Fiona's Birthday - The Playdate Parties

Last year on Fiona's birthday we were on the cusp of re-opening after our first lockdown. We planned a backyard party with our friends thinking that it was the beginning of officially bubbling with another family. We jumped the gun a little on being official, and the backyard surprise party turned into an inside party too, but Fiona had fun and it felt good.

This year we're not officially opened up yet, but it's coming. Vaccination rates are going up and up and covid infection rates are falling. Ken and I talked about maybe having a backyard party with both of Fiona's friends, but I wasn't sure. We opted instead for one backyard party playdate, and one park birthday playdate. 

We decorated the backyard a little. Alice made this awesome banner for Fiona. She worked on it all week.

Fiona got a card from Hazel in the mail, it came yesterday. Fiona put it aside to open tomorrow. On her real birthday, and not before.

I got a few balloons from party city. They are not properly set up for online/curb side shopping, but everything got worked out, and even though it was a little confusing, the staff were great!

It was cute, when Sophia got there she and Fiona immediately went into the air fort - I think it was pretty cool - shaded with a fan. It was so so so hot today, and I wasn't sure how Sophia's Mom would feel about Sophia coming inside, but she was fine with it - yay! So after spending a few minutes in the air fort, the girls sought refuge in the a/c and Fiona gave Sophia a tour of the house.

The official outside birthday balloon pic.

Ken went and picked up pizza pizza. The girls had fruit and chips and pizza, and then it was scavenger hunt time. Eating pics are usually so awkward so I told the girls to puff out their cheeks. I'm not sure that was any less awkward, but they're so cute so who cares!

After lunch it was scavenger hunt time. Alice and I made a scavenger hunt for Fiona and Sophia. Each clue led them to the next location. All of the locations were outside.

The final clue led to the BBQ and we were going to hide their treats in there, but it was way too dirty, so we just handed them their treat bags inside!

It was then sing Happy Birthday cupcake time.

After that Fiona and Sophia went upstairs and Fiona opened her present and they played until Sophia's Mom came to get her. Fiona had an awesome time! And I think Sophia enjoyed herself too.

Fiona likes that an eight is an infinity symbol.

Later in the afternoon the Mom of Fiona's other best friend at school messaged to say they were back from Niagara Falls earlier than expected, did we want to meet up this evening? Originally Fiona and Andrea were going to play at the park on Monday night, but we happily agreed to meet up.

Andrea and Fiona have been best buds since JK. They were in class together for JK/SK and were in aftercare together for grade 1 - at least until Covid. They've always gotten along so well. Fiona and Andrea had fun running around the park. The two of them don't stop moving.

Fiona usually gets so excited anticipating events that she doesn't enjoy the event. We had a heart to heart this morning about that, and she really just relaxed and had fun today. She was really happy! We love you Fiona!

Kate's First Temple Trip

There are so many things that I love about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has always made so much sense to me. How would a loving God expect all of his children to be baptized to enter the kingdom of heaven and He not prepare a way for that to be done? Baptism for the dead does sound vaguely creepy, but the beauty of being able to be baptized for and in behalf of those that went before is so, so beautiful!

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints youth are able to do baptisms for the dead in the year that they turn twelve. Kate has been looking forward to this. Last year at the beginning of the pandemic all temples all over the world were shut down. I don't know if I can adequately put into words how I felt when the temples were all closed. The reality of something so sacred and so important being withdrawn from the world for a time. It felt scary, like something was horribly wrong. Scary in a profound way. Temples have been slowly reopening in stages. The first stage was for sealings for couples getting married that were previously endowed, then for living ordinances, then proxy baptisms, then full proxy work.

When we got news that the Toronto Temple would be reopening for proxy baptisms I was so excited for Kate. She was so sad and angry that she had to wait to go to the temple longer than she had already had to wait. I told her how blessed she was to live so close to a temple. When I turned twelve the closest temple was in Washington D.C. and I had to wait until the October, for the annual temple trip to be able to go and do baptisms. 

I started doing a little family history research - more like continuing things Suzanne has started researching so that we would have names to take. I was searching for a picture of someone or something? I don't even know, and came across someone on ancestry - a fourth cousin or something, that had a whole bunch of info in my Dad's Mom's side that we didn't have. I've been adding records to my tree, but I still haven't finished adding all of them!

We took five names to the temple with us today. Kate was baptized and confirmed for and in behalf of: Golda Olga Bela Shuster, Adeline Edna Solomon, Dora Rogowitch, Libbe Gold - all on my Dad's Mom's side, and for a Mary, on my Mom's side. 

It felt good to be back inside the temple and it felt really wonderful to take Kate there. It felt like taking Kate home - I don't know how to explain it. Kate was very excited and nervous, she asked lots of questions. I felt really grateful to be the first person to take her to the temple as her Mom and that her Dad could baptize and confirm her. It was always the youth leader that had that privilege before. I love that now it's the parents that are able to do this and share this special experience with their daughter (or son).

It was a beautiful day, and I told Kate we were going to take lots of pictures. And we did. I'm so grateful my girls let me take pictures of them! 

I am so grateful for the temple. I'm so grateful for the teachings of the restored gospel, that baptism isn't just available for some, but for all! And last cute note... Kate seemed contented to know that she didn't have to wait as long as I did, she didn't have to wait until she was twelve and a half, only twelve and 1/3. 

Mother's Day

Ken and the girls did a great job of making me feel special on Mother's Day. They made me really happy. The only thing I really wanted was a clean basement! The girls spent a good part of the day yesterday cleaning the basement. They even vacuumed! It was awesome! Alice didn't quite finish her art table area, but was back at it again today.

We had a really nice home church service, and a really lovely online Relief Society class. And the girls consented to take our annual Mother's Day pic. (Ken bought a pretty hanging flower basket too!)

Ken and I had a nice walk with the dog through the meadow.

It was just a perfectly lovely day.

Mother's Day with Grandma

Even though we're not technically supposed to meet up with people outside our own household, going for walks in a park doesn't seem too bad. Ken, Mom, CJ and I have all had our first shots. Anyway, I suggested we meet at Paulynn Park in the north west of Ajax. We'd never been there before but it looked really nice - the online pictures, and it was. The weather was lovely.

Mom and CJ enjoyed seeing the girls and enjoyed meeting Milo.