What we're eating this week...
Sunday - Meat and cheese tray, raw vegetables
Monday - Sausages and corn on the cob
Tuesday - Tacos
Wednesday - Pancetta and Pea Risotto
Thursday - Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Something on the BBQ
What I'm reminiscing about...
As I put Q to bed last night, on his 4th birthday, I was thinking of when he was born and how easy he was as a newborn. He took to eating pretty much right away, and although he was still up throughout the night, and it was hard for me to move after my c-section, it just seemed like a breeze. We had a private room too which was nice, and the nurses didn't come down too often to see us. The next day in the hospital it felt like we were on holiday, napping, watching TV, Dave ordered food to the front door of the hospital, and we had grandparents looking after E at home. We spent two nights in the hospital and were discharged early on Sunday morning (after being brought coffee and pastries by our doctor friend, thanks Cassie!).
What I'm loving...
I probably say this every year, but I love the fall colours. I went for a bike ride at lunchtime on Monday along the river and I kept exclaiming out loud to myself, "I mean!" at all the beautiful trees changing colour.
What we've been up to...
We celebrated
Q's birthday yesterday. We had waffles for breakfast and tacos for supper. And of course some chocolate cake, his favourite. He got a few nice presents from family and then our neighbours came over quickly to give him a gift and also play a bit of Nintendo Switch. Q said it was a great day!
What I'm dreading...
Well we already lived through the first cold for the kids, meaning staying home from school, getting tested for Covid, and self-isolating while waiting for the results. I'm sure we will need to do it again at some point so I'm dreading that, although I feel better prepared for the next time. We were lucky that our isolation came after we had grocery shopped for the week so I do plan on doing a bit of stocking up so we are prepared, perhaps I will do a Costco run on Sunday.
What I'm working on...
Something I used to be pretty good at was being in the moment and present for whatever it was I was doing - church, a workout, being at the office, spending outdoor time with the kids, etc. but since March, when my home became the place where we did everything (and where we still do everything, minus school, at least for this week) and where I was doing a lot more jumping from task to task, I felt like I was never really concentrating on any one thing at a time. So I have been working on improving that. If I'm workgin out, then I'm not checking email. If I'm doing work at my desk, then I'm not also getting up to do chores around the house. If I'm watching our church service, then I'm just sitting on the couch paying attention. When I'd take the kids for a walk during the day, I would still be checking my emails and sometimes taking calls. It can be hard to calm my mind and focus on the task at hand but that is what I'm trying to get better at doing.
What I'm excited about...
I've always loved school but this year I am more excited about it, of course prompted by being the at-home teacher from March to June, and having them be in the building and absorbing all of that knowledge is especially exciting to me. Q has a great teacher who has sent lots of resources and updates for us so far. E will be getting his Individual Education Plan (in response to his
gifted status) within the first month so I'm eager to see how that helps him this year.
What I'm watching/reading...
First off - Blue Jays Post-Season Baseball!! Also I'm fully invested in this season of Dancing with the Stars (go Kaitlyn, AJ and Nelly!) and then Dave and I are watching Broadchurch, The Watchmen, and Mr. Robot. And we have a few new series on deck like Ratched and Tehran.
My reading has fallen off, but I will be making it a priority again soon I hope.
What I'm listening to...
I looked for a Fall playlist on Spotify and found one. It's a lot of Lumineers, Ed Sheeran, and Mumford and Sons and I'm here for it.
What I'm doing this weekend...
We are having a toned down version of Q's birthday party. We had postponed it from last weekend when we were all sick, and then we thought it probably wasn't appropriate to have a bunch of people over, even thought it was just neighbours and we would be outside, so we toned down the guest list but can still have a bit of a celebration for Q, with cupcakes :)
What I'm looking forward to next month...
Thanksgiving, E's birthday and Halloween. We're not sure what the city is thinking for Halloween but I'm hoping the kids can still do some trick or treating.
What else is new...
It's Orange Shirt Day today, meaning the kids wear an orange shirt to school to remember those Indigenous kids that were taken from their families and sent to residential schools. If being separated from your family wasn't enough, when it wasn't yours or your family's choice, those children also suffered unspeakable abuse and oppression of culture and language. Orange Shirt Day reminds us that every child matters.