29

These were supposed to go with the last post but I forgot to add them in. My Grandpa is quite the prankster, always looking for ways to "get" us. He told me he had a trick to show me, and he filled this bottle with water. He placed a dime under it, and then put a rag over the bottle. He then lifted the rag and told me to lean over and look into the bottle... when I did, he squished the bottle, giving me a face full of water! Sheesh! We all laughed pretty good about that, he got me good (he then got Rayne a few days later with the same trick haha). 

We woke up on my birthday to the sound of my cell phone ringing. It was Tim, with some awful news. Uncle Ian had passed away in the night from a massive heartache. It was like a weird, underwater sensation came over me... It became hard to think, and it just didn't really make sense. My heart felt so shattered for Auntie Hanna and Stef and Roger. We contemplated getting on a plane right away and coming home, because I could tell that Jon just really wanted to be there with his family. Not because he thought he could do anything (we know full well that there is nothing anyone can really "do" in these situations) but just be there, together. But Tim and Lois were insistent that we don't come and that we stay put. It felt very wrong to not be with the family that day and in the days following. We were just so sad and so heartbroken. But we kept our plans the same and stayed in Alberta for Christmas (we did change our flights and came home a day early so that we could be home for Hanna's birthday and show some support that way- thanks to Neil, we were able to make that happen). Quinny had went upstairs when she woke up to go see her Grandma and Jon and I just stayed in bed for a long time, talking and praying and crying. My mom and Quinny came down a little bit later and had breakfast on a tray for me! So sweet. They also sang Happy Birthday (if you haven't heard Q sing Happy Birthday yet, you are missing out. It is the slowest, most drawn out version of the song I have ever heard, and it makes me laugh every time! She does great). The funniest part of my breakfast was the fruit snacks and granola bars... two things that Q loves that she added in. So sweet of them!

 We all just hung out on the bed for a while, happy to have each other and be together. I am so thankful for these people.

 We hadn't really made plans for the day, and after hearing the news, we weren't feeling up to having a big day. So we spent it home, playing games, napping, and just being together. I had made dinner reservations and my Grandparents joined us. Good food, good company.

Mom took Q home to put her to bed, and Jon and I went to the movies - Collateral Beauty, which was a very good movie, but a tear jerker. I cried over 60% of the movie. Safe to say I won't be watching it again! Looking forward to what 29 will bring