Glimpses of the last week...

Last weekend, we ended up having another blizzard... followed by nice, above 0C weather... now being followed with another blizzard :( This past week was filled with typical family chaos, lots of sporting events (the boys), starting the end of semster wrap up (Andreas and me), getting to finally wear spring shoes (even if it was only for 2 days), a fabulous art gala at Nicka and Oliver's school and lots of little things in between. I am happy that it is Friday! I plan on taking it easy... before the weekend chaos begins... Happy Friday! xox

Now.... here is some photo spam ;)

Les cactus

Hello all! :)

This week has been a rough one. Not a terrible, catastrophic one but a sneaky-creep-up-on-you crappy kind of week. It started with a bad listening morning courtesy of the boys, a rejected paper, a frustrating colleague, Oliver being sick, a bigger-than-expected bill, Oliver not listening to his teacher and, then- thankfully- Friday (although, we had another blizzard! Please, someone tell Mother Nature that it is Spring!). You know those kinds of weeks ;)
Anyway, all week long, I had this song stuck in my head. Actually, the more that I think about it, the more appropriate it was. A little bit like my soundtrack.. Here is is... Thank you to Jacques Dutronc ;)

A shout out to my friend, Gabrielle: yes, I actually had a Jacques Dutronc song stuck in my head.... haha!

Happy Friday to you all and may it be a non-cactus weekend ;)

This week

Suddenly, I checked the calendar and the week had passed :P

I know.. this seems to happen a lot lately... I make apologies for a busy week and things not happening on the blog front. Sadly, it has happened again... despite my best efforts at keeping "post on blog" on my list of things to do ;)

This week was filled with work... oh, yes, I get paid for doing that ;)... We also had some pretty crazy weather... warm temperatures on Monday and Tuesday... ice storm on Wednesday... freezing temperatures on Thursday and Friday....

Also, on Thursday, I went to see a talk done by Mikael Colville-Andersen of Copenhagenize or Copenhagen Cycle Chic. I have had a bit of a philosophy crush on him for a while (ie: how to get people to see themselves as cyclists, which is very parallel to what interests me; how to get people to see themselves as exercisers). Anyway, he is a great speaker and, despite the differences in focus (urban design vs lifestyle behaviour shifts), I was left with a great deal of food for thought. He is also a great cure for a little bit of reverse homesickness that I experienced when I first moved back to Montreal from Copenhagen. I had a ton more questions to ask him but, for now, that was as good as it got ;)

The bonus about hanging out in town to see Mikael's talk was I GOT TO HANG OUT IN TOWN... BY MYSELF... TO DO SOMETHING... THAT INTERESTS ME... ME... IMAGINE..... Yes, all you mothers out there, you get this. Seriously. I also got to take the bus and metro home, which I haven't done in ages and I absolutely felt like a newbie ;)

Today, I had a departmental meeting at work and then hurried back to make sure that my boys, all home for a day off from school, hadn't committed mutiny at home. They were all in one piece, no fighting... and hadn't locked me out ;) Good sign!

I will be back tomorrow... after my soccer tournament... which will be another story onto itself ;)

Wishing you all a good Friday evening xox

Over the week

It is becoming increasingly clear that the trees in Montreal have received the "autumn memo". Suddenly, there is orange, red and yellow everywhere. The days are still pretty darn beautiful but the mornings have a chill that causes me to argue with the boys so that they, at least, put a sweater in their school bags (today I argued with Oliver about the sweater... and then he wanted gloves... ugh!). The sunlight has this special golden colour and it is a total pleasure to be outside. As much as I love autumn, I am well aware of what is looming behind it. For now, I will pretend that winter does not exist and get as much joy out of autumn as I can. This weekend, I am sure, will be as chaotic as the week. Ahhh... family life ;)

Wishing you all a great Friday! Here is a little photo spam from around Montreal xox

What a sky!

Self portrait ;)

No... this is NOT my house ;)

This is so Montreal...

Holding on to summer....

The "autumn memo" has been circulated...

Another self portrait

Wish I could put this on a t-shirt ;)

Random Bart Simpson graffiti..

Orange...

Yellow....

Red....

Happy day to you!

This weekend

This past weekend was very busy but I can start to see a "shift": the boys' soccer (well, at least for Nicklas and Oliver) is mostly finished for the season- we had the final games on Saturday/Sunday, the weather, although still warm, has more cool mornings/evenings and the days are starting to get shorter. Sad? Yes but I LOVE autumn. Actually, the only thing that I dislike about autumn is that winter is next... and we all know how I feel about winter ;) My soccer season is slowly approaching play-offs time but I sprained my ankle a week ago so I am not playing right now.  Please send quick healing wishes- I could use it! :)

Andreas and I (and kids and animals) spent some time this weekend actually enjoying our balcony (you know- have to have my foot up ;) ). Last evening was even quieter... Alexander and Nicklas had a sleepover at our friends' house. Gee, I hope that they are still our friends after that experience ;) They have 3 boys (+1 girl) so, actually, they are the ones who deserve to have some time off- not us ;)

Today, the boys start their last swimming lessons. I have lots of work-work on my plate but NO soccer practice tonight for Nicklas- ahhhh.... so I might escape the house and get some work done at a local cafe... out? me? maybe ;)

Wishing you all a good and peaceful week xox

Too bad... have to keep my foot up ;)

Beautiful sky

Apple sauce made with apples from our own tree

At the end of the day... :)

Even old cat takes it easy...

Lego Master's latest creation

Lego Master showing off his Mine Craft man