The Patterson Home!

Maddie Turns 8!

2012-02-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

Madeleine turned 8 on the 4th, and she decided it was high time to host her first slumber party. I agreed, reluctantly, since I was pretty sure there wouldn't be much slumbering that night.

We started the evening with a snack - cookies and milk, in a sprinkle crusted rim. They ate the sprinkles and left the milk.

I surprised them with a special kind of night-light...glow sticks in balloons!

I had to laugh because at the very late hour of 9 pm, the girls were begging for some shut eye! I guess I wore the out with all those stories of the good ol' days when I was a little girl.

In the morning, the official party started. They made decorations for the party.

I painted their nails.

They made hair barrettes an lip gloss.

Of course there were presents and cupcakes.

Here are the gals (and Graedon).

It's fun to be eight!

Healthy Eating Tip #4 - Sneaky Sneaky

2012-02-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

Got a food processor? This is probably the appliance that I use the most in my kitchen.

My kids will not touch mushrooms or onions. They do love them, though, and here's how I know this fact. They eat them and ask for seconds. They just don't know that they're eating them.

When I want to add some flavour to a dish (in this case Shepherd's Pie), I whip out my handy dandy petite size food processor. I grind up pieces of onion, mushrooms and peppers until they're a paste. It helps if you add a bit of liquid, like olive oil, to the mix. You can hardly tell what's in the mixture once it's ground up. At this point, if the kids ask me what I'm making, I just say, "I'm making flavour!" to which they reply, "I LOVE flavour!"

Muah ha ha!!

When that's done, you just mix it with your ground beef and cook it.

See? No, you don't, because you can hardly even tell it's in there.

This would work for any ground beef dish - meatballs, meatloaf, spaghetti sauce or even tacos. I've even put fruit & veggie pulp from the juicer into meatloaf with the same results.

Just remember that the secret to this is to call if flavour. How can anyone refuse flavour, right?

2012-02-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

There are these moments, when I glance up from my work, distracted. I give a tap to the tied sneaker, and lift my head to catch my eldest zipping the baby's coat. I turn the corner, arms full with laundry, and the moment is almost over, but not yet. The table is cluttered with paper, and they're writing letters to me. I love yous and XOXOs. How is it that I've been given that chance? To be the one to make the difference? To bear witness to their growth?

We snowshoed through the woods today, as a family. Gen on my back, Eva led the way. Richard was behind with Maddie & Graedy, he in charge of yanking the boy back to his feet by his snow jacket. As the house came back into sight, Eva sped ahead.

I entered the back door with lunch prep on my mind. Tuna pitas, salad, chips...but there was half a loaf of peanut butter toast, and eggs frying in the pan. Eva, so proud, so grown up, making lunch. I worried. Was I wrong to teach her to use the stove? I wavered between heart attack and filled heart, and settled on the latter. She was careful. She was wise.

I kissed her and thanked her for the wonderful meal. We ate it, and praised her cooking. I couldn't help but bring up safety and perhaps, next time, asking permission to use the stove. Mostly, though, I marveled at my girl who, by leaps and bounds, will not be a girl much longer.

They are growing. I am watching, my apron strings lengthening every day.

Dip It - Tip 3

2012-02-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

Tip #3 - Everything tastes better with dip.

But here's the kicker...it's not just any dip. It's an hors d'oeuvre!

This has made a big difference in the veggie intake at my house. Serve them some crudités as a first course and they're bound to eat it. They'll be extra hungry, and with veggies as the only choice, that's what they'll eat. The bonus is that these veggies are raw, so they still have most of their nutritional value (as opposed to cooked veggies which have lost a good chunk of their goodness).

Carrots and broccoli aren't the only options, of course. You could try any kind of vegetable - green beans, mushrooms, peppers, celery, you name it! You could cut up fruits, too, and serve them with a yogurt dip. If you really want to get funky with it, you could have a cheese platter with sharp cheddar, brie, swiss and even bleu. Of course, that's not a veggie/fruit thing, but, healthy nonetheless.

Having the veggies and dip before lunch is really what makes this tip work. I used to serve carrot sticks with our meal, but the kiddos usually filled up on the other food instead of the veggies. For example, if we were having egg salad sandwiches with chips and carrot sticks, which do you think they crammed in their mouths first? Yep.

Now, will snacking before lunch ruin their appetite? Yes, yes it will. But if you think of the snack as part of their dinner, then I'm sure the Mommy Guilt will lessen soon enough.

Make It Pretty

2012-01-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

My first tip for getting your kids to eat healthy food is to make it pretty. Maddie rarely eats apples. This apple, though, she ate! I cut it up and used toothpicks to turn it into a swan. I then gave her a bit of peanut butter in a bowl. She took it apart, piece by piece, dipped it, and ate almost the whole thing.

Victory!

You Are What You Eat - Healthy Eating Project, Intro

2012-01-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

I think that people nowadays are more and more aware of the effect food has on their health. Whereas our generation grew up on bologna sandwiches and white bread, with a good size scoop of cherry Jello for fruit, today's families are starting to realize the importance of fruits and veggies, clean meat and whole grains.

This has touched our family on a personal level. Remember the post on getting rid of our TV? Basically, we did it because we noticed that it played a huge part in our kids' bad moods and mouthy behaviour. The more TV, the worse it got.

It finally clicked this week that the same is happening with food. One particular day stands out. It was a busy day with little time to cook. The fresh groceries had run out a couple days ago. I resorted to throwing together whatever I could from the pantry...that is, mostly convenient, processed, carb loaded boxed food. No veggies, since there wasn't time to run to the store that day. And you know what? We paid big time.

The kids dragged all day. Their little faces stared blankly at nothing. I was tempted to tie sponges around their necks to catch the drool. They cried at nothing and everything. They were nasty. NASTY!

And, yes, so was I.

We are definetly what we eat.

I don't mean this post as a sermon or a lecture. I'm only pointing out something that I finally figured out, and really, should have noticed much sooner.

The thing is, now I feel guilty. Have I set up my kids for a lifetime of unhealthy eating? Have I encouraged bad habits? Have I pushed them down the hill of ill-health only to land in a heap of diabetes and heart disease? Is this MY fault?!

Well, yeah, I guess it is my fault.

Thankfully, guilt is a powerful motivator.

We'll see where it leads...stay tuned for more ideas on how to get some fibre, vitamins and fresh food down your kids' gullets.

Happy Birthday, Graedon!

2012-01-22T17:55:00.000-08:00

Graedon Phillip Patterson is now, officially, 4 years old.

He is growing like a weed, tall and strong.

He's quite the boy, all about cars and trucks.

He's rough and tumble, but has no qualms about helping his baby sister by carrying her dolly in public.

He'll wrestle his daddy, and (almost) win, but he'll snuggle with Mommy and remind her,

"I'm still your baby boy, Mama."

Yes, but not for long, Love.

Graedy, posing with the long awaited Monster birthday cake. I think he likes it!

Close up of the cake. There was an eyeball for each kid. I couldn't risk being one eyeball short as it would bring back traumatizing memories of a certain birthday party when I had to sacrifice my lollipop for some kid who probably didn't even RSVP. But I can't talk about it. It still hurts too much.

Graedy woke up to this Balloon Wall. He opened the door to his room and...BALLOON AVALANCHE!!

