I'm knitting this. Except heavily modified to handle my desire to get it done quickly.
And here it is.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Knitting.
Recovering from the horror of Clara's badly messed up raglan sleeve incident. It occured to me in a fit of momguilt that Samuel hasn't had anything newish from my for a long while. Clara keeps getting all the sweaters and sweetness because I'm loving having a little girl. And also I'm in a better knitting place with baby #2 than I was with baby #1. But he really is taken with a skein of yarn I picked up at the thrift store, and so I've started him a sweater while I wait to calm down and consult with knitting betters tomorrow over the raglan thing.
I'm knitting this. Except heavily modified to handle my desire to get it done quickly.
And here it is.
I'm knitting this. Except heavily modified to handle my desire to get it done quickly.
And here it is.
knitting.
On the other hand, here's the left of the sweater. See how wonky the raglans are? See the miniscule amount of space left at the sweater front? SEE?
Okay, deep breath. After discovering this, freaking out, calling a knitting friend, freaking out again, and taking pictures for you all to see and equally freak out on my behalf, I have sealed the knitting up in a bag and put it away for the night. Freaking out over knitting is not going to fix this sweater.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Dumplings. Sick. Bah.
We're watching endless movies (My Big Fat Greek Wedding is next whether you like it or not, Samuel) and eating Sui Mai, which were actually super easy to make, thank goodness, and also utilized the already thawed ground pork in the fridge.
Parenting From The Trenches
This 'cold' that we all picked up maybe two weeks ago is still going strong. We all started out with a fever and S was throwing up, but then it quickly became a chest/head/disgusting thing for David and I, and less so for both children, except that recently they are both faucets again, and now are coughing so hard they gag. Especially S, who coughed enough to get sick in bed last night on his pillow. And I say 'his pillow' in the loosest possible sense since he was, in fact, sleeping in the spare room. And by sleeping I mean not sleeping at all but actually wandering around the house/complaining/kicking me when I tried to lie down with him. So no one really slept except C. And then today was supposed to be a playgroup day except that it wasn't, because the schools were all closed and that meant the resource centre was closed, all due to icy rain.
This wasn't going to stop us - we all headed out for a long walk in search of food since all the meat I had left in the house was uninspiring and also required me to do ridiculously complex things to it, like defrost it. I'm working on very little sleep here and defrosting something is not going to happen. Without help I have to do my grocery shopping in stages. I can push the tandem stroller with bags of groceries underneath it, and that can pretty much cover our produce needs. Then a second trip is needed to get meat, etc. If large bulk items are also required, like a bag of flour for example, that is a third trip.
I'm parenting alone right now; David has headed off to work and won't be home until very late this evening. The way things are looking around here I may still be doing laundry when he gets back. And I have to figure out what on earth to cook for supper that both children and I can eat. I'm on a diet, so that cuts out anything remotely nice tasting.
This wasn't going to stop us - we all headed out for a long walk in search of food since all the meat I had left in the house was uninspiring and also required me to do ridiculously complex things to it, like defrost it. I'm working on very little sleep here and defrosting something is not going to happen. Without help I have to do my grocery shopping in stages. I can push the tandem stroller with bags of groceries underneath it, and that can pretty much cover our produce needs. Then a second trip is needed to get meat, etc. If large bulk items are also required, like a bag of flour for example, that is a third trip.
I'm parenting alone right now; David has headed off to work and won't be home until very late this evening. The way things are looking around here I may still be doing laundry when he gets back. And I have to figure out what on earth to cook for supper that both children and I can eat. I'm on a diet, so that cuts out anything remotely nice tasting.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
What I Wore Sunday
Back again to link up with the ladies at Fine Linen and Purple.
I flew S to the O to the L to the O again today - David having to take a management shift at work both days this weekend. So if I look a little harried it's because, um, I super am.
The chiclets: The usual combo of thrifted and gifted.
The mama:
Sweater: Reitmans via a clothing swap bag.
Blouse: Winners on sale several years ago.
Skirt: *ahem* Motherhood maternity. Stop judging.
Tights: Walmart.
Pin: Sterling silver antique poodle brooch from my mother.
I like high necked blouses, as you can tell from the two WIWS link-ups I've done so far. This is not a style I see a lot of these days, but there's something infinitely feminine about them, I think. Plus, I want to bring attention to my face and away from other areas, and I think the best way to do this is with jewellery or interesting collars and colours up around your shoulder and neck area.
Check out the other links for seriously better photos!
I flew S to the O to the L to the O again today - David having to take a management shift at work both days this weekend. So if I look a little harried it's because, um, I super am.
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| We're such a smiley bunch! |
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| Clara - the only one consistently looking at the camera. |
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| Majorly awkward for all of us. |
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| Not able to take a normal family picture to save our lives. |
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| What happens with the command to "hug your sister! Look happy!" |
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| Close up of my brooch. |
The mama:
Sweater: Reitmans via a clothing swap bag.
Blouse: Winners on sale several years ago.
Skirt: *ahem* Motherhood maternity. Stop judging.
Tights: Walmart.
Pin: Sterling silver antique poodle brooch from my mother.
I like high necked blouses, as you can tell from the two WIWS link-ups I've done so far. This is not a style I see a lot of these days, but there's something infinitely feminine about them, I think. Plus, I want to bring attention to my face and away from other areas, and I think the best way to do this is with jewellery or interesting collars and colours up around your shoulder and neck area.
Check out the other links for seriously better photos!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Preschool Weekly Wrap Up
I haven't been doing a great job taking photos specifically relating to homeschool preschool activities that we're doing these days. A touch of guilt over having Samuel enrolled twice a week at an outside preschool, prehaps, coupled by a baby and a perpetual low grade cold and a busy busy calendar. Maybe. But I do hope to pick up the snapshots now and get back into the groove.
In that vein, here's a not very good recap of our week. What I can remember of it.
Coins and Water Play:
My husband brought home some especially awful looking pennies from work to illustrate to Samuel how vinegar works on copper.
The result after a few days of sitting was bright green water and fairly shiny coins.
We collected our other spare change from around the kitchen and had a coin bathing party. A little bowl of soapy water, a scrub brush, and a happy toddler with a pile of clean coins.
Samuel worked on fine motor skills in scrubbing and stirring the coins and manipulating the bar of soap. He and I discussed how the names of the coins are different from the pictures on them (a difficult concept) and I suggested we sort them into piles according to their type. We couldn't quite manage that - sorting isn't a task we've done enough of I think. I might try more sorting and matching activities in the next week or so. We also did some comparison work: which coin was shinier than the other? Which coin is bigger? Which coin is darker? Etc.
Nature Walks
We went on one of these! Ack! In my defense it was terribly cold this week and I was also caring for another toddler for two days, but still. Only one nature walk. Samuel and I spent about half an hour in our backyard (which is fairly large and includes a lightly wooded area). I don't have any pictures, but here's a list of what we did.
- Used sticks to pretend to fish and also to write in the snow.
- Followed a set of animal tracks through the bushes. Then followed our own footprints.
- Played Hide and Go Seek behind the trees.
- Pointed out lichens, mosses and fungi around us.
- Dug through the damp leaves around the base of the tree and found bugs.
Group Activities
Wow, an especially bad week for group activities as well. Samuel went to his 6 hours of weekly preschool, which was good because there wasn't a lot else I had planned. We made it out to one playgroup on Friday for just over an hour as well. Samuel refused to attend the Sunday School activities at the church we were visiting.
