Blake loves Pez. Why? I have no idea. He found his stash of Pez from his Gramma and Grampa this afternoon and walked up to me with four little lonely Pez candies and his squirrel Pez dispenser. After he asked me to put it together, I had to ask:
"Where are the rest of the Pez?"
"Down the drain."
"What drain?"
"My mouth drain."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Happy holidays!
We're having a crazy holiday as usual. But, we did manage to get one decent family picture taken. We even look coordinated, which was a total fluke!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Parenting tip #876
When your three-year-old walks up to you holding a box of raisins and asks, "Can you get it out?", he doesn't mean out of the box.
Yes, Blake stuck a raisin up his nose. Luckily, he picked it out himself. A trip to emergency avoided.
Yes, Blake stuck a raisin up his nose. Luckily, he picked it out himself. A trip to emergency avoided.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Artist in training
Faith received a paint-by-number of a horse scene for Christmas, and is madly working away at it so that she can give it to her Dad as a Christmas present (don't tell!).
I used to do these all the time when I was a kid, so it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to see my daughter sitting at the kitchen table doing the same thing I did about 20 years ago.
Next to horses, art is her next love. Although not the art she does at school. "At school unless it's something I can do without being told what to do, I don't like it."
Today she declared that "I'm going to be an artist when I grow up." An artist who loves horses, and has really good math marks. A great combination in my mind.
I used to do these all the time when I was a kid, so it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to see my daughter sitting at the kitchen table doing the same thing I did about 20 years ago.
Next to horses, art is her next love. Although not the art she does at school. "At school unless it's something I can do without being told what to do, I don't like it."
Today she declared that "I'm going to be an artist when I grow up." An artist who loves horses, and has really good math marks. A great combination in my mind.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Caramel crack (December 15, 2009)
Christmas is the one time of the year that I make caramel corn. I think I associate caramel corn with Christmas because that's when my mom always made this addictive treat, hiding the bags in the cupboard so my Dad and the rest of us wouldn't eat it all before Christmas. (Or maybe she was hiding it from herself?)
Caramel corn is actually deceptively simple to make, as long as you've invested in a candy thermometer. Apparently you can do strange tests with the caramel and water to cook the candy without a thermometer, but this is just too imprecise for me.
So, at the request of more than a few people, here is the caramel corn recipe that I use from my great-aunt. Enjoy...and be warned! Once you start you can't stop. I'm not kidding. It's like crack.
***Aunt Roberta's Caramel Corn***
1 large roast pan of popcorn
(Mine is about 10 cm x 40 cm x 30 cm. You can go bigger, you'll just get less coating per piece of popcorn.)
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter (don't even think about margarine!)
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
Set the oven to 255 F and put the popcorn in the oven to stay warm.
In a decent-sized sauce pan, combine sugar, butter, syrup, salt, and vanilla. Clip the candy thermometer to the side. Stir over medium heat to melt butter. Keep stirring until the thermometer hits 248 F. It will get get big and bubbly.
Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Pour over popcorn and stir it up. Cook in oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and spread out on waxed paper, breaking up the big chunks. Cool and enjoy.
Caramel corn is actually deceptively simple to make, as long as you've invested in a candy thermometer. Apparently you can do strange tests with the caramel and water to cook the candy without a thermometer, but this is just too imprecise for me.
So, at the request of more than a few people, here is the caramel corn recipe that I use from my great-aunt. Enjoy...and be warned! Once you start you can't stop. I'm not kidding. It's like crack.
***Aunt Roberta's Caramel Corn***
1 large roast pan of popcorn
(Mine is about 10 cm x 40 cm x 30 cm. You can go bigger, you'll just get less coating per piece of popcorn.)
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter (don't even think about margarine!)
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
Set the oven to 255 F and put the popcorn in the oven to stay warm.
In a decent-sized sauce pan, combine sugar, butter, syrup, salt, and vanilla. Clip the candy thermometer to the side. Stir over medium heat to melt butter. Keep stirring until the thermometer hits 248 F. It will get get big and bubbly.
Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Pour over popcorn and stir it up. Cook in oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and spread out on waxed paper, breaking up the big chunks. Cool and enjoy.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A week of firsts
Just catching up after a busy week. So what happened?
Blake had a "real" dentist appointment for a not so fun reason. I noticed that one of his front teeth is turning gray. He knocked it on our coffee table about two months ago, so I decided trauma + funny color = dentist visit. He was a trooper and when the hygienist came out to announce his appointment, he walked off with her and left me to clean up the toys in the waiting room. What the...?
The courage was fleeting though. When he saw the big chair we balanced on the precipice of a full-out crying fit. But, the situation was rescued when I sat in the chair first and plopped him on my lap. He got to show off his tooth to our singing dentist (he's in a choir), and then sat very, very still for his x-ray. Luckily, no major damage to the root. The tooth's blood supply is compromised...hence the lovely gray color. But the adult tooth will be fine. The reward for an excellent appointment? Tim Horton's. Irony or bad judgement. Your call.