Treat bags.

Happy Birthday, Graedon!

Viking Day

2012-01-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

The local homeschoolers were treated to a Viking (ahem, Norseman) Day by our favourite historical re-enactor, Kate. She showed up in character, complete with costume, props, and activities.

Inga (Kate) showing us how to drop spin.

As it turns out, the Norsemen were pretty advanced! They had jobs, and money. They travelled all over the place in their specially designed flat-bottomed ships, and were excellent fighters. Not against the Romans, though. No one messed with the Romans.

Eva dressed up as a Viking.

They wove linen, too. They didn't have buttons. Really, though, who needs buttons when you have awesome bronze broaches instead?

Cool Viking props.

They even molded antlers and horns into utensils that felt & looked just like plastic.

Maddie & Graedon making Viking beads.

Thank you, Inga! We loved your presentation!

2012-01-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight, we drove by the church where Richard & I were wed almost 10 years ago. I pointed and yelled back to the kids, "Look! That's where Mommy and Daddy got married!"

Richard (surprised): "Oh, right!"

Graedon (4 yrs old, almost): Did I come?

Me: No, you weren't born yet.

Graedon, upset: Why didn't I come?

Me: Graedy, you weren't here. You weren't born.

Graedon: Where was I?

Me: I don't know. I hadn't made you yet.

Graedon: Who was babysitting me?

Me: (big breath) You weren't in my tummy yet!

Graedon: I wanted to come.

Me: grrr...

I Resolve...

2012-01-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Resolutions are those promises you make to yourself that, somehow, always get broken. It's like they're meant not to last. So, in that spirit, here are my resolutions for 2012:

*Get extraordinarily fat.

*Amass a ridiculous amount of debt.

*Live for myself and myself only. The kids can fend for themselves.

*Revel in the joys of a dirty home. The crud on the toilet will surely boost our immune systems. I mean, MY immune system. After all, I'm living for myself, now.

*Gossip. Viciously.

*Stay up 'til the wee hours and sleep in 'til noon.

What are your non-resolutions?

Blind People Like Subway, Too.

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

I went to Subway for lunch today. I didn't feel like eating in the restaurant, so I used the drivethru. I ordered and advanced to the checkout window. There, to my utter bafflement, was this sign:

In braille. At the drivethru.

"So, I noticed your sign there," I said to the teenager at the till. "Do you get a lot of blind drivers coming through here?"

She didn't get it, but I had a good laugh!

And, for all you blind readers out there:

   . . . .     .     .. . . ..    .. . ..
   ..    .   .          .. . . .     .     . ..
.       ..                . .              .. .

In the Quiet Time

2011-12-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

We had an unexpected power failure a couple days before Christmas. As we were eating our pizza (cheese-less for Gen & I, who are on a dairy fast), the light flickered. Once, twice, and out. The little kids panicked, initially, but were quickly comforted when we brought out the candles. The comfort was due, in part, to the flickering light, and also to the novelty of having open flame within their reach.

It was quiet. No music, no furnace fan, no clicking of electronics and no refrigerator hum. It made for a strange ambiance. It was solemn, but not at all sad. It felt loaded with importance, but with no expectation.

I told the kids of the great ice storm of '98, when we were without power for 6 days. My friend, from a more rural address, was sans electricity for 3 weeks. What fond memories!

We sang Christmas carols together. We told relay stories, where one person starts a story and after a few sentences another person jumps in to continue the tale.

We cuddled under blankets on the couch, while Maddie made wax sculptures from candle drippings.

It was wonderful. If I could have packaged it, I'd have placed it under the tree and labeled it "Christmas".

My love/hate relationship with Christmas continues. My heart is insistent on expecting a Christmas tht matches the season. For me, Christmas should be like a walk in the woods after a snowfall. Still, muffled, dim, cocooned in a deep blanket of white...the feeling that I've been here before, I know this, it knows me, but as I look into the branches of the trees - by all appearances, dead - the sunlight filters though the ice and snow and there are no words for the beauty that is new every moment.

But this. This was Christmas.

King's Landing Field Trip

2011-12-14T04:39:00.000-08:00

King's Landing is probably one of my favourite places in NB, so I was pumped when the opportunity for a field trip came up. We piggy-backed with a grade 1 class from Saint John and took part in their "The Child at Work and Play" workshop.

It was all about how a 19th century child would have spent their day. The kids began by "waking up". Here are Maddie & Eva (sharing a bed, as was usual) asleep on the ticking.

The girls & boys were seperated into gender appropriate chores. The girls made gingerbread. Yum! It's quite a feat to have 11 little girls make a single gingerbread. Here's Maddie, stirring the batter.

Here's Eva, sweeping the house.

The girls took turns beating the bumps out of the ticking. This was by far their favourite chore!

Story & playtime with our historical reenactor. They passed around typical toys - a doll, ball, books... the kids seemed surprised at how few toys there were, and at how simply they were built.

The girls loved King's Landing. As an added blessing, it really opened up my eyes to how little I expect from my kids, but how much they are actually able to take on. They had fun, but they also came back a tad more mature than when they arrived.

Maybe I'll add beating beds to their chore list!

Amuse

2011-12-13T17:33:00.000-08:00

Pssst...check it out! I finally took the plunge and opened up shop on Facebook. My next craft market is at the Boyce market in Fredericton, next Sunday. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amuse/231400363582819

Hallowe'en

2011-11-29T16:41:00.000-08:00

Here we are, almost December, and I just realized I didn't post pictures of the kids' costumes this year. Story of my life.

Eva (as Jasmine), Gen (bumblebee), Maddie (tooth fairy), Graedon (Spiderman)

As a treat (or was it a trick? Hmmm?), I made these cupcakes in a jar. The kids had so much fun breaking the spiderweb to get to the cake. Next year I'm going to make them again with a few adjustments. I'm thinking half the cake in the jar, then serve them with a scoop of ice cream between the cake & the web. Yes. Very good.

Solar System Convo...

2011-11-28T14:50:00.000-08:00

We are so blessed that Rich gets to come home and have lunch with us most days. I usually try to get the conversation going by discussing our morning, and what happened in school. This week we started learning about the solar system, and our planets.
On a side note, poor Pluto. To spend all those years as a small, but important planet and then to be dumped like that. Rejection is hard.

After the usual banter, I said, "Hey, Daddy, guess what we're learning in school?! We're learning about planets! Maddie, what's your favourite planet?"

Maddie said, "I like the blue one! What is it, Neptune?"

Eva chimed in, "My favourite is Earth!"

I said, "And some planets have rocky surfaces, like Earth, and some are made of gas! Richard, what's your favourite planet?"

Richard, grinning, "I like Uranus!" Laughed!

Eva, totally not getting it, "And Dad! Uranus is gassy!"

By this time, Richard and I are practically in tears. Maddie just looked at us like we were nuts.

And this was one of those rare moments when I got to see what my husband was like as a 12 year old boy.

Leaving the Boob Tube

2011-11-26T04:12:00.000-08:00

We quit TV. We have, approximately, been sans telly for about 6 weeks now. Following a month of hell, amidst a fit of screaming, tantrums and gnashing of teeth, we banished the TV to the basement. It sits there, hulking, while we piece together our lives, correct habits and attitudes acquired from the screen and get to know each other again.

