Joe and Melissa returned to Florida on Tuesday. As a treat for dad, Joe came into the office today. Joe has missed the last two years due to a vacation - but this year he made it. Well, suppose two years ago he was not on vacation ... but he was taking his time.

They also brought back more photos of their trip, oh ... and 10 cans of Tim's coffee and a box of doughnuts :) Here is what I want to share ...

Our little timbit

A little snow never hurt anyone

Alicia's visit was a treat

Wow ... wow ... wow ... wow

Joe got a chance to learn a few things ...

... even if it was how to get dirty

Melissa and Joe are into their final few days back home with family. Alicia came all the way from the island to spend some time ... which Melissa has really enjoyed. She has also gotten to spend some much needed time with her sister and Joe's cousins. Unfortunately it appears that they spent the time trying to brainwash my little boy!!!

One of their excursions was to the zoo, which Joe apparently loved. Guess its time to get those Busch Gardens passes again.

Rest those feet.

Pleasant walks in fresh cool air.

Hey, I am trying to call my dad!

Sisters and the kids

Ok, the score was ...

Traveling is so much fun.

FInally, someone to take control!!!

... zzzz ...

So, Melissa and Joe are now enjoying a vacation back home in Calgary. Leaving me to hold down the fort here. Just to keep them missing Sarasota I thought I would post some pictures of their last day in town.

Enjoy the days with family ... wish I could be there.

Today we made the hardest decision of our lives. After almost 20 years, or at age 138, we put Patches down. In the last few weeks she began to take a turn for the worse, and in the end we could not see a comfortable and stable recovery. It is going to be a quiet and lonely house for a long time and we are going to miss her companionship dearly.

Patches (center) still with her eyes not quite open

Melissa got Patches for her 8th birthday, well the July before. Every since then she has been the one stable companion in her life., providing an ear to hear all the growing pains as Melissa moved between Calgary and the island ... and then off to Seattle, Vancouver, and finally Sarasota. Patches really loved it down here with the warmer climate and the growing family. Joe and her really formed a bond, often they could be found playing together - Joe was always so gentle, while Patches was as playful as her old bones would allow. We are all really going to miss her.

While 20 years is a good long life ... it does not make it any easier.

So, Patches has been struggling again. Aging can be graceful, but is not always easy. At the moment we are needing to add some water (with nutrients) just under her layer of skin to add the fluids that she is lacking. The results have been great so far ... she has been more active and joyful -- though playing the role of a hockey puck can still be a little ... "stressful" !!!!

Now, with Melissa heading home to Calgary on vacation I will be left to handle the two-person job of giving the doses that patches needs. (One person to hold her - One person to jab her ... she is not a fan of that second person). So Melissa had a great idea ... build a hammock that holds her while she is not here.

Putting our heads together we designed ... designed ... and re-designed different ways to build an inexpensive structure that will comfortably hold Patches while the injection is taking place. A couple trips to the local hardware store and some great work by our staff we managed a sturdy and elegant? "device". It even works :)

It was fun to tackle this as a family as we all played a role in building it ... much better way to spend the weekends than heading to the office. And just look Dad ... Joe is all ready to help with the work you have around the house. I will make sure he packs his tools :)

Waking up this morning Joe discovered that a trail of eggs had been left down the stairs. He took the waiting basket and started the hunt. He quickly found most of the eggs, with little more than coaxing into the next room. Only a couple were left in the end ... hidden for later finds throughout the day.

It was a solid easter hunt morning with smiles and sugar all round. Check out the pictures we captured of the fun.

And no pictures. Melissa and I have gotten into a bad habit of leaving the camera at home when we head out on regular day trips. This Friday was a family trip to Mote ...

... however, Mote was packed. A good thing for them, but not a fight we wanted on our relaxing day off. So we looked for somewhere else to kill our day - while enjoying the sunshine and pleasant weather. The night before was our engineering department "night out" which took place on a harbour boat cruise here in Sarasota. During the tour of Sarasota bay (and all the nice houses that we could never afford) we also saw a park out on the keys ... ahh ... the perfect exploration trip.

And there it was, south Lido key (actually, we found a park - who knows if it is the same one). So we wandered the beach and looked at the different boats along the shore. Then we turned in-land and walked a nature trail back to the parking lot. Joe was kind enough to point out the 2nd and 3rd markers to ensure we were on the right path -- first steps in spelling/reading ... finding the numbers and letters. (He said "three" and found the number "two" on the sign for us).

After that we headed for our favorite ice cream shop and discovered something new ... Settimi's is now also a pizza parlour ... and once again impressing. The pizza was some of the best I have ever had. Large slices, prices are not bad, and just mouth watering. Turned out to be a perfect day with the family ... too bad we skipped the photos. Maybe next time.

(Funny side note, our neighbours are good friends with the owners of Settimi's, so we had a rumor that pizza was going to be showing up soon)

Another movie Joe just loved ... Happy Feet

So, returning from Chippewa I was able to relax a bit. Ahh ... some sunshine, some pooltime fun, visits with friends ... and naps ... lots of naps. But, when I saw that Happy Feet was finally playing at our local theater ("the cheap seats") we saved that slot of time just for our family to enjoy a good animated film. It was good ... more political than I thought it would be ... but good.

Also, Joe got to show me his new swimming skills and improved hockey skills ... enjoyable weekend all round. Can I do that again?