Date day

Today, Andreas and I had a very non traditional date day. We even got dressed up... in rain jackets and rubber boots ;)  Armed with shovels and work gloves, we went to help out at a local volunteer centre to fill, move and load sandbags for those affected by the floods. I had gone there earlier in the week with Nicklas and Alexander (here) but, because we had about 50 mm of rain over the past few days and the risk of flooding was still very high, we wanted to go back and help out again.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, it was a really fun date! It was amazing how many friends we met up with and how many people we got to know in the few hours that we were there. Nothing brings people together like a good cause and a lot of mud ;) We participated in a human chain that helped move sandbags from the bagging area to the backs of cars/trucks/vans and it felt good to be a part of something so positive. Even though our time there was limited by chauffeuring boys to football practice, we were so impressed with all those who have made helping out a full time effort over the past week. You are all heroes! To all those who are living with the fear of losing their homes, we are thinking of you and admiring your courage.... may the sandbag walls stay strong and keep the water out!

If you live nearby, please consider coming out to help for a few hours. Honestly, it is a lot of fun... you won't need to go to the gym (moving sandbags is a really good workout) and the help will be really appreciated :)

Stay safe and dry, our neighbours xox

No break

It is still raining... :(

My mother sent me these pictures today, taken from a drone (I have no idea who actually took them so my apologies for the lack of photo credits). It shows part of the flooded area, about a 15 minute drive from our house. Actually, on Saturday, my weekend soccer game was cancelled because the place where we play (about 5 minute walk from the area in the pictures) was deemed dangerous to bring people into :(

On the top picture, the actual river is on the right hand side. On the bottom one, the river is at the bottom of the image. The rest of the water is the flood.. and covering parking lots, streets and peoples' properties :(

If you can, please send positive "dry" thoughts to our neighbours. It is really appreciated!

xox to you all!

Rain, rain

Normally, I don't mind rain at all. In my opinion, I will take it over snow any day ;) The thing is that, lately, there was been a ton of rain and some of the communities around us are flooded. No one remembers having seen the rivers and lakes around Montreal so high before. My Saturday morning soccer games have been cancelled today because the streets that surround where we play are literally rivers. It is pretty serious: people are actually out with rowboats on what is, normally, not meant for rowboats. I heard on the news this morning that the military is being called to help with sandbags and evacuating people from flooded homes. Unfortunately, we are supposed to get even more rain soon. This is one time that I am glad that we do not have waterfront or near waterfront property!

If you are living in one of the affected areas, please stay safe... and, hopefully, dry xox

I took this picture off the internet. It is about a 10 minute drive from where we live :( Stay safe, neigbours!

Rainy holiday

Today was rainy but, honestly, I was fine with it (OK.. not so much the boys). We had the chance to be cosy at my inlaws', without the need to rush around. In the morning, Alexander, Andreas and I went to a local mall. Andreas and Alexander got to check out Swedish candies while I had 45 minutes of shopping. I ended up buying some clothes from a Swedish brand that I like (Lindex) and got some good deals (pictures to come). That was a real treat :) Bigger treat was that I fit into some kids' pants that I really liked ;) Nothing like that to boost my 45 year old ego ;)
Later in the day, my sister in law came by with her husband and 2 children. Oliver is in total bro-mance mode with his cousin Isak because, finally, he has a family member who is his size ;) My sister's boys are closer in age to Alexander and Nicklas so he feels a bit left out, I guess. They are so cute together because they have absolutely no idea what the other is saying but it doesn't matter at all- they figure it out :) The older boys thought that it would be fun to entertain the little kids by drawing mustaches on their faces with pen. Part of me hopes that the mustaches will come off while the other part of me hopes that they will not- serves them right after I told them not to do it ;) Mean mother ;)
Alexander is now doing a sun-dance so that the weather is nicer tomorrow. He is on a mission to go crabbing again. I think that he is out of luck but I won't tell him because the dance is pretty good!

Good evening to all! xox

Cheesy mustache

Nicklas with his pensive look

Cosy time (yes, I am bugging his tablet watching)

Rain, rain

Yesterday and today has been very rainy. Cons = cancelled soccer practices and being in the house. Pros = cancelled soccer practices and being in the house ;) Oh yeah, and no watering the lawn..