Faith also had tooth issues this week. Tuesday night, she informed us her molar was loose. Wednesday morning she ate a bagel and her tooth came out! Shocked was not the word. Her normal course of action is 4 to 6 months of a loose tooth, during which time she normally gets money from her great-grandpa for the trouble she's enduring trying to lose the tooth. It all ends in tears and blood, and for three teeth, a trip to the dentist to get them pulled. The molar was a welcome change.
Last night, George attended a black-tie event for the first time in 13 years. The last time he had on a tux, we were with a ballroom full of accounting grads. Good times. Last night, he went to a business event to mix and mingle. The biggest accomplishment of the night, however, was getting his bow tie tied. It took the two of two hours to learn how to get the bow done correctly the night before. I believe there was swearing involved. Not sure if it was worth it, but he dd look spiffy.
And, tonight, a small miracle occurred. Blake asked George to put him to bed. First time, ever. Normally, it's Mommy or no one if I'm in the house. This was actually the second time in a week George got bedtime duties while I was at home, but the first time was necessity as I wasn't feeling well and was actually laying in bed. Tonight was voluntary! Woohoo!
Now, off for more Christmas martinis and fresh-baked caramel corn to celebrate a week well done.
Blake had a "real" dentist appointment for a not so fun reason. I noticed that one of his front teeth is turning gray. He knocked it on our coffee table about two months ago, so I decided trauma + funny color = dentist visit. He was a trooper and when the hygienist came out to announce his appointment, he walked off with her and left me to clean up the toys in the waiting room. What the...?
The courage was fleeting though. When he saw the big chair we balanced on the precipice of a full-out crying fit. But, the situation was rescued when I sat in the chair first and plopped him on my lap. He got to show off his tooth to our singing dentist (he's in a choir), and then sat very, very still for his x-ray. Luckily, no major damage to the root. The tooth's blood supply is compromised...hence the lovely gray color. But the adult tooth will be fine. The reward for an excellent appointment? Tim Horton's. Irony or bad judgement. Your call.
Faith also had tooth issues this week. Tuesday night, she informed us her molar was loose. Wednesday morning she ate a bagel and her tooth came out! Shocked was not the word. Her normal course of action is 4 to 6 months of a loose tooth, during which time she normally gets money from her great-grandpa for the trouble she's enduring trying to lose the tooth. It all ends in tears and blood, and for three teeth, a trip to the dentist to get them pulled. The molar was a welcome change.
Last night, George attended a black-tie event for the first time in 13 years. The last time he had on a tux, we were with a ballroom full of accounting grads. Good times. Last night, he went to a business event to mix and mingle. The biggest accomplishment of the night, however, was getting his bow tie tied. It took the two of two hours to learn how to get the bow done correctly the night before. I believe there was swearing involved. Not sure if it was worth it, but he dd look spiffy.
And, tonight, a small miracle occurred. Blake asked George to put him to bed. First time, ever. Normally, it's Mommy or no one if I'm in the house. This was actually the second time in a week George got bedtime duties while I was at home, but the first time was necessity as I wasn't feeling well and was actually laying in bed. Tonight was voluntary! Woohoo!
Now, off for more Christmas martinis and fresh-baked caramel corn to celebrate a week well done.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Playing in the snow
After three days of snow, it now looks like December in Canada. And, I understand why my in-laws live in Florida.
The kids, however, love the snow. So, I've been a model citizen the last couple of days and trudged over to the school in my snowpants, dragging a sled, to pick up the kids. This, however, is what I dislike most about winter...the inconvenience! In the spring, I can drop the car at the house, throw my keys in my pocket, and run over to the school. At most, I may have to grab an umbrella, but pretty simple.
In the winter, I have to pull on snow pants, a hat, mitts, my warm coat, grab the sled, zip the keys in my pocket so I don't lose them in the snow, pull up my hood, trudge, trudge, trudge through snowdrifts, fight wind, watch for ice...ugh.
Blake and Faith have loved the arrival of winter though. After I pull Blake home on the sled, with Faith helping me, we've been playing outside. (This is my devious plot to get the kids to help shovel the driveway.)
But, I still have to ask, when is this winter thing supposed to end anyway?
The kids, however, love the snow. So, I've been a model citizen the last couple of days and trudged over to the school in my snowpants, dragging a sled, to pick up the kids. This, however, is what I dislike most about winter...the inconvenience! In the spring, I can drop the car at the house, throw my keys in my pocket, and run over to the school. At most, I may have to grab an umbrella, but pretty simple.
In the winter, I have to pull on snow pants, a hat, mitts, my warm coat, grab the sled, zip the keys in my pocket so I don't lose them in the snow, pull up my hood, trudge, trudge, trudge through snowdrifts, fight wind, watch for ice...ugh.
Blake and Faith have loved the arrival of winter though. After I pull Blake home on the sled, with Faith helping me, we've been playing outside. (This is my devious plot to get the kids to help shovel the driveway.)
But, I still have to ask, when is this winter thing supposed to end anyway?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Happy Birthday to my Aunt
I took the photo of my Aunt Margaret in Buxton, England during our grand adventure. Happy Birthday!
Practicing his 5:00 shadow
While I was making a couple of phone calls to wish my grandma and my aunt Happy Birthday, Blake decided that making pictures on paper was too tame and drew himself a little beard.
