On Sunday, it was chilly and I was feeling in a soup mood, so I dug out my many recipes from cooking class a few years back and made this hearty soup. It starts off with pancetta browned in the pan, then onion, garlic and shredded cabbage is added and cooked just until translucent and then rosemary, bay leaves, chicken stock, potatoe, sausage and white kidney beans are added and simmered just until the pototoes are fork-soft. Then I called the kids to the table for supper. Hunter sits down and immediately says, “Mmmmm. Looks soooo good Mom!”. Tyler sits Read More »
dress rehearsal.
The synchro club held their annual dress rehearsal yesterday for family & friends of the club. All 7 teams skated their programs in full costume to get ready for the competition season which begins in two weeks with the first competition in Calgary. Hunter skated first with the club’s youngest team(black & white dress). This program is a “Music Box Dancer” ballet inspired program. The second team that Hunter skates with is a 9-12 year old category, and that team skated to a very upbeat “ragtime” number with a costume of red and white top with black skirt. This team Read More »
let the games begin…
Since Tyler had a special day on Tuesday when we went to the Science Museum, Hunter had a special day yesterday with a board game party. We decided she would invite 5 friends for an afternoon of board games, and everyone made it except one friend. Each friend was asked to bring his/her favorite board game, and we had games and snacks. They played: Silly Sentences, Charades, Kids Trivial Pursuit and the game that Tyler got for Christmas: Piraanha Panic. Seriously, everyone had a great time, played board games that were new to them, and no passive electronics like mp3 Read More »
whales….
Happy 2007!! Ron was back at work today and the kids and I had just finished breakfast when a friend called and asked if we would like to join them on a trip to the museum today. Her little boy and Tyler are good friends. So after my doctor’s appt. and x-ray to deal with my sinus infection, we set off to meet them. We went to the Science Museum, which is not very far away. This museum houses many interesting science-based exhibits, and an Imax Theatre is part of the facilitites. So today we visited the Imax for the Read More »
happy new year…
I love the week between Christmas and New Years when the kids are home and the frantic pace of getting ready for Christmas is over. Now is the time for rest and relaxation. A time for fresh beginnings. In a few days, we will take down our decorations and put away all the new things. But it will also be a time clean, de-clutter and reorganize. Feels so good to clear stuff out. Since our move, we have cleared out many “baby toys” and stuff that is no longer played with. I have saved a box of baby toys that Read More »
in the spirit…
One of my favorite things about Christmas is the Christmas feast. I love the smell of turkey in the air and the anticipation of the meal. Mom being with us and making all of our favorites. The kitchen was a flurry of flour and egg shells everywhere, but we had so much fun. We made trifle for dessert with homemade custard and real whipped cream. Eggnog garnished with freshly shaved nutmeg. Homemade stuffing and cranberry sauce. Mom made the centrepiece for the table and Hunter helped set the table with my Grandmother Ada’s dishes. It was so wonderful having Mom Read More »
be merry.
Tyler bounded into my sleep at 6:00 am and I managed to hold both children off until 6:30. It was a great Christmas morning. It was verystill and quiet outside with a thick layer of snow covering the ground. The kids were thrilled with Santa’s offerings and Mom & Dad were here to share in it all. Tyler loved his magnetix and Hunter loved her lululemon. She also got an ipod flower, which is a really neat toy which can be hooked up to her mp3 player. The flower dances to music and snores when it falls “asleep”. Ron got Read More »
elf.
Last night for a bit of spontaneous fun, we decorated our Christmas tree. Last year we went “artificial” and it is much easier to deal with, especially in terms of spontaneity. No picking and choosing, no thawing out, no vacuming needles. I never thought I would be an “artificial” type, but the trees you can buy now are so beautiful compared to years ago. Tyler entertained us with Christmas carols. Then we watched the movie “Elf” with Will Farrell. Sometimes, in our house, it is not so easy to find a movie that pleases both the 10 year old and Read More »
Christmas Cookie Party.
This yummy photo was taken at my home in 2004 at the family’s Christmas Cookie Exchange. This annual family event was started by my Aunt Janet in 1990 or 1991 and has been continued every year with various family members hosting the party. We have had any number of family members joining the event, ranging from a mere 12 to over 30. Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to host the event the last year I lived in my home province. Little did I know then that one year later I would be thousands of miles away. I miss Read More »
definition of success.
