Beach life

Yesterday, I had just planned to hang out at home after my soccer game (yes, I can play again... kind of :) ) because it was REALLY hot. Happily, that did not end up being the case because some lovely friends of ours invited us to go to the beach with them! Perfect way to spend the afternoon! We went to Oka and had a great time :) I always have to laugh when we get together with the W family because, in total, we have 7 kids (6 boys, 1 girl) so we look like a traveling religious sect ;) Or a zoo, depending on the activity level of the kids ;)

Anyway, it was a great outing that ended with a good roadside restaurant and a beautiful sunset on the ferry trip back home. Outings with the W family are always a great time... thanks guys!

Oliver and his favourite pass time!

A lot of other people had the same idea as us ;)

Happy kid

Buddies, chilling

OK, Oliver! Time to go home! ;)

The boys

The religious sect ;) Yes, they are all ours!

Sunset on the ferry

Ahhhh

A good day....

.... for all!

City

Yesterday, we took the boys for a little trip into the city so that we could take a walk around and experience a bit of Montreal life. I love the feeling of Montreal in the summer... so vibrant! We stopped at a great little sandwich shop on Prince Arthur, walked down Saint Denis and through the Quartier des Spectacles. Andreas and I wanted to continue on but, to the boys, it was like we were asking them to have their teeth pulled ;) We fooled them into a little detour and then headed for a quick stop at their (I mean, Andreas') favourite candy store. A great day!

Now, here is a little photo spam ;)

Jumping

Andreas and I bought the boys a trampoline and it was delivered on Wednesday. Yesterday, the boys (well, mostly Andreas...) spent all afternoon putting it up and now we have a trampoline.. I mean, wrestling ring... in our backyard! Perfect! Now I know what to do when they have too much energy ;) Makes me wonder who we actually bought the trampoline for... ;)

Fun times!

New shoes

Sometimes, I do really dumb things... like taking all 3 boys to go back-to-school shoe shopping. Yups- what the heck was I thinking? ;) It started off fine enough... Nicklas, who is usually the slowest at making up his mind, easily found 2 pairs of shoes that he was happy with. Oliver's choices were even easier because I had taken him shoe shopping the week before (to make up for the trip to the dentist). Alexander, however, has definitely started being a pre-teen teenager :P First, he ONLY liked the most expensive darn shoes in the whole store (Umm... $330 for a pair of shoes- nopes). Then, his preferences were all the shoes that didn't come in his size (of course!). By the time he had finally found one pair that didn't cause him to pretend to throw up, Oliver was bouncing off the walls and Nicka was doing his best to take every pair of shoes off the wall to show Alexander. It was OK- the promised ice cream cone was still holding them in the zone where we were not quite yet a circus ;)
Three stores later and no shoes that Alexander liked, we had the ice cream and all attempt at good behaviour went out the window... Needless to say, that was the point of the day that I called it a day and quit before I totally lost my marbles... :) Thank you to the very patient, sweet young salesman at the first shoe store. I am sure that you must have been very relieved when we left your store, with bags in hand ;)

Later in the afternoon, I took Alexander- and only Alexander- to another shoe store and SUCCESS! We are all done.... :)

Wishing you all a great rest of the day xox

Me

Shopping success!

This weekend

This past weekend was very busy but I can start to see a "shift": the boys' soccer (well, at least for Nicklas and Oliver) is mostly finished for the season- we had the final games on Saturday/Sunday, the weather, although still warm, has more cool mornings/evenings and the days are starting to get shorter. Sad? Yes but I LOVE autumn. Actually, the only thing that I dislike about autumn is that winter is next... and we all know how I feel about winter ;) My soccer season is slowly approaching play-offs time but I sprained my ankle a week ago so I am not playing right now.  Please send quick healing wishes- I could use it! :)

Andreas and I (and kids and animals) spent some time this weekend actually enjoying our balcony (you know- have to have my foot up ;) ). Last evening was even quieter... Alexander and Nicklas had a sleepover at our friends' house. Gee, I hope that they are still our friends after that experience ;) They have 3 boys (+1 girl) so, actually, they are the ones who deserve to have some time off- not us ;)

Today, the boys start their last swimming lessons. I have lots of work-work on my plate but NO soccer practice tonight for Nicklas- ahhhh.... so I might escape the house and get some work done at a local cafe... out? me? maybe ;)

Wishing you all a good and peaceful week xox

Too bad... have to keep my foot up ;)

Beautiful sky

Apple sauce made with apples from our own tree

At the end of the day... :)

Even old cat takes it easy...

Lego Master's latest creation

Lego Master showing off his Mine Craft man

Apple picking in the garden

We have an apple tree in our back yard. Normally, we don't get very many (decent) apples but, this year, Andreas and I decided to pick them before the worms get to them. We ended up with a pretty good first harvest and I will be making a BIG batch of apple sauce this weekend. There is something extremely satisfying about growing your own food... :)

Boys' heaven

Since early summer, the road in front of our house is being redone. The construction workers had to rip up the old road, lay down new pipes, put down new gravel/dirt, roll over it a half dozen times, take a whole bunch of days off, put down more gravel/dirt, roll over it a half dozen times (again), move their portable toilet from in front of our friends' house to the lawn of their neighbours across the street, have coffee, have beer, put down more gravel/dirt, roll over it a half dozen times (again,again) and create lots of dust (not to mention wreck our lawns) ;) Anyway, the boys absolutely LOVE it- seriously. It is a version of their heaven. If TV is boring or I take away their tablets, they have entertainment just outside OUR window!

Today, they are laying down the asphalt... more noise, house shaking and machines ;) Oliver insisted that we watch. I think that the workers are creeped out by me, just watching them (and taking pictures). Maybe they think that I will complain... I don't think that they would ever believe that I am going to write a blog post all about them ;) Or that I will call them "boys' heaven" ;)

Wishing you all a great day xox