responsible kids

I'm always looking for ways to get my kids motivated to do their daily jobs, e.g. making their bed, picking up toys, etc. and about a year ago I found a great answer to that, this cool magnetic chart by Melissa & Doug. Problem #1, I now have 2 kids old enough for jobs, and this chart is decidedly for one child. Problem #2, this chart is huge, and takes up way too much space. So this morning I went searching for a more feasible solution, and this is what I found. Cost? Only the ink to print a small amount of color on a 8.5x11" sheet of paper! And it's perfect for 2 kids, as well as totally customizable! So I printed one off, and we'll see how responsible my kids will become...

home again

We are back and refreshed and ready to roll again... it was a great little vacation, totally without a schedule and so relaxing! We got home at 2:30 this morning which was more like 4:30 for our Ontario-adjusted brains, so exhausted! But honestly not as bad as the flight out there, which left Calgary at 1:10 a.m. and arrived in Toronto at 6:45 a.m. That was some nasty jet lag that lasted at least 2 days - remind me please if I ever talk of doing the red eye again!! I had no Internet access for 8 whole days, and I survived - that's definitely good to know!

We stayed with friends for the most part - a great family with 12 kids! - and we had our own roomy guest house to stay in, so that was perfect... we had our space and quiet when we needed it. The boys loved having so many friends to play with, and the yard was awesome, with swimming pool, sandbox, toys, etc. We met a ton of new people, saw a ton of beautiful country - that is the Garden of Eden! Everything grows in abundance, and nobody waters their huge green lawns. I couldn't get over the gorgeous stone & brick houses (pretty much unheard of here) and the park-like yards!

We did get the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls, which was beautiful... we stayed at the Sheraton on the Falls (that's a bit optimistic, it wasn't really on the falls) and did a lot of walking, saw the Imax on all the people who went over the falls, as well as all the barrels that were used, on display. And the highlight for the boys was the waterpark where we spent 2-3 hours one morning, very cool and had areas geared especially for little kids. But honestly? The whole Niagara thing? It was a bit much as far as noise and people went - way too commercialized! We took our time driving back and fell in love with Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is where I'd stay next time. A very romantic little town, right on Lake Ontario... words cannot describe it.

Another great highlight was the evening swim & picnic at Pinery Provincial Park (Lake Huron). We got to watch the the sunset, a great ball of crimson sinking into the infinite span of water... I'm a 100% western Canadian girl, but I have to say, Ontario is gorgeous!!!

on the topic of laundry...

Laundry tip #1: Don't put disposable diapers in the washer.
Laundry tip #2: Don't do laundry at 2 a.m.

You get the picture...

writer's block + busy life = no posts

Hi, here I am again; I actually am still alive but frazzled... so here's our nut in a lifeshell... oh, you know what I mean... :)

1. Tonight we're having Buster's 5th birthday party, which I have yet to prepare for and the house is in it's usual state, similar to the aftermath of a tornado...
2. Speaking of tornadoes, dh went to clean up 3 hours south of here yesterday for a substantial tornado that ripped through the night before. (This is Alberta, we don't get tornadoes...)
3. We are going on an 8-day vacation in 2 days and I haven't begun to pack yet. Toronto here we come, should be fun, just let me get ready first...
4. We may or may not be having friends living in the house for the week we're gone... One of dh's employees from a different location is looking after the business and we offered our house to them. The reason this may be stressful? See #1, the tornado part. I think it would only be fair for them to be able to mobilize in here, but then again, they have kids too, so maybe a little understanding?

So that's it for today, hopefully I can get a few posts in while on vacation, or maybe I'll just do some "pre-posting" before I leave...
Ciao!

healthy and hearty

It's a cold, rainy day here, so for lunch I'm making this deliciously low-fat recipe from my mother-in-law. She made it for us when she was out last time and it really is a new favorite of ours. You can also find it in the February/March 2004 issue of Taste of Home:

Chicken Vegetable Soup

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cups chicken broth, divided
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. paprika
4 small red potatoes, cut into 1" cubes
3 small carrots, cut into 1/2" pieces
5 celery ribs, cut into 1/2" pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
2 Tbsp. chopped celery leaves
2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice

In a large saucepan combine chicken, 1 3/4 cups broth, Italian seasoning, garlic and paprika. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and celery leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
In a small bowl, combine flour and remaining 1/4 cup broth until smooth; add to pan. Bring to boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Serves 4.

pooped!

