PICTURES OF OUR THREE DAY BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Our weekend agenda as posted on the fridge

DAY ONE, APRIL 15, 2011

The weekend began with everyone gathering at Torquay Community Centre, or Torquay School as we still think of it even though it has been closed for several years.  We had to take a detour from the farm via the road to Bromhead.  The approach to the bridge over Long Creek south of Torquay had water pouring over it, Road Closed signs were posted so we went the long way round, about twenty minutes farther.  Kirk's, Laurel's and Clare's met us in town and the fun began.

It was cool in the gym and kitchen but Ione, the volunteer librarian, had suggested that we could use the nice warm library for our lunch.  Thanks, Ione, it was so cosy and warm there.  We had lots of memories of times spent in this school as our four went here and I taught Kindergarten and Grade One through the years.  It's great that this building is still in use, the perfect place for our gathering.

Todd chose the menu, what he remembered having at his childhood birthday parties.  We had slushburgers, chips, veggies and dip, punch, with lemon cake and ice cream for dessert.  I baked overnight buns that morning and Kristy toasted them in the oven before filling them.  They were a hit!

Bring on those slushburgers!

Lindsay doing her specialty - singing Happy Birthday while doing a headstand!

Uncle Todd with two little sweethearts, Jamie and Ashley

After our meal, we went to the gym where Todd and Kristy had a fun evening planned.  We started with a warm-up mixer where we formed groups according to different categories - where we were born, our birth order in our family, favourite movie and so on.  Grandma and Grandpa could even join in these activities!  Then the younger set were divided into two groups and competed in three sports - basketball, volleyball and floor hockey.  (Thanks to Jodi for bringing the equipment!) Grandma took Jamie and Ashley to the library where we enjoyed reading some good stories.  Millions of Cats was my favourite.

Happy Birthday to our Flyer fan!  (great picture, Laurel)
The shirts were gifts from Kirk and Clare

After game time, we were back in the library for birthday cake and ice cream.  The cake was made in our T-shirt pan and was in Flyer colours, orange and white with chocolate chips forming a 34 in the middle of the "shirt".  

Then it was clean up time and we headed for the farm, again going around on the detour.  Better safe than sorry!  On the way home, Todd officially turned 34 as he was born at 10:10 pm on April 15, 1977 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan.  Next year that date will be noted around the world as it will be 100 years since the Titanic sunk on the night of April 14-15 in 1912.

Sixteen people found a place to sleep. (Shauna couldn't join us until after the Lampman Library Luncheon on Saturday)  The grandkids favourite is the hide-a-bed in the living-room or else the living-room floor.  It took awhile to settle down as it's just so much fun to get together with cousins!  Soon the house was quiet and we were getting rested up for a busy day ahead.

DAY 2 APRIL 16, 2011

I still don't have a lot of pictures of this day but will add what I have and put more on later.  I see that Clare has put a couple videos on Facebook so I'll see if I can add those Links.  They went on a tour of our east land that Saturday morning.  I'm glad I wasn't along by the looks of some of the wet roads that they drove through!  I can't seem to add a Link to his pictures but if you go to www.facebook.com and search for Clare Johnson, you will find his videos of all the water and damage to our country roads.  Here's a picture taken at Long Creek that morning.  The yellow line could be seen through the water so it was decided that it was safe to drive through, even though the signs said "Road Closed".

Kirk and Carter are checking out the depth of the water
 over the road at Long Creek bridge, looking north.

After their tour of the "wetlands" we were treated to a taco lunch that Kristy served us.  It was a big hit!
Then is was time to head to Estevan for our next event, bowling!  But which road to take?  Some decided to go via Crosby as that meant a stop at a favourite store, J Company Drugs.  Todd drove our pickup and we followed Kirk through the water at the Long Creek bridge.  It had gone down a bit since the day before so that was good news.

We all took part in the bowling, from 75 year old Grandpa Howard to three year old Ashley and Jamie (who let us know that she is 3 and a half!)  There were shoes to fit everyone and the fun began as we used both five and ten pin lanes.  There were guards in the gutters at the five pin lanes to help the "little kids" but they came in handy for us oldies too.