Reading and Christian Education
We didn't completely suck at these categories at least. We did an activity with number and letter blocks, Samuel 'read' stories to his little sister and to us, and over breakfast I've been reading a Bible story to both children. We did that twice this week - and both times it was Genesis. Samuel's favourite books depend on the situation: for naptime he likes to lie in bed with David and read Green Eggs and Ham, books about construction equipment and pirates. David recently introduced another book to his repetoire:
Other Activities
We introduced two new puzzles into rotation! A 30 piece floor puzzle borrowed from a toy lending library, and a 24 piece holographic puzzle picked up at the local thrift store. Both have been big hits. 24 pieces seems to be right where Samuel is these days in doing a puzzle on his own.
So that's about it. I promise next week I will have taken pictures and actually done something a bit more structured!
In that vein, here's a not very good recap of our week. What I can remember of it.
Coins and Water Play:
My husband brought home some especially awful looking pennies from work to illustrate to Samuel how vinegar works on copper.
The result after a few days of sitting was bright green water and fairly shiny coins.
Samuel worked on fine motor skills in scrubbing and stirring the coins and manipulating the bar of soap. He and I discussed how the names of the coins are different from the pictures on them (a difficult concept) and I suggested we sort them into piles according to their type. We couldn't quite manage that - sorting isn't a task we've done enough of I think. I might try more sorting and matching activities in the next week or so. We also did some comparison work: which coin was shinier than the other? Which coin is bigger? Which coin is darker? Etc.
Nature Walks
We went on one of these! Ack! In my defense it was terribly cold this week and I was also caring for another toddler for two days, but still. Only one nature walk. Samuel and I spent about half an hour in our backyard (which is fairly large and includes a lightly wooded area). I don't have any pictures, but here's a list of what we did.
- Used sticks to pretend to fish and also to write in the snow.
- Followed a set of animal tracks through the bushes. Then followed our own footprints.
- Played Hide and Go Seek behind the trees.
- Pointed out lichens, mosses and fungi around us.
- Dug through the damp leaves around the base of the tree and found bugs.
Group Activities
Wow, an especially bad week for group activities as well. Samuel went to his 6 hours of weekly preschool, which was good because there wasn't a lot else I had planned. We made it out to one playgroup on Friday for just over an hour as well. Samuel refused to attend the Sunday School activities at the church we were visiting.
Reading and Christian Education
We didn't completely suck at these categories at least. We did an activity with number and letter blocks, Samuel 'read' stories to his little sister and to us, and over breakfast I've been reading a Bible story to both children. We did that twice this week - and both times it was Genesis. Samuel's favourite books depend on the situation: for naptime he likes to lie in bed with David and read Green Eggs and Ham, books about construction equipment and pirates. David recently introduced another book to his repetoire:
Other Activities
We introduced two new puzzles into rotation! A 30 piece floor puzzle borrowed from a toy lending library, and a 24 piece holographic puzzle picked up at the local thrift store. Both have been big hits. 24 pieces seems to be right where Samuel is these days in doing a puzzle on his own.
So that's about it. I promise next week I will have taken pictures and actually done something a bit more structured!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A Baby Shower Sneak Peek
I'm very excited about tonight...
And you should be, too. And if my children live to see this evening, a fate not completely assured based on their behavior so far today, they will also be excited.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Thankful Monday
The Clara sweater is, oh, maybe 2/3 done now, and after what will henceforth
be known as The World's Most Complicated Row, I think it should be smooth
sailing.
Which is good, because I am itching to get my hands on all of this:
I need to just stop worrying about God's provision for our family, really I do. He's always provided. Case in point, Samuel was given a large box of new to him clothes this week, which was perfect since he has gone through a growth spurt the last few weeks.
And in case the $6 pile 'o wool was not an impressive enough frugal buy, here's my favourite find from this week's grocery store visit:
Do you see that? It was 74 cents, at 50% off! That's 37 cent wrapping paper! I bought two rolls for next Christmas.
Which is good, because I am itching to get my hands on all of this:
that I picked up for $6 at the thrift store last week.
A couple of fun things to share with you today. Here's the first; a sweet lady from the church that David preached at yesterday gave us a Christmas present for the children. Handmade mittens for Samuel and a little cupcake outfit for Clara.
I need to just stop worrying about God's provision for our family, really I do. He's always provided. Case in point, Samuel was given a large box of new to him clothes this week, which was perfect since he has gone through a growth spurt the last few weeks.
And in case the $6 pile 'o wool was not an impressive enough frugal buy, here's my favourite find from this week's grocery store visit:
Do you see that? It was 74 cents, at 50% off! That's 37 cent wrapping paper! I bought two rolls for next Christmas.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
What I Wore Sunday
Alright, so many of the blogs that I peek into these days are doing this What I Wore Sunday thing, and I'm always sheepish enough to follow along once I realize we're not talking Louis Vuitton level styling.
First things first:
Look, Maude, it's the preacher's fam'ly! And aren't we a handsome bunch? Samuel and Clara are wearing a combo of thrifted, gifted and swapped items, and were clearly both looking quite masculine this morning as a nice old lady came up to me in church, pointed at the carseat and said "is this baby a girl?" Affirmatives given all round, she then pointed out that said girl was wearing "all red" and that's why she hadn't been certain. Is red not a 'girl colour'? Really? A pair of red pants with white rick rack lace trim and red FLOWERED socks and a red cardi with big poofy knitted balls all over it? Not bitter atallatallatall.
The wife is wearing a pair of grey and teal (you are going to have to trust me on the teal) plaid dress pants, bought second hand. A black lace tie-blouse from Reitman's super clearance section and a grey cardi courtesy of my friend Laura, who is significantly more stylish than I am.
As I was getting up this morning I was thinking a lot about appearances. To be specific, I was thinking about this video. Please take a minute and watch it if you haven't already seen it.
Is that you on Sunday morning? It is certainly us. Especially on days like today when David preached and so I was left to organize the children by myself. Happy Sunday.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Under the fridge
Thanks people who lived here before me for the special little treats I found under the fridge and stove when I moved them this afternoon in a fit of kitchen cleaning. Dog food, bottle covers, toothpicks, cheerios and tupperware. Oh, and this:
The irony was not lost on me.
I'm in uber deep cleaning mode because this coming week is a busy one, and I'm some kind ofmasochist really wonderful house keeper. I'm hosting a dinner party, a baby shower and overnight guests in the next seven days. It'll be fun, but clearly every last one of them is going to pull out my appliances for a gander at the elements so I'd better get that handled just right now.
Oh, and my friend Kim had her baby! Adorable and so nice and small, which makes me seriously jealous since my babies weighed in at Tub and Lard respectively.
Ok, did anyone not declare eating better and losing inches to be their New Year's goal? I think not. Last New Year's I was pregnant, I don't remember what my excuse was the year before that, and the year before that I was pregnant. So this is the year because I'm A) NOT pregnant and B) Also not pregnant. So there you have it. No excuses, tubby. Except my body is not listening all that well I discovered after I weighed myself at the doctor's office.
My friend Deborah thinks I need to drink more water. I don't like water. But I am good at whining. Fortunately I've discovered the two are not exclusive and I can whine and drink water at the same time. I really don't like it.
The irony was not lost on me.
I'm in uber deep cleaning mode because this coming week is a busy one, and I'm some kind of
Oh, and my friend Kim had her baby! Adorable and so nice and small, which makes me seriously jealous since my babies weighed in at Tub and Lard respectively.
Ok, did anyone not declare eating better and losing inches to be their New Year's goal? I think not. Last New Year's I was pregnant, I don't remember what my excuse was the year before that, and the year before that I was pregnant. So this is the year because I'm A) NOT pregnant and B) Also not pregnant. So there you have it. No excuses, tubby. Except my body is not listening all that well I discovered after I weighed myself at the doctor's office.
