Merry Christmas from our home to yours....

Merry Christmas!

The day started off on the tail of a big snow/wind/rain/ice storm, which left us all wondering if Christmas was just not meant to be... again... but the wind cleared, the ice wasn't too bad and the roads were driveable. We had a small gathering, short and sweet, but it was nice to reclaim the holiday again. 

Wishing you all love and peace during this holiday season... from our home to yours...

Happy 1st Advent

Even though the main focus of today is football, football and football, we are still trying to keep the advent tradition going. Maybe the present and cookies help draw some attention ;) 

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy 1st Advent and a good week ahead xox

Happy 3rd Advent!

This coming week will be the last before the Christmas break. Needless to say, I cannot wait! The thought of being able to spend the day in my pajamas is so appealing right now ;)

Wishing you all a Happy 3rd Advent! May this week fly by xox

A little bit of Sunday cosiness

Happy 3rd Avent!

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

I took a few moments today to think about all the things that I am thankful for and felt blessed because of all what came to mind. To add icing on the cake, the sun was warm and leaves were beautiful... Can't ask for more...

May you all have a long list of things that you are thankful for xox

How Canadian ;) I bet this goose is happy that he is not a turkey ;)

More Ottawa

Frankly, I don't know what I was more impressed about: the Canadian Nature Museum or the fact that my boys walked ALL day without complaining. They are both pretty up there ;)

The other thing that I was pretty impressed about was that the boys didn't ask how much longer we were staying at the museum... not even one time. To me, that is a clear 10/10 for museum rating. We got to spend time with dinosaurs, ocean animals, land animals, space, minerals, butterflies, Arctic peoples and culture and the earth. Pretty awesome for 5 hours!

Overall, so glad we went.

Now for some good dinner plans for our last night in Ottawa... Tomorrow is the Byward Market before heading home.... Oh yeah! There is a Marimekko boutique there = danger ;)

xox

March break in Ottawa

This year, for March break, we decided to take the boys to Ottawa for a few days of visiting museums and learning about the parliament buildings (hmmm.... almost sounds educational.... mwahahahaha!). Today, after arriving, we went to the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Despite the initial hesitation on their part (it IS a museum, after all), the boys really enjoyed it. The displays were a really good mix of interesting things for all ages (even for Andreas and I... the professional science geeks).

On an impulse, I booked our hotel over Christmas and I am so glad that we ended up with this one... so glad that we decided that we might just move in ;) It ended up being more like a really big apartment where the boys even have their own "wing". We are right downtown so it is perfectly located and, with a kitchen, we can have a slow breakfast in our own room. Awesome!

Tomorrow, we will go to the Museum of Nature and then visit the Parliament buildings. Will let you know how all that goes...  ;)

Now, here is some photo spam..... will be back tomorrow xox

"No Clue"

Firstly, I have to emphasize that this is NOT a complaint because I am actually enjoying it but it has become the "No Clue" part of the holiday. You know what I mean...the part of the holiday where you have absolutely no idea what time of the day it is or what day it is or if you should actually be doing something or if your kids have been wearing the same pajamas for 2 days or 3 or if left over Christmas cookies can be considered breakfast or a better lunch 😉 Thank goodness for my agenda! I know that it is the 28th.... I have to wash my hair today.... I have to buy groceries.... and we have friends coming over for dinner this evening... oh yeah... it is also laundry day 😉

Happy "No Clue"!

Happy 4th Advent!

Happy 4th Advent!

I have to say that I have been fantasizing about today... the day where holidays really start (actually, I still have grading to do but am conveniently denying it for the next few days 😉). This past semester has been a hard one- I felt exhausted before it even started- so I am happy to just try to relax for a little while. Pajamas and wine sound really good! This morning, the boys opened their advent presents as we enjoyed a cup of coffee (or two). After a slow start, both Andreas and I had to go to our respective work to pick up some last minute stuff (this is why I consider today the day where the holidays really start) and then run some errands. I think that we bought enough groceries to feed an army (= in our house, that means that we will run out in about 2 days 😉). I started to wrap Christmas presents but, unfortunately, Oliver unexpectedly walked in while I was doing it so I had to think up something quick to keep the Santa thing going. He has been asking whether Santa exists for a few weeks now so I think he is onto something... I better come up with something good to keep the believing vibes going 😉
Tomorrow, my family is coming over. I actually enjoy cooking for people so it should be fun. I cleaned off my counter tops to make a bit of space but they will be looking like "food hoarder" before company even arrives.
Anyway, just wanted to wish you all a very happy 4th Advent... and a fantastic holiday season. I will stop in again tomorrow to say Merry Christmas.

