Baptism

This past Sunday we attended my niece's baptism.

 

 

She looked absolutely beautiful on her special day and didn't make a squeak throughout the ceremony.  I wish I could say the same for my children, but alas no.  Caelan talked the entire time and the girls weren't without their own questions.  Thankfully, (for me anyway) there were other children there that made more noise than mine!  What can I say, it's obvious that we don't take our children to church.

Bedtime stories

 

If it were up to me, we'd be moving Caelan into an even bigger bed!!

 

New guy?

A couple weeks ago our Nurse that usually spends the day with Caelan at school had an appointment.  Unfortunately, for reasons beyond her control that appointment ran late and she was unable to make it to school.  For that reason Damian stepped in as Nurse for the majority of the day so Caelan could stay at school with his friends.

Some of these children remember Damian from days spent in or around the kindercare preschool that Caelan attended last year.  Being a big kid himself, he's always been a big hit.  And let's face it, young children are curious and if there's this guy sitting in the back of the classroom all day he's going to get noticed and questioned.

However, I'm not sure the teachers knew what to expect...

"Hey, you've got a booger nose! You go fix that!!" Of course the child in question used the swipe of the arm across his face method, which only made matters worse.  "No, no not like that! Now it's all over your face! You have to get a tissue!"

When one of the children introduced him to her boyfriend, remember these are kindergarten kids, he exclaimed "Don't you know that boys have cooties?!"

Those were only a couple of the interactions that the teachers overheard and promptly burst out laughing...

At the time I wasn't sure when he'd be allowed back in school, but they welcomed him back with open arms today.  Our Nurse's hubby had minor surgery today and unfortunately there were no replacements in sight, so Damian stepped in again.  He tried really hard to stay in the background during class.  Although, he apparently caused quite a stir in the teacher's lounge during recess as some tried to figure out who that new guy was outside!  It didn't last long though, there are enough of the staff who know him already!

Parade of Lights

This past weekend we went to the Santa Clause Parade of Lights in Orleans with Damian's parents and sister.  I'd like to say that it's a tradition and we go every year, but I know we've missed a few!

If you've never been to a night time parade it really is an experience you shouldn't miss.  It's similar in all aspects to your typical parade except that all the floats are decorated with Christmas lights.  It's absolutely beautiful!

This year, it was a particularly cold night, which made our hot chocolate when we got back to Gramma and Grampa's that much better!!

It was a fun night with family and the first thing I get to check off our Winter Bucket List

Good morning!

 

When I got up about an hour ago this was the view from our back door!

I've since heard that dreaded sound of the season... the snow plow went by!!

 

I'm about to go wake up the girls.  I'm going to have one who won't be able to contain her excitement and one who's going to turn into a major grump at this sight!

I'm hoping Caelan will fall into the first category... Those two seem to be made from the same mold personality wise so I might just luck in there!

 

Now the big question...

Is it here to stay?

What do you think?

 

Foto Friday: So embarrassed!

Crazy hair day Nov. 21, 2012

Advent Calendars

I grew up with an advent calendar. Hubby grew up with an advent calendar.  The girls have always enjoyed an advent calendar.

For the most part, it was a tiny little piece of chocolate every day counting down to Christmas. 

One year my awesome sister in law found Caelan a playdoh advent calendar. This year I've looked for advent calendars that are not food related for Caelan and although there is a LEGO one (at $40-$50 ahem!) it's just not going to happen.

I turned to the world wide web and all thing on Pinterest to inspire me to make one.

I've come up with 24 different family activities for every night leading up to Christmas.  My problem now lies in how to actually make the calendar.  There are lovely ideas out there, I'm just having trouble with executing one of them!



Source

I really liked this one and I think it was my first choice.  It wouldn't take up any extra space because the tins are magnetic and could go on the fridge.  I already have everything I'd need to decorate them and the only thing I'm missing are the actual tins.  Well... similar tins at IKEA would cost me $80... A little steep for an advent calendar don't you think??