Well, today it happened... I thought I had skimmed over this part of parenting, but apparently not..! When I got out of the shower this morning, I was met with a feces-smeared Noodle, who apparently had taken his diaper off and then decided that nature needed to be taken care of on his nice new bedroom carpet. He had grabbed a bunch of wipes and was trying to clean himself off, but was only making the matter worse - the stuff was all over his legs! So I popped him in the tub, cleaned up the steaming (well, not quite...) mounds on the carpet, and naively thought all was well... umm, this child had been running around the house in this state for who knows how long, and so far I've found brown smears in the kitchen and dining room - how deep am I gonna have to search?! But somehow no matter how bad stuff gets around here, I feel better when I look at this... at least my kids' messes have usually been fairly clean up-able...

busy summer days...

It's been a hectic, crazy week around here - and I didn't have internet for part of that time, so my posting has been a little erratic. Buster was in Bible School all week and I thought I would be less busy, but unfortunately it didn't work that way. I had to drive him 8 miles each way although I did carpool a little so it wasn't too bad. Then he had 2 appointments - a follow-up eye exam on Tuesday, and cast removal (again!!) on Thursday. And besides that, Noodle was lonely and bored so he needed me more. Last night was the Bible School program, so we went and listened to all the kids singing & reciting - everyone did a great job. And of course, lunch afterward, so it was a late night, again... Tomorrow I'm babysitting Buster and Noodle's friend, and it'll be an overnighter - the first for this household! So we're all a little excited about that... :)

fire wife

Last night the local fire department (of which my dh is a captain) had a live burn on an old barn nearby so I took the boys to watch - they were enthralled! - and I got supper out there for all the guys - ordered pizza, made some yummy bars (recipe included!) and got drinks, etc out there. For a long time I really resisted dh being on the department... If you know about volunteer departments, there's no such thing as not being "on call". And that's the frustrating part - company's invited, dinner's ready, the candles are lit, uh-oh, there's a call! And that does actually happen quite often. But lately I've gotten to see things his way a little more, and I realize it's just in his blood - he lives and breathes fire... um, that didn't sound quite right... anyway! His father and grandfather before that were both fire chiefs on this department, so it's always been his dream to fight fire! Nothing gets him enthused like when the tones go off...

Now, about those bars:

Graham Wafer Quickies

1 1/2 pkg graham wafers
1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup pecans

Line a buttered 12x15" baking sheet with wafers. Boil margarine & sugar for 2-3 minutes. Add nuts and spread over crackers. Bake at 400 degrees for 5-6 minutes. Take out and sprinkle with chocolate chips; return to oven for 1 minute to help melt the chocolate, then spread with a knife.

on life with kids...

Last Thursday I took Buster back to my doctor (40 minutes away), since he'd had another round of x-rays (2 weeks after his cast was off, he was still limping) and what we found out was not what I wanted to hear. The x-rays showed his heel had not healed yet and she wanted to be safe and put a cast back on for 2 more weeks. Well, I was not amused! All I could think of was the awkward baths, this whole week of Bible School, his birthday next week and going on holidays in 2 weeks! But after all, we do what we as mothers think is best for our kids, right? And she put a cast on... But...! It was possibly the worst job of a cast I've seen yet and already it's shredded on the bottom and the top is cutting into his leg. She ran out of the fibreglass roll a little too soon so the bottom ends only half way down his foot and it looks really, really awkward. What are we gonna do now? Well I took him in to our local hospital last night and hoped they would replace the cast. The nurse was extremely understanding, but she said they'd have to do their own x-rays before they'd do a cast, and the x-ray isn't open in the evening. So I guess it's back to the hospital today after Bible School - since he has an eye dr. appointment in the same town - and I have to admit I'm getting might tired of all these doctor visits and x-rays... hopefully this will pass quickly...

on boys...

While we're on the topic of boys, check out this absolutely hilarious video I found on Pioneer Woman's site:

mom and her boys

Last Christmas I hinted broadly to my sister-in-law that I wanted this Willow Tree figurine... and she obviously listened... but the part that confuses me is the name stamped on the bottom: "Quietly". Huh? Have these people ever seen two boys together? I can think of a lot of words, but quiet is definitely not one of them! But anyway, I love this, it portrays the ages of my boys exactly and it will always remind me of this era in my life, the overwhelming responsibility and sometimes rebellion a mother has... but most of all the incredible blessing I have to raise these little boys for the big wide world... teach them about Jesus and love and life... yes, even the tough lessons that wrench at your heart. It's always a challenge and it's not always easy, but I can do "today"... beyond that is tomorrow's worry. God was so close today and life just seemed to go better - we've been going through many tough days, so today was like a ray of sun through the clouds, and it's enough to go on...

