Saturday Morning at the Opera

The four of us at the opera

I took my early morning walk to London Drugs on Saturday.

I needed to purchase enough Easter candy to fill my purse for the opera: the Met - Live in HD.

I also went through Thomas' candy stash to flesh out with chocolate bars, varieties of which I hadn't bought at the store.

I was so busy getting the treats ready that I remembered everything to tuck into my bag but my wallet, so it was a surprise to me when I got to the ticket wicket and had no money, no matter how deeply I dug through the various treat bags in the shoulder handpurse.

"Just one picture, Grandma."

Doral brought Dalton and Ceilidh down to the Cineplex where we met for the opera. At the very minute he entered the theatre with them, is the moment when I had decided no money, so no opera for us.

So being still at the ticket wicket, the kids went to the opera on Doral's credit card.

The opera was charming.  The real treat is to listen to Rossini's Comte Ory while sitting between two grandchildren.  As well, at the intermission we heard that the tenor had just helped helped to midsives deliver his first baby 1/2 hour before the performance began.

Dressed up for Rossini's Comte Ory

Wyona and Lurene were at the movie as well, sitting well ahead of us.

The line-up for the performance was long at 10:30 am.

A woman who was in the line-up with us said, "Excuse me, but could you tell me why there is a long line-up. I am here to exchange tickets for an afternoon movie. Why are the rest of you here?"

Small groups of opera crowd explained why we are liniong up so early Saturday morning.  We  are getting to know one another for it was just last week that many of the same crowd saw Iphigenie en Tauride, together.  Someone told me that they had also seen Carmen last week in 3-D over at Country Hills -- broadast from London, but I haven't seen that advertized, which is probably good for my wallet.

There are 2 more performances coming this month: Captriccio and Il Trovatore.

As well, Miranda and Richard came up with some tickets for the Calgary Opera production of Aida.  I told them that I am used to the second balconey tickets, so it was a treat to be on the main floor and sitting beside Charise and Lurene as well.

The blue accordian fold on table is the catapillar

On Saturday, we decided Meighan is too young to go and read the subtitles so she stayed home for craft time.

She made a house for her blue cardboard caterpillar, which she was pleased to show me when we took the older kids home.

Meighan

I, of course, was trying to capture her cute little face, with a blue tattoo on her cheek and red streaking in her hair.

Arta

Swimming In The Shuswap

Here's a photo of the Camps-Johnson, Carter and Johnson kids swimming in the lake. From left to right, Meighan, David, Alex, Dalton, Duncan and Ceilidh.

Maybe it's just my old age, but the water seemed warmer that is usual for this time of the year. This is, of course, taken before Dalton broke his arm and was thus unable to get all the way into the lake.

Dalton reports that his cast is coming off this weekend. Considering it is the August long-weekend, and the hospital is usually inundated with drunken accident victims, we may wait to have it cast removed until after the weekend passes.

Our Summer Haircuts To Remember Grandma Shirley

Ceilidh here. We got our summer cuts. Aren't they wonderful? I have a good reason for this. My Grandma Shirley died a few months ago from cancer, so we thought we would get our hair cut for cancer. Now since I have my hair cut short, I can run around without my mom saying to tie my hair back. Since its so short, when I go swimming it won't take very long to dry. Or it won't get in my face when I come out of the water. As you can see, my mom has also cut her hair. But her hair is 2 inches long and we raised $1,000 for cancer. Hope to see you all this summer!

Love, Ceilidh

Weekend Watergun Warriors

Here are the Weekend Watergun Warriors: Zachary, Meighan, Gabe, Ceilidh and Dalton. They were in our backyard, getting ready for a watergun battle royale. Afterwards, they came inside and played in the basement, while the rest of us (Marcia, Art, Ron, and Anita and I) sat around chatting and chowing down on wings, veggies, chips and fruit.

Calaway Park Trip

Today's trip to Calaway Park was entirely unplanned.

Waking up this morning, and off to deliver a presentation to new employees, regarding a benefit plan that we administer, my intention was to mow the lawn and take care of some chores around the house after the meeting concluded. Calaway Park was not on my radar: we did not buy park passes this year, since Dalton, Ceilidh and Meighan want to spend their summer at the lake.

