Life in the hutch

One year ago yesterday, I came home from California, the lils came home from school and Willy finished work. Even though we weren’t wearing masks, or even really socially distancing, it was the last day of the old normal.  Over the last 365 days, we’ve experienced…

Being together… and mostly happy
Lots of home cooking
Missing friends
Not going to school
Missing hugs
Anxiety, so much anxiety
Losing Friendly
Kittens, the best pandemic decision we made. 
Not seeing family
A Trifecta vacation 
A failure to hoard toilet paper, or anything else for that matter
Not seeing firefighters in the grocery stores
Book club in the park
More gardening than ever before
Tackling the long term todo list for the house, and completing most of the jobs!
Writing a new list for the house and starting on those items
Even more anxiety
Not having a back deck 
No travel for Willy! Prior to March of 2020, the longest that we had ever been in the same city was two months
A leak free roof!! Drinking in the park after dark like a teenager
Putting things off
Not repairing the places where the house is so broken (from a leaky roof, mostly)
Living with paint colours that I hate, in most rooms
Finding new ways to connect with friends and family
Worrying that things are going to break
Isolation
Supporting our favourite restaurants with take out as much as possible
Re-discovering minecraft
Isolation birthdays
Sleeping more than I have slept in over 30 years
Watching friends lose their loved ones and them not being able to go to family
Not playing hockey
Eating chips for comfort
Daily walks with the family (almost every day – we only missed about 10 days!)
Still being happy
Using click and collect, and mostly really liking it
Not worrying about getting covid – worrying about others getting covid
Missing our cleaners, and appreciating them so much
Telling the kids to settle down because I wasn’t about to take them to the hospital
Worrying about our loved ones
Not playing baseball
Watching friends lose their loved ones to COVID
The best dreams
Puberty
Two kids in puberty
Online socialization
D&D, so much D&D
Not realizing how much we missed normal until MLB started up again – we got so much comfort from watching
Not shopping in person, save for really rare trips to get things we can’t get other ways
Delivering groceries to Mom
No in restaurant dining at all
Watching all episodes of the West Wing as a family and still loving it
Virtual Karate
Quitting coffee for some, and starting to drink it for others
Self care
Making my bedtime 8:30PM and loving it
A launch day PlayStation
Weighted blankets

Dear Goose:

Happy birthday to my favourite girl in the whole world! This year has been one that we will never forget, that is for sure!! Through all the changes and the pandemic, some things have not changed – you continue to bring happiness and joy wherever you are, and with whatever you are doing (well, save for the occasional grumpy morning.)

You continue to read voraciously – when you wake, when you should be sleeping, and at all times in between.  Most recently, I have discovered that you like to hide books in your desk, and read them during the “boring” parts of online school.  Online school, when you are paying attention, has proven to be a good fit for you.  You are engaged and thriving.  Math continues to be your favourite subject, much to the pride of your nerdy parents.  I know you wish that you could do math (and maybe a bit of science) all day… I hope that never changes!

Before Covid put the brakes to most of your sports, you were thriving, especially in hockey.  The difference in your play from the start of the season to the end was unbelievable. You went from a kid who had barely been on skates in three years, showing all your rust, to a fierce and capable defender, boldly taking on kids twice your size, and coming away with the puck more often than not!  Thankfully, you have been able to continue to take your Karate classes in the basemen, relearning all the Katas and moves that faded while you were in California and conquering new stuff as well. Before we know it, you will be going for your black belt!    

As you grow and mature, I am glad that you still find the time to hang out with your mama.  Whether it be a walk around the block, a batch of cookies to bake, and to curl up on the couch together with our books. You have this amazing ability to make me laugh like no one else does, which I adore. Everyday you show me what a kind and giving person you are, and it makes my heart so happy to watch you flourish.

Wishing my sweet girl the happiest of birthdays. Continue to be awesome, and have a great birthday!

