Which is worse?

We are in a major deep freeze right now and I mean MAJOR!  We are talking -40 degrees at times.    We've had such warm weather up until now, perhaps that is, in part, why this has been so hard for my poor self to adjust to. Still despite the frostbite, and the crunchy snow (I can't stand crunchy snow), it does feel a bit more like Christmas. Let's be honest. As much as we complain about the weather, none of us wanted a brown Christmas. Did you?

It's been hard on the kids though to not be able to go outside and play. I haven't even taken them places for fear of having to unload little frozen ice cubes that were once my children. (Cute little ice cubes mind you, but still) They were particularly antsy today, and combine that with the dreaded 5:00 "dinner prep time"- things were not looking good for a moment there. I decided the kids needed to enjoy the outdoors a little bit. So in desperation, I brought a bit of the outdoors to them.

This is actually one of my favorite activities to do on a really frigid day. All you need is some bowls of snow, and some colored water and the kids take it from there. One year I actually dumped snow into our tub. Things haven't gotten THAT bad yet:)


So, my sweet little ones went from crying and arguing over which movie to watch, to crying and arguing over which colors each person got, and who got the bigger bowl.

Progress. ...I think.

A week of achievements

A post like this is so random I had a hard time narrowing it all down into a simple catchy title. Couldn't be done. It seemed, the only common thread between all of the following updates is that each paragraph represents an achievement of gigantic proportion. So in advance kudos to all of the following:



First of all to ME. (yes me. It's my blog OK. If I can't celebrate my successes here then where I ask you. Where?! ) And believe me, this deserves praise- and no small amount of it either. Have you ever done a weeks worth of grocery shopping, AND Christmas shopping at THREE different stores in minus 30 degree temperatures with ZERO visibility? Guess what... I have! AND I didn't lose any of my kids, get mad once, or have to pull a single strand of my hair out. so you see... Yay for me.





We spent some time over at my sisters house this week, because she is AMAZING and fed us the yummiest food ever! (Cafe Rio tacos with shredded pork, a green Tomoteo sauce, and homemade gauc and salsa,) ....oh my, you know I've digressed when I start salivating all over the computer. eh hem. As I was saying, John loves going to Jewel`s house, because there they have a piano. It`s small but nonetheless it is a piano. He gravitates to that thing like a moth to a flame. Like a tornado to a trailer park. Like Ugly on a Moose as my Dad used to say. Bottom line is I think John was itching to sitting down and tickle those keys all day.
As I sat there holding my nephew and listening to him play I could not help but get chills. He`s good. Truly, if there was anything I could ever do for him that would mean something ... it would be to get him a piano. I want to give that to him so bad. Yay for him for playing it so well.





This week, Jessica has managed to wear everything BUT an actual outfit.


Despite that, she still manages to come out looking so darn CUTE! Yay for her!








Sam. Ahhh Sam. Perhaps he has accomplished more this week then any of us. He`s officially learned how to throw a ball, overhand that is. In the past he`s really made quite measly attempts that just result in pouting and sulking because he just "can`t do it right". One day I was working on the computer and the kids were playing with a ball on my bed and Sam was of course, frustrated at his inability to throw the ball effectively. I, (being the good mom I wish I really was), stopped what I was doing to teach him how to release the ball at the right time yadda yadda yadda. After a few tips, he was excited to give it a try. Let s just say that he`s a fast learner. That golf ball went flying. ....right through our bedroom window!!! It's a pretty crummy thing when your child breaks a window and you can`t even get mad about it, because you are the one to blame. Mind you, I left a few of those details out when I relayed the story to John, and seeing as John never really reads this blog, it looks like I've gotten off scott free. (YAY for me again...)



Sam redeemed himself this week though by going potty by himself TWICE in one day. ....so, in the end, YAY for HIM!





