Back in July Maryann and I took our friend Mary’s daughter Alayna swimming and then we visited with our friend Mary on her driveway before she moved to Saskatchewan.
On Saturday afternoon I got to use the gift card from my birthday that my auntie Gail gave me! I got a lamp that changes colours from Winners and I also got some hair clips and some hair elastics to have different hairstyles!
For the long weekend in August, (on the Saturday) we went to Lloydminster for the day to visit my grandma Sharron, uncle Patrick, uncle Wayne and my auntie Gail. We made lanterns with flowers to decorate the jars, put a battery candle inside and put some rope string around the lid. Then we went shopping and went to a place like south Common in Edmonton. There was Winners, Michaels, Home Sense, and Reitman’s. I got some clothes, an organizer for my markers and a canvas paint kit. Sometime in September they’re coming out to Camrose to watch my dad’s band play, so we figured we would buy some canvas with pictures to paint.
Anna, me and Theresa went to Big Valley Jamboree on Sunday night, we saw Phil Vassar and Brett Kissel . We were supposed to see Keith Urban but it was canceled due to the rainstorm! It was super duper fun watching Phil and Brett, both great musicians and great performances! I can’t wait to hear who’s coming next year!
Wednesday was my friend Jessica’s birthday, so I painted a few pictures and then I painted her a birdhouse and made her a colourful birthday card. She appreciated her birthday present!
On Thursday a group of people from Centra Cam went to the Reynold’s Museum in Wetaskiwin. We had a great day looking at the vehicles and airplanes. Then we went to the other side of the park, we went for a walk and some people played on the playground! It was a great day to get away from Camrose and Centra Cam.
Then on Saturday, my roommate Kat, her staff Nodija and I went to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller! We had a great time looking at the different types of dinosaurs. My favourite part was the garden area where they had a lot of plants and waterfalls. I got a hoodie, a keychain, and a hat from the gift shop!
I did my fingernails chocolate and white chocolate Strawberries in July and I got Watermelon nails in August! Tried out the new nail salon, Minis! It’s very nice and very fancy and the people are very friendly!
On Saturday afternoon Maryann and I went to visit my old roommate, and my friend Theresa at her new house team seven. We picked up some iced cappuccinos from Tim Horton’s and brought them with us. Then, we visited on her deck, got a tour of her new house, and met her new roommates! We decided that we should go visit Theresa every month!
On Wednesday at Centra Cam we had our yearly summer BBQ and our wind- up garden party! There were games, activities, a music performance from Brian Dumont. It was set up and decorated like a wedding reception. They had flower centerpieces on the tables. In another room there were outdoor games! Everyone got * years of service * and a little goody bag with a pen, a notebook, and a keychain!
On Friday night we went to the Ponoka stampede, and it was really fun to watch the horses do races and there was a market place where they had people selling their products!
First, Joe owned a restaurant in downtown Camrose called Café Rose. In 1990 the Alberta Winter Games were in Camrose and he wanted to feed all the kids involved, about 1500 kids. He did not have enough room at his restaurant, so he moved it to the CRE and needed grills to cook on and someone told him that the fire department had grills because they do the pancake breakfast. So, he borrowed the grills from the fire department and the fireman that was helping him set up told him he should volunteer as a firefighter and brought him an application. He really didn’t want to as he was very busy with his restaurant, but he filled out the application and got accepted. At first, he didn’t want to be a volunteer firefighter but his partner in the restaurant said it might be good for business, so he went and really enjoyed it and wanted to become a full time firefighter. He took some training and became an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a volunteer firefighter from 1992- 2000. Then in 2001 a training officer for the fire department full time job became available and he applied and got the job. Now he is full time at the fire department.
2. What do you do if there are no calls or paperwork? How do you keep busy?
Every Tuesday the volunteer firefighters have training. The EMR program teaches 80-100 hours on top of the Tuesday night training. Joe coordinates and teaches this course.
3. How do you keep the water hose from flailing around? Is it hard to pull out of the truck? Is it hard to hold onto? How much does it weigh?
