Grade 9 retreat

 Yes, you read that right. Grade 9 retreat. Sophie didn't have hers when she started high school but that didn't stop her and a team of resilient Grade 12s from organising a smashing 3 day retreat for incoming Grade 9s. I won't share photos of them here but a few non-identifiable highlights.

Play ball!

 

In our usual seats

Does anyone else go to the game with bags full of stuff "just in case"?

Last gasp

Look who went to the Jays last game.

It was way more exciting than the match last month and they almost - almost - got a chance to play in the post-season. There's always next year with this young, slugging team!

Wait, there's more!

In addition to the lead up to Christmas, Christmas Day itself, the lead up to & enjoyment of the New Year's Open House, there was also New Year's Eve and our gift exchange on January 1st.

While we weren't quite this mother & her children

We did have a yummy dinner by the tree (everyone had to at least put on a nice top!)

And we bought a ticket to the "Big Night In" concert in which Seb's 

former classmate's band played. But in reality, the teens were in bed by 11:30 and I baked and maked until 2!

However, I was still first up to use Lorraine's fabric gift bags
(by the unlit fire because chocolate melts!)

and we devoured our overnight French toast with orange peel, cardamom, berries, syrup and toasted coconut.
Then it was gifts and the Open House - before tidying up and a light dinner of any healthy leftovers

The next day, I was gifted a day on the couch to read my murder mystery

We played the ridiculous Big Cheese game

Sophie modelling her new wellies

The kids did all the dog walks that day

And then to wrap up the holidays,
 I made a simple and quick tomato & tapenade tart

It was to emulate a delicious snack that Seb had adored in France.

It's bacl to (virtual) school and work this week. We all survived 2020, so bring it on 2021!!

 

A girl and her dog

Gorgeous weather called for a lovely walk in the grounds of Humber College's 

Lakeshore campus with our girl & dog 

 

Hanging out with these lovelies

Seb's Shad hoodie arrived; have you ever seen anything whiter?!?!

Goofs

Cake and a board game

Summer holiday week - part 2

The 2nd place we visited was our Toronto neighbour's "cottage" on Georgian Bay. My galpal and I drove to Barrie - with a pitstop for lunch in Orillia and a few farmers markets - to pick Seb from the GO train. 

The bounty that we bought driving across central Ontario

Using their laundry line here & in Toronto

Georgian Bay on a grey day - we had a terrific storm but also glorious blue skies

The decor of this magniificent Franco-Ontarian log house - one of 5 in a row built for a set of siblings.

Our hostess Alison trying my inagural chilled berry soup ( a hit with my duo)

The menu plan - we ate well! Serving up the trout from the Bay

We had the most delicious & varied scones c/o  "Wendy B's" local deli

The teens were in good spirits throughout - and loved to see me squirm through a risque card game...

Glow sticks and a bikini - oh my!

Ready to plunge in

The weekenders

Look at the house behind and the water!!

And this is the "bunkie - which is winterised....

 What an incredibly special place and somewhere I will dream of for months. The teens had such fun and there was "just enough" wifi.

Launch party

As many of you know, last week we held a virtual launch party. SpaceX and NASA were launching American astronauts from US soil on an American rocket for the first time in 9 years and it was the first public-private partnership in the Americas. Seb & his Gramps had hoped to be in Florida to see it but ah, Corona.

So instead, we organised an on-line event for family and friends on Zoom - complete with snacks and party décor from Auntie Sarah. Seb presented info on the rocket and astronauts capsule. He explained what we would be seeing - and we did a fun quiz (yay Dug for his space knowledge!! who knew?) and watched the trailer for the new tv series Space Force. But then - with about 15 minutes to go - they scrubbed it. Weather wasn't right. :-( Sebastian took it well.

Best bit was Seb peeling off his dozen space t-shirts one by one. He was hot!!!

A few days later, a smaller group gathered to watch Crew Dragon lift off and then the next morning, Seb & I watched the astronauts dock at the ISS and cross into the vessel to meet their peers. So exciting!

Bits and bobs of pandemic parenting

Dress for success with your daughter

Have a hoot playing long board games but not too many of Seb's super-complicated ones.

Getting to grips with cleaning the house - who, how, how often, etc.

2020 starts with some good times!

New year and yes, new gifts

including an amazing, personalised map of Jo's life (to date!)

How we spent our NYE

with this delightful gal

and this one!

one of our hosts

The festive gang!

The only photo from the New Year's Day Open House! We really must do better... Maybe I'll ask the 35 people who came if they have any snaps.