This is one overdue blog post! And I can't believe it's October. We've survived the first four weeks of school and life sure does look different this year compared to last. While the pandemic (or a version of it) is still disrupting life, things feel more normal than they have in a while - the kids are doing sports and school is a more regular version of itself compared to last year. There is so much to say that I'll go through the fam one by one... here goes!
Jordan
Jordan is in school full time this year, and it is so far so good! He talks to us about what he does during the day and who he plays with at recess, and we get info on the bathroom sinks, who cuts in line, and how snack time works. He was a little hesitant on day one, but plucked up the courage to go inside with the rest of his class - this made Steve very proud, of course. He's made a few neighbourhood friends, a few of whom live very close by: Ever lives across the street (he brought her flowers a few days ago - melt!), Cy lives around the corner, and Thomas lives about a block away. I love seeing him make some friends and figure things out on his own. He started playing ball hockey a few weeks ago and is right into it, inspiring his big sister to don a jersey too! Hendrik has been playing for quite a few seasons, so Jordan was happy to finally be able to play too. He loves playing living room volleyball, he likes throwing things, playing with Alana and her friends, and he is looking forward to baseball next summer ("I'm going to play Little Sluggers t-ball," he tells people). He likes doing crafts and colouring, visiting Liz, and collecting sticks. I'm sure there's more to write about but....
Alana
Can you believe she is in grade 4? I feel like the best measure of time passing is how your children age and grow, and she's no exception. School started out smoothly this year despite being in a separate class from her close friends, but she was put with the same group as last year, so there are definitely some connections already. She also seems very happy with her teacher and classmates, and comes home from school in a good mood. Motivated by her brothers' involvement in ball hockey, she took it up too and is LOVING it. Soccer starts in a few weeks and she's expressed some interest in volleyball, but we might wait for next year... we'll see. She loves crafting (she's making bookmarks right now), beading, reading Archie comics, requesting books from the library, and is getting quite good at making pancakes all by herself. She is kind, sensitive, funny, athletic and beautiful. And she's proud to be learning French at school, so has been coming home to teach Jordan a few words and expressions which is, of course, adorable.
 |
| with his chip refill ID card |
Hendrik
Hendrik and his long flowing locks! He very reluctantly went for a trim before school started and got things cleaned up a bit, but he's keeping the long hair, even with the barber shop open for business. This one is in a straight grade 6 class with a bunch of his buddies (which makes him very happy), and his new-to-the-school teacher seems great (lots of communication). He's playing ball hockey and trying out for a baseball team, and is signed up to start soccer in January... yay for sports being back on! We were sort of encouraging him to try out for a volleyball team / play volleyball, but the season is pretty long and it seems like quite the commitment, so we aren't too disappointed that it's not happening. He is still a big reader (Archies are the current fave) and is loving following the Jays. Steve took him to a game in Toronto a few weeks ago and they had the best time - baseball and a Beast Burger (which has something to do with Mr. Beast, a famous youtuber). I'm sure there's more to write about here too, but I best be moving on...
Steve
Steve has been relishing his newfound freedom from caring for children all day by watching soap operas and eating bonbons on the couch. Ha! Just kidding. I think he's loving the mobility and freedom to choose what to do (TV or bonbons, or both). He's been keeping busy by doing maintenance jobs for a few people in our neighbourhood, and has had a few days at the range or on the course with friends too, so I think there is some balance. He's also putting in the time here at home, finishing the porch and keeping the pool maintained, among other things. He'll try to help out with McMaster again this year, so we'll have to juggle some pick-ups and childcare there, but it's do-able. I'm sure there's more here too but I'm running out of steam!
Me
I started teaching at a new-to-me school at the beginning of September, and I feel like I'm just hitting my stride. I like the school, the kids, the staff and the job - core French for grades 4-8 and Visual Arts for a grade 6 class. I leave for work around 8 every day and am home by 4-ish; with 40-minute classes, the days go by pretty quickly. It has a bit up and down getting used to the new routine of making lunches, being ready and on time for school, ready for dinners etc etc., you get it. Anyways, we're getting into a groove and the kids have been great with making their own lunches right after dinner (yay). I've started reading The Seven Sisters series (a reco from Sandra) which is good, but not as good as the book I'm currently reading - American Dirt... I can barely put it down! What else is new... I might be playing in a women's basketball league and I've been trying to get a bit of exercise in here and there, biking to work a few days a week (yay times two). I'm not helping at Western any more and will coach Alana's soccer and some teams at the school too, if they run. It's time to get this posted before it's too late... hope everyone is doing well!