As I was finishing up my benefits review to about 50 new employees, the manager made an unexpected entrance into the auditorium. "We're having our Annual Family Day Party at Calaway Park today," he announced to his new employees. "If anyone would like to attend, let me know, as I have a few extra tickets."

What a nice gesture to his new employees, I thought. After finishing my presentation, I packed up my things. Heading to the door, I felt someone's hand on my elbow. "Bring your family down too," the manager said, "we really appreciate you coming down to do these presentations to our new employees every month."

I called Anita on the way home. Once I walked in the door, we packed up the kids and drove down to Calaway Park. Ken, the manager, was waiting at the park entrance, met the kids, and gave us park passes, meal vouchers, and some extra spending money to use on the park grounds.

Dalton, Ceilidh and Meighan had a great time. We rode the bumper boats, where Dalton and Ceilidh soaked their Dad, and Meighan went on several of her favorite rides. We left early, as it was really busy at the park and the lines were long.

Here's Meighan At Karate

Here's a picture of Meighan at her Karate lessons today.

She's very excited about going out to the Shuswap to be with her cousins.

Shirley's Funeral with Pictures

In addition to Arta's beautiful written description of the moments we experienced this weekend saying goodbye to Shirley, I am adding photographs.  It was a pleasure to be at the events celebrating her life and these are a few moments we shared together.

  A picture of the chapel as the final prayer was being said for Shirley, at the end of the funeral service.

The grandchildren sang "I Am A Child Of God" during the chapel service.

The pallbearers performing their duties at the graveside.

The trombone players serenading those assembled.

Family at the graveside service.

Balloons were one of Shirley's favourite things and in her honour we launched them at her funeral, and watched them float into the heavenly clouds.

Saying goodbye with flowers.

We moved from the graveside back to the church where we talked, enjoyed stories, smelled beautiful flowers, ate, and enjoyed pictures of Shirley.

Wyona and Arta volunteered to have a family dinner in the evening.  We enjoyed talking with family and talking about Shirley's life.

Flowers sent by famiy and friends that honoured Shirley's memory.

Sentenashi Karate Candy Cane Tournament

Date: Saturday, December 12th
Time: 10am
Where: Hawkwood Dojo - 100 Hawkwood Blvd., (upper level St.Thomas church)
Audience: Family & Friends
Cost: Free

Children & Adults yellow belt and higher participate in this tournament. The White belt class (which Meighan is part of) will start with a demonstration at 10am. Specific Ring times for other competitions have not yet been posted, but both Ceilidh & Dalton will be competing.

Meighan's Party, Part II

Hello from Arta,

Meighan had a two part party: her friends from 1 pm to 5 pm and her relatives from 5 pm to 9 pm. Zach, Gabe and Audra got to go to both parts, being both friends and relatives.

Meighan is five now. Taller than other kids her age in her kindergarden, Anita told me.

Willowy.

Maybe like Rebecca Rose Jarvis.

I noticed that the birthday party invitation that was mailed to me had the image of Hannah Montana on it. Ron Treleaven who was watching Audra while Marcia and Art slipped out for a minute, told me that one of the hard things about getting older is not knowing all of the pop culture that kids are immersed in.

I agreed with him, as Hannah Montana is not a by-word for me, either. She is an icon who is a regular girl by day and a rock star by night. Both Ron and I have now been introduced to her at the party through the party table cloth, party napkins, plates – all matching, bejeweled necklaces – bling everywhere.

I know the Hannah Montana image and was wondering if Richard and Miranda are thinking of naming their new baby after her. They said that Hannah Montana is not even in the running for a name …yet.

On the family room wall was a large poster brought home from kindergarten, a print-out celebrating her birthday at school. Meighan had written her own answer to the questions about what was her favorite colour, her favorite food. I could make out that purple is her favorite colour, that spaghetti is her favorite food and that she is getting more than half of her alphabet letters going the right way – pretty fun for me to.

Doral told me that Meighan’s clothing ensemble for her party was her choice. To begin with, Meighan told her dad she didn't want a bath in the morning -- too afraid that she wouldn't be allowed to rewear the clothes she presently had on. He promised her that was not true, but then took her jogging pants and ditched them somewhere else after the bath, helping her get dressed in her pink party dress.