My friend Deborah thinks I need to drink more water. I don't like water. But I am good at whining. Fortunately I've discovered the two are not exclusive and I can whine and drink water at the same time. I really don't like it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Curtains.
Started hanging the new curtains. What do you think? Do the white ones (the new ones) look better or worse than the red? It's so hard to take pictures of curtains because of the light behind them. The red ones have a darker red floral pattern on them, and the white ones (which look sort of yellow with the light streaming through, have brownish stripes.
I can't decide because I dislike them both. Neither is my style at all, so I need to pick the lesser of two evils. The red ones have the benefit of being a little bit shorter and keeping out more light. The white ones are less worn and seem to close better. Neither match anything else in the room, so don't base your opinion on that. What do you think I should go with?
I can't decide because I dislike them both. Neither is my style at all, so I need to pick the lesser of two evils. The red ones have the benefit of being a little bit shorter and keeping out more light. The white ones are less worn and seem to close better. Neither match anything else in the room, so don't base your opinion on that. What do you think I should go with?
Baby
One step forward, one step back...
Made chili for lunch...and discovered a giant puddle of water in my basement and a continuously leaking pipe.
Got both children fed, changed and asleep...and ran out of diaper wipes meaning I had to resort to a hand towel. A hand towel that will now be washed several times. And maybe only ever used in extreme emergencies. Or when people I don't like come over.
Went to the puppet show with Samuel this morning...which went well until he pinched two other children with a pair of toy pliers.
Ugh.
Anyway, am trying to catch up on the laundry and also get David to help me hang the new drapes in the livingroom. And by 'new' I mean 'from his grandmother's house that I have been storing for probably 4 years now and finally have a window on which to hang them.'
And still waiting on my friend Kim to have that baby. It occurred to me that she was especially thoughtful in her timing, because it means that when she comes to her shower next week I can slack off as hostess because there's gonna be a baby. And because there's a real live 1 week old baby to snuggle who cares what my punch looks like or whether I got the snowflake garlands hung up.
Made chili for lunch...and discovered a giant puddle of water in my basement and a continuously leaking pipe.
Got both children fed, changed and asleep...and ran out of diaper wipes meaning I had to resort to a hand towel. A hand towel that will now be washed several times. And maybe only ever used in extreme emergencies. Or when people I don't like come over.
Went to the puppet show with Samuel this morning...which went well until he pinched two other children with a pair of toy pliers.
Ugh.
Anyway, am trying to catch up on the laundry and also get David to help me hang the new drapes in the livingroom. And by 'new' I mean 'from his grandmother's house that I have been storing for probably 4 years now and finally have a window on which to hang them.'
And still waiting on my friend Kim to have that baby. It occurred to me that she was especially thoughtful in her timing, because it means that when she comes to her shower next week I can slack off as hostess because there's gonna be a baby. And because there's a real live 1 week old baby to snuggle who cares what my punch looks like or whether I got the snowflake garlands hung up.
Busy
Trying to keep busy around here while I wait for news of my friend Kim, whose water broke last night. No news is good news, right?
Not that that is going to be super difficult - I have one of 'those days' scheduled. We're going to a puppet show in the morning, I have multiplemultiple loads of laundry to do, dishes to wash, rugs to vacuum...David and I have a Livingroom Improvement Project, I have a winter coat to send to the seamstress for a new zipper, there is chili to be made today, I have to reschedule our supper plans for Friday to Saturday, the babysitter comes tonight and that means it's bath night for both children, which means I have a bathroom to scrub first.
And on top of this, I am very tired and need a nap. Really really. And David works.
Quick gratuitous fat baby shot
Smile.
Not that that is going to be super difficult - I have one of 'those days' scheduled. We're going to a puppet show in the morning, I have multiplemultiple loads of laundry to do, dishes to wash, rugs to vacuum...David and I have a Livingroom Improvement Project, I have a winter coat to send to the seamstress for a new zipper, there is chili to be made today, I have to reschedule our supper plans for Friday to Saturday, the babysitter comes tonight and that means it's bath night for both children, which means I have a bathroom to scrub first.
And on top of this, I am very tired and need a nap. Really really. And David works.
Quick gratuitous fat baby shot
Smile.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Preschool
The big news of the day was Samuel's successful first day of preschool. Let me tell you about it, because I know you're all sitting on the edges of your respective seats.
I don't know what big exciting plans you have for tonight, but mine include going though a lot of clothing for the children. Here's part of the pile to rotate into Samuel's closet.
The school is small, only eight students in the 3 year old class and two teachers. The 4 year old class is apparently quite a bit larger, so I'm grateful for this child to teacher ratio. The room is bright and colourful, with little cubbies and lots of windows. Samuel ran right into the class full of excitement and settled in no problem. The teachers keep a two-inch binder of activities and projects for each child so that parents can see exactly what they do over the course of each day. There is an open-door policy, so any parent can drop in at any time unannounced.
When we came to pick Samuel up we were told he had had a great day. After talking about it, David and I have decided to enroll him until the end of February and see how he manages the next two months.
****
While he was at 'school' the rest of us decided to head out and get some shopping done. We found some great deals, including "The Best Of" Seasons 1 and 3 of Meerkat Manor (we have Season 2 already), and quite a large amount of yarn, which I have big plans for, and several new cassettes for Samuel's cassette player, which he loves. Thrift stores are fantastic.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Trees, supper, etc.
Big task of the day - I took down the Christmas tree! It's only January 14th, after all. The floors are cleared of the plethora of dead pine needles from the brownish tree and all of the furniture returned to it's original spot. Combined with the great toy purge yesterday, the livingroom almost looks ready for company again.
We're having nachos for a late lunch, and then tonight - cheeseburger and french fry casserole! Last night I was eating one of those microwaveable pizza pocket type things, and it had a cheeseburger filling. I started thinking about it, and I bet you could make a casserole. Something a bit healthier than a preservative filled pocket snack. Of course, as soon as I Googled for ideas, it was pretty clear that a lot of people had thought of a cheeseburger and french fry casserole before me.
We're having nachos for a late lunch, and then tonight - cheeseburger and french fry casserole! Last night I was eating one of those microwaveable pizza pocket type things, and it had a cheeseburger filling. I started thinking about it, and I bet you could make a casserole. Something a bit healthier than a preservative filled pocket snack. Of course, as soon as I Googled for ideas, it was pretty clear that a lot of people had thought of a cheeseburger and french fry casserole before me.
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Sleepless.
Clara up twice in the night to nurse. Samuel up as well.
I don't mind the nursing from Clara, because she's her mama's girl and loves her sleep - and you can tell this nursing business is strictly work and she'd like to get back into her crib. But Samuel, well, he's having a rough night time life these past few weeks. Up, sometimes multiple times a night, and almost inevitably crawling into our bed. David and I have a double; it simply isn't big enough for three. Hence why I am currently on the computer and not sleeping as I should be.
Looking through the meal plans for this week. I just bought all of the ingredients for 21 meals and am picking and choosing over the course of the week what we'll have every day. For breakfast (because I know after this 4:30am wake up that I will be toast by the time the kids are up) we're going to try the egg and banana pancake recipe that's been floating around the internet. I'll make chili for lunch, because it will give David extra to take to work tonight, and then Samuel and I will eat chili on our stuffed potatoes for supper tonight.
It's a 'Tiffany night', so I'll have help. Hallelujah. Both children desperately need baths and I have to vacuum the bedrooms or else Clara is going to start eating sock fluff again.