And a big yeah goes to LUCI my sister in law who has just landed a almost, not quite but practically a lead role in an upcoming local production of FOOTLOOSE. We are so proud of her! I can`t wait to brag to all the town that I am "related to ETHEL" in real life! Unless she does a terrible job playing the part, and in that case, I`ll be sure to clarify that we are, in fact, related only through marriage. :)

This proud moment brought to you by...

SAM!

Check this out! Without being asked, bribed, threatened, or told- he is vacuuming all by himself. I had to get a picture of it- this may never happen again!

In case you have noticed Sam's backwards shirt- he also insisted on dressing himself today.

Do my eyes mistake me? Could this little guy be growing up?

Next step: Potty training. It's time. It won't be easy. Need help. Suggestions please?

An old fashioned Christmas

One week into December and I've already been feeling overwhelmed with all the holiday rush. It doesn't help that I am a fairly frantic person by nature- I just have the holidays now to blame that on. :) No doubt, I'm not the only one feeling stretched by all of the concerts, firesides, parties and such. There is so much going on, and yet, I don't want to miss out on any of it!  How to squeeze it all in?  That's my dilemma. 

One of my favorite activities so far has been the Pioneer Christmas party that we attended at our local museum. It was a great afternoon, one filled with crafts, cookie decorating, sleigh rides, Christmas music, dutch oven cooking and a Christmas movie ...theatre style!

And of course what would a party be without a picture with Santa! If you cant' tell in the photo- Jessica would have been fine without that traditional visit. I swear there hasn't been a year that I haven't held my children forcing them to "be happy- it's SANTA!" Maybe I'm just trying to live through them, but honestly why WHY do kids cry at the sight of Santa? Jessica climbs to the TOP of the kids' bunk bed and leans over the railing dangerously without any fear, she runs out onto a busy street and thinks she's playing a game. Bring her near jolly old Santa though and the girl falls apart.

The sleigh ride was a favorite for all of us, and I've decided that the ONLY thing I want for Christmas is a horse.  Oh and a barn to put it in. ...OK on second thought... how about,  just a farm.


They had a dutch-oven cook off. I LOVE dutch oven cooking! John and I enjoyed samples of turkey, goose, hasty pudding, roasted apples, praline sweet potatoes and more. It made me feel all warm and cozy inside as we filled our tummies and then settled down with the kids to watch a Christmas Carol in the theatre.  

The kids had a great time and John and I did to.  Therefore...a HIT!  It made me wish (and this isn't the first time I've wished this), but I couldn't help but long to have lived back then.  Back when things seemed so much simpler  - even Christmas.  

My goal for the next couple of weeks is to not let the busyness that I find myself in at times, take away from the peace I can feel at this time of year.    I got a little reminder of that this weekend- and was grateful for it!  

Another tag...but this one is a FUN one

This tag requires VERY little effort- so all those of you who are tired of writing about where you were ten years ago and what your 10 favorite foods are will enjoy this one.  Let's get this out of the way first.  Lorin, CRYSTAL (because I know you love these), Nikki, and Paula- I hope you are up for this one:

Simply, go to your Pictures file on your computer.  Find the 4th folder.  Got it?  good.  Now find the 4th photo.  Got that?  Now...post it.  Oh yeah and don't forget to tell us about it!  

It was fun to review our Disneyland photos.  Thanks again to Aaron and Gina!!  This photo definitely represents a summer highlight.   No, the highlight wasn't our  David Hasselhoff sighting- but rather seeing the ocean.   Sandy beach, rolling waves, setting sun and all!      

That's it.  I'm going back!  Hold my calls! 

The benefits of a VERY chilly day

The view of the mountains are spectacular!

(You'll have to click on the picture to really appreciate how close the mountains seem on days like this)

Oh sorry - do I have a bad attitude?

I'm a little confused these days!  It seems as though everyone has an opinion about the recent threats of a coalition government, and I find myself wanting to take a stand...but which side to stand on, I'm not sure anymore. For the first time ever I'm not 100% behind the party I used to stand behind. ? I think my problem is that I'm getting completely bored of all the change and drama and frankly losing faith in the system.