She remembered, though, and went to find the comfortable blue sweats with a white stripe going down the pant leg that he had slipped away elsewhere – no, it didn’t match and Anita said her only consolation if someone were to ask about the party outfit was to be able to say that Doral had helped Meighan get dressed.

Meighan also wore a pink tiara, a gift to her when she went on a site visit to the Banff Spring’s Hotel with her mother last week. She had been given the tiara and told she was a princess and that the Hotel was her castle, an idea that is really working for her. Know any other Alberta princess who has actually been to her own castle … and has a tiara to prove it?

The birthday cake was split – half chocolate, half white and was meant for the adults. Mini-cupcakes had been created by Anita, thinking that the little girls would love the spectacular array of diverse icing and decorations.

When I got to the birthday date, Doral told me that the earlier and younger party guests wanted the “adult cake” so now the adults had to eat the mini-cupcakes.

Miranda and I were up to the task. I began my meal with dessert.

Miranda was ending her meal with dessert, so I asked her which were the best choices on the tray. Miranda pointed to a chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing topped with colorful animal candy confetti as her #1 choice.

I began with that one, and ended six cupcakes later, topping Miranda’s max-out of 5 which she knew to be an accurate number, given all of the cupcake wrappers on her plate belonged to her.

Meighan showed me some of the karate moves she has learned in her Saturday lessons, the sequence ending with one of those small bows. How cute was that – watching her take that squat stance to begin her demo, listening to her say the moves as she made them, her arms jabbing through the air.

I am invited to another demonstration of karate moves on December 16th when her school as a competition. Perhaps that will get posted up here on the blog.

Gabe and Zach are also in an event, December 13, a Boy’s Choir Event. I asked Zach if he has any new songs, and Marcia piped up, “They have a new one. What is it called. Lonely night? Quiet night.”

Zach said, “I don’t know it yet, but it is called Silent Night.”

Nice I thought. A new song … for him.

I had a lovely evening.

Happy birthday, Meighan.

Meighan's Birthday, Part I

Here is Meighan and her friends, celebrating Meighan's 5th Birthday. The girls colored for about 1/2 hour, then dressed up as rock stars, complete with star glasses and flapper costumes.

They are currently enjoying some snacks, like chips, veggies, and pop, with chicken nuggets and hot dogs still to come.

Karate Kids

Dalton, Ceilidh and Meighan are all enrolled in Karate. Dalton and Ceilidh are currently in Orange Belt, and Meighan is in White Belt. We've got them going three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Here's the three Karate Kids striking a Charlie's Angels pose.

- Doral

Visit To See Kelvin

Dalton and I went to see Kelvin on Saturday.

He had 5 of his seven siblings visiting him at the same time. They were in the first-floor restaurant of the Care Centre, up near the glass window overlooking the garden and the glenmore reservoir. It looked like a family meeting.

They six of them were reading the reminiscences of Jack and Bessie, regarding the courtship and speedy wedding of the two. Bev was providing the oration. Occasionally one of the six siblings would add something that was not written down, but that they remember Jack or Bessie telling them.

Grant, Molly, Nadine, Bev and Sharon were there, along with Boyce. Cousin Anita, Andrea and Annika showed up as we were all about to leave. I teased those three about not seeing them in such a long time, and passed my home phone number along.

The Siblings and I explained the relationship between the six siblings to Dalton, and he whispered ("they're all my great aunts and uncles?"). If so, Dalton understands more of the relationship niceties that I do! Poor Dalton was bored silly with the story-telling, and would point to the spot on his wrist where a watch would be, if he was wearing a watch, to remind my of his boredom. It's interesting to see that pointing to one's wrist is a universal symbol of "let's go" even when most people no longer wear watches.

Dalton was surprised to hear about (my) Anita's attendance at Molly's pre-school. In the spirit of sharing courtship stories, I told everyone about the early days of Anita and I meeting. When Dalton and I returned home, Dalton was excited to tell Anita about my story-telling. Anita cryptically replied that sometimes the stories differ, depending on who is doing the telling.

I'll have to get Anita to tell me her version of our meeting and early dating, to find out where the stories part company!