Yesterday we were planning a trip to the museum. I told the girls the previous day's laundry had to be folded and put away before we could leave. (Don't worry, I was helping them!) Anyway, after much bad behaviour, and many warnings and threats, I had to cancel our little outing. Oh boy. It was as much a disappointment for me as it was for them, I think.
So, next decision: It is a beautiful day. We absolutely cannot stand to sit inside. What do I do? I can't go back on my word, but we must get out. Okay, a trip to the "park". Much groaning ensued, because the "park" sounded boring after thinking about going to a "hands-on" museum.
I packed a lunch and we ate in the van on the way to the park. The park turned out to be more like a forest, with very wide walking trails. It was beautiful. I was so glad to find out it wasn't a manicured lawn with play grounds everywhere.
When we got to the ocean, there was a nice surprise waiting for us. There were about 6-7 seals lounging on the rocks! We couldn't see them well enough to know if they were grey seals or harbour seals, and I forgot to grab the binoculars on the way out. I was ticked at myself. But we watched them for awhile, and also found some other treasures.
Anyway, needless to say, I think it was providential that we ended up at the park instead of the museum! The girls had a great time building dams in the melting snow-streams, and Emilie was happy to take everything in from her ride on my back.
It was such a beautiful day...One of those days that makes you hopeful that one day spring will be here for real.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Find of the Day!
I'm not very good at biology, so it took us a minute to discover that these were sea urchin shells! We were so pleased to find some whole ones. (Now we'll be looking for sea stars to add to our collection. We've only seen those looking down from a pier where we couldn't reach them.)
It was such a beautiful day, I just had to share the awesome expanse of pure blue with you.
Okay, this is a terrible picture, but I'm hoping one day I'll have a telephoto. Here are the seals.
The rock on the left has about 2-3 seals sitting on it. The other seals must have been sitting on a rock right under the water (on the right).
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- I'm going to jot a few things down that may or may not be of interest. I'm trying to work up the energy to tackle my messy kitchen while the girls are having quiet time.
- I love quiet time. I don't think I'll ever give it up. I remember my mom making us have quiet time even when we were older. It was so peaceful to have the house stand still for that hour (or so). I think businesses should have siestas like they do in other countries.
- I'm becoming accustomed to taking all 4 kids grocery shopping with me. Sometimes I wait until Daryl is home so I can go alone, but sometimes it just can't wait. The girls are (slow....ly) learning not to ask for so much stuff, and to help pick out produce, etc. Today we found about 5 carts full of clearance items. I bought cereal for $2, honey for $1.90/500g...I think those were my best deals. I added up the receipt and I think I saved around $50. Of course I bought more than I went there for in the first place...But it will be a long time before I have to buy cereal or honey!
- We found a "new" (for us) park on Saturday, and had our first taste of salt water. The girls wouldn't taste it until I did. It was funny - even though I knew what to expect, the taste still surprised my mouth. They thought they'd like to drink it. (Kinda like drinking the pickle juice from the jar, I guess)
- WE HAVE A BABYSITTER COMING THIS SATURDAY!!!
I found her through someone at the church we've been going to. She came highly recommended, and I'm super PUMPED to get a night out with my man. Can you tell???
- It is so wonderful to see the sun coming up earlier and going down later. Isn't it? Sometimes when Daryl gets home early, we're actually eating dinner in daylight! I can't wait until the sun is up before me.
- Daryl had his second week on call. He can be on call from home, and doesn't always have to go in. The first week on call, he only went in 2-3 times. This week he was in 2-3 times per night! At his other job, there was a standing joke that if he was on call it was going to be a busy night. People seriously didn't want to work with him because they knew it'd be crazy busy. The other day, one of his attendings told him he's a (insert not-very-nice-word)_____-magnet. Isn't that weird? It's not like people know who's going to be there when their kid is diagnosed with a heart defect...
-Are you wondering why this post is called "Chocolate Chips"? So am I. It just sounded good, ok?
I was wishing I could use chocolate chips instead of boring old dashes at the beginning of each line.
- I love quiet time. I don't think I'll ever give it up. I remember my mom making us have quiet time even when we were older. It was so peaceful to have the house stand still for that hour (or so). I think businesses should have siestas like they do in other countries.
- I'm becoming accustomed to taking all 4 kids grocery shopping with me. Sometimes I wait until Daryl is home so I can go alone, but sometimes it just can't wait. The girls are (slow....ly) learning not to ask for so much stuff, and to help pick out produce, etc. Today we found about 5 carts full of clearance items. I bought cereal for $2, honey for $1.90/500g...I think those were my best deals. I added up the receipt and I think I saved around $50. Of course I bought more than I went there for in the first place...But it will be a long time before I have to buy cereal or honey!
