cottage and city summer living

There is so much going on! And there was so much going on the week before last - in a good and chill-out way - at the cottage during our first visit of the summer. The kids LOVE it there, and told us several times. From dawn until dusk they are occupied and having fun and there are no complaints of boredom and no requests for technology. And the best part is - they fight less and get along MORE! They live in their bathing suits and spend most of their time at the water, swimming, fishing, and canoeing, reluctantly coming up to the cottage for meals and snacks. Memorable moments from our trip include Jordan's bellyflop "dives" off the dock (he would NOT jump feet-first even though he nodded "okay!" when we explained how we wanted him to jump), a Jordan, Mom and Hendrik canoe trip up the rapids to an island where we swam and planned more island trips, Alana's newfound love of fishing, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, Steve's lunker catch, playing "tip the untippable" with Hendrik (we try to tip each other off of an air mattress) and... there's more I'm sure. We played games, watched a few movies, and had some five-star meals, and we can't wait to get back. Planning this summer has been difficult - mostly because of the new house, and I'm glad we didn't book too much too early because as it turns out, we get our next house NEXT FRIDAY! I still can't believe we are moving (a block away). Anyways, it's been a plan-as-you-go affair (something I'm not used to with all of this time), and it looks like we'll go camping for a few nights next week, then spend the next few getting our new place move-in ready, or as move-in ready as possible. This means stripping wallpaper (that's been there for 60+ years so this may not be so straight forward) and hopefully replacing carpet, but the first order of business is finding a contractor (and packing). Bah! At least we have a sizeable window to do work and move, so hopefully we'll be able to get things done and transition smoothly to our new place.

We've been keeping busy with little day trips here and there, mostly in town and close by. We went to East Park for the first time last week, and the kids loved it - Jordan and I hung out by the splash pad for most of the day while the bigs enjoyed the waterslides and wave pool; we could have stayed all day! We went blueberry picking in Mount Brydges (at the Olde Drive Blueberry Farm) yesterday afternoon and then hit the park in Ilderton on our out-of-the-way home. We picked up a pizza from For Pizza's Sake (it was delicious) and picnicked in between skate park (with scooters) and splash pad visits... fun fun fun. This is one of Hendrik and Alana's newest favourite things - going to skate bowls with their scooters, and as long as there aren't any big kids or hard core skaters/scooters, it's fun and safe and entertaining for all.

What else what else... I have a heart monitor for two weeks right now (a Cardiostat - it's tiny!), so after the results get processed I should know more about how my heart is recovering / has recovered from the ablation, and what the next steps are. It sounds like I might have to have another procedure, but we'll have to wait and see what the docs say in the early fall. Steve's foot has fully recovered, and he's in throes of the last week of baseball, so is out at batting practice with Hendrik a few times this week before the playoffs this weekend. Alana is still loving soccer, and it's so fun to see her out there. And Jordan starts preschool this fall - so that will be a big change for everyone (I can't believe he's three!). The only constant in life is change, right? We have lots coming our way, but we're doing it together... lucky us!

as Alana's pet rat, in his home :) 

just before her last baseball

with a teammate :)

our trio on the 5 foot long space puzzle

summer fun so far

School's out for summer!! And we've had an amazing first week. It feels like I will be going back to something soon (work), like it's just a long weekend... but it's not! YAY! The kids are finished school (Hendrik just finished grade 3, Alana finished grade 1) and I'm finished work, and everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the first week of summer holidays. It's actually been kind of busy with errand-y things - doctor's and dentist appointments, some coaching, and meeting with electricians and pool maintenance people at the new house (we take possession mid-August but the owner is being very kind and accommodating) - but we have balanced it out with some solid summer activities. Highlights include swimming at Thames pool, spending Canada day out in Komoka (where we watched the parade and then hit the splash pad), and today's trip to Pinafore Park in St Thomas, where the kids played and splashed for FOUR hours... I had to convince them to hit the road (the sun was HOT today, 39 degrees with the humidex). Our summer plans are still a work in progress, and I'll chalk it up to moving house (I still need to get a good picture of our new place - and post it!); it's been difficult to plan. I am hoping that we get out to BC (if not now then at Thanksgiving), and I am also hopeful that I'll be able to scoot down to Denver to visit my sister and her hubby and their new baby (when she comes - any day now). The kids have been so happy to have the balance of out of the house activity and in the house blob (TV), and we are so far so good on a balance that is mutually agreeable / satisfactory to all.

