L e a n n e   V e r k l e y

April started off with Easton and I heading to Hamilton to go see the Goo Goo Dolls and Dashboard Confessionals.  He has been playing the Goo Goo Dolls music on his guitar for about a year, so we knew he enjoyed their sound.  Easton got the tickets for Christmas.   We actually had tickets for the Tribute Community Centre in Oshawa, but the show was cancelled as the lead singer was under the weather.  They said the show the next night in Hamilton would go on, so... we scrambled and got tickets to that show.  However... enroute, they cancelled that show.  There was a little concern from me as my digital tickets just disappeared from my phone, but after doing a little digital digging, we confirmed the lead singer had pneumonia and this show would also be cancelled.  So we made the best of it and continued on the GO train to Toronto and went out for dinner before turning around and heading back home.  We ate at the Real Sports Bar and Grill just outside of the Scotia Bank Arena, and just enjoyed some mom/son time.  

A few days later Adam, Brian's cousin, came with his wife Krista and their kids, Macey, Griffin and Cooper to Whitby for a hockey tournament that Griffen was playing.  So, we also went to watch.  

Easter, my dad's 69th birthday and Hadley's 19th birthday were the following weekend celebrated at my dad's with my sister's family and of course my brother as well.  

Artemis II splashed down off the California coast. Congratulations to everyone that made this lunar fly by mission possible! Welcome home to the crew!

Brian and I went out on a date night to see the movie Project Hail Mary and then out for live music and drinks.  

On April 12th both our cats (Marble and Trinity) turned 9.  Happy Birthday to them.  

Easton started 3 on 3 spring hockey.  

Hadley finished off her first year.  The last two weeks included big projects and exams.  

Her year end questions answered:

Q: What do you remember about every day at school?

Trying to figure out when I can have lunch.  

Q: Who are your best friends?

Melissa and Aster

Q: What is your favourite book?

The girl who fell beneath the sea by Axie Oh

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A Video Editor

Q: What are your favourite foods to take to school?

Rice bowls and noodles

Q: What is your favourite thing in gym, recess and or extracurricular?

Hanging out with friends, and playing Genshin

Q: What are your favourite songs?

Star gazing by Myles Smith and most songs by Alex Warren, specifically Enternity.

Q: What is your favourite thing to watch?

One Piece

Q: Who were your teachers?
First Semester:
Allan Elliot, Thom BrycemcQuinn, Ted Ambrose, Beatriz McCulloch, Bob Sorger, Sandee Roelcke, Donna Gall
Second Semester:
Dany Tremblay, Kyle Francis, Sandee Roelcke, Jeff Biederman (for two classes), Oi-Ling Kwok (Helen), Bob Sorger (Substitute Greg Davis), Ted Ambrose

March started off with an outdoor skate at Greenwood.  The ice was fantastic, and Easton even got a few clinks by shooting the puck at some tins attached to hockey nets.  

When my dad arrived back from Hawaii on March 5th, I picked him up from the airport and took him to see Hadley's campus.  She gave him a tour around campus with dinner out and gelato for dessert.  Three generations wandering around.  
My dad must have been so tired from the day but he was so happy to be there too.  

Easton had his last house league hockey game on March 10th, and it was an exciting hockey game! So fun to be part of this team with great kids, parents and coaches. Nice we got the game win but also just great energy and fun!

March 14th, of course we had pie for pie day...in Ottawa.  
For March break Easton and I headed to Ottawa while Brian travelled for work and Hadley was at school.  We started at 5 am, shovelling snow, and drove through crazy weather to get to the Carlton University Open House.  This is where Rilla works.  Easton's best friend Robin will be going here as there are perks to having parents work at the University, so we decided to check it out while on our Ottawa visit.  Rilla gave us a lovely tour of the Raven's home turf.  From Residence, to sports, to classes, and food.  We would be staying at Rilla and Scott's house for our visit. While in Ottawa Robin had bring a friend day to his curling club, so Easton gave it a try.  I think it was harder than he thought it would be.  Balance is way different than on ice skates but Robin did a great job showing him the ropes.  Easton tried throwing rocks and even tried being a skip.  We also ventured to the Canadian Tire Centre to watch the Senators play.  We arrived just in time to grab some drinks and popcorn, and then head in for the anthem and puck drop.  Celebrini from the Sharks was also in the house! #71!  YAY for Canadian hockey players!  Between each period we refilled our popcorn... so much popcorn, but the boys didn't want a real meal even though it was offered.  They had such a good time.  7-4 win for Senators.  I felt a little weird cheering for the Sens but with no Leafs around... the next Canadian team made sense.  I did wear a leafs t -shirt under the borrowed jersey just for good measure.  After the game we wandered around waiting for people to leave so traffic would be better.  We checked out the ice from different levels.  It was so cold outside once we actually went outside but we managed to find our way to the unmarked parking and got home through a crazy storm.  The boys were still eager to spend some more time together so they organized an unofficial OYP (Ontario Youth Parliament) bowling night with those that live in Ottawa and could make it.  I know Easton had a great time with Robin, Seb, Bushra, Jack and Ben.
Robin’s sister Norah bowled with the parents, his other sister Kennedy was out with friends and we let the teens bowl together.  While we stayed longer than expected, when the roads finally opened back up from the terrible weather we headed back home.  