I don't mind the nursing from Clara, because she's her mama's girl and loves her sleep - and you can tell this nursing business is strictly work and she'd like to get back into her crib. But Samuel, well, he's having a rough night time life these past few weeks. Up, sometimes multiple times a night, and almost inevitably crawling into our bed. David and I have a double; it simply isn't big enough for three. Hence why I am currently on the computer and not sleeping as I should be.
Looking through the meal plans for this week. I just bought all of the ingredients for 21 meals and am picking and choosing over the course of the week what we'll have every day. For breakfast (because I know after this 4:30am wake up that I will be toast by the time the kids are up) we're going to try the egg and banana pancake recipe that's been floating around the internet. I'll make chili for lunch, because it will give David extra to take to work tonight, and then Samuel and I will eat chili on our stuffed potatoes for supper tonight.
It's a 'Tiffany night', so I'll have help. Hallelujah. Both children desperately need baths and I have to vacuum the bedrooms or else Clara is going to start eating sock fluff again.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Toys
Spent an hour on Sunday afternoon corralling toys. All the pieces of each multi-pieced toy are now together, and the toys themselves have been cut in half with half being stored in the basement. We've never needed to do this before - but two children seem to acquire a lot of stuff. My preferred technique, and the one I will probably revert to, is to give away what we aren't using and just keep what we are - I think toy rotation (for me, at least) is too much of a hassle.
At least I got a chance to clean out the multitude of non-toy items that find themselves in bins. Socks, slippers, measuring spoons and cups, bath toys, empty plastic Easter egg halves...
Also on Sunday - attempting to be more adventurous with lunch. Instead of our usual noodles, we had buckwheat soba noodles. I know, stop the presses, it's just crazy over here. They were...brown. But not unpleasant. Clara wasn't a fan. I stir-fried some peppers, zucchini, onions and mushrooms and tossed the whole thing with a mango curry sauce and a bit of plain yogurt.
At least I got a chance to clean out the multitude of non-toy items that find themselves in bins. Socks, slippers, measuring spoons and cups, bath toys, empty plastic Easter egg halves...
Also on Sunday - attempting to be more adventurous with lunch. Instead of our usual noodles, we had buckwheat soba noodles. I know, stop the presses, it's just crazy over here. They were...brown. But not unpleasant. Clara wasn't a fan. I stir-fried some peppers, zucchini, onions and mushrooms and tossed the whole thing with a mango curry sauce and a bit of plain yogurt.
Smurf pee.
Trying the 'spray bottle filled with coloured water' on our front lawn. David asked "did a smurf pee outside or something?" Not a creative win for us. Maybe with multiple colours it would look better?
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Trying to discuss birthdays
I had a conversation with Samuel today that went something like this:
Me: "So, Samuel, you're going to have a birthday soon!"
Samuel: "Yeah!"
Me: "Is there something you would like for your birthday?"
Samuel: "Yeah! Um..."
Me: "Would you like a present?"
Samuel: "Yeah! I would like a present!"
Me: "What would you like as a present?"
Samuel: "I would like candies for my birthday. Candies for my birthday. I would like candies for my birthday."
Me: "You would like candies?"
Samuel: "Yeah."
Me: "How about a toy? Would you like a toy for your birthday?"
Samuel: "Yeah!"
Me: "What toy would you like?"
Samuel: "Um, you have a toy. I don't need a toy. I have lots."
Me: "Alright, but IF you got a toy, what would you like?"
Samuel: long rambling monologue about something to do with Scoop (the front loader from Bob the Builder cartoons) and Bob and Larry (from Veggietales). Possibly a picture and/or puzzle mentioned. Maybe a toy. I have no idea.
I guess I'm on my own for gift ideas.
Speaking of birthday parties (and we've been doing that a lot lately it seems) I had a big, exciting plan for Samuel's birthday that is now being flushed away due to toddler indecisiveness. He used to like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I found a puppet show of that book being performed in a nearby city and planned a fun party around the performance. Now he doesn't like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I'm back to square one. Drat.
Me: "So, Samuel, you're going to have a birthday soon!"
Samuel: "Yeah!"
Me: "Is there something you would like for your birthday?"
Samuel: "Yeah! Um..."
Me: "Would you like a present?"
Samuel: "Yeah! I would like a present!"
Me: "What would you like as a present?"
Samuel: "I would like candies for my birthday. Candies for my birthday. I would like candies for my birthday."
Me: "You would like candies?"
Samuel: "Yeah."
Me: "How about a toy? Would you like a toy for your birthday?"
Samuel: "Yeah!"
Me: "What toy would you like?"
Samuel: "Um, you have a toy. I don't need a toy. I have lots."
Me: "Alright, but IF you got a toy, what would you like?"
Samuel: long rambling monologue about something to do with Scoop (the front loader from Bob the Builder cartoons) and Bob and Larry (from Veggietales). Possibly a picture and/or puzzle mentioned. Maybe a toy. I have no idea.
I guess I'm on my own for gift ideas.
Speaking of birthday parties (and we've been doing that a lot lately it seems) I had a big, exciting plan for Samuel's birthday that is now being flushed away due to toddler indecisiveness. He used to like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I found a puppet show of that book being performed in a nearby city and planned a fun party around the performance. Now he doesn't like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I'm back to square one. Drat.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
This post is for Kyra
My e-friend Kyra (whom I have never met) has four children aged four and under, the eldest of whom is diabetic, and the youngest of which are twins. Twins who still nurse. Good heavens.
And she's crazy, because she is planning a big fifth birthday party for her eldest son, complete with an underwater/ocean/marine life theme.
Now, I know insanity. Trust me on this. But as soon as I read her post I was all like "oh my gosh this is so cool". I thought it just like that, too. All 1990's teenager. Like.
Anyway, Kyra, this post is for you. And absolutely everyone tag and post their bestest ideas along with mine for her to peruse. Remember: Four children. Nursing twins. Diabetic son. Stay-at-home mom. Single income family. Keep these things in mind and please don't post a bunch of ideas for crafts that will cost her $50 and take three sleepless nights to do.
First off - decorations:
I think you should decorate the party room with these fun looking jellyfish hanging from the ceiling. How cool would that be??
And then hotdogs for a kid's meal would be super simple and inexpensive.
Then you do something like this as a little picture station for the children, which I think would be fantastic.
Alright, share ideas!!
And she's crazy, because she is planning a big fifth birthday party for her eldest son, complete with an underwater/ocean/marine life theme.
Now, I know insanity. Trust me on this. But as soon as I read her post I was all like "oh my gosh this is so cool". I thought it just like that, too. All 1990's teenager. Like.
Anyway, Kyra, this post is for you. And absolutely everyone tag and post their bestest ideas along with mine for her to peruse. Remember: Four children. Nursing twins. Diabetic son. Stay-at-home mom. Single income family. Keep these things in mind and please don't post a bunch of ideas for crafts that will cost her $50 and take three sleepless nights to do.
First off - decorations:
 |
| http://www.larkcrafts.com/craft-your-life/summer-craft-ideas-for-kids/ |
 |
| http://www.thepartyworks.com/octopus-seaweed-a-1510.html?ref=307 |
 |
| http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/under-the-sea.html |
Alright, share ideas!!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Afternoon
I let Samuel stay up last night, figuring that I wouldn't be long in going to bed but not remembering how blessedly long it takes the child to drift off once he's in bed. We didn't fall asleep until after 10pm, but the boy was still up (as was his sister) at the chipper time of 7am.
My plan today was to get everyone dressed, fed and marched to the craft time/play group thing going on today at the family resource centre. We made snails. Out of paper plates. I 'forgot' ours there because honestly I do not need another piece of glue-covered paper hanging around this house. Let's just pretend I labelled it with the date and gently placed it in a silk box inscribed with his name to weep over in the years to come, shall we?
