Tuesday, November 29, 2016

What a MondayTuesday!

Today was a definite MondayTuesday! It all started off with a morning where just about everyone thought it was hard to get up...
Then:
- Alexander forgot the yellow jersey that he needed to wear for his school's pride event.
- I felt bad but had NO idea that he needed a yellow jersey.
- I even dressed him in a black t-shirt, of all colours!
- The nice little drizzle that started in the early morning turned into freezing rain.
- Andreas was going to take the yellow jersey to Alexander but ended up having to scrape ice off the car instead.
- We were late taking the younger boys to school because we had to scrape a ton of ice off the cars.
- Andreas and I missed our train and had to take the next one.
- I decided to take a taxi and miss my lovely walk because I would be late.... and soaking wet... for my 10:05 am class.
- I made it to work at 9:45 and found that I had run out of coffee :(
- I taught from 10:05 until 11:25... which ended up being more like 11:30.
- In my 10:05 class, I found out that the projector (that I needed) was broken.
- I taught from 11:35 until 2:25... which ended up being more like 2:35 because the student evaluations that I was doing ran late.
- I taught from 2:40 until 3:55.
- I found out that the projector that was broken in my 10:05 class was STILL broken and I needed it for the student presentations in my 2:40 class.
- I ended up eating my lunch at 2:45... and, unfortunately, it was a stinky lunch... but I had to eat it during the student presentations.
- I had to rush out at 3:55 to catch the train so that I could pick up the kids on time. By the time that I actually got out of the building, it was 4:03 :(
- Every boy had homework that they suddenly remembered...
- Andreas was held up at work...
- I had to clean up cat throw up from the floor.... and there is nothing more disgusting than cold,wet cat throw up :(
- It is 8:04pm and Alexander is still practising his baritone downstairs....
- The younger boys don't like the sound of the baritone...
- Isn't it bed time yet? ;)

Happy Monday-Tuesday... may tomorrow be a better one ;) xox









Monday, November 28, 2016

Before and after

Yesterday, I took a picture of Alexander while he was goofing around in his new advent hat. When I looked at the picture, I could clearly remember him as a baby, with his other red hat. Here is Alexander, both before and after..... ;)

Hope you all had a good Monday xox


Before....

After ;)

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Happy first of advent!

Just stopping by to wish you all a very happy first of advent! The boys had a long weekend so I thought that there would be more time to get things done but, as usual, that concept didn't quite work out for me ;) I did manage to wrap the advent presents... whew! Again, I went with the 4 presents (one for each advent), rather than the totally crazy 24 little gifts that I tried a few years back (to witness my insanity see here ;) I also prioritized a trip to a local European shop to pick up some advent cookies/candies/chocolates... I say that it was for the boys but, honestly, I had a craving ;) Now, we are finishing homework and starting to get organized for the week ahead. Wishing you all a good evening xox

Here are some glimpses of the weekend:



Super cool elf dude ;)



Folding laundry is always better with wine ;)



Oliver's dragon artwork


Slow cooker Sunday :)


A real November sky

Advent presents

Advent goodies :)

The boys with their first of advent presents on ;)

The best pajama ever ;)

Thursday, November 24, 2016

The attraction of ice crushing

I don't know... maybe it is just my boys... but, the second there is ice, there is ice crushing. Ice crushing involves standing on the ice and trying to break it with the heel of your boot. The ice can be 4 feet deep and you will still see kids trying to crush it. I see it on the school ground: the kids look like a bunch of turkeys, all pecking at the ice. Seriously, my boys will ask to go outdoors and all they will do is try to ice crush. They even invite friends over, if we have a good ice patch. All the neighbourhood kids, pecking away at the ice and having the time of their lives ;) The absolute BEST ice crushing happens when the temperature fluctuates and you have thin ice (= easy crush) but you have the WATER underneath it! How totally satisfying to crush through the ice and splash into a big puddle of water. Yes, totally awesome for the mother who has to dry your pants, your boots and clean off the inevitable mud patch that has been hiding under the darn water puddle!! Ugh!

