open house

Tonight we headed over to Aiden's school for "Open House." It was really fun to watch Aiden show off his classroom and schoolwork. It was really special for Dale because he misses out on Aiden's day to day school experience (except for tomorrow!) We met a classmate's parents that really wanted to meet us because they are always hearing about Aiden from the daughter. Aiden also talks about this little girl and according to the teacher they are inseparable. They sit together at circle time "but you can't save seats so we run really fast" and sit together in the cafeteria. This is no ordinary girl though, she has a batman backpack and bike helmet! I'm glad Aiden has found a new friend. Tomorrow morning Dale is staying home from work because Amelia is getting tubes in her ears. He'll get to take Aiden to school and meet him for lunch in the cafeteria. Please think good thoughts for Miss Meelers and her morning.

am I the only one ....?

that thought Gorbochev was dead?

gingerbread waffles

Yummy lil taste of fall!

1 1/2 cups white flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup milk
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup butter

Mix dry ingredients except brown sugar. Combine eggs and brown sugar in separate bowl. Add pumpkin, milk, molasses and melted butter to egg and sugar mixture. Beat well. Add to dry ingredients and mix until moistened. Pour onto waffle iron.

pasta party

Sunday, I had so much fun with the girls. Everyone showed up with their 5 pounds of tomatoes and we got busy! Making the most delicious pasta sauce. It was definitely a learning experience but so much fun as well. Thanks ladies.

black bean soup

I've been on a cooking kick lately, must be that fall weather!
2tsp olive oil
1 cup each chopped onion, chopped red pepper, and chopped carrots
1 clove garlic minced
3 cups beef or vegetable broth
1 cup tomato sauce
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 tbsp lemon juice and brown sugar
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp chili powder, ground cumin, and Worcesteshire sauce
1/2 tsp dried thyme and chili pepper flakes
1/4 tsp black pepper
Heat olive oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, red pepper, carrots, garlic. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften. Ad all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to med low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Remove soup from heat,( I have a hand blender that I stick in the soup pot and puree everything ( transfer soup to a blender if you don't). Serve soup with a dollop of sour cream and chopped cilantro if desired.

fort picnic

Dale and Aiden are building a fort onto the play structure. Last week end we had a little picnic up there. Now there is a roof and 2 walls up. Hopefully nice weather this week end = fort completion!

getting things done

I was reading one of my favorite blogs (Simple Mom) yesterday and she was talking about how to become more productive. In order to become more productive you need to write everything down that needs to be done on a master to do list as it comes to mind. There are so many things that pop in my mind daily that I think I'll remember to do and then I don't. While doing 6 loads of laundry and cleaning 4 bathrooms (that's what Wednesdays are like for me) I wrote everything down that popped into my mind. Here's the list:
-bleach bath toys
-change vacuum bag
-buy food coloring
-paint kids bathroom cabinet
-buy fluoride ands kids toothpaste
-write check for Jodi
-buy mirror for kids bathroom
-craigslist old big bathroom mirrors
-complete school paperwork
-write family Christmas lists
-draw names for Christmas
-family picture
-research karate lessons or basketball for Aiden
-make spaghetti pie for dinner
-paint picture frames black
-shower
-pick up Aiden's shorts from shoemaker
-request lizard books from library
-replace batteries in Leapster and mantle clock
-call Dale re class on Saturday
-figure out how to run a 5k by December
-buy Amelia's Christmas present (it's so cute)
-call surgery center re Amelia's ear tubes
-give Tracy back a book I've had for 10 months
-remove the price tag on doormat
-buy dry erase markers
-buy Amelia's Halloween costume supplies
-buy Mom's birthday gift and card
The list filled an entire page. I highlighted the items I needed to go out and buy, completed most of the 5 minute or less tasks and felt like I could get a big chunk of the list done in the next few days. I got off work early last night so I ran to Costco, Michael's and Target by myself and picked up the items I needed to buy it felt so good.

library.cookies.park.

Yesterday I headed down with the kids to check out the new library at Barkley. It is very convenient to have a branch just down the hill. Amelia is going through the saying 'hi' very loudly until a stranger responds stage. There was a crabby lady that kept ignoring her, it made the trip to the library quick. Next we headed over to the little bake shop next door. 2 cookies, 2 milks and an Americano for 5 bucks felt like a steal. We sat in their comfy chairs and watched a little HGTV on their plasma tv. We still had some time to kill (why does time stand still btwn the hours of 3-5pm?). We hit the park at Bloedel and had some fun on the playground. We were there with one other family with nice kids. I love it when it works out that way.

our day

Yesterday we headed down to Children's for a check up in the vascular anomaly clinic. I was a little concerned about a vein in Aiden's leg that seems to becoming larger and possibly developing into a large varicose vein. We decided to do an MRI in the next few weeks to see what those vessels really look like inside and discussed the possibility of compression stockings. I thought those would be much farther down the road and worn only at night. The doctor said it would be all day and night. I can't imagine Aiden wearing full length stockings he can barely keep a pair of socks on for more than an hour. After the hospital we hit my favorite shopping spot. Aiden got a very life like looking lizard that I purchased under the promise he would never need a real one. A big thanks to my sister for coming along and being a big help with the kiddos!