Arriving home...
So many things to do, prioritize.
1) Realized with horror that the roast I had taken out of the freezer last night to put in the slow cooker this morning was still in the fridge. Since the children eat at 4:30 this isn't great. Also discovered that I am clean out of any interesting vegetables to add to said roast. I hope everyone is in a carroty mood tonight because there're seven of them in the slow cooker.
2) List of phone calls to make includes cancelling babysitter for tonight. David is home! Surprise! Yay! Also need to call internet provider. Apparently the new tenant in our old place claims they said internet service was still in my name and they couldn't hook it up. Provider assured me this was not the case. Called back landlord to tell them this.
3) Doctor's appointments. Must make one for me. Must make one for baby. Bad mother with the eight month old who hasn't had a well-baby check up.
4) Ugh. Pumpkin that was cut up and steamed last night gets pureed today before next pumpkin batch goes in the stockpot. Holy heavens I have more pumpkin than you can shake a stick at.
5) Wait, stop. Did Grace write that birth story yet? No? Okay already it isn't like the woman has three babies in diap...wait. Can I send you a casserole, sweetie?
6) It's 1:30, everyone but me is in bed. Homemade bread for lunch. Just the bread. The children had canned pasta earlier. As you can see, it's a bit of 'survival eating' today.
7) Funny dripping noise over by the Christmas tree. (Hush up, you, thedead stick tree is still decorative). Can't see anything. This can't be good, though. The last dripping noise resulted in a hole in my bathroom.
8) Pumpkin can't be pureed - still too wet. Back in the stockpot. Blast it.
9) Energy drifting away. Tea and Persuasion on the sofa.
10) Googled World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle and found this and this and this. I think a framed jigsaw puzzle would be great wall art...but 32,000 pieces might be...a little excessive? Woah, look at these!
My plan today was to get everyone dressed, fed and marched to the craft time/play group thing going on today at the family resource centre. We made snails. Out of paper plates. I 'forgot' ours there because honestly I do not need another piece of glue-covered paper hanging around this house. Let's just pretend I labelled it with the date and gently placed it in a silk box inscribed with his name to weep over in the years to come, shall we?
Arriving home...
So many things to do, prioritize.
1) Realized with horror that the roast I had taken out of the freezer last night to put in the slow cooker this morning was still in the fridge. Since the children eat at 4:30 this isn't great. Also discovered that I am clean out of any interesting vegetables to add to said roast. I hope everyone is in a carroty mood tonight because there're seven of them in the slow cooker.
2) List of phone calls to make includes cancelling babysitter for tonight. David is home! Surprise! Yay! Also need to call internet provider. Apparently the new tenant in our old place claims they said internet service was still in my name and they couldn't hook it up. Provider assured me this was not the case. Called back landlord to tell them this.
3) Doctor's appointments. Must make one for me. Must make one for baby. Bad mother with the eight month old who hasn't had a well-baby check up.
4) Ugh. Pumpkin that was cut up and steamed last night gets pureed today before next pumpkin batch goes in the stockpot. Holy heavens I have more pumpkin than you can shake a stick at.
5) Wait, stop. Did Grace write that birth story yet? No? Okay already it isn't like the woman has three babies in diap...wait. Can I send you a casserole, sweetie?
6) It's 1:30, everyone but me is in bed. Homemade bread for lunch. Just the bread. The children had canned pasta earlier. As you can see, it's a bit of 'survival eating' today.
7) Funny dripping noise over by the Christmas tree. (Hush up, you, the
8) Pumpkin can't be pureed - still too wet. Back in the stockpot. Blast it.
9) Energy drifting away. Tea and Persuasion on the sofa.
10) Googled World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle and found this and this and this. I think a framed jigsaw puzzle would be great wall art...but 32,000 pieces might be...a little excessive? Woah, look at these!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Spaghetti Squash, books, etc.
Something interesting we tried with spaghetti squash tonight.
Cut and de-seed a spaghetti squash.
Place open side down on a baking sheet and roast at 375 F approx. 45 minutes, or until fork tender.
Separate 'spaghetti' strands with a fork and set aside. Discard skin.
To make the sauce:
Saute fresh seafood in a little butter. I used a fresh seafood mix from the seafood counter at the grocery store - it had salmon, shrimp, scallops and white fish.
Stir in dill cream cheese.
Serve to hungry people.
We had our first night with Tiffany, the babysitter who's going to come be my helper in the evenings. I can see myself very, very quickly becoming addicted to the help. In the hour and a half that she was here I managed to do the following:
I cooked supper. By myself. Using the stove. By myself.
I fed everyone.
I cleaned up.
I switched all the laundry around.
I tidied the children's room.
I got the strollers and carseats put away.
I bathed, diapered, and pajama-ed Samuel.
I nursed Clara to sleep without the screaming soundtrack of Samuel.
I baked cookies.
While I was doing this, Tiffany read three books to Samuel, played with the children, cuddled Clara and offered something I don't think I realized would be a perk...she gave me company. I mean, it was teenage girl company so it mostly consisted of me asking her about school (gosh I hated it when adults asked me about school) but still. I am alone from 3pm onwards and I could really use the company. Since David is working every evening this week, Tiffany will be here with me every evening from 4:30 until 6:30 when Clara is down for the night.
Frankly, I'm a little surprised that she's agreed to come back after tonight's practice run. Samuel threw a complete fit at the table when he didn't want to eat supper. Clara threw a complete fit when she realized I wasn't feeding her supper fast enough. Tiffany turned to me and asked if this was a 'normal dinner'. Oh yes, my dear, oh yes it is indeed.
The cookies, however, were great. Chocolate oatmeal. I ate five.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
It's only defeat if you don't do anything.
So tonight, with any luck, I am meeting one of two possible mother's helpers. I really need a girl to come over and be an extra set of eyes and hands in the house during the 'witching hour(s)' of about 4ish to 6ish. This is just before the baby's bedtime, and right in the middle of trying to cook/eat supper, start baths, etc. It's this period of time that makes me craziest during the day, and hopefully someone to lend a hand will just give me a little boost over the hump, and once the baby is down for the night I am more than happy to manage the rest of the evening alone.
My dear friend Martha mentioned to me that hey, my Christmas tree should still be up, because you don't take your tree down until Ephipany! Yay! I am not slovenly, I'm just pious.
Church today...I went for Samuel's sake, not my own. He loves Sunday school so much. I'm really struggling to figure out what to do about his increasing interests and activities. If there was a homeschool co-operative in the area that offered something....but there isn't.
Okay, may I speak frankly here?
This is completely a concern that I have about my homeschooling attempts and not in the slightest an opinion that I think in any way directly relates to how anyone else schools their children.
I'm getting a little concerned that I'm going to become a homeschool 'coasting parent'; not really actively pursuing the absolute best in every avenue, but instead sort of managing to do the basics and then collapse from exhaustion. This is partly a concern that stems from being in a difficult season of life, I realize that, but I do think it goes a bit deeper than that.
Samuel has needs right now that I worry are not being fulfilled entirely. He needs more exercise than I'm giving him, and less screen time. He needs more interaction with other children besides his baby sister, and I have seen first hand how quickly he picks up skills and information that pique his interest - and yet I can't really explore those to the full extent that I think he's capable of. Some of the reason for that is just that I don't have the resources available to me to do an excellent job - I don't have a car, so field trips are limited; I don't have a huge income to draw on to purchase all sorts of interesting activities, etc.; I don't have family nearby to watch Clara while Sam and I do a 'big kid' activity; I don't have a husband who works a set schedule so that I can plan outings...etc.
