Reunion (aka a copy of my letter to Jaclyn this week)

Dear Jaclyn,

Well that was a fun surprise from Grandpa to have you teach our FHE lesson at our Family Reunion! 

(Grandpa sent Jaclyn a USB and asked her to make a video FHE lesson on missionary work.)

We had FHE on Saturday night because that was the best night for it this weekend. Grandpa hadn’t even watched it yet. (So he couldn’t answer SOME people’s questions of how long it was. Wink.) I really enjoyed watching you teach and seeing you as a missionary in action. As well as the lesson itself. So now I am thinking more about missionary work and really recognizing how much of the ‘non missionary’ stuff we discussed at church today is actually missionary stuff. We sang ‘Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd’ in RS today, and I found myself wondering why we don’t sing that hymn at missionary farewells.

Here’s our reunion synopsis:

Wednesday Carmen, Chloe, and I drove down to Montana in the morning, did a teensy bit of shopping, and then met up with Keith and Kelly’s family who were arriving Wednesday because that worked out better for flights for them from Arizona. 

(Carmen doesn't like to shop. At all. She was wearing black shorts with a black t-shirt because she literally had nothing else to wear. She called it her ninja costume, and was demonstrating her moves in heals.)

We did Costco together, went up to Ptarmigan, and then went out for dinner in Whitefish. We chose a restaurant called Coopers, which we’ve never tried before. It had European selections on the menu, and Carmen and Avery shared Avery’s first escargot - but the escargot were different than Carmen had tried in Paris. They were already out of shell and smothered in melted cheese, which I imagine made them more palatable, I don’t know. We then did MORE grocery shopping at Safeway and Super 1, but still had time for swimming back at Ptarmigan.

Thursday our smaller pre-reunion group went for a trail ride in the morning. 

(This monster is a descendant of one of the puppies from the movie Beethoven's Second.)

Chloe was a little nervous before we got started, which was probably the fault of the guides. In Waterton when we go on trail rides they throw you on a horse and away you go. These guides were really more professional and safety conscious and gave more instruction and practise before we went out, which made Chloe feel like it she needed to know more than she really did and that her horse might not obey her. 

But it turned out she loved her horse, Cupcake, and we all had a good time. 

We went back to Ptarmigan for lunch and then Mark and Ortensia arrived and a bunch of us went and did zip lines on Big Mountain. The summer development of the mountain has come a long ways since we last came to Whitefish in the summer, and zip lines are just one part of that. 

Mark, Camille, Keith, Avery, Emerson, Carmen, Chloe and I were the zip liners. We did 7 lines, but the first 2 were just for practise and training. The last 5 were long and high and fast and the most fun. 

I’ve sent you a picture of Carmen doing a face because it is the exact silly face Aunt Christy used to do for pictures, do you recognize it?

Later on Thursday Dad and Steven and Grandma and Grandpa arrived. We had planned to go to MacKenzie River Pizza originally, but Keith, Mark and I had changed the plan to take-out without telling Grandma and Grandpa or Dad. Turned out they both went straight to the restaurant when they got to town, which was right when we finished on the zip lines. Dad called to ask what exactly was going on from the restaurant and it worked out awesome that he was right there and ordered the pizza and brought it to us.

Friday was pouring rain. We were supposed to go to the lake that day, but obviously we didn’t. We went to Kalispell for lunch. Some people went to see Smurfs 2 (not me) and after the movie I took Carmen power shopping. She was in desperate need, and in 20 minutes we found 2 pairs of jeans and 4 shirts. It turns out she has to be desperate in order to accomplish anything when shopping. Dirk and Marie arrived in Kalispell in the afternoon, and then at 5pm Marie and her 3 oldest, the girls from our family, Kelly and her girls, Ortensia and Camille and Grandma went to Bigfork for dinner and Summerhouse Theatre. The timing on that all went like clockwork, surprisingly, and we enjoyed watching the Sound of Music. The lead was an actress from Calgary Storybook Theatre, and we recognized her immediately which was fun for us.

Saturday was overcast in the morning so we didn’t go to the water slides after all. Instead we went to that outdoor fun centre in Coram that has the maze and the bumper boats and the go carts. 

(Carter)

(Chloe and Camille)

(Steven, Monte, and Harrison)

(Grandpa and Grandma)

It was a perfect day for that and we certainly had plenty of picnic food. Oh, Dad, Steven, Carmen, Avery, Brynlee, and Keith went to an indoor shooting range first. (When in the USA . . . )

Other than that, Keith and Kelly made dinner on Saturday, and we had FHE, which was just your lesson and fudge and popcorn - that was as much structure as anyone could tolerate. 

