Tag Archive | nephew

Lions and Tigers and Bears… Nope Just Life in a Busy Home!

Today was officially a baking day for me. 2 dozen apple muffins, a batch of oatmeal applesauce cookies, a loaf of bread or two (in the breadmaker) and a double batch of sugar cookies. Thank goodness the weather was A LOT more baking friendly! Oh, and don’t forget the pie!

I tried a new recipe today – Jell-o Fruity Strawberry Pie off the kraftcanada.com site.

1 1/4 cups graham crumbs

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup boiling water

1 pkg (85 g) strawberry jell-o powder

ice cubes

1 1/2 cups thawed cool whip whipped topping

1 cup chopped strawberries

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries (I ended up using more than that on top)

Mix crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom and up the side of a 9-inch pie plate

Stir bowling water into dry jelly powder in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to jelly; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice.

Add whipped topping; stir with a whisk until well blended. Stir in chopped strawberries. Refrigerate 20-30 min. or until mixture is very thick and will mound. Spoon into crust.

Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight until firm. Top with sliced strawberries. Store in refrigerator.

PIE

PIE

Our morning of schooling consisted of the letter T and colouring rainbows for our lapbooks. We have a rainbow up on the wall from when we did weather last year so the boys were quick to draw the connection and work out the colour order. (Though I did have to do Emanuel’s for him) Now that we managed to get some larger brads today I am hoping to start the putting together of the lapbooks early next week. Though we do need a few more activities to put in first!

Letter T

Letter T

For a baby who slept in until 9:30 this morning Trinity was a VERY angry baby… I think she is mad that we don’t have any 50% whole wheat bread made (we are out of honey). She would go over to where we have the bread on the board and make gestures for some and then throw it on the floor when she saw what it was!!! Well that got her sent to naptime and QUICK! She has made my spot in the livingroom hers now – crumbs and all… we are in a bit of a tug of war over my seat and my sewing things. She takes great joy in tugging down all my patterns onto the floor and examining my floss.

Into EVERYTHING... But With a Smile!

Into EVERYTHING... But With a Smile!

Ken had a banner day today – haircut (talk about yummy!)… and believe me it was BEYOND time for that, and then meeting his very first GP in Canada. The only times he has needed a doctor since moving here from Minnesota was in Emergency (there was the time he broke his toe on the twins’ cribs!) but the specialists he sees now wanted him to have a GP here in case of need. He had a very long wait in the waiting room but found that his experience with the doctor was a positive thing. Even though the doctor was super behind he took the time to talk to Ken and read through the faxes they sent with his information. He goes back in 4 weeks for another appointment.

Looking More and More Like MY Kenny Every Day!

Looking More and More Like MY Kenny Every Day!

Today was another stocking stitching day (when Trinity wasn’t grabbing things and running off), but Ken is well on his way to getting another pattern up for me to work on. I think it will be Tux (Linux) BEFORE the art by our boys, but I am excited. I am finding I have more and more ideas as to things I would like to do! I have this idea about a hangman piece (like the game)… hopefully eventually I will see other people’s work on my patterns!!

Our plans have been… altered for tomorrow… we are staying home. The meetings Ken was supposed to go to are… cancelled. I am a bit sad about this as we were supposed to head over to my brother’s and see our nephew… I know that he was excited about this, but no meetings = no gas money and it is a 3 1/2 hour drive. I am hoping to talk to my mom and see if we can get a day when she can go with us and share the cost of gas. So quite the downer – especially when you add all the baking I did today FOR tomorrow on top of it. Told my mom on Saturday she and Mike will take home baking.

I had a very special evening tonight. I had been saving 20.00 with my surveys and the like and today decided to spend it. So the whole family packed up in the van and headed over the THE Mall. I actually went into Sephora with the intent to buy! For 20.00 I got a nice little sampling of eyeshadow (and joined the free point club – spend 100.00 and get a free gift – going to take a while!).

I Love Fancy Bags Too!

I Love Fancy Bags Too!

I turned it over and SURPRISE there was also a little bit of blush and lip gloss! Bonus! So now I can play around with it and the next time I have some cash to spend on myself maybe get something more adventurous! (Karyn is rubbing off one me!)

Surprise!

Surprise!

Ken also surprised me with another of my favourites – the newest Gintama manga! I do so love this series… it is the only one out of the 3 or 4 I like to collect that I am actually still attempting to stay current with. So tomorrow morning I am going to take a little time and do a little reading in the tub!

WOOT

WOOT

So with our changed plans I am going to take tomorrow to get caught up… Ken is going to focus on doing some of the schooling with the boys on his own and I am going to attempt to sort out the weekend and house. I may have sold my two Kijiji adds to a lady as well! Not bad and definitely an incentive to post more! Just have to sort through our stuff and look for more hidden gems. Wish me luck!!!




