It's been a few weeks that I've had this on my list, but reality talks; blogging once a month is my new max frequency (I guess). We had such a great winter break and I could fill several posts with news from the week we spent in Bowmanville (yay for time off!), so I might miss a thing or two. We're all back in the swing of things after a very restful time with Grandma and Gramps, and I'm already looking forward to the next extended break from work and the hustle bustle of weekdays.
I'll start with photos from Christmas and New Year's where highlights included presents and a stocking from Santa, a walk up at Long Sault Conservation Area (which was a very long 5km in the snow for the kids... they almost didn't make it), skating, a night with Hugh Pops and Michelle (for me and Steve), swimming at the new-ish rec centre in Oshawa, a browse at Best Buy (so much tech!), lots of board games, playing on the Wii, puzzle time, and the incredible meals we shared with family, both on Christmas Day and New Year's day (hello appelflappen and oliebollen!). We get so spoiled when we go to Bowmanville.
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| showing off their new drones to Justin |
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| NYE platter - great food, great company! |
We were hoping to come back from our week away to a more finished house, but no luck there. People were on vacation and/or sick (or I forget what the reason was); painters came the following week and since then we haven't seen too much progress inside BUT have do a foundation! We could not believe the amount of dirt that was carted away to make room for the addition's concrete footings. I'll add that they found a wooden cistern back there and while they were breaking that up, the sewer connection was crushed (on Friday afternoon), so we had emergency crews here all day the following day. While they were at it they cleaned out the clay pipe that connects to the main at the street; it was full of tree roots so there was lots of noise and digging and clearing out.
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| playing Mille Bornes (with wrestle breaks) |
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| Hendrik's team won their first OVA tournament - it was amazing to watch them play! Great group of kids and coaches too! |
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| new fave game - Throw throw burrito |
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| skating at Victoria Park with friends - so fun! |
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| playing (and getting along!!!!!!) Monopoly |
Activities are in full swing once again. All three kids are doing swimming lessons, Hendrik has club volleyball (and is loving it), school basketball (their team isn't very strong but they're all working hard), and he starts indoor baseball soon - that alone sounds like enough for us all! Alana is also doing soccer, and because Jordan refused to participate in his city-run soccer program, swimming is his only organized activity, which is fine (of course). We're getting out to go skating and skiing too, and I'm playing women's league volleyball still - fun. Steve has hockey on Sunday mornings and is helping out at McMaster still, so we're keeping busy I'd say. We're thankful for the help we get from family and friends to make it all work. Here are a few more photos of what's been finished so far at the house. I definitely need to do the side-by-side before and after, even though we're not quite at the "after" yet. Can you believe it's almost February! I can't!!
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| window to go in above the sink! SO much more space in this kitchen than before. |
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| looooove this bathroom... |
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| stairs went up the other way behind a full wall here - it's great having it more open and not quite so steep! |