“People have unrealistic expectations of the holiday season because of adverstising and because WE desperately try to recreate the wonderful childhood holiday memory. Succesful people have learned that the joy of the holidays comes from two things. First, FULLY forgive all those you have a grudge against. Second, do something good for somebody for no reason and then notice how good you feel. If you can do this for the holidays, then this will continue in all aspects of your life.” -lululemon athletica
how about this….
I found this great book at chapters while I was browsing. It is so cute and just a feel happy book. Full of great feel happy quotes. I wanted to buy it to put it in my stocking for Christmas morning. Here is a lesson from Kermit the Frog: Always be happy.When people are in a bad mood, the last thing they want to do is hang around with happy people.
the art of shopping….
for me is to get it done early. I used to be a last minute shopper, and I used to hate the prelude to Christmas because of it. I like to think that I have successfully reformed myself. I start Christmas shopping right after Thanksgiving. I make my list and away I go. A few weeks ago I went on a weekend scrapbooking retreat and I made myself this Christmas planner. I carried it around in my purse for days and I have my entire christmas planned in this little book. I am so happy because I have my shopping Read More »
happy december.
Thanks for the pjs Grammie & Grampie!!!
the christmas list.
Hunter came downstairs a few days ago with her “Christmas List”. There were only 3 items on her list- but the first thing that I noticed was that there were no toys. For the first time since she has been able to talk, this is the first Christmas that she has asked for stuff that didn’t include toys. We knew this day would come-that she, and someday her brother, would close a few chapters on childhood. But it wasn’t something I was thinking about until the list appeared. We are feeling a little sad about this. She did ask for Read More »
brown paper packages….
are the best. Mom & Dad sent us this awesome package in the mail. It’s our “December 1” present. When Ron & I were first married, Mom always gave us a “December 1” present which was usually some kind of Christmas decoration. But as the kids arrived, the present has changed to include different things like cookies for decorating, etc. Our “December 1” package arrived on Tuesday and it sure was nice to have such a surprise with the recent cold snap of temperatures in the -20’s and -30’s. There were brownies, gumdrop cake, fleece throws, hot chocolate, new mugs, Read More »
And the award goes to…..
A few weeks ago, Ron attended National Meetings in Toronto for his company. An awards and recognition banquet was held on Wednesday evening, and to our surprise, Ron was awarded the “Globe & Spear” award, which is an award given as recognition of outstanding service to the company over the past year. The awards are made in the U.S. and are reportedly made by the same company that is commissioned to make the Academy Awards. The award is a globe made of gold leaf and suspended in glass, with name and date. That baby flew home in Ron’s briefcase. I Read More »
Meeting Romeo Dallaire.
Tonight I had the privelege of attending a fundraising dinner organized by “Ubuntu Edmonton”, which is a charity dedicated to helping widows in Rwanda rebuild and find purpose in their lives. Ubuntu was founded by a Canadian woman who now lives in Rwanda. The dinner was punctuated by ethnic dances performed by Rwanda orphans visiting Canada with the Ubuntu founder. The guest speaker was Senator Romeo Dallaire-a man that I have admired since reading his book, “Shake Hands with the Devil”. I got to speak with him briefly and I thanked him for telling his story of what happened in Read More »
james live.
Seeing him “live” was incredible. His musical talent is amazing. Vocals, guitar and piano. He writes all his own stuff. The concert was not sold out, but the crowd was alive. I cannot wait until his next CD is released. He played some new material along with the “Back to Bedlam” songs. We all had such a blast!!!
The Most Adored Food Holiday in all the land…..
is fast approaching. (That’s Christmas in our family.) Homemade eggnog. English Trifle. Cherry Balls. Fruitcake. Gumdrop Cake. Nanaimo Bars. I am so excited that my parental units will be arrving just in time for my mother’s magic touches to grace a few of these family treats. I don’t why, but although I have watched her make these things a million times and I have HER actual recipes, my versions just don’t look or taste the same. My mother’s christmas baking could put Martha Stewart’s to shame. In fact, there are many great bakers in my family. My Aunt Janet’s nanaimo Read More »
Trick or Treat.