July ta da list

I know this is a long time coming and I did complete most of it mid August. This morning I remembered to take pictures. Transforming Aiden's room into "more big boy" was more challenging that I thought. I had requests for a snake pit, Amazon rainforest with snakes hanging from the ceiling and scorpians, Batman, Star Wars and a bunch of others I can't remember. Originally it had been to add dinosaurs and remove the baby pictures which I did. There was minor disaster involving spray adhesive, yards of fabric and a roller shade. I bought a new shade instead of spending 6 plus hours making one and painted Aiden's name and moved it above the new dresser. I didn't do anything with the baby book maybe later.

just wanted to remember...

that Aiden's first school library book he brought home was "Leo, the late bloomer" and he told me he "can't wear his specialest clothes to school tomorrow because they're finger painting!"

lil miss does the music thing

Last week Amelia started music classes. I have wanted to do this with her for over a year but finally all the right schedules lined up. With Aiden we started kindermusik at 6 months of age and he would sit sweetly on my lap while we sang songs and played with instruments. Amelia being a year older and a girl it was a completely different story. She had made the rounds to check out all the other kids and say hi before the class even started and by halfway through she had sat on every Mom's lap sometimes on their child sitting on the lap and had stolen the show with her singing and dancing several times. This week went much better. She seems to remember the routine of the class and only singled out one dark haired Mom ( my brunette friends know what I mean). She seems to like the music but I think she really would love dance class if I could find one for her age group.

soccer star

Grandparents check out Aiden's breakaway and goal! He's #19!

good Saturday morning

Today is going to be a good day! Last night was my first night on call until 7:00 this morning and my pager went off at 7:04. That means I'm off the hook and it's someone else. So I got out of bed and made these yummy pancakes for breakfast (just click on the title I cannot figure out linking). Really yummy and I used cottage cheese instead of ricotta because that's what I had. The sun is shining outside and we have a jam packed day. Yard work, fort building, soccer game and maybe hitting the Greek festival for dinner. Happy Saturday!

sitting pretty

The other day I was reading Amelia the book, Olivia. In the book it shows pictures of the pig dressing up in various outfits including a tutu. Amelia started pointing at the tutu hanging in her room and wanted it put on her. She happily traipsed around the house all morning with her tutu and wings and even had a lil snack on the stool like a big girl.

sort of like Monday but Thursday at Costco

Amelia and I ran to Costco this morning. It's the first day of their new coupon campaign and I should have known better. There was a silver top convention with 3 different couples in the aluminum foil aisle that were completely unaware of people trying to get past them. Then there was the crazy cat lady with her cart piled high with cat food and nothing else. But what really made it feel like Monday again was as I was unloading the groceries onto the conveyor belt, Amelia was happily smashing the eggs I had stupidly put beside her. The kicker was the Mom behind me that just stood and watched Amelia never saying a word to me. The Costco girls were a great help, bringing me lots of paper towels and hand sanitizer but I couldn't believe the woman behind me. I am really missing eagle eye Aiden.

not a tooth man

This week Aiden went to the dentist. When he was finished the assistant mentioned that Aiden wanted to be a dentist when he grew up. That was news to me. On the car ride home I was talking to Aiden " so you think working inside people's mouths would be a cool job when you grow up?" Aiden paused and the said " uhh,no, that's gross I just want to play with the chair and cool tools." That makes more sense. So many people think being a nurse is a gross job but in my opinion dentistry is disgusting. I dread someone needing help taking their dentures out. I feel like I'm in a horror movie reaching into someone's mouth and yanking their teeth out. I usually make an excuse to leave the room and bribe a co worker to go in and do it.

she likes...

tomato sauce, not the noodles or the meat ball just sauce. But it's a start!

first day - part 2

I had really wanted to make Aiden's first day of school special. I didn't make the banner I wanted or have a special snack waiting for him. But Dale did manage to make it home in time for dinner. We had sparkling cider in fancy glasses , ate in the dining room and Aiden used the 'celebrate' plate that I never remember to use. I think the highlight for Aiden was drinking out of the fancy glass.