("Favourite Uncle" - or so he campaigned to be all week.)

We went swimming at the pool again and I mostly swam with Monte. He just wanted to do laps from one end to the other, repeating, “That way!” and pointing his finger.

Today we will go feed the ducks and have homemade ice cream.

(On Sunday Avery entertained Gwennie with blowing bubbles. Gwen kept saying, "Wow!")

(Grandpa says the most important part of making ice cream is the spoon.)

Dad and Carmen are heading back home so that Carmen can check in at EFY tomorrow morning. I think we will head back to Big Mountain and do some alpine slides or something tomorrow before we go home. 

On Monday we headed back to Big Mountain Resort where Chloe, Camille, and I did the Alpine obstacle course.

And alpine slides. (Mark returned to the zip lines with Steven who missed it on Thursday.)

It was a fun reunion; I’m glad you got to be a part of it.

Love,

Mom

Ferrari

Last week Ken got a call from a friend of his who races cars - a much anticipated call. He and Steven were invited to join him in Connecticut for a race. It was a bit of a last minute invitation, but Ken was instantly able to confirm they could go, ha!

To attend a race as the guests of a driver means total access, I can't even describe the fun my boys had.

(Except maybe to say that Ken told me he didn't think about me once the whole time he was gone.)

Fond Farewell

Ken's parents sold their ranch this summer. We are sad to see it go, there have been many good times at the ranch.

Over the weekend the girls and I met up with aunts, uncles, and cousins to help pack and clean and move, but we started out at Waterton on Friday night. We have the pre-ranch Waterton evening down to a (lost) art.

Ross has an appreciated sense of play. Here he is serving as a table for Chloe to build an Inukshuk on his back.

The perfect Friday night in Waterton starts with a picnic, 

Followed by Surrey Bikes and ice cream cones.

Saturday we got to work.

This old cupboard is for sale, by the way.

Carmen found a slipper she lost probably 5 years ago.

We were under strict instructions from Grandma that this was not to be an all work weekend; she didn't want everyone's last memory of the ranch to be packing and cleaning. The boys pretty much lived on the dirt bikes.

Carmen also mostly played. 

(Ah, the advantages of post-surgery.)

Chloe is my most sentimental child. She chose a few treasures that Grandma said she could keep, and took this great self-portrait.

Good bye Rancho Relaxo!

TMI

Carmen had a perfectly successful surgery on her arm yesterday. She had me take loads of pictures,  and I kept notes on my phone just in case, so here it is (condensed).

10:48 check in downstairs
10:59 hospital gown and in bed 31

11:30-11:50 nurse Ashley measured Carmen's height: 5'6" 123lbs Carmen then got a DVD player and a movie from nurse Ashley

12:03 nurse Nichole checked in with us we both got warm blankets 

1:55 wheeled to next waiting area in surgical suite

2:10 met with dr dilay and her med student Jacob she did some teaching and drew on Carmen's arm then anaesthesiologist came talked to dr dilay who asked him to also give dose of antibiotics 

Anesthesiologist gave Carmen choice of gas or needle to put her to sleep she chose gas (orange scent)

2:18 they rolled her away

3:14 desk in waiting area closed down, lights off staff gone

3:55 Carmen's back and having a popsicle

4:05 second popsicle 

4:10 Tylenol 

4:34 Nichole listened to heart checked temperature 

4:42 gingerale

4:44 Nichole elevated arm with pillow
5:00 Met with Dr Dilay, got post-op instructions and special wrap for swimming

5:25 discharged

Happy Birthday Chloe

Yesterday Chloe turned 12! She was well celebrated - she got together with a few school friends back in June and had them over for cake and a DVD. On Sunday we had our Calgary extended family over for dinner and *Beehive* cake that Chloe made herself. We also had *Beehive* lemon sugar cookies (which Chloe made) and homemade ice cream (which I made).

Yesterday Chloe and I went antique shopping in Nanton, and we packed a picnic in her new picnic basket. We had bacon, tomato, and cheese croissants, banana chocolate chip muffins, raspberries, potato chips, and apple juice. One of the shop keepers in Nanton recommended a spot for us which was delightful - a gazebo in a park. We'd even packed a tablecloth, so our picnic was schmancy. While we were shopping Chloe bought some fancy white gloves and collector spoons, and I bought an old black veiwmaster with some travel reels for London, Paris, and Temple Square in Salt Lake City. My plan is to order some custom reels from our own photos.

