feeling too bad about it.

Simpson’s quote of the day: “I’m taking this thing to Mexico!” - Snake

It’s been unseasonably warm here since late last week, which has meant that most of the snow has melted. We went out Saturday night to some friends’ place for dinner, and while we were there it was raining to compound things. That meant that any side street was covered in a nice layer of wet ice. We made it home without incident, though when we rounded the corner of the crescent I felt the back end swing out a little bit. We also skidded a little bit past the end of the driveway with the ABS going hard. When I backed up and turned into the driveway, the van couldn’t get enough traction to get up the driveway, so I had to back up across the street and take a run at it. Fortunately Sunday was warm and sunny, and the driveway is now mostly ice-free (I helped it a along with some ice melter too.)

Sunday, we did a little bit of Christmas shopping, and I think we’re basically done William’s shopping (other than the stocking stuffers that Santa asked us to get for him) The one toy that he played with like crazy at the children’s Christmas party was a Buddy L “Lil’ Buddy’s Fix It Motorcycle” which we have been unable to find anywhere - if anyone is looking for a gift idea for the boy, you couldn’t go too far wrong with that one, or the fix it car. We still haven’t gotten much for Julia, but it’s tough because she’d literally be happy with a shoelace and a poker chip. Erin wants to make sure that she has as many unwrappables as William, and I’m thinking it’s a good idea to at least have it in the same ballpark. I thought I’d gotten Erin her gift, but after William spilled the beans on what it was, (a winter jacket) she tried it on, and it didn’t fit. I wasn’t too surprised, because I’d have gotten a different size if they’d had it in stock, but they only had it in white, which isn’t very practical. Apparently the Edmonton store has her size, so maybe I’ll be lucky and be able to pick it up when we get there.

Simpson’s quote of the day: “The boy… bring me the boy.” -Homer

Since it’s been a while, I thought I should update you on how the knee surgery recovery is going. As of right now, I walk pretty much normally. There’s some stiffness, and a very slight loss of range, and the muscles around the knee are extremely weak still. All those things are being worked on though. I had a physio appointment on Monday, and the physiotherapist said that I don’t need to come back, I just need to keep doing my exercises. I see the surgeon for a followup next Monday, so hopefully I’m nearly done with the medical types for a bit. I’m nowhere near running yet though.

Simpson’s quote of the day: “Poor Krusty. He’s like a black velvet painting come to life.” - Lisa

Today, they handed out the service awards at work. I’ve been here for a little over 5 years now, so I got a nice watch. And what a five years it’s been. Five years ago, I was fresh out of school, Erin was working too, and we were driving a 1986 Chevette. Now we’re in a new house, two kids, driving a 2005 Chevy Uplander. None of my brothers had ever been seen with a girl, and now Dave is married, and Jonathan is living with Deb, and Darren has both a wife and a girlfriend (you’d have to ask him to explain that one - they were both at his birthday party too…) Meanwhile, Bryan has been out on the coast for a year, and now he’s been back in Saskatoon for a while.

I’ve learned a lot in the last five years, and I’m a lot more comfortable in getting my job done than I was when I started. There have been a lot of new faces come to this department over those same 5 years, and most of them are even still here. I think that’s a sign that it’s a good place to work.

Anyway, it’s been a good 5 years, and I’m looking forward to the next few decades.

Simpson’s quote of the day:
Beekeeper 1: “To the Beemobile!”
Beekeeper 2: “You mean your Chevy?”

Yesterday, William declared that he wanted to wash windows. Now, keep in mind that I hadn’t pulled the Eye Toy out in quite some time, and even then, I think he’s only played it once (and didn’t quite get it.) but last night I brought out the camera and let him wash some windows. He seems to get it now. In fact, he really enjoyed it. I hear reports that he asked to wash windows first thing this morning when he woke up. It’s probably a good way to keep him active over the winter months, to supplement taking him outside into the cold and snow.

Oh, did I mention it? We have cold and snow here now. Unseasonable cold, reasonable snow. It’s not as cold as it’s likely to get this winter, but it’s still plenty cold. (cue the audience “How cold is it?”) It’s so cold that even the 1987 Calgary Flames were seen rubbing their hands together to keep warm.

Simpson’s quote of the day: “Do not bother us, we are battling for the title of champion of the universe.” - Comic Book Guy

Friday night, we took the kids to Lawson to have their pictures taken with Santa. Julia sat on his knee without a hiccough, which is an unexpected bonus. While there, we stopped in to visit Judy at work, and ran into Jason, Amy, Mya and Corbin. On the way home, Julia decided to scream bloody murder - I get the feeling she doesn’t much care for her car seat.

Saturday, we went to my parents’ place to make sausage and watch the Vanier cup. The game was good, even though the result wasn’t what I’d have liked (with the Huskies losing by one point on a field goal with 19 seconds left)

Sunday, Julia and I dropped William and Erin off at the grocery store while we went to Peavey Mart and picked up a drum set for William for Christmas. Don’t worry about me spoiling the surprise, I have it on good authority that he doesn’t read this site.

Simpson’s quote of the day: “Run along peewee. Baby gets nothing.” - Mr. Burns