I knew I wanted this, but I was unprepared for what would actually happen once we got rid of the thing.

Boredom. The kids wandered lost for a few days, whining. Nothing to do. And then, after they realized how annoying being bored was, they DID something about it. They broke out their crayons. They pulled on their coats. They dusted off their bikes. They made tents in their bedrooms. The perma-drool look they had adopted from staring at the screen began to dissipate, and their gaze cleared.

Fights. Oh my goodness. Now the kids HAD to interact. They could no longer forget their differences and switch on PBS kids. They stand their ground more. They offer, counter-offer, settle. They negotiate (sometimes kindly, often not). They learn that there really is no escape from conflict, not really. But there IS a way through it.

Work. I didn't have time to do it all before. After my TV time, I was too tired to do much of anything. Now, of a sudden, my housework is slightly caught up (slightly, but that's better than not), I'm sewing more, reading more. I'm doing more work.

Judgement. How many people have been to our home, and how many have said, within minutes of entering, "Um. You don't have a TV?"

Empty space. What am I going to do with that yawning space in the corner of the room? How will I rearrange the furniture, now that it doesn't all need to point toward the telly? How awkward...will we need to face, gulp, each other??

Loss of quality time. The nightly TV date with the hubby is no more. Now we talk. Now we sit at the table and chat, each with a project in hand. The "other wo/man" is gone. We're enjoying it, and each other, more.

Tongue in cheek, this post, but secretly...I think the kids are actually enjoying this television free home. Not so secretly, so am I.

Last Chance

2011-11-17T16:19:00.001-08:00

This week we had one of our lasts. It had been surprisingly warm for November, and we packed up our school books early and I sent everyone to enjoy what could very well have been the final day of fall.

The air was eerie heavy. The sky was frowning, the clouds were racing and the light was like dusk, even though it was mid-day. We ran, we played, we planted, and we took full advantage.

It felt like our last chance.

The last chance to bury garlic bulbs, in hopes that it miraculously survives the freezing winter (isn't any bulb a miracle?).

The last chance for gum rubber boots and soil dirty hands.

The last chance for bare legs and summer dresses. Last chance for casually thrown sweaters and jackets hung on tree limbs.

One last chance...

And, bonus, check out the latest fall fashion in rural New Brunswick:

Singing With Graedon

2011-11-12T10:02:00.000-08:00

Graedon still takes long afternoon naps. For that, I am thankful.

When I put him to bed, he always asks me to lie down next to him and sing him a song. His favourite is "the moose song", aka Down By The Bay. He giggles at every verse I make up. I can see his little mind imagining the moose kissing a goose, the snake with the garden rake and the mouse in a tiny house.

Sometimes he asks me for songs I don't know. Sometimes he makes up his own. Sometimes he mixes up songs. The other day he sang The B-I-B-L-E...you know the one? He finished it off as, "...the B-I-B-L-Eeeee! Eye-ball!" Close, Graedy, close!

I've never been one to lie down with my kids when they go to bed. I'm usually pretty tuckered out by that time, and if I were to do that with each kid, it'd be midnight before I hit the sack. I really do enjoy the few minutes alone with Graedy, though. He's pretty great.

Making Do

2011-10-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

We Pattersons are fashion forward. When you combine that with my absent mindedness, well, interesting things happen.

Thanksgiving blowout and no change of clothes or diaper? No problem. A tea towel, some pins and a grocery bag will do the trick. Not only is the fit flattering, the green tinge of the bag brings out the sparkle in Gen's eye.

Is the topless model a little too immodest for you? This diaper cover also comes in a mock overall style.

BTW - no worries! We're not stupid and didn't leave her unsupervised with the bag. It was quickly covered up with her clothes as soon as the photo shoot was finished. A proper diaper was soon located.

Potty Post Number 2

2011-10-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

See what I did there? Number 2? Yeah, I thought of it myself.

Okay.

We have a new toilet! The last one was fine, but never really flushed properly. It was the normal size toilet. It looked like this:

This is not a picture of our toilet. It's just one like it. I just wanted to be clear on that.

The new toilet is in the bathroom right next to Graedy's room. In fact, you might even call it Graedon's bathroom. With the small toilet, Graedy would just get up at 2 am, do his business and be back in bed before he really awoke. Now, our new toilet looks like this:

It's a very tall toilet. It causes vertigo. In fact, if we were to measure the distance from the floor to the rim of the bowl, it would be exactly the distance from Graedon's soles to his groin area...plus a half inch. Just enough to cause problems, if you catch my drift. I got him a stool, but I guess it's hard enough for a three year old to concentrate on aim without adding balance to the mix.

Now, Graedon has to run upstairs to use our other toilet. The exercise is good for him, but slightly inconvenient in the middle of the night.

Our new toilet is tall....and if you were to measure it's height and compare it to the normal 29 year old female's shin length, you would immediately see that there is a problem. It looks like this:

These are not my feet. I think these are Jessica Simpson's feet.

I feel like a five year old in a waiting room. I also tend to use the upstairs bathroom.

I've been searching for a solution to the problem, and I think I've got it. They do it in Asia (and you know how smart and practical the Japanese are). It's called the Squatty Potty. It looks like this:

This is not me. And, please note, she has her pants on. You're welcome.

I kid you not, there has been research into this kind of thing. Squatting to do your business is healthier because it helps avoid bloating, constipation, hemmorhoids and colon cancer as it promotes a more efficient and complete elimination. Squatting in general is excellent for your pelvic floor and leg muscles. And, it makes you happy. I mean, just look at that girl. She's ecstatic!

You might think I'm kidding, but check my bathroom next time you come over. I am this close to convincing Richard to order one...and by this close, I mean the distance between the floor and the rim of the tall toilet.

The First of Many Potty Posts

2011-10-26T04:22:00.000-07:00

Rich and I had pie at the local truckstop last night. As we were leaving, I visited the ladies' room. I entered the room, turned right toward the stalls (which were all empty - I could tell because all the doors were open) and then swung left into the first stall.

And, BAM! I jumped out of my skin, clutched my chest and yelled, "Oh! You scared me!"

There, sitting on the toilet was an old native lady wearing a beret, grinning a toothless smile. "Heh, heh, heh," she chortled. "The door swung open on it's own. Heh, heh, heh."

I just stared. Her face looked like those dried apple carvings people make for Halloween. I was so shocked at finding her there, and so puzzled as to why she didn't just reach out 6 inches from her knees and swing the door closed that I just said, "Oh."

I turned away and went into the next stall. The apple-face lady LOUDLY grunted and groaned the whole 30 seconds I was there (I was being quick. I was extremely uncomfortable.).

It was weird.

I'll Be Back...

2011-10-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, you've missed me. I know you have.

Life has sucked. All the energy from my body and brain, and so I haven't attempted a post in a while.

I'll be Bach. I'll be Mozart. (I know. Groan. My favourite joke.)

Birth

2011-10-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

There's no way to properly give justice to a homebirth. I was privileged to attend my second one last week (other than my own). Although there is beauty in every birth, no matter what the setting, there is something special to a birth at home. Something different. Something...

It might be the decor. The open flame of the candles (definetly a no-no at a hospital), the family pictures on the wall, the coloured towels and blankets to match the woman's personality. The smell of supper in the air, fresh laundry, the absence of bleach.

