The Tompkins Family

Friday Night Leftovers

2012-02-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

As soon as I reported that Sammy stopped napping, she resumed. I don't know why but I'm not going to question it. I'm just going to appreciate it...for however long it lasts!

In other big news, Sammy started eating the crust on her bread. If you have a picky eater or have ever eaten lunch with us, you know how big this is.

The girls have also started sleeping past 5am. We're seeing 6am. And sometimes even later. Oh, the joys!

Of course, since I've reported these happy changes, they will all revert back (or worse).

I ran outside for the first time in months. I've been using the treadmill instead. WOW. So much harder. My legs were sore for a good chunk of the week.

Presley has 3 molars coming in at the same time. It's rough but the good news is that we'll be 3 teeth closer to a mouthful and being done.

For more leftovers, head here.

Thankful on Thursday

2012-02-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

a visit from Nana and Grandpa today!
these blueberry lime muffins
naps
my brother-in-law for giving me buddy passes so I can fly to Yellowknife to see my sister graduate from college!
teething. Oh wait, I'm not so thankful for that!

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday (February Through The Years Edition)

2012-02-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

2009:2010:2011:
2012:

To TV or not to TV...

2012-02-07T06:56:00.001-07:00

What's the TV situation like in your house? Do you have a TV in every room? Is it always on as your background noise? Or is the TV forbidden?

I have a slight aversion to it. I know there's nothing wrong with kids watching TV. I just can't help but feel guilty when it's on...like I should be doing something else instead. I'm definitely not saying people should feel guilty or bad about letting their kids watch TV. You do what works for your family. This is all about me.

When things got very busy and hectic around Christmas, I started relaxing with my TV rules. All of a sudden, movies were being watched what felt like left, right and center. We weren't...I mean, we don't even have cable so it takes a special effort to put something on but still. So, when 2011 became 2012, I imposed a 21 day ban on TV (following the belief that it takes 21 days to form a new habit). We ended up going longer than that and it was fine. At first, I found myself wanting to turn to it often...especially when Sammy stopped napping! But, we soon developed new routines and found better things to do. Now, on Friday afternoons, the girls (well, Sammy right now, Presley still naps long enough to miss it!) choose a video to watch. That's it, that's all. If Sammy asks to watch something earlier in the week, I tell her she can watch it on Friday. Maybe that's too strict. Maybe I should relax more. It's only TV. Not an early crack habit. But, I wouldn't be me if I didn't second guess every single thing I do!

I'm really curious how you feel about TV. Is it a necessary evil? It is even an evil at all?

January Books

2012-02-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

I had 2 huge books this month in my stack...1000+ pages and they were daunting. I would consider an e-reader just for ease of holding such big books...you know it's a big book when your hands actually get sore while reading!

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett5 stars out of 5

The magnificent tale of a twelfth-century monk driven to do the seemingly impossible: build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

I have seen this book on a lot of "top" lists and as such, was on my to-read list for ages. I wasn't that motivated to read it though because when I read the summary, it just didn't appeal to me. But, I was curious because the Goodreads rating is so high (one of the highest I've seen). I was completely riveted. There were parts that were so disturbing to read but it really intensified by feelings about the main characters. Fabulous book.

Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity In North Korea And The Other's Fight To Bring Her Home by Lisa and Laura Ling4 stars out of 5

On March 17, 2009, Laura Ling and her colleague Euna Lee were working on a documentary about North Korean defectors who were fleeing the desperate conditions in their homeland. While filming on the Chinese-North Korean border, they were chased down by North Korean soldiers who violently apprehended them. Laura and Euna were charged with trespassing and "hostile acts," and imprisoned by Kim Jong Il's notoriously secretive Communist state. Kept totally apart, they endured months of interrogations and eventually a trial before North Korea's highest court. They were the first Americans ever to be sentenced to twelve years of hard labor in a prison camp in North Korea.

Quite good and very intriguing, especially after following the story in the news. I liked the 2 different perspectives (Laura in captivity and Lisa at home, trying to get her sister released).

Some Great Thing by Lawrence Hill

2.5 stars out of 5

Disillusioned and apathetic after four years of college, fledgling reporter Mahatma Grafton returns to his hometown to begin work at a local newspaper. When a peaceful demonstration escalates into a full-scale police cover-up, Mahatma discovers the principles that have always eluded him.

I was disappointed. The Book of Negroes is such a fantastic piece of work so I had high hopes. But, being that this was his first novel, I should have scaled back my expectations. The characters were intriguing enough but I was never motivated to read instead of other activities.

World Without End by Ken Follett4.5 stars out of 5

World Without End takes place in the same town of Kingsbridge, two centuries after the townspeople finished building the exquisite Gothic cathedral that was at the heart of The Pillars of the Earth. The cathedral and the priory are again at the center of a web of love and hate, greed and pride, ambition and revenge, but this sequel stands on its own. This time, the men and women among an extraordinary cast of characters find themselves at a crossroad of new ideas -- about medicine, commerce, architecture, and justice. In a world where proponents of the old ways fiercely battle those with progressive minds, the intrigue and tension quickly reach a boiling point against the devastating backdrop of the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the human race: the Black Death.

An excellent sequel. It took me a bit to get all the characters down and as such found the first 1/3 of the book a bit hard to get into. Once I did though, I was hooked.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty3 stars out of 5

Alice is twenty-nine. She is whimsical, optimistic and adores sleep, chocolate, her ramshackle new house and her wonderful husband Nick. What's more, she's looking forward to the birth of the 'Sultana' - her first baby. But now Alice has slipped and hit her head in her step-aerobics class and everyone's telling her she's misplaced the last ten years of her life.

A quick read. Another amnesia book...definitely seems to be a popular book topic the last couple of years. I enjoyed it even though it was a tad predictable.

What are you reading right now?

2.75!!

2012-02-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

Samara is 2.75 today (well, yesterday...oops!). So very nearly 3 that it makes my head spin. She isn't a baby. She isn't a toddler. She is a little person, all her own...her own opinions, ideas and imagination. It's truly a lovely thing.

Some highlights:

- has been potty trained for a year. However, for some reason she refuses to be night trained. I think I'm going to have to suck it up, stop buying pull-ups and do some heavy laundry for a few nights until things get figured out.

- is back to sleeping well (mostly). We had a rough patch where she was up multiple times a night (much like a newborn!) but now she goes down around 730 and is up 10-11 hours later. Naps happen about twice a week.

- knows all the letters of the alphabet. She knows a couple of words for each letter too. She knows her numbers and can count to 20. Shapes and colours are a breeze.

- adores painting, gluing and crafts in general.

- is really into puzzles. She just recently started being able to complete 24 piece ones on her own.

- is super active. She enjoys swimming, skating and going for walks. We catch her working out from time to time too. Just the other day she was doing tricep extensions and was counting her reps!

Favourite things lately:
- Berenstain Bears and Max and Ruby books.
- dressing to coordinate with whatever Presley is wearing. She must pick out her own outfits and likes to have a say in Presley's as well.
- baking muffins
- talking on the phone and on Skype.

Things I never want to forget:
- how she asks "what happened" a thousand times a day. It's her version of "why". As I write that, I wonder how I could ever forget it because she's been doing it for weeks now with no end in sight. But, I know it will end up being such a little blip on the radar.
- her enthusiastic and oh so funny dance moves. Especially the bum shakes.
- how every night when I tuck her into bed, she asks, "snuggle me, Mommy?".

Thankful on Thursday

2012-02-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

Packages in the mail containing lots and lots of chocolate.
Girls that play so well together.
Early morning workouts that start the day off right.
City and Colour. Why have I not been listening to this band all along?
My online mamas.

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday (January Picture Recap)

2012-02-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

January Recipes

2012-01-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

I'd like to dedicate this post to Pinterest. I'm completely addicted to looking for and trying new recipes.

Breakfasts
Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze (4 stars out of 5)
Different, but a good different. It won't replace my usual but nice for a change.

French Toast Casserole (2.5 stars out of 5)
I love the idea of an overnight casserole...but this just didn't turn out. At least, not how I like my french toast. The top was nice and crispy but the bottom was soggy and mushy. It was very sweet which I could definitely overlook had the texture been consistent.

Individual Parmesan Hash Brown Cups (4 stars out of 5)
Goodness. These were salty! The parmesan would be more than enough salt without adding the extra teaspoon. I'll know for next time. So perfectly crispy.

Lemon-Almond Poppyseed Muffins (4 stars out of 5)
Good flavor. I added the juice of 1 lemon since I was already using the zest and didn't want it to go to waste. I reduced the sugar to around 1/2 cup.

Scones (4.5 stars out of 5)
Love these. I like grating frozen butter into the dry ingredients rather than the typical method of cutting in. I found it easier. I omitted the chocolate chips but they would be fabulous with. She recommends other flavor combinations that I will be for sure trying!

Soups
Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup (5 stars out of 5)
Oh, WOW. So good. The coconut really tames down the bite of the ginger but leaves enough kick to the soup. Definitely a new favorite.

Kicked-up Black Bean Soup (4 stars out of 5)
Hearty but not heavy. Delicious with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Lasagna Soup (4 stars out of 5)
The perfect soup for a snowy day.

Crockpot
Crockpot Honey Chicken (4 stars out of 5)
Excellent flavor and easy to make. I only wish the sauce was saucier instead of soupy. This seems to be a recurring problem for me when I make crockpot items with a sauce.

Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches (3 stars out of 5)
This was a super easy supper but didn't knock our socks off. Satisfying but I doubt I'd make it again.

Sides
Baked Herbs and Parmesan Potato Slices (4 stars out of 5)
Crispy and tasty. Going into our regular rotation.

Baked Parmesan Tomatoes (2.5 stars out of 5)
Average.

Cracked Black Pepper Hummus (2 stars out of 5)
I actually feel bad giving this such a low rating. I adore this website and everything that I make from it. I didn't enjoy the water in the hummus. It made the flavor taste watered down. Sure, it's way less calories than using olive oil but a little healthy fat never hurt anyone, right?!

Deviled Eggs (4 stars out of 5)
I had to get Shawn to rate these. I thought they were pretty good but I have to admit I've never had them before so I had nothing to compare to! They were kind of a pain to make...many steps and somehow I created a disaster in the kitchen by the time I was done. Mostly worth it though!

Maple-Glazed Roasted Carrots (3 stars out of 5)
Good roasted carrots that tasted nothing like maple. Maybe I need to use more maple syrup?

Naan (4.5 stars out of 5)
Wow. I was a bit tentative making this because I'd always read that you needed a clay oven to get it just right. But, we have a pizza stone which did the trick nicely. Very yummy. Next time I'll try with some garlic or tandoori flavor.

Olive Garden Breadsticks (3.5 stars out of 5)
Quite easy to make but just didn't compare to the real thing. I'll keep looking.

Pretzel Rolls (4 stars out of 5)
Simple to make and taste just like a pretzel.

30 Minute Crusty Baguettes (3 stars out of 5)
Forgettable. Though the ice cubes in the oven trick was neat and worked.

Main Courses
Chicken Taquitos (4 stars out of 5)
Simple and yummy.

