What's Up Wednesday: April 2026

Whenever I think of April 2026 I will remember all the rain. The sun shone so rarely this month and our yard was so wet. Other than the rain, we spent most of the month unpacking and settling in after our renovation.

Answering these questions monthly helps me reflect on the past month and I really appreciate having a record of what we've been up to. The questions come from Shay at Mix and Match Mama and Sheaffer at Sheaffer Told Me Too.

image from here

 

What we're eating this week... We ate a lot of pizza this month. Dave and I are Jr Youth sponsors and we are having a weekly night with the kids. We order pizza every week and then provide baby carrots and cucumbers. Plus I get pizza weekly at work and then we may have had it at other times too :) So yes, we've eaten a lot of pizza this month. And a lot of baby carrots.

After our renovation, I decided that I needed to use up a bunch of tea, rather than keep storing it, so I've been making iced tea and we've been drinking a lot of it. I make a pitcher every day or two, and in fact, I was making one at 6am yesterday morning as I uploaded photos for this post.

 

We got this Kool-Aid pitcher in December 2011 from one of Dave's classmates and it's become our iced tea pitcher over the past couple of years.

What I'm reminiscing about... We're in spring performance week for Rachel at dance so I'm reminiscing about past years.

 

Rachel in previous years' performances. I'll be volunteering at the theatre all this week so be prepared for some more pictures in front of these same walls in the next week or so!

I've also been reminiscing about mornings spent drinking coffee-hot chocolate outside. That hasn't happened this year yet, thanks to all the rain, but I'm really looking forward to when it does!

What I'm loving... Sam and Rachel have been playing a lot of baseball (catch) outside this past week and I am so here for it!!! I love that they spend time outside, off screens, and don't fight! It's really a win-win-win!

Playing "bunny baseball" inside on a rainy day.

My parents sent us this new coffee machine as a gift and I am also loving this! I love that it's easy to use, you can make one cup at a time, and it's so much less work than our regular coffeemaker. Plus, it doesn't use pods so it feels more environmentally friendly. 

What we've been up to... We started April with Easter and Passover. At Passover I ate more than my fair share of matzoh balls and for Easter we "flowered the cross" at church which is my new favourite way to celebrate Easter!

Rachel and I went to a flower experience, and a tea time, with Janice and Tessa and had so much fun!

Sam and I put together a chair for a reading nook in my and Dave's bedroom...

...and I volunteered at another one of Rachel's dance performances, where we were accidentally twinning.

They've been doing construction on streets all around us so our street has been much busier as it's one of the few open ones, and I've spent a lot of time walking on my favourite path as it's been easier to get around that way.

We're still working on unpacking and settling in...

...and we're breaking that up with walking to errands and getting Starbucks!

We went to visit Tessa & Andrew and met their goats! We had so much fun with them! And yes, that's a goat jumping onto, and off of, my back :) 

What I'm dreading... I don't think I'm dreading much of anything right now. Maybe the late nights I'm going to have this week volunteering with Rachel's dance rehearsals and performances.

What I'm working on... We have to turn this into a guest room in the next month...

There are a lot of boxes to unpack in Dave's office...

 

... and my office still needs some work.

What I'm excited about... I'm so excited that our deck got built!!! Rachel and I have been spending as much time as possible out here -- when it's not raining and cold, that is!

We were even able to have our first outside meal a couple of days ago!

What I'm watching/reading... I'm watching Rachel's dance rehearsals, when I don't have to do a volunteer shift, and I'm reading the spring performance information to ensure we don't miss anything. It's a lot to stay on top of!

 

What I'm listening to... I'm listening to all the music in the spring performance. Sorry this post is so dance oriented but that is really the main thing that's up with us this week!

What I'm wearing... I bought myself a new Blue Jays' t-shirt. It says "American League Champions 2025." I've been wearing it a lot! We need to get ourselves to another Jays game soon so I can wear it there.

What I'm doing this weekend... Well it's my birthday this weekend but I'm volunteering for two of Rachel's dance shows and then watching another one so, you know, what birthday?!?!? On Sunday we're going to an engagement party and maybe meeting friends for lunch. I guess my birthday will be celebrated later. Maybe.

What I'm looking forward to next month... I'm looking forward to some warmer weather (I hope), to spending more time in the back yard, and to maybe even getting the laundry line hung up again post-renovation. I miss hanging out laundry. I'm also looking forward to helping host a graduation party, hopefully a baseball game, and there are a few other things on our calendar. May should be a fun month :)

 

So that was our April. It was a full month but I feel like we made good progress on getting things more in order post-renovation. We still have more to do but I'm hoping in May we'll be able to spend more time outside. After all, this is one of my favourite times of the year and I want to enjoy it!

 

Hopefully I'll get to read some of the other posts over the next few evenings. Until then, Happy Wednesday!

Friday Favourite Moments #13 2026 (On A Monday)

These are my favourite moments from last week. I decided to not post on Friday because it was Good Friday and it didn't feel right to me to post. Last week was full of so many favourite moments!!!

 1) Attending Opening Day!!!

I've been excited about this day for months! I was thrilled to get Jays' tickets for Opening Day and I was especially excited because I knew they would unveil the AL Champions banner. I didn't realize that it was also the kick off to their 50th season of playing ball so the opening ceremonies were extra exciting!

 

We were all so excited to be at the Dome again! And I used some Christmas money from my parents to buy an "AL Champions"shirt. My spring training shirt was getting a little worn out!

