Friday Night Leftovers

• I just read about a challenge. I'm never one to back down so we're obviously in. The challenge is to take your kids outside every single day for 90 days. It doesn't matter if it's windy, rainy or cold...you just dress for the weather. It started on September 23 and ends December 22. We're a week late into the game but I'm pretty sure we've been outside every day in the last week anyway. Some days it will be playing in the yard, sometimes a bike ride or walk, other times something new and exciting like a visit to a corn maze...doesn't have to be the same thing, just that we all get some fresh air. To participate, visit this blog. Who's with us?!

• Today it's going to be +30. What a great summer/fall we've had! We've had some chilly mornings though. The house has gotten down to 19 at times...but we've resisted turning on the heat. Tomorrow is only a predicted high of +16 so being that it's also the first day of October, I think we'll cave!

• I went for a massage last night. It was pure bliss.
  

• Presley is working hard at becoming a full time walking baby. She now takes 4 steps regularly. It looks so weird to see such a tiny girl walking already.
  

• Sammy has started visiting us around 5am every morning. She sleeps with us for awhile. Well, she sleeps...we don't. Such a squirmy kid!

• I'm working the farmer's market for Neat Nat Style tomorrow. I'm excited and hope I do well!

• Shawn did the coolest photo shoot last week. Check out some pictures here.

• For more leftovers, check out the host here.

September Recipes

Here are the new recipes I tried in September...some really great ones that we're adding to our regular rotation.

Breakfasts
Applesauce Muffins (5 stars out of 5)
I used an egg instead of egg substitute. These were so moist and the crumb topping was delicious. I like that it used up some butternut squash puree I had in the freezer as well.

Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread (4 stars out of 5)
We went to the farmer's market and got the biggest zucchini for only $2. When I shredded it all in the food processor, it made 21 cups! This was the perfect way to use up a small part. Very moist and I loved that it used only whole wheat flour.

Main Dishes
Meatball Marinara Subs (4.5 stars out of 5)
I used these pizza meatballs, this pizza sauce, put it all on sub buns with some shredded mozza on top...popped them in a hot oven to toast them and served them. Delicious!

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie (2 stars out of 5)
Very disappointing! It was very bland. I'm still on the hunt for a good turkey and sweet potato pie because I think it could be really good.


Sides
Soft Pretzels (5 stars out of 5)
It's been years since I've had a yummy soft pretzel and these tasted exactly how I remembered them.

Zucchini Fritters with Chili Lime Mayo (3.5 stars out of 5)
These were really good...we're just not used to fried foods. The dipping sauce was SO good.

Cornbread (4 stars out of 5)
I'm still on the hunt for the perfect cornbread. This is better than the previous one we deemed our favorite but I still think we can do better!

What have you been cooking/baking lately?

Wordless Wednesday (Same Daddy, Different Girl)

5 Good Things

5 good things about today:

1. I woke up feeling great after going to bed early with the beginnings of a cold. (It's funny that waking at 4am for a feeding for one little and having the other little start the day at 545am is great...oh, how things have changed!)
   
2. I had a fabulous workout before my day got started.
3. I'm taking the girls to the library later this morning (one of our favorite places).
4. Beautiful fall temperatures.
5. Mexican lasagna for supper.

What are your 5 good things for today?

Time Progresses...

It starts...
9 months later...
9 months later...
9 months later!!!

10 months!!

Presley is 10 months today. It's almost time to start planning a birthday party!

At 10 months, Presley crawls wherever she'd like to be. She also climbs stairs. She took her first steps earlier this week but has yet to do it again. She loves "walking" around and will push anything she can to do so...kitchen chairs, toys, stools, etc. She has started letting go of things while she's standing and playing.

Presley is "talking" quite a bit but has only really said "mama". She started signing earlier this month and can sign "all done" consistently and "more" sometimes. She also learned to clap this month.

Her favorite toys right now are the water table we keep outside and wooden blocks. She loves clapping them together and knocking other people's towers down. She seems to really enjoy playing on her own. Even if the rest of the family is in one room playing, she'll crawl off to another room and be content to play by herself.

Presley's favorite activities this past month are going for walks outside and going new places. She seems to especially love the library where we go for story time. She crawls around the room inspecting all the other children.

Presley is a fantastic eater. She eats pretty much anything we'll give her and her favorites this past month have been pulled pork, potato salad, barbecued chicken and pancakes. She now has 3 teeth to help her out with that. I'm still nursing her and she gets around 5 feeds a day.

