A Weekend

This weekend wasn't exactly typical, but it was typical in that we're busy a lot. Friday night Ken and I took Alice and Fiona to the temple. The temple was rededicated on Sunday March 23rd, and this is the first time we've been back in the temple to do temple work since October 2023. It was so nice to be in the temple, our temple. And Fiona loved her first time doing baptisms. Alice and Fiona were each baptized for eight deceased family members. Alice and Fiona both felt the spirit and felt good in the temple. Alice wanted to stay and Fiona asked when we could come back next. We had a really lovely time.

Saturday morning, Ken and I walked the dog. There's been a freezing rain warning all weekend, we're not in the path of the ice this morning. And we managed to walk the dog before the rain started which was very nice.

After the walk, I took Fiona shopping for a gift for Aubrey. Gift and a few other things acquired, we popped in back at home. Then I dropped Fiona off at her party and went to Choko Mocko for treats. Then it was back home to pick up Alice for our shopping extravaganza. Ken was tasked with finally repairing the sink in the powder room bathroom. 

The Hudson's Bay is liquidating - there will be six stores left. Three in Ontario and three in Quebec. It's weird. The Hudson's Bay company was founded on May 2, 1670. The company was originally founded as a fur trading company. The history of the company is long and complicated. The company now is department stores and department stores have all been dying a slow death. The last few times that we were in the Bay before today, I thought, how is this place still in business, so I wasn't really surprised. 

After the shopping extravaganza I walked the dog in the rain, it was a cold wet walk. The pooh sticks bridge was still open when I went, but I wondered for how much longer.

Fiona had fun at Aubrey's party.

And then, Kate and I went to the Symphony. It was a beautiful program. The star attraction was Angela Hewitt a Canadian pianist. She played the Mozart Piano Concerto No 21 in C Major. The first piece on the program was an overture by Anton Reicha. It was a delightful piece. The last was Mendelssohn's 3rd Symphony. Neither the first or last piece were familiar to me but both were very enjoyable.

The concerto was deeply satisfying to hear live and in person. Walking to school - when I was at the University of Lethbridge, I wore out my tape of Mozart's piano concertos, one of which was the one in C Major. I was so happy listening to it. After receiving a standing ovation, she played an encore. She spoke for a few minutes before she played. She spoke about loving being back in her home town. She played with the TSO 40 years ago. She played the Goldberg Variations 50 years ago for the first time and for her encore she played the aria, which is the opening theme. It was so so beautiful. The ending was magical. She played the last chord and didn't play the resolution for the longest time and then she held her hands there holding the entire Hall. No one moved a muscle until she lifted her hands. It was brilliant. Watching her face when she performed, it was pure joy. I loved where we sat, row E on the right side. I could see her face perfectly. It was such a special night.

While Kate and I were at the symphony, Ken took the girls to Playdium. They had lots of fun.

Today was church of course. Ken walked the dog in the morning. Fiona and I walked the dog in the afternoon. And Kate got some very exciting news. She's been hired to work for elections Canada for the federal election. She's 16 and speaks French and was one of three high school students hired. She's so excited, and we're so excited for her.

I also brought the bass clarinet home for Kate to try. I recorded her playing Happy Birthday for her Uncle Jon - it's his birthday tomorrow. She could play it really well, no surprise as she's a great clarinet player, but felt the hand positions to be too much of a stretch for comfort. I'm not disappointed in this, because quite frankly it's a pain to lug home lol.

All in all it was a fun busy weekend. I wish I took more time to blog. I want to preserve all the memories of everything, but that's ridiculous. I can't. But I will probably never stop wanting to remember everything. This time with the girls, they're at such amazing ages and stages right now. I love our life together and I'm so thankful for it.