Ham and Cheese Sliders (4.5 stars out of 5)
Wow. Super easy but super delicious. Definitely going into our regular rotation.

Sweet Ginger Glazed Salmon (4 stars out of 5)
Simple and good. A nice companion to the salmon without overpowering it.

Desserts
Brownies (3 stars out of 5)
These were very cocoa-y (is that a word?!)...almost too chocolatey. I never thought I'd say that. They turned out a tad bit dry too. The recipe claimed to be worth the extra 2nd bowl (you heat butter and sugar over heat first) but we just didn't find that to be the case.

Carmelitas (5 stars out of 5)
Well, let's just say we pretty much polished off the pan the day I made it. We are sick, sick people.

Hot Fudge Sauce (2.5 stars out of 5)
It was okay. It definitely wasn't worth the work of making it from scratch.

Turtle Cheesecake (5 stars out of 5)
My first attempt at cheesecake. To ensure I was doing it correctly, I sampled it raw, partially cooked, hot, warm, cooling and cold. Yep, all good.

The Haircut

2012-01-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

I'd been toying with the idea of cutting Presley's hair for awhile. She refuses to keep clips in and her hair is always in her eyes as a result. There's always food in it too, yum! So, I took both girls Saturday morning for a trim. I didn't get a picture of Presley at the salon because she had a meltdown and was attached to me like glue. I spent the rest of Saturday depressed because my little baby no longer looks like a baby.

Before:After:

Fitness Goals for 2012

2012-01-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

I've already written about my goals for 2012 here. It felt weird not to include "working out" or "keeping fit". But, those aren't goals for me anymore because it's a part of my life that won't go away. Instead, I decided to make some specific fitness goals I'd like to accomplish by the end of the year. This really isn't that important for anyone else to read (hence why I'm posting it on a weekend) but I just wanted it in writing.

- run 10km once a week

- run 5km under 25:00 minutes

- get more ripped arms and shoulders

- do 100 pushups without breaking (regular, not women's kind)

- enter and complete a running race

Do you have specific fitness goals for 2012?

Preschool Time

2012-01-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went to a preschool open house. Yep...registration for the fall semester of preschool starts on February 1st. It's advised to register on that day to ensure your child gets a spot as they fill up quickly. So, we have to decide where she'll go. We also have to decide how many days a week she'll go. It feels incredibly important and yet not very important, all at the same time. On one hand, it's only preschool. It's primarily for socialization. On the other hand, it feels like if we choose poorly, she'll miss a "head start" on learning. No pressure, right?!

I'm not going to lie. The thought of dropping her off and walking away makes my heart break and brings tears to my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I know this is a good thing for her. She will love it. I'm just going to miss her like crazy.

The Sniffles

2012-01-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

This mama's got the sniffles. I caught a cold and it's slowing me down. I didn't even workout yesterday and I'm pretty sure every person in the house is tired of hearing me complain about missing a workout! I'm just hoping no one else catches it.

Pictures to make up for a lazy post:

Wordless Wednesday (Skating Edition)

2012-01-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

5am

2012-01-24T08:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Girls,

I love you. I love spending my days with you. It brings me great joy to stay at home with you and watch you learn and grow. That being said, it would be okay if our days didn't start before 5am. It would be okay to sleep longer. Really. It would.

Love Mommy

14 months!!

2012-01-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

This past month, Presley:
- is into throwing balls. She is trying to catch too (with minimal success!).
- knows what sounds all the main farm animals make. She recognizes them by sight as well.
- is a little chatterbox. She has around 55 words now with some of the latest including singing, one, purple, lemon, triangle, circle and diaper.
- can do a 3 piece puzzle.

Her favorite things:
- reading...looking through books herself and being read to. Her and Sammy spend a great deal of time sitting and reading together.
- playing in their kitchen.
- Sammy. She loves running around the house with her big sister.
- helping. She helps clear the table and will bring dishes to the dishwasher. She also helps put the laundry away (and knows where things go!) and tries to wipe messes up.

Things I never want to forget:
- her obsession with belly buttons. If you're sitting on the floor, she'll lift up your shirt to tickle your belly button. She still walks around tickling her own too.
- how I will be cooking or cleaning up and she'll come up and hug my legs.
- that even though she's not so much a baby anymore, she will still be rocked to sleep and cuddle with me. Holding a sleeping baby will never ever get old. Never!

Friday Night Leftovers

2012-01-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

After -50 temperatures earlier this week, it's supposed to be +5 on Saturday...and +10 by Wednesday. Drastic much?

Does talking about the weather so frequently mean I'm getting old?

I had to go and write this. Posting it meant the next day I would pay for it. And I did. Clingy, whining, crying...

I am so addicted to trying new recipes. Thanks, Pinterest.

I joined a book club back in December. Wait. If talking about the weather didn't make me old, belonging to a book club surely means I'm farting dust!

Did I really just bring up farting? I believe if I were to search the word "farting", this would be the only time it has ever shown up in this blog!

On that lovely note, please join our very pregnant host for more leftovers here.

Thankful on Thursday

2012-01-19T06:42:00.000-07:00

It was -46 yesterday with the windchill. Seriously. We didn't leave the house. Usually that means we have an "off" day. The girls seem to really thrive on being other places and having outside stimulation. But, despite that, we had a fabulous day.

I'm thankful:

- that the girls are so good at playing on their own and together. I actually got some "me time" in yesterday while they entertained themselves.

- for a great conversation with a dear friend that occupied part of my morning. While we chatted, Presley crawled into my lap and fell asleep. This NEVER happens and it was so sweet.

- that even though Presley's little catnap in my lap ruined any chance of a real nap, that she wasn't the slightest bit cranky for it.

- that Sammy took a nap after an early morning for everyone (5am, but who's counting?!).

- for delicious pulled pork...made weeks ago and frozen for a day like yesterday when I didn't feel like cooking.

- for being a stay at home mom. -46 and we didn't have to go anywhere.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday (Same Outfit, Different Girl Edition)

2012-01-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Samara - 17 months

Presley - 13 months

Looking Too Old For My Liking

2012-01-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

When I look at these pictures, I can't help but giggle. These 2 are going to be such handfuls when they're teenagers! Can't you see them taking the car keys and dashing off on a Friday night saying, "don't wait up!"?

Help.

2012-01-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

We're in trouble. Times 2. We were overjoyed when Sammy found her thumb when she was a baby. It meant no more visiting her room 12 times a night (seriously, that's what we would do). It meant she could soothe herself. She never sucks her thumb unless she's in her bed so it hasn't been a huge issue. But, it's getting to be about time to start dealing with it. Has anyone successfully gotten their child to stop sucking their thumb? Or heard of a way that works?
I said "times 2"...because Presley sucks her fingers. I'm glad she can soothe herself. I'm not in a rush to stop this because she is still a baby (yes, at nearly 14 months, she is still a baby). It's going to have to be dealt with eventually though. After Sam, we should be experts!Yes, that's Sammy copying Presley. Joy!

What They're Saying Lately

2012-01-13T05:58:00.001-07:00

Presley:
"No, no, no, no, no". I'm certain she learned this from Sammy!

Okay, Presley's section is tiny. She has loads of words now but no sentences so they're not funny.

Samara:
"It's PARTY TIME!!"
After Presley's 1st birthday, her favorite thing to do was to pretend to have a party. I can't blame her...all her friends come over, we eat fun snacks and there are presents. What's not to love?!

"I look rough."
After a 4 day fever, she must have heard us say this a bunch because she would randomly announce this in the weeks that followed.

"Don't. You. Dare."
Said oh so lovingly to Presley whenever she gets too close to whatever her big sister is playing with.

"Look at me. I look so pretty!"

And my favorite:
Sammy: Charlie scratched me.
Me: Were you mean to him?
Sammy: No, I'm just crazy.

What funny things are your kids saying lately?

Declutter Yourself!

2012-01-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

This has been floating around on the internet and I decided to participate. 365 days to a clutter free home. What I love about it is how simple and easy it is. Decluttering is broken down into extremely manageable steps. Some examples: declutter your nightstand drawer, put all your cans on one shelf in your pantry, dust the tops of your kitchen cabinets, etc. All fairly easy things. Even if you didn't want to do something every day, you could combine quite a few days into one and still have time for other things.

I know. Those that have been to our house are wondering what clutter??? Well, it's cleverly hidden! Our surfaces are free. Drawers, cupboards, the entire basement? Not so much. We can definitely benefit from this! Doesn't it feel great to purge?!

For more information, check out the easy PDF calendar HERE.

Do you do steps to declutter? Any specific time of year? Are you a secret hoarder? Could you provide me with a newspaper from 1981?!

Wordless Wednesday (Sisters Edition)

2012-01-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

And so it goes...

2012-01-10T06:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a good day. I had my sh!t together. You know when everything just goes right? Everyone is in a good mood and little spills and falls can't ruin the groove you've got going?

HA.

Then I lock the keys in the van. With the girls in it. I'm panicking and trying every door...but does it ever happen that the driver's side door locks but magically the back hatch is unlocked? Crisis averted? No. That never happens. But, I did have my cell in my coat pocket when it is normally in my purse. I was able to call Shawn to come rescue us and he was there in 10 minutes. The girls didn't even notice. Presley fell asleep and Sammy enjoyed playing peek-a-boo with me in the window. No harm done (except to my perfect groove I had going!).

Weekend Recap

2012-01-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Highs
- a one hour massage from a therapist who understands the beauty of silence.
- 3 evenings of delicious new recipes that were all successes.
- swimming with the girls.
- a head start to my workouts for the week with a 1+ hour workout yesterday morning that kicked.my.butt. (in a great way!)

Lows
- a moody 2 year old who likes to have a fit every time we stop doing something fun.
- a disappointing Saturday treat (a new brownie recipe that failed to deliver).
- wind that sounds like it will tear the siding off the house.
- what felt like a trillion loads of laundry.

What were the highs and lows of your weekend?

Friday Night Leftovers

2012-01-06T06:15:00.000-07:00

What a "winter" we're having. +15 this week. No snow in sight. One of our neighbor's was watering the lawn yesterday.

I have a massage tomorrow. You can go ahead and be jealous.

I've been trying lots of new recipes lately. Most of them call for cilantro (BLECH). I still make them but without the cilantro. Why am I attracted to recipes whose flavors blend so well with such a gross herb?

I went to answer the house phone the other day, only to find that I was calling myself from my cell. Hmmm. I look over to see the girls huddled around my phone, pressing all sorts of buttons. Beats the time Sammy called 911 though!

For more leftovers, head here.

Goals for 2012

2012-01-05T06:02:00.000-07:00

These have been on my mind since December rolled around. I've been tossing ideas back and forth and trying to figure out things that will be challenging but attainable...and things where success is measurable.

- live generously. I want to donate my time by volunteering. I'm not sure what yet but I'm researching some ideas. I want to donate blood often. I got a head start on this goal December 31. It was quick and easy. What other thing can you do so easily that saves other peoples' lives? I want to donate what I can. I got this fabulous idea from my mom. Every time you get groceries, pick up an item for the food bank and drop it off at the box at the front of the store on your way out. Though we are on a tight budget, we can certainly spare enough for this small act.