It might be the people present. The children eating cereal at the table, while they wait for the sitter to pick them up. The quick visits of good friends as they deliver a meal and pop in "just to check". The friendly neighbours who sit vigil on their porches, hoping to be the firsts to get the news that the baby has been born.

It might be the staff. The midwife's apprentice who quietly sets up their equipment around the room, nodding and murmuring encouragement as the mother moans and rocks. The midwife who asks permission before taking vitals or checking dilation, always respectful of the family's privacy, and never assumes she has first dibs to the mother's body.

It might be the father. The way he kisses and holds his wife, freely, unhindered. A man in his own home, where he is comfortable, where he is on his own turf is a powerful thing to behold. There is no questionning look at the doula to ask if it's okay to join his wife in the shower. He knows, and he does.

It might be the mother. She wanders her home, she wears her husband's t-shirt, or nothing at all and it's okay. And she knows it. She doesn't seek permission to eat, or to kneel on the floor, or to walk around her yard. She has built a comfortable home, the perfect home for herself and her family, and she takes full advantage.

It might be the baby. The calm, wise expression as he gazes into his mother's eyes. The cry, then the quiet of a baby who's first touch was from a woman he recognizes from the massages he received in the womb. Or, perhaps, his first touch was from his father, or mother, who lifted him directly from womb to heart.

There's something about a homebirth. There's something about a new family in bed together, counting toes and stealing kisses.

There's just something about homebirth.

The Birds and The Bees

2011-10-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

Sex. If you just blushed and glanced really quick over your shoulder to make sure no one sees you read this entry, then this post is for you! Hey, look! Is that your mom that just walked into the room?

Just kidding!

Seriously, though, I came across this article on the Focus on the Family website. It's good. It's really, really good.  As I was reading it, I kept thinking, "Oh, but they forgot this..." and then, there it was in the next paragraph.

To sum it up - talk about sex with your kids. Really. It's important. The fact of the matter is that sex is going to happen, is happening right now, and you need to address it. Don't wait for the teenage years. Your 12 year old boy that you think is too young to have "the talk"? He's thinking about it right now. And now. A-a-and now.

Your 6 year old? She's got older cousins, or friends her age who (think) they know about sex. They're not censoring on her behalf. She's going to remember when they refer to her body parts as (and you can fill in the blank here, because I don't want to use slang and attract the wrong crowd to my blog by search engine).

Okay, so maybe you're homeschooling. Maybe you don't have TV. Maybe you only choose really, really good friends for your kids (?!). Still, not a good excuse. Where is sex? Sears catalog (true story), grocery check-out, pregnant auntie, farms, radio, next table over at McDonalds, the Bible (whoa, what? Yup, read it.) etc., etc., etc.

I don't agree with having "the Talk". I think it should be more like "the Dialogue". Sex education shouldn't be a class, or a program to be taken over a semester. It starts at the first diaper change, continues at toddler bath time, preschool curiosity, grade school thirst for knowledge and on through the teenage angst. Teach your kids through your actions & words right from the beginning. Use real words. No one would refer to a nose as a "sniff-sniff". Don't refer to a penis as a "wee-wee".    If your 4 year old asks you how babies come out, don't brush him off. If he's old enough to think up a question, he's old enough for a simple, age-appropriate answer. Stammering and blushing and avoiding the subject will only teach him that sex is shameful and embarrassing.

The fact of the matter is that God made people. After that, he left it up to them to make other people. God didn't address Adam and Eve with, "Go forth and, you know, like, um, uh..."  God made sex. God made it enjoyable. He attached responsibilities and guidelines to it.  It's our job as parents to make sure our kids understand those responsibilities.

Read the article. It's good. It's really, really good.

Schools In

2011-09-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

We're in week 3 of school. I've taken pictures here and there, but I realized this morning that I haven't blogged about it. Since school takes up a good chunk of our time and energy, it only seems right to give it it's due space on the blog. Here are just a couple photos of what we've done:

We're learning about the sky. Did you know the atmosphere is hundreds of miles deep, but only the first few miles are breathable air? Yeah, I didn't know that either. Here's Maddie testing out air resistance with her bike and a parasol.

Eva discovered that there's a big difference in air resistance when you run with an umbrella versus riding a bike.

We made posters the first day of school.

We covered journals. The kids write in them daily. It's been a big hit.

Graedon has a journal, too.

There's lots more to come this year. We're only getting started!

Project Recycle Radio Pt. 1

2011-09-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

I found this diamond in the rough at the local second hand store. It's a really old radio.

I know...what would I possibly want with an old radio that doesn't work and, given the disintegrating wires and missing parts, will never work?

You'll find out soon. Stay tuned!

The Little Boy and the Cookie

2011-09-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

*This is mostly a true story, except for the parts I made up. For ease of reading, I've put the fictionalized part in italics.*

Once upon a time, there was a lady selling her wares at an outdoor market. Along came a little boy and sat down beside her. The boy had beautiful golden curls and big blue eyes. He sighed deeply and turned his sad little face to the vendor lady.

"I'm so-o-o hungry, and my parents don't have any money," sniffled the little boy. He gazed at the lady with his big puppy dog eyes. "Do you have anything I can eat?"

The vendor lady felt so sorry for the little boy. After asking whether he had allergies (safety first!), she asked him if he'd like a cookie.

"Oh, yes!" said the boy, all smiles.

The lady handed him a chocolate chocolate chip cookie, which he popped into his mouth immediately. His face fell and he began to scowl. "This cookie is HARD!"

Surprised, the lady said, "Oh, I must have left that batch in a bit too long. Sorry."

Pouting, the little boy ordered in an angry voice, "Next time, you should make vanilla and chocolate! Try to remember that for next time!"

And then the vendor lady grabbed that snotty little brat in a head lock, pried his piranha jaws open and took back her chocolate chocolate chip cookie by the fistful.

The End.

Recycling. Blah.

2011-09-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

That title got your attention, eh? My friend recently posted on her blog about how impractical and expensive recycling can be. I've lived in neighbourhoods where the town arranged pick-up for the recyclables. All you had to do was dump everything into one bin, and they took care of the rest! Here, though? We're on our own! We're welcome to recycle, but the sorting is up to us, and we have to drive it to several different spots around town and drop it off.

I read A's post and my first thought was, "Oh, fiew! I'm not the only non-recycler here!" And, then, the guilt started creeping up. As a passive recycler (that is - I recycle when there's a bin nearby, and I turn in my bottles for cash), am I single handedly ruining our planet?? Eeep.

There's a lot of attention brought to recycling. Personally (and this will bring me many a dirty comment, I'm sure), I think the idea of recycling is a band-aid solution. We focus on how we can recycle, and yet, we don't stop to think about why we need to recycle in the first place. Why are we buying so much stuff? Why is that stuff wrapped in so much packaging? We are replacing our old appliances for new, "energy-efficient" ones only to replace those ones in 6-7 years because they're cheaply produced and held together with spit and a prayer. Really? Is that energy efficient? Is that better for the environment? Is that even affordable?

