living like a local: Another birthday...

Monday, June 29, 2020

Another birthday...

From one birthday post to the next! I think this is a first - a new low (but likely not as low and it can go) in terms of blogging frequency. Oh well! Life is pretty saturated around here, and while I'm usually hopeful about having some time in the evenings to get something done (other than laundry, clean-up etc.), time and energy are in short supply after we finally get the kids to bed (and sleep). Lots has happened in the last few weeks: the kids finished school (Hendrik moves on to grade 5, Alana moves on to grade 3, and Jordan will likely start kindergarten in the fall - !), I had a birthday, my teacher certification was processed and granted (I'm officially a teacher - yay!), and... I'm sure there's more. The kids are happy to be done with the online learning, though they were pretty good about buying in and doing most of their work every day. I'm so curious about the fall - what will school look like? We're considering sending Jordan back to Grosvenor Nursery School for the JK program; it wouldn't be too different from what he was doing before schools closed in March. The class will be much smaller, it's mornings-only, and it's familiar - lots of appeal. What will not be familiar at all (or might it?) is my work situation for the fall. I'm applying to some jobs and will hopefully have some interviews lined up for next week. Fingers crossed I get the job I want! There are a few that are close to home and fairly ideal for a first teaching job, but there is so much that is out of my control. What I do know is that I need to prep for interviews; I have notes and ideas, but the immersion conversations will be pretty different from the core french conversations. We'll see what happens!

I had a great birthday, though it's a bit of a blur. Bob and Marg came down for the weekend and the kids were beyond excited to see them - we should have taken a vid of the arrival scene! Jordan was jumping up and down with excitement, squealing through an ear-to-ear smile. Here in Ontario we're being encouraged to "bubble" in groups of 10, with physical contact and indoor shared spaced limited to that group. Grandma and Gramps and Liz are in our bubble, and we're doing our best to stick to it! Anyways, back to my birthday; I got together for some physically distanced drinks with friends the Sunday and then the Thursday before my birthday, and was spoiled with gifts - flowers, champagne, wine... and then there was more. It was a bit of a boozy birthday, because Steve followed through on my one request - materials for gin and tonics (he doesn't like them!). I have yet to make one, but today might be the day. It's beautiful out and the kids - while calm and quiet right now (thanks TV) - definitely got on my nerves this morning. My one birthday request from the kids was that they did their best to get along and limit the whining/complaining, and if my memory serves me right they followed through too! I went for an early run (on my birthday - and this morning too!) and enjoyed an early morning swim before being treated with homemade donuts... yum. Marg and I went to my favourite thrift store, and then we spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool (with sangria). Dinner was family-favourite burgers, and Sandra and Bruce and Liz came over for cake. Sandra put on quite the performance of a happy birthday song that was so heartfelt and hilarious at the same time (someone filmed it - who!?) that it brought tears to my eyes. I am so so thankful that we were able to stay in the neighbourhood and still see our amazing Grosvenor family.

The pool has been incredible! We are using it so so much, and we're also able to have the kids' friends over to swim, so they're getting a bit more social time than they otherwise would have had. And even though things have opened up a bit (some summer camps are running), we still haven't planned much. We'll go to the cottage and try for some day trips from here, but for the most part, we'll spend summer at home. It's a slower pace of life that won't last forever, so I'm hoping we can enjoy it to the max - we're so thankful for all that we have here!