Lots of Love,
Mama

a year of Goose

This afternoon I was sitting on the back porch and heard a ruckus in the yard.  So I crept outside and found a cat prowling under where where I’d been sitting and a squirrel chirping at it from the fence.  Assuming this was the kerfuffle, I shooed them both off and went back to my book. Five minutes later, the noises we’re back, so I went back out but the cat and squirrel were nowhere to be found.  Confused, I stood by the place I thought the boise was coming from. 

I only had to wait a minute or two before the strange sound started up again. I could now clearly hear that the noise was coming from within the downspout of our eavestrough. It was the not quite frantic, but persistent sound of little claws scratching on the metal pipe. The noise was coming from where the pipe kinks at about two metres off the ground.  Something was clearly trapped halfway up the pipe, and trying to scale it to get out, rather than just slide out the bottom. 

Knowing that I couldn’t leave it in there, I knocked on the side. I hoped it would startle and escape so I watched the end of the downspout extension carefully.  Nothing. The scratching began again, now it was frantic. I knocked a little harder still nothing came out of the end. Then there was even more scratching.

I was terrified that this was a rat. There’s been a lot of construction in our neighborhood and reports of rat sightings in the community group have increased. Still, I knew that if it was a rat, I REALLY had to get it out because I didn’t want that thing anywhere near my house. The only logical course I could see was to bang on the side one more time, this time a little harder. In the process I knocked off the long tube attached to the end of the downspout, so the mouth of the downspout was now at my ankles. 

I was paralyzed. I didn’t want to make any noise, out of fear that a rat would drop out onto my feet. I knew the any movement could be enough to scare it into letting go, but I HAD to move away. As I began to step backwards a bird flew out of the opening and into the neighbours tree. I let out a squeak, but it it was one of relief. I don’t know who was happier the bird to be out of the pipe or me because it wasn’t a damn rat!! 

Dear Goose:

Happy birthday to my favourite girl in the whole world! I have loved watching you continue to grow into such an amazing person over the past year.  You are caring, compassionate and full of love. You make me laugh and bring joy to all of those around you.

When I look for you these days, more often than not I find you hidden in your reading nook, with your nose buried deep in a book – either something new to you, or something you have read a half a dozen times.  You get lost in the world on the pages, and tune out what is happening around you completely.  It is amazing that you get so lost, yet I know I was the same at your age.  When you aren’t reading your favourite novel, chances are you are doing math problems or creating chaos with some science experiments.  

This past year has seen you grow immensely as an athlete. Not only have you trained hard as a martial artist, you have kept up with your running, embraced skiing, returned to hockey, played on the school’s soccer team, and are now looking to join the bordenball team. I love to watch you continue to be challenged, and push yourself to be better. It’s inspiring to watch how hard you work at what you love to do. I look forward to continuing to cheer (quietly and discretely, so as not to embarrass you), and to figuring out just exactly what bordenball is… 

Returning to Ottawa brought new challenges, and you handled them with ease.  You are back in your old school, hanging with your old friends, but making new friends and tackling French Immersion. I know it’s hard and at times it seems like you are fighting a losing battle, but know that you are doing so very well, and I am extremely proud of how hard you are working, and how well you are doing.

Wishing my sweet girl the happiest of birthdays. Continue to be awesome, and have a great birthday!

Lots of Love,
Mama

a year of Goose

 

 

Good news is always the easiest to share, but what happens if news that brings you great joy also brings sadness? News that makes some happy will make others unhappy? If you’re me, you remain relatively quiet. You think that you tell everyone that you need to tell but don’t broadcast to the world because you know that it will be hard for some. Then you forget who you’ve told and realize that you didn’t tell people who want to know or want to know friends, neighbours, your mother*… Important news like the fact that Willy, the littles, and I are moving home in a month’s time.

So for everyone that I haven’t told yet, I’m very sorry. I thought that I had told you. I’ve been conflicted about how I should be talking about the move. We have truly loved our time in California, but it’s not home, so we’re heading back to Ottawa around the third week of August. Life right now is chaotic, stressful, and so emotional – especially for me. I’m going to miss my friends the most. Well, maybe the wine a little bit too.

The littles are both mostly excited. Experience tells me that their hardest days are ahead of them. They have have been lucky enough to make great friends, and I hope that they will stay connected with these friends. We plan on bringing them back to visit LOTS. It will let us stay connected too.

