Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas in the middle of Covid wave #4... or is it #5... #6? In any case, I never thought that we would still be in it... but we are. May your holidays be filled with blessings and gratitude- it is all we have.
I am blessed and thankful that I managed to get the boys to pose for a Christmas photo 😉 Hey, this is quite a feat so I will take it 😉
xox
On December 6, 1989, I was putting my tool belt in my locker at school. I was in my second year of CEGEP and studying technical theatre. We were putting together our winter theatre production and my role for this semester was electrician- a job that I loved. It challenged me both mentally and physically. I was the only female on the crew and proud of it. It was a tough job- something that I had never expected to do in the past- but I enjoyed learning new skills, having a great time and felt that the world was at my feet.
Someone came into our locker room and said that there had been a shooting at the Polytechnique at the Université de Montréal. A man went into classrooms and shot students. News in 1989 wasn't the same as now and information came out slowly. I went home to my grandmother frantically trying to reach me on the telephone... she heard was that there was a shooting... in a technical program... and that women had died.
On December 6, 1989, 14 women went to school to study engineering. They felt challenged both mentally and physically. They were the future of engineering and proud of it. It was a tough program- something they may not have expected to do in the past- but they were enjoying learning new skills, having a great time and felt that the world was at their feet.
I came home to a phone call... they did not come home.
I will always remember....
Please note that I said rainy and not snowy. Yes, I am counting each non snowy day as a blessing 😉 Since we had the time change, it has been getting darker and darker on the way home but the downtown lights look pretty festive... especially since we are just getting used to being back in the city again. Not that we are out of the covid-cloud yet but things seem to be returning- even if it is just a little bit- back to normal again.
Wishing you all health and happiness from Montreal... rain and all xox
Today is Alexander's 17th birthday!! I cannot believe that he is one short year away from being a legal adult. He is in college, playing football with guys who have full beards and is close to leaving us with only one car. Alexander now stays up later than me and has a way more active social life with his friends than I do. Some days I look at him and wonder who the young man in front of me is and where that little boy went to... and then he will say something goofy and I know that the little guy is still there... under those muscles and facial hair. Happy birthday to our first born!!! We wish you a wonderful 17th year!!!
Today is Canadian Thanksgiving, which always gets me thinking about what I am most thankful for...
I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful for the love in our home.
I am thankful for my friends.
I am thankful for health.
I am thankful that I live in a country where I can raise my boys and not worry about wars that will claim them or that I am unable to keep them safe and healthy.
I am thankful for our neighbourhood where our children can play outside and be kids.
I am thankful for soccer and the wonderful women that I have met over the years.
I am thankful for sunshine and warm air.
I am thankful for the autumn leaves and cosy sweaters.
I am thankful for a job that positively challenges me and colleagues that make the day to day fun.
I am thankful for quiet time while enjoying my morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine.
I am thankful for good food and good travels.
I am thankful for all those who volunteer so that my sons may be active and involved.
I am thankful that people still come by to read my blog even if I have not been so good at tending to it.
Happy Thanksgiving! xox
This blog has become kind of quiet over the past two years because 1) the boys are not into having their pictures taken anymore and 2) they usually hide out in the basement with their headphones on ;) Not an interesting blog post ;)
Oliver, being eleven years old and not quite teenager yet, can still be lured out to do things (sometimes) and, today, he was into going fishing with Andreas. Lucky me, I got to stay home and clean. I wonder who got the better morning activity? ;)
Happy Sunday xox
This is a picture that I will treasure as it has become increasingly difficult to get Nicklas to pose for photos! He starts grade 9 today and, even though he is at the same school, it has now moved into another building. Although he wasn't so thrilled about this move initially, when renovations took longer than expected because of covid and he got another week of summer holidays, it ended up being better than he thought ;)
Now we are all back (unfortunately, Andreas did not agree to a back to school photo) and fall is in the air. What the heck happened to summer?!? Bring on the chaos!!
Today was Oliver's first day of the last year of elementary school. Grade 6! We have been at this elementary school since Alexander first started in 2009. I found out I was pregnant with Oliver just before having to take Alexander to his first day of kindergarten. For one year, I had Oliver in kindergarten, Nicka in grade 3 and Alexander in grade 6. The only year they were all at the same school... Now, it is Oliver's last year and I can't believe it!
Nicka will start online on Friday and in person next week. Stay tuned for part 3... I might have to sneak that photo though ;)
My first official day of school/teaching is tomorrow. Maybe I will be as photo resistant as Nicka ;)
Happy first day of school!
Can you believe it? I can't! First day of college (CEGEP in Quebec).... where did time go?
I had to take this picture in the back of our house because Alexander was being picked up by friends (yes, his friends... driving!) who- heaven forbid- would see him pose for a back to school picture. So, this was the one and only picture that I was allowed to take... and I will treasure it :)
So proud of this kid!! Have fun on this new adventure!!
Today we had to say goodbye to our dog, Fanny. Over the last few weeks, she has been telling us that she is tired. Her legs couldn't carry her anymore and food no longer appealed to her the way it used to. She was with us for over 14 years. We brought her home not long after we had Nicklas. The boys can't remember life without her. She grew up with them and was a big part of that phase of our lives. It wasn't easy to make that call to the vet but we all know it was the right one for her.
Goodbye, Fanny. We will miss you! xox
Yes, I am finally on vacation and, yes, I am a crappy blogger. When the kids were small, it was easier to actually do stuff with them and have something cute to write about. Now, as the kids are doing their own things, Andreas and I seem to have more time to ourselves but I am sure that you don't want a post about Andreas reading a book or me folding laundry 😉 Today, though, to celebrate my first full vacation day, we went downtown and so you get a photo spam! The quantity of photos is limited because, as much as Andreas puts up with my stopping to take pictures, he does have a limit 😉
Sending love from Montreal 💛
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Yesterday, I turned 51... actually, I prefer to think that I turned 25 1/2 for the second time around ;) For part of my birthday present, Andreas took me out for lunch downtown and did not complain when I stopped to take pictures. Now that is something! ;)
Happy rainy Saturday to you all xox