- We found a "new" (for us) park on Saturday, and had our first taste of salt water. The girls wouldn't taste it until I did. It was funny - even though I knew what to expect, the taste still surprised my mouth. They thought they'd like to drink it. (Kinda like drinking the pickle juice from the jar, I guess)
- WE HAVE A BABYSITTER COMING THIS SATURDAY!!!
I found her through someone at the church we've been going to. She came highly recommended, and I'm super PUMPED to get a night out with my man. Can you tell???
- It is so wonderful to see the sun coming up earlier and going down later. Isn't it? Sometimes when Daryl gets home early, we're actually eating dinner in daylight! I can't wait until the sun is up before me.
- Daryl had his second week on call. He can be on call from home, and doesn't always have to go in. The first week on call, he only went in 2-3 times. This week he was in 2-3 times per night! At his other job, there was a standing joke that if he was on call it was going to be a busy night. People seriously didn't want to work with him because they knew it'd be crazy busy. The other day, one of his attendings told him he's a (insert not-very-nice-word)_____-magnet. Isn't that weird? It's not like people know who's going to be there when their kid is diagnosed with a heart defect...
-Are you wondering why this post is called "Chocolate Chips"? So am I. It just sounded good, ok?
I was wishing I could use chocolate chips instead of boring old dashes at the beginning of each line.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Menu
I know this is late, but at least you can still get ideas if you want for next week. Hey, think of it like that...I'm not late, I'm early!
Monday - Thai Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce and Rice
Tuesday - Spaghetti w/ meat sauce - I've gotten in the habit of keeping this off brand of sauce in my pantry that is 7 Vegetable. It's cheap, it's fast, and we love it.
Wednesday - Baked French Toast and bacon, also fruit salad
Thursday - Crock Pot Beef Stew and Soda Farls
Friday - Hmmm. I haven't done any vegetarian meals this week! Not sure what tomorrow night will be. Any ideas? Maybe Indian curry and naan...
Monday - Thai Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce and Rice
Tuesday - Spaghetti w/ meat sauce - I've gotten in the habit of keeping this off brand of sauce in my pantry that is 7 Vegetable. It's cheap, it's fast, and we love it.
Wednesday - Baked French Toast and bacon, also fruit salad
Thursday - Crock Pot Beef Stew and Soda Farls
Friday - Hmmm. I haven't done any vegetarian meals this week! Not sure what tomorrow night will be. Any ideas? Maybe Indian curry and naan...
For the Sonlight-ers Out There
I thought all you Sonlight users (or homeschoolers in general, for that matter) would enjoy seeing this.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
On Oats
Okay, I know I'm a little behind the health-food-times, but I just tried steel cut oats for the first time. If you like oatmeal for breakfast, you will love them. The first time I made them, we just cooked them on the stove top, and they were so yummy. Then I looked around on the web and saw that a lot of people cook them in the crock pot all night.
It takes about 25 minutes to cook them on the stove, but I like that method better. Anyway, since it's nice to have breakfast prepared when you get up, here is how to cook them in the crock pot:
-Put 4 C water into a small bowl that will fit inside your crock pot.
-Add a bit of vanilla, a lot of cinnamon, and some brown sugar if you want.
-Put in 1 C steel cut oats (DO NOT use rolled oats or quick oats or you will have MUSH)
-Put some water into the crock pot.
-Place the bowl inside, in the water.
-Turn on low and let cook about 6 hours.
-Eat it with fresh or frozen berries, raisins, maple syrup, nuts...the options are endless!
- NOTE: This makes a lot of oats. You can it back, just remember the ratio!
Now, I go to bed around 10:30, so my oats get a little overcooked. (I wish I had a timer on my crock pot so that I could set it for about midnight.) 6 hours, I think, would be perfect.
It is wonderful to come into the kitchen and smell the beauty :-)
P.S. Besides being very healthy, this is a very inexpensive breakfast. It costs about 30 cents to feed this to our whole family!
It takes about 25 minutes to cook them on the stove, but I like that method better. Anyway, since it's nice to have breakfast prepared when you get up, here is how to cook them in the crock pot:
-Put 4 C water into a small bowl that will fit inside your crock pot.
-Add a bit of vanilla, a lot of cinnamon, and some brown sugar if you want.
-Put in 1 C steel cut oats (DO NOT use rolled oats or quick oats or you will have MUSH)
-Put some water into the crock pot.
-Place the bowl inside, in the water.
-Turn on low and let cook about 6 hours.
-Eat it with fresh or frozen berries, raisins, maple syrup, nuts...the options are endless!
- NOTE: This makes a lot of oats. You can it back, just remember the ratio!
Now, I go to bed around 10:30, so my oats get a little overcooked. (I wish I had a timer on my crock pot so that I could set it for about midnight.) 6 hours, I think, would be perfect.
It is wonderful to come into the kitchen and smell the beauty :-)
P.S. Besides being very healthy, this is a very inexpensive breakfast. It costs about 30 cents to feed this to our whole family!