- gain 5 pounds. Not by eating ridiculously bad (but oh so good!) but by upping my protein and continuing with good workouts to generate more muscle mass.

- work on my photography skills. This is such an abstract goal that to make it more specific, I'm going to pick up the camera every single day and shoot something...anything. I'm also going to take at least one photography class.

- game night. Last year we failed on our goal to have a regular date night. I know that if I made the same goal, we'd fail again. We don't have family here, we don't have a regular babysitter and couldn't afford to go out AND pay a babysitter regularly anyhow. So, instead, we've decided Sunday night is game night. We've already started and it's great. We alternate weeks for who gets to choose the game. We chat, laugh, catch up...no TV, no video games, no laptop, no books, just us. It's good. We'll eventually include the girls when they're a bit older.

- me time. I failed on this last year and hope to accomplish it this year...whether it be a running clinic, photography class, sewing class, etc. Something where I leave the house and do something semi-regularly.

Are you a goal setter? What goals have you made for 2012?

Wordless Wednesday (Picture Recap, December Edition)

2012-01-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

December Books

2012-01-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

Another one of my goals for 2011...I've read a pretty diverse range of books this past year. It's been eye opening. I found myself straying from what was my usual book (and now can't really stand) and enjoying books I never would have thought to pick up. I think I'll continue monthly book reviews.

December reads:

Faith: A Novel by Jennifer Haigh
4 stars out of 5

When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself. Award-winning author Jennifer Haigh follows her critically acclaimed novels Mrs. Kimble and The Condition with a captivating, vividly rendered portrait of fraying family ties, and the trials of belief and devotion, in Faith.

Really good. I liked how you never really knew until the end if he was guilty of the accusations or not.

The Litigators by John Grisham
3.5 stars out of 5

The partners at Finley & Figg—all two of them—often refer to themselves as “a boutique law firm.” Boutique, as in chic, selective, and prosperous. They are, of course, none of these things. What they are is a two-bit operation always in search of their big break, ambulance chasers who’ve been in the trenches much too long making way too little. Their specialties, so to speak, are quickie divorces and DUIs, with the occasional jackpot of an actual car wreck thrown in. After twenty plus years together, Oscar Finley and Wally Figg bicker like an old married couple but somehow continue to scratch out a half-decent living from their seedy bungalow offices in southwest Chicago. And then change comes their way. More accurately, it stumbles in. David Zinc, a young but already burned-out attorney, walks away from his fast-track career at a fancy downtown firm, goes on a serious bender, and finds himself literally at the doorstep of our boutique firm. Once David sobers up and comes to grips with the fact that he’s suddenly unemployed, any job—even one with Finley & Figg—looks okay to him.

A slightly different style than his usual. Still about lawyers but a lighter tone to it. Enjoyable but not as suspenseful.

Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage
3 stars out of 5

At the center of Elizabeth Brundage’s new novel lies an adoption under stressed and tragic circumstances. Willa, brought up in elegant prosperity, is now a student at the prestigious Pioneer School. But her biological father, a failing writer and former drug addict, can’t live with himself without seeing her again.

Frigging disturbing. Left a bad taste in my mouth after I finished it. I guess because I'm finished it and still thinking about it, it should have a better rating but the characters were mostly so despicable that it's hard to like the book.

The Reversal by Michael Connelly
4 stars out of 5

Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change stripes and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. After 24 years in prison, convicted killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he gets to choose his investigator, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. Together, Bosch and Haller set off on a case fraught with political and personal danger. Opposing them is Jessup, now out on bail, a defense attorney who excels at manipulating the media, and a runaway eyewitness reluctant to testify after so many years. With the odds and the evidence against them, Bosch and Haller must nail a sadistic killer once and for all. If Bosch is sure of anything, it is that Jason Jessup plans to kill again.

So suspenseful. I found it hard to put it down, especially once the trial portion started. I enjoyed seeing the investigation portion of a trial as well.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
4 stars out of 5

A deeply affecting coming-of-age story, Looking for Alaska traces the journey of Miles Halter, a misfit Florida teenager who leaves the safety of home for a boarding school in Alabama and a chance to explore the "Great Perhaps." Debut novelist and NPR commentator Green perfectly captures the intensity of feeling and despair that defines adolescence in this hip, shocking, and emotionally charged work of fiction.

A quick read, I finished it in a day. It was everything you want in a YA book...drama, drinking, sexual tension and characters you wish were your friends in real life!

Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman

2.5 stars out of 5

Downtown Owl is the unpretentious, darkly comedic story of how it feels to exist in a community where rural mythology and violent reality are pretty much the same thing. It's technically about certain people in a certain place at a certain time...but it's really about a problem. And the problem is this: What does it mean to be a normal person? And there is no answer. But in Downtown Owl, what matters more is how you ask the question.

This had so much potential. I'm trucking along thinking Klosterman's first attempt at fiction is pretty darn good...then something happens. It is probably meant to be shocking and artistic but instead comes off as pathetic and disappointing. Boo.

December Recipes

2012-01-02T06:34:00.000-07:00

As part of my goals for 2011, I wanted to try at least one new recipe a month. It's been so successful that I'll continue trying new recipes because it's become quite an addiction to look for new ones and try them. Does anyone actually use these posts for recipes to try? Is it worth it to continue?

Breakfasts
Lemon Cranberry Muffins (4 stars out of 5)
Very good. Next time I would probably chop up the cranberries as they're quite tart whole (though not completely unpleasant).

Pumpkin Muffins (3.5 stars and 4 out of 5)
I skipped the cream cheese icing dollop step. They would be incredible with it but I thought it was over the top for a snack/breakfast food. Without it, they weren't quite sweet enough...though with some jam or honey, they were perfect. I'll have to try them again but properly!
I added the second rating after I tried them smeared with cream cheese icing. Good stuff!!

Eggnog Cranberry Muffins (5 stars out of 5)
Wow. Such a perfectly festive muffin!

Main Courses
Cashew Chicken (5 stars out of 5)
I omitted the cilantro (because EW) and this was fabulous. I ended up buying unsalted cashews because I didn't read the recipe carefully so I upped the salt a bit. SO delicious.

Chicken Tikka Masala (4 stars out of 5)
An easy sauce to prepare and so much better than the jarred version. I added green pepper to the recipe because I had one that needed to be used up and it was a good addition.

Double Crunch Honey Garlic Pork Chops (3.5 stars out of 5)
A bit labour intensive when you factor in making sides as well. It was unhealthily good.

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna (3.5 stars out of 5)
I really like spaghetti squash but have only ever had it as a side. This was good enough but not great.

Crockpot
Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin (5 stars out of 5)
Finally a crockpot recipe that delivers! Deliciously tender meat with a perfect glaze.

Sides
Hasselback Garlic Cheesy Bread (5 stars out of 5)
Homemade French bread. Cheese. Garlic butter. Need I say more?

Hummus (4 stars out of 5)
Easy enough that I won't be buying the tubs at the store anymore. This tastes better anyway!

Desserts
Gingerbread Softies (5 stars out of 5)
Just the right amount of spice. Crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, just like a cookie should be! This recipe makes a LOT of cookies but I rose to the challenge and polished them off.

Candy Cane Red Velvet Trifle (5 stars out of 5)
Oh, wow. Insanely good!!!! So good that you almost regret having to share it!

2012

2012-01-01T20:40:00.002-07:00

We ushered in 2012 in grand style. The girls went to bed at their usual time. We played cards and had a few drinks. It was lights out for me at 11pm (the latest I've been to bed in ages) though Shawn lasted till after midnight. When did I get so lame? Oh, right. When I got pregnant and had kids. Though that excuse isn't really valid. My friend stayed up until well after midnight along with her 1 year old! Anyway, it was a lovely New Year's. I got to spend it with my best bud, we had a lot of laughs and reminisced a ton.

And the first day of 2012? I spent it in my pajamas. The only productive thing I did was laundry. I cannot remember the last lazy day I had. So, it was perfectly lovely. We played with every toy in the house and enjoyed each others' company.

Hello, 2012. We're ready for you!

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-12-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

What is up with advent calendars going until the end of the year? Didn't they used to countdown until Christmas?

I'm donating blood for the first time tomorrow. Do you donate?

Presley is officially down to 1 nap a day. Even if she gets up at 5am, she will not nap until after lunch. I can't complain too much, that nap is 3.5-4 hours long.

Speaking of napping, Samara isn't. She naps maybe several times a week now. Oh, how I am mourning this!

I just bought these. I'm excited to try them and ditch our chemical softeners and dryer sheets for good.

Is there anything better than logging into Paypal to pay for a purchase only to find out you have a credit balance? It's like your purchase is free!

I'm taking Samara to the theatre on Monday to see If You Give a Mouse a Cookie . I'm very excited! She loved seeing a movie so I'm hoping a live production goes over just as well.

Hungry for more leftovers? Head here.

Goals for 2011 - Review

2011-12-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

Early in January, I made these goals. It would be easy to ignore them and focus on 2012 but I said I'd post on how I did and so I will.

- take a quilting class, register and complete a running clinic, take a cake decorating class and take a photography course.
FAIL. I didn't do any of these things.

- start working out again.
PASS! With flying colours. I am still working out 4-5 days a week (and loving it!) and I'm in the best shape of my life.

- stay at a healthy weight.
FAIL. Turns out it's pretty hard to eat enough to keep up with an active lifestyle that involves working out, chasing after 2 kids and breastfeeding.

- Skype with family and friends regularly.
Neither pass or fail. We do good, then we lapse, then we recover, etc.

- keep stepping outside my boundaries with books.
PASS. I've read so many fabulous books this year that I never would've picked up in the past.

- have a regular date night.
FAIL.

- try a new recipe once a month.
PASS. I seem to try at least half a dozen a month. Thanks to Pinterest, I'm never lacking in recipes I want to try!

- spend one on one time with each girl.
PASS. We've slacked on this due to the hustle and bustle of the holidays but are eager to get back on schedule.

- to relax more.
FAIL.

I accomplished 50% of my goals. Not terrible, not great. I'm working on my goals for 2012 and will share them next week.

Are you a goal setter? How did you do with your 2011 goals?

Wordless Wednesday (Picture Recap, November Edition)

2011-12-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

What We're Doing Lately

2011-12-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

Clothespin Drop
Okay, I'll be the first to admit it. It looks ghetto! It IS a bit ghetto! But it's a great tool to work on spatial awareness and fine motor skills. You just let your child practice putting clothespins into the spout of the bottle. It took Presley a few times to get it but now she can easily get it every time. To make it is simple. Cut a square opening in a clean 2L bottle so that it's easy to retrieve the clothespins afterwards. Cover the opening with some kind of tape so that the edges aren't sharp. Decorate the bottle (if you want...I hot glue gunned felt shapes). Samara likes playing with this too (for her, I challenge her to count the pins as they go in).