Pool Fun in the Hot Sun and Other Natterings

I seriously feel like I could melt into a puddle of Lisa coloured goo. It is just TOO HOT for the end of September! I think we hit around 34 cel today and the house still feels hot tonight. Which means all 3 boys are camped in the basement… Emanuel’s potty seat and a stool in the bathroom down there – fingers crossed he remembers, though he IS wearing a pull up.

Our morning was a little same old same old… letter S today… snake, skateboard, snow.

Zander's Puzzle Was Upside Down "but it is ok Mommy"

Zander's Puzzle Was Upside Down "but it is ok Mommy"

This led to the boys bringing out the 2 skateboards my mom got them (which eventually meant Gavin banged his mouth making it bleed a little – I swear he is going to knock out a tooth eventually!). The twins share the large one and Emanuel gets the little one. The backyard wasn’t too bad this morning really.

S is for Skateboards! (Gavin middle)

S is for Skateboards! (Gavin middle)

I had a nice start to our next lapbook (still no cover on numbers but I am hoping really soon). 3 different projects this time. The boys each coloured a sheet of shapes which were then turned into a train and a stop sign (I wrote the letters and they told me what they were). I printed out a mini book of colour combinations that has most of the colours (no black and white) and with extra sheets had the boys tell me their favourite colour and we cut out the corresponding crayons and pasted them on a page that said “Emanuel’s Favourite Crayons”… copying the idea of one of the pages printed that had someone else’s name. Then we made a cover as well with the twins printing out their names. The third project was another print out… this one of pockets and fruit and veggies where you sort to colour. I will try and link everything when we are done.

Colour and Shape Projects

Colour and Shape Projects

I am hoping to add in a rainbow tomorrow as well as print out images from today’s science experiment. Another one I found online… you take 1 cup of milk, and red, blue and yellow food colouring and some dish detergent.

Supplies Gathered

Supplies Gathered

Put the milk in a shallow bowl.

Milk Ready (Note Emanuel in the chair and Gavin to right)

Milk Ready (Note Emanuel in the chair and Gavin to right)

Add a couple of drops of each colour to form the 3 points of a triangle.

Dyes Added

Dyes Added

Add in some dish detergent and watch the results.

With Dishsoap

With Dishsoap

Mixing

Mixing

Mixed

Mixed

The boys had a blast watching the colours though we had to have a redo right off the bat when as soon as Ken added the detergent Emanuel bumped the table (thus the reason why he is in the seat – be sure he is still). I plan on having Ken edit them into the same size circles which we will then print out and put together with a brad and put in the lapbook with a list of the colours they told me they saw. Simple but brings home the idea of what colours combine as. Another project we plan on doing is paint mixing but with us being gone Friday it may be pushed to Monday.

Playing a Bit (Gavin in red)

Playing a Bit (Gavin in red)

This afternoon was a special one for the kids and Ken… they had a 4 pm playdate in the backyard. Daddy refilled the pool with fresh water (too cold for Trinity’s tastes but she was willing to be on the slide instead). They played in the pool and laughed and splashed while she practised climbing up the slide… the wrong way round!

Putting Air in the Pool

Putting Air in the Pool

Just a Little Too Cold!

Just a Little Too Cold!

Slide Fun Instead!

Slide Fun Instead!

Pool Fun in the Hot Sun! (Zander in blue)

Pool Fun in the Hot Sun! (Zander in blue)

And what was I doing during this  time? Completely going through Trinity’s ENTIRE wardrobe including the one small bucket of stuff for her to grow into! Another grow spurt has me filling my bucket in the livingroom that is going to have to be temporarily put into a garbage bag until I can budget in more rubbermaid tubs. Tomorrow I sort through my own clothes a little and then next week Emanuel’s (I give some of his out grows to our friends Alan and Xinny for their son). I also managed to catch Xinny online (she is in China ) to amend my list for the stuff I need her to buy with the money I sent. Thank goodness China has not outlawed MSN like they have Facebook! I really feel like I got something done. I also grabbed out the clothes we will take for Trinity on Friday, so at least in part she is ready to go.

Cooking today has been limited in the heat… of course I did some applesauce – this time entirely from store bought – we got two bags of Granny Smith at 1.50 for a 3lb. bag. I also made up 3 small trays of apple leather since my brother wants some and I plan on taking some for snacking at the zoo on Sunday (man I hope Ada and Nathan are feeling better – Nathan came home today after a half day at work sick). The plan is to do the sugar cookies later tonight when it cools down and then muffins in the morning. Ken picked up everything I need for my strawberry pie too… so I will hopefully post the recipe tomorrow!