After a couple hours at the bowling lane we headed for the Leisure Centre where swimming was the next item on the agenda. Poor Eric had to sit out these activities as he woke up with stomach flu that morning.  Grandma offered to stay home with him, but he wanted to come along, with a plastic pail "just in case".  He stretched out on a blanket on the bleachers and Grandma and Grandpa kept him company while he had a good sleep.  The rest had a great time in the water and on the water slide.

Soon it was five o'clock and the next stop was Boston Pizza.  Shauna joined us after another successful Library Luncheon in Lampman.  Todd and Kristy had reserved a table for 17 and ordered four large pizzas for the gang.  The pizzas were delicious, as were the cool drinks that most of the kids had to try.
We didn't have to wait long to be served either!  At the end of the meal, the waitresses came out with a birthday treat, complete with sparklers, for Todd and sang Happy Birthday to him.

Then we were off to the farm and were glad to be able to go south of Torquay through the Long Creek bridge once again.  Kirk stopped at Dairy Queen and bought a bag of treats so we all enjoyed Dilly Bars or Ice Cream sandwiches for dessert.  Then Lindsay presented Todd with the quilt that I had made for him from his many volleyball and other special tee shirts that had been left at home when he moved to Norway.  I had planned to use thirty-five blocks in rows of five across and seven down.  But the ALLSTAR design on one shirt was larger than a 12 inch block so I made it double size and ended up with 34 blocks, which just matched Todd's age!  Sandra suggested that I use "Minky" fabric on the back and that was a great choice as it's so soft and cuddly.

Happy 34th Birthday, Todd!

Quilt of precious memories

The quilt was a bit bulky for Todd to take in a suitcase so I went to Ambrose on Wednesday and shipped it to him.  It should be in Kristiansund next week so he can look forward to its arrival when they get back next Wednesday.

Stitched with love for Todd Erick Johnson



Then it was off to bed as Sunday morning service is at 8:30 at Trinity, Torquay and we were planning to serve a pancake and sausage breakfast to the congregation, along with birthday cake.  

                                                        Day 3, Sunday April 17, 2011

It was Palm Sunday so the service began with a parade of people carrying and waving palm leaves as they paraded into the sanctuary.  Abbey had a dance competition in Indian Head so they went back to Weyburn after our pizza supper on Saturday.

Ashley with her palm branch and Easter bag of goodies

Jamie, all wrapped up in a cosy quilt during the service.

Palm Sunday parade
Jamie, Ashley, Eric, Lindsay, Dawson, Carter

We had two lefse grills going to make pancakes for all who stayed after the service.  Kristy hid candy so the kids had an early Easter egg hunt after breakfast.

Jamie and Ashley on the hunt for hidden Easter eggs.

After the breakfast, it was time for birthday cake.  This one came from Sobey's and had a picture of Todd when he was about ten months old.  He is wearing a pin that says (in English) "Kiss me, I am Norwegian".  I still have the pin and should have had him wear it that morning!

Kyss meg.  Jeg er Norsk.

                              

Thanks for a great birthday weekend, Todd and Kristy!

While we were enjoying our cake and coffee, two couples from Norway came to Trinity!  They had driven up from Minot, ND that morning, hoping to take in an eleven o'clock service.  Although they missed our early service, their timing was perfect.  One of the fellows was a son of Ingeborg Eika. She was born in Torquay in 1917 and her family had a General Store in Torquay for a few years.  They joined us for coffee, had a look at the spot where their family store was, now the site of Torquay Post Office.  We weren't sure where the Eika house had been but Aunt Viola said it was the house where Muriel and Clinton Pederson once lived.  The Norwegians went on to Estevan where they were staying overnight.  Later in the afternoon they had a good visit with Aunt Viola at St. Joseph's Special Care Home.  Todd had visited the town of Grimstad where the other couple lived and even knew a fellow who he worked with.  God's timing in bringing them to Torquay was perfect.  What are the chances of three couples from Norway meeting at Trinity, Torquay?  And all had driven through "ROAD CLOSED" signs to get there!