So, no, I don't put much emphasis on recycling. Reduce, though? Ah, yes. That, I like. Reuse? Mmmm-hmmm. It's as simple as (and these are not all currently being used by me, but they're still great ideas):

*buying second-hand. Furniture, clothing, and home decor can be bought for cheap. Because of our disposable culture, most of it is like new anyway! When you're done with something, advertise it and make some of your money back. Not underwear, though. That's gross. I'm especially talking to the lady with the yard sale at which she'd hung her leopard print nightie/thong set and slapped a $5 price tag on it. *shudder*

*gardening & canning. Mason jars are re-usable for years and years and years!

*cutting back at Christmas and birthdays. Presents are nice but they don't translate to love. As a mom, Christmas is one of the most frustrating times of the year. We're so blessed with gifts, but sometimes it's hard to find a spot for it all. The best presents are the ones that are useful, compact and of a quality make (nothing worse than having to throw out a gift on boxing day because it broke).

*passing on books. Loved that novel? Send it on to a friend and let them love it, too.

*make your own lunch and use washable containers to carry it.

*cloth diaper & breastfeed. Huge money saver if you stick to the basics.

*be content. Yes, there's a newer and better model out there, and yes, you want it. But do you need it? If your old one is still doing the job, then keep lovin' it. That goes for spouses, too. :P

What are your tips for going green?

Visiting Québec

2011-09-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

We try to visit Québec at least every year. We missed last summer because Gen was due in the middle of August. Traveling with an extremely pregnant, hormonal mommy who can't tie her own shoes is not advised...unless of course, you're into extreme sports or don't value your life.

The 7 hour trip stretched out to about 10. We stopped often to pee and run around. Québec City is about 4 hours into the trip so we usually make a pit stop there to visit the Aquarium. It cuts up the trip right at that point where the kids feel that they just can't take it anymore. After looking at fish for 2 hours (BTW, I heard that staring at fish is very calming and soothing), they were ready to get back into the van and drive the rest of the way...asleep :)

Sand sculptures at the Québec Aquarium.

A nice lady offered to take our picture by the bridge at the aquarium. I fully expected her to tuck the camera under her arm and make a run for it, but no! We got the camera back safe and sound.

The Pattersons, August 2011

This summer we decided to try Le Village d'Antan. For such a touristy attraction, I was disappointed that only a small number of staff spoke English (and then only enough to get by). I found the historic village very interesting, but Richard and the kids got bored easily since they couldn't understand the stories behind the buildings and characters.

Still, very pretty, and quite different from King's Landing in Fredericton. Le Village d'Antan tells the history of the Québecois and you can see the strong Catholic influence in the families and buildings. King's Landing is older, and mostly (if not all) protestant.

Sitting in the one-room schoolhouse.

No trip would be complete without a bathroom mishap, of course. This picture was taken moments before I caught a whiff of something foul...and it wasn't the pony ride, either! Gen had pooped on everything! Wipes weren't going to do it, so we headed to the bathroom to rinse off in the sink...only to find out that the only running water was freezing cold. Gen was quite awake after that. :)

"Uh oh! I have a surprise for you, Mommy!"

The next day we hung around my old stomping grounds. To my surprise they now have a Farmer's Market. It's a nice one, too! If I lived close enough, I'd be a regular.

This man had the best apple juice and Sunrise apples I'd ever tasted. Yum!

That night we had a bonfire at my Grandma Blouin's. It's crazy how the kids seem to grow up so fast when you aren't there to watch them. My little cousins are adults, and my littler cousins are practically teenagers. The great thing about our family get togethers is that there's no age limit to singing "Squirrel", complete with the bum-wagging actions.

We met up with my brother, R, his wife, N, and little K! It was a special treat to have the cousins play together. K is a bundle of happy energy, running and laughing and generally enjoying life. I'm hoping we can visit more often than just every other year.

Asbestos is well-known for...you guessed it! Asbestos! Graedon was intent on going to see the great, big truck.

Great, Big Truck...Tiny Little Kids

We visited with my Grandma Noble. The kids thought her apartment was pretty sweet - especially the big bag of Cheetos!

Opa!

2011-09-01T05:06:00.000-07:00

Turns out my baby is a tad Greek.

Opa!

Killer Elvis

2011-08-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Remember the Breakfast Project?

Feast your eyes on what I call...pum pum pa-a-ah! The Killer Elvis.

What's better than the infamous peanut butter and banana sandwich?

A peanut butter and banana and chocolate and cream cheese sandwich!

And what's better than that?

Dipping it in egg mixture and frying it up like french toast.

Yes, it is bad for you, even if it has fruit and a dairy product in it. I was a bit afraid to try it, and so I added maple syrup. I'll try anything with maple syrup on it. Being Québecoise, I cut my teeth on the stuff.

The first bite was good. The second bite was better. The last few bites, well, I guess I should have known when to pull the plug.

I don't know if I'm an Elvis fan, but me and peanut butter & banana sandwiches? We're close.

Hello, Lover.

Firing Up the Infernal Kernel

2011-08-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

We had our annual corn boil last Saturday. True, we hadn't had it in a couple years, but we're hoping to put the "annual" back into the event. Corn season snuck up on us, and so we whipped the party together in only a few days.

What started as an "adult" party has graduated to a family friendly event. We phoned up all the young families we could think of, and even with the short notice, a lot of them were able to be with us. I counted more than 70 in all...which is mucho corno.

This time we set up in the back corner of our lot. It's not super far...we only have 2 acres. After the 104th trip to fetch forgotten items, bring little kids to the potty, get the phone, etc, it was plenty far. I got my exercise!

Remember how setting up a teepee for the kids was one of my summer goals? It didn't exactly happen. I think this is much better, though. This was our reading tent. The little girls claimed it very quickly, and I could hear much giggling from inside the white curtain.

The bubble station was also a big hit. There were some massive bubbles happening here!

That was a hungry crowd, for sure. It's never happened before, but we were very close to running out of food. Of course, that might be a certain little boy's fault! LOL

Summer Picnic

2011-08-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

What better way to kick a summer funk than a picnic in the park?

We joined my mom and brother for the hugest summer lunch to ever fit in a basket - sandwiches, chips, watermelon, cucumber, apples, cheese, cookies, muffins, carrot sticks, ice cream...fiew! We know how to eat, that's for sure.

We swing, swang, swung.

I taught my brother how to whistle a blade of grass.

As always, the splash pad was much appreciated. The splash pad was made possible by an anonymous donor. What a great gift to our town.

Sand. It's so much fun.

Geneviève Turns 1!!!

2011-08-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Geneviève Anise turned 1 yesterday.

How is that even possible?

I had a quiet day, remembering how only a year ago I woke up in the middle of the night with some definite signs of her arrival. I remembered the way she entered this world - fast and decided, carrying me with her. I remembered how peaceful her birth was and I can't help but be awed when I think of it, and thankful to the women who accompanied us on her journey earthside.

She was born in a hurry, and Richard was the one to place her in my arms. I remember his face, how proud he was. Gen was my pudgy baby - rolls and dimples and wrinkles everywhere. She still has those dimples when she grins. She's a beautiful girl, and her personality matches her birth.

We celebrated with the Grammies and Grampies, and Auntie Lydz and Uncle Shawn.

Her cake was 4 layers of chocolatey goodness. Most of hers landed on the deck, but she made good use of the icecream.