Updates! I could do a family post but I don't have much more brainpower sooooo I won't. I celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago now (time is flying), and it was great to feel the love from everyone! My last few weeks of work were busy with straightening out the library and making sure records matched up, books were in their homes etc. etc., AND it was so nice to feel the love from the kids in our last assembly. Steve has been through the ringer with a recent bacterial infection in his toe. He had to go to Emerg, and was sent home with an IV to self-administer antibiotics for a few days; thank GOODness his toe/foot responded... it was ugly. They're not sure what it was but we were on high alert as our neighbour was hospitalized with a Strep A infection in her leg and was close to losing it - !! So very shocking. He recovered just in time for an annual golf trip (GTA - local) with his friends, and is away for a few nights with buddies. AND! We celebrated 10 years of marriage yesterday! That warrants a post on its own, no? I'll throw in a few pictures - we went out for sushi and the kids didn't eat much (Hendrik did, Jordan and Alana didn't - though J ate lotus root...!?). There's more, but it's late and I need to shut down. More soon... for real!

yay, 10 years!!

our audience

a few pics from july 4, 2009

this afternoon 

with the crew at Thames pool - snacktime!

saving the best pic for last here - look at the POSE!

mid-June update

Again, I've left this way too long! The blogging. It's been on my list for at least a week - and I really thought I was going to get to it last week buuuuuuut I didn't. The days are so so full and the kids don't fall asleep until way too late most nights because we're out and about and busy all day (which for some inexplicable reason does NOT help them fall sleep any earlier). So anyways! Here it is. First - happy father's day to the fathers!!! I am so thankful for my dad and all that he did and continues to do for our family (I think about you all the time Dad), incredibly thankful for my husband's father for all he continues to do for his/our family and of course to Steve - !! None of this I can only blog once a month business would be possible without him. He's such a great father to our kids - and we all love him like crazy. I could go on, of course, but I won't.

Another thing we loved like crazy? Our solo trip to Palm Springs last weekend - !! On account of our 10th wedding anniversary coming up (and my birthday this week), we decided to jump the family ship for a few days and enjoy some sun and free time and friend time and afternoon margaritas and NO COOKING. Steve golfed and I hung out with Shanti and another Heather and we swam and explored a bit and just chilled... it was incredible. We arrived in Toronto late Sunday night and I made for London while Steve's dad picked him up to rendez-vous with the kids for a Monday afternoon drive home. It really was great to see them after work, and now it's like we were never gone! We spent lots of time outside today - a trip to Heeman's for strawberries, afternoon baseball at the park, and then basketball in the driveway after dinner. I was on my way to Costco this afternoon when I spotted a decent looking basketball hoop lying curb-side ("How close to the curb exactly?" Steve wanted to know), so I whipped a u-turn, parked in a friend's driveway and proceeded to awkwardly roll the heavy thing a few blocks home. What a hit! The kids fought over basketballs for at least 20 minutes before the two younger ones decided on back yard trampoline volleyball with mom. (This involves kids on the trampoline vs adult on the ground - we have much more ground to cover. The best part about trampoline volleyball is Hendrik and Alana's handshake - I think it's on film somewhere and it shows them getting along and having fun together... the best!)

Other big news - we are moving! We bought a house a block away from ours and sold this one while we were in Palm Springs. This home that we're moving into in mid-August is twice the size of ours, and the lot is twice as big too. It's old (built in 1904), has a huge wraparound porch, high ceilings, and original finishes (like the dishwasher - there isn't one!). I have been so emotional about selling and moving, mostly because of our neighbours - I don't want to leave them! Sandra and Bruce and Liz are as close to in-town family as we have, and we love them and the kids love them. When I explain this to people they confirm that we are only moving a block away and really, that's the saving grace. We're still so close! Phew. And we'll have a pool so hopefully they'll want to come over. A pool! I have so much more to write about this (how we got this house - it never would have happened if it had hit the market), how I really feel about the pool, what is on our to-do list, and much more. However, it's getting late and I need to get ready for a busy Monday SO... hopefully I'll get to it before the middle of July. Happy summer everyone, it's almost here!

finally... a post!