However, even if I did have those things, I feel like there are still some gaps. I can't possibly give him 100% in all areas because 1) I have another child who also requires 100% and the two of them are in completely different stages. 2) Let's face it, I am not superwoman, I can't learn everything there is to know about dinosaurs and rocks and clouds and Toy Story and cowboys and dogs and why there are four stairs on the back porch and the street sweeper. 3) I'm not interested in all of those things. So I naturally gravitate towards doing stuff with Samuel that does interest me. Which is all fine and well but I'm going to end up with a master baker who can't do any math. 4) I have other stuff to do. I have a house that needs to be kept clean, clothes that need to be washed, dishes, food prep...I'm overwhelmed already. If I had a cleaning lady, and a personal secretary, and a chef and a nanny, then perhaps, but as it is? No.
So this is where I am, and you can see my concern, right? And for the record I don't think that the solution is putting him 'in school'. Institutionalized schooling has it's own set of problems, but they do have two big pluses that make their models work. The first is that because there are many teachers to draw on, there is a bigger pool of direct access knowledge. What a set of parents (or one parent) has difficulty imparting fully, several educators can do on a much broader level. Even if, as in elementary school, a child has only one or two teachers, those educators have other educators to rely on. I have only myself. If a teacher is sick, a supply teacher comes in; if I'm sick, we all watch Disney for 12 hours. If a teacher has a difficult student or a huge class or whatever, she gets a classroom helper or an education assistant; I don't. If there is a problem with a student, then someone else disciplines in another location, not the primary teacher. If a subject is beyond the scope of one teacher's knowledge (such as music, or another language) then the child goes to another teacher. Do you see what I mean?
The other advantage to institutionalized education is that it offers the parent a break. If my curious, active, excited almost three year old is out of the house and in someone else's care for several hours, then theoretically I can 1) Focus my attention on the remaining child entirely, giving them a better foundation of learning. 2) Be a better parent when the older child returns, because the 'other stuff' was done while he was away. At the moment, beyond naptime, there is no 'while he was away' time. He is never away. He is always right here, needing me.
That leaves us with this problem. Now, I know a lot of people who have solved this problem by utilizing a daycare or a home babysitter. Even if the parent is a stay-at-home parent, on certain days the older child goes to a sitter's house. They play, eat lunch, nap, whatever, and during this time the at-home parent spends one-on-one time with younger siblings, or cleans, does meal prep, etc.
Another solution is the one I'm currently using, which is that Clara dictates our schedule almost entirely. We stay home or very close to it most days, Samuel has little outside time because Clara hates her carseat, stroller, sled and snowsuit, the majority of our 'activities' are home-based small crafts, and when I need 'child-free' time I either wait until everyone is asleep (by which point I am usually exhausted myself) or else I occupy Samuel with something that will keep his attention while I deal with whatever I need to - usually this means screen time or a short-term activity like playdough or painting.
Obviously there are other options, but these are the two 'big ones'.
Clearly, what I'm ending up with here is exactly what I'm worried about - a child who isn't exercised enough and isn't given enough social interaction. I know, I know, I detest the words 'social interaction' as well; I think they're bandied about waaaaay too much, but in this case, I think they're accurate.
I'm trying to decide now if at this point in life it would be beneficial for Samuel to have another location to go to once or twice a week. Not often, just maybe two mornings. He loves Sunday school very much, and I can see how much he enjoys playing games with other children and such, and in this house that doesn't exist because his only playmates are a stressed mother and an eight month old. I don't want to put him in 'daycare' per se, because I don't feel like just sending him to someone else's house to essentially do what he does here is the solution, but maybe a playschool program? A twice a week morning playschool? I told myself I'd never do this, but I just don't know what other solutions there are.
I'm open to suggestions.
My dear friend Martha mentioned to me that hey, my Christmas tree should still be up, because you don't take your tree down until Ephipany! Yay! I am not slovenly, I'm just pious.
Church today...I went for Samuel's sake, not my own. He loves Sunday school so much. I'm really struggling to figure out what to do about his increasing interests and activities. If there was a homeschool co-operative in the area that offered something....but there isn't.
Okay, may I speak frankly here?
This is completely a concern that I have about my homeschooling attempts and not in the slightest an opinion that I think in any way directly relates to how anyone else schools their children.
I'm getting a little concerned that I'm going to become a homeschool 'coasting parent'; not really actively pursuing the absolute best in every avenue, but instead sort of managing to do the basics and then collapse from exhaustion. This is partly a concern that stems from being in a difficult season of life, I realize that, but I do think it goes a bit deeper than that.
Samuel has needs right now that I worry are not being fulfilled entirely. He needs more exercise than I'm giving him, and less screen time. He needs more interaction with other children besides his baby sister, and I have seen first hand how quickly he picks up skills and information that pique his interest - and yet I can't really explore those to the full extent that I think he's capable of. Some of the reason for that is just that I don't have the resources available to me to do an excellent job - I don't have a car, so field trips are limited; I don't have a huge income to draw on to purchase all sorts of interesting activities, etc.; I don't have family nearby to watch Clara while Sam and I do a 'big kid' activity; I don't have a husband who works a set schedule so that I can plan outings...etc.
However, even if I did have those things, I feel like there are still some gaps. I can't possibly give him 100% in all areas because 1) I have another child who also requires 100% and the two of them are in completely different stages. 2) Let's face it, I am not superwoman, I can't learn everything there is to know about dinosaurs and rocks and clouds and Toy Story and cowboys and dogs and why there are four stairs on the back porch and the street sweeper. 3) I'm not interested in all of those things. So I naturally gravitate towards doing stuff with Samuel that does interest me. Which is all fine and well but I'm going to end up with a master baker who can't do any math. 4) I have other stuff to do. I have a house that needs to be kept clean, clothes that need to be washed, dishes, food prep...I'm overwhelmed already. If I had a cleaning lady, and a personal secretary, and a chef and a nanny, then perhaps, but as it is? No.
So this is where I am, and you can see my concern, right? And for the record I don't think that the solution is putting him 'in school'. Institutionalized schooling has it's own set of problems, but they do have two big pluses that make their models work. The first is that because there are many teachers to draw on, there is a bigger pool of direct access knowledge. What a set of parents (or one parent) has difficulty imparting fully, several educators can do on a much broader level. Even if, as in elementary school, a child has only one or two teachers, those educators have other educators to rely on. I have only myself. If a teacher is sick, a supply teacher comes in; if I'm sick, we all watch Disney for 12 hours. If a teacher has a difficult student or a huge class or whatever, she gets a classroom helper or an education assistant; I don't. If there is a problem with a student, then someone else disciplines in another location, not the primary teacher. If a subject is beyond the scope of one teacher's knowledge (such as music, or another language) then the child goes to another teacher. Do you see what I mean?
The other advantage to institutionalized education is that it offers the parent a break. If my curious, active, excited almost three year old is out of the house and in someone else's care for several hours, then theoretically I can 1) Focus my attention on the remaining child entirely, giving them a better foundation of learning. 2) Be a better parent when the older child returns, because the 'other stuff' was done while he was away. At the moment, beyond naptime, there is no 'while he was away' time. He is never away. He is always right here, needing me.
That leaves us with this problem. Now, I know a lot of people who have solved this problem by utilizing a daycare or a home babysitter. Even if the parent is a stay-at-home parent, on certain days the older child goes to a sitter's house. They play, eat lunch, nap, whatever, and during this time the at-home parent spends one-on-one time with younger siblings, or cleans, does meal prep, etc.
