Friday Favourites

 

This is one of those weeks where Friday is a welcome sight!

On Monday we dropped into High Park to pick up the t-ball uniforms and equipment for Q's team (since Dave is the coach).  These helpful kids carried it back to the car.

Speaking of helpful kids, with Dave away, I asked for their help around the house for various things and they did a great job.  They emptied the dishwasher one morning before they went to school, picked up things around the house,  Q vacuumed the stairs, and E did some laundry.  I think I need to give them more chores to do, they have proven they are capable. 

Dave was in Florida for work, staying at the Hard Rock Hotel.  This building is quite impressive, and lights up at night.

Meanwhile our week was focused on hockey playoffs.  This was Tuesday's Leafs game. 

People often wear their Leafs jerseys to work on playoff game days, I don't have a jersey but I wore my Maple Leaf blue. I had a few minutes outside so I snapped this.

This is Thursday night's game.  I told the kids to pretend they were into the game (nothing was happening at this moment).

Let's go! (Good acting)

I watched this show this week.  I am not really familiar with this YouTube influencer culture.  I mean, I've heard of Mr. Beast (but only just in the last couple of months) and I know there are videos of kids unboxing toys, but I had no idea what people get up to with these channels, particularly kids and tweens.  I am so glad that my kids aren't really into that sort of thing.  

Happy Friday!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Monthly Musings

 

1. Do you celebrate Easter, Passover, or another holiday in spring?
We celebrate Easter - He is Risen!

2. Do you plant a garden? Any tips for those without a green thumb?

We plant some herbs in pots, and will buy a few potted geraniums but do not have an actual garden. I do not have a green thumb, so my tip is to keep it manageable with potted plants, and get a watering system to keep everything alive without having to think about it. 

3. How do you decorate for spring?

We put out some Easter decorations - a tree branch with wooden ornaments, painted eggs, other spring related touches. I always think about getting hydrangeas for the front step but the weather is usually still cool around Easter so I am hesitant to get something when there is still a possibility of frost. 

4. Desserts that just say spring to you?
Cherry pie, I did not make one for Easter this year, but I have the ingredients so I will do it soon.

5.  Favourite spring flowers?

Any sort of flowering tree - lilacs, magnolia, cherry blossoms. 

6. Best tips for hosting spring events?

Extend the invite - people are usually dying to get outside as soon as the weather starts warming up.  An impromptu hang on the front steps or back yard is my favouirte - throw some crackers on a plate, pour a drink, and it's a party, nothing fancy required.

7. Favourite beverages or cocktails that make you think of spring?

Warm weather means it's time for Aperol Spritz!

8. Vegetable garden, flower garden, both, neither?

Herb garden - basil, rosemary, chives, thyme, mint

9. Favourite Easter/Passover candy?

Mini Eggs and Ganong marshmallow chocolates (when you can find them in the store, it is a New Brunswick brand so not as common in Ontario).

10. Marshmallow Peeps? Gross or yes please?

They are not for me, but my kids got some for Easter.

Linking up with Patty and Holly.

Weekend Recap

Easter weekend is always a highlight of the year - long weekend, high religious significance, spring weather, and good food - check!

On Friday I went to church for our Good Friday service.

When I got home, E had left to go golfing so Q and I made rice krispie squares and some crafts my mom had sent.

I picked up E from golf and then we enjoyed our annual tradition of fish and chips for Good Friday.  We order them in advance from the golf club, they do a great job, and saves us having to wait in line somewhere.

We watched some Amazing Race and Great British Baking Show before getting to bed.

On Saturday morning I got up for a run, it was lovely weather for it. Dave went out to Home Depot for some lawn suppliers and then got to work spreading grass seed and manure in the backyard.

The local businesses were having an Easter egg hunt so we walked up to do that.  You had to mark off if the store had a bunny or egg statue, and then you also got a chocolate egg.  We also picked up some sandwiches and Booster Juice for lunch, and saw a few friends and neighbours.  And E got a haircut on the way home too.

Showing off the egg collection.

It was Q's first ball hockey game of the season and lucky him, he's on the Leafs again!  After the game, he and Dave threw around the baseball and we ran into a couple of other t-ball families. Can't wait for that season to start in the next couple of weeks.

Dave and I watched the F1 Quali when we got home, and the boys decorated the traditional Easter cake. 

And we finally got the rest of the decorations up. I brought this branch home from my run earlier in the day.

We enjoyed our Easter dinner on Saturday night - ribs, coleslaw, and roasted potatoes.  It was so good!

Easter morning - and the boys were excited to hunt for the eggs left by the Easter Bunny.

Just a couple of treats - Q also got a Mbappe kit (the French footballer, figured we needed it for our trip to Paris instead of Messi!).

And E got golf balls.

Some treats for mom and dad too.

We all went to church to celebrate that He is Risen, Risen Indeed!  And then went over to the golf club for brunch, it was lovely as always.

Donning his new kit.

After watching the F1 race, we dyed our eggs.

In honour of the Leafs first playoff game that night.

These are Q's eggs.

My eggs.

And E's.

Since we had eaten our Easter meal on Saturday and had enjoyed a big brunch, we were able to spend the end of the day outside.  We took our baseball stuff to the field by the river to do some practice.  This is also near where E has hidden a geocache so we checked on it.

We got home in time to get settled in for the Leafs Game 1.  I put together a little charcuterie. 

We were happy to see the Leafs win and were tired and ready for bed after that. 

I hope you enjoyed your long weekend as well. 

Friday Favourites

 

Happy Friday, and a Good Friday it is, to those who observe.  A few favourites from our week as we kick off our long weekend.

This cool kid joined me in the front seat while we waited for our grocery pick up.

A bird hit our window earlier this week, it was a Golden Crowned Kinglet.  I thought it was going to make it but it did seem to stop breathing.  It was gone in the morning so unless we had a Jesus bird, then I assume a cat or raccoon picked it up overnight.  

These pretty tulips opened right up to reveal some nice pink.

Thursday afternoon called for some French Press, and I got to use the press setting on the grinder.

I did a good job with my workouts this week.  Three early morning strength workouts and then an afternoon bike and core.

Dave was going out for dinner with his work colleagues so I took the boys to one of our favourite spots, Queen Margherita Pizza.  I walked up to pick the boys up from school and Q had this school project to take home, a little cumbersome for the walk to the restaurant and then home, but it was okay! 

I chose E's pizza because he wanted something different. It came with a bit more arugula than he was expecting but he took off half of it and I got a salad out of it!  He did enjoy the rest of the pizza.

Q stuck with his regular cheese.

When we got home I set up for the Federal Leaders' Debate.  I made the kids watch the first little bit but then left them alone to play video games ;) instead of making them watch the whole thing.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever you may get up to.

Linking up with Andrea and Erika.