Water!
I've posted about this before but it's such a good sensory activity that is so simple to do. You don't need a fancy water table. Just empty the sink of dishes (or not!), add water and different sized containers. Whenever we're having one of "those" days, it's an excellent distraction from whatever is making the mood cranky. To switch it up, add bubbles and/or a few drops of food colouring for fun coloured water.

Q-tip Art
I found this idea on Pinterest. Instead of using a paintbrush or fingers as the vehicle for paint, you let your child use a q-tip for a different effect. My picture on the left shows the desired result. Sammy wasn't too interested in the dots but loves painting so much that she doesn't seem to care what she uses to get paint on the paper! We'll definitely try this again.

Pots and Pans

What kid doesn't love making noise on pots and pans?! Pick a day where you don't have a headache and aren't easily annoyed and let them at it! The girls love doing this. I tried to get a great picture of Presley in action but she was more interested in why the crazy lady was standing on the counter, trying to get a picture. As an extra learning opportunity, use the pots/pans and corresponding lids as a puzzle and get them to match them up. Good cleaning up skills too!

Do you have any fun learning activities to suggest? What do your kids love doing?

Christmas Recap

2011-12-26T15:37:00.002-07:00

Lots of presents, lots of fun, lots of driving, lots of laughs, lots of food, lots of family, lots of love...couldn't have asked for a better Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T10:31:00.003-07:00

Laugh extra loud, hug extra hard and smile extra big. Merry Christmas to you and yours. XOXO

13 months!!

2011-12-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

This past month, Presley:
- is super close to running. Walking isn't fast enough anymore.
- knows where some of her body parts are (nose, ears, eyes, mouth, belly button, toes).
- knows what sounds some animals make.
- speaks around 30 words, the latest including apple, egg, wow, hello, bum, kitty, tickle and thank you.
- signs around 10 words.

Her favorite things:
- playing pretend in her little kitchen. She "cooks" things in the frying pan, stirs it and brings it over for us to sample.
- going for wagon rides.
- looking at Christmas lights. All we hear is "wwwowwww!!".
- pushing an empty Mega Blocks container around the kitchen. She'll purposely dump out all the blocks so she can turn over the container and use it as a makeshift walker.
- her lovey (small blanket).
- reading. She loves to look at books on her own and loves to be read to.

Things I never want to forget:
- how she blows me a kiss every time I put her in her crib for a nap/bedtime. Melt. My. Heart.
- how she walks around with her shirt up, poking herself in the belly button to tickle herself.
- how she has taken to calling me "Gy Gy"...a shortened version of the "Mamagy" that Sammy and Shawn often call me.

Thankful on Thursday

2011-12-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for:

- 2 sweet little girls that shower me with love and affection. They make me feel like the best mom ever even when I'm clearly not.

- one heck of a handsome husband that does so much for this family.

- good friends scattered across Canada that I've never even met. I talk to some of these ladies on a daily basis. It just goes to show that distance can't affect a good friendship!

- the best parents a girl could ask for.

- my brand new Coach purse. She's sooo pretty.

- Nutella. Need I say more?!

Wordless Wednesday (Santa Picture Edition)

2011-12-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

Christmas Questions

2011-12-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

I've read this post on lots of blogs the past few weeks...not sure where it originated though.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I love wrapping!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. With some regret. I love real trees for the smell. But, I also love the look of our pre-lit with a zillion lights tree and the fact it doesn't need to be trimmed, watered and cleaned up after.

3. When do you put up the tree? Never before December 1st. After that, anything is fair game.

4. When do you take the tree down? Early! Usually a couple of days after Christmas. My grandma (Mom's mom) passed away a couple of days after Christmas and we've always taken things down before that anniversary.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love, love, love it!!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Super Nintendo.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No. I have a little village that goes on top of the piano.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Shawn's grandma. She has EVERYTHING.

9. Easiest person to buy for? The girls.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Even though it's a LOT of work.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ahem. No sense in pointing fingers!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November. I would love to be one of those people that buy throughout the year but I can never be that organized/motivated.

14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but I've definitely donated a lot.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Any baking, any chocolate and egg nog.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? White.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee version).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home. I want the girls to always remember having Christmas morning at home. We'll travel later in the day though.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I thought so but my sister and I tried to do it the other night and failed!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. I made a bow instead.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning for sure. My birthday is Christmas Eve so we try not to do anything Christmas related that day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? CROWDS!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? I have so many favorites. Our tree is composed of ornaments that were gifts, made or specially chosen so they all have so much meaning.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? I have everything I could ask for.

What Christmas Means To Us

2011-12-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone's favorite question these days seems to be:
What are you getting your husband/wife/kids for Christmas?
I would say that it is asked more often than:
How are you spending the holidays?
And almost as much as:
Are you done your shopping?

Is the focus of Christmas on the gifts? Has gift giving and receiving gotten out of control?

I think it has. I don't feel like the main purpose of Christmas is about the gifts. We try very hard not to make it that way. The girls got several gifts, things that they needed or we knew they would love and some handmade items. We didn't go out of control. We didn't spend hundreds of dollars. In fact, I know we spent under $75 for each girl. Will they feel like Christmas wasn't great because they didn't get every single thing they've been showing interest in? Will they feel let down because we didn't get them any "big ticket" items? I would hope not (and at this age, I really doubt it!).

As far as Shawn and I go...are you ready for this? We don't give each other Christmas gifts. Don't be surprised! We live on a tight budget and would prefer our money to go other places. We don't feel ripped off or disappointed come Christmas morning when there isn't a present under the tree with our name on it. We've been doing this for quite a few years now. We maintain our debt free status throughout the holidays and have no buyer's remorse and no anxiety about paying the bills. We shop very carefully with a $20 budget for each other's stockings and have so much fun trying to come up with creative ways to make that money go far.

But, it's not all because of our budget. We could find the money if we wanted to. We simply don't see a point in exchanging gifts when we have everything we need. For us, it's not about the gifts on Christmas. We enjoy watching the girls Christmas morning and then the focus is on family. This is what Christmas truly means for us. Time for family, good food and good memories.

*This post is not meant to offend people that DO go all out for Christmas. Each to their own!

Amazing

2011-12-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

Imagine being 8 years old. Imagine being such an incredible little girl that you decide you're going to grow out your hair, just so you can donate it to make a wig for another child. Imagine! This is a friend of mine's daughter, Jaylen. She is raising money to help the Alberta Children's Hospital. Jaylen is so inspiring and I'm sure everyone close to her is very proud. For more information on Jaylen and to donate to her cause, head here:

Thankful on Thursday

2011-12-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

I'm thankful for:

- Blogger for allowing me to pre-write posts and post them at later dates. As I write this, it is currently Wednesday at 3:22pm.

- an unexpected date with one of my besties. Our kids get along so well but it's always a luxury to go out without them and have an adult conversation with no interruptions!

- Aunty Chelsey!!! Here until Monday, woohoo!! We'll be getting our craft on, our baking on, our wrapping on, our eating on, our holiday spirit on, etc, etc, etc!

- eggnog. Oh, how I love you. I made eggnog cranberry muffins yesterday and they were so good. And you better believe I paired one with a glass of eggnog. Overkill? I think not!

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday (Ugly Christmas Sweater Edition)

2011-12-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

Tell Me Tuesday

2011-12-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

For more Tell Me Tuesday, check out the host HERE.

Now that we're getting so close to Christmas (11 days!!), we're watching our holiday favorite movies. We watch them every year. Do you have any movies that help you get into the Christmas spirit?

Some of our favorites:
1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation2. The Santa Clause
3. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
4. Love Actually
5. Home Alone
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Puzzle Time

2011-12-12T07:14:00.002-07:00

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-12-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Sammy had such a rough week. After a 4 hour wait at the hospital with an eye that was swelled shut, she was diagnosed with an eye infection. On Monday, a fever started that didn't go away until yesterday. She's much better now and the listlessness she was showing all week is but a distant memory!

Our Christmas tree is still safely decorated. Sam is leery of it and won't touch it, and as you saw here, Presley is pretty much terrified of it. I know it doesn't guarantee that the tree will stay safe but I'm enjoying every day the decorations stay on!

I found out yesterday that my sister is coming for a quick visit before Christmas!! WOO HOO!!! We are super close but only get to see each other 1-2 times a year.

Every time I go to get Presley out of the van, she has taken off her boots (and thrown them so they're hard to find). It's super fun! What can be better than searching for a missing boot when it's cold and your 2 year old is trying to play Frogger in the parking lot?!

Is there anything worse than new Christmas music? You know the kind...where a Britney or Christina or similar clone puts in so many fills that the song is unrecognizable? Or worse, where they purposely change the tune of a Christmas classic?

For more leftovers, head here.

Thankful on Thursday

2011-12-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

I'm thankful for:

- children's Advil. Samara has been sick for over a week now and has had a fever since Monday. We're on our 2nd bottle of Advil but at least it's keeping the fever down.

- eggnog. I have a glass every night!

- lots of great toys for the girls to play with. Samara's been too sick for our regular activities and playdates so it's good we have lots of things to do at home.

- naps.

- the best laughs coming from my girls when they play together. It can turn a day around just like that!

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday (Presley's Afraid Edition)

2011-12-07T06:57:00.000-07:00

November Books

2011-12-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

I was not in "reading mode" this past month. I found it hard to get into books and whenever I had a spare moment (with 6 craft sales during the month wasn't very often), I turned to screen time to unwind instead of reading. This month is already better though so I'm glad to be back into reading!

Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately
3 stars out of 5

Gripped by haunting magazine images of starving refugees, Elsa has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a teenager. Of leaving her humble working-class Boston neighborhood to help people whose lives are far more difficult than her own. No one in her family has ever escaped poverty, but Elsa has a secret weapon: a tube of lipstick she found in her older sister’s bureau. Wearing it never fails to raise her spirits and cement her determination. With lipstick on, she can do anything—even travel alone to war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.

I had a heck of a time getting into this book though it was an interesting story. I liked the Afghani perspective.

The Birth House by Ami McKay
4 stars out of 5

The Birth House is the story of Dora Rare, the first daughter to be born in five generations of the Rare family. As a child in an isolated village in Nova Scotia, she is drawn to Miss Babineau, an outspoken Acadian midwife with a gift for healing and a kitchen filled with herbs and folk remedies. During the turbulent years of World War I, Dora becomes the midwife's apprentice. Together, they help the women of Scots Bay through infertility, difficult labors, breech births, unwanted pregnancies and even unfulfilling sex lives.

An interesting look at midwifery in the early 1900s.

The Complete Essex County by Jeff Lemire
4 stars out of 5

Where does a young boy turn when his whole world suddenly disappears? What turns two brothers from an unstoppable team into a pair of bitterly estranged loners? How does the simple-hearted care of one middle-aged nurse reveal the scars of an entire community, and can anything heal the wounds caused by a century of deception? Award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire pays tribute to his roots with Essex County, an award-winning trilogy of graphic novels set in an imaginary version of his hometown, the eccentric farming community of Essex County, Ontario, Canada. In Essex County, Lemire crafts an intimate study of one community through the years, and a tender meditation on family, memory, grief, secrets, and reconciliation. With the lush, expressive inking of a young artist at the height of his powers, Lemire draws us in and sets us free.