Two people hang onto it. Do not let go! The hose is not hard to pull out of the truck, if it’s put back correctly. Weight and water pressure of hose is 900cpa (20-25 pounds) It is hard to hold. That’s why we need two people.
4. When there is a fire do you need to do paperwork on it?
Yes, the captain writes up the reports and a medical report. The chief deals with the billing part of the fire investigation report. Joe keeps stats to help with things down the road.
5. If you were to use the jaws of life would you need to do paperwork for that?
Yes.
6. Do you have to go to every call to 911? How do they decide what call you have to go to?
We go on technical rope rescues, ice rescues, cats in trees, medical calls, and confined spaces.
7. If you are on call how long does it take to get everyone there to go on that call?
On average about 12-15 minuets
8. How many people go on one call?
About 6-10 people on average. There is 12 people on a crew, and they have 3 crews.
9. How many people can fit in a fire truck? How many fire trucks go on a call?
There are 6 people in a truck. 4 people in the back, 1 driver, 1 passenger. 1st engine for rescue, and 2nd engine for Arial
Another busy birthday season for our family! A tiny bit of May, June and most of July 2024!
We celebrated our grandpa Ray’s birthday on Saturday evening. For his birthday presents he got a golf push cart from Joel and Ashley, booze from me and Luke, and my parents gave him racing tickets. Again! I coloured his birthday card which was a bunch of candy! We had great day celebrating him!
For my birthday celebrations, on my actual birthday, which was Friday. I got a manicure with French tips with red balloons while my mom got a pedicure. We made lime cheesecake and macaroons for my birthday party on Saturday! In the evening we watched dad play music with his band, the Baking Soda Boys at the Bailey theatre and everyone in the audience sang Happy Birthday to me. My auntie Gail and my uncle Wayne were in town for my dad’s concert * baking Soda boys* and for my birthday party on Saturday. So, on Saturday afternoon, we ordered sushi for lunch and had homemade lime cheesecake for dessert. We did a painting with the family. We put the cloths and a little sponge inside of the doggie bag, and then used them to make flower petals, then we painted leaves and stems. On Saturday night, I went to Peter Pan ballet with my friend Maryann. On Sunday afternoon I went bowling with friends from Centra Cam and then everyone came over for raspberry cheesecake & caramel and pecan cheesecake and punch. It was a super fun and enjoyable birthday celebration that lasted the whole weekend! I can’t believe I’m 29 years old already!
For birthday presents, I got a new beautiful Butterfly blanket, jewelry, a new purse and a colouring book and of course more bath bombs too! Grandpa and Shandy got me a red jacket for my birthday, Auntie Gail got me a Winner’s gift card, my parents got me a towel, address book, PJ bottoms and white shorts/ skirt! Grandma got me a butterfly bag and more bath bombs. I got hair elastics in a butterfly shape holder! My friend Maryann gave me some flowers. I got really spoiled with birthday presents! I had a beautiful weekend celebrating my birthday!
For Father’s Day, I took grandpa Ray and my dad for coffee at Tim’s Horton and then we spent the evening at Joel and Ashley’s house! For dinner we had ribs, chicken, salad, and garlic bread. Mashed potatoes and stuffed mushrooms. My grandpa and his wife Shandy made rhubarb cake with ice cream. It was a very tasty and delicious meal. Those boys got spoiled this year… Dad got some t-shirts, beer from Joel and Ashley. From my brother Luke and I a big guitar pick with words for decoration in his studio room downstairs! It says *music is what feelings sound like *. Grandpa Ray got a case of beer as well! Ashley got Joel a Ninja Creamii ice cream maker for Father’s Day from their dog Coco! So we tried some homemade sorbet and it was delicious! After dinner and desserts, we played a game Left and Right Center, as I just got it from our family friend Lisa for a late birthday present. It was successful Father’s Day!
