Sunday, January 11, 2015

"MA" McLENNAN AND THE GANG



January 11, 2015 was the 85th birthday of Tutta McLennan.
Mother of Tor, Marit and Kenneth;
Bestemor (Grandmother) to Adriane, Devin, Dustin, Kirk, Alex, and Nathan;
Great-grandmother to Skyler and Emme.
Born in Trysil, Norway moved to Kenya, East Africa, where she married Alan McLennan and had three fantastic children.
In 1964 she moved with the family from Kenya and eventually settled in Ontario, Canada and then on to Quesnel, BC.

Tutta McLennan - Before the Total Makeover
This year was the first in many years that the three 'kids' were able to join Mum in Quesnel to celebrate her birthday.
Marit flew from Medicine Hat, Alberta to Kelowna, BC where Tor picked her up on his way north from Penticton.  They arrived in Quesnel in the evening of Friday, January 9th.
Ken drove up from Vancouver on Saturday the 10th and arrived in time for Chinese dinner at Mum's favourite restaurant.

After dinner all returned to Mum's house and spent the evening playing a card game called 'Golf' where, after a long struggle, Mum won...again.  She is a card shark even though she can only see out of one eye.

Mum has a great sense of humour and finds all kinds of things to laugh about - especially about herself.  Here are a series of photos we took while playing around with some masks Mum had bought up in Barkerville.  She planned to do a little review for the 'old' folks at one of the residences where she would show up and tell them about a plastic surgeon in Barkerville who does major makeovers for a very low price.  Those who know Tutta understand how this would appeal to her - the low price not the plastic surgery.
After talking to the group about her concerns and hopes she then leaves the room with an accomplice, ostensibly on their way to Barkerville.  Shortly afterwards she reappears dressed in a silk tunic, scarf and new makeover.  Wonderful imagination and energy to put this together - laughing all the while.
Tutta - After the Total Makeover
When Mum gave us a dress rehearsal we all had to get into the spirit as well - so here is a gallery of what we now call "Ma" McLennan and her Gang.
"Smiley" McLennan - Lethal
"Ms" McLennan - Ass Kicker
"Grumpy" McLennan - Bag Man
During all of this Tor pulled out the crokinole board and challenged us to a few games.
"Smiley" had "Ma" as his partner while "Kick Ass" and "Grumpy" prepared the defence.
First game went to the "Kick Ass" and "Grumpy" team - the second to "Ma" and "Smiley".
A tie-breaker was called for and the winning point was, of course, made by the birthday girl!

More photos from Mum's birthday evening.
Tor with "KickAss"
Marit being mugged by "Grumpy"
Marit, Tor, Mum
Marit, Ken, Mum
The weekend with Mum in honour of her 85th birthday was one filled with belly laughs, good food, and memories.  We felt much closer as a family and glad we could all make it.

Without a doubt the birthday present in 2015 was our time together - and we all shared in the gift.

HAPPY 85th MUM - much love, The Kids

Thursday, December 25, 2014

TWELVE YEARS OF CHRISTMAS



The Twelve Years of Christmas is a collection of photographs highlighting the twelve Christmas's since Kari and I met in 2003 and not to be confused with the Twelve Days of Christmas which is a song originating sometime in the late 1700's and thought to have been a French creation.
Twelve Days of Christmas

By the way, the 12 days of Christmas start at the birth of Christ on December 25th and ends with the arrival of the Magi (Epiphany) on January 6th. Twelfth Night is the evening of January 5th and according to some traditions it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after this date.
Twelfth Night


1st Christmas: 2003, Daventry, Surrey, BC

Partridge in a Pear Tree? Not Quite.
Adriane
Katie and Jon
Kari with Katie
Spoiling Mr. Ken
We Even Had A White Christmas!

2nd Christmas: 2004, Daventry, Surrey, BC

Stockings Are Hung
Gift Opening Time
Travis - The New Addition!
Christmas Elegance
Christmas Cartoon
So Many Friends

3rd Christmas: 2005, Displaced

Christmas at Connelly's, Maple Ridge, BC
Adriane and Travis Get Married in 2005
Katie (Mercedes) Meets Ian in 2005
Kari with her Children
Last Photo of Mum and Me with  Dad

4th Christmas: 2006, Daventry, Surrey, BC

Alan McLennan 1925 - 2006


Mum Spends Christmas With Us
Brother Tor, Myrna and Nathan
Jon Enjoying a Lazy Day
Kari with Sister Andrea
Ian and Katie Mercedes Get Married
Kari and I Go Camping
Merry Christmas

5th Christmas: 2007, Something Completely Different!

