December: Back in the house!

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!

Halloween & House updates

I called my parents this afternoon and was surprised to see them in semi-darkness amid the November gloom that had settled on Thetis Island. I shouldn't have been surprised, because that's what November can be like in BC! We have had such lovely weather here that it was a bit of a surprise. I was in a t-shirt on the porch and the sun was warm warm warm... it was amazing! I rode my bike to work twice this past week, and Steve and I both find ourselves thinking that each beautiful day will likely be the last really nice fall day before it starts getting cold. A neighbour was telling me that it's going to snow next week so one of these warm days really will be the last one!

We are in the home stretch of life at the rental house, and things are moving along at home. Flooring was going in this week, there were some kitchen cabinets in, and the bathroom upstairs is being tiled; we picked out baseboards this morning and are finalizing the countertops tomorrow - things are happening! The only thing that is not happening (yet) is the addition. It has long been demolished, but nothing has happened with it's reconstruction, unfortunately. I think that the focus is getting us back in the house, and with limited time to do that, all efforts and attention are focused on getting everything ready to have us move in by/before December 1st. I can't believe it's almost DECEMBER! Sheesh. Here are some photos of recent progress:

No more kitchen door!

It's like it was never there! Same kitchen door spot.

upstairs bathroom progress

kitchen cabinets are going in!

We are in full swing of school and fall activities, and the weekdays (especially) are busy. Hendrik is playing volleyball for his school team and has been having a good time. I'm coaching the girl's team at my school and it's also been fun - the girls have improved so much AND we won our very first game last week!! Incredible. Hendrik's also playing club volleyball (which means two evening practices a week), and Alana does soccer on Thursday nights with some of her friends, with me as her coach. She's also doing Sunday morning volleyball with me and that's been fun too! Jordan tags along to some of the activities and pals around with other siblings, some of which he's become friends with. I'm hoping I don't miss the next swimming sign-up so he can get going with something (and by that time school volleyball will be over!). Steve is still trying to fit in some trips to Hamilton to help out at McMaster, but with all of the kid's sports it has definitely been a challenge. Work has been good for me, though with the CUPE strike here in Ontario I'm hoping that they can negotiate a fair deal so that we can get back to school and the regular routine on the double. Teachers were encouraged to work from home today and the kids were home, so it felt a bit like the mid-pandemic online learning model... I'd rather be in-person! And so would they, I think. School is going well for all of the kids too; they like their teachers and their classes and are generally happy to go to school (though Hendrik might say otherwise).

Halloween 2022 was another smashing success. Despite the rain, everyone trick or treated for a few hours (Jordan didn't last quite that long) and came home with more candy than anyone could eat. I always love seeing the kids dump out their bags and ogle over the variety, volume and, of course, the full-sized bars. It rained on Halloween, which meant an earlier return home which was perfect for a Monday night. Tuesday wasn't as much of a struggle as I thought it would be, but that's probably because of the earlier night (phew!). 

That's all I've got for now. Happy November!

September / October (already!)

It's October - yikes! That first month of school went by quickly even though every day felt like a long distance challenge. Getting back into real life / non-holiday shape has been difficult, but good; the kids are happy with their classes and teachers (they're in grades 7, 5 and 1), the rental house is working out for us (there's a nice back yard, the kids have their own rooms, and it's only 2 1/2 blocks from our house), and teaching has been going relatively smoothly. I didn't do any work (for school) this summer so I'm playing catch up with all of the many things required of teachers. I'm doing the same job (teaching Core French - I'm the French teacher at an English public school) at the same school, and I love it. That said, I love my weekends more! They've been full too, as fall activities are in full swing. Hendrik hurt his knee a few weeks ago, so started fall ball hockey late (today), he has a few baseball tryouts in the next couple of weeks, and he's playing club volleyball... it's starting! Alana is doing house league basketball and volleyball, and will start indoor soccer later this month. Jordan is signed up for nothing, because he's the third child. JUST kidding! He isn't signed up for anything because I missed the swimming sign-up by six hours (guilt - I forgot) and all of the lessons were full - frustrating. He's on a few wait lists and enjoyed a fall baseball clinic, though unfortunately they had to cancel two of the three sessions because of bad weather. Hopefully the weather will stay warm-ish for a few more weeks and he'll get to keep using the badminton equipment in the back yard. There's a mom and her son (from Quebec) living in the downstairs unit at the house, and Lambert (the boy) has been getting our kids out to play badminton, so that's been fun for everyone. They are very nice, and our kids have been more motivated to use some of their French and learn more. This, of course, makes their French teacher mom happy! Jordan's favourite thing to see is "Bonne nuit Lambert!" even when it's the middle of the day. ❤❤

We spent last weekend in Bowmanville to celebrate a special birthday, and it was great to get together with family from near and far. We also celebrated Alana's birthday here earlier in the month, and managed to squeeze in a birthday party at the rental house complete with a scavenger hunt (with clues), pizza, and cake (of course!). It's so nice to be back to a more normal life after a few years of COVID restrictions - hosting small gatherings, going mask-less in public, and participating in sports and indoor activities. Women's league volleyball is up and running again, so after a two-year hiatus (or more/longer?) our team is playing on Monday nights again. I was playing basketball throughout the spring and summer but it doesn't work with the kids' activities this fall so I'm switching back over to my other favourite sport. I'll get some photos posted here before I get distracted by laundry and don't post anything! 