Gen, Maddie & Crystal, the bunny.

Her very own chair...when the other kids let her sit in it. She's holding her ground, though, and giving them whatfor.

My sweet Baby Gen.

Hay, We Have New Neighbours!

2011-08-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Our neighbours' granddaughter got married in the field behind our house last weekend. It was a country theme, complete with wagon rides, pimped up tractor, hay bales, lemonade stand and this charming couple:

The hay groom bears a surprising likeness to the real groom. I missed the event since I was away, but the girls had a great time watching the procession from our back deck.

Since that weekend there have been dozens of cars stopping to take pictures of the hay couple. I charged one guy $5, but he just laughed. He didn't pay me. Why doesn't anyone take me seriously?

Still, very cute, no?

Summer Reading

2011-08-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

Summer is reading time for me. So is winter, cozied with a blanket on the couch. Spring, too, and fall. Summer, though, bring to mind quilts on the lawn under the shade of the apple tree; lying on the deck swing with my latest novel; late evenings reading by the moonlight because we daren't turn on the porch light for fear of mosquitoes. Yes, summer is a time for reading.

I have to share what I've been reading lately. I just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Fantastic. Brilliant. It's narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic boy (at least, I think he's autistic. It doesn't actually say so in the book, but if you put 2 and 2 together...). The story is about how he finds a murdered dog and goes about the neighbourhood trying to find the culprit. The fantastic part is that he writes the novel in the same style his mind works, which I must say, is absolutely astounding. I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob (name that movie).

Next, I've read a couple novels by Margaret Atwood. How is it that in almost 3 decades of living, I haven't ever read Margaret Atwood? She's Canadian for goodness' sake! And, IMHO, a literary genius! Granted, I've only read 2 of her books, but so far I love her. I'm reading Alias Grace right now. If you love historical fiction - or non-fiction, for that matter - give it a try. The Robber Bride was great, too.

Phillippa Gregory is a hot name if you like history, too. The Other Boleyn Girl, anyone?

What are you reading lately?

More Current, Younger

2011-07-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

I got my hair done this week. It had been a long time since I'd made an appointment for anything non-health related. My idea of getting a hair-do is to stop in at whatever hair salon looks the least busy on my way home from getting groceries.

This time I went to Victor's Blue Rose Salon. The ad said 25% off for the month of July, which sounded right up my alley. I'd also heard that he was a stylist, rather than a hair dresser (dresser? Is that politically correct nowadays?) and I definetly needed that!

His shop is in his house for now. I admit, I walked in there and immediately had doubts. It was a bit, um, relaxed. But I had a sitter, I'd made it all the way there without incident, and I was not going to throw that away. Worse comes to worse, I'd buy a nice hat.

I am so glad I stayed. He washed my hair with some sort of rosemary mint conditioner and it was heavenly. Is it possible for your scalp to feel refreshed? Yes, yes it is. Victor even offered me a glass of red wine while I waited for my treatment to soak in. Not wanting to embarrass myself, I politely declined.

I told him I had 4 kids, and that I needed something quick, easy, and cool. I also requested not to look like a frumpy old lady.

Anyhow, this is the end result. Victor said it was more current, and younger. My goodness, I can't believe I'm actually at the age where I'm intentionally trying to look younger than my 29 years.

Growing a Man

2011-07-25T13:23:00.000-07:00

When our children are little, and the days are filled with diapers and tantrums and dimples and booboos, it's so easy to forget that someday they will be men and women. Someday they will have homes to care for, families to feed, wives & husbands to love and respect, and children of their own to grow. I'm thankful to have a man like Richard who takes the time to teach Graedon what it means to be the provider, protector and leader of our family. Piling wood with a 3 year old takes a lot more time and patience, but it made an impact on our son.

That night, I sat on Graedon's bed and listened to his prayers. He prayed his usual, "Bless Mommy & Daddy & Maddie & Eva & baby Gen & Tigger..." and added "...and thank you for doing wood with Daddy." That half hour of splitting wood in the field with Rich was a big deal for him.

Graedon loves to tell me about how things will be when he's a "big man". He wants to be like his daddy. He wants to "go work with Daddy at Daddy's work" and "drive the car" and "mow the grass on the lawn mower".

Thank you for being such a good influence on Graedon, Rich. Someday he will be a man, like you, and I will know we did well.

Facebook Fast

2011-07-25T04:06:00.000-07:00

Ah, Facebook. You started as a fun way to keep in touch with friends, and as a way for far-away family to watch the kids grow. Who knew you'd be such a time-waste? Of course, for those Facebook users with self-control, this isn't a problem. For me, Facebook is a bit too easy access. The kids need my full attention, and how can I offer that to them when Susie is making tacos for lunch, and Johnny is going on vacay @ the beach?

I've quit Facebook before, but it didn't last. Come to find out that all you need to do is log in, and ta-da! You're back on. Too easy. So I came up with a solution.

Richard changed my password and replaced it with a top-secret one. I can no longer log in without his help and approval. So far I've been on Facebook a lot less, and frankly, it's been a blessing. I'm getting more done around the house, I'm not feeling the pressure to "like" everything and anything, and the kids aren't having to compete with the computer for my attention.

I have big plans for the immediate future now that I have all this time on my hands: clean the oven. re-organize the pantry. wash out the fridge. Ah! Yes! Take that Facebook!

9 Years

2011-07-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

Rich & I just had our 9 year anniversary a couple weeks ago. We're big into gifts (haha), so he gave me the stomach flu. Thanks, Rich.

Actually, the whole family got the sick bug. Luckily I only had a couple days of feeling "off". Poor Graedy & Gen had it the worse. I was quite concerned with Gen because babies can get dehydrated so quickly. Graedon lazed around the house for a few days, and now he is back to himself...only more so. I think he used the down time to store up extra energy and hatch some new adventure plans.

All this to say: my plans to celebrate our anniversary with a stylin' weekend away vanished down the tube. So did the fancy restaurant supper. So did renting a movie, since we were both passed out by 8 pm.

What to do? What to do?

How would you celebrate a 9 year anniversary? Any suggestions for fun places to visit as a couple (with baby Gen in tow)?

VBS Fashion

2011-07-21T04:11:00.000-07:00

Graedon dressed himself for VBS this morning. Tie-dye, wrong foot flip flops and a clip-on tie. Very snazzy!

My Little Weeder

2011-07-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

I was weeding the garden this morning. I looked behind me and there was Graedon...weeding out my row of onions!!

Me: Graedon! No! Those are onions. Don't pull them out!

Graedon: Mo-o-o-m! I don't like onions!

Perfectly logical, no?

Biker Babe

2011-06-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

Do they make leather jackets in a 12 month size?

Caton's Island

2011-06-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'd heard rumours about Caton's Island summer camp. As our friend, R, says, "It's New Brunswick's best kept secret!" Every year in early June, the NB homeschoolers rent the camp. Space is limited, so reservations are an absolute must. We registered our spot last August...in the nick of time!

What a great time we had! For a flat fee per family (whoo hoo to the family of 9 who got the best vacation deal ever!) you get 4 days of all inclusive summer fun.

We canoed.

We swam (it was a tad chilly).

We had our own cabin.

We went horseback riding.

We went rock wall climbing.

We watched rainy-day movies.

