So in true Alberta weather patterns we went from snow earlier this month to +27 cel weather. Thankfully not until the high point of the day which left Karyn, Trinity, Emanuel and I the perfect weather for a walk to the nearest gas station (while Ken and the twins were at the year end Sunday School party – no pictures as the parents were kicked out).

Heading out

Emanuel got his very own slurpee – pink – his choice! Which meant that Trinity wanted MY slurpee… ok so I KNOW I shouldn’t have let her but it was our special day too! So we shared, which meant she carried and I snuck sips.

Treats in hand

MY slurpee the little thief!

On the way back we stopped at one of the parks to play for a bit. So much sand and so deep! But Emanuel and Trinity gave it their all.

Bouncing together

That got us home around noon with a happy Emanuel and a worn out Trinity who cried her eyes out the moment Karyn snuck away the slurpee so off to bed she went. Which left Emanuel to watch cartoons until the twins and Ken got back.

After the kids were settled with their lunch Karyn and I headed out to do some shopping and as ALWAYS happens when I shop with Karyn I found a great deal on my diaper bag! Graco brand, relatively simple but suede feel to it… 10.00! It was the last one and tag-less so the store managed said 10.00. I am rather sure it was worth more than that but DEAL!

THE bag!

I tried on some tops at Old Navy and checked H&M for deals but did not come up with anything I fell in love with or that had the right price. Karyn had fun at Sephora though and we did have yummy lunch of Chinese food in the larger food court. Of course a quick stop at Michaels where they had paper on for 3 for a dollar (well the regular 99 cents a page paper). The twins came home with bubble wands which I was able to find one LIKE it for Emanuel there as well.

Paper

We saw Karyn off early in the evening and then waited for the sun to go down a bit before sending all the kids out to enjoy the new bubble wands. This is going to be our spring and summer to truly enjoy the weather and our backyard. Picnics, playing in the pool, sitting under the umbrella… even school work outside, hopefully we can enjoy it all.

Bubble wands (Gavin front)

Trinity and her little container though she did not really catch on how to work it

Ken and I are making the conscious effort to spend more quality together time this month. Sometimes I miss just sitting together and chatting. As soon as the weather turns pleasant life gets so busy and people drop by all the more. Sometimes it is nice to be the couple we were before the kids and the rush rush rush. With only a few more months until we become a family of 7 I am glad to place some importance on being a couple again.

Trinity and her God-Mommy Karyn

What always amazes me about this house (besides the lack of upstairs closets and the colour scheme which is not to my personal tastes) is its ability to seemingly swallow up items… but only when you NEED them, otherwise you trip over them everywhere you look, find that particular thing instead of the one you are currently on the hunts for… today’s missing item – actually ITEMS – the automatic air pump for the air mattress and so in turn for the new pool! We actually have TWO of the battery operated items SOMEWHERE in the magical house of missing stuff. So Ken in turn had to head off to Home Depot – after an extensive search of the bowels of the house (aka the basement spare bedroom)… this time to throw off the shackles of battery operated to purchase a PLUG IN version.

..air compressor

In the wake of a totally FLAT and unfillable pool the kids resorted to eating their light lunch of sandwiches, apples and pretzels outside at the picnic table (have I mentioned how badly I want ADULT patio furniture!! Desperately!!). In fact, I think this is our first relatively quiet and relaxed Saturday in over a month! No craft sessions, parties, travelling… just our backyard toys, sunshine and fun.

Lunch at the picnic table (Zander left)

We also did some follow up on our zoo trip using the trays we bought for our extended drives down to Minnesota.

Gavin and Emanuel

And then… at last… THE POOL!

POOL!

I can finally post my newest completed stitch – a piece for Ada to give her mother. This is based on the Chinese characters for Fortune and Luck. It is to be hung upsides down (I think that has something to do with keeping the fortune and luck) on the door of their home. I did it up on 14 count ecru aida and REALLY hope her parents like it!

Completed

I also was able to send an picture of the completed “quick stitch” to my friend who requested a pattern she could do up in a shorter period of time. This one is of the Inukshuk. I am VERY happy with this one and have a stitched version done up (prototype) I am willing to part with for a price so if you are interested be sure to drop me a line!