Tomorrow Buster starts his first day of Bible School, his first big day away from mommy and it's tugging a little tonight... the tears are flowing a little, for him and for the fact that some very dear friends of ours are moving away, leaving tomorrow. They have been our mentors, our shoulders to cry on, our sounding board - and they will be so missed! Life is so full of changes... and it's good and okay - just sometimes it hurts!

summer salad

I don't know about you, but living here in Alberta in summer, I hesitate to turn on the oven... no air conditioning, you end up paying for the luxury of an oven-baked meal! So I'm always looking for recipes for salads, etc. since the appetites seem to wane a little in the heat. Here's a couple fresh summery salads that are healthy and attractive as well... note: this is what I would classify as chick food... no guy I know would actually willingly eat these... :)


Black Bean Salad

16-oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
8-oz can whole kernel corn, drained
4 oz Monterey Jack cheese, cubed
3/4 cup green onions, sliced
3/4 cup celery, sliced
1 small red pepper, diced
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. cumin
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup picante sauce
1 Tbsp. olive oil

Combine first 6 ingredients. Blend gently. Combine remaining 5 ingredients; mix well. Toss with bean mixture and chill well before serving.




Avocado Delight

3 avocados
2 large tomatoes
1 cucumber
1/2 lemon
Celtic sea salt

Cube ripe avocados, tomatoes and cucumber together into bowl. Squeeze lemon and salt over top of everything and mix together.

spicy peanut chicken

This recipe originally comes from a Southern Living magazine - I got it from a good friend who came from Florida and we've enjoyed it many times. It's gourmet enough for dh and I, but the peanut butter flavor is a definite "go" with my boys every time as well.

Spicy Chicken & Noodles in Peanut Sauce

2-3 carrots, peeled
1/3 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped ginger
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1-2 tsp. crushed red pepper*
1 clove garlic, minced
1 16-oz. can chicken broth
1 lb. chicken breast
5 cups cooked fettuccini
6 Tbsp. green onion
6 Tbsp. peanuts

Shave carrots lengthwise into thin strips using a potato peeler; set aside. Combine peanut butter, honey, ginger, soy sauce, pepper, garlic and 1/3 cup broth. Stir with whisk until smooth; set aside. Place chicken in saucepan with remaining 1 cup broth. Boil for 4 minutes; let sit for 20 minutes. Remove and cut into 2" pieces. Toss carrots, sauce, chicken and noodles. Place in 6 large bowls. Top each with 1 Tbsp. each green onion and peanuts. Serves 6. Low calorie and delicious!
*Note: I use only about 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper since dh and the boys do not like it too spicy - that amount gives it just enough bite to notice, but not enough to burn your mouth! Enjoy...

berry muffins

Summertime... nothing tastes so good as fresh juicy berries... Here's a recipe for Blueberry Muffins (I often use raspberry) and they are good. You can use fresh or frozen berries and enjoy them year long!

Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil or margarine
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sour cream
1-2 cups blueberries

Combine dry ingredients. Beat eggs; slowly add sugar. Stir in oil and vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with sour cream. Fold in blueberries. Pour into greased or lined muffin tins. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 18 muffins.

a good day

Today was just plain, a good day! For the following reasons:

1. Just when I get to thinking I was not cut out to be a mom, I get a day like today... The boys played awesomely all day! I think I had to referee about twice since they woke up this morning. And that, my friends, is a miracle.
   
2. We had friends over for supper (what we call the evening meal here in Podunkville) and ate out on the deck with my new bamboo placemats and funky square melamine dishes. These are good friends, the food was good, and the talk was even better!
3. My internet is back up after 2 days of being down.
4. I'm eating this awesome food - I think my current favorite craving!

Life is good...

an easier life

We were gone on the weekend to a large family reunion of dh's paternal family. It was held at a Bible camp, and everyone had a great time! However! There was plenty of dirt and grass and mud, besides much food consumed & suffice it to say my little boys' shirts got extremely dirty and stained. I know I've sung the praises of Oxi-Clean before, but I'll say it again... "Thank you, Oxi-Clean, you make my life so much easier!" I soaked every load before I washed it and everything came out! Even the shirt that had orange soda and chocolate and ketchup ground into it... And don't forget the Tide pen either - I keep one in my bag at all times & it has saved a garment or two already! You treat it right when it happens & honestly? The stain disappears and you're good to go by the time you get it in the wash...