Halfway Through April And What I'd Read

Okay, I'm very behind on sharing my books so you're going to get a couple of book posts this week. I hope. First up is what I read in the first half of April.

 

I've been reading more Elin Hilderbrand, and once I finished the Winter Street series, I started this one. I still have book 3 sitting on my shelf to read. These are light and interesting. I need a sunny day where I can sit and read the third book in my back yard, or on a beach visit -- these books are good for that!

I didn't know this was a novella so it ended more abruptly than I was anticipating. It was a fun little re-telling of Sleeping Beauty. I especially liked the author's interpretation of why Beauty had to sleep for so long!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the story. Now, because it's been over a month since I read it, I don't actually remember the names of the characters, or many details, but I remember how much I enjoyed this romance.

Speaking of romance, normally graphic novels are not my thing but this series was too good to quit. I really wish I could get Rachel to read it because I think she'd enjoy it. Sam would too but he is less into graphic novels.

This was a cute book which I read in one night. I immediately put the second book in the series on hold. I really enjoyed "touring" Seattle with Rowan and Neil.

 

This was a Heartstoppers novella, and once again, I got over my dislike of graphic novels and got into the story.

 

It was very fun to re-read The Hunger Games series. I flew through these books and they were just as engaging the second time around.

 I like to have a book to read at night on my Kobo and Elin Hilderbrand books have been good for that. Without giving too much away, I feel like some of Hilderbrand's novels tug at my heartstrings in ways they may not have ten years ago.

So that was the eclectic mix of books I read in the first half of April. Sorry some of my descriptions are a little lacking -- my new blog goal is to write book reviews as I read the book so I actually remember what happened and have something of substance to say :)

Friday Favourite Moments 2025 #20

Okay, last week was a doozy and I just couldn't get it together to blog in the evenings. Nothing bad was happening but I was just completely exhausted every single night. I think I was still tired from our weekend. So even though today is a holiday in Canada (Victoria Day) and, normally I wouldn't blog, I'm posting this today to try and get some blogging catch up happening.

1) Rachel's dance performance

I volunteered for Friday night's and Saturday morning's dance shows so I was very happy to finally get to watch the performance in full (and not just catch glimpses from backstage) on Saturday night. It was such a good show, and of course, I cried a little :)

 

2) Mother's Day

 

On Mother's Day I slept in and then read two books, sitting in the sun in our back yard. Dave and the kids made me an awesome supper and it was such a relaxing day. 

 

3) Monday night walk

 

Since we were all so tired on Mother's Day, and Sam was finishing up Drivers Ed, we went for a Mother's Day walk on Monday. Sadly, my favourite ice cream shop isn't open on Mondays so we got Starbucks instead. I tried the lavender frappe (which was okay) and the kids rode their bikes.

 

4) Peony blooming

 

My peony bloomed and it was incredible. It always blooms in time for my grandpa's birthday and reminds me of him. Sadly, the flowers don't last long and it's already done for the season, but it was glorious while it lasted.

 

5) Class potlucks

 

I got invited to a couple of Grade 8 class potlucks this past week. One day I had amazing Indian food and the other day I got to eat fresh pretzels bites and the best cookies. I'm so thankful when I get to connect with students outside of the office.

 

I can already tell you that my favourite moments for this coming week will be all the fun we had on Friday and Saturday and all the relaxing I got to do on Sunday! Hahaha!!!

Share Our Lives: How Do You Spend Your Birthday?

I'm a day late in linking up with the Share Our Lives bloggers but I did want to write about this topic. It's very timely since my birthday was juat over a week and a half ago. Knowing this topic was coming up, I documented what I did that day. Thanks to the Share Our Lives bloggers who are Sarah, Dara, Joanne, Adrienne, and Jen. (Click on each name to go their blogs.) for hosting.

My birthday is May 2. A birthday tradition which has been established since the year I turned 40, is that Dave takes over the blog on May 2 (or around that date), and writes a blog post for me. I love this tradition and I didn't realize it had gone back so many years until I started looking at when it started. For some reason we missed 2018 but otherwise it's happened. This year's post is here and thank you to all of you for the birthday wishes!

I started the day with coffee-hot chocolate and by ignoring the laundry! Hahaha!

I enjoyed my walk to work :)

My co-workers gave me birthday treats. The cake pop came from my work birthday twin and the cookie came from my principal. They were being sold for students and I laughed so hard when she brought it to me on a plastic glove. She didn't want to touch it as she had been dealing with students and there were no paper towels to put it on!!!

For the past two years I have worked with this co-worker and our birthdays are on the same day. Dave has brought us a special Starbucks delivery. I hope we get to celebrate together again next year! (And my co-worker gave me permission to post this picture although I warned her my blog isn't that big!)

After work, I wanted to walk uptown for ice cream with my family. Dave wasn't feeling great so he stayed home but it was a very nice walk with the kids and the ice cream (grapefruit orange blossom) was delicious!

More birthday walking on my favourite path. I love being able to get outside on my birthday but it's not always the nicest day, weather wise.

I loved being able to sit outside and read while enjoying a Coke with lime while Dave and the kids made supper. A good birthday always involves reading of some sort. 

My birthday supper was Earl Grey Tea Salmon and Casear salad. YUM!!!

New this year -- Sam drove me on my birthday :) I'm still not used to this.