 

Because it's their 50th season, the Jays have a lot of memorabilia on the main level for fans to see. The case on the left is filled with World Series and American League Championship Series items. And they projected videos and photos on the diamond which was super cool to see. All in all, it was a very memorable night and I cried with happiness and pride at my team.

Speaking of my team, I'm trusting they will get their act together and start winning some games because this last week of play has been terrible. Ugh.

2) Canada v Iceland pre-World Cup Friendly game

As a part of his birthday celebrations, Sam and I went to see Canada play Iceland in a pre-World Cup soccer friendly. It was such a fun game and I really enjoyed being there with Sam. The only downside is that it was so cold. The weather was hovering around freezing and, at one point, it snowed on us. The game was really fun though! I told Sam I wasn't taking him to a World Cup game (as the cheapest tickets start at $2,500) but I was more than happy to take him to this one!

 

3) Sam's birthday & bean bag chairs

Sam turned 17 last Monday so we celebrated him all day! One of the things we did was pick up our new bean bag chairs. They're super fun and Sam has spent a lot of time watching Jays' games in his. 

 

4) Yoga in a greenhouse

 

My favourite local greenhouse was doing a fundraiser and offered a yoga class, followed by tea, in their space. I told Janice about it and she signed up too. It was so amazing to be lying under all the growing things and stretching out my body. And the tea which followed was delicious! I really hope they offer it again because it was a really nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

5) Beef & Guinness Stew

 

I was sad to not be home for St Patrick's Day because I love the (vegetarian) Beef & Guinness Stew that I make. So I decided to make it this past week instead and it was so good! I really need to make this more often than St Patrick's Day because I really love it!

 

6) My glass cupboards

 

We unpacked some of the Fiestaware last week and I put it in my glass cupboards. It looks as amazing as I hoped it would and I can't wait to unpack some more colourful dishes to continue to fill this cupboard up. Have I mentioned how much I absolutely love our new kitchen?!?!?!? 

  

7) Passover

 

We had a really good Passover seder with Dave's family and some of his family friends last week. I really enjoyed getting to see people we don't get to see all that often. My favourite part was when Dave's mom asked how many matzoh balls each person wanted. Other people answered "between 1 and 3" but I said, "As many as I can get" and Dave's mom took me at my word! I love matzoh balls! Hahaha!

8) Maundy Thursday

 

We went to the Maundy Thursday supper at church and sat with friends we hadn't seen in awhile. I took no pictures because we were too busy visiting but it was an excellent meal and a great catch up visit with friends we hadn't seen in way too long so it had to make my "favourite moments" list :)

 

So that was our past week -- sports with Sam and celebrating all the holidays interfaith life brings at this time of year.

Monthly Musings: Spring Holidays And Fun

I always love linking up with Monthly Musings and today is all about one of my favourite things -- SPRING!!! I have to keep reminding myself it is still "early spring" and that really, nicer spring weather is coming, right?!? Patty, who blogs at Good, Better, Best, hosts this link up so you can go there to read the other posts.

1) Does it feel like spring yet where you are?

My first response was "no" because, while we have had a couple of nice days, it has mostly been cooler days where we still need mittens and winter jackets. However, the snow is mostly gone and I have to remind myself we are in "early spring." Therefore, "yes" it does feel like spring -- just not the nice warmth and sunniness of spring which I really love!

Me, last year on a forest walk. I'll be able to start these in a couple of weeks (I hope!) 

2) What spring holidays do you celebrate?

We celebrate Easter and Passover. The first seder is on Wednesday and then Easter kicks off with Maundy Thursday the next day. Some years they overlap a lot more, like the year Sam's birthday, first seder, and Good Friday were all on the same day. Oof.

 

We also celebrate the unofficial holidays of "Opening Day for MLB" (specifically the day the Jays play their first game), and "First Day of Outdoor Laundry Hanging!" I recognize those holidays are very specific to our family/me!!!

 

3) Any spring trips planned?

We'll go to baseball games! Does that count as "spring trips"?!?

4) Favourite foods to eat and share for spring holidays?

I really love the first BBQ of the season, which can usually happen around Easter.  I make potato salad and usually chickpea salad and it's such a treat. I also love matzoh ball soup for Passover.

  

5) Are there any spring festivals in your area?

Nope, but I'm looking for them! You know I'd be attending them if I found one!

6) Best spring allergy relief tip.

One year a blog friend recommended Flonase. Last year, Rachel and I were suffering so badly I went to the drug store and came home with two bottles. That made spring much more pleasant last year.

 

7) What makes you think, "Ok, now it's finally spring."?

The day when I get home from work and can read outside in the afternoon with a Coke. Also, when I can plant pansies in my window boxes. I also love the day I can leave my winter jacket at home and ditch my winter boots. I can usually wear shoes long before I can wear my spring jacket.

 

8) Spring rain ... love or dislike?

I usually "love" a spring rain, as long as it's not too chilly. It feels like it's washing away the last of the winter dust and grime and everything just feels fresher afterwards.

9) Special spring holiday dessert or treat?

After our March Break to Florida where we ate a ton of Key Lime Pie, that dessert is now tied to spring for me. It's green, it's tart, it's not too heavy. I love it!

 

10) Favourite spring cocktail or mocktail?

I really love a G&T or any specialty drink at a Blue Jays game! Spring is also when we pull out the ice maker and I have Coke with ice and some lime juice. It's so yummy!

So that's a little bit about spring, and what marks that season at our house. Spring is a little topsy turvy this year because we're settling back into our house after the reno and so some of our (my) favourite traditions, like the first laundry hanging day (!!!), haven't been able to happen yet. But you can be certain that I will be celebrating them when they do!

 

Happy Spring!!!