I've never read a graphic novel before so I was skeptical. It has a really high rating in Goodreads. I understand why. It was easy to get caught up in the story and soon I was forgetting the medium. I love how a picture can so easily convey emotion (when done properly like it was here).

Faith: A Novel by Jennifer Haigh
4 stars out of 5

When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself. Award-winning author Jennifer Haigh follows her critically acclaimed novels Mrs. Kimble and The Condition with a captivating, vividly rendered portrait of fraying family ties, and the trials of belief and devotion, in Faith.

Really good. I liked how you never really knew until the end if he was guilty of the accusations or not.

What are you reading? Anything good to recommend?

November Recipes

2011-12-05T08:03:00.001-07:00

BreakfastsPumpkin French Toast (4 stars out of 5)
I found this recipe on Pinterest while searching for ways to use up 4 pumpkins I roasted and pureed. We didn't make this gluten free (no need). Very good. The pumpkin taste was obvious without being overpowering. A nice addition to french toast.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins (4 stars out of 5)
Hearty and delicious. Definitely going into our regular rotation of muffins.

Cinnamon Sugar Bread (4 stars out of 5)
Okay, so this is a bit sugary to be included with breakfasts but add a glass of milk and some fruit and you can nearly justify it! I didn't add nearly as much sugar as the recipe called for and it still turned out well.

Blueberry Banana Muffins (4.5 stars out of 5)
Very, very moist and easy to make. They didn't last long.

Zucchini Muffins (4.5 stars out of 5)
These were really delicious. Lemon zest is such a good match with zucchini. I modified it by using 1 cup of sugar and they were plenty sweet. They didn't stay super moist though so I'd only make what you need (or freeze and take out as you need them).

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (3.5 stars out of 5)
I didn't have peanuts so I skipped those and reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup. Very "healthy" tasting. I probably didn't need to reduce the sugar. These would be even better with the peanuts on top for added texture. They have to be eaten quickly. They were super dry the next day and had to be eaten with butter straight out of the microwave.

Peanut Butter Loaf (3.5 stars out of 5)
This was a really heavy, dense loaf. Very good taste and a crispy crust. Peanut butter as the main flavor in a bread is different...hard to get used to but worth trying again.

Main Meals
Cranberry Stuffed Turkey Meatballs (3 stars out of 5)
I'm going to try this one again. I thought an entire lime zested was a bit overpowering in the sauce so I'd cut that back next time. I also got caught up playing with the girls outside and overcooked the meatballs so they were a bit dry. I think they'd be really good with some havarti or gouda inside the meatball instead of a cranberry.

Balsamic Beef and Root Vegetable Stew (5 stars out of 5)
Goodness. Pure goodness. I usually don't like stew but Shawn does so I was looking for good recipe to try. I adore balsamic vinegar and I adore Family Feedbag so I was eager to give this a try. This coincided with our first snowfall of the year and it was the perfect winter meal. Comfort food at its best.

Crockpot
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken (3.5 stars out of 5)
Ridiculously easy to make. Spicy but in a good way. Too spicy for the girls though...which means making 2 suppers in a night when we have this.

Sides
Corniest Corn Muffins (4 stars out of 5)
In continuing my search for the perfect corn bread/corn muffin, I decided to try a variation that I've seen quite a few times...including corn kernels. This was good but was definitely too much sugar so I'd half it if I made it again. The corn in the muffins added bursts of sweetness on their own.

Hasselback Potatoes (5 stars out of 5)
Easy to do and they look impressive. So delicious. Nice and crispy on the top and perfectly soft on the bottom.

Desserts
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies (5 stars out of 5)
These don't have a typical brownie texture. I'd say it's more of a cake, with a chocolate chip cookie tossed into the mix. Absolutely delicious. I topped them with cream cheese icing which was completely unnecessary but knocked them out of the park!

Key Lime Cupcakes (5 stars out of 5)
These were Presley's birthday dessert. She didn't leave a crumb and neither did we. Outstanding!

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-12-02T07:27:00.002-07:00

This is my 800th post. Crazy!

My friend, Canadian Mama, recently lost her site. She went to log in and it was hosted by someone else. Can you imagine?!?!?! She very nearly lost all of her posts (thanks to Google Apps for selling her site to the highest bidder). Thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach. Thankfully she had a friend that was able to copy all of her old posts. I absolutely MUST backup all my stuff now. I think I backed up the first year or so but that's it. Anyway, the blog world is small so I know lots of my followers are her followers so check out the link and follow her new site!

I used to be annoyed that Dora the Explorer was Sammy's "show" of choice. Then we watched some of the alternatives...Max and Ruby, Thomas, etc. Turns out Dora really isn't that bad! At least it's very interactive. The others don't encourage any interaction at all which makes me feel worse about the TV time she does get.

I have a 2 day craft sale to do this weekend. If you're in Lethbridge, come on down to the Christmas Trade Show at the Exhibition Grounds. There are vendors on a waiting list to get in so you know it'll be crammed with tons of great things!

Shawn got the Christmas lights up yesterday and this weekend we'll put up the tree. Feeling the Christmas spirit!

Hungry for more leftovers, head here.

Hello, December

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

EEK! Is anyone else the slightest bit disturbed that it's already December? Time definitely seems to be going faster the older I get. How does that work, exactly? I turn 30 this month. But, I'm not scared. Everyone claims that the 30s are better than the 20s...and the 20s were fantastic so what's not to look forward to?!

I'm very excited for Christmas this year. Samara is starting to really get it. She is very into Santa, opening gifts, looking at Christmas lights and helping with the baking. Presley should be a pro at opening presents after the massive stack she opened for her birthday. We've already been going for walks looking at Christmas lights and the girls are mesmerized. We'll attempt a Santa picture at some point as well.

This weekend will be spent getting the tree and lights up. I don't start before December. I did last year (as part of my nesting pre-Presley) and I was so sick of everything by Christmas. I took everything down first thing Boxing Day morning because I couldn't stand it any longer! So, we're definitely a "wait till December" family. How about you? Are you like our neighbors? Do you have your Christmas lights and tree up on November 1?

Wordless Wednesday (Presley's Birthday Party Edition)

2011-11-30T08:54:00.004-07:00

I'm Sorry

2011-11-29T14:38:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry for not posting yesterday and this morning. We're alive and well. Shawn is off for the week so we've been enjoying family time. I didn't feel like blogging...so I didn't! I will be back tomorrow with Presley's birthday party edition of Wordless Wednesday.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-11-25T07:39:00.001-07:00

Have you seen this? You can personalize a video message to your child from Santa. I did them up for the girls last night. Samara will be SO excited (Presley won't care!).

Samara wants a white tutu for Christmas. Presley (according to Sam) wants a blue one. As does Daddy (also according to Sam!).

I've been reading children's books for quite some time now and I've come to the conclusion that anyone can get published as a children's author. There are some REALLY terrible books out there. Especially board books.

I mistakenly planned for Presley's 12 month vaccines to be today. The day before her big party. Hopefully she handles them well!

I mostly have a hate relationship with my crockpot. I find meat ends up tasting cafeteria-ish (nice word, right?!)...sort of boiled, you know? And anything with a sauce ends up way too runny. Do you have any tried and true recipes that are amazing? It sure is nice to have supper ready and not have to prepare it during the evening crazies.

1 month till Christmas! I've done...nothing! Very unlike me. Normally everything is bought and wrapped by now.

For more leftovers, head here.

Thankful on Thursday

2011-11-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm thankful for:

family and friends for all their well wishes to Presley on her special day.
one of my closest friends (whom I've never actually met!) who sent special birthday wishes and a surprise gift to Pres yesterday. It gave me happy tears!
Skype!
breakfast for supper. Peanut butter and banana stuffed french toast and bacon last night. SO good.
Chinooks. Gorgeous +12 degrees the last couple of days. Too bad we also have wind advisory warnings due to 100km/hr wind gusts.
filling up with gas when it's 98.9 cents/litre! (Isn't it sad that that's cheap?)

What are you thankful for today?

1 year!!!!

2011-11-23T08:46:00.001-07:00

Our littlest little turns 1 today! It is very bittersweet. The year passed by so quickly and I'm not too sure how the newborn we brought home turned into a toddler.

At 12 months, Presley is walking full time. She walks as far as she can, falls, then stands right back up and continues walking. She adores climbing up and down the stairs and knows to turn around at the top to get down. I see gate-less stairs in my near future (YAY!).

Presley is very vocal and knows quite a few words (mama, dada, ball, all done, poop, boot, book, back, wow, pop, stop, banana and hi). She says "uh oh" every time she drops something and I swear she drops things on purpose just so she can say it! She can make sounds and knows what a piggy, bear, cow and Santa say. She is signing less since she's started saying more words and still has the same half a dozen signs. She is starting to know her body parts and can point to her head and nose when asked.

Her favorite toys are books, hands down. She is always picking out books and going to a chair to sit down and "read" them. Her favorite is "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?". She will also bring you books so you can read to her. She likes putting smaller objects into bigger ones so this one stacking toy that Nana and Grandpa bought awhile back is a big hit. She also really enjoys playing the piano.

Her favorite activities are going for walks (all bundled up in the wagon), going to story time at the library and playing on the slide at the family centre.

Presley is still a really good eater. She has started refusing a few foods some meals (eggs and some veggies) but will eat them at other times. My fingers are crossed that we avoid another picky eater! She loves meat and will always finish that part of the meal first. She is still nursing several times a day. She has graduated from drinking water in a sippy cup to a cup with a straw. She's getting quite good at drinking from a cup (with help).

Sleep is still random. In the past month, she went from sleeping through the night, to not, back to sleeping through and the latest week has been not. I know it's mostly my own fault...we haven't done any sleep training whatsoever. I'd like to blame teeth but she has been stuck on 6 teeth for quite some time. She is a great napper and has 1-2 naps a day. She seems to be dropping the morning nap but when she starts the day at 530am (which is quite often), she can't last until after lunch without a nap.

Presley is such a happy kid. She always wakes up with a smile. She loves to hug and snuggle, gives kisses (Eskimo and regular!) and blows kisses as well.

She weighs 19lbs 14 oz and measures 29 inches long. She wears mostly 6-12 month clothing, size 2 shoes and size 3 diapers.

Things I never want to forget:
- how she tries to run. If you chase her, her little legs can't quite figure out how to run yet so she just pumps her arms faster and squeals!
-how she asks for something without actually asking. She goes, "hmm? hmm? hmm?" and then you get to guess what she wants.
-how she gives the best open mouthed, slobbery, all or nothing kisses. I know she'll eventually be more reserved with her affection so I don't want to forget her enthusiasm!

1 year ago...

