10 years of blogging

 Hello all!

Today is the 10th year of my blog. On January 20, 2014, I decided to try blogging. It was a way to document our family life, our day to day, our boys as they grow. Well, although I am not as dedicated as I used to be, I am still around and, thankfully, so are you. A big thank you to everyone who has ever read these entries and a bigger thank you for all the friends that I have met along the way. 

Happily, I am still outnumbered by boys and wouldn't want it any other way. Love to you all xox

A November postcard from Montreal

November, so far, has been pretty bipolar. We went from almost summer-like weather to winter in about a week. Let's just say that I started November in sandals and now have to wear boots! It is also dark so early now but- letting you all in on a little secret- leaving work and seeing all the street lights is almost cosy. Almost.

I know that I have been pretty bad at blog maintenance. The boys are WAY less interested in letting me write about them, take pictures of them and post anything about them. Sometimes bribing works but I couldn't afford that every day ;) So, to try to make ammends, I wanted to send you all a November postcard... Novembrrrrrrr is probably more accurate... here we go again xox

Boys' morning out

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

If I won the lottery....

 .... I would never fold another sock again as long as I live ;) I would buy new socks and throw out the dirty ones** I HATE folding socks.... and they always seem to multiply while I try to ignore them. Since no one else feels the need/urge to fold them, it sends up being a stand-off, with a growing stash of needing-to-be-folded socks. Eventually (and usually), I cave and end up doing it but fantasizing about my lottery wins as I get it done ;)

Wishing you all a happy Monday xox

The less toxic version of the boys' socks ;)

** Please note that I wouldn't really do it. Not very environmentally friendly. I do, however, think about it a lot ;)

Reflections from Mother's Day

Yesterday, on Mother's Day, I had a few minutes of quiet where I was able to reflect on being the mother to this family. Here are some of my thoughts...

1) I am short.

2) I am outnumbered by boys.

3) I am surrounded by jokers.

4) I am blessed.

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day 💗

I am short (Thank goodness for Oliver!) and outnumbered by boys (Andreas took the picture). Yes, letting me take this picture was part of my "present" ;)

Yes, Andreas gift wrapped this for me. Lucky for him, I already received my Mother's Day presents and dinner so he wasn't immediately murdered 😉. The boys loved this... evidence that I am surrounded by jokers but still blessed 💙

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Oliver loves St. Patrick's Day and takes it very seriously. It might even be, after Christmas, his favourite occasion. We have a special green hat collection... and he asked me for shamrocks (thank you, grocery store, for having them in stock). Ready for St. Patrick's Day action!

“May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now and bless you evermore!” (Traditional Irish blessing)

The family wall

I am sure that most families have a wall. You know the kind, the one that has the kids' heights on it. The one that looks messy but I would be sad to leave it behind if we ever move. The pencil marks have long since faded and smudged but I can still see, from 2013 to now, how the boys grew over the years. The first one from Oliver is just above my knee height. There are marks from Alexander and Nicklas that prove that, at one point, I was actually taller than them. I can also see where they clearly started to look down at me. Also precious are the scribble drawings that Oliver contributed when he was bored of waiting for his turn to get measured... 

We still add to this family wall. This is where Alexander is now bypassing Andreas in height. This is where Nicklas keeps comparing himself to where Alexander was at his age. This is where Oliver will most likely bypass me in height in the next few years. This is where I do not wash the wall. This is where I appreciate the pencil marks.

Wishing you all a happy weekend xox

Yes, I feel short ;) 

Snow day

Today is a snow day. I am going to be honest but I was a little surprised.. the kids have trudged to school in worse conditions than these. Sure, it is snowy... and windy... and gross but, heck, we are Canadian so, apparently, we have to like this crappy weather 😉 I like to think of this snow day as a belated Valentine's present... yes, for the kids, but mostly for the parents! This morning, I had a precious half hour more of quiet-coffee-time-without-boys-asking-for-breakfast-or-where-the-milk-is. I was also greeted by much happier teenagers when they realized that it was 10am when I woke them up and they didn't have to go to school. I didn't have to make lunches. I didn't have to rush kids out the door. I didn't have to nag (at least not this morning...yet...). Happy belated Valentine's Day to me! 

Happy Tuesday aka Snow Day! xox

Snowy Saturday

If you know me for more than 30 seconds, you will know that I am NOT a fan of winter. Maybe you will figure it out after 20 seconds even, loud and clear 😉 Funny though, this year, I don't know... maybe it is the fact that we have been blessed with a mild winter so far... or that I don't actually have to go out but I am not minding winter so much. Actually, today was almost nice. We woke up to a big snow dump and the temperature was bearable... even the boys didn't complain about going outside. I almost liked it... almost 😉

I still miss my sandals though 😉 xox

Perfect snowman snow

A little winter football

Really hoping the snow wouldn't dump on my head as I took the picture!

Not all that bad ;)

Winter walk

Today, we decided to go for a family walk in the nearby woods (*we = Andreas and I decided... the boys were forced to go 😉). It had just started to snow and, even the boys had to agree, it was a really nice outing. Alexander, probably deciding to get out of as much of the walk as possible, decided to jog to the woods and meet us there (that is why he is not in the first few photos). I bribed them with hot chocolate when we got back so they survived the experience... and Andreas and I just lost out on winning the meanest parents of the year award 😉 Guess we have to try harder 😉

Wow- almost new year... so excited xox