HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ABBEY AND ARDIS!

September 7 is a very special day.  On that date in 2001 our first granddaughter arrived at Weyburn Hospital to Jodi and Clare.  Abbey Gabrielle was born at 1:50 p.m. weighing 7lb.5oz. and 20 1/2"long.           She came home from the hospital on September 11 so that's our memory of that now infamous day in history.

And on the morning of her tenth birthday, she was the winner of the Dairy Queen cake on Weyburn's birthday corner.  Congratulations, Abbey Johnson!

Grandparents Day, Sept 9, 2001
Abbey 2 days old, Dawson 8 months

newborn Abbey and Daddy Clare

Abbey was baptized at Trinity Lutheran in Torquay on December 23 by Pastor Cicely MacDougall.

Abbey's first birthday with Dad and Mom

Abbey in the middle of the five girls

 Abbey started taking dance lessons at the age of three and is still with De Tricky Feet studio.  We look forward to their recital each spring, always very well done.  She has many other interests too - piano lessons, voice lessons, ball practice, was in Brownies for a couple years, curling, skating, swimming and now she is looking forward to playing volleyball in grade five.

A highlight of the year for Abbey was to take in the Norway vs Canada game at the World Curling in Regina on April 7.  Todd and Kristy arrived from Norway the day before so the timing was perfect.  It was the last game in the round robin, in which Canada had been undefeated.  But the Norsk team spoiled a perfect record and won the game that night.  It didn't change Canada's standing in first place so we were cheering for Norway that night.  Todd and Kristy brought the special toques for the kids and taught the kids a cheer or two in Norsk.  

Abbey got to see a picture of her Grandma Kot in a scrapbook of past Scotties Tournaments.  Gaby represented SK at a Scotties in Winnipeg so maybe Abbey will follow in those footsteps someday.

World Curling in Regina
Team Norway vs Canada
Dawson, Eric and Abbey with team Ulsrud

Grandma, Dawson and Abbey leaving for Cypress
(and a sad Ashley left behind!)

In July, Abbey and Dawson rode with me to the Erickson reunion at Cypress Park.  We were the first ones to arrive at the camp site!  It was a fun trip with stops for treats and gas along the way.

Abbey had a tenth birthday party with several of her friends last Thursday.  They had a "Cake Boss" party with each girl decorating a cake to take home with her.  Abbey's cousin in Regina even made an apron for each of the girls to take home too.  I hope Jodi has some pictures for me to share!

Abbey is pleased to share her birthday with her great aunt, and her dad's godmother, Auntie Ardis.  Last year we had a special celebration for Howard's 75th and Ardis' 70th birthdays but since Ardis lives in Edmonton, Ardis and Abbey are never together on their birthday.  Ardis is not retired but leads a busy life tutoring school students.  She drives to their homes after school and often on the weekends too.  Even summer holidays are not a holiday for her as that is a good chance for her to give extra help to students who need it.

She is blessed to have her son Kris, his wife Stacy and their children Samuel and Ava close by.  Stacy teaches full time so Ardis often helps out by taking care of the grandkids when Kris is busy working or studying.  She loves to take them to parks and museums.  This year Ava is in kindergarten and Samuel is in grade two.

Ava, Kris, Samuel and Ardis
Salem Church 2010

You are likely working today, but we with you a very Happy Birthday, Ardis however you spend it.

Howard and Ardis with the Johnson Family Farm award