Anyway, ice crushing season has started already. Oliver likes his new boots.. not based on the fact that they are new... or waterproof.... or rated to -40C.... or still fluffy inside.... but because they are good ice crushing boots ;) Nicka and his friends are competing on who can crush the most ice. Alexander, all cool in high school, says that he no longer crushes ice with his friends... but I am sure that, while waiting for the bus, they all still do it... they just don't admit to it ;)

Happy ice crushing to you all! ;)


Nothing like a good ice crush to start your day ;)




Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Our exciting hermit crabs;)

Actually, I am being a bit sarcastic here.... imagine that ;) Remember when we bought hermit crabs (here) because Oliver was heartbroken that we couldn't bring our PEI friends home with us? Well... I must say that they are not the most entertaining pets that you could ever hope for ;) On a regular basis, I have to dig them out from their hiding places and make sure that they are still alive. Once dug out, I place them in their food bowl (I NEVER see them eat) and the big entertainment is watching them run... seriously, they run... back into their coconut shell and dig themselves under the coconut shavings that line their home. After I put them in the food bowl, I have to call out the boys to hurry up and see their little pets move... otherwise, they disappear until the next "dig out".
OK.. I agree with Andreas... the crabs are a big boring but, after our animal zoo- 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 fish and all our animals of the human kind ;) - I kind of like the low maintenance aspect of the hermit crabs. The weekly "excitement" is fine with me ;)

xox


Can you spot the 2 crabs in the food bowl? The third (Oliver's) is already making his get away ;)

Monday, November 21, 2016

More white

I know that, despite my dislike of winter, there are lots of people who actually love the snow. So, in honour of you courageous- or crazy- people (just kidding!), here are some pictures of our new found whiteness...

I must say that, in a picture, it actually looks kind of cosy but- for the record- the snow hurt my face this morning because it was mixed with little pieces of ice. Trust me- it looks cosier than it was ;)

Wishing you all a happy start to the week xox











Sunday, November 20, 2016

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Toilet troubles

I live in a household with 3 boys... and a husband... so, actually, that equals 4 boys. I also live in a household where my toilet smells like an alleyway after a beer festival, if you catch my analogy. Yes, it smells like pee. Actually, it is not the toilet that smells like pee but it is the porcelain base around it, and the floor, that reek. Guess what? It makes me crazy. I have a sensitive sense of smell and it drives me nuts. Actually, I could be missing a nose and still smell it. So, every day, I become crazy pee-on-floor cleaning lady.. or ranting crazy-pee-on-floor cleaning lady.... Maybe you are asking why this is so.... it is BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO SITS DOWN!!!!

Anyway, after 10 years of our poor toilet absorbing pee smell, I had enough. When Andreas asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I broke down and asked for a new toilet. Seriously. I wanted a toilet that had no nooks and crannies underneath it. I wanted one that was easy to keep clean. I wanted one that was new... and with a big bowl... preferably with a target painted in it. The last part is a joke but you know what I mean. He refused to buy it for me for Christmas but did not argue when I went out and bought one anyway. I guess he understood my frustration but was also probably sick of hearing me rant. Anyway, yesterday, our new toilet was installed. The plumber called it the "Cadillac of toilets".. seriously. I don't care about that... I just want something that does not smell! I was hoping that the "Cadillac" came with its own cleaner but, alas, no. So, we are back to a clean toilet.... with a big bowl.. and I am still debating painting the target on the inside of the bowl ;)

Happy Saturday! xox


See- clean... and smell free :) Please note the easy to clean base!

Welcome to the family ;)



Friday, November 18, 2016

Foggy Friday

When we woke up this morning, it was amazing how foggy it was! The night was quite cool but, at 6am, it was already above 8C. Both the fog and the warm morning temperatures at the middle of November were totally magical!

Tonight, Alexander is going to the movie theatre with some friends and I have agreed to take them. Kind of like a post birthday celebration with friends.... Wish me luck ;)

Wishing you all a great rest-of-your Friday... and weekend! xox







Monday, November 14, 2016

Counting my blessings

I know that it is not a big deal... but on a Monday, it is pretty special to be able to go to work... wearing shoes (not boots but real shoes).... with no socks.... not even stockings... and it be warm enough :) By mid-November, Montreal weather can be pretty harsh, so I will enjoy this and count my blessings ;)

Happy Monday xox



Sunday, November 13, 2016

12

Today is Alexander's 12th birthday! I cannot believe how time flies! Wishing you all the happiness, health and love that you deserve, my big boy xox

Hope everyone else also has a great Sunday :)


12 years ago!