Another solution is the one I'm currently using, which is that Clara dictates our schedule almost entirely. We stay home or very close to it most days, Samuel has little outside time because Clara hates her carseat, stroller, sled and snowsuit, the majority of our 'activities' are home-based small crafts, and when I need 'child-free' time I either wait until everyone is asleep (by which point I am usually exhausted myself) or else I occupy Samuel with something that will keep his attention while I deal with whatever I need to - usually this means screen time or a short-term activity like playdough or painting.
Obviously there are other options, but these are the two 'big ones'.
Clearly, what I'm ending up with here is exactly what I'm worried about - a child who isn't exercised enough and isn't given enough social interaction. I know, I know, I detest the words 'social interaction' as well; I think they're bandied about waaaaay too much, but in this case, I think they're accurate.
I'm trying to decide now if at this point in life it would be beneficial for Samuel to have another location to go to once or twice a week. Not often, just maybe two mornings. He loves Sunday school very much, and I can see how much he enjoys playing games with other children and such, and in this house that doesn't exist because his only playmates are a stressed mother and an eight month old. I don't want to put him in 'daycare' per se, because I don't feel like just sending him to someone else's house to essentially do what he does here is the solution, but maybe a playschool program? A twice a week morning playschool? I told myself I'd never do this, but I just don't know what other solutions there are.
I'm open to suggestions.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Seven Quick Takes
I meant to write a quick takes post...and then I forgot. But I still have an hour until midnight, so here goes:
1. Today was Not A Good Day. The toddler is constipated, which is very much not a good time for anyone. I have no idea why this should be, as his diet hasn't changed in the slightest bit, but it's enough to make me second guess every single decision I make. Should he have a piece of cheese? Should we go for a walk? Is he drinking enough water? Should I try another dose of disgusting medicine? Plus, and, also, the baby is needy. Super needy. Don't-put-me-down-Mama needy. There was a point at which I was holding a howling child in the bathroom (who knew a warm bath was torture?) while a furious infant screamed from the bedroom and I felt like yelling "I'm only one woman!!"
2. Further on the bedroom bingo the children seem to be playing these days: both of them are now insisting on sleeping in their room. Well, the boy is. The baby has no choice and sits in not-mute anger in her crib, her fat little legs sticking out from the bars, peeved that I would be so cruel as to put her to bed. The horror. However, Samuel is falling out of bed and while I *should* probably just cave and put his mattress on the floor, I refuse to budge. I tried the whole mattress-on-the-floor rigamarole before and ended up with a toddler who slept on the carpet with a small square of fabric over him looking like a Victorian orphan. I had to keep the heat on 'broil' in the children's room and offer explanations every time someone saw where my son chose to sleep. I'm not going down that path again. He's in a bed and that's that. Someone suggested a pool noodle under the fitted sheet and I think that's the next step, followed by a bed rail. I really don't want to buy a bed rail.
3. We have a birthday party to go to on Sunday and I've already started 'prepping' my son. We're going to the pool, you see, and he's terrified of the pool. So we've talked about how we're going to give his friend a present (he interjected something about Jesus when I told him this - hope I'm not adding confusion to his understanding of birthday parties) and have a piece of cake and then IF he WANTS to and it's PERFECTLY OKAY if he doesn't, we will MAYBE go into the pool which is NOT SCARY at all because mama will be RIGHT THERE. So far, no dice; the child isn't biting. The pool is infested with giant water snakes and I don't know what I'm talking about.
4. Yay! We have company coming! My friends from Nova Scotia are heading down our way for a ministry conference and bringing their two little girls, one of whom will stay with us for a few days and undoubtedly put Samuel in his place while here. And because I hate to miss a par-tay opportunity, I'm throwing a baby shower at the same time for a mutual friend of ours. She's expecting her first daughter, and if there's anything I like, it's babies. And cake. Well, and decorating stuff. Okay, mostly babies and cake.
5. Does anyone else still have their dead Christmas tree hanging around the house? Um, please say yes. And decorations on the stairs and cards taped up all around the doorways? Tomorrow...I need to do something about this.
6. The baby is crawling for real now. It's very cute. Samuel wasn't a crawler in the traditional sense; he walked on his hands and feet like a little bear. But real crawling by a tiny little one is so cute. And she's pulling herself up now as well, which is sweet and precious and I really want every minute to pause so I don't lose a second of babyness.
7. Take a look at this family photo. Isn't it beautiful? I wish I was brave enough to have seven children.
Go check out the other quick takes! And pray for Jen, our usual host, who is in the hospital with pulmonary embolisms in both lungs.
1. Today was Not A Good Day. The toddler is constipated, which is very much not a good time for anyone. I have no idea why this should be, as his diet hasn't changed in the slightest bit, but it's enough to make me second guess every single decision I make. Should he have a piece of cheese? Should we go for a walk? Is he drinking enough water? Should I try another dose of disgusting medicine? Plus, and, also, the baby is needy. Super needy. Don't-put-me-down-Mama needy. There was a point at which I was holding a howling child in the bathroom (who knew a warm bath was torture?) while a furious infant screamed from the bedroom and I felt like yelling "I'm only one woman!!"
2. Further on the bedroom bingo the children seem to be playing these days: both of them are now insisting on sleeping in their room. Well, the boy is. The baby has no choice and sits in not-mute anger in her crib, her fat little legs sticking out from the bars, peeved that I would be so cruel as to put her to bed. The horror. However, Samuel is falling out of bed and while I *should* probably just cave and put his mattress on the floor, I refuse to budge. I tried the whole mattress-on-the-floor rigamarole before and ended up with a toddler who slept on the carpet with a small square of fabric over him looking like a Victorian orphan. I had to keep the heat on 'broil' in the children's room and offer explanations every time someone saw where my son chose to sleep. I'm not going down that path again. He's in a bed and that's that. Someone suggested a pool noodle under the fitted sheet and I think that's the next step, followed by a bed rail. I really don't want to buy a bed rail.
3. We have a birthday party to go to on Sunday and I've already started 'prepping' my son. We're going to the pool, you see, and he's terrified of the pool. So we've talked about how we're going to give his friend a present (he interjected something about Jesus when I told him this - hope I'm not adding confusion to his understanding of birthday parties) and have a piece of cake and then IF he WANTS to and it's PERFECTLY OKAY if he doesn't, we will MAYBE go into the pool which is NOT SCARY at all because mama will be RIGHT THERE. So far, no dice; the child isn't biting. The pool is infested with giant water snakes and I don't know what I'm talking about.
4. Yay! We have company coming! My friends from Nova Scotia are heading down our way for a ministry conference and bringing their two little girls, one of whom will stay with us for a few days and undoubtedly put Samuel in his place while here. And because I hate to miss a par-tay opportunity, I'm throwing a baby shower at the same time for a mutual friend of ours. She's expecting her first daughter, and if there's anything I like, it's babies. And cake. Well, and decorating stuff. Okay, mostly babies and cake.
5. Does anyone else still have their dead Christmas tree hanging around the house? Um, please say yes. And decorations on the stairs and cards taped up all around the doorways? Tomorrow...I need to do something about this.
6. The baby is crawling for real now. It's very cute. Samuel wasn't a crawler in the traditional sense; he walked on his hands and feet like a little bear. But real crawling by a tiny little one is so cute. And she's pulling herself up now as well, which is sweet and precious and I really want every minute to pause so I don't lose a second of babyness.
7. Take a look at this family photo. Isn't it beautiful? I wish I was brave enough to have seven children.
Go check out the other quick takes! And pray for Jen, our usual host, who is in the hospital with pulmonary embolisms in both lungs.
Mushroom Stroganoff
Do you ever find these at your grocery store?