Bottom line is that politics recently seems to be more about bullying, dodging and manipulating then anything else.     They are ALL equally petty and guilty of dirty play.  If the party leaders put as much effort into environmental, health care, or economical issues as they do in how to get rid of each other, then maybe we'd have a functioning government longer then 6 weeks! 

Someone help me understand why this government is not working. I don't mean that rhetorically. Please anyone, I really want to know.


I was going to post a link to my sister- in law's blog because she wrote very passionately against a coalition government, but I didn't want to do that without her permission, so if she is ok with everyone reading her rant then she can add a link in the comment section.   Instead here is a Rant from good ol' Rick, who offers a different perspective.    I have to say I agree with both sides, which has been crumby.    I'm afraid in this case- it's been hard for me to define who is MORE WRONG and MORE dirty then the other.    Then again, I really don't have to decide anything (enter lethargic attitude) because WE aren't the ones deciding anymore.  We are just observers in this country watching a really bad sports match that won't END.  So I guess all I have to do is sit back and watch the game.  Who knows who's court the ball will land in - but chances are it won't be there long.      

Rick's Rant:
http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/video.html?maven_playerId=rmrseason6player&maven_referralParentPlaylistId=67c7d02ddecec9284b96e9071a249a58b36737f0&maven_referralPlaylistId=57e422921c5ac7c67be857d1389a78df01311c86&maven_referralObject=947975116

Signed, 

Confused and tired of it all

Kicking off the season

My sister in law was singing the song "tradition" from Fidler on the Roof the other day, so perhaps she is the culprit guilty of inspiring this post.  With today being the first day of December, it's time to kick off some of our families Christmas traditions. There are a few things that we do each year.  Without them, it just wouldn't seem like Christmas me.

first

One thing we did in my family for as long as I can remember is to eat dinner by candlelight every night for the entire month of December. As a child, I looked forward to this as it gave my siblings and I a chance to play with FIRE. We'd dip our fingers in the wax... try to burn our napkins, or strands of hair, meanwhile my Dad threatening to take the candles away if we didn't STOP messing with them. As a parent, I have loved this tradition because it brings some excitement to the table each evening, candle light is VERY calming, and I've noticed we all linger around the table longer than normal through out this month. Such a simple thing that really does bring us together for that time. I LOVE it and Abby is really looking forward to getting "her" candle tomorrow.

Second

My Dad's birthday was on Christmas Day, and growing up there were only two things that he EVER asked for as gifts.  For his Birthday) He wanted 1 hour of uninterrupted sleep. Being a single parent, sleep must have been a rare thing for him.  For Christmas) A Bacon and Tomato Sandwich for breakfast. Yes that's right. For breakfast. Looking back I'm not sure if we ever did give him that precious hour of sleep he wanted, but we've sure enjoyed those sandwiches.

Tomato, bacon, salt, pepper, mayo and toasted bread. sooo good! Come to think of it - I don't know why we reserve this for Christmas morning. A sandwich this good should be enjoyed all through the year. But Tradition is Tradition I suppose!

Driving around looking at Christmas lights

Who doesn't do this? We've already been out a few times to enjoy other peoples lights, but that week before Christmas is the best time to go. It's nice to be stuck in a van with the clan and know that we are all enjoying it. No arguing, no "are we there yet?" It's probably the only time I don't come close to shouting, "That's it -Everybody out!"    I'm not in any rush to get anywhere, which is a Christmas miracle in itself- John would say.   The kids just stare out the window with bulging eyes and thoughtful moods, the reflection of lights twinkling on their cute little faces.  Sam is usually the one who breaks the silence every time we pass a new home with lights, as he excitedly shrieks, "I see Christmas!"  Abby, always the teacher, is willing to actually converse with him on these occasions, and she explains why there is a nativity.  Then she gets all spiritual and asks us to tell her the story of when Jesus was born.  It's true- our family metamorphasizes into a calm, tranquil,  group on nights like that.   It really is bliss!