Based on the weather the last two days (real winter now..snowing, blowing, ice, windchill...ughh), we'll be hibernating for the rest of the winter, giving Blake lots of opportunities to get into more trouble. (Well, he didn't really get into trouble for this one. I took a picture, didn't I?)
Based on the weather the last two days (real winter now..snowing, blowing, ice, windchill...ughh), we'll be hibernating for the rest of the winter, giving Blake lots of opportunities to get into more trouble. (Well, he didn't really get into trouble for this one. I took a picture, didn't I?)
Sunday, December 06, 2009
The Office Party
We had a great brunch today at a local hotel/restaurant for George's office party. All 28 of us. Hard to believe that the accounting firm started out over 10 years ago with George working out of the house. Now, we need to rent a room to fit everyone and their families. Pretty cool actually.
After a particularly yummy brunch, including desserts that actually looked too good to eat (but we chanced it anyway), all the kids/families got to open presents and generally make lots of noise and have fun.
After a particularly yummy brunch, including desserts that actually looked too good to eat (but we chanced it anyway), all the kids/families got to open presents and generally make lots of noise and have fun.
My bad
I just realized that most of the videos I've posted weren't "open to all" on flickr, which means you had to be my special flickr friend to see them. Sorry about that!
I've gone in and fixed all of them now, so you should be able to see:
Faith riding over a jump
Blake roaring
I'll do better next time....maybe.
I've gone in and fixed all of them now, so you should be able to see:
Faith riding over a jump
Blake roaring
I'll do better next time....maybe.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Christmas cookies!
Our project for the day was to make Christmas cookies. I looked in the "kid-friendly" cookie section of my cookie recipe book...yes, I have an entire recipe related to cookies (thanks to my mom-in-law). The result is a very simple "surprise snowball" cookie. You roll the dough into little balls, stuff a chocolate (in our case, smarties) in the middle, and bake for 15 minutes (or with my lovely convection oven, 13). Then, you let Faith have a big bag of powdered sugar in which she drops each cookies and "shake, shake, shakes" to the Party music station to coat the cookies in sugary goodness. (Blake skipped this portion...I'm not completely insane.)
Faith really got into the whole process, and finished off the 4 dozen or so cookies with a lot of boogying, and more than a little mess.
The cookies were for a project of a friend of a friend, who is attempting to get about 60 dozen cookies to make cookie plates for Christmas food hampers. So, the kids got to spend the morning having fun, getting messy, and doing something good for other people. Check, check, check. A stellar day in my books.
Faith really got into the whole process, and finished off the 4 dozen or so cookies with a lot of boogying, and more than a little mess.
The cookies were for a project of a friend of a friend, who is attempting to get about 60 dozen cookies to make cookie plates for Christmas food hampers. So, the kids got to spend the morning having fun, getting messy, and doing something good for other people. Check, check, check. A stellar day in my books.
Meeting "Baby Georgian"
The kids and I got to meet my brother and sister-in-law's newest addition yesterday. (We quarantined ourselves for a week or so due to Blake's cough, fever, cold last weekend.)
The kids were suitably impressed with the little bundle of baby. Both of them got to hold her, but while Blake lost interest quickly, Faith would have held onto Jordyn the whole time we were there. Well...she had to fight me for a turn too.
So, while Blake and Logan played endless games of Ring around the Rosie, Faith posed with Jordyn for a series of baby shots. Faith is practicing for her future years as a babysitter, which she'll be very good at.
Our visit definitely made an impression on the kids. When George got home last night (he was in Toronto for a day and a half), Blake excitedly told him about holding on to "Baby Georgian". Faith and I thought this was quite funny, but Blake insisted this was her name. However, it's hard to tell if he's teasing us now. He then insisted that he couldn't go to bed because, "Daddy wants to hold me now." (Yes, he got to stay up later. Cuteness counts for something.)
The kids were suitably impressed with the little bundle of baby. Both of them got to hold her, but while Blake lost interest quickly, Faith would have held onto Jordyn the whole time we were there. Well...she had to fight me for a turn too.
So, while Blake and Logan played endless games of Ring around the Rosie, Faith posed with Jordyn for a series of baby shots. Faith is practicing for her future years as a babysitter, which she'll be very good at.
Our visit definitely made an impression on the kids. When George got home last night (he was in Toronto for a day and a half), Blake excitedly told him about holding on to "Baby Georgian". Faith and I thought this was quite funny, but Blake insisted this was her name. However, it's hard to tell if he's teasing us now. He then insisted that he couldn't go to bed because, "Daddy wants to hold me now." (Yes, he got to stay up later. Cuteness counts for something.)
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
A little bit of jumping
My mom requested a short video of Faith jumping at her lesson. So here's my blurry, through dirty glass, cameraphone video with commentary by Blake. After the lesson, Faith asked me, "Do you think if I fell off and broke my arm that it would stop me from riding horses?" I wasn't sure. "Well, the answer is Nooooo." I just hope I don't have to find out!
December 1, 2009
Just to prove that our first "sticking around" snow fell on December 1. We're expecting storms tomorrow and Friday too. Welcome to winter.
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