Easton turns 15. It must be October!
Easton turned 15 on October 2! I really can't believe it! He’s smart, athletic, musical and so fun to be around! This year for his birthday dinner, he chose Japanese food. We went to Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. We drove to pick up Hadley first so she could join us in the fun. The ramen was so delicious! We each got a different flavoured meal and we each liked the one we picked out for ourselves the best! If you had asked me when Easton was little if this would be his birthday restaurant meal, I would have said no way... but he loved it! Afterwards we went home and enjoyed cupcakes as we made them for the LAN party weekend ahead but we ate 4 today on his actual birthday... The rest would be enjoyed the next day with friends.
Easton is still skinny at 145 lbs, up from 130 last year, and 5'11...and a half", up from 5'10" last year. Shoe size 11 up from 10 last year. He has some clothes that are size mens small and a few mens medium. He still loves to sing in the shower.
For his birthday he invited his friends and their dads over for a LAN party weekend. The boys of course played video games, but there were lightsaber battles in the dark outside, ping pong and hockey in the basement, board games, snacks... so many snacks and laughter. My favourite part, late night laughter.
Grade 10 is off to a good start. He has been selected as the alternate player for select hockey as well as regular house league. His guitar teacher is impressed with his progress from his summer playing. This year his birthday gift request was a new pair of headphones for his computer among other things.
On October 5th Shaye and I went to Unionville to celebrate the 25th anniversary of where the filming of the pilot of Gilmore Girls took place. This was a fantastic show that we both so enjoyed! It is still on Netflix today. We arrived and had lunch together to get caught up, then we toured the town and got pictures by the current welcome sign. We took photos at the town's gazebo. It was such a beautiful day! I was wearing the Gilmore Girls sweater that Easton got me last Christmas. Shaye was wearing the scarf that Rory wore in the show. But we got hot, so they came off and we enjoyed some ice cream in town.
We went by Luke’s diner/Williams Hardware that was inspired by the current Belle Beute Med Spa.
Shaye came to Easton's hockey game that night! What a great day!
The Blue Jays have garnered the attention of Canadians this month as they finished first in their division and made it through ALDS and then ALCS, and now the World Series... World Series game 1 we had a watch party at Hadley’s place as Brian was coming home from the airport so we met him there. She decorated her door for Halloween and it was so festive. Game 2 was a regular watch at home. Game 3 in the World Series, again watched at home but it was an 18-inning match between Blue Jays and Dodgers and it was the second longest game in World Series history. I went to bed after 3am! The game started at 8pm. Dodgers win 6-5. That was a long game! Game 5 was at the same time Easton had a hockey game, so I caught the first part in the lobby, and then the ending in the lobby at the rink. Game 6 was hyped up as the last two times we won the World Series we won in game 6, but not this time. This time we will be playing Game 7 on November 1. It has been so fun to watch them... I have high hopes for game 7!
Thanksgiving we spent picking pears at my dads. They are Hadley's absolute favourite. Plus she is excited to take some back to her dorm. My sister and her family and my brother and dad as well as our family enjoyed a lovely turkey dinner put on by my dad. Then it was off to Brian's sister Julie's house for the Verkley side. We played outside, and even ate outside, it was such a lovely day. Birthdays were also recognized for Easton and Selinah.
Brian's cousin Patrick and his wife Meg had a baby shower almost one year to the day from their wedding shower. They were showered with many handmade gifts among other useful things to welcome their baby boy! Rhett Thorin Verkley arrived early in the morning on October 27th. Despite arriving nearly three weeks early, he still weighed a healthy 7lbs 7oz!
Our deck is finally complete. Stairs were the last and most challenging part but we have them now and the leftover wood is put away. Just in time for the weather to change. The kids were our helpers on this large project. I think they have a new appreciation for drills and how much work goes into such a project. Brian was integral in this project, knowing all the building code requirements and cutting all the wood.
This year Easton carved his first pumpkin. Neither kid enjoys taking the seeds out but Easton helped this year. The kids usually give insight as to the look but Brian usually does the carving. However, this year Easton was sure he could carve out a Blue Jays logo instead of a face. He did it! It looked fantastic! I was so proud of him. Easton dressed up for school as a Blue Jays player, and Hadley a Blue Jays fan. We ordered a pizza and it came in the shape of a pizza with pepperoni for the eyes with olives, pepperoni for the nose and mouth and pepperoni all around the outside with a stem cut into the dough.
All in all a wonderful October!