On Thursday morning we did Body image, The Media and My Story of Living with Cerebral Palsy school presentation at Chester Ronning School and it went really well! On Friday morning Centra Cam had me do the presentation for the Centra Cam’s staff for their learning and training day! That’s a wrap for the presentations. I did a total of 13 school presentations this year that included 249 kids in total! We did all the schools in Camrose except for Sparling. We went out of town 4 times (Forestburg, Edberg, Kingman and Killam.)
On Sunday afternoon Mary Ann and I went walking around the lake! For Canada Day my dad and I went to the Canada Day Festival at the Museum. I played the outdoor games and did a science experiment! Then we took some free Canada Day colouring pages and some free Canada Day Tattoos home. My mom and I coloured some Canada Day Pictures . After our BBQ of Hamburgers and Watermelon, my parents and I did some Canada Day Tattoos together! It was a great Canada Day Celebration! Happy Canada Day everyone!
We had my mom’s birthday dinner on her birthday which was on Wednesday night! We ordered pizza from Boston Pizza and had homemade chocolate mint cake! My mom got spoiled with birthday presents, she got a Dog/coyote spray, butterfly diffuser, Shower gel, chocolate bars, birthday flowers, candle and Perfume! From us kids, we got her a new Fitbit for her birthday! Her friend Anna Marie surprised her with balloons. After birthday presents and birthday cake, we played *Nine* the golf card game for awhile! She had a really good birthday! On Friday evening we celebrated more of my mom’s birthday with her girlfriends Anne Maire, Karen and Lisa from her old book club and spent the evening outside with some homemade banana bread and some cookie/ brownies that her friend Anna Marie made! It was a beautiful evening outdoors and it was great evening with our girlfriends! On Saturday afternoon I got strawberry nails done! On Monday evening we had birthday bash with Rose Club and had a great time! On Wednesday evening we went neon bowling with Rose club and had a great time! My score was 87! I glowed in the lights as I wore white and even my fingertips glowed as well!
We celebrated my brother Luke’s 26 birthday on Thursday evening which was his birthday! For dinner Luke requested ribs, corn bread and salad. My brother Joel brought smoked Pork belly burnt ends! For dessert Luke requested Brownie cake, toasted almonds and cream cheese icing on top! For his birthday presents he got shower gel, money, dish soap, toothpaste and toothbrush * boring adult supplies *. I made him a homemade Star Wars themed birthday card. I coloured Luke Skywalker, some letters that said happy birthday Luke, I hope you have a great day and some green stars. Then I put everything on a blue card and added some birthday stickers as well! It was simple enough for his birthday card from his favourite sister! It was a good evening to celebrate Luke’s 26 birthday!
On Friday evening after Maryann, I and Alayna (Mary’s daughter) went swimming, we went to visit our friend Mary! On Tuesday evening we had summer bingo with our friends from Rose club. I got a bingo on the word bingo all about summer and we used markers to mark. So, I got a sign for our house, and I got another bingo on the bingo card that we used chips. From that bingo I won a Canada Day Flag fidget toy. It was a good evening and a good game for everyone to enjoy! Stay tuned for more summer activities coming up! I hope everyone has been enjoying the hot weather so far if you have air conditioning!
Joel: I assist people with improving their ability to complete their activities of daily living with or without equipment so they can return home from hospital when they are medically stable. I also complete cognitive assessments and assist with lower extremity edema.
Kelsey: Is your day always the same or sometimes different?
Joel: No, days are the same and depend on why people are in hospital and what they’re having difficulty with.
Kelsey: Do you like your job?
Joel: Yes, days are busy and go by quick!
Kelsey: What’s your education?
Joel: I have a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy.
Kelsey: How long were those courses?
Joel: I did my Bachelors in 5 years and masters in about 2.5 years.
Kelsey: Where did you go to school?
Joel: I did 2 years at Augustana and the rest at the University of Alberta.
Kelsey: Are there other jobs that you are qualified for?
Joel: I could work in Homecare or other areas of rehab at a hospital. I could also work in paediatrics, but I don’t have any experience, except for living with Ashley. I’m also qualified to wash dishes but I’m told I miss spots sometimes…
Kelsey: What other jobs have you had as an OT?