*I still can’t believe that I forgot to tell my mom.*

Dear Woo:

Today you are 12!! A dozen years old, how on earth did that happen? I blinked, and you stood before me – such an incredible young man. You’re my gentle giant, everything a mama could want; happy, kind, confident, and full of life. You are growing into such an amazing person, right before my eyes. Every day I grow prouder as I watch you develop.

This is the last year that I’ll be able to say that I’m taller than you. I fear I have mere weeks, or possibly only days before you grow that one centimetre that you need to catch me. I know that you can’t wait, so that you can tease me about being short. It will just be one of the many ways that you like to needle me, pay back for all times that I have done the same to you. I don’t mind it when you do this. You remind me a lot of my dad when you tease, getting that glint in your eyes that is sure to mean mischief. Nothing pleases you more than knowing you “got” one of us, especially if it’s your sister.

This year brough new experiences and responsibilities. Your move to middle school was a smooth transition, with you taking the changes and additional expectations in stride. You have worked hard, and shows in your work. whether its a desire to get it out of the way, or a wish to learn more (and I think it’s a little bit of both), you have made your school work a priority, even when there are games to play or friends to hang out with. It’s made my life easier, and you have developed a habit that will serve you well as you get older and have even more demands on your time.

It is clear that hockey and baseball have been established as your favourite sports. You play them, watch them, talk about them, and have worked hard at them this year, which shows in your play. Most of all, I love to watch you play, as you are always happy on the ice or field. Otherwise, you are on your bike, bugging your sister, or hanging with your bestie. Often times, you are doing all of those. Books and tinkering round out the rest of your days.

You continue to love to go on adventures, large and small. The coming year should have plenty… and I can’t wait to see where you go and what you do!

Happy birthday to you, Woo!!!

Love,
mama

_______________________
a year of Woo

Dear Goose:

Happy birthday to my sunshine, my Mini-Me, the sweetest girl I know. I don’t know where the time has gone, but today you are 10. We will celebrate all your growth and achievements and the way you are becoming such an amazing girl. When I look at you I’m in awe of how strong you are, while maintaining your kind and gentle outlook on life.

From the moment you wake up, with a smile on your face, you bring joy to all of those around you. Even when you are facing tough situations, you draw on your inner strength to find the positives. It’s contagious, never failing to infect your family and friends. You make the world around you a better place. It brings me happiness to see how your kind heart continues to lead you everyday; whether it be softly talking to someone who has no one to talk to or helping friends and classmates when they are in need, you are there for friends and strangers. I think this is amazing.

Karate continues to be your passion. You approach each class, lesson, and practice the same way: you work hard. Every day, you get better. This year you were the victim of the calendar, meaning that you’ve basically spent the entire year at the same belt rank. You never once felt sorry for yourself, or tried to take a step back from karate because you had time. You doubled down and worked harder, knowing that this was an opportunity for you to become an even better martial artist. As a result, you are. You’re going to kick butt when you next test. You’re also putting yourself way out of your comfort zone by assisting in classes. Watching you do this fills me with pride every time.

You continue to love math, explore the world around you through science, and get lost in the many worlds you’ve discovered through reading. It’s fun to go on these journeys with you, watching you learn new things and having you teach me a few. I expect that your world will keep expanding as long as you keep diving into these spheres. I cannot wait to go on that ride with you.

Wishing my sweet girl the happiest of birthdays. I hope this year is the best yet!

All my love,
mama

 

a year of goose

 

We recently had an amazing trip back to Ottawa. It was filled with family and friends, laughter and lakes, and memories, lots of great memories. Going into the trip, there were very few things that I felt we HAD to do, but a trip to the Parliament Buildings was one of them. We knew that they were going to be closing soon for their TEN YEAR renovation, so this was pretty much my lils only chance to see them as children; they’d missed out on the traditional school trips to the Hill this year and last.