People kept asking my co-worker and I how we were spending our birthdays. She was having a party and I was going to Costco to do shopping for dance. This is the difference between your 30s and your 50s! Although I did pick out a birthday bouquet so, you know, it was a celebratory Costco trip! (There is often something to do with dance on my birthday since the big performance is the weekend after.)

I came home, made myself a birthday drink, and watched the Jays play. And they won, as an extra birthday treat! I love watching The Jays play on my birthday, which doesn't always happen (here's looking at you 2024 - boo), and I especially love it when they win!!!

The next day we ordered pizza for lunch because I love pizza and we extended my birthday a bit :)

Blossoms and Brunch is how Janice and I celebrated our birthdays together this year. A newer tradition which I really enjoy is that we find something fun to do together for our birthdays, rather than exchanging gifts. You can read about our morning here.

Another tradition is that Dave and I don't exchange gifts. We find something fun to do instead. In the past I have flown a plane, enjoyed a readathon, gone on a trip, attended a baseball game, or explored a local trail. This year, we are going to Immersive Van Gogh this coming weekend and I'm really excited about it! You can read more about it here.

I don't always have a party with my friends but I might this year. Usually, because of dance, Mother's Day, the Canadian long weekend, and the weather, I don't have my party until later in May, or even into June.

So this is how I spend my birthday -- time with family, a book, baseball, and something fun to look forward to!

Friday Favourite Moments 2025 #19

In some ways this week has felt quiet(ish) and in other ways, this week has been a big one! Buckle up for a significant list of "favourite moments."

1) Mom's health

Well, my mom's health has definitely been a major thing going on with our family this year but this week she found out that the surgery was successful, the cancer hadn't spread, and she needs no further treatment!!! Honestly, this is probably my absolute favourite moment of 2025!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and kind comments during this time. I have appreciated them more than you know.

2) Various walks

I'm doing a "walk every day in May" challenge so, besides my daily walks to work and back, I've been trying to get some extra walking in. On Saturday, I walked downtown to pick Sam up from driver's ed. He was happy to stop for ice cream, so we did!!! And then we took the LRT home so he could get himself home independently the next day. Also that Grapefruit Orange Blossom ice cream was delicious!!!

 

3) Spring

 

Okay, you all listened to me complain through all of February, and a lot of March, about how "blah" our winter was. I complained about the snow. I complained about the cold. I complained about the grey. Well, your reward with sticking me through all that is to hear how absolutely giddy I am about spring!!!

 

On Sunday we went for a walk in the woods for our friend's 50th birthday party and there were so many trillium blooming. Below is me beside patch of them. Trillium are our provincial flower.

Then Dave and I went for a walk on Tuesday evening and our neighbours' magnolia tree was in full bloom and incredibly beautiful. I loved it. I added a picture of me looking apprehensive with a goose in the background. Geese are evil and I was so happy this one didn't attack me. Yesterday, I was walking home from work and two geese came marching down the sidewalk towards me. I crossed the street to get around them because there was no way I was walking near them.

 

4) Rachel's dance

I am actually writing this post as I sit through a rehearsal at the theatre and wait for my volunteer shift to start. I love being at the theatre and hearing all the excited dancers and feeling the anticipation as they prepare for their big shows this weekend.

 

So that's my list of favourite moments. By the time you're reading this on Friday morning I'll only have one day of work, and ten hours of dance volunteering left. I am crashing so hard on Sunday!!! I hope you have a more relaxing weekend ahead than I do :)

Currently: May 2025

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for "Currently" with Jennifer at My Joyful Life. You can find Jennifer here. This is the "It's finally spring and Rachel's big dance show is here" edition of "Currently."

[loving]

I am absolutely "loving" the carpool we have set up for dance. It's such a treat to not have to do all the driving this week!

I am also "loving" the "walk every day in May" challenge I am doing. It is inspiring me to do more than just walk to work.

  

left: walk for ice cream with the kids; middle: a walk downtown to pick Sam up from Driver's Ed; right: a walk in the woods (where we spotted trillium, our provincial flower) for a friend's birthday celebration

I am also "loving" the few afternoons it's been sunny and warm enough after work for me to sit outside with a Coke (with lime) and a good book to sit outside and read. Bring on more of those afternoons please!

[looking forward to]

While it is a lot of work, in terms of volunteer hours, I really am "looking forward to" Rachel's dance show this weekend. It's the studio's year end performance and I love seeing it every year. I love the excitement of the dancers as they prepare.

I am also "looking forward to" Sunday when I will have a whole day to relax as dance will be over! I'm hoping to spend the whole day in the yard getting things done -- one of my favourite ways to spend a day!

[leaving behind]

I struggled with this prompt but decided I am "leaving behind" my allergies (I hope!). Hahaha!!! Thanks to a combination of Reactine and Flonase, my allergies are mostly under control this past week and I am so here for it!!

[letting go of]

This is another prompt I struggled with, but I am "letting go of" my sanity this week :) Any time I'm not at work, between now and Sunday morning, will be spent at the theatre volunteering for dance or sleeping. Thus, I am also "letting go of" the thought that I will accomplish anything else around the house this week -- like laundry!

[looking at]

I can't stop "looking at" all the spring flowers and blooming trees. It is so gorgeous outside right now and, now that I've left my allergies behind (!!!), I can enjoy being outside again.

I mean, could you stop "looking at" all this beauty?!?!?!

So that's what up with us this first Wednesday in May. Did I mention it's all about dance and spring around here!?!?!