Sewing wise I finished late last night, the cross stitch I am now thinking of giving as her birthday present! Can you tell her profession? I am very happy with this one – not a single alteration from Ken’s original pattern!

Nice and Quick!

Nice and Quick!

So tomorrow will be a bit of a crunch just with the heat holding me back in the cooking. I am not sure what Ken wants to take to the company picnic yet, though we have basically decided the kids and I won’t go… they are still too boogie nosed and whiny. BUT we will have a good visit with my brother’s family, and my mom and Mike are talking about coming with us to pick potatoes. Thank goodness – then my mom can watch Trinity while the rest of us dig potatoes.

Just Keep an Eye Peeled for US!

Just Keep an Eye Peeled for US!





Banana Bread, Dragonfly and Other Points of Interest

This weekend has been full of both high points and low points. Thankfully the low points were nothing we were incapable of handling and the high points were actually shared with terrific friends.

I will start with the sad stuff – yesterday morning Ken was alerted to the fact that our friend Xinny’s grandfather had finally passed on. He had been sick for a while and hospitalized so it was no a shock (they were actually surprised he had hung on as long as he had) but still certainly a difficult thing to deal with. This has cancelled our Sunday plans with the family for a playdate for our kids. I am unsure right now what this means for Xinny and Alan’s trip to China. I know she has been looking forward to heading back there for years now.

Later in the same day my sister in law twittered that her grandmother back in Texas had also passed on. She too had been sick for quite some time. Circumstances are such that I am doubting she and our nephew will be able to head back south for the funeral. This is one of those moments where I wish we lived closer so  I could DO something, send some food over… watch the kiddo…

The loss of a beloved family member is never easy, no matter how sick they have been. I remember when my Grandma MacLean passed, we had known she was not in the best of health but still it was hard, I still miss my Grandpa Reinsch now gone 9 yrs. My Grandpa MacLean also passed that same year. In fact, both Ken and myself each have one surviving Grandmother. There are so many things one could say or not say for that matter but I guess it is all the personal journey now. You really can’t fix the loss of a loved one, just live through it. But I am sending my love and prayers to both sets of families.

The rest of my Saturday was MUCH more positive. We made our foray into Value Village on the hunt for pillowcases (and peripherally a snowsuit for Trinity – though the price was just not right for what little they had there). I managed to find two suitable pillowcases – one in pink gingham and the other a more fleece type material. 99 cents a piece.

Pillowcases

Pillowcases

There was one pair of jeans in Emanuel’s size for 1.99 and two little books for 99 cents that I also picked up. Otherwise the children’s clothes was really not that much of a deal. At Superstore I can get pieces for Trinity for around 12.00. So I figure I will check their prices when we head to mom’s next weekend as well as going to the nearest GoodWill. I am hoping to find a snowsuit for Trinity for under 20.00 which may have me hunting on eBay… of course with her being 18 months in the winter I may find something elsewhere for cheap but I am not going to be too too optimistic.

Last night was the ultimate pick me up! For Ken who has been working so hard to feel and BE better I made up a loaf of banana bread from the last of my bananas and then we had Chris, Chris, Nathan and Ada over for gaming!

Nathan and Ada With Slurpee (We all had our large cups!)

Nathan and Ada With Slurpee (We all had our large cups!)

So no D&D but we did play Chez Geek! So much fun! Ken is now hooked and has read through all the instructions (Chris and Chris have expansions). It looks like we will be pricing out buying either Chez Dork or Chez Goth. Definitely a game we enjoy and could probably hook MORE of our friends on! We are always on the look out for more games.

Chez Geek

Chez Geek

So for our evening I baked a dozen of my applesauce muffins (Nathan alone ate 6 muffins! ), brought out the last of my oatmeal applesauce cookies (I really have to make another batch of those today or tomorrow as the kids and I love them for breakfast! They really are not too high in sugar), some sugar cookies (sent a dozen home with Nathan and Ada) and of course the fresh from the oven banana bread! This is one of the recipes my mom gave me. The kids LOVE it with chocolate chips added in (of course we do not have those in the house) and Ken just loves it without. The loaf was gone by the end of the night except for the two pieces I saved for the kids in the morning. YUM!

Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup bananas mashed

1 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (we left these out)

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating until smoother. Add mashed bananas and blend.

In a second bowl, stir flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt (and nuts if you like). Add to banana mixture stirring only to moisten. Transfer to a greased 9x5x3 (23x12x7 cm) inch loaf pan.

Bake in 350 F (180 C) oven for about 1 hr. until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let stand 10 min. Remove from pan and place on cake rack to cool. Wrap to store.

Gone Before I Could Even Get a Picture!

