Finally a Nice Day....

After too many cold days it is finally nice enough to play outside. We've been busy around here. Scott has cut down 4/5 pine trees towering over our house. I barely got the kids off the porch before one of them came expectantly down. Right where we were standing. Kids loved it.
They've been living in their swimsuits since Friday (oh yeah, there was 6" of snow in our yard on Tues.)

Everyone played so hard yesterday that Forrest and Berke were fast asleep by 7pm. Amazing. It stays lighter later so it is virtually impossible to get kids to sleep early. Nice treat to have them asleep. Today it is only 4pm and everyone is down for quiet time /naps. yipee. Time for a little nap for mama??? Though it might be a late night for everyone tonight. eeks :)

Berkeley turns 4!!!!

AHHHH our little girl turned 4. I hope it is a year of happier voices (no more crying, major breakdowns & shyness beyond belief.). A year for her to remember..... For her birthday party we had fun painting treasure boxes, playing a few games, presents and a little cake. Nothing spectacular but she had a fun day and loved playing with her friends.

Moms Day Fun

Just a few photos of a fun celebration Tagg's Kindergarten Class held for all their moms. We were treated with some veggies and pretzels (you can see how he put my plate together for me.) They sang songs about their mom, then each took turns telling why they loved their mom. Such a sweet idea. Also happened to be PJ day at school--- thus the clothing for all the kids and teachers.

Tagg's GR. K teacher Mrs Thiessen- "Mrs. T"

The table all decked out and decorated for us with a photo heart card, homemade napkin holders, a paper flower vase and a little book about loving his momma......

Chocolate Cake anyone??

OK, After years I made my favorite recipe for a chocolate cake yesterday & have been nibbling on it since..... yummy. When I was a kid my mom would make my sis Sonia and I take turns on Saturdays to make dessert for family dinner on Sunday afternoon. One time I found a recipe from a magazine for Hershey's 5 Minute Chocolate Cake. Ripped it out of the magazine & brought it home. Anything that could be made in 5 minutes so I could go play I was all over. It is super moist & yummy!!

So give it a try---then top it off with Sonia Super FUDGEY chocolate icing. Delicious. Even Forrest sat down with a couple plates of it. Chocolate disaster all over his face and my floor :) Guess he comes by the chocolate craving honestly....

ENJOY!!

HERSHEY'S 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE
Mix together:
1 1/4 cups four
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

then add:
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla

1 cup boiling water---ADD LAST
Pour into pans. Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes for layers, or 40 minutes for 9x13 pan.


SONIA'S QUICK COCOA FROSTING (tastes like fudge!)
1/2 cup margaine
1/4 cup cocoa
1/3 cup milk
mix together in saucepan. bring to boil. Simmer 3 min.
Remove from heat and stir in 3 1/2 cups icing sugar and 1 tsp vanilla.
Beat until smooth.

If it is too runny add a little extra icing sugar (powdered sugar) or I add a tablespoon or 2 of flour to thicken it without adding sweetness--cuz it is Fudgey!

Spring time?? Any takers---

Forrest dressed up as his favorite puppy!

Tagg designed his own shirt, even included a rip in it so we could see his big muscles like the "HULK"
Berkeley posing....


After months of sitting under 3ft of snow, and cold and ice.... finally the sun has peeked out on GP. Just in time for us. This weather has been so strange, warm and sunny-- the next a storm of snow back on the lawn again.... We spent easter with family which was such a nice change after being tied down here for months. We had a great time and miss everyone so much. xoxoxox

Here are photos Tagg took of his fun at Grandma's with his family... He was on a visual journey to take pictures of his favorites things so he wouldn't forget them. Thanks to Grandma Linda & Lois for baking daddy's favorite raisin cookies, Auntie Joanie for the books/cds and fun visit!

this post probably just for me.... A Glimpse of Today

Forrest fell asleep as I am writing this--
right in the middle of eating his ice cream.

Bathtime....
Forrest eating a little snow with dirt on top---yummmmy!
Tagg, Raul and Berkeley playing in the snow
All the kiddies hanging on the bed!!

I haven't been on for a while, and I am so sad. This is actually more like my journal-- it's here I share my photos and stories..... I've been away for so long that I think I've forgotten many of the good things in my life, and hopefully a few of the bad ones. Its been a very difficult year, but some how we are still here and kicking.

We are still in Grande Prairie. It's been a good home for us. Tagg is busy with Kindergarten, Loves school, his teacher and the kids. He is always drawing or "inventing" something. It actually amazes me as he thinks up new things to create (and amazes me the way one simple box can last weeks of playtime!!) Berkeley loves the alphabet and is spelling her name, drawing, coloring. She always want to be on the computer and lets her little brother Forrest sit beside her as she plays his favorite games (hello blues clues.... gag!). Forrest is pretty husky little guy. Weighs about the same as Berkeley; and is into about everything the big kids are. Today I found him on the cupboard with the blender. He had actually opened and emptied a container of yogurt in it... making our ritual smoothie--without me??! eeks.

We have all the routines that work for us. mornings are chocolate milk and cartoons, everyone laying on their own special couch. cuddletime in mom and dad's bed. after school = popcorn and Ben 10 cartoon. Tues and Fridays are play-all-day-with-Raul days. Where my kids are so happy to have their friend over all day. {When I pick up Tagg from school that is always his first question "is Raul still here??"; they actually see him everyday-- they wait by the window for him to arrive in the morning,(& wait for his mom @lunchtimes}. early suppers and bathtime--getting in all the play they can to completely wipe them out. Apples and water before bed. Days seem to drift into one another, weeks merge into weeks, suddenly the month has passed and I am still trying to get caught up on my laundry, all the other things on my list I put off till tomorrow. {THUS MY TARDINESS WITH BLOGGING, you know the laundry and dishes and bathrooms are waiting for me yet}. I seem to do the same things everyday--dishes, laundry, pick up, cleanup, organize, re-organize. Then the next day, we do it all again....oh-joy!!! I appreciate my mom , dad & family even more for keeping a clean house (many hands make light work). I've been trying to teach the kids to make beds, clean up dishes, fold clothes.... but truthfully the many little hands at my house make it all twice the work.

