How can summer be over already?!
I know it's not really over, not yet - but it feels like it's soon. The mornings are cool enough that I wish I had a light jacket when I walk to work, the evenings are nice enough to open the windows when we sleep, and it's dark when I tuck Owen into bed (we need to put the nightlight on again ... sigh). Won't be long till there are leaves on the ground!
August flew by, but being away for two weeks of vacation will do that to a person. Our trip was really nice, and there were a bunch of highlights. We all kayaked a few times, which everyone enjoyed. We played a lot of card games and board games, including a new one that Owen and I enjoyed so much that we bought our own copy when we returned to Ottawa. And our side trip to Pictou Island was an amazing few days. I'm not sure we knew what to expect, but I think everyone got something out of that trip. There was hanging out with family time, and getting exercise time, and communing with nature time, and meeting new people time, and playing games time. Our hosts at the B&B were awesome, and they're practically family, as they're the parents of the woman who's engaged to Mack's brother Jonathan. So lovely to meet them, and get to know her more.
We stretched our vacation to the last possible minute, and returned to Ottawa on the last day before we had to be at work/day camp. It made for a long day, driving back the entire way in one go, plus it didn't leave a lot of transition time for Owen. Monday morning, going back to a schedule/routine was rough on him after 4 weeks of holidays. There were some tears as I dropped him off at the Art Camp that morning, but Tuesday morning was much better. He greatly enjoyed that day camp, and made lots of creative and imaginative art pieces. He and I also had great conversations as we walked to/from the camp. I think Mack appreciated a bit of a break from driving Owen to and fro as well.
This week Owen is in tennis camp, and is also enjoying that. Exercise, learning new tennis "moves", and watching TSN - some of Owen's favourite things. He's actually expressed some interest in an after-school tennis camp, though we're having some trouble with the logistics of getting him there - we told him we'd do our best to make it happen.
Despite being back to work for a week and a half already, I'm having difficulty figuring out what day of the week it is. I was sure (as was Mack) that yesterday was Friday - I even came close to reminding Owen that the next day was a Saturday and to try to sleep in a bit. LOL! Not sure why I'm so off, but I doubt next week (with a holiday Monday) will be much better!
One thing I'm looking forward to this coming long weekend is to play more of that new board game we got (called Carcassonne, if anyone is interested). We played it a few times at the cottage, and maybe three times since we got home, and it's a lot of fun, whether you win or lose. I will note that Owen does get a little grumpy when he loses, but we're working on that.
Also this weekend, we might go for a hike, or maybe a bike ride. Or maybe a museum? I took Owen to the Museum of Nature last weekend (with his buddy, his buddy's sister, and his buddy's Mom) while Mack did some much needed cleaning. There was a big dinosaur exhibit, so that was good to see. And having more kids there in our group changed the dynamic of the visit too. Having said that, his buddy spent a long time making poop jokes and giggling, so I was getting pretty annoyed at that. I'm not looking forward to when Owen and his friends are 12, and their entire humour repertoire will be poop jokes. On the plus side, they'll be 12, and I will be allowed to just walk away and leave them alone for a while to get a break. LOL!
Work is going well for Mack and I. For me, this week is the first week since probably late May that everyone is in the office at the same time. Summer is crazy for such a small office (just 10 people), because all it takes is for just a few people to be away to make it feel deserted. I finally feel like things are starting to get accomplished again, so that's good. The Executive Director of the organization has given her resignation, and will be done within the next few months, which is sad. We'll all miss her, but are anxiously looking forward to what might happen next.
My ear is still hurting, even after taking a 3rd round of antibiotics. Eventually, my doctor decided it wasn't infected, but just inflamed/blocked. He gave me a referral to an ENT, and some advice about how to deal in the meantime (Advil Cold and Sinus, and deliberately popping my ears to release the blockage). I'm not keen on taking Advil day in and day out for a long time (until an appointment with a specialist), but it is still hurting. I'm hopeful that it's starting to ease a bit, but I've thought that before, and it came back. :-(
I read 21 books in the month of August, which I'm pretty proud of. Some of them were young adult books (which take less time, usually), and some of them were audiobooks (which take more time, usually), but there were a number of large fiction books too. I actually re-read the entire Little House on the Prairie series. I got quite a bit more out of them than I did when I first read them, as a child/teenager.
We missed most of the Olympics, because we were at the cottage (no tv). We heard updates each hour on the radio, and even watched the 200m final sprint on our phones. But I usually enjoy the opening and closing ceremonies, so that was kind of disappointing. Also, I missed the final Tragically Hip concert on the Saturday night. Again, we listened to it on the radio, but I found it lacked something.
School starts for Owen next Tuesday, after the long weekend. He's in Grade 3!! I think he's ready. We bought the school supplies last weekend, as well as one new pair of pants - he can't spend the entire school year in athletic shorts, like he did all summer. :-) He's in the same class as his buddies from last year, and has been speaking French through the summer, so hopefully he doesn't get worried about having forgotten (like he did last year).
