Tavish's (Covid) 11th Birthday

"A Little Party Never Hurt Anybody"

Sure, we may have to be socially distant from friends and extended family, but turning 11 is still a great excuse to party so we will just do it safely so that our party literally cannot hurt anybody! So, we partied from a safe distance but connected through technology. Plus, life is just one big party in this family, so we knew just what to do...

This is eleven!

Indoor Decorations

Outdoor Decorations

Sister Gift of Colourful Love

The Whole Gang Together Singing!

Call from his Cousins

Best Bakers - A Team Effort!

Self-Isolated Dynamic Duo

Exchanging Gifts from 4 Floors Away

Fortnite Birthday Bash with Buddies!

Birthday Boy Choice: Completo

Fire and Family Basketball

MOMENT: Partying Like is 2020

Well, what could capture the events and highlights of Tavish's 11th birthday better than it being reflected through the eyes of the birthday boy himself? That's right, this is Tavish's first entry into video editing right here on his 11th birthday! <3 p="">

*** TAVISH'S VERY OWN VIDEO POST ***

March Break - Covid Style

There really is a whole lot that can happen in a week, even when you've got nowhere to be and "social distancing" is all the rage. I've put together our "March Break" highlight reel and tossed in some screen shots I took throughout the week to help showcase what else was going on around us as our family blissfully nestled in together, starting with this one...

Well, we are willing to look like we over-reacted ... we don't really go out much, other than to do some #covidcleanup that I initiated to try to clean up our city for spring, might as well do some good when we've got so much time to do it, right? We were very happy to welcome Auntie Colleen and Grandma back to Toronto! We popped over for a 4-floor-away visit equipped with a reversible "Welcome Home" / "We Love you" sign. The world somehow seemed less scary to me once they were back in Canada... We took interest in all sorts of often-overlooked things like baking, colouring, creating, and old toys. All in all, it has been going pretty well while Daddy works away in his "office" (read: our bedroom). The kids even worked to help decorate it a bit... We could get used to this, but it's probably best to check in on us on occasion, just in case we've had it! ha.

Saturday Step Up

Well, we were planning on driving to Ottawa today to spend a few days of the March Break with family, but, the tides are turning in society due to this Covid-19 thing. After talks back and forth with family, we were going/not going a few times... When the K team left for Keva's ballet and silks, the T team was packing up to go. Part way through the classes, concerns stepped up a bit and we opted to stay put. Saturday would be our last time 'out and about' until we are told otherwise ... it's time to socially distance ourselves and tuck in. This ended the lengthy playdate with Zach and led us to remove the 'rink' from the yard and install the outdoor furniture and basketball net. Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time at home in the coming weeks...

Blissfully Unaware of Plan Changes

"Hit" When We Returned Home, Socializing Done for a Bit

Early Seasonal Yard Switch

MOMENT: Tone Change

All the while, Mom and Auntie Colleen are in Arizona. The tone change about Canadians out of country changed quickly, so the wheels are being put in motion to get our beloved back! Here are some screen shots of announcements from the government...note the change from avoid-non-essential-travel to get-home-while-you-still-can which transpired after the Prime Minister spoke with the US President.

Last Hoorah

In the wake of news that the coronavirus, Covid-19, is plaguing the world and spreading quickly, Ontario's Minister of Education announced that Ontario public schools would be closed. The announcement was made March 13th, the next day would be last day of schools being open until 2 weeks after March Break when wtudents are expected to return on April 6th.

School is Out!

It's Always a Party when there is Pizza

Girls on the Dance Floor!

MOMENT: Final Friday Fun

We had loosely planned to host another 'games night' with our friends tonight, but it suddenly doesn't seem appropriate in light of the "no large group gatherings" advice being shared. Though we did bring Zach home with us from school, so in a small group, the boys had some time to play together. Later, we added Georgia to the mix. There was pizza and a dance-off between girls and boys to finish the gathering. Keva and I walked Georgia home while Tavish handed Zach our spare toothbrush so he could sleep over!

Rute

Almost 2 years ago, I proposed to Tom that we get each other the best christmas present ever. This was a it of a stretch because we used to be so thoughtful and effortful in our gifts to one another until, well ... life). Anyway, my idea was to hire someone to help with deep cleaning our very busy home every 2 weeks. Enter Rute into our lives. The floors, bathrooms, and dust bunnies did not stand a chance! We have concluded that this is indeed, money well spent and a VERY thoughtful 'gift' to one another!

Then it happened... we are away at a hockey tournament in London, staying in a hotel. After a second busy day at the rink, we return to our hotel room. The cleaning staff has already been through. Without missing a beat, Keva says "has Rute been here?" Hahaha.

Halloween 2019

Another Halloween season and another bought of great costumes, creativity, and crazziness...

