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.... 😉

Now

Snow has been falling since mid afternoon. This is now. Here we go again 😉 Bonus about COVID times: I don't have to go out all winter 😉

Hope you all have a great week ahead xox

16 💙

Yesterday, Alexander turned 16 years old. I really wanted to post a happy birthday blog for him but I was not allowed to take his picture 😉 I tried a few times but the best I ended up with were pictures of the back of his head. Anyway, in lieu of current pictures because I gave up, here are photos from Alexander's first birthday at his daycare in Denmark. 

Happy 16th birthday to our first born. We love you!

PS: all these Danish flags were a good way to traumatize his Swedish father 😉 I am sure that Alexander enjoyed that bit 😉

10 random facts from a Sunday evening

1) At the start of this week, we were wearing snow boots. Today, I had on my sandals :)

2) I am finally taking a break from the non stop watching of American election news. Yes, I was addicted. #nailbiter

3) It hit me the other day... since I am teaching online in the winter semester, I literally can avoid being outside for about 99% of the time. Time to turn up the heat and pretend it is summer ;)

4) I booked an appointment for Alexander to have his grad photos taken. Yes, his GRAD photos! When did that happen?

5) In line with #3, I will have to pick up some Aperol :)

6) Today, I finally sorted all the 5 million socks that I have been avoiding for about 3 years ;) I feel oddly accomplished...

7) I am also addicted to Ferrero Rocher chocolates. They are evil and take no prisoners ;)

8) Also, in line with #3, I may have to keep shaving my legs all winter long ;) #lifeisrough

9) I love drinking coffee at night... it helps me sleep... really.

10) I heard an airplane yesterday. It sounded so strange.

Wishing you all a happy week ahead xox

Happy Halloween!

Normally, I am not a big fan of Halloween. Ever since the boys were really small, Halloween always meant rushing home from work, getting stuck in traffic because everyone else was also rushing home from work, having someone suddenly not like their costume anymore, having to find last minute costume replacements, having to fight with boys because they never wanted to cover up their costumes with jackets... even when it was snowing, having 1/3 boys decide that they had enough trick or treating RIGHT NOW and having to put very sugar high boys to bed because there was ALWAYS school the next day. This scenario does not include the fighting over who had which candies and who got the best stash ;) In other words, Halloween was always wine-worthy when the boys were finally asleep ;) Ah! The good old days ;)

This year, surprise surprise, Halloween is happening but only within our house... movies have been planned and candies have been purchased. The sugar rush will still happen but 2020 style... and it will still be wine worthy ;)

Happy Halloween!

 

Glimpses from an autumn walk

 Today was an absolutely beautiful day so our boys begged us to take them on a nature walk in the sunshine... Actually, just kidding... I asked them all if they wanted to come with their loving parents for a walk in the woods but, unsurprisingly, we got grunts and a polite "No, thank you" (at least, I would like to think it was a polite decline)😉 Anyway, WE had a lovely time. The colours were stunning and the warm sun felt so nice. This weekend is also Canadian Thanksgiving so it was the perfect opportunity to feel thankful.

Now, I get to share a little bit of our walk with you. Happy Thanksgiving :)

PS: this is a 15 minute drive from our front door. We are blessed xox

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