Well, I guess I should post this, and get on with wrapping things up for this week. Hopefully I'll be able to post again before Thanksgiving ... ;-) Hope everyone is doing well, and had a good summer!
August flew by, but being away for two weeks of vacation will do that to a person. Our trip was really nice, and there were a bunch of highlights. We all kayaked a few times, which everyone enjoyed. We played a lot of card games and board games, including a new one that Owen and I enjoyed so much that we bought our own copy when we returned to Ottawa. And our side trip to Pictou Island was an amazing few days. I'm not sure we knew what to expect, but I think everyone got something out of that trip. There was hanging out with family time, and getting exercise time, and communing with nature time, and meeting new people time, and playing games time. Our hosts at the B&B were awesome, and they're practically family, as they're the parents of the woman who's engaged to Mack's brother Jonathan. So lovely to meet them, and get to know her more.
We stretched our vacation to the last possible minute, and returned to Ottawa on the last day before we had to be at work/day camp. It made for a long day, driving back the entire way in one go, plus it didn't leave a lot of transition time for Owen. Monday morning, going back to a schedule/routine was rough on him after 4 weeks of holidays. There were some tears as I dropped him off at the Art Camp that morning, but Tuesday morning was much better. He greatly enjoyed that day camp, and made lots of creative and imaginative art pieces. He and I also had great conversations as we walked to/from the camp. I think Mack appreciated a bit of a break from driving Owen to and fro as well.
This week Owen is in tennis camp, and is also enjoying that. Exercise, learning new tennis "moves", and watching TSN - some of Owen's favourite things. He's actually expressed some interest in an after-school tennis camp, though we're having some trouble with the logistics of getting him there - we told him we'd do our best to make it happen.
Despite being back to work for a week and a half already, I'm having difficulty figuring out what day of the week it is. I was sure (as was Mack) that yesterday was Friday - I even came close to reminding Owen that the next day was a Saturday and to try to sleep in a bit. LOL! Not sure why I'm so off, but I doubt next week (with a holiday Monday) will be much better!
One thing I'm looking forward to this coming long weekend is to play more of that new board game we got (called Carcassonne, if anyone is interested). We played it a few times at the cottage, and maybe three times since we got home, and it's a lot of fun, whether you win or lose. I will note that Owen does get a little grumpy when he loses, but we're working on that.
Also this weekend, we might go for a hike, or maybe a bike ride. Or maybe a museum? I took Owen to the Museum of Nature last weekend (with his buddy, his buddy's sister, and his buddy's Mom) while Mack did some much needed cleaning. There was a big dinosaur exhibit, so that was good to see. And having more kids there in our group changed the dynamic of the visit too. Having said that, his buddy spent a long time making poop jokes and giggling, so I was getting pretty annoyed at that. I'm not looking forward to when Owen and his friends are 12, and their entire humour repertoire will be poop jokes. On the plus side, they'll be 12, and I will be allowed to just walk away and leave them alone for a while to get a break. LOL!
Work is going well for Mack and I. For me, this week is the first week since probably late May that everyone is in the office at the same time. Summer is crazy for such a small office (just 10 people), because all it takes is for just a few people to be away to make it feel deserted. I finally feel like things are starting to get accomplished again, so that's good. The Executive Director of the organization has given her resignation, and will be done within the next few months, which is sad. We'll all miss her, but are anxiously looking forward to what might happen next.
My ear is still hurting, even after taking a 3rd round of antibiotics. Eventually, my doctor decided it wasn't infected, but just inflamed/blocked. He gave me a referral to an ENT, and some advice about how to deal in the meantime (Advil Cold and Sinus, and deliberately popping my ears to release the blockage). I'm not keen on taking Advil day in and day out for a long time (until an appointment with a specialist), but it is still hurting. I'm hopeful that it's starting to ease a bit, but I've thought that before, and it came back. :-(
I read 21 books in the month of August, which I'm pretty proud of. Some of them were young adult books (which take less time, usually), and some of them were audiobooks (which take more time, usually), but there were a number of large fiction books too. I actually re-read the entire Little House on the Prairie series. I got quite a bit more out of them than I did when I first read them, as a child/teenager.
We missed most of the Olympics, because we were at the cottage (no tv). We heard updates each hour on the radio, and even watched the 200m final sprint on our phones. But I usually enjoy the opening and closing ceremonies, so that was kind of disappointing. Also, I missed the final Tragically Hip concert on the Saturday night. Again, we listened to it on the radio, but I found it lacked something.
School starts for Owen next Tuesday, after the long weekend. He's in Grade 3!! I think he's ready. We bought the school supplies last weekend, as well as one new pair of pants - he can't spend the entire school year in athletic shorts, like he did all summer. :-) He's in the same class as his buddies from last year, and has been speaking French through the summer, so hopefully he doesn't get worried about having forgotten (like he did last year).
Well, I guess I should post this, and get on with wrapping things up for this week. Hopefully I'll be able to post again before Thanksgiving ... ;-) Hope everyone is doing well, and had a good summer!