Hip Hip Hooray!

At the beginning of December, I flew to Saskatchewan for a few days to support my parents as my dad had hip replacement surgery. We were all so excited that his surgery was scheduled for before Christmas! This was my first time flying on my own since 2017 so it felt very strange to only have to worry about myself at the airport.

I arrived at the airport nice and early, got myself a Starbucks, and settled down to wait.

My flight was a little delayed, and Dad's surgery happened early, so by the time Mom picked me up, the surgery was done and Dad was in recovery. Mom and I went out for lunch and I had to take a picture of this very Saskatchewan looking stained glass window.

 

We spent time at the hospital in the afternoon and Dad was in fine spirits. My uncle and my cousin stopped by to visit so I got to see some family too. Mom and I watched a Hallmark movie in the evening and went to bed early. It had been a long day. 

The next morning I had coffee-hot chocolate from the fancy machine and admired the arrangement Mom had made for the bathroom. I thought the white carnations and the greenery were so pretty.

Santa brought Dad a new hip as an early Christmas gift. Whooo hooo!!!

We were also excited that Dad was home within 24 hours! It's so much better to recuperate at home.

We even created a new drink called the "Hip Hip Hooray!" It is a G&T with a shot of Mom's homemade sour cherry vodka and some vodka soaked cherries in the bottom. It was very good!

 

I tried to help Mom as much as I could so throughout the weekend I did dishes, helped with some laundry, took over dispensing Dad's meds to him (I only screwed up once and gave him his painkillers too close together -- I'm not a nurse or a pharmacist. Ooops.), encouraged Dad in doing his exercises, and did some shovelling. 

Dad decided he was the only one who could cook the shrimp properly so he stood at the stove for a few minutes.

I enjoyed more than my fair share of carrot pickles and delicious oatmeal.

On Sunday afternoon another aunt and uncle came to visit so it was nice to see them. And Dad even made his way downstairs to watch a couple of Hallmark movies.

Monday morning I was back at the airport, with another Starbucks in hand, waiting to catch a flight home.

As I walked onto the plane I saw my cousin's husband sitting in business class. We met up at the airport and had a quick catch up. It was so good to see him, even briefly.

I got home early afternoon and caught up with Sam and Rachel. While it was good to be home again, I'm so thankful I was able to be in Saskatchewan for Dad's surgery. It went really well! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during that time. I really appreciated them.

Renovation Report Week Seven

Who even am I? A "renovation report" on a Monday?!?!?! Well, a lot happened last week and I won't be blogging towards the end of the week so I wanted to share. It was a big week in reno world.

 They finished installing the roof pieces and started putting the "sheeting" on. This is what the shingles attach to.

I had to capture this view of the sunrise from our bedroom window. No, we can't access it yet. All these photos are taken through Rachel's window, which will eventually become our bedroom door.

Some materials arrived and took up space on our driveway! I thought it was shingles but it turns out it was concrete for the basement. 

We get a daily update from our construction crew. This week's updates included a lot of information about pieces of the work passing inspections (YAY!!!), shingles being done (no photos of that!), and spray foam insulation being sprayed under the addition. So yes, as I said in my last update, lots of exciting things happening but not so many great photos!

Learnings from this week:

It's a good thing we decided to do a reno because our bathtub faucet started leaking persistently this week. Thankfully it will be demolished in the not too distant future and we have an alternate place to shower, although it's not in our house!

Renovations + holiday celebrations + regular life (work/school/dance/soccer) is extra chaotic!!!

There will be some work done off and on throughout the holidays but I won't provide my next update until the first week of January.

Renovation Report Week Six

As much as I try to write blog posts earlier in the week, or even on the weekend, life keeps preventing me. Thus, I drove Rachel to dance last night and sat at Dave's work, waiting for him to finish a meeting. I said to Dave, "Waiting for you will give me time to blog!" Here's what happened in our renovation last week.

The joists are installed to build the second floor -- our new bedroom!

Now the subfloor is down so there's something to build the bedroom on! Hahaha!

The powder room wall got built! So exciting!!!

And they dug more trenches in the basement floor.

Our bedroom has walls...

 

...and the beginnings of a roof!!!

 

Rachel and I went and took some pictures in the addition. Can you see her standing where our sliding doors will be? Also, I took a picture of the side so you can see where the side door will be. They left a space open on the top so they could access the second floor, but we don't have a door coming off our bedroom!

The plumbers opened the shower kit for downstairs so it makes our laundry room a little crowded.

And they started installing plumbing in the basement! 

It was an exciting week with a lot going on!

 

Learnings this week:

 

Just because you are having construction done in your house doesn't mean you can stop cleaning! Hahahahaha! I had a bit of a meltdown on the weekend, we cleaned three rooms, and now we all feel better. Man, does construction dust accumulate!!!

