Birthdays

In this family, you are the odd person if your birthday does not fall in the time span from August to December.  Beginning with Hannah's birthday on August 9th and Nola's on August 25th, we seem to go from party to party, with a special concentration in October.  Just this week we found out that we have yet another October birthday to celebrate - Sarah's on October 3rd.  It is getting so we live on cake and ice cream for the whole month.

This weekend was extra special.  We celebrated Cole's 6th birthday on Saturday (unfortunately we didn't get to shoot off the giant Angry Birds Star Wars sling shot as the kid guests had in the afternoon), and then on Sunday we went off to Deer Lodge Centre to help my Auntie Clare celebrate her 100th birthday.  Quite the span of time!  Even though she didn't get any Lego, I think that Auntie Clare realized that this was a special day, and she certainly enjoyed the cake, chocolates, and Coca Cola she consumed.  What a milestone!

We have celebrated with Julien at the beginning of September, attended Colin's Buzz/Woody/ Queen/Mader party, had dinner after Cole's Angry Birds/ Star Wars party, and tomorrow we cheer on Lily as she turns 4

(and has a Rainbow Party on Saturday), and Adam and Sean as they turn (shhhhh) 40! Caitlyn will turn 9 on Wednesday (which means that Grandma and Grandpa are really getting old), Sarah's birthday is on the 3rd, Ingrid celebrates (along with the basketball community at the Hall of Fame dinner) on Saturday the 5th, my birthday is on the 17th (and yes, I am 60 years older than is Lily), Emma is an official babysitter on the 18th, Cathy on October 29th, Lee on November 10th, Heather on December 5th, Amanda on the 14th.  Sheesh!  Thank goodness for Ross, Bill, Mary, Al, Jeffrey and Addy who have spring birthdays.  I haven't even included many of the extended family and friends who also have several fall birthday celebrations.

All this got me thinking about past birthdays, and how we celebrated over the years.  I have many fond memories of Carousel Cakes, money in cakes, craft ideas, birthdays in snowstorms.  Our children were so fortunate - all four of their grandparents attended each and every event (except for Jeffrey's birth, but that's another story.  Grandma Wedlake still feels guilty for missing that one I am sure!).  I haven't scanned the old pictures so they won't make it on this page, but here are a few from the last ten or so years. Happy memories.

The last few qualify as birthday pictures since we celebrated lots of birthdays in August, while our Eastern Wedlake family was visiting!

So we wish one and all the happiest of birthdays, and we are so grateful to be able to share in so many of them.  Here's to many many more!

And the rest of the summer

So, tomorrow is the last day of August for 2013.  It is still unbelievably hot today (near 30 degrees celsius), the winds blowing are hot, and the gardens are begging for water still even though many blooms gave up long ago because of the heat.  We are overrun with zucchini (and as a result have found a couple of new uses for them).  My tomatoes are slow this year, but we have been fortunate to receive garden excess from friends of family.
We have celebrated a birthday early, gone to a couple of lakes, and generally just enjoyed life.  Here are some shots of our activities.

A special boy turns 3 tomorrow (September 1) but a pre-birthday party was held in his honour as relatives from the east were in town.  Here is his "Queen/Mador/Buzz/Woody" cake. It is a racetrack for Lightning McQueen and Tow Mader, and Buzz Lightyear and Woody are watching from the stands.  So creative!  The birthday boy loved showing everyone the cake his mom had made, but when the time came to eat some, he wasn't interested!  Funny guy.

A kiss for the cook.

Here is "baby James" (as he will probably always be known in this house) with his doctor dad.  He is a big boy, so probably the "baby" title will go by the wayside once he objects to it.

This girl loves her hot dogs!

Flanders Lake in the Whiteshell - a place of utter peace and tranquility.

We tried the splashpad again with these two.  They loved the picnic lunch, but weren't so wild about the spraypad.  Addy found herself drenched a couple of times, as she was a little too close when the water came on.  

Our home made splash pad, the ancient "Mr. Fun Fun".  He no longer has his hat, but he still provides lots of entertainment for the little ones, as he is totally predictable.  And yes, Uncle Jeffrey, he did sit on Mr. Fun Fun - I just didn't have my camera ready.

So we bid farewell to Summer 2013.  It was great - lots of heat, swimming, visits, celebrations and good food.  Thanks to all who made it such a good holiday time.

The summer so far

In June, when I was looking at the days ahead, summer seemed to stretch out without too much activity planned.  I thought I was looking at long days, even weeks, when nothing of any consequence would be happening.  Either days are getting shorter the older I get, or I was just completely wrong, because this summer has been anything but inactive.  The pictures which follow chronicle some of the events which have occurred, including overnight visits from grandchildren who live here, a visit to Grand Beach, camping in Bemidji, the beautiful wedding of the daughter of good friends, first camping trip for Cole and Lily, a 25th wedding anniversary party for Bill and Ingrid, a visit from Jeffrey, Amanda, Caitlyn and Hannah (and Bella - granddog number 2) which included a mass birthday/anniversary party for almost everyone attending, and finally, a night at Rainbow Stage with 35 of our closest friends.  Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the events.

Disappointment

I like to think that I have not often been totally disappointed in anyone.  Yes, there have been minor blips in many relationships, but nothing that meant the end of the line, for me at least.  I know that I have done and said many things in my life which have most probably disappointed others, so who am I to be so unaccepting of what another person says and does.  Until this week, that is.

The news that an acquaintance, Dr. Ben Levin, has been arrested on charges of child pornography has astounded me on so many levels.  We have know Dr. Levin (or Benjy as he was in university) for close to fifty years. He is not in any way a close friend, but our paths have crossed several times over the years, and I always looked at him and thought, boy, he has really made it in life.  Wonderful family, challenging career, respected in his field, - I had nothing but admiration for him as I followed his career from a distance.  All that came crashing down Monday night as I was listening to the news.  How could this be?  Am I that bad a judge of character?  How can anyone do these things and think he or she will not be discovered sooner or later?

I know that he is innocent until proven guilty, but I have too much respect for authority figures to believe that they are anything other than absolutely sure of what information they have, information that led to the arrest.  The charges are horrible, and go well beyond viewing pornography.  Horrified as I am, I can't help but feel such pain for his family, his students, his colleagues; for everyone who put trust in him personally and professionally.

Ok now, having written this, maybe I can put out of my mind the vision of other people's grandchildren being  violated by this monster.  All our children and grandchildren deserve so much better than that.

Don't Break the Ice!

Another generation loves this game!  This afternoon, Lily introduced Annie to the game.  Such fun!  These two girls, whose mothers grew up together and were married on the same day, had a great time together.