Grandma gets in on pumpkin carving crazziness

Kitty-o-lantern

Cat-o-lantern

A (not so) wicked witch

Killer Bear & Queen Elsa

Coady Crew in Costumes

MOMENT: Queen to Flash, Frightening to Frighteninger

Keva kept pace with the past and opted for costume diversity. The plan and focus (at least so far as I understood it) was to be Elsa. Turns out, that was just for the school Halloween situation. For the pre-Halloween-Halloween party, she would be a witch. For trick-or-treating, trusty ol' Flash came out. I like the diversity in costumes ... demonstrates her diversity and creativity. This year too, for Tavish just one costume would also not do. He opted for the consistent theme of gore and horror. He sat out the pre-Halloween-Halloween party this year for a sleepover with a hockey pal, but he managed to diversity his gore all the same. He was a killer bear for school and something even scarier for trick-or-treating. The common theme was blood. The special effects which were cool added touch for the bloody devil. Costumes are fun.

This year also brought the bonus of Grandma being in the house with us. We put her to good use preparing the pumpkin seeds for us to later gorge ourselves on. The extra cool part? Grandma and Auntie Colleen like shopping for a deal, so you can expect our decorating game to be upped next year from all their discount bin finds!

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Gratitude Jar - Year 2

Another year of gratitude captured in a wee-jar in our dining room. It is not filled often, but one year later, on the eve of Grade 5 (Tavish) and Grade 2 (Keva), we looked back at some of the things we were grateful for the year before....

MOMENT: Sharing Gratitude

Some highlights include...

Sept 4, 2018
Dad - grateful I get to drop kids off at school and that I now know where to go tomorrow!
Mom - grateful that Ms Pan seems very kind and that my work is flexible so I can walk to school with the kids on their first day!
Tavish - grateful that today was the first day of school and that we got to go for ice cream at Ed's!
Keva - grateful that we went for ice cream and that Amy will pick us up tomorrow and I'm excited to see Vannder!

Sept 23, 2018
Dad - grateful for Tavish helping Keva clean up the living room, it was very kind
Mom - Grateful for Keva's positive attitude and effort when she tries new things. Also grateful for Tavish's kindness to others when they need it most
Tavish - grateful to play my first hockey game and that Keva gets to try hockey
Keva - grateful that I tried hockey. Grateful that I love Mommy, Daddy, and Tavish. And that I love myself.

October 1, 2018
Tavish - grateful that I made the soccer team at school!
Keva - grateful and proud of myself for running really fast to help Daddy and today, I was cold!

November 5, 2018
Dad - grateful for the help of friends and family over the past few weeks; mostly to take kids to and from activities while Mommy is at the hospital
Mom - grateful for the doctors, nurses, and medicine that are helping Grandpa recover

November 19
Dad - grateful that Grandpa Mike is in town again after being gone for only 2 weeks!
Mom - grateful that Grandpa Mel is feeling better so I could go to school to pick up Tav & Keevs
Tavish - grateful for being on a hockey team and getting to do a 3 on 3 scrimmage at the end of practice today
Keva - grateful that Johnny did not butt in line today and that I got 2 fuzzies from Ms Pan

Feb 3, 2019
Dad - grateful that Auntie Colleen was so kind to let us use her car because our car was towed away
Mom - grateful I was able to have not one but two naps this busy weekend!
Tavish - grateful for Superbowl dinner
Keva - grateful I did my exercises properly because I did well with them [vision therapy]

Feb 26, 2019
Tavish - grateful that I got to skate outside at home!
Keva - grateful that I got to go to Ivy's birthday party today at her house

March 27, 2019
Dad - grateful for Mommy's extra efforts at home when I was busy at work
Mom - grateful that my voice is slowly coming back and that I otherwise feel very well
Tavish - grateful for my birthday celebration the other day and for getting to go out with my team on my actual birthday too
Keva - grateful for Sophie's party and wishing I could go on an airplane with you guys [Mom and Tavish heading to Fort Frances to see Grandpa Mel and Grandma]

April 11, 2019
Tavish - grateful for food and water and having our needs met
Keva - grateful that I go to be in an assembly tomorrow ["I will always tell the truth, even when it's hard to do..."] and for this dinner

June 26, 2019
Dad - grateful for getting to play catch in the Roger's Centre with Tavish
Mom - grateful for the sunny weather and Keva finding her balance on 2 wheels with 2 pedals! And that the outdoor pools opened early!
Keva - grateful I'm getting more used to bugs, but not really

Aug 12, 2019
Dad - grateful for summer and that as a family, we get to do a lot of things (yesterday was baseball - subway - baseball and Keva biked up a big hill on her own; day before we went to a pool party at Quinn's!)
Mom - grateful for family biking, swimming pools, flowers growing, comfy outdoor furniture, and a safe neighbourhood
Tavish - grateful I get to make a slushie after dinner, that I'm signed up for baseball camp again, and that I get allowance money!
Keva - grateful that I get to go camping with Mommy and that Daddy will put me to bed tonight...I love Mommy and Daddy and that's all.

Sept 1, 2019
Dad - grateful that when we travel for tournaments, that there are parts of the event that the whole family enjoys
Mom - grateful that I get to spend the summer with my kids and that I'll continue to have more time because I am not back to work this year!
Tavish - grateful that I made it to the OBAs [provincial baseball tournament] and that I'm a good catcher
Keva - grateful that we went to a hotel... I loved the hotel and am happy we stayed 2 nights and that I got this necklace! I'm grateful that we will go to a Blue Jays game and also, I love Coach Rob so much! I love swimming at all the girls from baseball.