Joel: I’ve worked in long term care, at the Glenrose, and at a rehab Center for people injured at work called Millard Health.
The month of April was full of school presentations! One week, we went to Edburg school on a Tuesday and then we went to Forestburg school on Wednesday. Centra cam had their 27th bowl a thon on Friday and my mom took me bowling. I think 86 and 108 were my scores for the games of bowling, they had doughnuts and new t- shirts that are orange for everyone.
In the Afternoon on Friday, mom and I made bath salts, coloured and had iced cappuccino with whipped cream and some Mimi bites. We had to watch Coco and she sat on my lap.
On Thursday evening I went to Edmonton to Roger’s Place for Luke Bryan concert, it was called “Mind of a Country Boy Tour”, with opening acts Chayce Beckham and Tenille Arts.
It was really good concert. On Monday I had a presentation at OLMP! On Tuesday another school presentation at OLMP and Wednesday I did another school presentation at OLMP! We went to Killam school for a presentation on a Monday morning! On Tuesday evening I painted a Mother’s Day plant pot for my mom for Mother’s Day . On Saturday morning we went to the Special Olympics walk in honour of Larry Gibson. The walk was at Mirror Lake. There was music and hot dogs, chips and water for lunch. It was a beautiful sunny morning for a walk. On Wednesday morning my friend Emily sent me a picture of her daughter Brielle with the birthday card that I coloured back in April and that’s petal bead that I made at Centra Cam. It was shaped as a star but I made it like a sunflower. Emily and Brielle absolutely loved their birthday present and the colourful flowery birthday card!
On Thursday morning we went to Kingman school and then we started bocce ball on Thursday after Centra Cam for May and June months. On Friday evening we went to Rose Club game night and a meeting, we talked about upcoming events and voted on activities for the June calendar. Then our group played a game of Yahtzee. Some people were playing Camrose Monopoly board game, a Twilight themed board game and Harry Potter themed Scene It. Some people were making puzzles as well. It was a fun evening with our friends from Rose Club!
Saturday afternoon I got my fingernails painted red with butterflies for stickers! I got my mom a Bleeding Heart plant for Mother’s Day and I got my senior Sharron a flower bloom! For Mother’s Day my mom got spoiled with Mother’s Day presents and Mother’s Day cards, she got a gift certificate for the green house, lots of shower gels and some lotion, homemade card and a little flower pot and a bleeding heart . We just hung out and my mom got to plant some flowers in her backyard and she got to water them too! We ordered sushi for dinner and had ice cream sandwiches for dessert.
On Tuesday morning I had a school presentation at Sifton school. On Saturday afternoon we celebrated our roommate Craig’s birthday and went bowling. Everyone had pizza and had chocolate cake from Safeway. I gave him a subway gift card and I coloured a birthday card with balloons.
I have a best friend forever Teresa who I always exchange Christmas and birthday gifts with every year. It was her birthday on the long weekend in May! My parents dropped off her birthday present for me and came home with a box of presents from Christmas! So on Sunday afternoon I got to open the box of presents! Teresa spoiled me rotten of course! I got a sweater, Christmas CDs , socks, Christmas earrings and some bath stuff. I got two Christmas coffee mugs and blue hair dye! Thanks for the Christmas presents Teresa! For her birthday/ Christmas presents I got her a flowerpot, a candle and something for her car that makes it smell so pretty! I made her a petal bead in a shape of a cupcake with different shades of blues and purple beads. I also coloured her a birthday card with blue ribbons and purple and pink presents. After I opened up the box of presents, I got to try out a craft that I will be doing for my birthday party and decided on what to cook for my Auntie Gail and my uncle Wayne for the second weekend in June! On Saturday evening we went to Rose Club birthday bash! We danced and had Oreo cake. It was a fun evening.
This month I decided to interview my sister in law and talk with her about her job. Ashley is married to my brother Joel.