Glad you stopped by xox

Oliver, frustrated that he has to wait for his brothers to open his present 😉

First day of holiday

Today is my first official day of holidays! Yes, I am absolutely excited and happy for it but I have to admit that I have a hard time letting go of work. This morning, I felt a bit guilty for not putting together my usual "to do" list... but I quickly poured another coffee to put me back into holiday mode. The rest of today will be spent getting the boys to and from the pool. Maybe not so much of a holiday but it works for me ;)

Happy Monday to you all xox

Last day of school

Today was the last day for elementary school (Oliver and Nicklas). Alexander has already been off for a week now (= the teenager can finally sleep in). I have to admit that I am pretty excited for the summer holidays to start... at least I am now. Ask me again in a few weeks... after the fighting starts... and I will tell you about how much I love the school year ;) For now, though, I can feel vacation coming up.... and it feels good :)

Happy last day of school xox

Alexander was sleeping when this photo was taken... lucky kid!

Now it is all about the chocolate eggs...

It used to be a lot easier at holiday time because we could include all the boys in the holiday-related activities. We could gear the theme towards Alexander and Nicklas and Oliver was just so darn happy to be a part of it that it worked. I could take the boys to visit Santa or colour Easter eggs and it was guaranteed a good time. Lately, holiday time has become more about stopping Alexander and Nicklas from wrecking it for Oliver. For example, in grade 6, Alexander decided that Santa no longer existed (but of course he does for all of you readers who believe 😉). He was very happy to play along with things for the sake of Nicklas and Oliver... it made him feel very grown up and he enjoyed it. Flash forward to Nicklas in grade 5... and Alexander turning 13... and I had to have a long talk with them about letting Oliver enjoy Santa. Thankfully, they went along with it but it makes me worried that Oliver will have to lose out on some of these memories because his brothers no longer believe in it.
For Easter this year, Oliver was dying to do an egg hunt. When I brought it up with the other 2, I got eye rolls and laughter. The compromise was that I would hide the chocolate (see- we skimped out on colouring the eggs- bad me) and the big boys would cheer him on as he found the candy. It was easy enough to get them to cheer because Oliver would share the 5 million chocolate eggs that he found. It ended up working because Oliver got to do the egg hunt... and the other 2 never complain about getting more sugar ;)
Suggestions about preserving the magic for the younger sibling(s) are greatly appreciated! As I said, so far, the bigger boys have been pretty good at entertaining Oliver during the holidays but I would like him to enjoy it for as long as he can. You know, I also find it WAY more fun when the kids are still into it! Maybe it keeps the magic going for the parents as well 😉

Hope you all had a great Easter/Passover or well-deserved break xox

In the "easier" days ;)

Friends, the winter version

We spend a lot of time with the W family during the summers (soccer, travels such as PEI- see here, more soccer, backyard camping- see here, and even more soccer) but, given that their boys are in hockey and mine are not (I know... bad Canadian mother... I feel so bad... NOT 😉), we don't see much of them in the winter.... except over the Christmas holidays because there are no sports activities to run to! BEST TIME EVER! So, yesterday, Andreas took them sledding at a neighbourhood hill (because it was finally not -100C... OK... small exaggeration but it was almost that bad) and now they are all downstairs recovering from a sleep-over so they can cram in as much of W boys as possible before the return to school on Monday ;)

Oh yeah...  return to routine on Monday... wow! Where did the holiday go?

Happy Thursday... or Wednesday... or whatever day it is.... 😉

Too cool for his hat. Good thing his father is nicer than I am ;)

All photos are courtesy of Andreas because I was at home with Oliver ;)