Thursday, October 30, 2008

I Guess it Was a Hit

The Clone helmet that is. I had to make Alek a costume to go along with the helmet for Halloween. And as usual, I left it all for the last minute but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. So proud that I had to take a picture of it empty of the actual clone LOL! Not too shabby for poster board, yellow duct tape and a mom who knows nothing about Clone Troopers...

Friday, October 24, 2008

Happy Birthday Alek!

My oldest baby turns 8 today. He's had a great day today except for when his dad told him we got him gitch and socks for a present. That's a "bummer" and "not a very fun present" according to him. Hopefully he'll be much happier with the Storm Trooper Helmet!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Needs

I need to get busy. I have quite a few pairs of slippers to sew and other projects to get started on/finish. Plus, I still have to try and get some shows booked in time for the Christmas season. Yikes!

I need more time in the day. I need more space to actually get things done.

It looks like I need to rush out after work today and buy Alek a couple more birthday presents. Although, I'm beginning to think that if Alek (or any of my kids for that matter) aren't a priority for some people why should I have to pretend that they are? We all make our own beds...

Hm, looks like I'm having a bit of a blah day so far. Hopefully that will change.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Eating Habits of an Almost Two Year-Old

Foods Mikah won't eat:
  • turkey
  • potatoes
  • pasta
  • cereal
  • carrots
  • peas
  • crackers
  • cheese
  • rice
  • pork chops
  • well, you get the idea

Foods Mikah will eat:

  • oysters
  • yogurt
  • anything out of the garbage

Here's hoping that his palette improves soon.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Look Out! They're Coming!!!



Mr. Something Something is the best time ever! Dec 6th at Lydia's.

Family Picture

I convinced Heather to come out to the in-laws to take some family pictures of us all when Lloyd was celebrating his 65th birthday. The scenery was just beautiful and the pictures look awesome. We hadn't had a family picture taken since Alek was 3, and we've added a few more family members since then LOL! I forgot just how hard it is to get a decent picture when you have kids. Plus it ended up being a windy day, which of course didn't bother the guys but it made me look extra-special LOL. I'm happy to have a picture with all of us in it. Plus I can see just how big Lukas is getting. Shocking, but he isn't a tiny baby anymore.



Girls Weekend!

This Friday I'm heading to Edmonton for a girls weekend of shopping, shopping, shopping! Thank god because I really need some new clothes. And shoes. And a jacket. And an Ikea fix. And supper at Olive Garden. And drinks out.

I can't wait! Hopefully it will be a successful trip.

Thanksgiving Weekend

I hope that all my Canadian buddies had an awesome holiday weekend. I think that ours was nice. We stayed home for a change which was quiet and a bit more relaxing. I made supper on Sunday so that we (mostly I) could enjoy turkey sandwiches all day Monday. Mmmm. I even had one for breakfast. I think I have an unnatural obsession with turkey sandwiches but they're just so darn good.

We managed to get most of the yard work done too which makes us feel better. Everyday it feels like are living on borrowed time before the snow flies so it's nice knowing that everything is put away and the yard is mostly cleaned up. Alek even pitched in with the leaf raking which was nice. He's definitely reaching the age where everything is a struggle and he's hard-done-by. In his mind anyway. Mikah took the van for a spin while we raked. Oh, the places he went! He's obsessed with cars, school buses and dogs. The look of pure joy he gets when he is left to "drive" the van is awesome. Lukas had a sleep in the stroller. All the hard work exhausted him!

We even had a visit with Heather who came Friday and went to the farm on Sunday morning. We had plans to sew purses but after a fun Friday night out and a Costco trip on Saturday we were to spent to get much done. An excuse for another get-together! Maybe next time I'll have to go and see her though and we might actually get something done. But then again...
Oh, but I did manage to get started on the next big batch of slipper sewing. Yay me!




"Yep. Sure looks like a good crop of leaves this year."

Did you or didn't you?

Vote that is. I'm waiting to see how it all plays out although I think we'll be in the same situation that we were in a short time ago.

Thoughts?

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Ouch!

I hurt my neck the other night. At "pilates". It must have been the hair flip-booty roll that did it.

And to make matters worse Carmen and I spent 5 hours last night cutting out slippers. Five hours bent over a table pinning and cutting. My neck really hurts tonight. It's almost relaxation time though. Ant minute now Alek will be in bed and then I can truly settle into the couch for my Greys and ER fix.

"What is he doing???"

We caught Mikah trying to give himself a zerbert on his tummy the other night. Hilarious. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea...

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

So Friggin Cute!

Shh, don't tell but I started on some Christmas presents for the girls in our life. They are the cutest things ever! I wish I could show pictures but it will have to wait. The wait will so be worth it!

Carmen and I are going to be adding some of these super fun and adorable items to our This Little Piggy line.

Hurry up Friday!

Lev and I are going away sans kids this weekend. We are spending two nights in a hotel at the local National park thanks to his mom and step-dad. The gift was supposedly for our 10 year anniversary but I know it was really so that they could have all 3 of their grand kids for the weekend without us. Crazy crazy grandparents! Lucky for them that Lukas has decided to sleep through the night again. I have the feeling that we better enjoy it because the offer might not come around again for quite some time.

We can't wait to get away and have some quiet time. Just to sleep in will be bliss.

Hurry and get here Friday!

Alek also wants Friday to hurry because his glasses should be in that day. Hm, another good reason that I want Friday to hurry and get here. If I have to listen to him whine about how unfair it is that he couldn't get his glasses immediately I might lose it. Hurry, hurry Friday.

French Onion Soup

I've been craving French Onion Soup like crazy lately but every night has been too crazy to tackle making it. I find it hard to believe that Alek, who will be 8 this month, has never experienced warm pleasure of FOS. So, enough with the excuses I finally just made the time and cooked it. It was souper (LOL) easy and way better than any that I've had in a restaurant. The key was in the caramelized onions that I added to the stock.

Here's my simple directions if anyone else is dying to try it. (Heather H. you know I'm talking to you!)

  • Slice 3 or 4 medium onions into thin rings.
  • Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan with about 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter
  • Add the onions to the frying pan and toss to coat with the oil. When the onions start to sizzle, sprinkle 1 Tbsp of white sugar over the onions and toss again.
  • To help speed up the process I used 2 pkgs of onion soup mix instead of making my own stock. Start this going in a large pot.
  • When the onions are golden and starting to crisp, add them to the pot of simmering onion soup.
  • While the soup and onions are mingling in the pot slice some mozza and swiss cheese. If you just have mozza that's just fine. And either toast thick slices of bread or dig out some croutons. I prefer the bread because it gives the soup nice texture and depth but doesn't overwhelm it with additional seasoned flavor. It you use toast, cut it up into cubes.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls; top with a good handful or two of dry bread and cover with a nice thick layer of cheese.
  • Time is a factor in this house so then I just pop the bowls into the microwave for about 30 seconds to help get the cheese melting.
  • Enjoy!

We had no soup left over. Alek had 2 bowls of soup and Mikah gobbled his up too. Big smiles all around. It was really quick to make too. It probably took 20 minutes or so.