Other Christmas traditions I love are: Those Christmas firecracker things with the cheap crown and jokes inside, gift exchanges, Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer, Delivering sugar cookies, and an advent calendar. This year I learned of a great idea for an advent calendar that I'd love to incorporate. Check out Nikki's blog for details.

Whatever your traditions are - the time is almost here to start them.   I hope you'll share some of your favorites with us.  Our family is young, and we're always looking for ideas.

This will never happen to me.

If you are a mom chances are you've contemplated at times how great it would be to have twins! This past weekend I got to take some photos of the cutest twins I know. They are so similar in so many ways it was adorable. I found myself thinking of how much i would LOVE to have a set of multiples.


And then....we went to church. Jessica spilled and stepped on an entire bag of crackers, screamed non stop through the most important part of the meeting, threw a tantrum right when I was supposed to join the Relief Society Women in an intermediate song, and then during John's talk (which was AMAZING) she tried non-stop to make her way to the stand to join him. How can one person...(one very cute person), but one person just the same cause so much trouble?

I was grateful for the reminder that I can only do so much. Apparently God knows that some people can handle TWO. Some of us ...could NOT! I'm convinced that mothers who have more then one baby at a time, automatically go to heaven.

(For some pics of those adorable twins check out our other blog!)

To our "Yankee" Relatives...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We'll probably eat a big turkey too- just so we feel like we aren't missing out on anything.

--------------------------------------

Disclaimer: This darling little girl is not mine. She's my neice. For more photos of her family check out our other blog:

Not Quite Picasso

"Am I just eating because I'm BORED?" -The Grinch

There is NO chocolate in this HOUSE! None. No where. I realize that normally when I sit down to journal, I usually have something intellectually stimulating and groundbreaking to share(please note the sarcasm), but tonight- it's just simply that our house is lacking even a morsel of chocolate. Under such conditions you can't expect me to come up with much. The kids have been asleep for about an hour now. The laundry is folded. Dishes are done. Our Christmas tree is up and looking all cozy and festive. Now is the perfect time to sit down with a book and a good hunk of Callebaut and read by the light of the tree.

Instead I've downed a plate of leftovers, had a slice of apple pie AND cleaned off some doritos, which are the grossest things ever!

Nope- it's not cutting it. How! How did this happen! I can't help but ask myself why we never added chocolate to our food storage. Did we not foresee that need?

I'm going to bed. I'll probably dream of this:

Chocolate Covered Popcorn Recipe

12 cup popped popcorn (air popped works great)
1/4 cup butter
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup corn syrup

Spray a large roasting pan with cooking spray. Pop the popcorn and place it in the pan.

Combine butter, chocolate chips and corn syrup in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it boils.

Pour mixture over popcorn and stir through to coat. Bake at 300 degrees F for 45 minutes stirring frequently. Cool completely. Break into pieces and store in airtight container.

For an added dimension, add a cup or two of your favorite nuts.


No Bake Chocolate Popcorn

6 cups popped popcorn
2 tablespoons margarine
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 tablespoonn milk
Dash of salt

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place the popped corn in it.

Melt margarine in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in corn syrup, cocoa, milk and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Pour mixture over popcorn and stir well to coat. Allow popcorn to cool before serving.

My sister in law brought this book over to me and insisted that I MUST read it. Absent in the spring by Mary Westmacott A.K.A Agatha Christie. It's a quick read only taking a couple of hours. It's a story of a woman named Joan,  who lives her entire life disgustingly unaware of what people around her are really feeling and what they are going through. Through a series of events she finds herself stranded and virtually alone for several days in the middle of the dessert. With nothing to do with herself but THINK she begins to see herself in truest light, only to realize that her life and she, herSELF are not as perfect as she'd always thought. The ending is utterly tragic in my opinion, but I think it is proof that you have to acknowledge your weaknesses if you ever want to change them.

