So Long 2014

What better way to leave 2014 with some kale chips, Suzanne's excellent Brie melt and a Moscato D'Asti, sometimes before an excellent salmon. It's been a good year.

A ski day when everything goes wrong...

It started with Mathieu's ski boots being too small, and Sabi's brand new expensive Kombi mits missing. Originally timed to leave around 8:15, we didn't get on the road before 8:45, making it to Bromont a few minutes before 10:00am. While Suzanne and Sabrina went to do a few runs I took Mathieu to the ski rental to get him some boots and have his skis adjusted to them.

We met up with my friend Jean and his gang which was fun. What was a lot less fun was that Mathieu's skis kept unclipping because the guy at the shop missed his adjustment. A few clips later and my son was finally able to get back into it.

Except it didn't happen.

The three intelligent adults asked the four kids to take the chair in front of us so that we could have some adult conversation which unfortunately didn't happen. As soon as we got on the chairs, the kids were not able to lower the security bar and found themselves clinging to the back seat in terror as we watched about ten meters behind. There was nothing we could do but spend a stressful climb while shouting some "suggestions". Everything ended well.

I started skiing when I was six. It happened often in my childhood when I went up the hill in a chairlift that had a broken security bar, and I survived.

Nevertheless, this Winter the kids are learning how to close the security bar.

I already miss yesterday's spa.

SPA and Paint

Suzanne and I escaped the real world this morning for a massage and a few hours of relaxation at the Spa Mont St-Hilaire. There's no better way to clear the mind. This spa is really nice, far from the sounds of the city. During winter we can clearly see the mountains through the trees conveying some sense of zen to the whole thing. And today I feel I had the best massage ever. Ask for Marie-Soleil.

Afterwards, we came back home to start work on our bedroom -- mostly paint, but with a few mouldings. We crashed totally exhausted.

December 25th Mexican Night

Ok so we miss Mexico. In Tulum in the World Cafe I got to see how they made their burritos so tonight we've decided to make some. From scratch. Everything, from the tortillas to the salsa, the spice mix to the meat. It was actually delicious. A weird Christmas dinner I know, but so good.

Of course Santa dropped some xmas gifts under the trees last night and everyone got to unwrap something...

Christmas Eve Dinner

Today was a day of cooking and Christmas cheers. We hosted Pierro, Thelma, Nick, Amy and Zach, Sophie, Chris and Alex. We had such a great time with family. The food was great, the wine (one and a half bottle) delicious and the company fun. It's really enjoyable to have the family over and I hope we get to do it for many years to come. Love you all.

Great Halloween Party

This was one of the best Halloween party we've had. We were so glad to have Kim and Pascal, Donna and Sylvain, Annick and Thierry, and all the kids over for a few glasses of wine and a lot of trick or treating. Everyone had a lot of fun and the loots were huge.

In other news today was a day I participated in the school's bake sale, watched the school's glee club perform and thriller, and see a mini rainbow in the sky. And you know, Friday the 31st is always the opposite to Friday the 13th :)

New-York 2014: The way back

Driving back from New-York was bittersweet. On the one hand we can't wait to be home. On the other we're really sad to leave New-York. We did do some great shopping in Woodbury though. In Lake George we had a horrible lupper (lunch/supper).

One thing is sure it's really really really fun to travel in a convertible.

Karate Day Camp

Both Sabrina and Mathieu are in Karate Day Camp. All I can say is wow. They do a lot of sport and really enjoy themselves during the day. Really, really good.

What prompted me to put the kids in the camp was that at one point I saw Mathieu in the school's courtyard being picked for a fight by another kid. While the other boy was trying to pummel him Mathieu was able to block with obvious karate moves and he seemed to be in total control of the encounter. I did of course communicate with the school and heard after a few emails that the aggressor had a lot of "anger" in him that day. Whatever it was, Mathieu handled himself admirably during the encounter and it encouraged me to keep the karate going.

Hence the day camp. The kids are excelling in the sports and having a lot of fun in the process. Today they went to do some indoor climbing. Really cool camp.

Mathieu's medals and Sabrina's "diploma"

Mathieu is playing Hacky Sack with the camp monitor (brown belt) and another kid

Seeds....

I believe in planting seeds. Tonight, a seed that was planted years ago is sprouting.

End of School

What can I say except that the report cards are just out of this world for both Mathieu and Sabrina. 90s all over the place with a few 80s just to bring us back to Earth and direct where we're going to work on next. And except for one item always, always above the class average. So pride is definitely there.

Here are a few pictures that were done during the school year, not to be forgotten.

We're in the pool...

Saturday morning the pool had its own mini ecosystem at the bottom. This afternoon the salt was in, the pool was 98% clean and the kids were swimming while Suzanne and I enjoyed life in our backyard. That's how it goes.

And the parents...