The kids were so exicted that they were invited to go trick or treating with Nicholas and Alexandra.I was so excited because Nicholas’ & Alexandra’s daddy was taking them out treating. (Ron is on the road). Nicole and I stayed at her house to give out treats. But we didn’t eat anything. No we didn’t!It was a very cold, windy and snowy Halloween. The kids came back with an impressive bundle of candy. I think people were giving out “more” candy than usual because the weather was so cold that the numbers of trick or treaters were down.The kids are Read More »
to awaken each morning…..
…with a smile brightening my face; to greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains;to approach my work with a clean mind; to hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things, the ultimate purpose toward which I am working;to meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart;to be gentle, kind, and courteous through all the hours; to approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep and the joy that comes from work well done – this is how I desire to waste wisely my days. ~Thomas Dekker
play.
We have accumulated quite alot of snow over the last 24 hours. The roads are quite messy with ice and snow. The fun in the yard this morning was great!
sing.
So, our main mission on Friday was to get down to city hall to hear cousin Stephenie sing with her girls chorale choir. She has been singing for a number of years, but since we lived on the other side of the country, this is the first real opportunity we have had to hear her sing. A beautiful choir. I felt like crawling under my seat because, still feeling tender about Brandy, I had tears streaming down my cheeks thru most of it. It was wonderful to see her in her element.
bye brandy.
I am not even sure why I took this picture right before Ron took Brandy to the vet. Maybe just to reassure myself that we were doing the right thing for this dog who was obviously struggling.We will miss him.Lots of howling happened here on Thursday night. A family cry you might say.Tyler was sobbing that he didn’t want Brandy to die and that Brandy wouldn’t know anyone in doggy heaven. He demanded that we say a prayer for Brandy.Hunter was sobbing that she didn’t get to say goodbye.Ron and I were sobbing for 12 years of furry fun.He had Read More »
james blunt.
I am so excited. I am going to this concert with 4 “mom” friends from school. So cool! I am SUPER pumped.I really love his music and was hoping that he would come to this city at some point during his World Tour. I don’t think I have gone to a concert since Ron and I went to see Blue Rodeo when Hunter was 2 or 3 . It snowed here on Monday and Tyler was so excited to see the snow. He went outside and threw snowballs for an hour. Brandy followed him around the yard. When Hunter got Read More »
Terry Fox.
I remember the Fall that I started Grade 7 in 1980 was the summer that Terry Fox embarked on his run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. His goal was simply to raise $1 for every person in Canada. I remember distinctly sitting in Mr. McKeil’s Social Studies class talking about the Terry Fox Run. Terry’s story did not have a happy ending, but his dream of raising money for cancer research has surpassed every expectation. His foundation has raised millions of dollars for cancer research. I love how every child in elementary school in Canada in 2006 Read More »
My little cupcake maker.
Yes, I am still here. I have been so busy with many things-mainly, the fundraising job that I took on for Hunter’s skating club. It has eaten up hours and hours of my time and I feel like I am like a dog chasing it’s tail. I just keep telling myself that’s it only ’til January. Last week we experienced a lot of what I call “Nova Scotia” rain, because it was not only wet, but cold and damp as well. The kind of damp cold that you can feel in your bones. On one of the wet afternoons, Tyler Read More »
have a marvelous day!
So cute. Today I found this note on Hunter’s desk. She wrote it as a reminder to herself for school this morning.It reads, “Don’t forget your agenda!! Have a marvelous day!!”.Hunter, I hope you did have a marvelous day!
tis the season for homework.
A new school year brings back the routine of homework.I remember that I loved homework when I was in elementary school.Although I don’t remember having as much homework as Hunter has sometimes.She is so great about homework. She always does it without being asked. Tyler is doing awesome in his new kindergarten class. He is starting to talk about some of the new friends he has in the class. I have “homework” too. I am co-chairing the fundraising committee for the Northern Lites Synchronized Skating Club. Ron and I had to load 75 cases of chocolate bars on Saturday to Read More »
Crikey, mate.
Did we not all think that this man would be eaten by a croc some day? How ironic that he would be fatally wounded by a docile ocean creature.The kids loved to watch him on tv as the Crocodile Hunter.Hunter and I watched a special about him on Friday night.I loved his passion about what he saw as his mission in life. So sad.
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