We are back in our house! We spent four months in two rental houses and a very small portion out west in BC and Alberta (way back in August), and that time has flown by. We moved in two weeks ago with quite a few jobs still underway - we had plywood on the windows for a few days (some are still boarded up) and temporary railings on the stairs - and there are still lots of smaller jobs to be finished (trim, lighting, painting, and backsplash, to name a few). That being said, most days I get home from work to notice changes and movement towards the finish line. Our contractor told me this afternoon that they'll start excavating for the addition during the first week of January (!!), so I'm hoping that this means most of the existing interior jobs will be finished by then. We still have to pick the kitchen backsplash (grey or off-white?) and stair runner, and then many more decisions to make with stage two. This will get us another bathroom, a laundry room and a family room in what used to be a very decrepit and deteriorating part of the house (the former addition)! We are SUPER happy with everything so far - having a bigger and more functional kitchen is amazing! The stairs are also so much more functional and it makes more sense both downstairs and upstairs with things being more open. And I haven't even mentioned the bathroom! The second floor bathroom is a million billion times better, not to mention a million billion ZILLION times more beautiful. We have a huge shower, in-floor heating, a double vanity... the list goes on! There aren't any mirrors up yet, but it's gorgeous and we love it. Last but not least, the attic is insulated. No more freezing winters on the top floor! Our plan is to convert it into a master bedroom, but with so much going on elsewhere in the house (and taking our $$), we're not tackling that quite yet (I don't think). Here are a few of the latest house photos I have, and I'll be sure to do a before and after post eventually:
We only have one more week until the winter holidays, and everyone in the family is ready and excited for a break from school and work. Most activities will be on hold, though I'm not sure if Hendrik's volleyball continues? Anyways, he's enjoying being on a team that practices and competes throughout the year, and it sounds like there's a good group of kids and coaches too (including Steve!). Winter ball hockey is a go this year, and he's playing with a few kids he knows so will get a good run in on Saturday mornings - up and at 'em as my mom would say! I was finally on the ball with the sign-up time for swimming lessons, so all three will get back into the pool with lessons come January. Alana wrapped up her low-key, once-a-week volleyball last weekend and will keep doing soccer after a pause for the holidays. And that's mostly it for the kids' activities! It sounds busy, but they need physical activity (and we need to tire them out)! I'm back to playing women's league volleyball and am loving it, though it means no more basketball as they run on the same night now (boo). Steve plays hockey once a week - early on Sundays - and I think he's enjoying that too. Work is good and days are busy (6 or 7 40-minute classes fly by). With volleyball all wrapped up there's no more coaching there for me, so I have some more time to get work done. School is good for the kids, though it sounds like they're busy there too. Hendrik played on the boy's volleyball team, is trying out for the basketball team, and is part of band and chess club too apparently! They need an eat your lunch club so the kids have time and make eating their lunches a priority! Most of these clubs and teams are only open to grade 7s and 8s, so hopefully Alana and Jordan will be interested too when the time comes.
And big news for Hendrik - he got braces! His smile is as great as it's ever been, and he's way less uncomfortable now than he was a week ago. Sporting Maple Leafs colours (of course), he was a total champ getting them on and there was minimal if any complaining about any of it.
I'm sure I have more to write about (Hendrik's birthday, what I'm reading, what the kids are reading, Christmas and holiday news and plans, car stuff - we got it fixed! and more) but that will have to wait until next time ... which might be next year! Happy holidays to everyone!