Large containers of sliced mushrooms on sale because they need to be eaten quickly?
Well, I do. All the time. And we love mushrooms so I've come up with a stroganoff recipe that uses them up quite well.
Grate 4 peeled cloves of garlic
Yeah, it's a lot of garlic. But garlic is so good for you. It lowers your cholesterol.
Slice half a sweet onion (I happened to use sweet because it was left over from fajita night, but use regular onion if that's what you have)
Fry in 1 Tbsp of butter. I'm estimating. I don't believe in measuring butter. It's against my religion.
If you're going to serve your stroganoff over mashed potatoes like I am, get your potatoes ready. We're trying to cut out as much white refined flour pasta as possible from our diets, so rice and potatoes are a staple around here.
Add the garlic, but lower the temperature first so you don't burn it. Burnt garlic is gross. And add a bit more butter, the mushrooms and some water.
Cover and cook. The mushrooms, which initially appear to be more than you could possibly ever eat, will cook down.
See?
If you don't want as much 'gravy' you can let it cook uncovered for a while to evaporate the liquid. Personally, I like it like this. Now add a cup of sour cream, salt and pepper, and serve.
Over egg noodles if you're a traditionalist, or mashed potatoes like we did today, or even rice.
It easily will serve a family of four. And is so filling.
I'm estimating the cost at about $5 for the entire meal. A favourite around here.
 |
| The price says $5.99, and 50% off. $3 isn't bad around here for mushrooms. |
Well, I do. All the time. And we love mushrooms so I've come up with a stroganoff recipe that uses them up quite well.
Grate 4 peeled cloves of garlic
Yeah, it's a lot of garlic. But garlic is so good for you. It lowers your cholesterol.
Slice half a sweet onion (I happened to use sweet because it was left over from fajita night, but use regular onion if that's what you have)
Fry in 1 Tbsp of butter. I'm estimating. I don't believe in measuring butter. It's against my religion.
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| Have you noticed that I cook so many things in cast iron? It really is the best way to cook. The iron leaches out slightly into your food, helping to boost your intake of the mineral (especially good for women, who lose a lot of iron). Not to mention that you need substantially less oil to cook with. In fact, the butter I use in this recipe is almost entirely only for the taste, not the frying. The pan is well seasoned. |
Add the garlic, but lower the temperature first so you don't burn it. Burnt garlic is gross. And add a bit more butter, the mushrooms and some water.
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| Looks like a lot, right? It's not. |
Cover and cook. The mushrooms, which initially appear to be more than you could possibly ever eat, will cook down.
See?
If you don't want as much 'gravy' you can let it cook uncovered for a while to evaporate the liquid. Personally, I like it like this. Now add a cup of sour cream, salt and pepper, and serve.
Over egg noodles if you're a traditionalist, or mashed potatoes like we did today, or even rice.
It easily will serve a family of four. And is so filling.
I'm estimating the cost at about $5 for the entire meal. A favourite around here.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Blue and Coral.
The children are playing bedroom roulette these days. Clara has outgrown the bassinette in our bedroom and so David and I set up the crib in what is supposed to be the children's bedroom. Except that Samuel has decided that he no longer wants to sleep in his bedroom; he wants to sleep in the spare room bed. Sigh sigh sigh. So, Clara is out of our room and in the crib, Samuel is out of his room and in the second bedroom bed, and David and I are sleeping all by our lonesome in a bedroom for the first time in almost 8 months.
And all this made me feel like organizing.
So today I organized the bedroom, and actually unpacked the last three boxes of books sitting in the children's room (Only two months after the move! Woohoo!) and started thinking about stuff we need in there. We need a chair. We need the chair from our bedroom, I think, because that would be the perfect nursing chair. And then we could move the livingroom loveseat upstairs to our room just like we'd discussed. Of course that means we need a new sofa...
Etc.
But on a much more far-fetched thought process, I'm thinking about decorating. I decided on a 'colour scheme' (saying those words makes me laugh, I just can't take myself that seriously) months and months ago. Robin's egg blue and coral. So pretty. Just perfect for a shared-gender bedroom, I think.
A little girly, a little boyish, fun, vintage...just my style. This is all I can think of, looking at the room. Mind you - the room I have to work with looks nothing at all like anything you'd find on Pinterest. A crib, a bed, a bookcase, toys...not a solitary throw pillow or shadow box to be seen.
What do you think should be my first focus? Bedding? Curtains? What will help me get the most design bang for my buck?
And all this made me feel like organizing.
So today I organized the bedroom, and actually unpacked the last three boxes of books sitting in the children's room (Only two months after the move! Woohoo!) and started thinking about stuff we need in there. We need a chair. We need the chair from our bedroom, I think, because that would be the perfect nursing chair. And then we could move the livingroom loveseat upstairs to our room just like we'd discussed. Of course that means we need a new sofa...
Etc.
But on a much more far-fetched thought process, I'm thinking about decorating. I decided on a 'colour scheme' (saying those words makes me laugh, I just can't take myself that seriously) months and months ago. Robin's egg blue and coral. So pretty. Just perfect for a shared-gender bedroom, I think.
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| photo source |
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| photo source |
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| photo source |
What do you think should be my first focus? Bedding? Curtains? What will help me get the most design bang for my buck?
Fridge Cleaning Noodle-less Lasagna
I had to clean out the fridge the other day, and I made up something for our supper last night that was good enough (I thought, at least) to bother sharing:
I'm not sure what to call it, but I'm saying it's Noodle-Free Roasted Vegetable and Sausage Lasagna.
Here's how to make it, if you are in the mood to clean out your fridge.
I had a package of sliced portabello mushrooms to use up, but I'm assuming you could use the mushrooms of your choice. Saute lightly in about 1/4 tsp of butter.
A layer of sauce, then of sauteed mushrooms.
Saute green peppers...
And add them as a layer.
A thin layer of grated strong cheese. I used Gruyere. Parmesan would work, too.
In the meantime, boil some sausages. I used three spicy ones here.
And add some more mushrooms to your frying pan as well. I ran out of portobello and used button mushrooms here.
Add some more tomato sauce, and then a layer of zucchini. Now, I imagine long slices of zucchini would be nice, but I had grated in the fridge so that's what I used. Lightly steam or saute it and put on top of the tomato sauce.
Now the next mushroom layer.
Some more cheese, and then your chopped, cooked sausage.
Some more sauce, a final grating of cheese, then in the oven at 350 for about an hour, or until the liquid has mostly evaporated.
I'm not sure what to call it, but I'm saying it's Noodle-Free Roasted Vegetable and Sausage Lasagna.
Here's how to make it, if you are in the mood to clean out your fridge.
I had a package of sliced portabello mushrooms to use up, but I'm assuming you could use the mushrooms of your choice. Saute lightly in about 1/4 tsp of butter.
Now, I decided to use pasta sauce from my pantry, and I chose the richest and strongest tasting one I had to make up for all of the paler vegetable tastes.
A layer of sauce, then of sauteed mushrooms.
Saute green peppers...
And add them as a layer.
A thin layer of grated strong cheese. I used Gruyere. Parmesan would work, too.
In the meantime, boil some sausages. I used three spicy ones here.
And add some more mushrooms to your frying pan as well. I ran out of portobello and used button mushrooms here.
Add some more tomato sauce, and then a layer of zucchini. Now, I imagine long slices of zucchini would be nice, but I had grated in the fridge so that's what I used. Lightly steam or saute it and put on top of the tomato sauce.
Now the next mushroom layer.
Some more cheese, and then your chopped, cooked sausage.
Some more sauce, a final grating of cheese, then in the oven at 350 for about an hour, or until the liquid has mostly evaporated.
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