Quote of the Day
"Giving a child the best of everything robs her of the chance to learn how to make the best of what she has."
-Carl Honore
Monday, February 16, 2009
February 14
Valentine's Day. I love it.
Aside from the history of it, I love the fact that there's a special day set aside for love. And, I have to admit, I'm a sucker for all the red and pink stuff in the stores. I know some of it is oh-so-tacky, but I like it. :-)
If I had the time, I would go crazy making desserts and decorating with hearts. Instead, we settled for attending Heart Disease Awareness Week (or something), combined with a Valentine's party at Daryl's work. At least I got to bake Mocha Truffle Brownies, which were fun to make, and a pleasure to eat. :-)
The kids had a great time standing in front of a HUGE table filled with sweets (and fruit) and picking whatever they wanted. (Yes, even Adrienne! Only her choices were slightly guided by Mommy.)
To celebrate all the love, Daryl and I cooked a special meal of linguine, Alfredo sauce, and chicken. The girls had a great time setting the table with crystal wine glasses, candles and our good dishes. Daryl and I served them individual salads and bread to start, and we enjoyed a VERY quiet and well-behaved table full of girls. Even Emilie was quiet. The girls pretended they were at a fancy restaurant and just thought it was the greatest.
Daryl was such a good sport about joining into a "formal" dinner with us, and I was very thankful for a fun hubby who doesn't think he's too macho for that. :-) After supper he made the girls steamed milk and we had lattes.
The girls had such fun and used such wonderful table manners (a rare occurrence around here) that I think I'm going to do this once a month...
Aside from the history of it, I love the fact that there's a special day set aside for love. And, I have to admit, I'm a sucker for all the red and pink stuff in the stores. I know some of it is oh-so-tacky, but I like it. :-)
If I had the time, I would go crazy making desserts and decorating with hearts. Instead, we settled for attending Heart Disease Awareness Week (or something), combined with a Valentine's party at Daryl's work. At least I got to bake Mocha Truffle Brownies, which were fun to make, and a pleasure to eat. :-)
The kids had a great time standing in front of a HUGE table filled with sweets (and fruit) and picking whatever they wanted. (Yes, even Adrienne! Only her choices were slightly guided by Mommy.)
To celebrate all the love, Daryl and I cooked a special meal of linguine, Alfredo sauce, and chicken. The girls had a great time setting the table with crystal wine glasses, candles and our good dishes. Daryl and I served them individual salads and bread to start, and we enjoyed a VERY quiet and well-behaved table full of girls. Even Emilie was quiet. The girls pretended they were at a fancy restaurant and just thought it was the greatest.
Daryl was such a good sport about joining into a "formal" dinner with us, and I was very thankful for a fun hubby who doesn't think he's too macho for that. :-) After supper he made the girls steamed milk and we had lattes.
The girls had such fun and used such wonderful table manners (a rare occurrence around here) that I think I'm going to do this once a month...
Friday, February 13, 2009
P.S.
A couple things I thought about after I wrote the last posts...
1) If you have access to Timmy's, please do yourself a favour and try their new trail mix cookies. I'm pretty sure they're not near as healthy as they'd like you to believe, but they're really, really yummy.
2) Scroll down and look at the picture of the bench in our back yard. I should have titled this "The Invisible Person". Where are the footprints leading away from the bench??? This just occurred to me.
1) If you have access to Timmy's, please do yourself a favour and try their new trail mix cookies. I'm pretty sure they're not near as healthy as they'd like you to believe, but they're really, really yummy.
2) Scroll down and look at the picture of the bench in our back yard. I should have titled this "The Invisible Person". Where are the footprints leading away from the bench??? This just occurred to me.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Olivia
It was Olivia's turn for a "date" with me tonight. We went to Tim's for a treat, and then browsed Hallmark. She decided to spend the $1.50 she had with her on some helium balloons.
On the way home, we had a conversation something like this:
O: When I get married, I want a ring exactly like that (noticing a large billboard ad for a jeweler)
Me: Yeah, it's nice, eh?
O: Can you have a job when you're engaged? Are you going to make me go to University?
Me: Yes, you can have a job when you're engaged. I did.... I really hope you decide to go to University, but I'm not going to make you go.
O: Okay, 'cause I know I don't want to go. I just want to be a server in a restaurant.
Me: You could still go to University if you want.
O: No, I don't think I will, because...well... (starting to sound panicky) I'm not going to get married.
Me: Why not?
O: It's just that...well... (frustration) what if my husband wants to have a job, and I want to have a job, and then we'll have to send our kids to daycare?! (Disgusted noise) It's just so hard. (that part is verbatim)
Me: Well, you could go to University, get a job, and have a lot of time to work before you get married and have kids.
O: No, I don't think so. Are we almost home?