2011-11-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

1 year ago today, I went into labour. Presley wasn't born until the 23rd but the 22nd is when things got rolling. All day I will be reminiscing. I will be thinking of last year when Samara and I went for hot chocolate and donuts, just the 2 of us, and walked around the mall while I had mild contractions. I will be thinking of how I was wondering if the doctor would be right with her prediction that the baby would be making an appearance within 48 hours. I will be thinking of how we were wondering if the baby would be a boy like everyone thought, or another beautiful girl. I will be thinking of how unsure I was if I was really in labour despite it being my second time. I will be thinking of how badly I wanted drugs and how there just wasn't enough time. I will be thinking of how excited I was to meet the little baby who was so forceful with kicks and punches in the womb. I will be thinking of the strength I didn't even know I had to have a natural birth. I will be thinking of my husband's proud face when he saw his daughter for the first time. I will be thinking of how complete our family felt as soon as Presley was placed in my arms.

For Presley's birth story, head here.

Our Favorite Things

2011-11-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

snuggling together in bed on Sunday mornings to prolong getting up for the day just a tiny bit. Our 2 squirmy girls actually cozy up and relax.
bundling up to go for nightly walks to look at Christmas lights.
skating.
dancing and singing to We Will Rock You...Sammy knows some of the lyrics and Pres stomps her feet, cute stuff!
hot chocolate to start the mornings.

What are your latest favorite things?

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-11-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

Next week is Presley's birthday. I've been reminiscing so much about what we were doing last year at this time. This year has flown by...even faster than Sammy's first year.

Are you a hoarder or a purger? I'm a full blown purger. I purge regularly. I love going through cupboards, drawers, etc, to see what I can get rid of. The problem though? I quite often find myself looking for something only to remember I tossed it/donated it months ago.

I received the best surprise in the mail last week from a dear friend. Brand new Uggs!! We're talking the real deal...which I've never owned before. Luxurious!

Something exciting is happening this weekend...BOGO at Starbucks from November 17-20, 2-5pm on holiday drinks. What's your favorite holiday drink? Mine has always been the eggnog chai latte but I've never really tried anything else. So, I'm making it a point to work my way through all of them this year to make sure I've made the best choice.

Do you know what I love? People who RSVP to parties! AHEM. This is your not so subtle hint.

For more leftovers, check out the lovely host here.

Noah

2011-11-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Nearly a year ago, I posted about baby Noah. I "met" his mama online at a parenting forum because Presley and Noah were due around the same time. Noah was born full term in Grande Prairie with the cord wrapped around his neck. He initially recovered from the lack of oxygen, but began to have seizures on the second day of life and was transferred to the University Hospital in Edmonton. Noah had severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy which essentially means brain damage to both hemispheres of the brain. He was taken off life support on December 24th and then proceeded to defy the odds. After 3 days, it was discovered by a doctor on call that he had a suck reflex. At 10 days old, he was discharged from the hospital and has been making progress at home ever since.

Noah is about to start alternative treatments that will require him and his mama to relocate to Edmonton for 2 months. Because they're alternative, costs are not covered by health care. An online auction has been set up to help the costs. If you'd like to donate an item or bid on one, please go here for more information. For more information on Noah, please check out their blog here.

Wordless Wednesday (Picture Recap, October Edition)

2011-11-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Some Funny For Your Day...

2011-11-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: “That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!” The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her: “The driver just insulted me!”

The man says: “You go right up there and tell him off – go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you.”

Two guys are sitting on a bar stool. One starts to insult the other one. He screams, “I slept with your mother!” The bar gets quiet as everyone listens to see what the other guy will do. The first again yells, “I SLEPT WITH YOUR MOTHER!”

The other says, “Go home dad, you’re drunk.”

A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?”

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard.

The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?"

What's the funniest joke you know?

What We're Doing Lately (Samara Edition)

2011-11-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

Shaving Cream Finger Painting
Spray a cookie sheet with shaving cream and then add food colouring. The point is for the child to mix the colours with their hands and paint a new paper with the new colours they discovered. This didn't work. Samara did NOT enjoy getting her hands dirty. In fact, she was quite disgusted with the idea. But, she would do her index fingers so we got some colour onto the paper eventually!

Paper Plate Lions
I took this idea from our friend, Courtney. Sammy adores painting so this was a hit. She wasn't really into doing the typical lion though so I just let her go wild!

Mine is the one on the right (obviously!).
Halloween Lanterns
Guess which one is Sam's?!
Ghost Feet
This idea was circulating on Pinterest. Hard to do with ticklish feet but a fun art project.

We're getting started on Winter/Christmas themed crafts next. What crafts have you been doing?

We Remember...

2011-11-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Thankful on Thursday

2011-11-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

I'm thankful for:

a nap while the girls napped yesterday. It helped me stay up past 9pm last night!
a good looking husband that does the morning routine with the girls while I workout.
a fenced yard with a playcenter. We use it every day.
hot chocolate and banana bread for a yummy snack.
long weekends!!

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday (Loves Edition)

2011-11-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

What We're Doing Lately (Presley Edition)

2011-11-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

Popsicle Puzzle
This is great for working on manipulating objects. I just showed Presley what the end result should be and she went to work. We initially did this about 2 months ago and it was hard for her but the more she does it (and the older she is), the easier it gets.
Cloth Pull
I couldn't find my original link where I got the idea but the link I used is the same idea, just a different container. You know how kids love to pull Kleenex out of the box and make a mess? This uses that idea. I used a sour cream container (yogurt would work too) and cut a hole in the top and stuffed it with fabric scraps. Presley loves this! I would say it's her favorite "toy". Sammy plays with it a lot too, as do other kids that come over. Ghetto? Maybe a bit!

First Fingerpainting
You could use yogurt too if you're not up for your baby having pudding. Presley LOVED this. She quickly abandoned the paper once she realized how tasty the pudding was. Very messy...I'm still finding bits of pudding hidden in her high chair.
What activities have you been doing lately? Now that Presley is getting older and less likely to put things in her mouth, it makes planning these types of activities easier. I have lots of fun ideas coming up for her, now that she's a toddler (almost!).

Guilt

2011-11-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

Every so often on the online mom group I belong to, there is a thread that starts with "I must confess". We mamas let loose on what we feel like we need to get off our chests...from eating far too much candy and hiding the wrappers to letting our kids watch too much television. The most prevalent confession? How guilty we feel.

It seems like so many mothers are in a constant state of guilt. We feel guilty about everything from not being the perfect housewife, to not contributing financially to the family if we stay home or working too much if we don't...and on and on it goes. Basically, feeling guilty because we're not perfect. Why is it that we expect perfection from ourselves as mothers? It is not something where perfection can be attained so to expect so will guarantee failure.

I do it too. It seems like I'm always feeling guilty about something. Frankly, there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything that I'd like. So, there are always things that have to give. And thus comes the guilt.

So, tell me what you're feeling guilty about today. And then let it go for the day. Let's see how good it feels to just live in the moment and do what works...with none of the guilt.

October Books

2011-11-04T06:45:00.000-06:00

1st To Die by James Patterson

3 stars out of 5

Inspector Lindsay Boxer of the San Francisco Police Department suddenly finds herself in the middle of two horrifying situations: The first is that she s just learned she has an often-fatal blood disease. The second is a double homicide case she s now heading up that involves the murder of newlyweds on their wedding night.

A decent thriller with quite the twist.

The Last Man on the Mountain by Jennifer Jordan

3 stars out of 5

In 1939 the Savage Mountain claimed its first victim. Born into vast wealth yet uneasy with a life of leisure, Dudley Wolfe, of Boston and Rockport, Maine, set out to become the first man to climb K2, the world’s second-highest mountain and, in the opinion of mountaineers, an even more formidable challenge than Mt. Everest. Although close to middle age and inexperienced at high altitude, Wolfe, with the team leader, made it higher than any other members of the expedition, but he couldn’t get back down. Suffering from altitude sickness and severe dehydration, he was abandoned at nearly 25,000 feet; it would be another sixty-three years before Jennifer Jordan discovered his remains.

I'm a sucker for mountaineering stories. This was decent. Quite a bit of speculation since it happened so long ago.

Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

4.5 stars

As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

Oh, man...this was so suspenseful and gripping! Once you start, it's hard to stop.

My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster
2 stars out of 5

Readers have followed Jen Lancaster through job loss, sucky city living, weight loss attempts, and 1980s nostalgia. Now Jen chronicles her efforts to achieve cultural enlightenment, with some hilarious missteps and genuine moments of inspiration along the way. And she does so by any means necessary: reading canonical literature, viewing classic films, attending the opera, researching artisan cheeses, and even enrolling in etiquette classes to improve her social graces.

Darn, I just didn't like this that much. It's disappointing because her first 2 books nearly made me pass out from laughing so hard (and her 3rd was average). Part of it might be all the talking about reality TV which I don't watch.

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha
3 stars out of 5

The Book of Awesome reminds us that the best things in life are free (yes, your grandma was right). With laugh-out-loud observations from award- winning comedy writer Neil Pasricha, The Book of Awesome is filled with smile-inducing moments on every page that make you feel like a kid looking at the world for the first time. Read it and you'll remember all the things there are to feel good about.

This was cute and made me smile. I skimmed through part of it but it was a nice break from serious novel reading.

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
4.5 stars out of 5

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

I really enjoyed this. Such a beautifully heartbreaking story.

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
4 stars out of 5

Things are finally looking up for defense attorney Mickey Haller. After two years of wrong turns, Haller is back in the courtroom. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his biggest case yet: the defense of Walter Elliott, a prominent studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent's killer may be coming for him next. Enter Harry Bosch. Determined to find Vincent's killer, he is not opposed to using Haller as bait. But as danger mounts and the stakes rise, these two loners realize their only choice is to work together.

#2 in the Mickey Haller series. A fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns. Super entertaining!

What have you been reading?

October Recipes

2011-11-03T07:34:00.000-06:00

Breakfasts
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins (4 stars out of 5)
This uses whole wheat flour which is always nice. They were really moist and the chunks of apple were a perfect sweetness.

Desserts
Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting (5 out of 5 stars)
I posted on my FB that I was looking for the best cinnamon buns ever. 5 different people (who don't know each other) recommended this recipe. I had to try it and I was not disappointed. It was a lot of work but they were worth every bit of effort. Amazing! I halved the recipe and it still made a ton.

Main Dishes
Beef and Barley Soup (4 stars out of 5)
Labour intensive! Lots of work but it tasted good. I'm not a huge fan of stew meat and beef broth so I let Shawn rate this for us.

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken (2 stars out of 5)
I'm not sure if I did something wrong or what but this was so incredibly soupy. It was hard to even appreciate the flavors because it was so watered down.

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken (3 stars out of 5)
This was pretty good. It was easy (if you don't count lugging out the food processor and cleaning all the parts) and tasted pleasant. It didn't rate higher because I found the flavors too mild for my liking. I will probably try it again but add more curry and add the chili peppers that were optional.

Slow Cooker Pantry Chicken Stew (3 stars out of 5)
This was hearty and fairly good. It was quite soupy near the end so I thickened it with some cornstarch but ran out before I could make it nice and thick.

Sides
Cornbread (4 stars out of 5)
This might be my new favorite. I still feel like I have to try more though. I found a really good one that had cheddar cheese and corn in it and now when I go to the website, it's gone.

Halloween
Bloody Finger Cookies (2.5 stars out of 5)
Easy to make and look really creepy! Just an average tasting cookie though.