 

Now I'm going to work on the post for this week's renovation update. There's been a lot going on but, spoiler alert, it's a little harder to photograph :)

Monthly Musings: Holidays and Ringing in the New Year

It's the last Monthly Musings of 2025. I'm excited to see what Holly, who blogs at Pink Lady, and Patty, who blogs at Good, Better, Best, come up with for the 2026 Monthly Musings because I really do love this link up. Thanks for hosting such a fun blog party each month Holly and Patty!

1) What holidays do you celebrate?

We celebrate both Channukah and Christmas. It makes for a lot going on this time of year. For instance, this weekend we have Rachel's dance holiday showing, our Christmas celebration with our besties, two Channukah parties, three of us are involved in the Sunday morning church service, and then Rachel and I are cookie baking with Janice and Tessa. So yes, we celebrate ALL THE THINGS!

 

2) Scale of 1-10 -- how into the holidays are you this year. Be honest.

I have to admit, I'm at about a 2. Between the renos, the shooting in Australia during a Channukah event, and the weather, I am just not feeling the holidays this year. I'm sure it will get better but right now I'm tired, a little stressed, and feeling displaced in our house, while also trying to remember that life is a gift.

3) Favourite things to make/bake during the holidays?

My favourite things to make is Holly's Applesauce Jumbles. You can find the recipe here. Seriously you all -- I've made about five batches already this year. Rachel made them as part of a cookie bake she did earlier this week and we'll for sure be baking them on Sunday with Janice and Tessa. I haven't given these to a single person who hasn't loved them!

 

We also make a lot of cranberry tea and I almost always have my Christmas potpourri simmering on the stove. Yes, even this year! Our house smells like cinnamon and sawdust -- hahaha!

And I LOVE when Dave makes latkes, We have a tradition of him frying them outside which won't happen this year, as we don't have an outdoor outlet right now. Dave's latkes are the best!

 

4) Favourite holiday movies?

Hallmark ones. We love The Santa Summit, On the 12th Date of Christmas, and the Channukah ones.

 

5) Most random holiday tradition?

Probably Jólabókaflóð, the Icelandic tradition of reading books on Christmas Eve. We all get a new book on Christmas Eve, put on our pajamas, eat snacks, and read. It's so much fun!

 

6) Are you hosting for the holidays? New Year's Eve or Day?

We're "kind of" hosting in that my parents are arriving on Christmas Eve but will be living at our neighbours' house! So we have to buy all the groceries, and decorate at our neighbours, but then Mom & Dad will be in charge! Hahaha!

7) Favourite way to ring in the New Year?

I used to love a big party but now I like a quiet evening with good food and a good book. New Years just isn't that exciting anymore.

8) Any New Year's Resolutions or Word of the Year?

I never do a "word of the year." My resolution is to blog more consistently (including getting into a better blog reading habit). My blog friends have been so amazing as my blogging, and blog reading habits, have really declined this year. I really want to get into more consistent blogging (both writing and reading and commenting) in 2026. I love this space, and the friendships I've made through blogging, and I don't want to lose any of that. 

9) Favourite holiday songs?

The whole Nana Mouskouri Christmas album. I love the whole thing!

10) Favourite holiday memory?

I can't think of a favourite. I just love spending time with some of my favourite people.

Turkey dinner with our best friends (left) and my cousins and aunt (right).

We love celebrating being together with my parents with prosecco for everyone! I love that tradition!!!

 

Also, see above about Dave frying latkes outdoors. I love that memory too! 

I hope whichever holidays you celebrate, and whatever space you are in this year, you find meaningful ways to mark this time of year with friends, family, and loved ones.

Renovation Report Week Five

Phew. It's been a week! I started this week in Saskatchewan with my parents. My dad had very successful hip replacement surgery last Thursday. He was home the next day and was well on his way to recovery when I left on Monday.

We had a field trip at work for half the school on Tuesday, a bus cancellation day on Wednesday, and now it's Friday. One more week until Winter Break and are we ever ready for it!!! I'm hoping to have some time to blog this weekend but until then, here's what happened during Week 5 (which was last week) of our renos.

On Monday they worked on HVAC (which I found out has to do with fresh air and how the air is circulated  in your house) and they unloaded a whole bunch of supplies.

By the end of Tuesday we had floor joists throughout!!! (And yes, I asked if it was okay if I stood on the joists -- at my own risk of course.) This addition feels a lot bigger when I'm standing on it.

On Wednesday they got the subfloor down. And then I flew to Saskatchewan and Dave had to update me! Hahaha!

 

By the end of Thursday, we had two walls. There is a door for our back entry in one of the walls but you can't see it here.

 

And by Friday we had a back wall (with an opening for two windows and a door to the deck (!!!)), and a beam to install the joists for the second floor (our bedroom!).

Building is so exciting because we come home every day and there are changes!!!

Learnings from this week:

Walls are more exciting to blog about than HVAC!!!

If you really want to see progress on a renovation, leave the province for three days. You won't recognize it when you get back!

And I promise, next week's update will be even more exciting (and hopefully, timely.)!