<3

Friday, November 11, 2016

Postcards from Montreal... nothing gold can stay....

This week has been filled with the unexpected and sad... From President Trump to our Veterans' Day to the loss of the beautiful Leonard Cohen... Lots of events to ponder upon...

Wishing you a peaceful Friday night xox



Getting ready for Christmas.... already!

Thinking about those who fought in the Great Wars 

Party on a bench... sparking wine... not just any party ;)

Falling leaves

Great resting place

The Yellow Door is celebrating 50 years... which included Leonard Cohen... RIP

Nothing gold can stay....

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

This morning....

This morning, Oliver woke up in a cranky mood. He wasn't listening... took forever with breakfast... kept "forgetting" to get dressed.... Finally, Andreas bent down, looked him in they eye and told him to get ready for school. Oliver looked at him and said "Pappa... stop telling me to get ready... YOU are NOT making America great".

Umm... how do you respond to that one?  :P


Peace and love xox


On his way.... to make America great? ;)


Monday, November 7, 2016

Winter is coming (a post by Oliver)

Today, Oliver is my guest blogger. We arrived at school a bit early so I asked him what he wanted me to write ;)

When we went to school today, there was frost all over the place. Winter is coming soon, I think. Christmas too. I can tell because the leaves and grass are all frosty. If I walk in the frost, I leave footprints. I found a really frosty leaf and my mamma took a picture for me. 


Happy Monday to you all xox






Sunday, November 6, 2016

The never ending laundry pile

Over the past weeks, I have become so behind with laundry. I am OK with the actual washing part but, after it ends up in the big IKEA bag on the floor, it sort of just acts like layers. Layers that I keep piling onto ;) By the end of the week, I have very stuffed, very layered and very blue bags all over our bedroom.
Yesterday, I put the music on and finally tackled the task of folding and putting the laundry away. Going through the layers, I found Nicka's missing sweater, Oliver's favourite Spider Man socks and Alexander's phys ed shirt. I also found the floor of our bedroom... and yes, it needed vacuuming- which is another story ;)

Happy rest of the weekend! It was Daylight Savings but, alas, with young kids and dogs, there was no sleeping in for us ;)

xox



Saturday, November 5, 2016

Saturday night cosy

Andreas is sitting at the kitchen table, getting some work done. Nicka and Alexander have some friends over so they are playing video games down in the basement. I am hanging out with Oliver on the couch. Sometimes, it is the small moments that make the weekend so worth it!

Wishing you all a cosy Saturday night xox








Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Trick or Treat

Last night ended up being better than I had anticipated. Let me start off by saying that I am not a big Hallowe'en fan. I know.... bah... humbug ;) It is just that 1) my kids always end up running off in all directions, 2) everything gets totally chaotic, 3) it feels like it is a non stop sprint from work to home to dinner to getting costumes on to running around the neighbourhood and 4) they end up with WAY more candy than I know what to do with.... and eating candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 4 weeks is out of the question ;)

Yesterday morning, both Nicka and Oliver were costume-less. Let me add that it was NOT because of me... I had taken them to a second hand clothing store (Value Village) and told them that I would help them create a costume. Alexander walked out with a cheeseburger costume and the two younger brothers fought hard to buy a sword and plastic hunting knife (and the latter 2 are definitely NOT costumes!!!). To my surprise, we were able to go through our "old" costume pile and put together something for both Nicka and Oliver and it was- wait for this- relatively argument free... whew!

Since I am not a big Hallowe'en fan, I was not sure if I wanted to dress up or not but, at the last minute and on a total whim, I decided to dress up as one of my favourite people... ANDREAS (see link for my inspirational moment).  I don't think that he was too impressed but I had a fun time ;)

We had a great time trick or treating with the W family (and yes, mother W and I had a glass of wine and answered the door to the candy chasers while all the husbands/boys were out). Even if I am not such a fan, it was still fun... Hope the boys ended up with some of MY favourite chocolates as well ;)

Have a great rest of the day xox


Oliver as a very scary Ninja

Alexander as a very scary cheeseburger

Nicklas as a very scary morph ninja

Me... as Andreas (thanks to Alexander for lending me his clothes... the scarf is Andreas' ;)