On the way home, we had a conversation something like this:
O: When I get married, I want a ring exactly like that (noticing a large billboard ad for a jeweler)
Me: Yeah, it's nice, eh?
O: Can you have a job when you're engaged? Are you going to make me go to University?
Me: Yes, you can have a job when you're engaged. I did.... I really hope you decide to go to University, but I'm not going to make you go.
O: Okay, 'cause I know I don't want to go. I just want to be a server in a restaurant.
Me: You could still go to University if you want.
O: No, I don't think I will, because...well... (starting to sound panicky) I'm not going to get married.
Me: Why not?
O: It's just that...well... (frustration) what if my husband wants to have a job, and I want to have a job, and then we'll have to send our kids to daycare?! (Disgusted noise) It's just so hard. (that part is verbatim)
Me: Well, you could go to University, get a job, and have a lot of time to work before you get married and have kids.
O: No, I don't think so. Are we almost home?
Sunlight On Ice
Trees in our backyard...every single branch was covered with ice for a few days. It was so beautiful when the sun hit it every morning.
Our Little Show Off
The girls put these glasses on her and since we laughed, she performed! It was hilarious.
She found that the spaghetti squash made a lovely soccer ball. Too bad it was at 6:30 am (no joke).
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Soup and Goop
Okay, I posted the soup and the sticky roll goop over on the recipe site. Be sure and leave comments when you try stuff! :-)
P.S. I think I'll post more pictures of food to see who all is out there! That was fun. Come out from hiding people...
P.S. I think I'll post more pictures of food to see who all is out there! That was fun. Come out from hiding people...
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
I Keep Forgetting
I really shouldn't forget to do this, but I did.
A few times I'd written something about Emilie, asking you to pray for her. Daryl believed she had a pneumonia, and her asthma was really acting up. Anyway, she is totally better, thanks be to God.
She wasn't eating a lot and I was getting more worried about her weight than I was about her cough. Her appetite is HUGE now, and I can feel her getting heavier.
She was on anitibiotics for a week, and she seems totally over anything she had.
Praise Jesus! ...and thanks for praying
A few times I'd written something about Emilie, asking you to pray for her. Daryl believed she had a pneumonia, and her asthma was really acting up. Anyway, she is totally better, thanks be to God.
She wasn't eating a lot and I was getting more worried about her weight than I was about her cough. Her appetite is HUGE now, and I can feel her getting heavier.
She was on anitibiotics for a week, and she seems totally over anything she had.
Praise Jesus! ...and thanks for praying
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Sunday Morning Breakfast
Saturday night I made these.
I will leave comments on the other site as to what I did differently. I kind of regret that I shared some with my new neighbors (ha ha)...
I will leave comments on the other site as to what I did differently. I kind of regret that I shared some with my new neighbors (ha ha)...
Eating...again
I haven't posted my menu for awhile, and since some of you seemed to get a kick out of that, maybe I'll start doing it again. Actually, if anyone else wants to do it, I would like that. I think it's good to get ideas from eachother. Seems someone is always having a dry spell when someone else is full of ideas. We need eachother, housewives!
Here's mine:
Monday - Italian Sausage Soup (a variation on Sabrina's Peasant Soup. I added pasta to make it more hearty) It also has white beans and spinach in it and it is awesome. Let me know if I should post the recipe.
Tuesday - Broccoli lasagne, not sure what else. Doesn't sound too filling...
Wednesday - Oriental Hot Pot (thanks for the idea, Mom) and maybe egg rolls
Thursday - Scrambled Eggs with asparagus and mushrooms, and whole grain raspberry muffins
Friday - Gallo Pinto and tortillas (gotta give credit to Jose and Kim for this one)
Saturday - Anna-Christina wants to cook - Mexican Chicken Casserole and Purple Flurp! (Purple Flurp is a recipe she found in a book she was reading. It is sweetened condensed milk, crushed pineapple and blueberry pie filling in the blender.)
Sunday - Crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots
Here's mine:
Monday - Italian Sausage Soup (a variation on Sabrina's Peasant Soup. I added pasta to make it more hearty) It also has white beans and spinach in it and it is awesome. Let me know if I should post the recipe.
Tuesday - Broccoli lasagne, not sure what else. Doesn't sound too filling...
Wednesday - Oriental Hot Pot (thanks for the idea, Mom) and maybe egg rolls
Thursday - Scrambled Eggs with asparagus and mushrooms, and whole grain raspberry muffins
Friday - Gallo Pinto and tortillas (gotta give credit to Jose and Kim for this one)
Saturday - Anna-Christina wants to cook - Mexican Chicken Casserole and Purple Flurp! (Purple Flurp is a recipe she found in a book she was reading. It is sweetened condensed milk, crushed pineapple and blueberry pie filling in the blender.)
Sunday - Crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots
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