Reflections on a special weekend

It isn't often that all seventeen members of our family get to spend time together at the Howard Johnson farm, or HoJo Inn as it is known to some!  Todd and Kristy arrived here on Friday, April 8 and plans for a birthday weekend for Todd were underway with the following schedule outlined on the fridge door.

Friday, April 15
5 - 9 pm  Sports Night at Torquay Gym
Slushburgers, chips, veggies and dip, lemon birthday cake

Saturday April 16
11:30 am  Taco lunch
  1:00 pm  Bowling in Estevan
  3:30 to 5:00  Swimming
  5:00 to 7:00  Supper at Boston Pizza
  8:00 to 9:30  Fun games at the farm

Palm Sunday
8:30  Church at Trinity Lutheran, Torquay
9:30  Pancake and sausage breakfast in the auditorium/birthday cake
         Easter egg hunt

We pretty much followed that schedule too, in spite of having to detour via Bromhead to Torquay and home again on Friday night because there was water running over the approach to Long Creek bridge on the north side.  By Saturday the water was down some so we drove through despite a Road Closed sign. When we came home on Sunday the water had stopped running over so we hope the creek has peaked.

We spotted the skunk once over the weekend and the kids discovered a raccoon hiding out in the cat's house but neither animal caused any trouble so that was good.  Efforts to trap the skunk have failed so far, in spite of keeping the two cats in the garage overnight so they wouldn't end up in the trap again!

We spent Sunday afternoon here at home.  Kirk's left in the afternoon.  Clare's went home from Estevan on Saturday as Abbey had a dance competition in Indian Head on Sunday.  We were so glad she was able to miss the one dance on Saturday and spend Friday night and Saturday with the rest of the cousins.

Laurel's vehicle was packed full of luggage and six people when they left the farm at 8:15 this morning for Regina.  Dawson got dropped off at Milestone for school.  Eric had a Dr. appointment in Regina and Kristy had a dental appointment, both at 11:30.  They got there in plenty of time in spite of some icy roads to Torquay and west to Oungre.  Good thing she had four wheel drive!  They met Greg and his mom  Gaylene at Montana's where she treated them all to lunch.  So nice of you to do that, Gaylene!

Now it's 4:10 on Monday afternoon.  I spent the day washing bedding, picking up clutter and even laid down for a rest this afternoon under Todd's birthday quilt.  I'm going to mail it to Norway from Ambrose as it would take up too much room in their luggage.  Todd and Kristy will be soon touching down in Edmonton to spend the  next leg of their trip with her family.  The Ledene family will be together for Easter and then for Danielle and Danny's wedding on April 30th in Brooks.  On Tuesday, May 3 Todd and Kristy fly back to Kristiansund after their one month holiday in North America.

I am going to tell you more about our weekend when I have access to pictures from Laurel, Shauna and Kristy's cameras.  Watch for updates in the next few days.