Hendrik told me that these would be worth $1 million one day - !!!

getting along because of pillow-hats - I approve

reading Archies!

There's a bigger, taller doorway into the kitchen in the new and improved structural wall 👍 

everyone is THRILLED for the first day of school!***

hanging out at the August rental - the tree in the front yard was the best part!

birthday party fun :)

***And by the way, the first day of school did start off in a more-exciting-than-usual way; parents of good friends of ours hosted us the night before the first day since we didn't get our rental until the afternoon of the first day of school. They were the best hosts, making crepes for the kids and their grandkids - so everyone started the day with friends and a special breakfast... it was amazing!

Summer fun!

How did all of July go by without me sneaking in a blog? The days are long, and at the end of those long days I'm all out of brain power to sit down and write something that makes sense, that's how! Here we are in the third week of August with summer coming to a close, and I have lots of things to fill you in on. Here goes... 

House renos are underway! We continue to be amazed by the fact that it's finally happening, and even though we're two weeks in, there have been big changes. The main floor is gutted and the addition is down - and with these two big first steps there have been no major surprises or speed bumps (even with four layers of flooring in some places - !!). Without the addition in the back the yard seems enormous, though the plan is to replace what was there with a sound structural space complete with bathroom, laundry room and family room (with a big back yard view); no more tippy room! The addition that was taken off had no foundation save for a few above ground beams. While this big big job is being tackled we're staying at a few rental places in the neighourhood, and rental numbero uno is working out for the most part (so far). We're living in a two-bedroom ground floor unit of a house across the street from the kids' school, so it's close to our place and walkable to what we're used to. Next up we're headed to the cottage and Bowmanville before moving into our September and October place. Hopefully we can be back in the house by early November! I'll try to do a better job of blogging to post photos and updates of the house.

BC-Alberta Trip 
After another year with minimal travel, we made our way out west to visit both sides of the family, and it was the highlight of the summer for sure! We flew to Calgary (no delays/hiccups) and after a long day of travel rolled into Fernie where we were greeted by cousin Anouk on the front lawn of my sister's family's house. After three years of no visits, it was great to see everyone, and meet their youngest daughter Simone. The highlight of the Fernie leg of the trip may have been our incredible hike to Bisaro cave - this was not a hike for the faint of heart! There were ladders and bridges and a few switchbacks that required steady eyes and feet, but with a good adult to kid ratio and some priming (safety, listening to the adults in charge, etc.) we felt comfortable that the kids were good to go. The views on the way up were so so beautiful, and the cave and cave explore at the end were memorable to say the least! The big kids and Steve explored into the cave with Sarah and her friend Duncan, and experienced the complete darkness of one of BCs biggest known caves (but with headlamps). We also went for a river float, Steve and Hendrik went whitewater rafting (which sounded incredible - there was cliff jumping and a sandwich that has not yet been replicated), Sarah and I went mountain biking and trail running, we visited Island Lake Lodge, ate many fabulous meals outside, and I dreamed of future summer and winter visits. I did make a few notes on all of the wonderful things we did there, so I'll post a photo - this is more for me than it is for you (I think - I'm not sure you'll be able to decipher my scrawl!).

The Calgary leg of our trip was also fabulous, and the kids loved spending time with their cousins! We went downhill karting (this might have been the highlight), watched movies, went for walks in the woods behind their house, went to the zoo, ate more amazing meals, had a campfire, went to splash pads and playgrounds, and chilled and spent time together - so good! Steve and Hendrik left a few days before the rest of us to get home for some baseball games, and we joined and hit the ground running with summer sports and activities. I also coached a volleyball camp and had a great time being in the gym with friends and a great group of athletes.

Other summer notables - in brief - are a few great visits to the cottage, lots of baseball, a beach day at Port Burwell, soccer (for Alana), and time with friends and at playgrounds around town. Hendrik's baseball team is still going; they're competing in the London and area finals tournament this weekend and are undefeated going into their third game. Hendrik pitched three inning yesterday morning and did a great job! I was at Alana's final soccer tournament, so missed out - but I got to see her team through to the end of a fun season. Alana and Jordan both spent a good amount of time on the diamond too, and they both enjoyed their seasons and seem ready for more! With summer wrapping up soon we'll head to the cottage one more time, and hopefully get some rest and relaxation (and a bit of prep and planning) in before school starts again. Summer always seems to go so quickly, but when you think back about everything we've been able to do it does seem significant. I'm so thankful we get to spend summers with our kids! Hope you enjoy the photos and I'll try to get another one posted before we are back in the classroom.