This is motherhood

This is how my morning started out.  Does it not just look like the most perfect of mornings?  It was.  I made the most delicious Blueberry muffins known to man (for the recipe check out the idea room) all scrumptious and dipped in REAL butter and topped off with cinnamon and sugar; enjoying a delightful bit of brain candy in a book, sipping Tropicana orange juice.  Life was good.

Then my kids came home and reality hit hard. 

After hour 2 1/2 of listening to Jarom scream over having to properly make his bed and vacuum up the cracker crumbs spread all over the couch and floor and helping Nolan for 5 1/2 hours complete his homework I was done and a bit reflective.  I remembered holding each one of them as new so sweet little babies and thinking they were as perfect and loveable as anything I'd ever experienced.  They smelled so good, they were cuddly; they were perfect. 

They still are sweet and cuddly, but at times they don't smell so good.

So cool

My cousin made this for me from the blog posting I did of the baby.  I think it is so cool!  To make one of your own go to Wordle

Bouquets of Fun

My sister-in-law and I had fun making these ribbons wands a while back, but it turned out neither one of us was very interested in selling them, so I have a few leftover.  It's time to share these fun little treasures with you.

Here is what I purpose!  Share with us your thoughts on what we should name our baby; girl and boy name and I'll send you whatever ribbon wands you want for your kids (or grandkids).  Just let me know what color(s) you want and I'll pop them into the mail for you!

Nolan wants us to name the baby Walter if it's a boy; so that suggestion my friends is already taken!

These are the colors I have left:

1 - royal blue - handle is cars for a boy

2 - bright pink - striped handle

2 - red with polka dot handle

7 - turquoise - brown background with turquoise and pink flower handle

1 - green with polka dot handle

6 - black - b&w handle

To see what fun your kids will have check this out: Boys in action.

Excitement

In August this family of 4 will become a family of 5!

I had my ultrasound on Thursday and once we saw the little heart beating and arms and legs flailing about we told the boys.  They were shocked and then crazy excited.   

The look on Nolan's face tells you pretty much how we all feel; we are over the moon with delighted.

And this is our new little one! Quite the looker! 

I'm 14 weeks along and starting to feel like a some what normal person again; althought I would give anything for my own personal chef!   I'm hoping to be back to some what consistant blogging, so keep checking on us!

Christmas Past

We set up our Christmas tree yesterday, now the smell of evergreen pine is permeating our house causing a flood of memories from my childhood to creep back into my remembrance and cause me to smile.

One of my favorite memories of Christmases was a Christmas Eve morning when my mom was going to school. She woke me up early in the morning to help her prepare for all the company that would shortly be arriving to enjoy the merriment of the season. Together my mom and I listened to Christmas music as we made banana and strawberry slush. I squished cheese ball through my figures and rolled ham ball in nuts. I'm sure this morning to my mom was full of stress and anxious, but because I dwelt in total childhood oblivion to all the stresses Christmas brings, to me it was glorious.

I remember one Christmas Eve morning my dad sat us down in front of a gigantic bowl of Cream of Wheat and refused to let us get up from the table until every last drop was gone.

I remember my grandpa Blumel aways wearing a nylon sock on his head while he made the stuffing and prepared the turkey.

I remember laying in bed with my sisters giggling all Christmas Eve night and peeking out the window every 5 minutes to see if grandma and grandpa Blumel have arrived yet so we could open our present.

I remember running and leaping on my parents bed yelling, "they're here, they're here"; then my dad finding every excuse to delay the present opening.

I remember running out to the living room and quickly flicking on the light switch to see if Santa had come, trying to capture a glimpse of the treasure Santa had left us.

I remember the year my parents were wise to our light flicking ways and covered all the presents and stocking with blankets. Rachel and I stood there in stunned silence until we heard the to familiar "GET BACK INTO BED".

I remember Christmas light tours and clam chowder and live nativity pageants. I remember It's a Wonderful Life and Christmas Eve pajamas and happiness.

All this from the smell of a Christmas tree.

I hope some day when my boys are grown and away from me, the smell of Christmas grabs a hold of them and they experience a flood of Christmas happy memories.

Mini Break

Yesterday morning Spencer wrote what we hope is his very last exam (cross your fingers) on his journey to becoming an architect. He booked a hotel, as his tests have to be taken in Calgary and was schedules to be written early in morning. When I found out he booked a hotel with a water slide the kids and I weaseled our way into the trip.

Okay friends, this is something I have wanted to do with my kids ever since I saw it on my cousins blog, who by the way is such a spectacular mom and so much fun I wish we lived closer!

BED DIVING

Everyone got in on the actions, it was loads of fun.