Did you try anything new in October?

2.5!!

2011-11-02T06:17:00.000-06:00

Samara is 2.5 today. My, oh my...how my sweet baby has grown into a little girl.

Some highlights:

- has been potty trained since February. She is nap trained but not quite night trained. She usually wakes up dry but just when I'm ready to ditch the pullups, she wakes up wet several mornings in a row.

- has been having difficulties sleeping. She leaves her room multiple times at the start of naps and bedtimes and has been getting up during the night. She was once a rotten sleeper as a baby and then treated us to model sleeping for a long time so I have hopes this is just a phase!

- adores clothing. She wears several outfits a day and must pick out her own things. She dresses herself but needs help lacing shoes and buttoning buttons. She loves getting new clothes, even if it's just a pair of socks or a hand me down pair of pajamas.

- is good at cleaning up. She clears her dishes from the table and loads the dishwasher with no prompting. She likes to help empty the dishwasher and can be convinced to put her toys away (usually!). She has good manners and generally remembers to say please and thank you on her own.

- can count to 15 (and understands the correlation between object and number) and sings her ABCs. She can only recognize some of the letters though. She can't get enough reading and now asks for books by title. She knows all her colours and understands shades as well. She also knows the basic shapes.

- has started speaking in first person instead of only third person.

- is a good big sister. She can be too rough and tests boundaries but for the most part, she loves playing with "Presey" and can make her laugh like no other. It warms my heart to see them playing together with no urging on our behalf.

- is very social. Sammy has good friends and is always talking about them. She gets excited to see them, even if she still plays beside them instead of with them! She even knows the way to their houses.

Favorite things lately:
- Dora
- lollipops
- shopping (anywhere will do but especially Superstore)
- swings
- getting her face painted
- the colours pink and purple
- painting

Things I never want to forget:
- if I get anxious or frustrated with something, she'll come up and pat my leg and say, "don't worry, Mommy! It's okay!".
- how cute her compliments are. "Ooooh, nice pockets, Mommy!" or "Ooooh, you look so princess!"
- how instead of saying "this one", she says "dee dots". It's too sweet to correct.
-how she randomly puts her arm around Presley and says, "buddies!".

Trick or Treating

2011-11-01T08:11:00.000-06:00

It would be safe to assume that Samara really "got" trick or treating this year. I fear the next time we go for a walk will be a real letdown for her! She loved going to all the houses...except the one that had fog, that was "just a little bit scary". She knew to open her bag, say trick or treat and was polite and thanked everyone at every house (with no prompting, yay!). She filled her bag AND Presley's and that was only going for a half hour. I think she would have gone for hours had we let her! Presley enjoyed being snuggled up in the wagon and had her first taste of chocolate tonight. She's a fan!

Halloween Party Recap

2011-10-31T07:19:00.000-06:00

10 adults, 4 toddlers and 4 babies gathered to celebrate Halloween on the weekend. It was a lot of work but worth the effort. So much fun!

The decor:

The food:

The costumes:

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-10-28T08:30:00.001-06:00

I'm having issues getting the FNL picture loaded so no pic today!

I have to clarify last week's post where I said I caved and cut Sammy's hair. I should have said I caved and got Sammy's hair cut. I didn't cut it myself. Nope...I have zero hair cutting skills. Just ask Shawn. He's been on the receiving end of my special haircuts. "GASP!" and "OOPS!" are not things anyone wants to hear while getting their hair cut!

I read in a parenting magazine that 81% of 10 year old girls worry about gaining weight. How completely and utterly depressing.

We're having a Halloween party tomorrow. Costumes are mandatory. It should be lots of fun! Pictures to come.

I'm starting to plan Presley's birthday party. I ordered super cute invitations last night. How can she be almost 1??

Yesterday, Sammy told Pres she was so smart and then said, "now give me a kiss" and planted a big wet one on her forehead. It was so sweet.

I made this for supper last night. It's quite possibly one of my favorite recipes lately. Even Sam ate lots and she's usually a vegetarian. I've made tons of recipes off her blog and they're consistently fantastic.

After yesterday's post, I decided I was going to immediately take Sammy back to her room every time she visited us. That went well. We were up from around 12 till 430am.

Hungry for more leftovers? Head here...though I'm not sure she's doing it but go there anyway and see how cute her kids are!

Are You Afraid?

2011-10-27T07:04:00.001-06:00

Sammy went through a phase around Spring where she was afraid of random things...grass, lawnmowers, shrubs, etc. She quickly outgrew it and we haven't had any issues with "fear" since then.

Until now.

Now she's afraid of the dark. She refuses to go into a room if it's dark. She sleeps with a night light on but still races to our room crying whenever she wakes up. It's exhausting. I can handle the daytime fears but the ones that make me get up more than I did with a 1 month old are starting to burn me out. Any suggestions?

Wordless Wednesday (Picture Recap, September Edition)

2011-10-26T07:31:00.000-06:00

Tell Me Tuesday - Concert Wish

2011-10-25T07:43:00.000-06:00

Hosted by Canadian Mama
Last week I asked you what was the best concert you ever went to. I loved the answers. They ranged from Green Day to Willie Nelson to Tim McGraw to Iron Maiden. It got me to thinking...

What concert(s) would you love to go to? (doesn't matter if they're dead or alive)
1. Johnny Cash
2. Queen (not the current version, the real version with Freddy Mercury)
3. The Misfits (original version)
4. The Ramones
5. Elvis Presley

Weekend Highlights

2011-10-24T06:38:00.001-06:00

My movie date with Sammy went fabulously. It was such a fun morning. We only had to wait in line around 5 minutes. There was face painting and balloon animals. Sammy was a bit afraid of the dark theater but was perfectly happy on my lap...and who can say no to snuggles from a normally busy toddler! We saw Yogi Bear in 3D. Well, I saw the movie in 3D. Sammy saw the movie in 2D (and slightly blurry!) since she refused to wear the glasses. We had popcorn and M&Ms. She made it through the whole movie. Ever since, she has been talking about Yogi Bear, the theater and basically the entire experience. A huge hit!

Presley got her first nose bleed this weekend. I don't even think Sammy has had one yet! She got a bit enthusiastic with her climbing skills and fell out of a play car.

I took Sam with me to get an oil change in the van. In hindsight, it's not really a kid-friendly activity. Duh, no kidding, right?! They gave her a colouring book and crayons. She coloured the book...and then her jeans. We visited the Mr. Lube restroom twice. I brought some snacks in anticipation. The van looked like we'd gone on a week long road trip when we got home.

Presley slept through the night all weekend! Sammy didn't. So neither did we.

We went for family pictures on Saturday evening. The girls lasted about 30 minutes. The weather was great, the leaves were beautiful...hoping for some good shots. I'll settle for one!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

11 months!!

2011-10-23T14:43:00.001-06:00

Our sweet Presley is 11 months old today. I could cry thinking of how fast time is going and what's already passed...but I'm also so excited for all that is to come.

At 11 months, Presley is still using crawling as her main mode of transportation. Just in the past couple of days, she's started to purposely try walking to things instead. She'll use one hand on the wall if it's further than she's used to. I think it won't be long now before she gives up on crawling all together. She adores climbing things and is obsessed with stairs. She now knows how to get down the stairs backwards but still needs to be turned to get started. She claps and waves now as well.

Presley is really vocal lately and is mimicking sounds all the time. She still has only said "mama" but it sounded like Shawn got a "daddy" the other day. She has been signing and does "all done", "more", "milk", "bath", "poop" and "eat".

Her favorite toys are books. She will sit with books and "read" for a long time. She will grab one and go to the little rocking chair, pull herself into it so she can sit there while she reads. Adorable! She loves pushing things, especially Sammy's bike outside. She also really likes a toy I made her out of a sour cream container and scraps of fabric (a post to come on that later!).

Her favorite activities are going for walks and going on the swing. She enjoys being in the stroller and the Beco.

Presley is a dream eater. She gobbles up anything I prepare for her. It is such a treat for me! Her favorites this past month are grapes, pears and meat prepared anyway. She has 6 teeth to help. She is still breastfeeding and gets around 5 feeds a day.

Sleep is all over the map. She rarely sleeps through the night anymore (cue baby proving me wrong anytime!) and needs rocking to sleep some of the time. She usually only gets 1 nap a day (due to morning activities) so makes up for that missed morning nap by having a 4 hour afternoon nap.

Presley weighs 18 pounds and 6 ounces. She is 29 inches long. She wears 6-9 month clothes and is in size 2 diapers.

Things I never want to forget:
-how she copies us. We regularly ask questions like this: "Who wants pancakes for breakfast?" and then everyone responds, "meeeeeee!" and raises their hand. Okay, when I wrote that down it made it sound really geeky but it's cute, I swear! Anyway, Presley now does it as well and it's the sweetest thing.
-how she will fall asleep nursing and how I get to snuggle her uninterrupted. It's one of my favorite moments of the week when it happens. I've been known to stay in her room for much longer than necessary to soak it all in.

Pictures didn't go so well this morning! She finally noticed the sign this month (as you can tell my the wrinkles in the paper!) and did not want to be sitting.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-10-21T07:32:00.000-06:00

I finally caved and cut Sammy's hair. I was trying to grow out her bangs but she refused to wear anything in her hair so she just ended up looking like a kid who can't afford a haircut. Here it is before:

And after:

Now Sammy is all ready for a Mommy Sammy date on Saturday morning. Cineplex is having a free movie event with proceeds going to the Starlight Foundation. It will be her first time and I'm really excited to take her. I'm going to make it an event and get every junk food group. Yes. Even though it's at 9am. What's a movie without treats?!

Presley now has a few 2-piece pajama sets. They make her look way less like a baby and more like a toddler. Sad but cute at the same time!

When we were at the corn maze last weekend, we took a hayride. Also on the ride was about a dozen Boy Scouts and their leaders. They were very rambunctious which is totally to be expected when you have a group of 11ish year olds. When the hayride was done, they bulldozed us (with our young children), an older gentleman and another family in order to get off the wagon first. Where is that Boy Scout courteousness??? I don't really expect 11 year olds to think of women, children and seniors first...but shouldn't their leaders be doing that for them?

Hungry for more leftovers? Head here!

Climate

2011-10-20T07:00:00.002-06:00

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather."

-Goethe

Upon first glance, this might seem like a self absorbed statement. I suppose you could read it this way, if it weren’t for one little word. That word is “frightening”. There is a certain amount of humility when you recognize that things don’t happen TO you, but rather WITH you. You have the power – and it is immense in its nature – to take anything that comes your way and handle it with grace, humor, and dignity.

No matter what happens to you, you always…always have the power to choose your reaction to it. Which means that you have the power to create a beautiful climate in your home or a stormy one. The choice is up to you.

-Hal Runkel, LMFT, Author of ScreamFree Parenting and ScreamFree Marriage

I received this in an email Tuesday morning and I've been thinking about it ever since. I find so much truth to this statement. Do you ever find yourself reacting differently to whining, tantrums, meltdowns, frustrations and stress based on what your mood at the time is? I know I sure do. On good days, I can remain calm, cool and collected...even if doors are being slammed and the crying seems to have no end. On bad days, well, the slightest thing can set me off and I wonder where my patience has disappeared to.