We decided that we would attempt to go in the first week of our trip, partly so that Willy’s Mum could join us, and just to make sure that we had time to try again if we didn’t make it, for whatever the reason. The night before our planned visit, we did a little bit of prep for the tour, but we were left to scramble a bit due to a few things that were not made clear, either on the Visit Parliament website, or when we were interacting with the staff who handle the tickets and organization. None of these were enough to ruin the day for us, but it did make for a long day for all of us.

All in all, we had a good day. It was worth the effort, even if we didn’t get to do all that we wanted. If you are going to check it out before it closes, here are my tips:

• The sooner the better. Yes, we went Canada Day week, so it was busy, but there are fewer opportunities to go with each passing day. The building closes in January 2019, so public access will likely end before that. Other than the potential crowds, you may want to consider going sooner rather than later for two additional reasons. The first is that Parliament is not sitting in the summer, so you will actually be able to enter and view the House of Commons and the Senate Chamber. The second is that they have started to slowly dismantle the building to prepare for it’s move to the West Block, so there will be an increasing feel of construction as you get closer to the end, and some of the cool art and features may be moved if you wait too long.
  
  In the Senate Chamber 
• You need to line up for tickets for your tour time across the street at the tourism office at 90 Wellington Street. It opens at 9:00AM, but the lines start before then, it appears. We arrived between 9:15 and 9:30 and there was a very long line ahead of us. We stood in line for a little over an hour and got some of the last tickets of the day. The tickets are first come, first served, and there are a limited number for each time slot. The tours are scheduled to start every ten minutes.
• You don’t need to have everyone with you to get the tickets, especially if you aren’t there early enough to nab the first tickets.
• If you want to go in/tour the Peace Tower it is a self guided tour, and you will be allowed to do so at the conclusion of your guided tour. **NOTE: if you have a Centre Block tour that begins late in the day, you will have to do the Peace Tower tour BEFORE your guided tour – they cut off access to the Peace Tower some time between 4:00 & 5:00. In this case, you will require separate tickets. They are offered in one hour time slots throughout the day. If you need to do this, plan on being there at least one hour before your guided tour starts. We arrived 50 minutes before and didn’t get to go in as the lines were so long. Had we known that there was a chance we would not get in we would have come sooner.
• You will be told to arrive 20-30 minutes before your tour start time. This is the time that you should show up at security, as 20 minutes is plenty of time to get through. Any more time and you will have a really long wait inside.
• You can’t bring large bags into the building, but you can bring purses and small knapsacks. If you do have a bag and want to leave it, there is free storage at 90 Wellington. If you have a small purse/bag and want to carry it with you, you will be slower at security.
• The security to enter the Centre Block is similar to that at airports; empty your pockets, metal detector, and bag x-rays. The more you have on you, the longer it takes.
• The tours start to run later as the day goes on. Our 4:20 tour didn’t start until almost 5:00, which meant a lot of blurb reading and re-reading for the lils. Make sure you have something to entertain everyone, especially if you are going later in the day.

My two favourite spots were the Hall of Honour, which separates the House of Commons from the Senate:

And the Library, which is just amazing!

We started private swimming lessons for the lils at home last week, and, on several occasions, I have wondered why I did not push harder to do this sooner. The lils get three individual lessons a week, they work on what they need to work on, it’s only a couple of dollars more than what we would pay for group lessons at the local pool, and they are making significant improvements in their strokes. The absolute best thing about it is that I get to sit in the sunshine with my coffee as they happen.

Unfortunately, it’s not all perfect. Our instructor, who the lils really like, has been late to every lesson so far. She started ten minutes late to the first lesson and has gradually been a few minutes later with each one. She has, for the most part, texted to let me know that she will be late, but today I didn’t get anything. This shouldn’t really bug me a tonne, but it does, mostly because she set the time for the lessons and a little because it’s rude.

So now I have to see if I can bring myself to continue with her after our trip to Canada. It’s what the lils have expressly requested and it’s what’s best for their swimming. Goose, who can be incredibly anxious and shy in these situations has really connected with her. It’s the right choice. So I just have to decide if I can set aside my need for punctuality, not hold it against her, and remember not to make plans for right after lessons. The alternative is that I need to just decide that I am ok with my head exploding if I don’t let go.