Luckily we are all healthy and well. Waiting anxiously for spring. I've got to get some energy to get our house tidied and organized and ready for our new arrival, due end of August. I feel relieved to think that this is probably the last time I will feel kinda out of control with my hormones, lack of energy, and wild eating habits.... But we are grateful for the blessing of a new baby--the kids are so excited and always want to talk to it, hug it, tell it stories. We were a little unprepared for another one, but what's one more bum to change???

Well thats a glimpse of today. Many more things to say, but better save them for another day. I don't want to run out of things to say :)

PS. Stay strong Tam. I'm behind you all the way!!

Got the hint!!

ahhhh :) Had to laugh as my dear friend Leslie offered her daughter to babysit for me so I could get caught up on a few things--like this blog. Thanks Leslie & Marin

So What do we do in the wintertime when all the world is white??? we bake, we cook, we eat. yikes.... I need to add we work out too-- does a dozen batches of laundry up and down the stairs count??Tonight for Family Night (every Monday) we made cookies. Tagg ate half the dough before we cooked them and then while I was bathing his siblings he ate the other half, fresh from the oven. YUMMY!! We love choco-chip so here is our fave recipe:

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or milk choco--depends what I have)
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In medium bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir so all ingredients are mixed.
3. In large bowl, combine sugars, and butter. Mix until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth and fluffy.
4. Add 1 cup of dry ingredients at a time to mixture until all is incorporated. Drop cookies onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Scott is upstairs watching "I AM LEGEND". I've seen it once, but even after 15 min I am freaking out; don't even dare come downstairs for fear of a bald, shiny, thrashing pokey-teeth terror will dart out from one of these rooms.... If you haven't seen it, you should; but don't watch it alone, don't watch it at night--this is a daytime movie; but should you doubt me & you decide to venture into the night time to watch this movie, make sure every light in the house is on (& you have some to hold on toooooo).

Speaking of cooking... my girlie Carey has a great blog with great photos and easy recipes. Check out Carey's Cooking. Her recipe for Potato Soup is FAB!! I've made it a couple times for people and have had great reviews!!

I need to finish up some Christmas Cards so better get crackin'.... {besides I can't go upstairs as Scott is still watching the adorable Will Smith on LEGEND....too freaky for this chicky!!}

To Everything There is a Season

Ever feel like you are just drifting thru life?? Lately I feel like I am just barely getting thru it. Everyday swirls into the next and I still have the same 5, er 10 things on my To Do list {like this blog}. I am constantly playing "catch-up". Picking the MUST DOs, ignoring the SHOULD DOs & just doing the minimal to get by. Just enough laundry so everyone can wear clean sox and undies (though in Berkes case we are treading a thin line---3yrs and semi-potty-trained... ughh); just enough cleaning that I don't feel completely frustrated by the whirlwind that transforms my house back to chaos (case in point-- 4 glasses of dumped strawberry lemonade hit the floor between 3 kids within 10 minutes---hmmmm remind me why I love lids??); just enough time with each kid to know they are loved, before I shoo them away so I can finish up the dishes, or refold the laundry I didn't put away, which now scatters the floors--but not enough time to read Forrest the storybook he has been carrying around the house. I know this is a typical mom/wife/woman/human thing. Finding balance. Finding time. Doing it all or Making people think you do it all. The reality is we can't do everything perfect all the time. There is a time and season for everything.

I recently read a talk by E. Ballard, in it he shares a quote by Author Anna Quindlen in her book, Loud and Clear. She reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She says:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” (Loud and Clear[2004], 10–11).

Something to think about as my nights and days are all scrambled together. Yes I am a night owl, but only 4nights/week. The other days I crash early with Forrest. Yet here it is nearly 3am & I still need to tidy the house. Get things a bit organized before tomorrow.... or wait--I think that will go on my "TO DO" list too....

Thoughts on TLC... miss you gals!!

old post I never posted--why post now?? more for me than anyone else????....

written back in Aug.Where shall we start..... BEEE-U-Tee-ful weather we are enjoying here. plus 30C. which is ridiculous for GP. But we are happy-- our garden perhaps not that much. We hit the pool yesterday and all my kids were fish. yeah!! still have some need for a lifejacket, but Berke and Tagg were in the shallow pool (where he can touch) both without lifejackets-- jumping in. Berke was a little under water most of the time but thought she was too cool without a jacket like Tagg. She was daddy's #1 waterslide partner-- hit it with him a few times. For me going back to the pool is 2-fold. I love the place. & it makes me sad....WHY??? I spent much time organizing and planning, prepping and luving that place. I worked there for several years with Fab Folks (some of whom are still there) that I adore and cherish their friendships. But instead of being the working gal I thought I was, baby #2 came & I decided to recede my working plan for our kids. I did it gladly---- but on days when I go to The Leisure Centre.... I miss it; sometimes so much I shed a few tears. Miss the friends, the challenges (though my 3 challenges here keep me busy), miss that stage of my life. The City was a Great employer. They helped me develop into who I am with additional learning & hands-on training. But it's been a couple yrs since I resigned, I don't recognize many of the lifeguards, they've painted and developed and done some wonderful things there. Just so proud to have had a little part of it......

So on to my next great adventure..........