How long until a good night's sleep is a given? These days the days are long, the nights are short and the years are short - time is flying! And on that note, I can't believe that Jordan is three - ! We celebrated his birthday last week with a mini party here at home (he invited some of Alana and Hendrik's friends as well as Liz and Kira, our most favourite babysitter). There was cake (Paw Patrol!), there were presents, and there was much wildness as kids ate candy, opened presents and inhaled cake. He loved his gifts, and sleeps with his new stuffies (two Paw Patrollers and a super soft new doggy)... yay. I also can't believe that it's almost June - before we know it we will be shocked into actually planning our summer, I'll have to quit my job (I'm back as the school librarian at my old job), and we might even have a new house. We've been looking for a few years, and recently made more serious plans to either do a reno here (to give everyone their own room) or find a new place. The market has been so competitive - people are paying over asking (sometimes way over asking) with no conditions, which means that we would not be in the running for a nice house in a nice neighbourhood. I don't want to say too much in case it doesn't work out, but a private sale is in the works - stay tuned for more info (you know, in a month or so since I never post anymore!).

Days are just so busy and full that by the time the kids are quiet and settled at night I am so over doing anything beyond the immediate and requisite must-dos (laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, showering etc.). BUT! It's been so long and we have so much going on I knew I had to sneak in a post this weekend. Hendrik played in a ball hockey tournament last weekend and had a great time. There weren't enough kids in his age group so he played up a level and totally held his own, making mom and dad proud. The rest of the family was happy to be outside as it was actually sunny and warm for once (I had to dig out shorts and t-shirts and put away winter coats on the same day). Jordan joined me and Alana at her first t-ball practice of the year, where Jordan was an honourary team member... it was adorable. The weekend before was mother's day and everyone showed me their love and appreciation; the kids were shocked that I enjoyed this day even more than my birthday (true)! Steve got up with the kids, Hendrik took my breakfast order while I was still in bed - and prepared it all, and hm, I forget what we did all day but I didn't plan or make any meals and it was amazing. The kids may have even slept all night the night before or night of, which was also incredible. What is the deal with kids waking up at night? Parent torture!

I'm sure I could write more, but I'm going to get this up and then make a list (maybe) of everything I forgot to write about. Here are some pics - fingers crossed more good weather is on its way!

fun after baseball

a break between ball hockey games

soccer started this week... finally!

QC trip

la famille minus a few who couldn't attend 

Oh my - we are going on almost a month since my last post! Much has happened since April 12, and I’ll get right to it. The most noteworthy event of the past few weeks was our road trip to Quebec City. My sister got married last Easter at a small backcountry ski lodge (post here), and since most of her husband’s family wasn’t able to attend, his parents wanted to host a one-year-later gathering chez eux in Quebec City… so that’s what they did! We weren’t sure if we would be able to attend (because of the surgery), but it all worked out. We put in a few long days in the car, but the kids were as good as gold! They watched movies, played on the ipads, read books and busied themselves with the road trip binders we put together. Each kiddie had a themed activity sheet section (Harry Potter, Junie B Jones and Paw Patrol), some workbooks (I found some great deals at the Goodwill bookstore), a road trip Bingo (created by Steve), colouring pages, blank paper AND new markers. These binders were amazing! It took a bit of time to put them together but the kids loved them and spent a good amount of time exploring, doing and creating.

road trip binders were a huge hit

The three days we spent in Quebec City were incredible. It was so great to see my sisters, spend time with Gabriel’s lovely family, and see some of old Quebec. The kids LOVED meeting their new cousin Anouk (as did the rest of us), and Jordan and Alana were keen to get in as much cuddle time with her as possible. I was also able to see a friend, speak some French (yay), and we were spoiled with great food. It was lovely! We carried on to Ottawa/Gatineau where we spent three days with some good friends, and we balanced busy days with chill-out days before making the long trek back home. The kids were great in the car, and now we’re able to think about planning longer road trips… hurray.

Jordan (almost 3), Alana (6) and Anouk (4 months)

in Vieux Quebec

starting to look BIG!

we swam in this beautiful pool in a converted church - !!

