Feels like summer!

Whoops, I missed April! As per usual, there has been lots going on, and blogging has been on my to-do list for a while. Maybe I need a three-day weekend to get around to things like this? It's a beautiful day here, and will be hot like summer this afternoon (29 degrees!) despite the mid-May date. The pool is open and there isn't much planned until later - I'll definitely do my best to enjoy the slower pace of today. 

Alana, Mia and Eva at Provincials

we went by our old place in Gatineau - the kids used to jump off this rock when we lived there. 

Volleyball is all wrapped up, and we are full swing into the summer sports. Hendrik's vball team finished out their provincials (early April at RIM park in Waterloo) with a tough loss in the first round on playoff day; the team they lost to went on to win it all. It was a tough way to finish the season after winning several tournaments and starting provincials with a #1 ranking, but I think most people were able to see the big picture for what it was - a successful season! Alana's team's provincials were in Ottawa three weeks later, and Steve and I were lucky to have her all to ourselves for the weekend; the boys missed a few days of school and stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in Bowmanville. It was our first provincials experience, and the three-day tournament made for some long days! We stayed right downtown, and walked up to Parliament Hill one day, went for a team breakfast another, spent lots of time by the pool, and played a LOT of volleyball. It was a great first experience and hopefully we'll make it back next year.

Hendrik's team - looking so official. Go #12!

We had our year-end party at the beach volleyball courts yesterday (which was fun but hot - Alana was not into it at all), and a few parents asked me if things were less busy now that volleyball was over. Truth be told, there was a week or two in early April where we were in between extra-curricular sports seasons... but that's over! All three kids are playing baseball (Steve is helping coach Jordan's team), Alana is playing soccer (I'm coaching), and Hendrik is umping. It's bananas! I'm holding on to my Tuesday night basketball as hard as I can - I want ONE night! We'll see how that goes as both Alana and Jordan play on Tuesdays, and Hendrik usually umps those days too. Maybe when school is over it will feel less hectic? We have 27 days left, and I am in full countdown mode (probably more than Hendrik is). This year has been tough, and there are days when I question why I want to do the same thing next year. Core French it is for me! I teach mostly grade 7 and 8 but will likely have a few grade 4 and 5 classes next year too. 

how cute are they?!!

And the big news of the weekend is that we have an 8-year old in the house! We celebrated Jordan's birthday this weekend with a pool party, presents, cake and cupcakes and lots of fun and smiles. He's still into Minecraft and Lego, loves reading and chickens (the surprise #1 present from his friend Tommy was a mini stuffed chicken - named Tristan for some reason), baseball and swimming. Here's a pic of the birthday boy on his big day along with some Q&A:

happy birthday!

best friend(s) : Ben and Sam
favourite show : not sure
favourite movie : "I don't know either"
favourite meal / thing to do : stromboli, waffles
favourite sport : baseball and hockey
fave song / band : "I don't know"
favourite animal : chick and chicken
favourite video game : Minecraft & Clone drone in the danger zone
what else can you say about yourself? : that I'm 8, "that you love me" (love!!)

I think he's had the same cake before!

presents outside - there was a lot of Lego! And a chick... :)

scavenger hunt (set up by H and A) for loot-bag candy!

bday party cupcake-cake - more Minecraft

It is already beautiful out, so I'm going to get myself outside - the garden needs attention and I'm meeting up with a friend to go for a walk... yay for long weekends!