Inukshuk

Now our stitching focus really HAS TO move back to that June wedding sampler… with a minor sidetrack on the design my Cousin David requested back at Christmas (sorry it is taking so long!). A friend of Ken’s off WoW just gave birth to her first child (a wee bit premature) and I am determined to find the time to do up something for her as well if possible… BUT there IS the matter of a wedding present from LAST August that will now (hopefully) be completed as a one year Anniversary gift instead to another cousin. When am I ever going to find the time to learn how to knit or crochet???

For some reason today I have been feeling a little bit of disconnect from my extended family. Not my mom but the other side. I guess there are moments where it feels like consistent contact is a lifetime away and so much added pressure on my plate. I actually do not hear from people as often as I would like and thought that they were keeping up by checking in occasionally here on my blog, only to be alerted to the fact that they were not reading it at all. Of course this is all accentuated by the pregnancy hormones for which I take full responsibility for. Well to that effect I am working on getting the envelope of way belated events out in the post this upcoming week. I finished the grad card this afternoon, and hope to have each of the kids finish up a piece of their art work to include. I think it mainly comes down to an increased wish of having some sort of semi consistent reaction or check in with this particular pregnancy. It does feel like, to some extent, because this is Baby #5 or pregnancy #4 people are looking at it as same old same old and just not so excited. I mean I know *I* am excited and KEN is excited (and many of our friends and family) but the bulk of those people in our lives seem… less so. (again pregnancy hormones)

Grad card

Profile

On the topic of this pregnancy… we are starting our more minor purchases for the baby… though I have my wish list at Babies R Us (see the link at the right with the registry number if you are curious). Though we are not getting OFFICIAL photos done until July Ken and I are racking our brains for ideas to play around with with our own camera.

I did try a new recipe for pancakes this evening using the applesauce we made with our Braeburn apples. A huge success with the whole family! I switched out the regular sugar for brown sugar of course!

Cinnamon Applesauce Pancakes

12 pancakes

Ingredients

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tblsp sugar

2 cups water

1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce

1/4 tsp  vanilla extract

Directions

Combine dry ingredients, then add remaining ingredients and beat together.

Pour the batter onto a hot, lightly oiled griddle or skillet. Cook until pancakes have a bubbly surface and slightly dry edges. Turn pancakes and cook for additional time

NOTE: for waffles add 3 tblsp oil to the batter.

Got a picture of the last two

Not a single pancake left, and definitely one I need to make as a triple batch at the least!

Here I am, the end of the day and my train of thought… derailed… so I think I will end it here! Fun in the sun has been had though!

Apple Blossoms already!

And so our first true spring weather Friday was a massive success… Though we were unable to get overly close to the ring-tailed lemurs –  they had a little baby and were put back further in the monkey house for some odd reason… and there was only ONE example of a ring-tailed lemur toy (a stuffed animal – adorable but almost 32.00!! OUCH) everyone got their fill of the zoo and its variety of animals.

You can JUST see the baby back on the ledge

Zoo crew! (Zander left)

We lucked out and got to be present while the elephant was out on her walk (she is very elderly now and a slow walker but you could tell the handlers adored her!). It was amazing to see how sensitive her feet are – even a little pebble had her stop and use her trunk to remove it.

Getting the stone off her foot

We managed to get some wonderful pictures of the Siberian Tigers. They were actually rather active, walking around their enclosure.

tigers!

My favourite was actually another breed or lemur – the black and white ruffled lemur. Quite the energetic creatures!

Black and white ruffled lemur

After enjoying some cotton candy we headed back to the van to go to our favourite picnic location – the park in the valley. Our first real picnic of the year, we enjoyed the sunshine, green grass and of course the birds. (ok seagulls) I love going on the weekdays – it is so much quieter and safer allowing us to let the kids wander around more.

Yum!

Playing soccer (Gavin left)

Emanuel and Trinity spent some time trying to catch up to some seagulls while the rest of us continued our meals. I almost wonder if they enjoyed that MORE than the zoo!

Chasing the seagull

As the grand finale of our apple lapbook we attempted our very first apple pie entirely from scratch! Crust and all… with our pro Chris to lead the way. Crisco crust recipe and a very basic filling of apples, cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Pretty fail safe according to Chris.

Total delish!

As an extra ADDED bonus (and since Chris didn’t want to have to pack the food stuffs) we made rice krispie squares!!! One of my favourites!

Mmm Rice Krispies!

So baking, zoo, picnic… a day in the sun and yummy snacks in the belly. Perfect! And it looks like our Saturday will actually be a leisurely one… though the kids are clamouring to get the pool out and ready for action.

Enjoying sun and pregnancy at the same time! (Zander)