We played games.

It poured and poured on Saturday, so we missed out on the rope course and zip lining. Still, we had a blast.

You need to cross the water by barge to get to Caton's Island. Once you're on the island, you're away from phone, car, internet and all other distractions. There are miles of trails to explore, and the scenery is breath taking. It's beautiful, serene and almost otherwordly with it's driftwood beaches and forest beds strewn with acorns and pine needles. It felt good to be away from it all.

Our spot is already reserved for next year.

This Weekend I Learned...

2011-06-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

...something very important while I was chatting with some (obviously) wiser, more experienced moms. You know how everyone says that God won't give you more than you can handle? Well that's a Big. Fat. Lie.

God gives us more than we can handle all the time. That's why He's there to help us through it. If we had it all under control, then we wouldn't need him. We wouldn't seek him. We'd be prideful, cocky and full of ourselves. I mean, more than we already are.

So, when you think you can't handle it on your own anymore - you're right. You can't. All you need to know is how to give it up, and hand it up and let Him help.

Gnome Giveaway Winner

2011-06-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Kendra! You're the winner of the gnome giveaway.

Dandelion Pesto

2011-06-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

School has wound down. A bit of math here, lots of reading there, but for the most part we're done and done and done. I mentionned summer school before, and here's a sample of what that means. We're learning about plants and wildcrafting. Right now we're halfway through a unit on dandelions.

We made dandelion pesto. It was quite good, actually. The kids even tasted it.

If you want to take a crack at it, here's the recipe:

Dandelion Pesto

2 cups dandelion leaves

2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup parmesan

Combine the leaves (clean, pesticide free, duh) and the garlic in a food processor. Add the oil and the parmesan and process until it looks like pesto. Serve it on pasta, or crackers.

Couldn't be easier! Very healthy! Yum yum!

Summer Scene

2011-06-05T12:20:00.001-07:00

The Gnome Village & A Giveaway!!

2011-06-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, the gnome village is finished!

I nestled it into a flower bed in the shade of a big old pine tree. The fallen needles help keep the weeds at bay, and make for a pretty even surface.

Welcome to Gnomesville!

The Manor House - Home to the oldest and most well-to-do family in the village. Note the craftsmanship & attention to detail that only the very wealthy gnome can afford.

PS - That craftsmanship is not my own. Kate & Eric get all the credit for this beautiful house!

A gnome bachelor decorates with gifted items from his mum...braided rug, welcome mat and chair from the matched set in the Manor House. To the annoyance of the other villagers, he leaves his Christmas decorations up all year.

Nestled in the trees away from prying eyes is the Recluse. He lives off the land and guards his quiet life closely.

Mrs. Gnome is busy in her household. Her family's laundry flaps gently in the wind. Her apron hangs on the post, waiting for such a time when she might make acorn flour cakes. Later, she will pack up her picnic basket, complete with checked tablecloth, and take Mr. Gnome and the children out for lunch.

View from the look-out...keeping an eye out for scoundrels.

Mr. Gnome enjoys fresh milk & fruit everyday. Mrs. Gnome holds a high standard for her family. Only the best here! Notice the felted leaf rug, bought from The Recluse gnome.

So there you have it...a quick peek at the gnome village.

Would you like your own little gnome? Here's your chance to win one!

Here are some ways to enter. Each is worth one entry.

Leave a comment (one entry) about the following questions: Did you have something similar to a gnome village as a child? Did you invent secret worlds? Did you have a private hide-out that only you knew about?

Visit my Etsy Shop and "favourite" it (one entry).

Blog about this giveaway, and link back to this post.

Be sure to leave a comment for each time you enter. I'll choose a winner randomly on Friday, the 10th!

The End is Near!

2011-06-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

It's June, the sun has finally warmed up (relatively speaking, of course) our little corner of the world, and the end of the school year is in sight. I've been working away at figuring out next year's curriculum. The problem isn't finding books or programs. The problem is deciding which of the multitude of choices to use!

This year we used First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, by Jessie Wise. A hit since it is simple to teach, and easy to follow for the kids. The book is for grades 1 & 2, so we're set for LA for next year.

Reading began with a phonics program, but once the basics were covered, it was mostly practice. We read aloud every day. This is Maddie's favourite part of school. This year alone, we've read through The Chronicles of Narnia (all 7 books, unabridged), some Little House on the Prairie, and we just finished A Little Princess.

Last year we went with the mother of all math programs - Saxon. Maddie hated it. HATED it. This year, we switched to Horizons. It's much more cheerful and there isn't nearly as much fuss to complete it. Hopefully we'll be done the entire books (there are 2) by the end of June. It amazes me how much kids are expected to know by the end of grade 1 and 2. I remember starting multiplications in grade 3. I am sure I didn't do pre-algebra in grade 1. But, lo and behold, kids are pretty smart.

French has been an issue. Although NB is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, it doesn't actually mean that New Brunswickers are bilingual. Some towns are very french (like Grand Falls, or up north), and then you have Carleton County which is almost exclusively english. Since learning a language is all about practice, it's very difficult to get enough of it here. Nevertheless, we're working on it. I've been teaching them comptines from my childhood and they seem to like this much more than repeating meaningless (to them) phrases.

I decided not to stop school for summer vacation. We'll slow down and take many days off, but I've learned the hard way that taking a 2 month break does not work for us! I'll post more on that later.

Erasing Hell

2011-05-31T09:00:00.001-07:00

Makes you think.

When I Grow Up...

2011-05-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking lately. It's never a good thing, really, but it's what I do. I think.

I'm 29 years old, and in 20 years my babies will be all grown up and living on their own. Maybe I'll have grandkids, all chubby and rolly and cookie eating. I'll be 49, which from what I hear, is the new 30. With any kind of luck I'll have another 15 or 20 years of working time, and maybe 3 decades of actual life breath.

What will I do with myself? I can't just sit at home waiting for my grandkids to visit so that I can feed them ice cream before supper when their moms aren't looking.

I think I'd like to be a writer. I could do that from anywhere in the world, and by golly, I intend to test that theory. Maybe I could be a travel agent and score some sweet discounts on plane tickets.

I'd like to be an inventor, too, but I have no original ideas of my own. If you'd like to help me out, send me a comment and let me know what you think I should invent.

If I were smart, I'd become a funeral home director. I'd never run out of business. Midwifery is the same. Everyone has to be born and everyone has to die. If I were a doctor AND a funeral home director, I would be very, very busy. Especially if I was a bad doctor.

I could be an artist. I could specialize in abstract.

I could run a bed and breakfast, and advertise it as a place where you're treated just like family. That is, get up and get your own toast, thankyouverymuch.

I think I'd make a great librarian, too. I'm very good at alphabetizing, and I think the Dewey Decimal system is awesome. Sadly, the temptation might be too great. They might find me curled up in a corner somewhere, devouring book after book after book after book.

I guess not having my business anymore has been a mixed blessing. I miss the money. There wasn't much of it, but I could always scrounge away a $20 for emergency coffee or for when the neighbour girl came over selling eggs. I am enjoying the down time, though. I am not any less busy, but I am a lot less stressed. I'm not constantly worried that I've forgotten to call back a client, or wondering if I work this evening, or next. I don't know if I'll get back into electrolysis eventually, but I do know that I want to get back to some sort of employment one day. I've set my sights on 5 years from now when Maddie is 12 and can babysit. She won't mind. Grin.