Chloe had several people drop by throughout the day: her primary teacher with a gift, the YW's president with flowers, and our home teacher with an ice cream cake! The cake went with her to cousin Erica's house for a sleepover last night, but not before we had some at home (and then some more with Uncle Kevin).

Happy Birthday, Chloe!

Stampede 101

This year is the 101st year of the Calgary Stampede. I have a commemorative t-shirt that says *Come Hell or High Water* in reference to the recent flooding (Chloe was a little horrified I had a shirt with a swear on it - my only defence was that it was a gift from my office).

So Carmen, Chloe and I hit the Stampede today. We started out right with a Stampede Pancake Breakfast at the YMCA. It turned out this was the first time these girls ever stood in line for a pancake! It wasn't so bad, maybe a 15-20 minute wait.

The easiest way to do Stampede is with only 2 kids! 

Carmen really pushed Chloe's boundaries when it came to rides, and Chloe had a blast!

We polished off the afternoon with food-on-a-stick (chips and pizza) to make it pretty much a perfect day.

Canada Day Kids of Steel

Our new tradition (started 2 years ago, interrupted last year by our trip) is to do the Turner Valley Triathlon on Canada Day. And by *our*, I mean Carmen-and-now-Chloe.
Ken, Steven, and I were totally inspired watching them complete this challenge (we'll see if that inspiration moves any of us to action). Nice work, girls!

Some sweat when the heat is on

Friday morning last week Chloe picked up her 6th grade report card, and then later that afternoon she completed the set up for her 7th grade science fair. I know it is crazy, but I also know she will be super glad she did it this way by mid school year. Her experiment really is best done in hot weather anyhow: she is testing if roofing material colour influences heat retention, and by extension, 'urban heat island'. We certainly had some heat island today! Chloe couldn't do her 1pm reading because  both shingles had exceeded the 70'C maximum of her outdoor thermometers. Not a good day to not have air conditioning, I'm afraid.

Awards Night

Carmen was smart and wore flats to her school awards ceremony. She was invited up onto the stage for the Jim Finnman Science and Technology Award, Warner Family Catch-a-Dragon Award, Senior Girls Basketball Most Improved Award, Citizenship, Excellence in Acting, Top Band Student, top mark in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science, Honours with Distinction, and World Affairs Award sponsored by the Flannagan Family.
I'm super proud of you Carmen and all your hard work!

High and Dry

Last week we got 6 months of rain in 2 days, and that meant disaster for Calgary and several surrounding communities. We are lucky enough to live on high ground and have food and water stored (we didn't turn out to to need the food and water, but it gave peace of mind and saved me from standing in line for hours at the grocery store as people around us did some panic shopping).

The last week of school was cancelled for all of my kids. Carmen and Chloe are disappointed to end the year this way, and not to wrap it up properly saying good bye to friends and teachers. All PAT's in our area were cancelled, and the rest of the diploma exams were made optional. Steven opted to do his Chem 30 diploma today, so his year finished off normally.

Next is the clean-up. Many opportunities over many months, I expect.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

So a little more about the school play:

First of all, my children should be involved in anything headed up by this woman. She is a superior human being and we need more teachers like her.

The play this year:

The true story is of a girl, Sadako Sasaki, who lived in Hiroshima at the time of the atomic bombing by the United States. She developed leukemia from the radiation and spent her time in a nursing home creating origami (folded paper) cranes in hope of making a thousand of them. She was inspired to do so by the Japanese legend that one who created a thousand origami cranes would be cured by the gods. Her wish was simply to live. However, she managed to fold only 644 cranes before she became too weak to fold any more, and died on 25 October 1955 in the morning. Her friends and family helped finish her dream by folding the rest of the cranes, which were buried with Sadako. They also built a statue of Sadako holding a giant golden origami crane in Hiroshima Peace Park.

(Thank you Wikipedia)

Carmen played two roles, the first (in order of appearance) was as Sadako's school teacher.

And the second was as a the spirit of Sadako's grandmother's friend, who had passed away on the day of the bombing.

The play was lovely, sad, and inspiring, and I'm so glad Carmen got to be a part of it.

Okay, actually Carmen had three roles: the third was the official tyer of square knots.

Who's the bravest one of all?

I've had this thought running through my head lately, just about how brave kids are.

They learn new instruments,

Run for student government,

Go on missions,

Present scientific findings,

Accept new experiences

Try out for teams, apply for jobs, write college entrance exams, submit proposals,

Audition for plays,

Give public performances, 

And battle the elements.

Succeed or fail, win or lose, they do it again and again. When was the last time I put myself out there like that?