Wolverine




While Spencer wrote his exam the kids and I played in the pool,



and went down the waterslides.

Lovely Afternoon

Today was one of those beautiful fall afternoon that is perfect to go adventuring with those you dearly love. We have been granted a small reprieve from the wind, the temperature was cool and crisp, and sun was shining. It was gorgeous.

We followed a trail that led us to the river bottom, the boys stopped to explore some fallen trees while I snapped a couple of pictures.

We ventured off the trail path, following some bike tracks and discovered a hidden gem.

A tree house
and a bike course.

Man oh man, did the boys ever have fun running up and down the hill, leaping from one hill to another,

fortifying a bridge or two

I soaked in the beautiful afternoon, listening to my kids wield their imaginative play and enjoying their cries of delight.

Isn't it Ironic

That I bought a new stove, used it for 5 months, moved and stored my brand spank'in new stove in the garage for a year and a half then sold it just a few week ago for a fraction of the original cost.

Then Sunday the stove that came with my new house went on the fritz. Now I get to buy another new stove. WOOHO.

P.S. Joelle Barfuss is totally awesome and contrary her belief she is unlike all the other girls here. She is one in a Million.

Campbell's Soup is a Luxury in this house.

Yesterday was cold and miserable and nasty. It was an all around depressing day. Spencer came home from work and I shared my desire for tomato soup and cheese sandwiches. Right there a plan was hatched.

Spencer went to the store and purchased all the supplies, Campbell's tomato soup, real cheese and nasty white bread.

We waited for Jarom to go to bed.

Then Spencer, Nolan and I gathered around the stove. We were giddy. I made the soup and Spencer the sandwiches. We ate slices of cheese and moaned with pleasure.

It was wonderful, yet a little sad all at the same time.


Side Note: I may this salad for supper tonight: Avocado, beet and Arugula to accompany chicken pot pie - which I dropped on the floor flipping it onto a plate. Since it was time consuming to make and our only option for supper I scooped it up and we all ate it anyways. It was reminiscent of the Friends episode when Chandler and Rachel ate Cheese Cake off the floor.

The Kindle

I learned about this little gadget last week. The Amazon Kindle. For those who are as in the dark about this paperless reading device as I was, and blissfully so I might so boldly proclaim; it is just that, a book, a newspaper, a magazine all rolled into one electronic device.

Does this look as comforting as a paper filled tree killing book?

I love the shiny, colorful and beautifully photographed cover of a book I am about to devour.

I love the smell of freshly opened pages.

I love the creak of a book no one else has opened before.

I get shivers up my spine and tingles all over when I hold a book in my hands I have been anticipating reading.

These are the times when I relate to my grandpa Blumel who grumbled every time he had to wear his seat beat. Why would he not wear his seat belt when it will save his life? My grandkids will be looking at me the same way I looked at my grandpa. Why will grandma Angela not make friends with the Kindle that is totally paperless, there by saving our trees and thereby our planet?

He's 10

10 years with this guy. It's been a pleasure.

There are going to many jam sessions with his dad and grandpa.

It was a Happy day.

A party following the next night with a couple of his home boys.

I Gotta Feeling

Our family loves this song. I love to turn the CD player up loud and then we all dance around in the kitchen; the energy and fun instantly changes the mood of our house.

The other day I started up the music and went downstairs to find some dance partners. I looked at kids and said, "what should you be doing"? They stared back at me with blank expressions as they searched the depths of their memory trying to remember what unfinished task they hadn't done.

I pointed to the music player and Jarom smiled and said,"Dancing".

Me: "That's right buddy show me your moves".

I thought I had him at this point, but then I realized he was playing the Wii and was sure my little dance party was over before it began. So I upped the anti.

Me: "If you guys come and dance with me I'll give you a treat".

Jarom looks at his friends and says "Don't do it Hunter, it's a kiss".

Finally

Trying to decide which of my 489 pictures to share with you, has been overwhelmingly difficult. I want to share them ALL. My week-end away was so much fun. We felt young, carefree and joyful. Anne and I are, in the words of Anne Shirley, kindred spirits. It was spectacular to be together again.

I flew into Vancouver Thursday night, then bright and early Friday morning we headed off to Seattle. After a detour to the outlet mall, we finally arrived.

We cruised by the Paramount Theater to see if we could get tickets to Wicked. When we got there the lovely (although not joyful) people from Paramount were holding a lottery draw for 11 seats. After entering our names in the draw, we went and harassed the nice lady in the ticket booth, who found us utterly charming and put 2 ticket aside for the Saturday matinee just in case we weren't so fortunate to have our names drawn from the lottery.

Although the anticipation of the awaiting hearing our names called was delightful, it never happened and we paid another visit to our friend in the ticket booth purchasing fabulous seats for the following days matinee.