Sleep is pretty good. She sleeps through the night occasionally and other times wakes at around 4am for a quick feed. She is a fantastic napper and has 2 naps a day that last 2-3 hours each.

Presley weighs 18 pounds 3 ounces and is 28 inches long. She still wears quite a few 3-6 month clothing but is now graduating to lots of 6 month and 6-9 month clothing. She is in size 2 diapers.

Things I never want to forget:
-how cuddly she is. I'm sure it won't always be this way so I want to remember it! She regularly will crawl over while she's playing to snuggle on my chest for a couple of minutes before going off to play again.
-pretty much everything. I love this age!! She's so curious and easy to please. She takes interest in everything we're doing and is so expressive.

Well?

What do you do when your beautiful 2 year old decides she wants to wear duck slippers instead of shoes to the library? What do you do when the same girl likes to "match" red and pink together? What do you do when said girl decides she doesn't want to wear her shoes halfway through a walk in the neighborhood?

Well? I'd love to hear from you!

Me? I let her. Yeah, it's slightly embarrassing. But, it's not hurting anyone so I figure why fight it?!

Wordless Wednesday (Look What Presley Can Do Edition)

What We're Doing Lately (Samara Edition)

Do any other Stay At Home Moms ever feel a bit guilty, like their child might be getting better activities if they were at a daycare? I feel this way sometimes so I decided to do something about it. I have started planning more activities for the girls to do, besides playing with toys and going places. I'll try to post regularly what the girls are doing. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Oatmeal Sensory Tub
Samara LOVED this one. The texture of the dry oatmeal felt neat and she liked searching through the oats to find the letters. We also got out measuring spoons and cups for pouring. This was done outside (thank goodness!) because it was messy. I think we've fed the neighborhood birds enough to last till next Spring!

Pipecleaners and Beads
I got this from a friend who is an Elementary Teacher. This is great to work on fine motor skills, colours and counting. Sammy matched up the colour of bead with the same colour of pipe cleaner and threaded the bead through.

Beans Sensory TubI bought a variety of dry beans from the bulk section of the grocery store and let Sammy at it. She squished them in her hands, counted them, tried to eat them and poured them. It was messy...this would have been a good outdoor activity. I'm still finding the odd bean!

Animal Mix-up Legos


These have been fun. You could use any picture but would need to resize it so it fits properly on the Megablocks. I didn't have the patience to figure that out so check out the link for pictures that are the right size.

Water SensoryThis one is easy and fairly mess-free. Fill a clean sink with warm water and various bowls, spoons and cups for pouring. I suppose you could even add soap and dirty dishes if you really wanted to multitask!

2011 Goals Update

Nearly 10 months ago, I made these goals. How's it going? Hmmm...

- take a quilting class, running clinic, cake decorating class and photography class.
Wow. I haven't taken a single thing. I remember looking into it many months ago and finding that most of the classes were right during bedtime and I didn't want to be gone for that when Presley was so young. What's my excuse now?

- start working out again.
Ah ha! After failing miserable at my first goal, I'm happy to report that I'm working out intensely 4-5 times a week. I'm in the best shape of my life. Working out has become something I enjoy doing and not just something I do because I feel like I should.

- stay at a healthy weight.
Give me a failing grade again. I'm finding it really hard to keep weight on with working out so hard, chasing after 2 busy girls and breastfeeding. Cutting out sugar probably didn't help my calorie intake either.

- Skype with family and friends regularly.
Ahem. Anybody???

- keep stepping outside my boundaries with books.
This is a fun one. I've pretty much been reading anything anyone will recommend to me.

- have a regular date night.
This is hard to do with no family nearby. Whenever someone visits for a few days, we take advantage. So, we've definitely gone on more than last year...but not a lot. I've got a lead on a really good babysitter who has just moved to Lethbridge to go to University so hopefully this improves even more in the next few months.

- try a new recipe once a month.
I've loved this. I don't know that I'll continue next year since I've found a lot of really good recipes to add to my repertoire already.

- spend one on one time with each girl.
Once a week, we each take a girl and do something fun. Sometimes it's a walk, sometimes it's the park, sometimes it's shopping and sometimes it's just hanging out. But, it's one on one. Wednesdays Shawn takes Samara and I take Presley and Thursdays Shawn takes Presley and I take Samara.

- to relax more.
Not exactly. What does that even mean? I said I vowed not to let things overwhelm me. That happens on a regular basis. I'm Type A!

