Summer is over, but a lot of ice cream was involved

My last post had summer just beginning - well, it did its thing, and now it is over.

Wendy, Eric, Parker, and Jaclyn headed to Manitoba at the end of July for Eric's mother's Celebration of Life event. One of the first things we did was to visit the National Indigenous Residential School Museum in Portage. It was a great museum and had a very powerful message.

The Celebration of Life and interment at the cemetery was very well attended and was a beautiful day to remember Eric's mom.

Parker brought his grandma's ashes to the cemetery.

Eric gave a brief speech.

Before we headed home, all of us took in a visit to the local Dairy Queen.

Unfortunately, our flight got cancelled and rescheduled for a day later. We had to check into the hotel again and extend our trip by 27 hrs.

An extra night in the indigenous owned and operated hotel.

Ruby was happy to see us when we returned. She learned to play in the sprinkler in the ~40C heat.

Eric and Wendy celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary with some ice cream.

Adam just happened to be in Saskatchewan for work, and he dropped in briefly to see is Grandpa in Manitoba. 

At the end of August, Parker celebrated his 25th birthday with more ice cream!

Once September started, it was back to work for all, and this meant a new school year for Eric. This is likely the last time during the year that lots of chalk will be available....

I arranged for the sun to disappear!

This year, my 60th birthday coincided with the total solar eclipse on April 8th.  Wendy decided that it would make a good human interest story (I wasn't expected to reach my 56th birthday). She contacted the CBC, and they were quite interested. This is the story they wrote (if you have a read it yet):

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/cancer-remission-birthday-eclipse-1.7163872 

As for the birthday, we had an all day long drop in/pot luck party!  

Here are some photos from a shared album (taken by various friends and family in attendance)::

Adam took the best photo of totality (below).

It was a fantastic and most memorable  birthday ever! 

All the stars align!

In advance of the eclipse and my 60th birthday, CBC did a news piece as a human interest story.  

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/cancer-remission-birthday-eclipse-1.7163872 

Other happenings since August

Other than our front yard renovation, we have done quite a few things since the beginning of August.

Wendy, Eric, Anton, Tanya, and Maddy went to the final summer free concert in the Dundas Driving Park. 

Maddy seems to not like loud music any more - she shivered and hid for much of the concert

Wendy went with our niece and her two children to a "Barbie Experience" event. 

Wendy and Eric got their 4th COVID shots at the clinic in Lime Ridge mall. Very efficient and we could also go shoppping.

Wendy and Eric celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. Wendy said not to get anything for each other, but Eric has learned that flowers are not covered by that agreement.

Parker and Tanya had their birthdays. Wendy made an angel food cake and decorated both halves differently.

Wendy and Eric took Parker and his girlfriend Jaclyn to the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" live show at the Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. Great show!

Eric and Wendy took a long weekend away to relax before the September rush. We went to Barrie and stayed in an AirBnB on top of a nice restaurant facing the lake. 

Almost too hot in Barrie on the Labour Day long weekend

Very nice looking beach

We even took a drive up to Orillia to go to Casino Rama. 

Lost our $20 in 10 minutes flat

Eric, Adam, Anton, and Tanya went to the evening version of the London drive in airshow.

First time going to an evening air show

The September rush has started and everyone is back to their usual schedules. Eric and Wendy are mostly working on site at work. Anton is working his remote job (from Toronto), Tanya is winding down her Ukrainian job and looking for work in Canada. Both received their G1 driver's licence cards and are actively learning their driving skills. Adam is busy with work at the helicopter shop and cadets, while Parker is still working full time with his real estate job.