No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-12-24, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015. Things have changed rather drastically for the Shortreed family in recent years, altering how Christmas is celebrated in their home – ironically, with many of those changes happening right around Christmas. Matt and Julie live with their two sons Connor and Brayden just west of Walton on Blyth Road. Matt is the current president of the Huron County Beef Producers and the family, alongside Matt’s mother Val, recently hosted the Huron County Ploughing Match at the original family farm. If the holiday season didn’t exist, late December and early January would still be a cause for celebration at the Shortreed home. Connor just celebrated his fourth birthday on Dec. 16 and Brayden made news earlier this year as Stratford General Hospital’s New Year’s baby, making his way into the world at 4:32 a.m. on Jan. 1. As reported by a number of news outlets, including The Citizen, Julie and Matt were at a New Year’s Eve buck and doe in Belmore when Julie began experiencing contractions, but wrote them off as false labour since she wasn’t due for another six weeks. The pair drove to the hospital, straight from the party, battling snowy weather along the way ahead of Brayden’s early morning birth. Julie then spent 10 days in the hospital with Brayden before he could come home to the Walton area to be with the rest of his family. Brayden is now home, happy and healthy and days away from turning one, but not before Connor celebrated his fourth birthday mid- month. Julie says that she and Matt have really gone to great lengths to differentiate between the boys’ birthdays and Christmas, because it would be unfair if one cause to celebrate was absorbed by another because it’s so close to Christmas. With two young children born around Christmas, Julie says that one unofficial tradition that isn’t in play this year is being pregnant, as she’s been with child for two of the last five Christmas seasons. Further to that point, Christmas at the Shortreed home has changed substantially in recent years, with the holiday being now all about their children and spending as much time with family as possible. Now with two young children, the Christmas Day alarm goes off a little earlier than it had it past years, Matt says. When it was just him and Julie, they would typically get going at about 9 a.m., but now with Connor and Brayden, Christmas Day starts at about 7 a.m., sometimes earlier. Christmas morning, Julie says, is the final day in a long line of days where Connor and Brayden are sure to be on their best behaviour, as Matt and Julie have introduced the popular Elf on a Shelf to their home. The Shortreeds’ elf is named Ted, Julie says, and he’s constantly reporting news back to Birthdays, ornaments mark Shortreeds’ Christmas Marking the occasion Matt and Julie Shortreed and their children Connor, left, and Brayden, right, have plenty to celebrate around Christmas and New Year’s and they have plenty of ways to help make the days special. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Many thanks to our customers COUSINS CONSTRUCTION Ken, Sheila & family 44786 Rowland Rd., Ethel • cochranesrepairs@hotmail.com Merry Christmas Thank you for your business this year. Have a safe and happy holiday Don & Adam Cochrane Call us 519-887-6461 Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK We’d like to wish all our customers, neighbours and friends a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming year. www.watsonshomehardware.com HOME HARDWARE BUILDING CENTRE Gorrie 519-335-3551 Listowel 519-291-2610 HOME HARDWARE FURNITURE STORE Goderich 519-524-8312 Watson’s At this special time of year we’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for your patronage. We look forward to serving you again soon. Merry Christmas from White’s Home Renovations RR #4 Brussels 519-887-6432 Cell # 519-440-6647 Sid & Melody White A round of best wishes to you and yours at this festive time of year! Have a safe and happy holiday. Aesthetics Electrolysis 791 Sports Drive, Brussels Gift Certificates Available 519-887-6661 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 27