Questions I've been asking myself since reading this book:

"If I had nothing else to think about for a few days-what would I find out about myself?" Would I even want to know? What are those weakness, that I'm not willing to change? (THIS IS A RHETORICAL QUESTION by the way. Please Please PLEASE don't answer that:)

Do I worry to much about things that don't matter and miss completely what is most important?

Do I give my husband and children freedom to be their own person separate from my own thoughts and opinions?  

Hmm. ....

no comment.

Death by Chocolate! ...sounds not too bad

This morning I attended an mini class and the topic was ....CHOCOLATE! Believe me when I say it was G-O-O- OOd. I came home with several ideas of what to dip, and how to dip, and how to decorate said dipped morsels. It will make for some fun and MESSY evenings over the next few days. Bring it on.


This was a Simple recipe (with a capital S). You take a good quality chocolate and melt it down slowly. Add it to a bowl of craisins, and any nuts of your choice. Once everything is coated sufficiently, simply drop spoonfuls into little liners and let set. Done.
I'm not divulging any more dipping suggestions as I plan on giving some of them to anybody within a 50 mile radius of me!

I also learned a bit about decorating cupcakes. Actually I learned a lot, but I have a feeling that I won't be able to duplicate these in the future. There is something about having the baking, decorations ready, icing made in advance by someone else that made this truly fun. Don't you ever watch cooking shows and think that if you had all your food already measured out in bowls before you that it'd be a snap too. This was a fun class-but I really don't see myself EVER making more then one color of icing at a time.
We'll see.

This clown was a lot of fun to do -and the easiest one of all!


Christmas Tree -Jessica had fun digging into this one when I got home.


The ROSE is perhaps the most difficult technique for me-I will need to practice up on this before John's birthday. I'm seeing a pink and white ROSIE creation.


This is Santa NOT a snowman like some people today thought



We'll be doing a lot of baking here - feel free to stop by!

Tagged

5 years ago...

• Abby was eight months old and an only child, so life was so simple.  Though I may not have thought that at the time.
• We were managing an apartment building in downtown Edmonton.  The Susan Manor.  We were probably busy phoning the police, or dealing with a mouse issue at this very moment five years ago...ahh the good ol' days.  
• Hired our first babysitter.  She burnt the pizza I'd set out for her and the fire department came.  We had to come home early to turn off the alarm
• We purchased our first car together.  A Toyota Corolla with only 7 km on it.  That was fun!
• John and I went on our first real trip together.  All the way to Salt Lake for two family Weddings.  

5 Things on my list for today

•  Go visiting Teaching, 
  
• Make Thai Peanut Stir-fry 
  
• Work on the photo book I've been meaning to send off
  
• Wash my windows using the new NORWEX cleaning clothes Crystal sent me.  Hello everyone!- it's chemical free cleaning.  Good for the environment and I hear it works great!  Check out her blog!
•  Find a Santa Claus for the kindergarten party (getting a bit desperate.  At this point now-anyone will do)  ....Anybody? ...Anyone?

5 snacks I enjoy

• Crackers dipped in cream cheese 
  
• chocolate 
  
• pistachios 
  
• big salads
  
• leftovers (there's nothing better then a plate of leftovers before bed)

5 places I've lived - 

• Claresholm 
  
• Edmonton 
  
• Calgary 
  
• Cardston 
  
• On a sailboat, on the ocean, just off of Mandarti Island.   Albeit for a week- but for that week...It was home ok!:)
  
  

5 jobs I have had

• nanny
•  Cashier at a Garden Market IGA
•  Sales Clerk at the Tall Girl Shop in West Edmonton Mall
  
•  Early Childhood Caregiver... and currently
  
•  Motherhood AKA Domestic Engineer...(MOM).  
  

