Day: November 17, 2025

Putting together a birthday party for our eldest daughter and the constantly changing guest list, and roster of new, never before heard of children, has caused some issues, like “how do I get a hold of these people?”. Are these good kids? Are they the same age, older, younger, same school or what. Why have we not heard a single peep about several of these kids until, like, today? No matter, we are resourceful and I’m on various group chats for other kids birthday invitations, so I can likely find a couple of these people’s parents because I need to.

Still have half of the old guard kids still invited which is nice. But they are at that age now where the boys and the girls aren’t necessarily playing together anymore. So the boys she still knows, and doesn’t dislike, are on the list, and all the newer additions are pre-teen girls from one grade up (apparently). Turns out 8 do know at least two of them from Tot Spot when Emily went with me from ages 14 months to four years old. One other girl is a neighbour, and a classmate. I see them playing out front all the time. So this isn’t an outrage, or an affront to our better nature. It’s an adaptation to the boys drifting away to play sports & fight non-stop, and finding some girls with similar interests, a keen desire for school, make up tutorials, YouTube fail videos, and Labubus. Pre-teens… What can be said about them eh!?!

I would have preferred to cap this outing at about 6 additional kids, but it has now ballooned to nearly twenty. Three spots are reserved for family/extended family children. Can’t go glow in the dark mini putting and not have the wee little cousins around. That seems unfair. Would be different if it was just going to be a gang sleepover, movie night, make-up tutorial following, girls only endeavour. If that were the case I would find a very late movie to go to, or Uber to a bar and stay out late to avoid the squealing, shrieking, and general shrillness of a group of preteen girls. All that laughing, and cackling would set my teeth on edge. Yeesh.

In other news we put the tree up yesterday afternoon. Had to wait for the delayed playdate to come to a close, and for us to eat lunch, and digest it before getting all amped up with Christmas music, lights, and fun! The kids are now very able, and willing to help decorate the tree. Not only that, but do it in a meaningful way where I don’t have to surreptitiously “fix” the tree afterwards so that it’s layout doesn’t bother me for the next six weeks.

Once again it snowed which really helps to drive home the point that we are drawing ever closer to winter, and that Christmas really is on its way. The plow trucks, and the Salters, and even the brine sprayers are out in full force this morning. The roads are clear which was all my wife cared about last night when the snow squalls blew into town. It’s too early for the snow to stick around for more than two or three days at a time, but if it keeps going like this, we are in for a back breaking season of snow shoveling, and ice removal. I best keep some extra strength Voltaren handy, otherwise I’ll wind up in traction.

There are few things I get sick of faster than shoveling wet, heavy snow. I hope to the heavens above, and all the God’s on this green earth that we don’t have any of the sixteen inch deep in one go nights this year. Go lighter! I’d much rather have four four inch snowfalls consecutively, than one 16″ dump that makes me want to die. Because that was awful. Had to help push & dig people out of the intersection near our house on multiple occasions. I was exhausted, and furious by the end of it. Horrendous experience. Zero stars. Do NOT recommend.

Luckily this party is still three weeks away, so there is time to order gift bag supplies, and get ourselves primed for the experience. Best part of doing the event elsewhere is not cleaning before hand, and only a mild bit of tidying up when we are done. We don’t host, and the kids are occupied 90% of the time by themselves, or the event space. Love it!