think negative

Positivity is a good thing, unless it comes to a Covid test, and then things get pretty miserable. And that's all there is to say about that. 

roasty toasty

Our second weiner roast of the winter season, this one in the snow. The veggies and buns froze and the thermoses kept our hot chocolates scalding so... we need to think of some better systems. 

saskatchewanian

It felt like -27 this morning so I went out for a walk to see if I still have enough Saskatchewan in me to tough it out. When I told the kids what I was doing, Henry just gave a slow shake of his head and said, "Don't." Reporting back that I walked down to Lake Ontario and I've still got the stuff handle that frozen nose hairs feeling. And it does a prairie heart good to go stare out at the water once in a while. While the crashing waves aren't reminiscent of my home, the open horizon and visibility are. It made me so happy I cried and then had to walk home with frozen tears on my face and that was miserable. The end. 

 

an ice time

Today's a PA day and Annie and the girls had some skating time at a neighbour's house. We're lucky to have friendly neighbours who put in the work to build rinks in their backyard. 

mind the gap

Clara is losing a few teeth. 

ordinary time

January days look something like...

cribbage playing

lounging

puzzling

posing

reading

more puzzling

amaryllis-growing

hot chocolate drinking

alarm clock

If you dare to sleep past 7:30 on a Saturday morning, this will be your wake-up call...

slippery slope

Kids are back at school today! Joe asked me to check and doublecheck email to make sure they couldn't stay home for Snow Day #3. Tough luck, buddy. Yesterday they made a luge track in the front yard. Today - back to class. Thems the breaks.

celebrating Papa

He's 80 today! And we're sad to be celebrating him from so far away but we look forward to April when we can have a proper party. In the meantime, Dad put on his semi-formal beige attire and enjoyed a day of well-wishes, gifts, and good food. We had a nice FaceTime chat and hugged him in our imaginations. 

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I am so grateful to have such a good dad. 

 

attitude

Don't mess with Joe's hot chocolate.

surprise!

School was set to return to in-person learning today but then... ta da! Woke up at 6:00 am and giggled with glee at the sight of the piles of white fluff. Checked email to confirm that we were not going anywhere, and then went to inform our early-riser (Joe). He spread the word and we were GLAD. What a gift! If we were still in online classes, then life would have just continued on our screens. But the return to school meant, nope, buses couldn't run and we could be free for just a day. Our hearts and heads needed this snow break. So happy. 

class act

It's costume day for Janie at school today. Also force your brother to class day. 

 

cake that

Joe made us cake pops today. Leo approved.

back to "school"

If anyone needs me over the next couple of weeks, I will be here, in this corner, helping Jane mute and unmute her microphone.

snow problem

Is it even an Ontario winter if we don't go sledding down a grassy hill?

how puzzling

In our spare time, we arranged these 2000 little pieces into these pictures. 

magical

Here's Janie, just riding into the new year on a unicorn. Looks like 2022 is going to be the best year yet. 

(This is a friend's birthday party... Jane does not otherwise have regular access to unicorns.)