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This one is a very similar idea and I think I could probably find little boxes like those at the dollar store making it more affordable than my first pick.  I believe I even have some magnetic tape I could adhere to the back of the boxes so I could still keep them on the fridge... Although the framed look of this one also appeals...

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This one is courtesy of Martha Stewart and I really like it.  It wouldn't be too costly as I'd like to think I could find Christmas coloured/themed socks at the dollar store, the ribbon I have and then the mini clothes pins.  The only problem is that we don't have a mantle or a stair railing where we could hang it.  I've been trying to think of different places and I just haven't come up with one that would work in this house

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This one I LOVE... but oh the time it would take to be that creative and crafty is just not in me this year!!

Happy Birthday to the man I love

Thank you for still loving me as much as I love you.

I want you to know that I appreciate how hard you work for your family.

I'm proud that you're an involved and loving Dad who's passionate about his family.

I delight in watching you act as a human jungle gym for our kids.

I'm grateful that you make dinner even though it's not your favourite thing to do.

I'm thankful that you still flirt with me and always try to make me smile and laugh.

You are an all around good guy and my best friend.

I hope that you had a fabulous birthday, despite having your eleven year old's eyes bug out when she guessed how old you were...

xoxo

boing boing!

We spent a beautiful day out at my friend's house this past Saturday.

 

The kids had a fabulous time in their new club house and on their trampoline.

 

 

There was so much action it was difficult to get a picture.

 

Until this awesome cuddle shot...

Ella, Ry, Darcy and Caelan

 

Well, awesome except that Caelan is trying to get away for more bouncing!

 

Makes me regret not getting a trampoline 3 years ago when I first wanted too!

Oh well, just another reason to visit more often!!

Who knew?

An impromptu night out for dinner with family would end up with balloon dinosaurs and face painting?!!?  What a great night! xo

Sleep in

All my children just woke up...

Unfortunately, I was up much earlier to say goodbye to our night nurse and watch Caelan.  Guess I'm actually grateful that I had to get up... Certainly beats staying up all night!

Anyway, have I mentioned my son's previous obsession with kitchens?

He came across a picture of a play kitchen in a magazine over a month ago, maybe even two, and yet last night he was all over it again.  The magazine is long gone, but memories of that kitchen seem to be here to stay!  It's been brought up several times since then.

He basically cried or whined himself to sleep last night over this kitchen that he wants and guess what??  First thing out of his mouth this morning??  KITCHEN!!

Darcy helped him write a Christmas list and it's on there.  Top of the list.  We've talked about asking Santa for his kitchen.  We've talked about Santa and the elves making the kitchen.

kitchen  kitchen  kitchen

Oh my gosh!!! Santa can't get here fast enough!!

No ME!!!

Take a picture of ME!!!

Entertainment

Every night after dinner this week we've been priviledged to experience a little something special.

 

At first I thought it was just ants in her pants and a little extra energy

 

I soon realized though that it had a lot more to do with being able to see herself in the patio window.

 

What a performer... 

 

 

 

 

Another night there was a different original song, sung to a similar tune.

The lyrics went like this:

 

I wonder how far I can drop kick you now,

drop kick you now,

drop kick you now.

I wonder how far I can drop kick you now,

oh yes you'll go far,

oh yes you'll go far.

 

I don't know where she gets this stuff!?!?

 

No matter how bad my day has been or how tired I am,

I can't help but smile

and sometimes laugh.

 

 

 Linking up a little late with Mama Kat

Writing Prompt #5Tell us and/or show us something that made you smile this week.

 

 

Marshmallow

Open up Dad!

 

 

Hey, that's my trick!

 

 

I'll help

 

 

Oh Dad!

 

 

ta da!

 

 

Silly boys!

 

 

leftovers

I've known people that are completely against leftovers...  They just throw them out.

I don't understand it.  Maybe I'm just too cheap.

I love leftovers... and honestly, some things just taste better the next day, or the day after that!

Some of the best leftovers are after a great big turkey dinner.

