Keva's (covid) 8th Birthday

The weather didn't work out as planned, but boy was her birthday a fun and memorable one in these unique times...

Celebrating with Ivy

Covid Celebrating  masks for all!

Spaghetti & Meatballs, as requested!

Distanced Party on the Porch

Cake made by Tavish and Daddy

Yum!

8 Year old and her Mommy

Baking cookies to give away on her birthday

Gifts!

8 Year Old in a Tree

Dandelion 8 Year Old

Bicycle Built for Two

Keva and Rosalina on Two Wheels

Birthday Beachcomber

8 is Great

MOMENT: 8 is Great

Keva awoke to the traditional birthday sign and banner downstairs, then opened some special cards and one key gift ... a bicycle seat for Molly and Rosalina (her dolls)! We were off before the rain for a family birthday bike ride full with water, trees, pedaling, a flat tire (for Tav), and plenty of smiles. She was delivered some thoughtful gifts from a few friends (Pippa/Cleo, and Isabel), had a walk by well-wishing from Georgia, an exciting face to face call with Ivy in New Zealand, and even delivered some of her homemade cookies to a few friends who live on the street, from a safe distance of course. There was a virtual party with Pippa, Cleo, and Isabel involving watching their dance submissions that were compiled into a shared birthday dance and then doing some freestyle playing. Finally, saving the best for last, Grandma and Auntie Colleen came over to enjoy some time and yummy birthday cake. A great day to celebrate a great eight year old!



MOMENT: Party Time to "Best Day of my Life"

Keva asked a few of her pals (Pippa, Cleo, Isabel) to do a section of a dance to this wonderful song. We compiled it to watch together at the start of Keva's "party".

Covid Week 6-10

We can pretty much sum up the past 30+ days as ...

The more things change, the more they stay the same... only different.

The threat of spreading Covid-19 is still very real and is helping to keep people socially distanced. What is changing though, is how it seems to have evolved into some new type of 'normal' that does become more complicated when spring weather does grace us with it's presence. I've concluded that there are plenty of outdoor spaces to explore and enjoy in Toronto ... you just have to navigate several bottlenecks to get there. Sigh. So the big change is that - the hesitance and complications involved in getting out, other than that though, this Covid situation is more of the same ...

Making the best of being HOME.

 

Getting OUTSIDE when we can.

 

  

Staying CONNECTED where we can.

LEARNING Stuff.

 

 MOMENTS: Weeks Whizz By

It's been forever, things are strange, nothing is normal ... yet, all in all, this family is doing just fine. In fact, we have been able to make the most of it. Learning is happening, we are moving our bodies, we get to still connect with our friends and family in a safe manner, and we are all still getting along (almost all of the time)!

Mother's Day 2020

This was an extra special Mother's Day because I was in the company of my Mom AND got to be in the company of my kids and enjoy all of their love and creativity...

Best Breakfast and Caring Cards

Whoopie Pies!

A "Hug" for Grandma to Keep

Fancy Appetizer by Tav

More Moms to Celebrate the Merrier!

MOMENT: Fun Moments for Moms

There was food and wow was it good! A delicious breakfast with fresh fruit, fantastic french toast, beautiful bacon, and the sweetest homemade cards ever.  The kids were also both busy creating in their own special ways ... Tavish baked strawberry marshmallow whoopie pies for the Moms (and special Aunt) in his life. Keva made our 'homemade' mac & cheese to deliver to Grandma and Auntie Colleen for lunch. Tavish surprised me with an incredible dinner appetizer: shrimp crostini with a roasted red pepper and pine nut sauce before helping his Dad make a memorable meal plated to perfection! Keva also took some time to paint with me at the table. Such lovely children ... such a lucky Mommy....



MOVIE MOMENT: More Digital Memories

Since we are still trying to celebrate amid the restrictions and cautious distancing due to Covid-19, we thought it would be extra fun to send Grandma a goodnight movie, just for her, to cap off her Grand-mother's Day here in Toronto.

Covid Week 4 & 5

Well, we threw Easter weekend and Tom's 40th birthday in to the middle of these weeks (we like to keep quarantine exciting), so we will lumped together 2 weeks of weekday life under the theme of:

school, rainbows, growth

School Boy

School Girl

School & Work Together at Home

Rainbow Tunnel!

Tea Party for All

Signs of Spring

Spotting Growth Everywhere

MOMENTS: Learn, Play, Grow. (Repeat)

These 2 weeks saw the surfacing of school in a digital format - their actual teachers made a come back! There were still plenty of 'rainbow moments' of play and fun too, of course. All around us were signs of growth inside and out - spring is in the air and changes are everywhere!

Daddy is 40!

What could help you remember turning 40 more than an international pandemic?!

Kid's Made Breakfast - Served in Bed

Ballet Class with Keva

Fortnite Fun with Tavish

Local Beer from Childhood Friend

Paella Dinner with Sangria!

Cheesecake Chef

40th Birthday Boy!

Campfire of Fun

Night "Out" With Friends including a game of Jeopardy!
(Tom, Goulet, Colin, Blaine, Nick, Wall, Ahmed)

MOMENT: Welcome to my Age Bracket, Hubby

Tom may have been at home all day, but he was surrounded by love from near and far. Plus, breakfast in bed, missions of birthday fun to accomplish with the kids, paella for dinner with sangria, a homemade cheesecake, a campfire, and 2.5 hours of "zoom" fun with friends certainly helped!

MOMENT: A Toast to Tom

To really make the most of this memorable occasion, friends and family from far and wide contributed to a collective 'toast' to Tom's 40th that the four of us watched snuggled up together after breakfast in bed. Happy Birthday, Hubby.