From the archives: a selection of things that have happened on March 28, when Spencer was little, in honour of his 15th birthday...

Friday, March 28, 1997: Spencer is one.  One-year birthdays are always interesting.  What exactly do these little ones know?  I find myself thinking about Spencer’s predecessors at that age.  Caitlin, all chicken-poxy, surrounded by clamouring, celebrating cousins on Hill Street.  Drew, serenely watching while some other cousins get into a little scuffle at the Langes' house.  Sarah in the sun at 1060 E in Springville, making funny yogurt faces for everyone’s enjoyment.  The latest model?  As usual, very cheerful with a little bit of an edge.  He got a bulldozer toy, looked very excited, vroomed it furiously, then got frustrated and tried a little tantrum.  He yells with his small squeaky voice, arches his body, even thrashes around a bit.  This is a bit trying, but as I think back on it now, I have tender thoughts.  A wee man.  Should we have another?  

Sunday, March 28, 1999: Spencer’s 3^rd birthday, already!  He gets binocs, a Gene Autrey CD, a big dump truck, and some boring clothes.  He wanted nothing to do with them.  We do a Spencer-is-great lesson for Family Home Evening.  Caitlin contributes a spot-on Ethel Merman impersonation.  We're not sure how that contributed to our theme, but are nevertheless very glad to have seen it.  Afterward Spence just keeps playing and playing with that tractor.  When you think of it, at three, most every day is like a birthday. 

Tuesday, March 28, 2000: Spencer awakes joyfully, here on his fourth birthday.  He gets a market book and a Yearling laser disc, which he and Matty watch raptly.  We read the book three times.  He’s also got a toy/plush monkey that he carries around breaklessly.  At the end of the day he takes that monkey to bed with him, forgetting even to ask for his blanket.  We are delighted by the sight of those two happy , sleeping, simian faces.

 

Wednesday, March 28, 2001: Spence is five.  He is up at 6 AM to open presents.  He  feels philosophical.  “Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m five years old.  Sometimes it seems like I’m still a little boy.”    

Thursday, March 28, 2002: Spence wants breadsticks and green jello for his birthday dinner...

 

 

 

Night shot by Spence

Spence, shot by night

 

The living room; photos/compositions by Sarah

 

From the archives, on the occasion of Drew's 20th birthday

 

Tuesday, June 29, 1997: I watch Drew (age six) at school.  Some little boy says, “My picture is way better than yours, Drew.”  She just shrugs and returns to her seat.  Later I ask her about the incident.  “Did you feel bad when he said that?”  “No.  My picture was good.”  I want to make a competition out of this.  “Is he a naughty boy?”  “No, usually he’s nice.” 

Wednesday, June 18, 1998: Drew (age seven) and I go and get some groceries.  I check the shopping list.  “Did we get bananas?”  “Yes," she replies.  "We have no bananas.”  

 

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998: Taking Sarah late to school.  We find a bunch of students coming down the hall toward us, including Drew, who stops her sister.  “Sarah!  You’re student of the month!”  A typically thoughtful gesture—she didn’t even mention that she was the student of the month too.  

Sunday, October 8, 2000: Drew (age nine) sees the Mormon Tabernacle Choir ladies in their red gowns.  “They look like heads floating in a sea of blood.” 

Friday, October 20, 2000:  Almost everyone is sick.  Drew moans and groans and makes me wonder how she’ll deal with childbirth.  She succumbs, and not very courageously.  “Did you just throw up on the couch?” I ask her.  “No,” is her bleary, string-haired, barf-faced, pillow-sodden answer. 

Sunday, March 25, 2001: Drew (age ten) is beating Sarah up.  Sarah holds a picture of Jesus up to her face and bellows: “thou shalt not hit thy sister!”

Sunday, December 9, 2001: Drew has a problem, and wonders if I can help her.  “Dad, can you tie stones to Caitlin’s limbs and throw her in a lake?”  “No, Drew, I’d be damned eternally.”  “So?” 

Wednesday, February 27, 2002: To Drew’s b-ball game.   She gets four points right off, on a lay up and a long shot.  She hustles like crazy.  She fouls most everyone.  “I really like covering short people,” she says.

Saturday, August 31, 2002: Drew (age eleven) directs a movie and does it like Charlie Chaplin, which is to say that she tells everyone exactly what to do, and how, and when.  Of course that doesn’t always work with kids.  Mind you she's not a complete autocrat; she likes to leave the camera running when Caitlin’s on, because you never know what a great actor is going to do.  Matt, as Lord Worthington, refuses to let Spence kill him with his sword.  “Oh, my gosh!” says neighbour Sadie, struggling to stay in medieval character.  

Tuesday, February 3, 2004: We go to Drew’s (age twelve) school for her SEOP conference.  She has made a pretty impressive, practically comprehensive self assessment.  It's revealing, sometimes surprising, and really quite lovely. 

"An unusual thing I’ve done is going to London twice.  I feel good when I get a state cut in swimming.  I’ve always wanted to visit Australia.  I want to scuba.  I admire my parents.

"I am frustrated by messes and dirty children.  Not to brag, but I'm good at the cello and spelling.  I feel that knowledge is important because it makes you money.

"Strengths: decisiveness, responsibility, sensitivity and leadership.  Values that I value:  power, fitness, appearance, achievement, knowledge, justice, health and family.  I feel that I am intelligent, creative, literate, musical, physically able.

"Three descriptive words: short tempered, bossy and smart.  To Kill a Mockingbird is my favourite book.   

"Goals: graduate from college, work at a zoo for a summer and get married.

"Things I am good at: acting, backpacking, being alone, being funny, being on time, being responsible.  I am sensitive, good at choosing friends, chewing gum, choosing good books, colouring inside the lines, concentrating, daydreaming, dealing with emergencies, decorating the house, doing homework, doing well on tests.

"I am good at exercising regularly, finishing things, getting good grades, getting to school on time, having fun with cousins, imagining, listening to music, memorizing commercials and songs, playing in the orchestra, volleyball, reading fast, singing, sledding, spelling, swimming fast like a frog, taking tests, tending babies, using big words, writing creative stories."  

The post is getting too long, and this is just the very tip of a very big iceberg.  We'll leave it at that, but you get the idea; happy birthday, dear Drew. 

 
 

Grandpa Duncan through the ages...

Donald James Duncan, born Edmonton, Alberta, September 26, 1935

We love the shoes and the sailboat, those Northern Alberta plants, that casually perfect camera angle, simultaneously perpendicular and diagonalized.  Who took this?  And who is standing beside the one who took it? 

Notice also that facial expression--this little one seems to feel that there's something faintly offensive about having your picture taken...

Grandpa and Aunt Shirley, parts 1, 2 and 3 (born 1932; can you guess who she was named after?):
 

At the opening of the Edmonton Municipal Pool.  Still troubled about that photography thing.  (Cool bathing suits!)

That's Great Grandpa Hill, who was a gentleman, a sportsman, and a guy who went skating with his grandkids.  You should hear that hunting story!  This is the kind of snow that squeaks when you walk on it, and this is the kind of air that may cause your nostrils to freeze together.  

Just after the commission of their first felony...

Taking a great leap forward, to 1971, in case you were wondering.  This is the back of that new building lot in Riverbend.  He's been working on that smile for a while now, and appears to be on the brink of accomplishing it.  We proclaim this to be a cool outfit, which is fitting for such a cool guy.