Kelsey: What is your job title?
Ashley: I am a Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Kelsey: What does your job entail?
Ashley: My job requires me to drive all across Alberta to work with kids and their families and\or teachers at homes and schools. I support them with many things like toilet training, behaviours, feeding, and more!
Kelsey: Is your day always the same or sometimes different?
Ashley: Every day is very different! Sometimes I am driving lot, sometimes I’m at family homes or in the community, some days at schools, and some are paperwork days at the office or home.
Kelsey: Do you like your job ?
Ashley: I actually really do enjoy my job!
Kelsey: What’s your education?
Ashley: I have an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and a masters in occupational therapy.
Kelsey: How long were those courses?
Ashley: My undergrad degree was four years and my masters was two and a half years.
Kelsey: Where did you go to school?
Ashley: I completed my undergraduate degree in Saskatoon at the UofS and my masters in Edmonton at the UofA
Kelsey: Are there other jobs that you are qualified for?
Ashley: As an occupational therapist I could work in a number of areas such as long term care, a hospital, rehab clinics and more.
Kelsey: What other jobs have you had as an OT?
Ashley: I have worked in a similar position that was based in Edmonton which was much less travelling as well as in a preschool program based in Sherwood Park.
I feel like this weather can’t make up its mind…. There’s the valentines’ pictures, the practice drawing and face masks. Nothing is worse than when your pictures don’t load or show up!
We went to Rose Club birthday bash on Friday evening for the February birthdays! People were making some valentines’ heart poppers and there was lots of dancing of course. We celebrated the first of the March birthdays in our family, which is Sandy’s birthday! We celebrated at my brother Joel and sister-in-law Ashley’s house on Wednesday with dinner. It was a very yummy dinner with salad, garlic bread and lasagna! My mom made a mousse layer chocolate cake for Sandy’s birthday cake! For birthday presents, we brought her some colouring books and markers. Joel and Ashley made her a cookbook of some our family’s recipes! Luke got her some chocolate and couple of bottles of wine for her birthday present. Sandy seemed very happy and very thankful!
On Sunday afternoon I finally found some new shoes and sandals that fit over my braces. I also found a brand-new winter jacket. All from Sport Check. I coloured three birthday cards for my brother Joel, sister-in-law Ashley and my friend Mary! My friend Mary’s 27th birthday was on Sunday, so I made a card with a window of a house and lots of flowers and greenery around it for her birthday!
I have started doing school presentations again and I went to Sifton school on Thursday afternoon! It was good to get back out there! I can’t wait to do more!
On Friday evening I went to a birthday party which was supposed to be a surprise birthday party for our friend Preston from special olympics who turned 40 years old; but the surprise came out! Preston was dressed up as Elvis! For food, there was pizza, chocolate and vanilla cupcakes and vegetables trays with dips. For events there was dancing and a photo booth! It was a really fun evening, it felt like a wedding reception for a birthday party! I gave him a gift card for East Side Mario’s restaurant for his birthday present and a happy 40th birthday card! I’m happy and thankful that I went to celebrate with everyone from Special Olympics for his birthday celebration!
On Sunday evening, which was St. Patrick’s Day. We celebrated the second birthday in March. Which was Joel’s 32nd birthday. His birthday is Tuesday 19th of March. We played the golf card game from Amazon. Grandpa and I were on a team. We ordered sushi from Mikaku Japanese restaurant by Boston Pizza for dinner and we had homemade mini egg cheesecake for dessert. For Joel’s birthday presents he got some Paint sprayer, chocolate bars, and money with a space card that I coloured and some bought birthday cards. It was a really good day!
Saturday morning was our Special Olympics Bowling Tournament. In the morning the Camrose team went bowling, my scores were: first game was 87, second game was 66 and third game was 99. Whenever you’re in tournament you’ll bowl three games. In the Afternoon and into the evening on Saturday we went to City Lights Church for a banquet. There was dancing, karaoke, awards, and a ham and turkey dinner with chocolate cake, chocolate pudding and whip cream and cherries for dessert. My mom was helping people get their meal, so I got to have dessert and it was delicious. I enjoyed the bowling tournament! Everyone got a red and black bracelet and an award that was a medal.