Well, not bad. Not great but not bad. How are you doing with your goals/resolutions for the year?

Friday Night Leftovers

• We now have a fenced yard! It is quite possibly the straightest, most level fence around. Thanks to Reed, Scott and Poppy for helping Shawn with the gift of free labour.

• We had such a good visit with Poppy. Sammy has been asking for him and thinks everyone who comes to the door or calls must be him.
  

• Sunrise is my most favorite time of day. Yesterday I went for a run during this time and it was such a great way to start the day. I wish I had the time (and motivation!) to start every day that way.

• I went out for some much needed mommy time the other night. I saw Our Idiot Brother (awful) with a girlfriend. Poor Presley refused a bottle and a sippy cup while I was away. I envision her weaning sometime around elementary school.

• Looking for super cute Halloween trick or treat bags? I've been a sewing machine lately (get it?!). Head here for more.
• 
• Check out the host of Friday Night Leftovers here.
  

Thankful on Thursday

I'm incredibly thankful for:

- a handsome husband that still makes my heart beat faster when he pulls in the driveway after being away all day.

- beautifully healthy girls.

- wonderful friends who help me through this tricky parenting business.

- good books, good food and good music.

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday (Poppy Love Edition)

2009 -

2010 -

Now -

Tough Times

My friend, Sarah, recently posted an interesting quote:

Each phase that your child goes through is not equally pleasant. When you find your relationship in a particularly difficult phase, keep in mind that it just might be the exact thing you need to be experiencing. Maybe both of you are supposed to learn something from these difficult times. If we can see each difficulty as an opportunity, we can face just about anything.

-Hal Runkel, LMFT, Author of Scream Free Parenting and Scream Free Marriage

I read this and immediately opened another search window so I could log onto my account at the library and request the book. This really made me stop and think. I've been having a tough few weeks with a certain 2 year old. Perhaps I've been dealing with everything all wrong. Instead of trying to figure out where I'm going wrong, what I'm doing wrong, what she's doing wrong, I need to see this for what it truly is...a phase where we both learn and grow...a phase where neither of us is necessarily doing anything wrong while we find our way. After all, neither of us has done this before. But, we'll figure it out. Together.

When things get tough, what do you do to get through it?

Sammy and Presley

09/11

Remembering...

Friday Night Leftovers

• Do you know what's especially great about September? Pumpkin spice steamers at Starbucks. LOVE.

• Remember when I reported that Sammy was swearing up a storm? Well, we were watching Dora's Pirate Adventure the other day and they sail through the foggy fog. Sammy repeated it (with poor pronunciation)..."f*ckgy f*ckg, f*ckgy f*ckg. It appears that's what she was saying all along.

• Want to win 5 free kids meals at Boston Pizza? Head over here to enter! Or not! If you don't, I have a greater chance of winning!
  

• Yesterday, I had a weird feeling during Sam's nap. I entered her room and found this:

• Check out the lovely host of leftovers here.
  

August Books

Bossypants by Tina Fey5 stars out of 5

From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon — from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence. Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

So funny! I love how she doesn't take herself too seriously.

Oxygen by Carol Cassella5 stars out of 5

Dr. Marie Heaton is an anesthesiologist at the height of her profession. She has worked, lived and breathed her career since medical school, and she now practices at a top Seattle hospital. Marie has carefully constructed and constricted her life according to empirical truths, to the science and art of medicine. But when her tried-and-true formula suddenly deserts her during a routine surgery, she must explain the nightmarish operating room disaster and face the resulting malpractice suit. Marie's best friend, colleague and former lover, Dr. Joe Hillary, becomes her closest confidante as she twists through depositions, accusations and a remorseful preoccupation with the mother of the patient in question. As she struggles to salvage her career and reputation, Marie must face hard truths about the path she's chosen, the bridges she's burned and the colleagues and superiors she's mistaken for friends.

I absolutely loved this. I couldn't put it down and when I had to, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
3.5 stars out of 5

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food. From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

I really liked her previous YA series. This is a stand alone book and quite well done. A bit hard to grasp the language (lots of slang) but definitely a good read.

The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich
4.5 stars out of 5

Hannah ha-Levi, a midwife in the Jewish ghetto, is known throughout Venice for her skill in midwifery. When a Christian count appears at Hannah's door imploring her to attend his labouring wife who is near death, Hannah's compassion is tested. Not only is it illegal for Jews to render medical treatment to Christians, it's also punishable by torture ... and death. But Hannah cannot turn down the money. With such a handsome sum, she can save her own husband, Isaac, who was captured at sea and taken to Malta as a slave of the Knights of St. John. Aided by her "birthing spoons" — rudimentary forceps she invented to help with difficult births — will Hannah be able to save mother and child? And if she can, will she also be able to save herself?

