COVID Hair

Honestly, you just do what you have to do!!  With salons closed for over three months, it forced some of us to take care of business in a different fashion!  Tony was a trooper and became my new stylist!

Yes, I look horrible in these pictures... but honestly these are a keepsake! 

 

Easter 2020

More than anything the boys were most excited because I wouldn't be able to make them get a picture with the Easter Bunny.  Fortunately for me I found away around it!  See the bottom picture.

Both Owen and Griffin may not believe in the bunny but they knew enough to go along with it if they wanted the treats that came with the bunny.

They still participated in an Easter Egg hunt, which they both still love!!

We had a turkey dinner... just the four of us and it was delightful!

 

COVID-19 Survival

 

New traditions became rituals in our household.

Zoom calls to friends.

New Video Game Systems

Amazon purchases

Take out Wednesday and Saturday!

Daily and nightly walks

Anything to make this new normal bearable. 

GRIFFIN TURNS 13!!

GRIFFIN TURNS 13!!

On March 26th, Griffin turned 13!  A Teenager and boy did he instantly turn into a teenager!

Although celebrations were only allowed in our house, I managed to make it special for him.  Decorations, email messages from his hockey teammates  and lots of presents!!

We even had a DQ cake as a treat!

Happy Birthday Griffin!

 

COVID -19 Outings

Being cooped up inside all the time becomes a tad bit boring... 

Today we decided to get out and explore a new park with a suspension bridge that I had wanted to visit for years.

We found it, we walked for ages, and yet we didn't even come close to the bridge. After a short drive we found it on the other side of the park!  

 

47th Birthday Oh My!!

 

My 47th birthday was suppose to be spent on the beach in Mexico with our friends.... COVID-19 had other plans for us.  Instead we were locked inside and the weather was cold.  On the positive side, I did get to spend it with my family which is always a good thing!  AND.... Tony got me chocolate covered bananas from Dairy Queen!!

Happy Birthday to me!!

The Night Before

The night before COVID-19 officially shut our world down, we had been out with friends celebrating March birthdays!  

Nobody could really fathom the impact this shut down was going to have on us, or what it really meant.  We shouldn't have been out with friends, but I am glad we did because it was literally the last time we saw any of them for months!

Cherish those you love!

 

Can you see the difference?

If you noticed that Owen is now taller than me, you're right!  What?? How did that happen!  Owen is officially taller than me and lets me know it everyday!  

Please slow down... you're still my little boy!

 

Dad's 74th Birthday!

 

We were able to sneak up to Cambridge to celebrate my dad's 74th birthday with him. He loves pinball and food!  So we did both!

The ice cream cones were from a new ice cream shop with many choices of dips and toppings.  As you see my dad picked a HUGE cone!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Winter Time

The boys love winter because it means HOCKEY!!  And of course snow, which usually turns into a few snow days along the way.  They were gracious enough to make a snowman and pose for a picture for me.  It has been difficult watching them grow up and have new interests.  Building snowmen are likely a thing of the past, but for one more year I will take what I can get.

The guys played in a Sylvain Routhier Fundraiser hockey tournament in January.  The two day event was a great tribute to Sylvain and his love of hockey.  We miss you Sylvain. 

 

March like no Other

Normally this is what you would see at the end of the year..... my classroom all clean and ready for the next year. But this March something happened that nobody would ever have guessed could happen... COVID-19 became a world pandemic and we all stayed home!

Just days before March Break, and with great anticipation of our cruise to the Caribbean, we had to make a hard decision to cancel our vacation and stay home. We were also informed a day later that schools would be closed for an additional 2 weeks after the March Break.  Our world was turned upside down and everyone was scared, never before had any of us ever lived through a world pandemic.

For most of the month of March, we were home and everything was closed. Streets and cities were ghost towns. Families couldn't visit and people were dying all over the world.

School never did return.  I became a virtual classroom teacher, teaching from home.

The kids did their learning from home.

We never left the home and never had visits with any friends or family.

We all did learn to zoom and visit through virtual chats. We learned new things, like recipes with the Ninja Air Fryer. We watched and made Tik Tok videos. We saved money because we didn't go anywhere.  But most important we were given invaluable time with our kids.  I always regretted being a working mom, wishing I had been able to stay home longer with the kids.  I got my wish.  I wish it had come a bit earlier in their lives, but non the less I enjoyed the extra time with my boys.  

COVID-19 is a game changer. 

 

This Guy!

Griffin certainly has a lot of personality!  Everyone just loves him!

This year his hockey team had to dress up for games.... it was only fitting that he wore a bow tie!  

It is hard to believe he will be turning 13 this year!

 

Teachers on Strike

This year has been a little bit different for teachers and students.  We entered into a big long old fight with the government over a number of issues.  In January we started rotating strikes.  It was cold, damp and unenjoyable!  The students were the ones to lose... Griffin missed his sports teams and all other activities! The strike didn't end until March and nothing was really gained, but a lot of money lost. 

 

Senators Equipment Assistant aka stick boy!!

Owen had the greatest opportunity this past hockey season!  He was asked to be their junior equipment assistant or as we kindly refer to as the stick boy!  What an amazing opportunity for Owen to be able to spend time with the hockey players, coaches and staff.  It was a volunteer job that allowed him to collect all of his community volunteer hours and more as well as provided him with so many perks.  

Owen was given new sticks, hockey tape, clothing, backpack, winter jacket as well as many of these gifts for his brother and father as well!

Spending time with the players was the part he enjoyed the most! #luckykid

 

K-Town Adventure!!

Before the kids headed back to school, Michelle and I took them to Kingston to the new trampoline spot and of course skating on the outdoor rink at city hall!  We also enjoyed Beavertails and hot chocolate.  It was a great way to spend the day and enjoy the end of our Christmas break before heading back to school. 

 

Hello 2020 Goodbye 2019!

 Hello 2020!!

You know I am a sucker for traditions... and this year was no different!  We celebrated New Years Ever with our hockey friends at the Brummell's house.  

Drinks, laughter and a new year to look forward to were on the menu.  

The kids have a great time hanging out with all of their hockey teammates and enjoying the hot tub, rink, and pool table!

Happy New Year!