We celebrated Ashley 30th birthday on Sunday evening as her birthday is so close to the Easter weekend, it’s Thursday 28th of March. Ashley requested my best friend Teresa’s chicken with peanut sauce and coconut rice and a salad. For dessert she requested carrot cake with pineapple and raisins. That was actually really good, and it had cream cheese icing! We all decided what our Easter activity would be! It was between dyeing Easter eggs or an Easter painting, and everyone voted Easter painting! We played the golf card game again and Ashley and I were on a team! For her birthday presents she got some nice Tupperware, some chocolate bars, a blade for her Cricut machine from grandpa and Sandy, and money from mom and dad! Some birthday cards, and I coloured her a flowery birthday card. It was a great celebration, happy 30th birthday Ashley!
Unfortunately, I got a cold/ flu for a week before Easter weekend. I was supposed to have three school presentations, but I was sick! On Saturday afternoon I got to FaceTime with my mom while she made mini egg cheesecake for Easter dessert. Saturday evening I died my hair purple… what do you think?
On Easter Sunday, we went to Grandpa and Sandy’s house, we did watercolour Easter paintings. We had ham and turkey dinner with Gravy, salad, pineapple, and potatoes. We had mini egg cheesecake again for dessert. My uncle Patrick from Lloydminster came with a big chocolate egg, money and an Easter card. He also brought Grandma Sharron’s an Easter card and chocolate treat! It was a good day with the family! Grandpa and Sandy gave us chocolate bunnies to take home! Easter Monday in the afternoon we dyed eggs in food colouring with the roommates! Happy Easter everyone! I hope the Easter bunny was good to you! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend, see you soon!
Sheila: I work at Westway Garden Greenhouse in Bittern Lake.
Kelsey: Is the greenhouse open all year?
Sheila: The greenhouse opens around the beginning of May and is open until about mid June.
Kelsey: When do you work?
Sheila: I start the end of February. Seedlings get flown in from the Maritimes, and then we work hard to get them transplanted into bigger pots. There is usually a bit of a break until the flowers need to be pruned. I work on and off as needed after the transplanting is done, until the greenhouse opens.
Kelsey: What do you do at the greenhouse?
Sheila: First, we have to fill pots with soil. Then we transplant little seedlings into the pots. After the plants get bigger, they need to be pruned so they become nice and bushy instead of tall and spindly.
Kelsey: Do you plant seeds there?
Sheila: I don’t, but the owner does. She starts lots of different vegetables, and some flowers, like pansies and impatiens.
Kelsey: What do you like about working there?
Sheila: I love the smell of the soil, I love to see how quickly the flowers grow, and I really love pruning. Pruning is my favourite. During pruning time, the flowers are blooming, you can hear the birds singing outside, and it is really calm and warm in the greenhouse.
Kelsey: Do you have a favourite flower that is grown there?
Sheila: There are SO many, but Dahlias are pretty amazing!
Kelsey: Do you plant many flowers in your yard?
Sheila: Oh yes, I get paid in plants, so my yard is pretty full of flowers.
For Christmas this year we celebrated Christmas after New Year’s Eve. It was actually Ukrainian New Year’s Eve, and Ukrainian New Year’s Day Weekend! We opened Christmas presents, for Christmas presents this time, I got jeans from Luke, Joel and Ashley got me the jacket from that fashion show I was in! I was so surprised and excited to get it. It was the kid’s Christmas exchange and kids gave Christmas presents to the parents. I gave my mom a heated pad for Christmas. Joel and Ashley got mom a cooking pot and paint by number family picture and Luke got mom lots of shower gels and body lotions. We got my dad a razor, house coat and some clothes for Christmas and his birthday presents. I got my sister in law Ashley some hand lotion and bubble bath from me and a Winners gift card from Luke. Luke got some pants and Joel got some pants too. It was a very wintery snowy and cold Christmas party! It was worth the wait! After Christmas presents we had appetizers made by Joel and Ashley which were fabulous it was a Christmas tree dip and spinach dip with bread and crackers! We played the game of small gifts with dice and oven mitts. I got butterfly socks, money and lip balm from the game. For a craft we made gnomes out of yarn! Ashley helped me with my gnome, which was a fun craft to do! It was a full afternoon of Christmas activities everyone enjoyed! It was a wonderful snowy and cold Saturday to celebrate Christmas!
