Another birthday...

 From one birthday post to the next! I think this is a first - a new low (but likely not as low and it can go) in terms of blogging frequency. Oh well! Life is pretty saturated around here, and while I'm usually hopeful about having some time in the evenings to get something done (other than laundry, clean-up etc.), time and energy are in short supply after we finally get the kids to bed (and sleep). Lots has happened in the last few weeks: the kids finished school (Hendrik moves on to grade 5, Alana moves on to grade 3, and Jordan will likely start kindergarten in the fall - !), I had a birthday, my teacher certification was processed and granted (I'm officially a teacher - yay!), and... I'm sure there's more. The kids are happy to be done with the online learning, though they were pretty good about buying in and doing most of their work every day. I'm so curious about the fall - what will school look like? We're considering sending Jordan back to Grosvenor Nursery School for the JK program; it wouldn't be too different from what he was doing before schools closed in March. The class will be much smaller, it's mornings-only, and it's familiar - lots of appeal. What will not be familiar at all (or might it?) is my work situation for the fall. I'm applying to some jobs and will hopefully have some interviews lined up for next week. Fingers crossed I get the job I want! There are a few that are close to home and fairly ideal for a first teaching job, but there is so much that is out of my control. What I do know is that I need to prep for interviews; I have notes and ideas, but the immersion conversations will be pretty different from the core french conversations. We'll see what happens!

I had a great birthday, though it's a bit of a blur. Bob and Marg came down for the weekend and the kids were beyond excited to see them - we should have taken a vid of the arrival scene! Jordan was jumping up and down with excitement, squealing through an ear-to-ear smile. Here in Ontario we're being encouraged to "bubble" in groups of 10, with physical contact and indoor shared spaced limited to that group. Grandma and Gramps and Liz are in our bubble, and we're doing our best to stick to it! Anyways, back to my birthday; I got together for some physically distanced drinks with friends the Sunday and then the Thursday before my birthday, and was spoiled with gifts - flowers, champagne, wine... and then there was more. It was a bit of a boozy birthday, because Steve followed through on my one request - materials for gin and tonics (he doesn't like them!). I have yet to make one, but today might be the day. It's beautiful out and the kids - while calm and quiet right now (thanks TV) - definitely got on my nerves this morning. My one birthday request from the kids was that they did their best to get along and limit the whining/complaining, and if my memory serves me right they followed through too! I went for an early run (on my birthday - and this morning too!) and enjoyed an early morning swim before being treated with homemade donuts... yum. Marg and I went to my favourite thrift store, and then we spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool (with sangria). Dinner was family-favourite burgers, and Sandra and Bruce and Liz came over for cake. Sandra put on quite the performance of a happy birthday song that was so heartfelt and hilarious at the same time (someone filmed it - who!?) that it brought tears to my eyes. I am so so thankful that we were able to stay in the neighbourhood and still see our amazing Grosvenor family.

The pool has been incredible! We are using it so so much, and we're also able to have the kids' friends over to swim, so they're getting a bit more social time than they otherwise would have had. And even though things have opened up a bit (some summer camps are running), we still haven't planned much. We'll go to the cottage and try for some day trips from here, but for the most part, we'll spend summer at home. It's a slower pace of life that won't last forever, so I'm hoping we can enjoy it to the max - we're so thankful for all that we have here!

climbing the walls :)

I'm still sewing - headbands and facemasks :)

birthday cake and company

no haircuts for this guy!

we fulfilled a dream of playing tennis and then eating deep fried pickles (takeout)... so good! 

early morning shuteye

this one LOVES staying in his jammies (love!)

celebrating sunshine and a birthday!

enjoying the pool today

our outdoor setup... Steve has been working hard!

We are in the middle of a heat wave! After a drawn out dreary spring (after a long enough winter) we are enjoying warm weather. The pool has been very well used over the past few days, and we are so thankful to be here in this amazing house, using all of its spaces.

Even though it seems like the Coronavirus hype has died down a bit, we're living the same routines; we leave the property once a week for groceries, and once a week (or so) for other errands (garden centre, hardware store). Alana has just started having physically distanced playtime with our neighbour, and Hendrik had a friend over this afternoon for a physically distanced swim. They miss their friends, and we miss our friends! We celebrated Jordan's 4th birthday last Sunday with some cake on the front lawn with our neighbours from Grosvenor (Sandra and Bruce and Liz), but the weather wasn't great so it didn't last long. We had a great day though! He woke up nice and early and after presents and some time at home, we went for a nature walk in Arva and... what else did we do?! I'm sure there was some Paw Patrol. He's still loving that show, and has also latched onto a trains DVD we have from the library (which hasn't opened yet). I tried asking him the usual birthday questions (what is your favourite toy, food, etc.) but he wasn't interested. So, I'll answer them for him! His favourite foods are salami, mozzarella cheese, yogurt, toast with butter (or butter with toast), and guacamole. His best friend is probably Jack, but since school has been out we haven't been able to see him! He likes construction vehicles (toy diggers etc.), and helping around the house (yes, really). He has also just started swimming in the shallow end on his own without his puddle jumper, and he's doing so well! Yay. Fingers crossed that he's swimming confidently in the deep end by the end of the summer. For his birthday the big hit was a Paw Patrol watch (from Liz); other loot includes a Tippy Toe board (used by all), a baseball pitching thing (also used by all), new PJs (trucks), gardening tools and gloves, and books. It was a great day!

I'm still sewing items for Canada Sews, and have been working on a set of headbands for what feels like forever! It's tricky to find the time. I usually try to sit down when the kids are doing their schoolwork, but that's hit and miss; sometimes they constantly need my help and other times they let me work away. This morning I went for a run instead, and that felt great. The fact that I've found time to exercise during the pandemic is a positive, but since I only go every three days (or so), I never actually feel any better or more physically capable. Maybe one day? Anyways, I'll get some pictures up and get this posted while I can!

The latest!

With everyone home all day every day, some days are better than others, and yesterday afternoon was a first. The kids each found something different to do on their own, and everyone was playing quietly without bugging anyone else... it was amazing! It was a first. Steve and I were each busy doing something, and we didn't have to stop and stop and stop again to help solve problems or tear someone off of a sibling. Fingers crossed it happens again!

We woke up to snow the other day (May 11). I do not like seeing snow in May.

On the heels of the snow post I can add that our pool is open! Steve worked hard to get it all ship shape and the kids have been in a few times. After we wrangled the gargantuan tarp off of the pool and attempted to clean and fold it, first in the back yard and then in the driveway and then on the front lawn (to the amusement of neighbours and passersby), the pool was cleaned and prepped. But unheated, it sat at 52 degrees. Who jumped in? Hendrik (7 times) and Jordan (once). We heated it for the one warm day we've had, just to be sure everything was working as it should - and to give the kids something to do that day. We are going to be extra grateful to have a pool this summer...

I learned to sew! I have made several masks for our family and some friends, and made 20 for the London chapter of Canada Sews. The output of some of the people in this group is incredible, but even though my numbers are paltry compared to others, I'm proud that I was able to put these things together. Next up on the project list is sewing some headbands...

School is going well for the kids, but handling the distractions of technology has been the biggest challenge. They want to play with the font size and send their friends (or each other) silly messages, insert enormous emoji faces into assignments and so on. They are working fairly independently, and all things considered, I feel good about our routines and what they're able to do every day (most days).

I had a great Mother's Day on Sunday. Highlights include homemade donuts (so good!), being sent to my room (I was there by myself for at least 5 minutes), and a walk with Jordan and Alana. It was a slow and easy day, and the kids gave me lovely cards and spoiled me with treats (donuts, dinner, coffee). I did reflect on how it is a difficult day for some, especially those that have lost a mother or daughter. I'm thankful for my time with my family and for my health, and I hope to enjoy Mother's Day Sundays for many, many years!

It's our first Spring in this house, and it's been fun seeing what comes up in the garden. There are some beautiful flowers and lots of weeds and I wonder how Gladys kept her garden going.

We have a piano/keyboard! My mom and dad very generously researched and purchased a keyboard for us and we have been enjoying it in different ways. Hendrik and Alana both play around on it, I've played a few songs from the book that came with the piano, and Jordan loves pushing the automatic play button and leaving the room. I think Steve has been on there too, playing hockey songs. I'm debating lessons (online or in-person) and have to figure that one out, but would love to get them some Frozen and Harry Potter music.

It's been sort of confusing, what we're allowed to and not allowed to do, with the COVID restrictions in place. For quite a while I was under the impression that we weren't really supposed to drive anywhere to go for walks, that we were only to leave the house for necessities and really limit travel. With parks open again (and after some looking/reading), we've decided to venture out for a few nature walks. Last Monday we went to the Elsie Perrin Estate, and this week we went out to Riverbend. The kids sometimes complain about going but then LOVE being out there, and I love seeing them explore and clamber and build. It really does make a difference, being out in the woods. Hopefully we can spend some time in BC (next summer?) doing the same... it's a different kind of beauty, but it's beauty nonetheless.

I LOVE this photo!

That's all for now folks, I hope everyone is staying happy and healthy! :)

mid-April and keeping busy!

Several important things happened almost exactly or exactly a year ago. They include my heart ablation (to fix three arrhythmias - atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter; only once in a while do I go into fibrillation, and my heart seems to be doing what it should!), our initial lead on this house (thanks to our neighbour Sandra coming across the street to see if her key worked so she could feed Hendrik's fish Blue! On her way over she met Gladys, the previous occupant (for 60 years!) of this house...), and a family trip to Quebec where we spent some quality time with my sisters and their partners. Sadly (so so sadly) I had to postpone a trip to Denver and Arizona to meet my sister's babe and spend some time in the sun with two of my three sisters, but we're rescheduling! Hopefully by the fall I'll be able to meet Emily and enjoy a trip on my own.

Jordan got his tubes removed a few weeks ago (or maybe a month ago now?) and proudly came home with a little plastic box containing the tiny tubes. He carried it around with him for a few days and then forgot about it, and now I'm wondering, where are they? And if I find them, do I keep them? I'm not sure. 

Steve has been keeping himself busy busy by building, repairing and improving. He made a new gate at the side of the house which was much needed; now our backyard and pool zone is no longer visible from the driveway and street, yay. The next job was painting the kitchen, and what was once very monochromatic (pale yellow) is now white and a greyish blue. The old stove (which is amazing but a major energy suck I think) and vintage countertops stick out a bit, but we're not making any more changes in the kitchen until it gets a big overhaul (when that will be, who knows). He's now working on the upstairs hallway which has been half-wallpapered for a while. He ripped off the remaining wallpaper, skim-coated the plaster, fixed the lopsided bathroom door (the transom window now opens!), and is now in the process of priming and painting. Yesterday he started stripping paint and grime off some intricate original hardware, and the paint was covering some beautiful details - both on door hinges and window locks. It would be quite the job to uncover all of the original hardware, but if these stay at home orders last... it might happen!

all done!

old hinges

the kids loved these!

making slime today :)

helping dad paint the kitchen 

big difference! the grey is a bit more blue than we thought it would be, but it looks SO much better!

big changes

It's only been three weeks since my last post and things sure have changed. First of all, let me just say how incredibly lucky I am to be writing from a safe and stable home in a country where we have the foresight (or imported hindsight) to take action to attempt to mitigate the effects of this global pandemic we find ourselves living through. I'm glad we didn't book any trips for March break or, really, any travel for the summer either - though this might mean a postponed BC trip (sad!). I was supposed to meet two of my sisters in Arizona in May, but that ain't happening! I'll have to celebrate finishing my program and claim some me-time by ummmm ... leaving the house some time? (Or not.) With all of this news I've been intimidated by the idea of overcrowded supermarkets and crazed hoarders stocking up on supplies so have been staying away BUT did venture out to Costco late last week - for the cheese! They were still out of toilet paper and flour, but we're not in desperate need of either of those things so no big deal. I do wonder - who is buying all of the flour? Are these people who usually don't buy flour? Or are they people who do buy flour and are just preparing for the worst case scenario?