Which, I just happened to have made this past weekend.  Complete with stuffing and gravy, roasted potatoes, sweet potato casserole, turnip puff, broccoli and cheese sauce, carrots and roasted beets.  Oh and pumpkin rolls and a double layer pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.  It was delish, if I do say so myself!

Anyway, we didn't eat it all and the fridge is full of leftovers.

That makes me happy.

For lunch the past couple days I've enjoyed my big turkey dinner all over again.  In the form of a sandwich... The most amazing turkey sandwich with mayo, cranberry sauce and stuffing.  That's right folks, I put bread in my sandwich - and it's soooo good!  I remember the first time my Mom suggested it to me and I thought she was a little crazy.  However, I was willing to try it because I do love stuffing and although it sounded weird I couldn't come up with an argument against it.

I've been having the sweet potato casserole for dessert because it's just about that sweet!

All this to ask... What do you do with your turkey leftovers?  Do you enjoy a nice turkey sandwich and if so what do you put on it?

oh my silly boy

Caelan makes me laugh every day!

Tonight was bath night. 

When Caelan got out of the bath we finished the routine by changing his trache ties and getting into pajamas.

Caelan was scratching his ear and he told me it was itchy.

I asked him if there was water in it.  He thought so.

I told him the trick I learned back when I was young to get water out of your ear.

I was told to tilt my head towards the water blocked ear and shake the opposite leg. 

I walked Caelan through these instructions. 

Making sure to help him keep his balance, I took hold of his leg and gave it a good shake.

He thought it was funny, probably wondered what on earth I thought I was doing.

I asked him if it was better, was the water out of his ear?

Nope.

So he bends down and grabs his leg with both hands and begins to shake it with his head tilted to the side!

Paranoid

I might have made a parenting mistake.

It went down like this...

It was Halloween night.

The kids were all back from trick or treating.

The treats were dumped all over the floor.

The sorting was complete.

It was time for a treat and they were told they could pick one.

Seconds later Darcy's already popping something in her mouth.

When I said, Hey  I didn't check that, sure hope you're not poisoned!

Every year we check their treats to make sure nothing is already open or tampered with.

How could she forget that?!?

It was a tiny box of Nerds candy and I watched her break it open.

Well the look on her face - she looked like she'd swallowed a goldfish.

She tried to shrug it off.

But next thing you know she's telling me that she doesn't like the taste of this particular treat.

At first I didn't clue in.

I told her she could throw them out and pick something else but to make sure it was something she liked.

She did.

But she brought it to me first to make sure it was safe.


Fast forward a while...

Darcy is in tears and hysterical thinking that she's been poisoned.

Not because of the candy she ate at home

But because of the treats she had while trick or treating.

She complained of a belly ache.

It was a long night of reassurances and snuggles.

I might have told her (hours later) that if she had been poisoned she'd be dead and the fact she was still moaning about it all was a sign that she was in fact fine and could go to sleep.


It's been over a week now since Halloween...

Darcy is like the treat police around here.

To the extreme.

If you open a treat she wants to make sure that you've checked it.

If she catches you already eating one she's asking to make sure you checked it.

If she forgets to check one, it's trash.

She seems to forget that we checked them all as we put them away that night.


The other night, after finding out that Daddy ate a treat without checking it, she told him:

Well, if you die, I'm gonna tell you I told you so!

Daddy almost choked on that treat.

Winter Bucket List

Well it's not that our Summer Bucket List was a grand success or anything, but it was nice to have something to refer to when we were looking for something to do.

We aren't good winter people.  We tend to hibernate.  I'm told that it's better to get out and find things you enjoy doing in the winter or you'll spend you winter wishing away the days and being miserable. Unfortunately, I like with a couple of winter haters.  I'm not sure this is the year that I'll be able to change their minds either.

I had hoped to get the girls into cross country skiing, but being pregnant this winter I'm not sure it's something I want to try and pick back up myself! 