Hope your week has started off well... my beloved peonies are out so I am happy :)

A little break....

Today started off with lots of rain..... and 14 degree C temperatures :) Take that snow! We're getting a little bit of a break before cold weather and snow is back again. That is fine! I'll take it :)

Lots of rain...

It has been very wet and grey lately. I have to admit that I don't mind it so much..... as long as it is NOT SNOW!!!! ;) Then you will all hear me complain! Bet you can't wait ;)

May you all have a nice and relaxing evening.... and a dry one!

Rain, rain....

It was very humid all day yesterday (30degrees C, feeling like 40).... until the thunder and lightning rolled in.... just as we were about to play our semi-final soccer game!!! :( What a let down! On the bright side, it is cooler and more bearable today. We've had lots of rain overnight and throughout the day so everything is very, very green! It is also kind of nice just to stay at home, especially after the crazy week that I/we just had!
Tomorrow, Alexander is playing in his soccer finals. Unfortunately, I am playing at exactly the same time! I hope that Andreas takes lots of pictures and that Alexander feels all the good wishes and love that I am sending from my game :) I'll let you all know how these games go! Please wish us luck! If my team wins, then we go to the finals!! Yah!
Happy Saturday to you all :)

Oliver's plant is getting a bit of a shower!

This whole plant (pumpkin) came from one small seed that Andreas planted in the spring!

Lots of rain!

Outside my house... we warned you ;)

Lots of rain

There was lots of rain today. Oliver and I took advantage of the weather and sat outside to watch the storm come in. It got really dark, really fast but we had fun watching the rain and- excitement- thunder/lightning! This was, according to Oliver, so cool. The big boys preferred to play video games ;) According to Nicka and Alexander, video games are WAY cooler....

Oliver's photographic work ;)

Dark sky coming in

Mission: Rainy day = play with Lego. Apparently this is me ;) Cool!

Thundershowers = no swimming lessons

When we woke up this morning, the skies were rumbling! It wasn't even a question of finding out if the swimmng lessons would be cancelled... we all knew for sure that it would be a home day. I took Oliver into daycare so he could hang with his posse and he actually seemed to be happy to go ;) It is "car show and tell day" so he was excited for the trip in this morning, with all 3 fave cars in hand.
It never ceases to amaze me how much I can get done at home when I get a good home day in- even managed to bake some bread and cut Alexander's hair (NOT THE BANGS- his specific instructions)! I know that the boys are totally bored (yes, I am making them read again today) but, at least, they can appreciate that not going to the pool is the fault of Mother Nature, instead of Mother Boring at Home ;) Maybe they will be lucky and the storm will clear up for this afternoon...

Have a great day!

Happy to be at home

It is a rainy, grey, cool day today so we have decided to stay at home. I really don't mind- sometimes, with all the running around, it is kind of nice to become grounded  by enjoying our home and each other (yeah, I wish!). The boys are downstairs, discovering toys that they didn't even remember that they had. It is kind of like Christmas ;) I get to start my workday a bit early and make some of my home secretary phone calls that I have been putting off. Coffee is on and cinnamon bread is in the oven :) (The cinnamon bread is ok because I get to burn it off with 2 soccer games this evening!).
Hope you all have a good day!

Lots of rain on our window!

A little bit of colour

Pink orchids

Oliver, with his Tintin hair, happy to be at home :)

What to do on a rainy day...

Unfortunately for the boys, on their first day of summer holidays, it is raining... so we are taking it easy at home. Oliver has decided that banging his remote control car into his bum is the best thing to do when you are stuck at home in rainy weather. Alexander is watching football with Andreas and Nicklas is trying out new worlds on Minecraft (that is for another blog post). I am spending this morning making some earrings (both for me and others)! Easy to do and they look pretty good, if I have to say so myself ;) Add a cup of coffee and, voila, mother therapy day!
Have a good one!

Rainy, rainy Friday

It has been raining non stop for 2 days now (I just want to be absolutely clear that I am NOT complaining) so we ended up with an unexpected Friday night off because all soccer games/make up practices are cancelled. The fields are just too wet and swampy! What on earth to do? ;) Time to cosy and relax... Ahhhh! I picked up a nice bottle of wine and tapas on the way home and plan to check out some World Cup soccer on TV (if you can't play, might as well watch). Hope you all have a great Friday night!