On Thursday evening we went to karaoke night at the Retro with Rose Club. I got to sing Barbie with Marisa , Mama Mia with Anna and Brett Young’s song In Case You Didn’t Know. It was a super duper fun evening. I got to play a golf game and alligator game at the Retro! It was lots of fun, good company and lots of fun making new memories with our friends from Rose Club! I would love to go back if Rose Club would go again!
Friday afternoon I coloured a congratulations card a wintery snowflake and wintery mittens card that was yellow, red, and orange mittens. Some blue snowflakes and some red cherries. I made it for my friend Emily her husband Tyrell and their daughter Brielle, as they welcomed a brand – new baby boy to their family named Thomas William! After I made the congratulations card, I made a wedding card for the next weekend! On Saturday afternoon I went to the movie. It was called “Anyone But You” with some girlfriends and I really enjoyed the movie! Then on Saturday evening I wrote in the two cards that I coloured. So my mom could mail Emily and Tyrell’s card out! A couple of weeks after, Emily sent me a picture of the congratulations card and baby Thomas laying beside the card!
We had birthday bash for January birthdays with Rose Club on the following weekend on Friday evening. We danced and got to hit the piñata! It was a fun evening with our friends from Rose Club!
On Saturday afternoon I went to my friend Karlina and Isaac’s wedding ceremony at the Century Meadows Baptist Church! The newlyweds invited us for wedding cake cutting and tea afterwards but I didn’t stay for it though! Later on into the evening my mom and I went to the Days Inn for the wedding reception and the wedding dance in the evening. It was wonderful to have my friend Danielle and her husband Nathaniel at our table. My friend Rachel and her husband were at our table too, so it was lovely to see some old high school friends! My friend Karlina gave homemade soap for everyone to take home and she made the centerpieces for the tables, some were trees and flowers that were very nice. She’s very crafty! I absolutely loved her wedding dress, she looked so pretty in her wedding dress on her wedding day! There were speeches from the wedding party, the couple’s parents, and some friends. They even had the shoe game for the couple and then we got to dance finally! A huge congratulations to the newlyweds! It was a super duper special afternoon and a lovely evening celebration of those love birds! All the best in your marriage! I was honoured and really thankful that I was invited and I was able to go, and celebrate their special day, their wedding day!
After I got home from the wedding reception and wedding dance on Saturday night, I saw that my friend Sarah and her husband Jordan had a baby girl named Blakely Rae. She has two big brothers Jackson and Charlie. So On Friday afternoon I coloured a congratulations card for Sarah and her family, a flowery card, then I coloured another congratulations card for my friend Shyla and her husband Andrew, and their little boy because they had another beautiful baby boy, that they named Bennett Andrew which was born in December! I got some new cards from my Auntie Gail, I found a congratulations card that had some birds and tulips that I coloured blue, I could imagine the background of card was a golden yellow mantle with a sunset that says congratulations!
The first weekend in February I took my friend Maryann to the Anne of Green Gables ballet for her birthday present on Saturday evening as it was her birthday on February 1st! The ballet was at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre by the college! This was a ballet and not a play as there was no talking, but lots of dancing and great costumes! Now, I have started reading the Anne of Green Gables books! Which I’m really enjoying!