We had Christmas lunch at the Roti Prata House in Singapore in 2007.
Our table was towards the back and close to the kitchen so that we could watch our food being prepared - the added highlight of the experience was when two of the cooks got into a fight and started hitting each other.  It was a Merry Christmas indeed.
New Home in Singapore
Christmas Walk in 33 C with 90% Humidity
A Better Idea On Christmas Day
Ho Ho Ho - We're Swimming On Christmas Day
Surprise!
Bigger Surprise!!
In Lieu of a Christmas Tree
1st Grandchild Born: Oliver on September 27th

6th Christmas: 2008, Singapore

In the second year living in Singapore we had made some good friends - some from work and some from church.
Still No Snow
Christmas Meal Prepared by Myra & Jeff Morrison
The Lucky Wine Club Men: Wu Sze, Jeff Morrison, Me, Dominic Chow
Dominic and Dell Chow
Another Tropical Christmas
The Ladies of WAJA: Angela Henderson, Debbi McCumsey, Kari, Dawn Henderson, Sherilyn Sweeney
The Men of AJA: Rob Henderson, James Henderson, JM Boudreau, Me, Ken McCumsey
With the McCumsey Family and Friend on Christmas Day

7th Christmas: 2009, Jalan Keria, Singapore

This year we made it to Orchard Road to see the fantastic Christmas lights.


Kari and the ESL Ladies Christmas Choir
Kari with the ESL Ladies

Our Hosts in 2009: Jean-Marc and Sherilyn
Wiwit from Indonesia
Dawn, Angela, Kari and Sherilyn
No Snow Again This Year
Comrades in Work with Dawn
Merry Christmas from Singapore!

2nd Grandchild Born: Leighton, June 9th

8th Christmas: 2010, Westmount, Montreal, QC

View From Our Front Steps
Our Front Steps
Christmas 2010 - Back in Canada
Dinner for Fifteen

Kari with Turkey

Andrea with Salad

Alaina with Weapon

Grace Montreal Church "Orphans"

Three More in the Living Room

Tea and Dessert
Peace on Earth

9th Christmas: 2011, Montreal, QC and Listowel, ON

Christmas just got busy! In 2011 we attended a company Christmas party and then headed to Listowel, Ontario to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Kari's nephew David and family.
From David and Molly's Home


The Tree at Brydges Home
The Ladies of Advanced Fabrics, Montreal
Before the Company Party
Guylaine, Heidi and Heidi's date

Fernando and Bruce

The Gagne's
Listowel Lies Sleeping
Back Stage 
On Stage

Beautiful Solo

Grand Finale
Very Special Nieces with Great Aunt Kari
Host David with the Turkey

Hostess Molly
Still Quiet
All's Well
3rd Grandchild Born: Pippa, May 18th

10th Christmas: 2012, Last one in Montreal

This was the year of record snow.  It was also when, after a lot of behind-the-scenes discussions Kari and I were offered the opportunity to move back to B.C. To be honest I'm not sure how or where we spent Christmas this year - I know it was with our GMC Family for the last time.


Record Snow
Welcome to Grey Avenue, NDG, Montreal, QC


We're in 2025





Stockings Ready - Again!
The Tree is Decorated


Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal

Pipe Organ at the Basilica, Montreal

 11th Christmas: 2013, Back In British Columbia


Back Where We Started in 2007

Come On In

Fish Only

Stockings Back In Place

Christmas Pageants
Confused Angel - But Cute
Leighton The Shepherd
Oliver and Lucas - Angels?  No. They're Boys...
Pippa - Close to Angelic
4th Grandchild Born: Jaeden, May 12th (Mother's Day)
Nicole with Jaeden
Grandma Kari with Jaeden
Grandpa Ken with Jaeden


Oliver - Christmas PJ's

Leighton - Christmas PJ's

Pippa - Christmas PJ's too!

Super Heroes!
5th Grandchild Born: Emmeline, September 9th


Welcome to the Family Emme

12th Christmas: The Family is The Focus

In twelve years our combined families have grown and grown, with additions of Son's and Daughter's, followed by additions of grandchildren.  And along with that come all the extended family members and life is grand.
One of my childhood Norwegian ornaments from Kenya
Oliver Stars in the 2014 Christmas Greeting
Leighton The Drummer Boy

Pippa as Mary
Jaeden with her Parents and Grandmother
Emmeline Looking Beautiful
Kari and Katie 
Katie and Ian

Pippa Interviewing Grandpa
Adriane, Emme and Travis
Reynolds Brothers Turkey - Christmas Day

Twelve years of wonderful memory making

Snow in The Cariboo