Nor will I be brave enough to be skating on the canal this winter since I'm not that confident in my skating abilities when my center of gravity is normal to me let alone when I'm all off kilter!

I just hope that we can get to some of these winter activities listed below and as usual I will keep you posted on our adventures.

1. Go ice fishing.  Fishing in a boat with Caelan and his trache is just a bit too scary for me, in fact it's pretty much out of the question.  A good friend keeps reminding me of this alternative so hopefully this winter we'll make it out to their hut. 
2. Enjoy a beavertail and hot chocolate in the outdoors.  If you live in or near Ottawa this is a must.  Usually, enjoyed on the canal or during Winterlude.
3. Winterlude - do something, anything!  It's a huge attraction for this area and we should participate
4. Encourage Damian and the girls to go toboganning on a real hill... Maybe even Caelan too if the weather cooperates.
5. Have fun with some Christmas baking and make sure the kids get involved.
6. Enjoy a spa treatment with my sisterfriends.  Our date is already tentatively booked!
7. Build a snowman
8. Make snowangels 
9. Take a walk while it's snowing
10. Curl up together as a family and watch The Grinch who Stole Christmas and Polar Express
11. Do ONE of the holiday things I've pinned on pinterest...
12. Watch a Santa Clause Parade.  In recent years we've always tried to get to the Orleans Parade of Lights.
13. See the Christmas lights on Taffy Lane or downtown Ottawa
14. Upper Canada Village's Alight at Night Every year I think this is something I'd like to do and we have yet to do it!
15. Roast marshmallows over a campfire in the snow
16. Go to the sugarbush and get some fresh maple syrup... although this might technically happen in the spring there is still snow on the ground so that makes it a winter activity!

Okay.  I think that's it.

Most importantly thought... I'd like to spend some good quality time with friends and family.


Inspired by Mama Kat's writer's workshop....

Wordless Wednesday: You write the caption...

My Little Chef

Caelan's been cooking up a storm in the kitchen/restaurant that Darcy put together for him.  They can play so well in there, but eventually play food ends up everywhere and it doesn't look much like any restaurant I'd want to visit!!

Caelan has also continued to help me bake cookies every Sunday morning while the girls are at curling.  It's kind of become our thing.  He continues to amaze me with his interest in all things food and kitchen related and yet it's still such a challenge to get him to put anything to his lips!  It's definitely a change to bake cookies with someone who isn't interested in taste testing the cookie dough all the way through and scamming extra chocolate chips!  Although, he must be listening to his sisters because he's always eager to add more of them!

On another cooking note, I've posted our November Meal Plan.  This month we're trying a few new recipes and using up some of those freezer meals that we prepared in October.  I had a couple cooking weekends and stocked the freezer to the point that it's almost too full!!  We had been talking of getting an order of beef but right now I'm not sure where it would go!  Oh well, the one thing I know for sure is that food disappears quickly.  It seems you're always in need of something. So, I'm sure that it won't take long before we have more than enough room once again.

Confessions of the chicken sort

Remember what happened to our chickens on Thanksgiving weekend?

Well... I might have stretched the truth a bit, keeping in mind that our girls sometimes read the blog.

You see, one of the original four chickens was still alive that night.  However, we weren't sure for how long.  There was a lot of blood and she was most distraught.  Completely understandable.  We were unable to determine the extent of injuries and Damian was able to relocate her into the safety of the garage.  She remained hidden in a corner there for an entire week before we thought that she was well enough that we could tell the girls she'd survived.  She's still pretty traumatized and not laying any eggs but she made it through.

Since that horrible night, Damian has been hard at work building a more secure coup and pen.  No more free range in the yard.  Anyway, last week Damian and Caelan went and got three more chickens so we're back up to four. 

We told the girls that we wouldn't be naming these ones... Although, by dinner that night they both had named them in their heads!  I don't want to hear their names.  They're just my egg chickens.

Speaking of chickens... On Friday on my way to work, I actually had to stop and let the neighbour's chickens cross the road!  We're not the only ones out here with chickens!!