November recap

Well, we're no longer in shorts and t-shirt weather! It doesn't mean people aren't still wearing shorts and t-shirts (and Crocs), but winter weather has arrived. We woke up on November 1st to a dusting of snow, but today (December 1st) is rainy and mild. The last month has flown by - weekdays are so full and busy that before we know it, it's the weekend again! We're not planning much and are definitely still using Saturday and Sunday to recover from the volleyball, basketball, soccer, dinner-crunch etc. during the week. We're adding in high school visits (eek!) and some scrimmages here and there - and that's with zero weekday activities for Jordan! Steve and I are both coaching so it keeps us busy too. As of last week I'm taking the lead on Alana's 12U team, and school volleyball has started (practices) so days are even more full - yikes. It means I usually sleep pretty well, so that's a trade-off I'll take.

The kids had a great outing on Halloween - the candy belt has begun! Here are photos...

And the big news of late is that we have a teenager in the house!! Hendrik turned 13 at the end of November, and we celebrated a few times. His actual birthday fell on a school day, so after a day at school (he wasn't too pleased we made him go) we had a delish sushi dinner followed by the requested cake (raspberry cake) and then rounded out with a volleyball practice and cupcakes for the team. He also went to a virtual sports simulator thing at The Factory with a few of his buddies, and seemed to have a great time there too. He received some verrrrrry nice gifts, including a new baseball glove, a hoodie, Kids Against Maturity (hilarious game), some books, candy and gift cards. I need to ask the regular birthday questions and then update the post - I love looking back on old birthday blogs! 

Me and Hendrik in Italy, somewhere close to his 1st birthday!

His own batch of banana chocolate chip muffins too!

House updates: Steve finished the laundry room (photos coming soon), and it looks amazing! He's currently working on fixing up the basement to get the kids a small hang-out area down there, and then it's attic time! I should find some photos of the unfinished space - it's going to be such a transformation. Other of-notes: Alana and Audrey have been bit by the sewing bug, so their new after-school activity is creative, messy, and amazing! They're deep into my fabric stash, and I'm happy to see it all being used. Jordan has been asking to play ice hockey, so we're trying to find something that's just right for him. Stay tuned! And Hendrik has had one high school visit with two coming up this week. It's such a different set-up than it was for me and Steve, as we just had one option where we grew up. Here you can apply to high schools outside of your designated area, and quite a few students do that to have access to specialty courses and programs (also different). I'm thinking he'll say in-area and go to the closest high school, but I guess we'll see! 

sewing madness!!

one of their many creations :)

Alana with most of her 12U volleyball team

School (work for me) has been bananas. This is definitely the most challenging start to a school year that I've experienced (though it is only year four of teaching for me). There are so many behavioural challenges, and the lack of consequences or accountability (from home, from the office etc) fails to motivate kids to change their behaviour (or whatever it is - but kids continue to act in ways that are not at all appropriate for the classroom or allow for any learning to happen). So anyways, it's challenging. But the weeks go by quickly, and we're almost at the winter break! Three more weeks to go... 

October flying by...

These days, the weekdays are busier than the weekends, and we are definitely using our weekends to recover from the week (as opposed to the other way around). The big kids (and Steve and I) alternate volleyball practices Monday through Thursday, and with Monday and Tuesday sports for me, the week starts off on a busy note. So by the time we get to the weekend and have fewer things going on, we're happy to take our foot off the gas a little bit! This past weekend Steve’s parents came to visit, and it was a good mix of low-key outings and sports, and lounging around at home. Jordan started his indoor baseball league and is doing well (and loving it), and Hendrik plays ball hockey on Saturday afternoons - that’s it for weekend regulars! Alana and I went to see the Taylor Swift concert movie on Saturday (it was great) after a morning of thrifting with Grandma. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving a few weeks ago with a nice, big dinner at our place. Liz joined us for a full spread of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, crescent rolls, cranberry sauce and apple crisp for dessert - it was delicious! We also took a drive through the countryside and explored the small town of Otterville, a historic town connected with the Underground Railroad and home to an incredible park, an old mill and more. We brought a picnic lunch and the kids had fun throwing rocks into the waterfall and collecting creature friends (that we did not bring home). Since then Hendrik participated in a cross-country meet that I just missed, the leaves have all really turned (it’s beautiful!), and pool season is over. With Halloween just around the corner, we have fun things to think about - Alana is going to be Mary Poppins, Jordan wants to be a ghostbuster or Lloyd from Lego Ninjago and Hendrik is going as Waldo (as in Where’s Waldo?). I’m sure there’s more to write about but I’ll get this posted while I have the ball rolling. Happy fall everyone!

Catching up...

It's September! We are back in the swing of things with school, and after a week and a half everything is running relatively smoothly. There were some first (and second) day of school challenges for Alana, some weekend bee-sting drama for Jordan (he had to miss two days of school - boo!) and smooth sailing so far for Hendrik. School is going well for me, and I'm getting used to the back-to-busy schedule of a rotary teacher, teaching French and a little bit of gym. 

Alana (gr 6), Jordan (gr 2), and Hendrik (gr 8)

I know I missed quite a bit from the summer, so I'll do my best to fill in the gaps. Hendrik wrapped up his baseball season with some thrilling games at the OBAs here in London, but the team didn't make it past day two. While he was playing (with dad watching), Alana, Jordan and I were out west visiting my parents, and we had a great time. Vancouver Island is SO beautiful, and we are so lucky to be able to visit my parents on Thetis Island and at their home on the big island. It was great to see them and spend time together, and I wish we were able to be there more! The pictures will do the talking, but we split time between Comox and Thetis, spending lots of time by the water and in the woods. 

We also got to spend some quality time with the Calgary cousins and Steve's sister's family (and parents too), in London and in Bowmanville. We also made it to Port Stanley, Great Lakes Farms, and Canada's Wonderland where good times were had by all. Hendrik and I literally sprinted to the Yukon Striker line with the hopes of getting a spot in the front row, but plans were twice-thwarted; the ride was delayed because an employee sprained his ankle setting up the line barriers, and the employee directing traffic at the top told us we couldn't wait for front-row seats. Darn! Maybe next time. Favourite rides there were the Behemoth and the Leviathan, both fast and very smooth coasters with a longer ride time than the Striker. Hendrik loved hearing me scream, which I did on every roller coaster we went on! The younger kids stuck together for the most part, and had a great time on the smaller rides. 

Other notable events from the past month or so include Alana's birthday, which she celebrated by flying home from BC! We also had a small party for her last weekend, and it was great to see her together with her group of friends. Our reno is practically finished, though there are a few odds and ends to tie up. Extra-curriculars are starting soon and it looks like Hendrik and Alana will both be playing volleyball, Hendrik is doing ball hockey, Alana is playing soccer, and Jordan is playing indoor baseball. With Steve and I helping coach, it should be a busy fall! We are learning that we don't mind being busy, as long as everyone is relatively happy (and we aren't too rushed getting dinner on the table and/or leaving the house - that's the hard part!). Enjoy the pics!

July recap with photos galore!

Summer is flying by, as it always does. I realize I didn't write anything in July so I'll be playing some catch up, in what I'm guessing will be a short-on-text big-on-photos kind of a post. July was great! It was packed with a solo trip to BC (just me!), lots of baseball (for Hendrik and Jordan) and soccer (for Alana), a trip to Barrie (for baseball), a visit from my sister Sarah and her two kids, coaching, a few cottage trips, day camps for Hendrik, and lots of pool time. Unfortunately there was a trip to the ER for Hendrik (and Steve) mid-cottage visit, thanks to an unlucky fall - and then knee gash - on a paddleboard. They waited forever at the hospital in Campbellford before seeing a doctor, and left with five stitches right at the top of Hendrik's kneecap. Boo! Hopefully he heals up quickly and can get back to regular action ASAP. 

I know that I'm on summer holidays, but we have so much going on and so many lists (there's still so much to do at the house) that I'm feeling the need for a more relaxed / relaxing holiday (I think I need to be more intentional about this!). Anyways, our renovation is practically finished, with odds and ends to wrap up here and there. The majors that are left are an energy audit and the final inspection (plus a few things in the kitchen). We have nothing up on the walls and need rugs, but just have to dedicate the time to look for and find these items! We've done lots of looking but not enough finding... ha! When all of the kids are home, they pass the time by tormenting each other, so I'm tempted to look for summer camps for what's left of the summer. Here are some photos and I'll try to post again soon! 

Canada Day at a baseball game with Linds and Wyatt!

SO GOOD to see friends!!!

In Dundarave - it was great being back "home!"

and a fab visit with this one - love you Shants!

sibs :)

watching baseball in Barrie

Barrie champs! Such a great pic of these 3 - they're few & far between!

we snuck in a quick visit with Dan-O and Milka - we don't see them enough! Great to see these guys together...

blueberry picking at Olde Drive Blueberry farm - love that place!

sailing camp for Hendrik and some of his buddies

at the cottage

cottage game time - love it!

more games... badminton!

slime & oobleck experimentation :)

the homemade slime was a success!

batting practice on a hot, sunny day

Hendrik operating the pitching machine for his little bro

cousins!

cousins (and auntie) in the kitchen - it was so great to have them here!

at Heeman's

went to Arva, got chewed by mosquitos!

cuties... 

cuties on a swing...

and cuties on a crocodile!

look at this guy! little baseball player

so much fun at the water

playing games with Hendrik