In other news, I’m back to work! I started on Wednesday and it’s been like riding a bike. It’s so nice to be back with the staff and students, and I know I’ll enjoy the next two months - even though it will be busy busy (and challenging at times) with the work-life balance. Spring is here - and the leaves are almost out on the trees! We’ve been spending so much time outside, and the weather will only get better. This, I suppose, is one of the benefits of a longer winter… spring feels that much better!

getting competitive (no surprise there) on bikes at the Museum of Science and Technology

bedtime stories with friends

comfy on the way home 

surgery updates

Where to start with this past week? It's been a whirlwind. Surgery was last Tuesday morning, and the plan was to go in and get the arrhythmias ablated - and it all went as planned. Steve's parents came on Monday, which allowed us to be at the hospital at 7:00 to prep for the 8:00 procedure. Several nurses and doctors briefed me on the ins and outs of the procedure (pun intended), and I was given an IV (or two?) before walking into the tech-heavy operating room. There was a massive screen, several big white machines, and lots of instruments - mostly bagged up and hanging out. One of the nurses put a few (3?) extra large stickers on my back, covering it in its entirety. EKG leads were attached (more stickers) and after I lay down, another sticker was plastered over my forehead - to monitor the anaesthetic, I think. I breathed into the mask and then before I knew it I was coming out of the most incredible sleep I have ever had... it was aaaamazing. I savoured the feeling (you know the one?) and then opened my eyes slowly slowly... and, of course, realized why my sleep had been so golden. I felt very lucky to avoid any and all ill-effects of the anaesthetic, but couldn't escape the discomfort of the sheaths (at the tops of my legs) that stayed in for a few hours post-op. I had to stay relatively still in bed for a few hours, and then had the things removed - they were so long! And from this point on things just got better; nurses kept an eye on my vitals, Steve came for a visit, I ate something, and watched several episodes of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel (which came highly recommended by one of our neighbors and I love it!). There was a brief visit by one of the cardiologists, and a more thorough discussion followed the following morning. The ablations were, for the most part, successful, though the shape of my heart made things a bit more challenging than expected. I'm to take it easy for the 2 weeks following the procedure, and will check in with the cardiologists 3 months post-op.

It was so incredibly helpful having Steve's parents here all week, and the three other adults in the house did a great job reminding me to lie down and take it easy. Plus - the meals! I didn't think about cooking or jobs for a week and that was a vacation in and of itself. My family was a great support too, and I know that my parents and sisters were with me in spirit, as geographical challenges made it impossible to be there in person. Friends dropped of flowers and chocolates, and all of the texts/messages/emails reminded me that there is a little village here that is ready to help when needed (yay). This makes me think of a social capital cartoon I came across the other day (related - I think?); see for yourself (it's about borrowing sugar / asking for help from your neighbors and community). We live in a great community, and I really value the relationships with our neighbours and friends!

As always, I'm sure there's more to write about, but I'm going to get this posted and hopefully get another update in soon. I only have one more week of practicum (I started early and took last week off), then a few weeks of freedom before starting back at the library. I'm feeling good, and am so thankful that we live in a place that allowed me to have this procedure done when it mattered, that I have a crew of loving and supportive people in my life (near and far), and that I understand (I think) the importance and value of appreciating every day with my loved ones. Peace and love - and happy Friday!

End of March Spring post

Spring is officially here and the weather is getting warmer and it is AMAZING! We spent a good part of the weekend outside, and the kids love having their bikes and seeing friends and not being cold. We had a busy weekend - but most of it was sort of spontaneous and unplanned (which I love). Hendrik started outdoor ball hockey this week so had a game on Saturday morning; Alana had gymnastics and then went to a birthday party, and theeeeen we went to an open house in Delaware, a small town 10 minutes outside of London. The property was beautiful - there was a huge back yard and a pool (gated) but the house didn't have 4 bedrooms on the same floor and felt a bit small (I'm not sure what the square footage was). We walked down the street to the school, spent a good hour playing at the playground, and then checked out a skateboard park before stopping in at the local grocery store for some take-and-bake dinner (chicken pie and green beans). We' outgrew our house a while ago, and we need to do something about it soon; it'll either be a reno here (to add another bedroom and bathroom upstairs, a mudroom on the main floor, and extend the basement) or a move who-knows-where. And we're torn! We don't know what to do, but hope the answer will come to us (soon).

