Weekend Recap

On Friday we took the day off work and school to go skiing.  We managed to coordinate with three other families to go at the same time.  The weather was perfect.

E and I did a few runs while Dave hung out with Q.

Then Q and I stopped for a snack.

Our friends were on the bunny hill so Q wanted to ski with them for a bit too.

Such a great day to be outside.

Then it was lunchtime at the car. 

We stayed to the end of the day.  When we got home, we got everything put away and I made some macaroni and cheese for our supper.  My mom had sent flowers that day and they were able to deliver them after we got home.

We watched Wandavision but I had a hard time staying awake.  

On Saturday morning I convinced Q to do a few errands with me.  He was reluctant but got into it.

And he picked out a cupcake at the bakery so he was happy about that. 

In the afternoon, the sun came out, and we got out for a walk.

Since we were skiing on Friday, Saturday night was pizza night instead.  We watched some curling and got our pizzas ready.

On Sunday we were off to ski again.  The forecast was calling for warmer temperatures and rain but we were not deterred. 

Cloudy but a great morning of skiing.  Dave and Q are behind E and me.

We had a great morning.  In the afternoon I took Q to get some water and more snacks.  It actually started raining at that point, we did a few more runs and then everyone met back at the cars and called it a day.

Despite being tired we stayed up to watch The Golden Globes (and the Scotties curling final on the iPad).  

 

Church

 A few years ago I wrote a post about why I go to church.  The reasons were:

Music.

It provides a faith background for my children.

It's familiar and comforting.

It does good work in the community and around the world.

It's an opportunity for meditation and resetting for the week ahead.

So for these reasons I have made church a priority, and although we haven't been there in person for awhile, we still keep in touch and "attend" the YouTube live stream when we are at home on Sunday mornings. 

Recently I was asked to join a committee that is tasked with considering the future direction of our church and how we could engage the community and attract more members.  Traditional churches across the country have been facing this problem as it appears that going to church is no longer a priority for many people.  The demographic of the population that went to church on a regular basis is getting older.  

One of the questions we are asking is why people don't attend church.  I know one reason is that people are busy on the weekends, so a traditional church service that takes up at least an hour of your morning (at an awkward time for some of 10:30 am), and maybe they would like to go but can't seem to find the time.  I also know people grew up with bad experiences associated with church.  Some people simply do not believe in God.  Others never knew church in any form growing up, so now it seems like a foreign concept. 

I am curious about why people don't go to church and whether there is anyone who would like to go but aren't sure where to start.  For any of you like that, now is the best time to try out church because you only need to go onto YouTube, no one knows you're there, you don't need to worry about where to sit, and if you don't know the hymns or prayers, that's fine. You can check out my church here, but there are likely many local churches in your area doing the same thing.

When I am in workout classes and we do some mindfulness at the end, the instructor usually speaks to the light, and the power within us to do things, and similar messages, and each time I can't help but think they could be saying the same thing that we talk about at church but switching out ourselves for God or Jesus.  The thirst for meditation and mindfulness is out there and it's possible the solution we seek is at church.  I know I find comfort in prayer and my belief in God, and I wonder if others would do.

This is my passive way of inviting you to church, so reach out if you're interested in hearing more, you never know what you might find that works for you!

Friday Favourites

 

Happy Friday, the end of February, I can't believe it.  Spring is on its way, and these pink tulips are a sign of that. Natasha this is for you!

The Humber River is thawing out.  I took a walk at lunch the other day and took a few photos.   We'll see if the ice comes flowing down to cause any damage and flooding or if it will be gradual enough. 

Yesterday I wrote about some spring things and at the top of the list for my must-haves for spring were rubber boots.  I've already worn them.

I know many of us are feeling fatigued by the pandemic and lockdown.  I mean, personally I'm feeling alright with staying at home (with the caveat that this is because the kids are at school), but I do know some people are more anxious or depressed than I am feeling.  For those of you that feel overwhelmed, I leave you with this bible verse.  Give your problems to God, and you will feel lighter. 

We are playing hooky today (or rather we properly requested holidays and told the school the kids will be absent) and we are going skiing.  It looks like it will be a bit warmer than we had last week which can be good and bad.  Either way, we are happy to be going!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika

March Musings

 

Linking up for the first time with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings (I've used their prompt before but missed linking up.) 

1. What are your spring must have pieces?

Rubber boots. I have tall Hunter boots and short Sorel boots, both are handy for different situations.

2. What are your spring must have accessories?

Sunglasses.  As soon as it starts getting brighter, then I need to grab my shades.

3. How do you transition your wardrobe to spring?

I put away all of our big winter jackets, boots, hats, mittens, etc. and get down the sandals and light jackets.  As for my indoor clothes, this year I'll probably switch from my sweatpants to my shorter yoga pants, haha.  I have a drawer of sweaters that I haven't even worn this year but I'll pack those up again and replace them with my spring/summer clothes.

4. What are your favourite colours to wear in spring?

I have some mint green pants that I've had for several years and I'm always happy to get those back out. 

5. Any spring fashion advice?

Check the temperature before heading out.  Even though it may look warm and sunny, it can still be cold, or it can cool down quickly in the late afternoon.  Dress in layers and bring a scarf.  

6. Do you change up your makeup in spring?

No.  My makeup routine (currently non-existent since I'm not going to work) is the same throughout the year, well a normal year.    

