Friday, December 22 to Sunday, December 31, 2023 (North Saanich, BC and Puntledge RV Park, Courtenay)

Friday (Dec. 22) morning Ray and Deb took us out for breakfast at the Riverside Cafe in Lake Cowichan. A final meal with them before we head down to Rob and Angie's...thanks guys! And thank you so much for all your hospitality! It was wonderful seeing you. Enjoy the rest of your time here and safe travels back down to Mesa. See you in the spring!

Our timing was great...just enough time to stop in Victoria to pick up the Cingal injection (Viscosupplementation Therapy) at the pharmacy and get to my appointment in Brentwood Bay. My orthopedic surgeon injected my right knee with very little pain this time (last time hurt like h$ll) and we were on our way to Rob and Angie's. 

Rob was already home from work when we got there...and Chris, Angela and Isaac arrived a few minutes after us. Lots of chaos as everyone brought in their suitcases, hugged...generally everyone was talking! Angie, Angela and I basically finalized our grocery list so Angela and I could take off into Sidney to stock up on all the last minute things needed for all the wonderful food we will be consuming over the next 5 days!

Before leaving Angela unwrapped this for the tree...I just love it! She had it made at a store in Vancouver...2023 Colibaba Family Christmas!

While Angela and I were gone, Steve, Rob and Chris took the boys out for a walk...and of course, a pinecone fight! A 39 second video...

Family just chilling...Rob, Bryce laying in the chair, Chris, Steve, Angie and Angela...

Steve is cheating...he's standing on the stairs! Rob, Steve and Chris...

Me and my boys!

The boys having a snack (no that glass of wine on the table is not theirs, LOL)...Bryce, Conner and Isaac...

Steve in his favourite chair ...

Rob made all sorts of exotic drinks over the next few days. I think he was making Whiskey Sours here...

Shenanigans as we celebrate being together... 

Rob and Angie cooked dinner tonight...ham, scalloped potatoes and salad...delicious!

Saturday (Dec. 23) morning, Angela put together the Gingerbread Houses and the boys got to work decorating them. I forgot to get a picture when they were completed as they were quite good...

We finally pulled them away from their creations and talked them into going for a walk along the Sidney waterfront. We left Rob and Angie at home taking care of some pre-Christmas morning "stuff"😉.

It was a beautiful sunny day for a change. We started by finding the memorial brick for Steve's younger brother Rob, who died in 1982 (yes, that is who our Rob was named after)...

The water was very calm today...

We walked to the end of the Sidney Pier. Isaac decided he didn't want his picture taken, so he hid behind his Mom...

You didn't hide fast enough this time Isaac!

Love this picture! 

We have no idea exactly what the boys are picking up but it's far too fine to be bird seed...they figured they could get the pigeons to come up to them and take it from their hands. No luck...

Once home from our walk, it was time to get ready for the party this afternoon. I made chili and Rob pulled-pork...no one was going to go hungry!

We had a wonderful gathering of family and "like family" friends. Steve's sister, Nadine, her son, Matt, Angela and Chris...(doesn't look like we got a picture of husband, Mike 😖)

So glad our long-time good friends, Rob and Nancy, could come. Steve has known Rob since grade 8...

And my buddy, Nancy...

My brother and his wife, Dwight and Helen...

Dwight and Helen's daughter (Vanessa) and her family...left to right, Ella (daughter), Nate (husband), Jordan (son), Vanessa with Addie (daughter) on her lap, Helen...

Angie, Helen and I...with Conner and Bryce "hamming it up" in the background...

Such a great afternoon and evening! Thanks for hosting, Rob and Angie!

Sunday (Dec. 24) morning we all had a lazy start to the day. Rob and Angie made a late breakfast of Eggs Benedict...delicious! 

After breakfast, Steve and I headed out...our first stop was at Thrifty Foods to pick up a couple of groceries, plus flowers for our visits to the cemeteries. The third cemetery we went to is near Nadine and Mike's place, so of course, we stopped in for coffee and visit. Back home, the rest of the afternoon was spent getting ready for the big day tomorrow.

Christmas Eve, the boys were allowed to open one gift...

Of course, Conner and Bryce knew it was going to be the usual PJ's...

So darned cute!

Isaac keeping a close eye on Santa's location...while Conner practices juggling (seems Dwight got him into that last night, LOL)...

Steve and I with our grandkids...

Isaac was getting concerned that Santa was getting close..."Conner, Bryce, we'd better go to bed!" 

And Rob and Angie's annual Christmas Eve picture...

Merry Christmas!

Santa came! Cookies and milk gone as is the snack left out on the front porch for the reindeer!

A short 21 second video of the boys coming downstairs Christmas morning...

Isaac very excited getting Leggo...

Isaac opening his gift from us...a sleeping bag for camping next summer and a couple of colour by number books. Behind is Conner who had just opened up a Coding Robot Kit from us...

I got a new FitBit Charge 6! Do I look surprised? LOL

Steve a beard trimmer and toiletry bag. On the stairs beside Rob is the Penn and Teller Magic Lab that we got Bryce. 

Angela with her gift from us...

And Angie with hers...

Rob had his work cut out assembling computer desks for both Conner and Bryce...

And a computer chair for Conner too!

Isaac loves Leggo...

Our traditional Christmas breakfast...Egg Puff (aka Wifesaver), bacon, and cinnamon scones. Egg Puff just came out of the oven...

Rob picked up the farm fresh turkey last Friday and had it brining...a 25.5 pounder! It's all ready for the barbeque!