This is true friendship. Anne HATES her food to touch, seafood and generally anything out of the ordinary. I saw a brochure on the Crab Pot and just had to eat there. Our waiter brought us a pail of oysters, mussels, crab legs, sausages, shrimp, potatoes and corn and dumped it all on the table in front of us. We whacked crab legs, removed shrimp eye balls and legs, and shelled mussels and oysters. It was awesome. Yum!



Saturday we wondered where ever our path took us. We parked the car and hit the streets. We wondered through Pike Market, where we saw fish flying throw the air.

We also saw hundreds and hundreds of the most beautiful bouquets of flowers. They were 5 dollars. That alone made me want to pack up my family and move.

Walked the streets of Seattle, listening to the street performs, gazed in the shops and stopped for the most delicious crepes.


We finally made our way up to the theater, where we annoyed even more Seattlians to take our picture. Wicked was amazing. I loved every second of it. If you ever get the chance to go and see it; DO. It's worth the money you will pay. The singing, dancing and costumes are remarkable.



In our travels we of course had to stop for one of my favorite drinks - Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks - there really is a Starbucks on every corner.

I've had this post sitting in waiting for awhile now, so we are moving into the get it done faze of the post.

We took a ferry ride - it was cool, especially coming back to Seattle in the dark, the lights of city were very cool.
Big bowl of hot clam chowder after a cool ferry ride. Yum!

Hanging out with 5 very adorable kids.

Acting crazy at Whistler; the Olympics are going to be awesome.

Stopping for yet another treat with our super cute travelling companion as we travel down Robson Street.

My view from the plane as I leave 5 perfectly glorious days and return refreshed to the loving arms of my family.

Taylors here I Come!!!

Thanks to my generous and loving husband, this week-end I am off to go gallivanting with my best friend Anne. We are going to act young and carefree.

To say I'm excited would be an understatement. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Only 3 days to go!!!

We plan to go bumming around Seattle; taking in all the sites, culture and seafood we can squeeze into 36 hours. Does anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting Seattle before have any suggestions of places we must go see?

Delightful

" Mary stumbled outside the community kitchen into the arms of a beautiful summer day."

Our RS is reading I Am Hutterite this month as the book club selection. I have no hope in finishing the book before the big night as I just started the book and we meet on Tuesday. But I wanted to share this little sentence with you, as when I read it I thought it was the most delightful bit of imagery.

I hope you walk out into the arms of a beautiful day today.

Calling all cooks

Well I was actually posting this with the purpose of soliciting advice, but in rereading the recipe directions I've answers some of my questions, but since I found this recipes so absolutely delectable I'll share it anyhow and still ask a question.

Lemon Pudding Cake

I generally shy away from recipes calling for a pan of water to be put in the stove and then placing the baking dish on top of it. The whole process scares me a bit and I'm not sure how it works. Last night I failed to heat the water before placing my pan inside, which caused the pudding to have to bake longer and in the end I'm not sure it baked correctly - but it was still good enough to have our guests moaning (wait maybe that was me) and Jarom asking for more.

So, here is a question, how much water do I use in the pan and really what is the purpose of the water?

Where the Red Fern Grows

Noli and I just finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows. I remember my Grade 4 teacher reading it to me and the flood of tears that flowed at the end of the book.

This is a wonderful book, one that everyone should read, the author is so descriptive in his writing; the reader can't help but fall in love with Billy, Little Ann and Old Dan.

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience of reading with Nolan. I know he's older, and since I know he is exerting his independence I have to seize any opportunity I can to spend time with him and being read to seems to be something that Nolan enjoys. Plus lots of nights there is cuddling involved.

We are looking for a new book to read together, I want to read ones like this one - classics in a way. Any suggestion?

Perfect for a hot day

It's hot out and I'm dying. The Heat and I have never had a love affair. In fact I try to avoid it. Shade is my friend - I may sell one of my children to get some air conditioning.

What could be more perfect on a hot day than a glass of homemade lemonade? If you've never tried it you simply must. Nothing can compare.

Get yourself a bag of lemons and work a little cooling magic.

BEST LEMONADE EVER
(I go a little lighter on the sugar - about 1 1/4 cups)

From 37 - 17 again

This is the man I adore. We've been married 14 years and Saturday I saw a side of him I haven't seen for a long time. Giddy is the word I want to use, it just doesn't sound very manly. This photo was taken the day after and with ears still ringing he was one happy fellow.

This is Spencer's all time best friend. They share a love for the The Cult and Saturday they rocked, yes that right, rocked out at their concert.

Part of me wishes I had been there to witness such an event- arms waving, legs jumping and lips singing.