My Favorite Easter Treat

My tremendous husband bought these home for me last night; I seriously love these suckers.  I always have to make sure there are lots of people around to help eat them or I could eat them all.  It would not be pretty.  It has to be the eggs, not the cups; the chocolate to peanut butter ratio is about perfect!  If you come over right now I'll share some with you, but you better hurry!

Another Belly Shot

I just spent the most delightful week with my cousin Katrina.  She and her two kids came for a visit and man was it ever good to see them. We spent the week talking, laughing, baking, eating TimBits, and trying to craft - it was lovely. I so wish she lived closer and we got to spend more time together.

Her baby is due soon, 5 weeks and there is a boy growing in there.  Chances are are good our baby will be a boy too, so we will have two wild little boys together.  So exciting.

Spring Cleaning Tip

Every window in my house is adorned with these babies. The wind here in Southern Alberta is like a plague that fills my house with dust, dust and more dust. Every time I look at the layer of dirt on my blinds I sigh with frustration and curse the wind.

I've tried everything I could think of to keep them clean and it either doesn’t work or is unbelievably time consuming. All that changed while I was folding laundry and watching a morning show.

The helpful lady on the Today Show and my new best friend -if only I knew who she was - suggested soaking the blinds in a tub full of soapy water. It works my friends!!! I soaked those bad boys for a couple of hours and then gave them a little shower to rinse them down, left them to dry and they came out sparkly and grime free.

It was quick. It was easy. It was painless!

Growing Bellies

I know this picture is wonky; but it makes me laugh.  It's so fun to be pregnant with my sister.  I think Rachel is about 17-18 weeks and I'm 20 weeks.  Whoo Hoo!!!

Week-end wanderings

This week-end was Nolan's soccer provincials in Calgary. The boys were crushed by their opponents (anyone who thinks I am being harsh - one game was 35-0); Nolan is not used to tasting the bitterness of defeat and took it quite hard. I guess there is a lesson to be learned or character to be built from losing - but since I have been told once or twice I have a bit of a competitive streak, I couldn't really enlighten Nolan.

Luckily Uncle Paul was there and with all of his enthusiasm he was able to lift Nolan's spirits and make him believe he was the star of the game.

Otherwise the trip to Calgary was lots of fun. Rachel and Paul came down to support Nolan and visit with us, so fun to see them. Our friends Jay and Lindy met up with us at the soccer game and joined us for lunch. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around CrossIron Mills shopping center and hours in Bass Pro Shop mesmerized by all the sights. The boys checked out the fishing, camping and hunting section and Rachel and I found our way to the Fudge Shop. I love me some Fudge!

It's Official

Today in the mail Spencer received his Architecture License. He is now free to design and stamp any sort of building he desires. It's been 14.5 years of working towards this goal and it's good to finally be over. He's an architect and a brilliant one at that.

Baby update and other stuff

Yesterday I had my second ultrasound. The tech wasn't chatty at all, but she did spend some time showing us our cute little baby and what a wild thing it is. I've always wanted a sweet little baby that sat quietly, but apparently that is not is our cards. This baby is active! I don't really know much, the gender of the baby is written in the report that is being sent to our doctor, as of this moment I am leaning towards not finding out, but that could change by the time I go to the doctor.

I finished The Hunger Games and although I thought it was a good book, I thought the premise of the book was a bit disturbing. I am now on the search for another good book, any suggestions?

This week in FHE we played the funest game for the game portion of our night. So simple, so fun. We laid a piece of string on the floor using it as a "net" to separate our living room into 2 courts. Then we hit a balloon back and forth until it touch the ground, thus scoring a point. As the game went along we made up rules, such as, you could only hit the balloon once, then your team mate had to hit it, you had 3 hits to get it over the net. Doesn't sound like much, but we all had sore tummies from laughing and rug burned knees.

I little bit of everything

1. This is how we spent our Family Day week-end in February.  Hanging with the family.  We've started a new family tradition - celebrating anything and everything that bring happiness in our lives.

2. Sister of My Heart - was a very enjoyable book.  I enjoy books that introduce me to other cultures.  This one was sad at times and the ending was a bit predictable, but enjoyable none the less. Not quite up to the caliber of A Thousand Splendid Suns.  I've started the Hunger Games; which I am assured I will love.

3. I am dying to try this crackerbread pizza (recipe found over at Cheekykitchen) and I have all the ingredients and I would make it right this second, but I feel like it needs to be shared and not consumed all myself.  So I'll wait and invite some friends over!

A Little Touch of Spring

The other day I was driving down the road and spotted a planter full of bright pink tulips adorning the front porch of a house along my path. It was so colorful and cheery; it brighten up my day and put a smile on my face.

Funny how a little of bit of color can help shake off the dreary dullness of winter. The weather outside is beautiful. The kids and I are wearing our hoodies and riding our bikes. The kids are outside playing with their friends. Their shoes are filled with mud and grass that is tracked all over my front entry way; and it's glorious. It all makes me dream of sunshine, green grass, flowers and ripe flavor filled fruit. I can't wait for balloon fights and spending lazy afternoons reading on the swing while my kids swim in the pool.

I know it's only early March and we are pretty much guaranteed another snow storm before summer comes, but for now I'll enjoy my flip flop wearing days!

So True

This sign made me laugh when I read it.  Enjoy.

Change for Haiti

Nolan has hands down the best teacher ever to make her way out of Bachelors’ of Education program. She is positive about everything, encouraging in all the kids do and doles out the complements in full force. When the kids in Nolan's grade 5 class learnt about the destruction in Haiti, they wanted to do something to help out and came up the idea of Change for Haiti. All the kids in the school are encouraged to bring their loose change to donation to Haiti. The kids are also holding a bake sale. Nolan chose to make Oreo pops. They were quick and easy and Nolan, with a little decorative help from Jarom, enjoyed making them.

Our Newest Addition

Little boys here at the Court House are pet deprived. There is no other way of saying it. They have begged, whined, cried, pleaded and then begged some more; still they were met with an unwavering no. The unwavering no always comes from their dad; I have on occasions faltered in my no pet rule and the kids and I have made a trip to the pet store with the hope up coming home with something cute and cuddly. I never could do it once I got to the store and smelled the cedar chips mixed with animal excrement, saw the rodents or scaly reptiles.

This however is a pet I can handle.  It is quite, clean and I don't have to worry about it escaping and finding it's way into my path.  Nolan conned his dad into taking him to the pet store yesterday and they returned with Chester.