A real Monday

Today was Aiden's second day of school and I thought it would be good to start walking to and from school unless it's raining. Aiden was sooo slow walking to school I swear he was walking backwards when I wasn't looking. He complained that I was walking too fast and he was tired. So he hopped onto the front of the Amelia's stroller and I pushed both kids to school. Aiden had to get off the stroller before we arrived at school so nobody saw his mode of transportation ( because they didn't see him as they drove past). Aiden tripped and had a big wipe out just before the front door ( you know those bad ones that skin the palm of your hand and you really want to cry but you can't, poor guy).
What I realized within an hour of Aiden being at school is how much I rely on him to keep an eye on Amelia and let me know if she's getting into something. Amelia desperately wants to use the potty but she doesn't get the concept quite yet. Warning graphic content to ensue... after she pooped on the bathroom floor this morning I ran upstairs to get more diapers. I came downstairs and found she had pooped again, this time on the family room carpet and walked through it with her shoes on! Lots of extra cleaning this morning. Then when I was upstairs putting laundry away she got into my scapbooking paper and photos and crumpled and spread them all over the main floor. Then she opened a closed jar of olive oil cream and spread it all over herself and the ottoman in her room. I should also let you know the kids had a toothpaste and toothbrush fight this morning before school and had to change their outfits. And,and, and... before I could start all this extra laundry this morning I had to scrub the laundry room because Dale had spilled the cooler full of fish between the sink and washing machine on Saturday and then we went away overnight and walked into the smelliest stink late last night. Ahhhh.
Here's a picture of Amelia's bear after an unfortunate accident on our summer vacation involing her taking her diaper off.

first day

Today Aiden started kindergarden. Unfortunately, Dale took the camera on his fishing trip so we scrambled over to a friend's house this morning and used their camera. Aiden seemed to get a little nervous as we approached the school but once inside he remembered where to go and seemed more relaxed. He sat at his desk but he was the first one to arrive in his seating group. I sat beside him and we talked about the fun day ahead. Most parents were videotaping everything in the classroom but I'm glad to have had those few minutes with my boy before I had to leave. Most parents seemed hesitant to leave but I realized their first day of kindergarden wouldn't start until we left. I stood near the door and watched Aiden play with his clay and talk to the boy beside him. He looked up and saw me still there and waved me over. He showed me how he had written his name on his paper. This is a big deal because Aiden doesn't like to write his letters or name without lots of encouragement. I;m hoping this a really good sign for the year ahead.

Fall to do list

1) visit Stoney Ridge
2) the fall festival at Cloud Montain Farm
3) the Farmer's Market
4) make a homemade apple pie
5) make chili sauce
6) put away all the summer clothes and bring out the warm clothes
7) Wickersham train on a sunny fall day
8) have an afternoon tomato sauce making party (saw the idea in Real Simple magazine)
9) have a fall picnic at Elizabeth park and play in the leaves
Does anyone else have some fum fall ideas?

it arrived!

Our new couch came today and I love it! Now I just need to go shopping for new drapes and throw pillows.

summer to do list review

Looking back at my list, we did really well this summer. I think it's a great way to make sure you have a little fun and not forget something that you really want to do.

1) Lummi Island Lavender Festival (we made it to Lummi Island after the festival but managed to find one lavender field!)
2) Horse camp for Aiden (giddy up and mark it off the list)
3) Woodland Park Zoo (nope, maybe next year but Aiden visited a wildlife center up in Canada and we went to the Olympic Game Farm)
4) overnight camping trip (yikes) (nope, maybe next year when Amelia is a bit bigger)
5) library paper bag concert series Fridays at noon ( made it to a few and mostly chased Amelia around and made sure she didn't eat other people's food)
6) outdoor swimming lessons (nope, but I will sign Aiden up for next year)
7) blueberry picking at Boxx Berry Farm (14 pounds, baby)
8) July 4th children's bike parade and picnic at the park (did it)
9) white water rafting trip with Tracy and Martin (did it, barely survived, won't be doing it again)
10) Thursday night potlucks with the babygroup and outdoor concerts at Elizabeth park( got together a few times)
11) the Farmer's Market (nope, isn't it open til October?)
12) a trip to my parent's cabin (twice)
13) the Wickersham train (nope, maybe a pretty fall ride to check out the fall foliage)
14)ice cream at Mallard's (yes, only once!)
15)family photo shoot at the beach with Miss Rebecca (not yet)
16) vacation bible school (yep)
17) the waterslides (yes, without me having to don a bathing suit!)
18) a week in Shushwap with the Loffler's (yeah, I'm not really over the horrible weather thing)
19) boating on Lake Whatcom with our friends (we sold our boat at the beginning of summer)
20)smores made with peanut butter cups in the backyard (yep)
21) the Lynden fair ( Aiden can't wait for a ride on the Ferris Wheel)(check, check)
22) afternoons of running through the sprinkler and splashing in the kiddie pool in the backyard (yep)
23) possibly a soccer or t-ball session for Aiden if "he's bored" (grueling soccer camp)
So, now I'm inspired to make a Fall to do list! Check it out tomorrow.

Fall is in the air

I don't know if it was our crappy weather last week or the beginning of school but I feel that summer is officially over! The weather is definitely cooler, it's dark at 8pm, and yesterday I threw out all my hanging baskets and plant pots. I can't wait to put some pumpkins on the doorstep and brew some apple cider inside the house. Is anyone else with me? It's also the season to nest,clean, purge and organize..oh bliss.

Shuswap in pictures

Here's the pictures to prove our trip wasn't as bad as I complained about yesterday.
We were with our best friends and the kids had built in playmates. We enjoyed great food and company. My favorite part was playing cards and visiting after the kids were in bed.