Fantastic. Hard to put down.

The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
4 stars out of 5

The time: the present. The place: a Balkan country ravaged by years of conflict. Natalia, a young doctor, is on a mission of mercy to an orphanage when she receives word of her beloved grandfather’s death far from their home under circumstances shrouded in confusion. Remembering childhood stories her grandfather once told her, Natalia becomes convinced that he spent his last days searching for "the deathless man," a vagabond who claimed to be immortal. As Natalia struggles to understand why her grandfather, a deeply rational man, would go on such a far-fetched journey, she stumbles across a clue that leads her to the extraordinary story of the tiger’s wife.

I liked this. But didn't love it. I was happy to be reading it but it wasn't the type of book that I couldn't wait to get back to and would consume my thoughts when away from it. I had expected it to be that kind of book because it seems everyone is talking about it and it's on many "top" lists.

Healer by Carol Cassella3 stars out of 5

Claire Boehning must dust off her long-unused medical expertise and make a living for her family in rural Washington when her husband's biotech venture crashes--taking everything they owned with it.

Decent. I enjoyed it but didn't think it was nearly as good as her first.

Stolen: a letter to my captor by Lucy Christopher4 stars out of 5

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

An interesting read. A different format in that it's written as a letter from the captive to her captor. I didn't really "believe" a lot of it but maybe that's today's violent world messing with me.

Prisoner of Tehran: A Memoir by Marina Nemat
4 stars out of 5

In January 1982, Nemat, at just sixteen years old, was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death for political crimes. Until then, her life in Tehran had centered around school, summer parties at the lake, and her crush on Andre, the young man she had met at church. But when math and history were subordinated to the study of the Koran and politcal propaganda, Marina protested. Her teacher replied, "If you don't like it, leave." She did, and, to her surprise, other students followed. Lyrical, passionate, and suffused throughout with grace and sensitivity, Marina Nemat's memoir is like no other. Her search for emotional redemption envelops her jailers, her husband and his family, and the country of birth each of which she grants the greatest gift of all: forgiveness.

Really good. A dramatic account of what life is like for a political prisoner in Evin.

What have you read lately? Anything good to recommend? Anything bad to stay away from?!

Wordless Wednesday (The trials of getting a good picture of 2 kids)

Mommy and Daddy and Presley and Sam

Friday Night Leftovers

• Remember when I mentioned here how confusing it was that Sammy named her bear Sammy? Well, now there are 3 bears all named Sammy.

• I really don't like the "new editor" in Blogger. I keep changing to it and then reverting back to the old one when it annoys me.

• I had extremely bad service at Walmart on Sunday. The cashier was so bad that I came home and immediately wrote a letter to the manager. She called me on Tuesday to let me know the cashier is no longer employed there.

• Poppy (my dad) is coming today for his yearly visit!!

• I may not survive the terrible twos.

• Presley is no longer satisfied crawling everywhere. She must walk (while pushing something). I think she's going to be an early walker like her sister.

• My day started at 430am. Jealous?
  

• For more leftovers, head over here.
  

August Recipes

Once again, I didn't try that many new recipes.  It's been really hot and I haven't wanted to use the oven much.  We've also been out and about a lot so prep time has been limited.

Main Dishes
Honey Dijon BBQ Chicken (4 stars out of 5)
I tried this sauce on pork and it was delicious. Super simple and easy proving that more ingredients doesn't necessarily equal better. Are you listening www.epicurious.com?!

Thai Basil Chicken Kabobs with Coconut Dipping Sauce (5 stars out of 5)
So delicious and authentic tasting.

Sides
Dill Potato Salad (5 stars out of 5)
So tasty. I can't think of any way to make this recipe better.

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (5 stars out of 5)
This was my first time making scalloped potatoes and despite accidentally spilling too much salt in it, it was still fabulous.

Dill Cheddar Crackers (4 stars out of 5)
I've never made crackers before and they were simple and very tasty.  I paired them with some homemade chicken noodle soup on a rainy day and it was the perfect combo.

Sour Ginger Slaw (3 stars out of 5)
This was good and colourful.  I'm not a huge ginger fan so that affected my rating.  I also didn't have peas so I will have to try it again with them.

Have you tried any new recipes lately?