7. Do you change up your skincare in spring?

I need less cream than I use in the winter, but no major changes. 

8. Do you have a favourite spring scent?

Not a perfume, but I love lilacs. 

9. Best budget tips for updating your wardrobe?

One, you probably don't need to buy much, most of your clothes are probably fine. Two check out the Gap and Old Navy, they always have sales, and you can pick up a few fun, colourful, new items there that won't cost too much.

10. Do you think you'll be wearing dresses this spring?

Perhaps, although it isn't usually warm enough until May or June, which I suppose is still spring. 

(May 2020, keep those toques handy, snow can happen anytime)

What's up Wednesday

What we're eating this week...

Sunday - Chili
Monday - Homemade chicken nuggets, potatoes, and vegetables
Tuesday - Spaghetti and Meatballs
Wednesday - Risotto
Thursday - Salad Bowls
Friday - Order Out
Saturday - Pizza

What I'm reminiscing about...
I was thinking about Hawaii for a number of different reasons this week, so I was thinking about our trip there in January 2020 (see posts here).

What I'm loving...
I love that the kids are back in school.  They went back on the 16th and it has been glorious.  I don't feel so exhausted at the end of each day, and I know the kids are happy to be back with their friends. 

What we've been up to...
Enjoying all of the snow - we have skied, skated, gone sledding, and made forts.  I'm so glad I made the decision a few years ago to just love winter and enjoy what it has to offer. I used to really dread winter but now I'm almost disappointed that it's almost over. 

What I'm dreading...
There isn't much that I am dreading right now, which is nice!

What I'm working on...
Summer camp registrations.  There are only a few that have registration open so far, so it's difficult to understand what the options will actually be.  

What I'm excited about...
I'm excited that the vaccines are on their way, although I know it has been slower than many have expected.  Honestly I didn't even think we would get a vaccine at all, let alone so quickly.  I have confidence that once we get going, Canada will do well at rolling them out.  

What I'm watching/reading...
We are watching Schitt's Creek, Wandavison, and the Great Canadian Baking Show.  We also watched The Dig on Netflix which was pretty good actually. 

I just finished Extraordinary Canadians by Peter Mansbridge and Mark Bulgutch (signed by Peter and everything!).  It is a really great book and each chapter is about a different extraordinary Canadian, and they really are extraordinary.  I would definitely recommend it. And now I am reading Two Trees Make  Forest by Jessica J. Lee which is a non-fiction book about Taiwan. 

What I'm listening to...
Inspired by Bridgerton, my current playlist on Spotify is "Pop Goes Classical".  (Speaking of Bridgerton, did you see the Duke of Hastings on SNL last week, we loved him!)

What I'm doing this weekend...
Skiing :)  We are taking the day off on Friday to go skiing and then going back on Sunday.  The temperatures are warming up and I think winter won't be with us too much longer.  

What I'm looking forward to next month...
St. Patrick's Day, Dave's birthday, and hopefully a few more days of skiing. 

(2019 St. Patrick's Day at an actual restaurant)

What else is new...
Our church is offering a weekly Lenten study on Wednesdays at noon (EST), with a focus on social justice issues, if this sounds like something you'd be interested in.  I didn't go last week since I chose to go skating instead, but I am hoping to go today.  You can go to the website here to get the meeting details.

Thanks for checking in with me today :)

Linking up with Shay

Weekend Recap

Yesterday I posted about my Friday as a Day in the Life style post.

On Saturday morning we were ready to hit the slopes.  We had gone skiing once in December and then ski hills were shut down until finally opening back up on Tuesday, February 16.  Our season passes were refunded and the lesson program cancelled, but we got our lift tickets online ahead of time.  Q has been excited to get back skiing. 

It was a beautiful day!

We did a couple of runs down the bunny hill to get Q comfortable again. 

But it didn't take long and soon we were on the big lift together.

E and I did some runs of our own while Dave took Q down the hill.

Water and snack break at the car.

We met our friends there. They parked beside us so we could have lunch together, and we did a few runs throughout the day.

Q was killing it!  I have more confidence that he will know how to stop and turn.  That makes it much more relaxing to go down the hill with him.

We parked by the chair lift so we skied to the car to have our lunch.  The lodge is offering some indoor dining and take out, but we just brought our lunch and ate at the car.

It clouded over slightly in the afternoon, but was still a great day.  We had six hour passes and we pretty much spent the whole time skiing.  

We made a charcuterie board for our dinner when we got home.

We were all comfy and cozy after a great day of being outside.  We watched Ratatouille.

On Sunday I picked up our grocery order at 9:00 am and when I got home, we packed up the running stroller to go skating.

Another beautiful day.  Lessard Park was the place to be on Sunday morning. 

Q spent a bit of time just playing in the snow at the side of the rink, but he was happy.

Dave had walked over to get coffees and donuts from The Golden Gecko while we were skating. We had those after lunch when we got home. 

The kids did some St. Patrick's Day drawings.  And I took down the Valentine's Day decorations.

Then we went outside to go sledding for a bit.  Someone had built a ramp at the bottom so that added to the fun.

We had chilli for supper and watched a couple of shows before bed.  Winter is not over yet but you can tell it is ending, and we have enjoyed this winter weekend.