Steve and I decided to get out for a walk around the neighbourhood...some folks sure decorated their yards for Christmas. It would be great to see it at night!

Rob monitored the turkey all day with a new bluetooth thermometer he got for Christmas. The timing for everything was perfect...the mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli casserole, and Angela's Italian Stuffing were ready and keeping warm in the oven, while the turkey rested after being taken off the BBQ...and the layered salad and cranberry sauce were on the table.

Time to carve the beast! The turkey was absolutely wonderful! Good job Rob!

Dinner time!

We all stuffed ourselves...so good! After we had digested a bit, Angela served dessert...Panettone Christmas Tree. Panettone sliced and Nutella and whipped cream added to the slices and put back together...OMG, delicious! Unfortunately, no picture of it though...drats!

Tuesday (Dec. 26)...Boxing Day. It was a pretty laid-back kinda day. The guys all wanted to stay home and chill with all the Christmas goodies, so the girls got out for a walk. Angie, Angela and I went into Sidney and walked the waterfront...

Angie had bought the card came that we played with Ray and Deb...Mille Borne...so Steve and I taught Conner and Bryce how to play. It was a slightly different version from the one Ray and Deb had, that and the fact we had only learned it ourselves a few days ago, made for a rather slow start. However once we got the hang of it, we had fun. But we now know why Ray and Deb play in teams...it was a very long game with all 4 of us playing separately! But we did it! I do believe I was the winner! Needless to say, we only played one game.

Of course, leftovers were for dinner...so much good food! Later, Rob, Angie, Chris and Angela played card games while the kids entertained themselves in the other room. Then we started watching YouTube music videos...going through the alphabet. Such fun...and a fair amount of adult beverages were consumed! 

Well, all good things must come to an end...Wednesday (Dec. 27) Chris, Angela and Isaac headed back to the mainland, leaving at 10:00 to ensure they would be there in plenty of time for their 11:00 sailing. A wind warning had been issued so they were worried about the ferries being cancelled but all was fine and they made it home.

Rob had to go back to work today...so he was off at his usual 6:20 this morning. At least it is a short 3 day week for him, then another long weekend.

Steve and I decided to go for a walk...you guessed it...along the Sidney waterfront! I think we have mentioned that we really love that walk.

Lunch was at the Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub...we hadn't been there in a long time. It was really busy, so it took awhile to get our meals, but both were delicious...I had beef dip with salad and Steve the special, fish and chips.

Back home, Steve and Conner built the robot we got him...

Conner coding it. 

Thursday (Dec. 28) and time for us to pack up and head home. We feel so very fortunate to have had all of our family together for Christmas! Next year we plan on being back down south in warmer, dryer temps...so this year was very special!

We had the car packed and after big hugs to Angie and the boys (we had already said goodbye to Rob before he left for work this morning) we were off to meet Rob and Nancy for breakfast at Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe.  Glad we were able to see them one more time before we leave!

A good breakfast and a great hour and a half visit, we were off up island. We stopped for a quick visit with another good friend, Jim in Cowichan Bay...too bad we missed Nan though. 

We arrived home after being away for 8 nights to find all was fine in the trailer...thankfully. Steve had been worried about freezing temperatures while we were gone, but it has been very mild. Apparently lots of wind and rain, though.

Friday (Dec. 29) and another cool, rainy day. Steve worked on picture editing in the morning while I went grocery shopping. It was definitely an inside day. Once I had all of the groceries inside and put away, I got to work on blog updates.

Saturday (Dec. 30) morning we met Earl and Allison for breakfast at 8:30 at the Early Bird Cafe. Great catching up with them! 

Afterwards we went for a walk around the Airpark. There had been quite a storm last night with a high tide and the wind tossing logs and debris over the pathway... 

Sunday (Dec. 31)...and the final day of 2023! Hard to believe we're about to enter into 2024...Y2K doesn't seem that long ago!

We picked Earl, Allison and Cedar up at 2:30 and headed to a new (to us) trail nearby...one that Earl and Allison have hiked frequently. We parked at the trailhead to the 'Royston to Cumberland Railway Trail' and started on the Railway Trail/Trent River Loop (according to the AllTrails App). There are a bunch of trails in the area, popular with mountain-bikers.

Steve, Allison, me and Earl holding Cedar, far above the Trent River...

The trail follows a ridge next to the river...

Just a little steep!

When we reached the powerlines, we walked along an old logging road...and came across a few huge puddles. Most of them we could managed around the edge...this was a bit of a challenge, but we all did it without getting our feet wet!

What a great hike! So nice to get out in the woods. It wasn't a sunny day...but it also wasn't raining, so it was perfect! According to my  new FitBit Charge 6 watch with built-in GPS, we hiked 6.19 km/3.85 miles in 1 hour and 16 minutes. The bonus for me was that my knee did not bother me at all...that injection is working, yay!

Back at Earl and Allison's, we relaxed with a beverage. Allison served a delicious New Year's Eve Dinner...so good but no pictures! We're slipping, LOL! 

After dinner, the table cloth was taken off the table and the Rummikub game came out...

We played 5 games...each winning one, with Allison 2! By this time it was getting close to 9:00...which means midnight New York Time! So we headed downstairs to watch the ball drop and bring in the New Year on New York time. Shortly afterward, we wished Earl and Allison Happy New Year, and we headed home. Thank you Earl and Allison for a perfect New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year to all of our family and friends...all the very best in 2024!