Happy New Year!

When I was younger, New Year's Eve meant going out to a club. We all went out, partied, drank a lot, ate a lot and stood outside in the cold, waiting to get into the next club. By this point in the evening, someone usually lost their coat, their shoes, their boyfriend or their dignity ;)

Now, New Year's Eve means eating a lot (yup, that stayed the same), hanging out with the kids, wearing cosy pajamas and watching my husband fall asleep at 11: 25 ;) You know what? I prefer this... so... much!

Wishing you all the very best for 2016... may this coming year be filled with love, health, happiness and family. Thank you for visiting my blog... see you next year :) xox

Happy New Year!

For all of you who love snow....

..... here are some pictures for you.... and I am not so sure that we can stay friends ;)

We had, before midnight yesterday, 39cm of snow. Another 5cm fell today. I am dreaming of Costa Rica ;)

xox

Merry Christmas!

On December 24, we celebrate our Christmas so we are heading off in a little while to go to my sister's for dinner. It is her turn to cook this year... and I am happy for it ;) Wishing you all a very merry Christmas eve! xox

PS: the temperature is 17C and sunny... THAT is my present ;)

After Santa's visit ;)

Merry Christmas to me!

Look what came out for the holidays ;)

Andreas walking the dogs.... Merry Christmas!

Eleven years

Today, Andreas and I have been married for 11 years. I feel that time has gone by so fast... although, my husband feels like we have been married for 50 years ;) I choose to take that as a positive comment ;)

XOXO till min älskling... may there be many, many more happy years ahead......

Happy 1st Advent!

I am not sure if it is a Northern European thing but we celebrate the Advents (every Sunday before Christmas). Both Andreas' and my family celebrated the Advents when we were growing up so now we are passing it to our boys. Last year, I had this idea to do a full advent calendar for the boys but, maybe having grown one year wiser (haha! Or lazier? ;)), I gave up on that one! Now, I am doing one gift per Advent instead... Only 12 gifts to wrap instead of 72... sounds WAY more sane to me ;)

Next weekend, we get our tree but, at least, our house looks a bit more festive. It is still green out so, if I am lucky, maybe we'll do our Christmas turkey on the BBQ ;) I am STILL NOT complaining ;)

Wishing you all a great week ahead! xox

Role reversal

Usually, I am the friend who is posting scary photos of snowstorms. I am usually the person who is complaining about being shut in at home, unable to escape the snowdrifts surrounding my house. This is my identity as a Canadian and, frankly, as much as I dislike winter, it is a sort of badge of honour. SO WHAT IS GOING ON THIS YEAR???? It is November 22 and I have green grass in my backyard. I even have some flowers that are still blooming in our flowerpots out front. Today, Alexander was out playing soccer in shorts. Yes, outside. No, I am not the worst mother in the world. Our temperature hovered around 10 degrees C. It doesn't even look like Christmas yet... not even close. ** I AM NOT COMPLAINING**
Last night, some of my friends in Scandinavia were attacked by up to 50 cm of snow. I have to say that it was not all my friends because dear Ola only saw a few flakes and then rain in Oesterbro. My other friends and family got snow... and lots of it...
I don't know what happened this year but what a role reversal! This year, they get the badge of snow honour and I will, happily, lend it to them because I am sure... no, am more than certain, that we will get it back again. Unfortunately..... ;)

Happy week to you all :)

This is us.....

This is them.... Roskilde, DK

Argh... I am getting flashbacks!

I don't mind sharing the honour of having lots of crappy snow ;)

Green November

Before I start this post, I have to make it perfectly clear that I am NOT complaining!!! If you have been following any of this blog since last winter, you will remember how non-winter I am ;)

We have been so incredibly lucky this year. Montreal is still fairly warm (ie: between 5 and 15C) and green! It is actually a bit strange: stores are putting their Christmas decorations up against a backdrop of green leaves (and not just green pine boughs)! I have been wearing my light jacket and autumn boots... no shivering or wet boots involved ;)

Last year, at this time, we had a blizzard and our backyard was absolutely covered with snow. The boys were wearing boots and ski jackets. I was complaining! This year is totally ahhhhhh..... ;) I have to say that I am loving this non-winter-start-of-November :)

Last year....

This year :)

I will take it! ;)

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter :)

Memorable February

This February has been the coldest on RECORDED HISTORY! See, I wasn't imagining it ;) Unless it becomes +40C every day, for the next few days, then this February wins the award for being the most memorable, award winning terrible month... EVER.... Well, maybe until next year ;)

Good riddance!

I will now cease my complaining because March is supposed to bring actually sane, normal temperatures.... like -10C ;)

Hope you are all warmer than us :)...... especially my friends that-are-presently-on-holiday-and-love-posting-super-lovely-warm-tropical-photos-on-Facebook ;) Love you all anyway! xox

Wintery Wednesday

Today I got to work from home and actually get caught up with my courses :) What a luxury! This next week will actually be somewhat prepared. Also, on my "lunch break", I cleaned up the house. You know, sometimes, it is just the little things....
I hope that you all had a good week so far. It is very wintery here so I will just leave it at that.... Good evening! XOX

Welcome to Wintery Wednesday

Snow plow was here

Even the branches are not impressed...

I try to live by these words ;)

The Lego version of me.... winter style ;)

Today = too cold....

.... to even take a darn photo!!! When I went to pick up the boys, it was -24 C and dropping. I was NOT taking my gloves off ;) So, here is a picture (not taken by me) that is close to what the weather seemed like, including the rush hour traffic ;) Maybe there was a bit less sun..... Hope you are all staying warm! If you live in a friendlier climate, I am SO jealous. Enjoy it for me, please!!!! XOX

Ice, ice, baby.... first day of school...

Well, at least, *I* had a first day of school... and Oliver went back to daycare. Nicklas' and Alexander's school had no electricity so it was closed (yes, the ONLY school in the ENTIRE school board... how lucky for them @@) and Andreas decided to work from home. In short, after yesterday's storm: THERE WAS ICE ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE!!!! Seriously, I had some pretty good winter boots on and I couldn't walk on the sidewalks. It was actually a bit funny; everyone was shuffling around, one step forward and two big slides back ;) I have to say it was funny.... until people fell and hurt themselves. A friend of mine ended up in emergency today because she fell and hit her head, hard on the ice :( She seemed to be OK after all but, still, what a crappy start to the new school semester!
On the bright side (OK... I am trying to be positive), we made it to the BBC news! Ice storms in Canada and wild fires in Australia.... Those pathetic colonies! ;)

Hope you all have a great return to routine! XOX

Yups.... that is a bit of ice.... ;)

No way that these bikes are coming out until spring ;)

Couldn't start 2015 without....

.... a bit of ABBA..... Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015 :)

Happy New Year! May 2015 be filled with health, happiness, love and peace!

Last night, we celebrated at home with the boys. Nice and quiet. My mother came over for the night and we had some good food (thanks to Andreas), good bubbly wine (if it is not from Champagne, then it is not champagne... I have been well trained!) and good family time :) I finally finished my corrections earlier in the evening so that was also a reason to celebrate! Whew!

Hope you all have a great/quiet January 1! Thank you for coming to visit my blog :)

Lebkuchen Hertzen..... my fave!

Round 1 of many.....

Today, we are getting some of our snow back :P

January 1 is tough when you are a cat ;)