And then today we went out to Fort Rose Maple Company's sugar bush in Parkhill, and let me tell you the 45 minute wait for as many pancakes, sausages, ham slices, muffins, fruit, coffee, orange drink, and maple syrup as we could eat was well worth the wait. We explored the barn, ogled at the cows and pigs, and took a ride out to the woods to learn about how they "make" maple syrup. It was such a beautiful day, and everyone was happy (and no fighting!). We made it to the gas station with 0km left on our odometer and 2 1/2 litres of gas in the tank - man, do we live on the edge or what. I opted out of the planned Costco shop after seeing the swarming carts and cars and people (UGH)... I'll go tomorrow. We did check out a pretty fantastic toy store (Hobby & Toy) before heading back to our hood for a bike ride playdate for Alana and some new-toy-testing for Hendrik (he purchased a magnet and Alana picked up another Beanie Boo stuffy).

Gramma and Gramps were here for some of the weekend as they came down for the kids' Thursday performance of "How does your Garden Groove?" - a musical extravaganza full of garden and plant puns. Hendrik and one of his classmates has the lead roles of Freddie Farmer and Frannie Farmer, and he knocked it out of the park! Alana very happily sang all of her songs and executed some innncredible dance moves - check it out!

Up next - I have my pre-op tomorrow and then get back into my second week of practicum #2 at a local school with a grade 7 class. It's definitely different not having to operate in French all day every day, so that makes things a bit easier, plus it's only 5 blocks away (which is amazing). More on that later, but for now I'll join the kids and watch some before-bed Shaun the Sheep. Until next time!

It's March - !!

Is it spring where you live? It must have been a few years ago now, but I think I was in Vancouver in March and there were flowers everywhere and leaves on the trees - and then it's back to snowy, grey Ontario... bleh! Well, not bleh - it's just still winter here. We went skating this morning and it was SO nice! We are usually met with hurled complaints and whining when we announce that we are doing anything on a weekend before lunchtime ("but waaah mehhhhh I don't want to go!") but there was no pushback to our announcement (not suggestion) that we were going skating in Victoria Park. Was it because I made waffles for breakfast? (These waffles are THE BEST - made with yeast, "Goodnight waffles") Or because they had 45 minutes to get ready? Who knows, but it was even easy getting out of the house - everyone put their stuff on and got in the car - !!! This alone is a miracle. So we skated for at least an hour (Hendrik and Alana are fine on their own but Jordan is still reluctant to get on / stand up / move on the ice - which is fine!) The little spent most of the skate on the bench where we could see him while we skated around in laps, taking turns to check in on him.

I mentioned something about heart happenings in my last post, and I thought I'd offer an update and background info. I had a loop monitor for a few weeks last month, where I was required to push a button (to tell the machine to record my the electrical activity of my heart) whenever I felt symptoms. I submitted four recordings - some were obvious (I felt dizzy/light-headed, and once my vision was kind of weird), but others not really; sometimes I'd just have a bit of a weird feeling - but never once did I feel an abnormal heart rate. I returned the loop monitor in the morning, was called in the afternoon, and was in the cardiologist's office the next morning; one of the readings showed a heart rate of 220 for 30 seconds - ! The EKG waves showed that I was in atrial flutter when this happened, and I was told I needed an ablation (surgery - I like how the info is presented on this site) within a few weeks... yikes. I asked as many questions as I could, but went back in for a second appointment to have a few more answered, mostly centred around the fact that there is a history of arrhythmia in my family. And to the cardiologist's surprise I was in a different kind of irregular rhythm - this time atrial fibrillation. So instead of having surgery next Friday I'm booked in for early April to have the atrial flutter and atrial fib ablated at the same time. The procedure is 3-4 hours, and then they keep me for a few hours before sending me home. I'm hoping to find some peace and quiet when the kids are at school, but otherwise, it may be a bit challenging. No heavy lifting, so I'll have to pass on carting Jordan around. So that's the big news! From me at least. 

love this photo!

Jordan's big news is that he's in a big boy bed now (did I write about this already?); Hendrik has a central role in a play that is happening at school in a few weeks, and we are all excited for March break (coming up in a week or so). We'll spend some time here, some time in Bville - and Steve and I will hopefully some time with our respective teams, both of which have made it to the OUA Final Four (I coach part-time with Western and Steve does the same with McMaster). I'll leave you with some photos and hopefully it won't be too long before I'm posting again.

brothers :)

wearing red for spirit day

playing school - alana (in heels) is the principal, hendrik is working the intercom, E is driving his Lamborghini, and I'm not sure what the little is doing... chaos!