We have been keeping ourselves busy somehow, and the kids have been great. There've been some minor squabbles and problems but on the whole they are fighting less and getting along more (yay!). So what have we been doing with our time? We spent March break without a schedule or agenda, spending lots of time in our PJs, playing games and watching movies. But with school closures announced before the break started, social media was flooded with planned out days and pictures of studious, applied children. There were some schedules I liked, others I didn't - so I decided to make a flexible schedule and see how it goes! It's so far so good (most days), and I thought I'd start small with the obvious schoolwork, and build up bit by bit (maybe). We are playing a lot of Monopoly, walking around the block multiple times a day, and are a few days into daily capture the flag games (played on our property with oversized twigs, identified by colourful string). This has been super fun, and Hendrik and Alana are teaming up to beat their parents (they're working together - !). The kids have some math to do every day (workbook pages, scavenger hunts, problems) and there have been crafts, baking, puzzles, quiet time (love it), reading, some science experiments, and even a few jobs. For the most part it doesn't seem as though the kids are too bothered by the massive changes we're experiencing, but I think they miss seeing their friends, playing sports, and visiting the library. I miss the library! And I miss seeing my friends too. I am so thankful we live in this bigger house (especially if this continues into the summer) and that we have lots of reading material and that we have each other. I am also very thankful for Steve and all of the work he's been doing around the house - more on that next time. I'll try to get a few photos up before I run out of time and have to get to bed. I hope everyone is staying well!

everyone had fun playing with Google's 3D animals :)

ozobot and sphero fun

the weather has been nicer so we've spent more time outside :)

Alana has been living in this too-small dress, wearing it for this fancy lunch on the front porch 

a fun flower craft in progress

busy days :)

Regular life in our house is busy; I'm in practicum (grade 5 / 6 at  French Immersion school), the kids have their activities (swimming, ball hockey, gymnastics and basketball), and with McMaster (men's volleyball) and Western (women's volleyball) in playoffs, coaching has reached an all-time busy high. This is in large part due to the fact that I've stepped into a temporary role as the acting head coach with the program - the head coach had a baby last week! Last week's pace was unsustainable; I left for school around 7:30 for an 8:15 start (Immersion schools start earlier than non-Immersion schools), taught until 2:45 and left for practice at 3:00. After practice I'd get home for a quick dinner before heading out to swimming or basketball, and then try to relax and spend some time with the kids before bed (and then deal with regular house/life/meal mess). (I also had to study for and take the MPT - a Math Proficiency Test mandated by the provincial government; new teachers must pass this test to become certified.) Steve has been full time in getting the kids ready and to school and doing pickup and most dinner prep, so he's felt the change in pace too. This weekend marks a change, and while I'm not happy about the reason (we lost to Toronto in yesterday's semi-finals) I am ready for a more manageable work-life balance. McMaster lost last night to Queen's, so Steve's team will play for a third place finish and a berth at Nationals tonight. Regardless of whether they win or lose (they should win), Steve will head to Winnipeg next week for a Bisons alumni weekend honouring their coach Garth Pischke and their championship runs over the same years that Steve was there. He's going to have so much fun! Hopefully we'll enjoy a more low key week at home - and with visitors! Grandma and Gramps are coming to help out while I'm at school.

Anyways, enough about me! Here are a few photos from the last few weeks (/month) that I've neglectfully failed to post!

H's team won their ball hockey league; playoffs were exciting with shootouts and empty net goals (H!)

Last weekend Hendrik's ball hockey team won their semi-final in a shootout, and then won the final in overtime - exciting! Hendrik even scored an empty net goal from his own blue line, though he says he didn't even know the goalie had been pulled. Ha! Kids had birthday parties last weekend too, so Saturday (with our quarter final) was crazy busy. 

Alana's acrostic poems for Mommy and Daddy ... love!

in a back yard nook - hopefully winter is on its way out!

look-ing gooooood 

Valentine's Day loot!

We play Guelph this afternoon for a bronze medal, and I'm really hoping we can play well! After the game I'll head back to Bowmanville for one good sleep (I hope!) and then it's back home and back to usual on Sunday. I'm excited to see the kids - even though it will be less than 48 hours since I've seen them. What is the deal with that?! When you're around them all the time you want a break, but then when you get the break... you want to be with them! Last thought before I watch some film and get out for a walk: I bought Frozen 2 on DVD last week, and we've watched it multiple times (including on the car ride to Bowmanville on Thursday night) and now the soundtrack (Lost in the Woods, Into the Unknown) is STUCK in my head. Oh life!