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire

Make John take me on a cruise (all practical thought could be thrown out the window:)

 Start shopping and cooking %100 organically

 Adopt a baby from another country

 Buy an old style farmhouse on a little bit of land and own two horses and 1 dog. (A German Shepherd if you care to know)

 Donate some of it

 put some away for each of my kids for down the road 

eat out at my new favorite local restaurant oh ...i don't know every week

 travel to all the amazing places in the world that I never will go to

Hire in in house chef who would make breakfast every morning.  I'd handle the rest of the meals- just breakfast.

Buy a piano 

Attend any symphony or concert that we wanted to

Own a vehicle that ISN'T a DODGE!

Hire a personal family physician who would be on call 24/7 to handle any of my families medical needs

....What's that?  ...only 5?....oh right...sorry.

5 people I tag

*Luci, Crystal, Gina, Leslie (if you read this), & anybody else who wants to

I was a winner once!

This week I helped at the bookfair, hosted by the Elementary School.  It was a simple enough job.  All I needed to do was show up at 8:30 and work the cash box until 10:30.  It was a lot of fun.  I loved watching all the elementary students (with their fist fulls of quarters)  attempt to spend every last cent on anything.  It didn't matter what.    I myself, eh heh...I mean SANTA managed to get a few things for Christmas gifts, and all in all things went pretty well.  I finished my shift at 10:45, and sat and wondered what to do now?  Jewel had the other two kids for me, and Abby would be finished in a half hour.   So for that half hour I had to make myself useful you know.  It didn't seem worth it to me to go home just to have to turn around again to pick up Abs.    So, I stayed at the book fair for awhile longer, went to the Grade 1 wing to visit with my Aunt Karen who is a teacher and then I visited with another teacher for a bit.     Around 11:00 I'd grown tired of stalling.   I decided to  just go get Abby out of class a bit early and we'd go home.    

As soon as I got to Abby's room I realized I'd made a big mistake.  Abby's teacher was patiently eating her lunch at her desk, ALL the kids were gone, EXCEPT for my little neglected child.  There was Abby with her coat on, backpack strapped over her back sitting at the table watching a movie with her head in her hands.  IT WAS FRIDAY!!  SHORT DAY!!  Abby had been finished since 10:30!    The teacher had been trying to reach me at home,  but she would not have been able to as I'd been wandering aimlessly through the halls the entire time!  Seriously?  Sorry Teacher.     Sorry Abby.   Sorry World that I'm an idiot sometimes ok!!!

I hate apologizing to a 5 year old.  Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to do it, and I do it often, but Abby seems to enjoy my little blunders a little too much.  I've got a feeling, she won't let me forget this any time soon.  

On a better note, my sister in law came over this week with some great footage and photos they've accumulated of our family.  It was so much fun to see some video of Abby when she was little with her Grandma hardy and many of her cousins.  I will be posting some of those some time for sure!  This particular video though brought a smile to my face and relief to my heart this week ...given my mess up on Friday you might appreciate why.

I watch it often :))  

Today's To- Do list

I like To-Do lists. I have many. Actually, it's not that I like them, so much as I can't get anything done without one. I've been known to be shopping, with a grocery list, WHILE writing next weeks grocery list at the same time. John often laughs at my To-Do lists, and more then once I myself have wondered what a day would be like without one. Still, just for fun, today for me, looks something like this:



1. Take van in for new brakes. CHECK....and by the way..."ouch"
2. Make up some Rice Krispie Squares for John's Young men. Done. They are delicious chocolaty little morsels this time, if I do say so myself.
3. Find someone who can be Santa for the kindergarten kids next month ... for some reason, no ones returning my calls. Hmmmm?
4. Make lunch for the kids. (When I asked Abby what she wanted she said, "Oh, anything with vitamin A and vitamin W.") ....She seemed fine with my offer of Apples and Water:)
5. Finish editing Leslie's family photos and send the disc off to her. ..... Ta da- here are some of the Family Photos!!
6. Take the kids to the library ....Done
7. Clean up this before John gets home

Perhaps I'm just stalling right now.