Gone Before I Could Even Get a Picture!

I have started participating in something new on BigFish games. With having my own little subpage of reviews and such and listing my favourite games if someone else does any shopping off of my site then I get a reward! I figure I love their games anyway and I don’t mind writing up a quick blurb for the ones I play why not! So feel free to click on my page link and see if you like any of them too! I have been a part of the club for a year (as I mentioned previously) and have found they have GREAT variety! Who knows maybe I can reward myself up a few extra games to give away or something?

http://www.mygamespace.com/Ayjah

This morning had us off to H&W on our weekly produce adventure. Taber corn this time, as well as Granny Smith apples at 1.50 for a 3lb bag (I got two bags – one to eat and one to see how much sauce 3lbs of apples will make!). Bought a cantaloupe and am debating freezing half of it for winter smoothies. We decided not to go to church this week – Ken has work to do to catch up on his last week’s appointments and next weekend is Sunday School registration. The boys HATE going to church and then NOT going to Sunday School – you would think we lied to them or something! So I am taking advantage of this time to get stuff sorted for next week for school – more printing out of letters for the lapbooks and hunting for crafts through the library books. As well Ken has gotten me my newest cross stitch pattern – Dr. Who themed! A bit more complicated than the previous ones we are definitely going to have to tweak the pattern before I can consider posting it here. I have decided to stitch it on a yellow beige aida instead of my usual white – give it a more parchment look. Hopefully it will suit the stitch in the end!

Beginnings of Dr. Who!

Beginnings of Dr. Who!

The stocking is also coming along nicely! I am hoping to get started on the lettering this week as I have finally done stitching all the way to the top of the image. I figure if I can get the lettering done I will get a new burst of interest and just bang it out. I have to start on Trinity’s Halloween costume this week as well (still need to find some sort of green top or sleeper…) so my time is REALLY going to be divided!

Stocking Progress!

Stocking Progress!

I finished the stitch for my nephew in all its shiny Star Trek glory! This will be the first pattern we post on site too hopefully as I know of at least one other stitcher who wants to give it a go! I need to figure out how I can finish it off in a relatively affordable way but I am VERY happy with how it turned out. Definitely one of my more costly projects materials wise! But the actual project looks so nice and shiny!!! (I will post a picture when I post the pattern!)

When we got home from the store there was a dragonfly in the middle of our sidewalk – a BIG one… it sat there forever, Ken even pushed it slightly and it didn’t move though when I looked back later it was gone! What a neat thing for the boys to see and we managed to get some terrific pictures of it!

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

We tried a new recipe for dinner tonight – one my sister in law had twittered she was making! I took this recipe and altered it to not use frozen meatballs as we find it cheaper to make our own. I am going to try and make extra meatballs the next time we do up a nice large batch and freeze them and then try the recipe that way as well! So I will include both recipes – the one for the cheesy meatball subs with my changes as well as the meatball recipe we like to use.

Meatballs

4 lb lean ground beef, 2 cup crushed crackers, 1 large onion (diced small), 2 eggs, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder. Mix together all ingredients. Mixture should be able to be formed easily into balls about 2 inches wide with hands. Preheat oven to 400 degree and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Meatballs

Meatballs

Cheesy Meatball Subs

1 cup spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup  water (left the water out)
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese (we left this out as we didn’t have any on hand)
3/4 lb.  (3/4 of 1-lb. pkg.) frozen cooked meatballs (1-1/2 inch) (we made our own see above recipe)
4 crusty sandwich rolls, split
3/4 cup  KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (we used a marble cheddar we already had at home)

COMBINE first 4 ingredients in large skillet. Bring to boil on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. (we combined everything but the meatballs and brought them up to a nice simmer and then added in our already warm fresh meatballs and cooked for a bit to get the flavour)

SIMMER on medium heat 8 min. or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

SPOON into rolls; top with mozzarella.

We also put our buns in the oven for a few minutes first – cut open to brown. This recipe makes 4 we of course made more than that.

Cheesy Meatball Sub

Cheesy Meatball Sub

Next time we will season our spaghetti sauce more but mmm so good! I think the parmesan Ragu would be better than the original but all 4 boys gobbled theirs down. Trinity had a lovely finger food meal with her very own meatball!

Trinity's Dinner

Trinity's Dinner

So it was not an overly exciting weekend but I would say a good one and we still have one more day! Thank goodness for long weekends, though Ken IS going to have to do some work downstairs. I figure we will take advantage of his doctor’s advice and get started on an evening walk for the whole family, I figure nightly is a bit too much but maybe twice a week or more? Here’s hoping tonight’s windstorm blows past us by morning!

Me and My Baby

Me and My Baby


This entry was posted on 06/09/2009, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment