Where did the summer go?

All of a sudden, I am back at work. What the heck happened to summer? Summer, I had such hopes for you! I thought that you would bring something positive to 2020. I thought that you would be there for me.... What happened? Last night, I found myself watching geese flying... and probably in the wrong direction. I am getting emails from the boys' schools. The pick up date for school supplies is next week. I am preparing my online courses for fall 2020. Where are you going, summer? I still need you!

My week plans have now been modified to include: more sitting in the sun, putting a bottle of rosé on ice and enjoying more evening walks. I need to absorb as much vitamin D as I can, while I can.

Summer, so far your visit has been pretty quick. Think you can drag it out a while longer? Much appreciated xox

Walk

This afternoon, I went for a walk with Andreas at a local nature park.... and we were kid-free ;) Not that we wouldn't have brought the boys but the big ones gave us a funny grunt when we asked if they wanted to come and Oliver was at a friend's house. Anyway, at least no one asked us how much further we had to walk for ;)
We are lucky because we have a really nice nature park about a 15 minute drive from our house (Cap St Jacques... see here). You can rent cross country skis and snow shoes but we opted to go for the simple walking trail. It was really nice because the sun was actually warm and the sky was super blue. The mid way of the trail hike even had a little sugar shack with good coffee (always a bonus in my books). We're going out for dinner tonight so the walk was a good way to earn some wine and desert ;) It is all about balance ;)

Happy Saturday! xox

Saturday

Last night was pretty crappy: I had a headache that just knocked me out. Even though it was better by the morning, I felt wiped. Usually, that would put a pretty big dent in my day but, today, I was actually fine with it. The sun was shining and I had a good excuse not to do anything... or go anywhere...  and, sometimes, we all need a day like that ;) Andreas put out the patio furniture. I helped him do some planting in the garden. The boys played on the trampoline. We had a nice, relaxing day in our backyard and it was a real treat!

This summer, we decided to only do very short trips away from home. Even though we had a great holiday in Scandinavia last summer, I am looking forward to spending time here... at home... enjoying our own space. There are so many outdoor projects that we would like to do and it will be so nice to actually get to them for a change. Is it wrong to want to be lazy? ;) Sign me up!

Hope you all had a great Saturday! xox

Happy Sunday

Melting snow + warm sunshine = good day! Despite me kicking them off the PS4 to go outside (worst mother in the universe), the boys reluctantly started to enjoy the sun :)

xox

#699

Wow- this is blog post #699... in honour of the upcoming #700, I wanted to write something deep... something meaningful... something poetic... however, I don't have enough brain cells to meet the challenge. So, you get some more photos of Montreal ;) Given that we will have temperatures up to 14C this week, the atmosphere in the city has shifted. People are in better moods... walking straighter... coming back to life... hope it is not a tease ;)

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday evening xox

Look! No snow!

Drying up...

Happy me!

The stores are starting to sell SHORTS!

More shorts!

Ahhhh...

Happy people!

Even the buildings are starting to sparkle ;)

See- no snow! ;)

Happy Wednesday from Montreal :)

Cold!!!!

When it is -20C outside, it is always best to remember summer ;) Ahhhhhh.... ;)

Hope you all stay warm and cosy... and dream of the sound of waves and the feeling of fine sand between your toes <3

Cosy day

Today I stayed home with the boys because it was a day off from their school. It was such a beautiful day and I felt so fortunate to be able to be outside! When Andreas got home, he put up the long awaited trampoline and we got some gardening done. Alexander, the lucky guy, was invited to go overnight camping with one of his best friends so he head out mid afternoon. To make up for it. Oliver and Nicka helped put up the trampoline and got to jump, jump, jump...
Now we are winding down for bed... I hope that Alexander remembers to brush his teeth ;)

Happy Friday to you all!

Today: an office with a view ;)

Last week, I thought my "new office" was a good idea and it couldn't get any better... I was wrong ;) Today, my "office" was on my backyard patio, with a bonus of beautiful sun, 23C temperature, a comfortable desk, an ice cream cone and my 2 new colleagues ;)

I finally finished grading about 30 minutes ago (YES!!! FINALLY!!!!) and will walk over to the boys' school to pick them up. We can all enjoy a nice walk home in the almost summer-like weather!

Hope your day is as awesome as ours.... When you live in Canada, you have to appreciate every drop of sunshine xox

This is a much nicer office than the one that I have at work ;)

Nice big windows ;)

The food is not bad ;)

Hello, colleague #1 ;)

I think that I am getting a dirty look from colleague #2 ;)

DONE!

Whew!!!!!! ;)

The week so far...

I am almost finished grading.... and I am SO thankful! This week has been filled with (finally) gorgeous weather, a chance to participate in a school run (1.5km) with Nicka, a slow return to sanity (or family insanity by means of selfies), a sunroof that we can finally put down, outside play time and lots of flowers that are slowly coming out of hibernation. Needless to say, all of these factors make for a good early part of the week.

xox to you all!