So, knowing all of this is one thing...but how do we keep a beautiful climate in our homes? I imagine it's different for everyone. For me, I need to do things for myself. I need to recharge my own batteries before I can be effective for the rest of my family. I drag my tired butt to the basement for a workout at 6am...whether I've been up once, twice or 4 times with the girls through the night. That hour is my own. I shower, put on makeup and get dressed and start the day fresh. Even with those best intentions, the climate can still turn stormy for us. Take yesterday. I was up from 3am on with the girls (nice of them to take turns!). I knew I'd be tired and irritable so I made sure I still worked out to release some tension and got ready for the day. Yet by lunchtime, Sammy was testing boundaries and I was rising to the bait. So, even realizing that I have power over the mood of the house, I still mess up.

What works for you? What helps you stay calm when everything is chaotic? How do you recharge?

Wordless Wednesday (Corn Maze Edition)

2011-10-19T07:07:00.000-06:00

Tell Me Tuesday - Best Concert Ever

2011-10-18T07:36:00.002-06:00

Hosted by Canadian Mama

What was the best concert you ever went to? What made it so great?

My best one was when Shawn and I flew to Columbus, Ohio, to see Tom Waits. We saw him in this super cool venue. He rarely tours and we had to work hard to score tickets before they sold out. We took 2 planes to get there and barely made it due to delays. We flew back home less than 24 hours later. At the airport, we saw Steve Buscemi who we later saw at the concert...looks like he had the same idea as us. I don't like when people overuse this word but it was EPIC.

Runners up:
- Iron Maiden. We scored box tickets for Shawn's birthday one year and it was one heck of a party.
- Tony Bennett. We saw him in a relatively smaller venue and he put on such a good show. He was well spoken and surprisingly humble.
- Corb Lund. We went just as he was branching out from The Smalls to his new project. We saw him in a super tiny venue (maybe 200 people) and it was fantastic.

Okay, I could go on and on. Motley Crue, Social Distortion, Chris Isaak, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Gwar, Motorhead...

Your turn!

What They're Saying

2011-10-17T07:28:00.001-06:00

I thought this would be a fun regular post. I'll include funny and cute things the girls are saying lately. This post is just Sammy since Presley is still mostly a non-talker.

Compliments from Sam:
"Oooooh, Mommy! Nice pockets!!"

Playing outside with Daddy:
"I don't need a hat, just hair."

If we're on the computer or reading (also known as not paying attention to your toddler):
"Look at me!" while grabbing our chin to look her in the eyes.

Sammy is a bad eater. She doesn't eat most vegetables or any meat. This happened while I was chopping red peppers for spaghetti sauce:
"Try it?"
Nibbles on a red pepper.
"Mmmm....delicious!!! I love peppers!"
Sadly she still wouldn't eat a bite of supper.

Building blocks with the girls one afternoon. Sammy builds a little tower, pretends to take a bite and then has me try some.
Me: "Mmmm...yummy. What is it?"
Sammy, staring blankly at me: "Blocks".

Going upstairs to get Presley from a nap.
"My Presey, makes me so happy!"

What funny things are your kids saying these days?

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-10-14T13:10:00.002-06:00

Apparently being a nursing mother is a good enough excuse to be excused from jury duty. I'm no longer required to be there. To clarify, I think it would be a really cool experience. I wish it was at a different point in my life. Having 2 kids ages 2 and under, well, that's tough to accommodate. Especially when one is inconsistent with her bottle taking skills. Hopefully I get called again sometime!

I'm making these tomorrow. I have been craving cinnamon buns and am excited so eat them (please let them turn out!). I put on my FB status that I was looking for the best cinnamon bun recipe ever and so many people commented that this was it. I couldn't not try it after having that many people (that don't know each other) speak so highly of it!

Tomorrow we're off to the corn maze and pumpkin patch. I'm really excited. Besides apple picking, is there a better outdoor Fall activity?!

My Neat Nat Style monkeys are now in a store in the mall. Super exciting! I received confirmation today that they, along with my tutus, will be in a gift store in Lethbridge as well.

My good friend is being induced as we speak. I'm so excited for her but so sad about the many miles that separate us. Wish I could be there!!

I'm getting so excited for Halloween. Are you a Halloween lover?

I wonder how many times I used the word excited/exciting in this post??!! First person to comment wins a Halloween treat bag of their choice!

For more exciting leftovers, head here!

Thankful on Thursday

2011-10-13T08:31:00.000-06:00

The best gift I gave them was each other.

Wordless Wednesday (Picture Recap, August Edition)

2011-10-12T07:23:00.000-06:00

Weekend Highlights

2011-10-11T06:28:00.000-06:00

We had one of our best family drives ever getting to Calgary. No fussing or whining from anyone.

We went to one of the coolest weddings we've ever been to. It was held at this historic mansion, which was closed off to the public. My friend Sheena was a stunning bride and we were so happy to be able to be there.

The important question everyone wants to know...how did the girls do with Janice? Angels. In fact, it's possible they were better for her than they are for us. Presley took a bottle like she'd been bottle fed her whole life. The girls went to sleep with no fuss.

Unfortunately, this didn't continue. After we got back, Presley woke up and wouldn't settle so I ended up "sleeping" with her.

We had a fabulous day with the Grahams, including a delicious turkey dinner. SO good. The kids had such a blast playing together. We love visiting...if only the nights went better while we're there!

Night #2 is horrendous. It takes about 3 hours to get both girls sleeping...they wake each other up repeatedly with their crying. At around 130am, Samara climbs into bed with us very upset and proceeds to start throwing up. Repeat multiple times in different locations for an hour. After we clean everything up, Presley thinks it's morning and refuses to settle. I "sleep" with her on the couch the remainder of the night.

The drive back is bad. Whining, crying, irritability, etc. I think I may have asked to be dropped off on the side of the road at one point.

We get home and Shawn gets sick. Throwing up repeatedly.

I go to bed last night and start to get the spins as well and spend the rest of the night throwing up or trying not to.

Thanksgiving Day is spent trying not to throw up and trying to take care of the girls while we're super ill.

We all seem to be on the mend. It was rough though! It is so hard not to be able to take a sick day when you're feeling so rotten. But, we made it. I'm thankful it seems to have only been a 24 hour bug.

How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-10-07T07:53:00.000-06:00

Is there anything better than the Halloween candies that are in the orange wrappers? You know, the toffee-like ones? I think they're made from molasses. People either love them or hate them. Okay, most people hate them. I love, love, love them. Yes, they make your jaw hurt from chewing them. Yes, they stick to your teeth and you wonder if the candy will always be stuck. Yes, your husband thinks they're so gross that he can't stand your breath after you eat them. But they're so good that I forgive them for all that.

I joined Pinterest. I get the fuss, I'm addicted! I have found SO many good ideas for our Halloween party.

I got my notice in the mail...summoned for jury duty. Yes, I get that it's my responsibility as a member of society. But I reeeeally don't want to do it. What am I supposed to do with the girls in the meantime? One girl in particular doesn't "do" bottles. So, I responded that I'm a nursing mother and we'll see if that gets me exempt or not. We'll figure it out if not.

Speaking of not doing bottles, today we're off on a road trip to go to a wedding. A kid free wedding. So, my lovely friend Janice will be babysitting the girls. Another friend of mine asked if she was getting a babysitter for her boys while she took care of my girls! HA! I guess my stories about the girls as of late portray them to be quite the handful! Hoping it all goes well. You might remember that bedtimes away from home don't exactly go swimmingly. Wish Janice luck!

We're also celebrating Thanksgiving this year with Janice's family. Really looking forward to it!

Yay for long weekends!

For more leftovers, head here.

Writer's Block

2011-10-06T07:52:00.000-06:00

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm having a serious case of writer's block lately. Every night, I sit and stare at a blank "New Post" with the cursor flashing accusingly at me. Sometimes it's really easy to post 5 days a week. Other times, it's a struggle. I've contemplated taking time off from blogging but the whole point of doing it in the first place is to keep all our family and friends updated. So on I trudge...

Shawn's update:
-he needs a haircut

Tasha's update:
-she needs to rest sometimes

Sam's update:
-she needs to learn how to stay in her room when she should be sleeping.

Pres' update:
-she needs to take a bottle so that her mommy can leave her every so often and not worry the whole time she's gone.

What do you do when you get writer's block? What would you like me to write more (or less!) about? Do you have any brilliant topic ideas?

Wordless Wednesday (Watching Sharks Edition)

2011-10-05T07:58:00.000-06:00

September Books

2011-10-04T07:39:00.000-06:00

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
3 stars out of 5

On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother’s emotions in the slice. To her horror, she finds that her cheerful mother tastes of despair. Soon, she’s privy to the secret knowledge that most families keep hidden: her father’s detachment, her mother’s transgression, her brother’s increasing retreat from the world. But there are some family secrets that even her cursed taste buds can’t discern.

Definitely a "different" book. I enjoyed it even though it was a bit weird at times. I found the ending and how each family member doesn't change in the slightest to be sad.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
5 stars out of 5

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

I didn't want it to end.

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
4 stars out of 5

Is the perfect murder the one you can't forget or the one you can't remember? Dr. Jennifer White, a brilliant former surgeon in the early grips of Alzheimer's, is suspected of murdering her best friend, Amanda. Amanda's body was found brutally disfigured — with four of her fingers cut off in a precise, surgical manner. As the police pursue their investigation and Jennifer searches her own mind for fractured clues to Amanda's death, a portrait emerges of a complex relationship between two uncompromising, unsentimental women, lifelong friends who were at times each other's most formidable adversaries.

	A really fascinating read. It's written from someone with dementia's perspective (like Still Alice) but even more 'all over the place' for lack of a better phrase. It's a bit difficult to follow but an intriguing read.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5 stars out of 5

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Fantastic and mesmerizing account of circus life.

What are you reading?

Weekend Highlights

2011-10-03T08:35:00.000-06:00

The farmer's market was...well, my sales were disappointing. I didn't lose money (thank goodness) but it didn't take me long to count my money at the end.

But...the owner of a higher end toy store in the mall stopped by. She wants to carry my monkeys! I'll be dropping a dozen off later in the week to get her started.

We had friends over for dinner on Saturday night. Tropical pork tenderloin with mango salsa, brown rice and a garden salad with homemade maple dijon dressing. Incredible. And for dessert? Warm out of the oven mint chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream.

Shawn took the girls to a pet expo while I was working on Saturday. They stopped in to visit me since it was nearby. I always miss the girls when I'm not with them but I've come to realize that's not necessarily a bad thing. Time away is good for everyone. Sammy hugging me about a dozen times and exclaiming my name happily was worth the few hours away!

Shawn started building the girls a playcenter with a slide and swings yesterday. Our yard is shaping up!

How was your weekend? Highlights? Lowlights?

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-09-30T09:14:00.006-06:00

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

2011-09-29T08:36:00.000-06:00

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)

2011-09-28T06:30:00.000-06:00