A while ago

Yesterday, I decided to head into town to go for a walk. I love where we live but, frankly, I think it has long been over-walked (is this a word?). So, deciding to do something different, I went to do a walk that I haven't done in almost a year... my usual old walk to work. While it seemed very familiar, a lot is different: some stores have closed, some stores have opened, road work was actually finished (weird, right?) and there were a lot less people around. I ended the outing with a coffee and scone from my favourite coffee shop (Melk on Stanley Street). Thankfully, that was still open and going strong. Best coffee-crack around ;) 

I haven't done this walk since Thursday March 12, 2020. I remember it clearly... I had just cancelled my trip to Europe so I bought a train pass for the rest of the month. Most expensive trip home ever ;) Hindsight is 20/20. I honestly thought I would be on this walk on the Friday. Guess not... 

Here is some photo spam of my walk... Happy Thursday! xox

Looking at the bright side

Sometimes, it is hard to work from home: I miss the interactions with my colleagues. I miss the walk into work. I miss my favourite cafe. I miss the festive atmosphere along Ste Catherine street. I miss the vibe of being downtown. I miss face to face teaching.

Looking at the bright side: Today, it is snowing and kind of messy outdoors. Being at home, my lunchbreak includes the chance to sit on my couch for a few minutes, cosy, having a cup of coffee before going back to work again. Oh yeah... did I mention that I am the only one at home at the moment? 

Not bad.... 😉

Parenting in COVID times

If parenting was a challenge before COVID, now it is about 100% more confusing.  While the parenting "rules" were vague before, they are really blurry and kind of non-existent now. Do my kids go back to school? Do my kids play sports? Do my kids hang out with friends? Do my kids stay home? But it is outside... But everyone else is doing it... But I used to do that... But I normally would have sent him to school... But it makes no sense to me... But why not? But that is not what the rules say... I thought I was allowed. I thought I could. I thought that was ok now. We're all kind of winging it...

Hope you all stay safe... and sane ;)

Parenting: wet football game style

First day of school in 2020... the Oliver edition

Today was Oliver's first day of school. Grade 5... wow! Nicka starts tomorrow and Alexander goes back by the end of the week. Honestly, I am still caught off guard with this whole return to school. Everything seems rushed... heck, I usually have everything labelled and organized a few days before their return (what can I say? I am a school supply geek). I found myself rushing last night to put Oliver's name on all his school supplies. No new shoes. A kind of wrinkly t-shirt. Just remembered to get him to wash his hair last night. It is, however, not only me being unorganized... it is the whole situation. Don't get me wrong... I am not blaming his school or teachers. Far from it... they get extra kudos from me. By rushed, I mean that we just literally went from shut everything down-pandemic-stay home-self isolate-how many people died today-how many people caught coronavirus today-daily press meetings to a sudden opening of everything. It seems rushed. Everything seems too rushed. This summer just sped by without any sort of transition or easing in process. Maybe it is just me? Not too sure. Before leaving home this morning, he chose his mask for the day (with a back up carefully packed) and I reminded him about the extra hand sanitizer in his bag. Andreas reminded him about keeping distance and to wash his hands regularly. Welcome to 2020.

Anyway, was Oliver happy to go back? His words say no but his face upon seeing his friends this morning said otherwise. 

Another 10 random facts

1) I am coming to terms with being the kids' social life scheduler... even during pandemic times, their agendas are more full than mine ;)

2) One more thing to include in "strange things to happen in 2020": our garden is producing the smallest tomatoes but the largest zucchini that I have ever seen.

3) Our neighbourhood is being overrun by crabgrass. Another plague...

4) I ordered the brightest orange slides ever and I love them.

5) I have come to the conclusion that I will make a good retired person.

6) I honestly gave up on mascara.

7) I have a re-occurring dream where I have to run to catch the train, despite the fact that I haven't been on a train since March 12... the day I bought a month pass and the day before the universities shut down #themostexpensivetriphome

8) Our neighbourhood is also overrun by Japanese Beetles. Another plague...

9) Now that I have to look up at 2 out of my 3 sons, it amazes me that I actually gave birth to them.

10) I am hoping that my favourite coffee shop downtown will still be there when I have to go back into work again.

About last weekend

Oops... I never made it to do a Monday post so it will have to be a Tuesday one instead ;)

I know that we are still in COVID times but, if you went by how full our schedules are getting, you wouldn't know it so much. The weekend was filled with soccer, football, deck building/renovating (Alexander's project for school... I am not complaining 😉), trampoline jumping, gardening, humidity and being thankful for a big umbrella!

Wishing you all a happy Tuesday xox