March 20th, Hadley turned 19!  Brian flew home from work travels just in time for her special day.  Her request for cake was a Costco cake with the cream inside.  It feeds an army, but we got it and sent half of it back with her to school to celebrate with her friends as they had a fun day planned of video gaming and such.  She also researched Osaka Sushi.  A restaurant that gave us our own tea room and a menu of fun sushi.  A few of the sushi rolls were very large.  She has been asking for the Lego One Piece set for a long time now and this coveted set was gifted to her for this special event and there was so much joy!  She also wanted to try sake (Japanese rice wine), so we got her that but she was disappointed and didn't enjoy it.  She also tried some other fun alcohol, but it turns out, just because you are 19, doesn't mean you have to enjoy alcohol.  After a few sips, she moved on.  She had such a lovely weekend being celebrated and was so happy to also celebrate with her friends at school.  

The end of the month finished our beginner plus line dancing classes, so we went out as a group with Marta, Marsha, Amanda, Josee, Katie, Melissa and myself.  Good food, good fun, good company.

A while back I reserved snow shoes from the library and early in February, my name came up to have them for a weekend.  This particular weekend Hadley was home, and Brian and Easton were in London for a LAN party, so Hadley and I tried them out in the backyard.  

It was a big month for Verkley birthday's.  Birthday wishes for 65th, 70, and 75th birthdays! Anne Marie, Joe, Maria, Nora and Cathy and... Teresa (but she is March 1).  
We even had a surprise up our sleeve.  We got Brian's mom's cousin Sharon to drive to our house, so we could drive her the rest of the way to surprise Brian's mom.  She loved the surprise.  I parked at my dad's and he even came over to Brian's uncle Joe's house which is only a few doors down from him to celebrate and enjoy some cake.  The snow banks were higher than my head!  We enjoyed sjoelbak, Baby Rhett cuddles, pool table fun, and lots of food and family time.  We got Brian's mom 75 gifts to open which I think took her a week to open.  She loved it.  

Brian's 49th birthday we celebrated with a heart shaped cake, with Olympic decor and lots of Olympics to enjoy.  Hadley was home for the weekend and we went down to Nathan Philips Square where we skated on the rink.  I love that the Olympics were represented on the rink as well.  While Brian and Easton had a small race and totally snowed me, Hadley proved that she could still twirl with ease.  
Birthday dinner for Brian was at the Cactus Club in Toronto.  The food was so beautifully plated and the atmosphere was lovely.

My dad came to watch Easton play hockey the night before he flew out to Hawaii for his vacation.  Getting him to the airport was interesting as it was a snow day for the schools, but we luckily left early enough to get him there and me back home before it got too crazy.  There was only about 15 minutes each way that were touch and go for the drive.  Eeek.  He left his truck at our place while he enjoyed summer temperatures and adventures for two weeks.  He loved the trip!

Easton and Robin went to the OYP (Ontario Youth Parliament) weekend again this year and Easton came back telling fun stories and wanting to go again as soon as possible.  Easton even spoke in the house this year for the first time.  Rilla also sent me a couple of photos from the weekend as well, so I could see what the fun was all about.  From bus travel, parliament time, game time and hotel time, I think it was another weekend to remember for Easton.  

Another fun month in the books.

News years had the usual teenagers gather together: Hadley, Kennedy, Todd, Robin, Easton and Nora the kid of the group but she certainly holds her own.  The adults: Rilla, Scott, Synthia, Ryan, Shawn B., Brian and I.  
Rilla, Kennedy and I all wore overalls to the event. Triplets.  
Hadley added sparkle to her hair for the festivities.
We enjoyed the usual cooking experience with shrimp tartlets, cold pizza for the win and some new recipes.  From chocolate covered cheese to haggis (which doesn’t photograph well), we enjoyed many fun appetizers. The evening went well in to the night/morning with fun and games.  Followed by the next day of more fun and games.

January 7th had some reflection for me as it was my mom's birthday.  Sometimes I really wish I could call her up and talk with her.  

Our family went to see Descendants at the High school. They always put on a great performance! Costumes and sets were also fantastic!  Hadley came home for this.

Easton achieved a Certificate of Distinction for the Beaver Computing Challenge put on by the University of Waterloo. Easton scored the top mark for his school and top 25% of all contestants worldwide.

January had some significant snow storms but also some beautiful sunrises which we are fortunate enough to see from our dining room.  
I will be honest when I thought maybe playing in the snow with the neighbours might be a thing of the past but with all the snow, it melted my heart to watch Easton, Matthew and Ellie dig tunnels together.  Making four entrances through a giant hill.  This particular dump had Toronto digging out of a 56 cm storm, while we had a little less at 21 cm.
I love the seasons.  Get outside and enjoy!