On Sunday afternoon my mom, my dad and I coloured valentines cards with my brother Joel and sister in law Ashley! I made lots of valentines cards for my Centra Cam friends, Auntie Gail, Auntie Donna, Grandpa Raymond, Sandy and Grandma Sharon! Like Joel said It was like a factory of colouring valentines card, putting the cards in colourful envelopes and getting ready for Valentine’s Day! Then, Joel and mom made dinner together which was homemade alfredo sauce, homemade pasta with a vegetable salad. For dessert we had homemade avocado chocolate pudding! Then we played a new card game, called Seven! It was an awesome day!
I made more valentines cards for my parents, my senior Sharon and a birthday/ Valentine’s card for my friend Theresa on Friday afternoon. So on Saturday afternoon I did my Valentine’s Day’s errands, I went shopping to Safeway for some Valentine’s chocolates, yellow roses that means friendship with a Valentine’s balloons and delivered them. My senior Sharon gave me homemade chocolate covered Pretzels with an M&M which were delicious and very yummy and a beautiful Valentine’s Day card!
We celebrated Family Day the Sunday before the holiday Monday so my mom and I tried out our craft on Sunday afternoon – abstract drawing with water colour or markers on the weekend before! Kinda cool craft! We did face masks too!
Before I went to Centra Cam on Valentine’s Day, which was Wednesday my grandpa Raymond dropped off a Valentine’s Day card which was a wonderful surprise! For the Valentine’s Day party at Centra Cam, in the morning I did some valentines crafts like take away the black foam and then it’s a colourful heart and played Hello Kitty bingo. In the afternoon it was a Valentine’s Day dance, more crafts like decorating a foam heart with stickers, and some people were playing Hello Kitty bingo again! I got to bring Valentine’s Day cards for my friends! It was a good day to have a Valentine’s Day party at Centra Cam and then I went bowling on Wednesday evening. We celebrated Valentine’s Day and our friend Theresa’s 55th birthday on Thursday evening with an evening out with our friends from Rose Club, and Theresa! We went to the Disney’s Little Mermaid play which was a fabulous show at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed center. It was a fabulous play, there were fancy costumes that were very sparkly, really colourful and very mermaid costume styles! It was very nice and very accessible for my wheelchair and for my roommates. I got to take pictures with the cast after the show! We all absolutely loved the show!
For Family Day Weekend we celebrated a day early with my uncle Wayne, my auntie Gail from Lloydminster, grandpa Raymond and Sandy. My uncle Patrick came for a while too. We made abstract drawings and then used water colours and markers. It was a super duper fun craft.
I hope your enjoying a really weird winter everyone! Let’s see what’s March brings maybe an early spring! See you soon!
Sheila Luke’s Mom: He came to me and said he got a mosquito bite. However, it was February, so that wasn’t possible.
Kelsey: Where was the bite?
Sheila: It was on his wrist.
Kelsey: What happened next?
Sheila: It started to get very red, and the redness was spreading. Luke developed a fever. We called Health Link and they said to go to the ER.
Kelsey: What happened at the ER?
Sheila: The Dr. figured it was a spider bite. He drew a line along where the red started, so he could see if it was spreading. Luke was put on antibiotics. We were eventually sent home.
Kelsey: What happened at home?
Sheila: We were told to soak his wrist in warm water to draw out the toxins. A plug of puss eventually came out about the size of a pencil eraser. Luke was left with a hole in his wrist, that eventually closed in.
Kelsey: Where did he get the spider bite from?
Sheila: I have no idea! Maybe it came from fruit from the grocery store, or maybe it was just a regular spider that came into the house in the fall. I actually don’t even know if he got it at home. Kind of creepy anyway!
Kelsey: Are spider bites dangerous?
Sheila: They can be, depending on the kind of spider and how you react to the bite. Some people might be allergic too.
Kelsey: Does Luke have a scar?
Sheila: Not really any more.
Kelsey: How long ago did this happen?
Sheila: It happened in 2009.
Kelsey: Do you know of anyone else who has been bitten by a spider?
Sheila: I may have been as a kid. We were picking raspberries and something bit me on the butt! I developed a severe fever and had to spend the night in the hospital. They were afraid I might have seizures.
