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! ;)

Because life just wasn't noisy enough before ;)

Alexander chose to play trumpet for his school music class. I had suggested flute but he didn't take my request ;) Andreas gave him the idea of trumpet so I totally blame him. At least, he can actually get a noise that almost resembles trumpet out of it... problem is that, apparently, louder is better ;)

Happy Saturday evening! I plan on spending mine with a good pair of earplugs ;)

Hallowe'en weekend

This weekend was filled with ghosts, scary zombies (and not just me before my morning coffee), morph costumes, friends and lots of SUGAR! We had a lovely time trick-or-treating with friends in our neighbourhood and great socializing afterwards. The weather was on our side (ie: no rain, snow or -15C) and we also got to change our clocks and gain one hour more sleep! I'll take it :) This evening, after the kids are in bed, Andreas will take his share of the 20% candy tax and I will guiltless-ly eat the dark chocolate/almond bar that I bought to celebrate Hallowe'en ;)

Wishing you all a great week xox

A little breather

I know that I have written about this before but, sometimes, our family goes up north to a place called Mont Tremblant for an evening away. We love to stay in the cosy village and just hang out together. Even though it is only for a night or two tops, it really helps to give a little breather. This whole semester at work has been very busy for both Andreas and me so these little breaks are much appreciated. So appreciated that I can now use another ;)

Wishing you all a great rest of the week xox

Hope you make it through the photo spam ;)

La Famille Hibou

Oliver has a class project. He brought home the Owl Family (Stella, Lola, Manolo, Alfie, Frida and Charlie) from kindergarten. All the children get to bring the owls home for a night and they learn how to take care of them (they come with bottles, toothbrushes, blankets and tents). Oliver was over the moon when it was finally his turn! It also worked out well for the Owl Family (La Famille Hibou) because they got to come to Mt. Tremblant with us! How cosy!

First, after arriving at our hotel room, Oliver took the owls out of their safe traveling place (ie: our suitcase) and made sure that they were comfortable. They were not allowed to come to the Aqua Club with us (they don't like water) so they got to rest in the hotel room. When we got back after swimming, Oliver took care of them again (he offered them a bottle). They sat on the bed with him and watched some TV while I made them dinner... seriously, I did ;) Baked mouse and veggies... it was pretend but I am sure that they liked it ;) After dinner, we played a bit before getting ready for bed. By 8:30 both owls and boys were tired so it was toothbrush time and BED! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

We woke up this morning and slowly got ready to leave. The owls got some breakfast (not sure what it was because Oliver made it) and then they were packed in my bag because the view was better than in the suitcase. We put the owls in the car while we walked around a bit. Oliver said that they didn't like to walk around anyway.

The owls are now back at our house, getting ready to go back to school tomorrow. We had a great time with La Famille Hibou... hoped they enjoyed it too! Our little trip to Tremblant was a cosy way to spend the weekend. Stella, Lola, Manolo, Alfie and Frida said that they wanted to go back again and try skiing next time.... Have fun with the next family xox

Oliver posing with the owls

All cosy!

La Famille Hibou at Mt. Tremblant

Ready for the trip home!

Photo spam Friday

I am SO happy that it is Friday! We have decided to spend a bit of time getting a change of scene this weekend so we will be taking a drive up north to enjoy the leaves changing colour. This year, we have been lucky and it has stayed warm up until maybe last week so the leaves have just started turning gold and red. I am really looking forward to it!

I promise to share some of the photos of autumn splendour but, in the mean time, here is a photo spam from the last week. Wishing you all a happy Friday and great weekend xox

Montreal colours

Back alleyways

Autumn showers

Oliver's new favourite book ;)

Contrasts

Local produce delivered to our house by the man who grew them

More colour contrasts

 

The last of the action shots for the season....

Great place to get rid of extra energy

We'll be sorry to say bye to the trampoline for the winter