The Yard Sale

2011-05-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

I hosted a yard sale last weekend. We were raising funds for my friend, G, who has MS. As I type, G is in Rhode Island getting her pre-op stuff out of the way so that she can have surgery tomorrow. Hopefully, this surgery will greatly improve her quality of life and make it such that she can have the energy and strength to continue being the great mom and wife she already is.

I am amazed and touched at how everyone pulled together to make this yard sale a success. W, G, M & H, especially, thanks for the hard work! Donations came in until the garage was overflowing. Thankfully, a local business (Dave's Sports) lent us some tents and we were able to keep everything relatively dry. There were even monetary donations from people who'd never met G and didn't even attend the sale!

The day of the yard sale, it rained, and it poured. It was freezing, but we made it through the weekend. And - drum roll, please - we raised $600!! Thank you, everyone!!

All the best, G! We're praying for you!

My Etsy Shop!

2011-05-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to setting up my Etsy Shop. Granted, there's still some spiffing up to do, but if you want to check it out, click here . Everything I make from selling my crafts goes toward the kids' school. One of my goals is to promote learning through play. Let me know what you think...

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-05-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me! I'm 29 years old, now. We had a quiet day, but Rich and the girls surprised me with hanging plants and garden ornaments.

And...

Rich is putting up a greenhouse for me!

Here are the cupcakes I made. Do they look like hydrangeas? Can you tell I've been watching Cupcake Wars?

Fairy Village Teaser

2011-05-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

Pssst...I started my fairy village! So far, I've made the gnomes. They're a level of cuteness I can't even describe!

I'm hoping for a nature walk today so I can collect some materials for the fairy houses. I'm a bit lost on how to build them, but I'm sure they'll come together eventually. To be quite honest, I don't think fairy houses follow building codes anyway, so it may be a free for all.

I haven't told the kids about the village, and I am keeping it secret from them. It's a surprise!

Pictures to follow. Stay tuned!

Easter Projects

2011-04-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

I love Easter. I think it's really neat that we celebrate the death of Jesus and his resurrection at a time of year when everything is being reborn - plants, bugs, baby animals...it is a hopeful holiday.

A yummy one, too. Check it out! This year I made little Easter eggs for kids to take home when they visited. I dyed some chicken eggs, made a hole in the bottom of the shell and let the egg out. We dined on scrambled eggs that night. After washing them out and letting them dry, I filled them with candy and glued muffin papers to the shells to cover the openings.

They were fun to crack open! The kids really got a kick out of them.

I tried something new this year, too. Egg planters! Originally I saw these made out of porcelain, but farm eggs are so much cheaper. More unique, too.

Here's a quick tutorial:
First, poke holes into the shell with a push pin or sewing needle. Something with a blunt end is a bit easier on the finger pads. Make the holes close together and the shell will be a cinch to break away.

Drain out the eggs. Make a quiche with it.
Clean the shell out (use soapy water). Don't skip out on this step. You know the rotten egg smell? It's for real. Fill the shell with wet sponge or cotton balls. Sprinkle grass seed onto it.

Put them on a pretty shelf and wait a few days, keeping the sponges moist.

Ta da! Cute little Easter planters!

Had I started them earlier, I think the grass would have been more impressive. Next time I'll give it a couple weeks, not just a few days. It's kind of like a Chia pet. You could totally draw faces on the shells and give them haircuts if you put the seeds in more densely.

Happy belated Easter everyone!

How Deodorant is Wrecking My Marriage

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sobeys had a 2 for 1 sale the other week, and Soft & Dri gel antiperspirant was on sale. I'm not normally a gel kind of gal, but I am the kind of gal who'll do just about anything to save a buck or two.

I don't like gel deodorant. It's icky, it's wet and you have to stand around with your arms straight out while you wait for it to dry. But, like I said, I'm saving up for a new basement.

So, one morning I showered, dressed, applied the DriGel, assumed the "hands on hips" position to allow for drying, and went to join the family downstairs. Rich looked up from the book he was reading.

Rich: What?

Me: Nothing.

Rich: What's wrong?!

Me: Nothing. I'm fine.

Rich (increasingly annoyed): Well, if you're not going to tell me, then forget it. Something's obviously wrong. What'd I do now?

Me (increasingly baffled and frustrated): Nothing. Is. Wrong. *glare*

Rich: Then why are you standing around like that, all mad?

Oh. Darn you, sticky gel. Next time I'm letting you dry in the bathroom.

Good-bye! Good-bye!

2011-04-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty quiet on my blog as of late. My friend, J, and I have decided to participate in another craft fair. We're talking a whole new craft level. Whereas we counted ourselves lucky to have 100 people pass by our table at the mall fair, we're now looking at a table at a trade show that had over 8000 people attend last year. Gulp. We are clearly insane. I have chained myself to my project table, and will return to real life in a couple weeks.

Quick update, though: The kids are awesome. Maddie surprises me daily with questions and conversations that I never dreamed possible with a 7 year old. Eva is growing up, too. She is finally outgrowing the boisterous puppy stage, and is showing signs of becoming a lady. Graedy is, well, fun. He's less and less toddler and more and more boy. He is lonely for male company, though, and loves it when Rich gets home to wrestle and watch racing on TV. Thankfully, his little friend A comes to visit once per week.

Gen is well. In the last couple weeks she has started to clap, wave and blow kisses. She reminds me of those old movies where the women wave hankies from the train caboose to their dear ones standing on the station platform. I think she's telling me she wants us to go on a cruise.

*whip sound*

Ah! There's my sewing machine calling...

911

2011-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

With a family of 4 young kids, it's a wonder we've made it this far without any serious injuries or sicknesses. I can count on one hand how many prescriptions each of the kids have needed, they've never had ear infections, no broken bones, and only some minor scrapes and bruises.

It was bound to happen, then, I guess.

Gen was playing quietly on the floor when Richard noticed her gagging. He yelled for me (I seem to be the designated scooper of stuff in the mouth) and on seeing her face, I knew it wasn't just an ordinary pick the lint out of her cheek occasion. I fished my pinky into her mouth and found nothing. I pried open her mouth and peered down her throat and saw nothing. Meanwhile, Gen was an unhealthy shade of red, her eyes watery and repeatedly gagging. I flipped her over and, her head down, whacked her between the shoulder blades like they taught us in First Aid. Nothing. So we called 911.

It probably only took them 10 minutes to get to our house, but it seemed like a very long time. The only way we could keep Gen from gagging was to hold her head down on her tummy. Even then, she retched every few seconds. She was screaming one second and silent the next as drool and mucous streamed from her mouth. This was not good.

The ambulance finally got there and I carried her into the back. We rode, tense, as Gen screamed and screamed. The paramedic radioed in that she wasn't able to get any vitals. Terrible choice of words, since that was interpreted as "not having vitals" instead of "in too much of a fit to properly listen to her heart and breathing".

At the hospital, we were met by a nurse who quickly checked her breathing. They didn't seem too concerned until Gen started choking again at which point half a dozen nurses came out of the woodwork and busied themselves over my baby. They suctionned and x-rayed but found nothing. Richard joined me, and I could have cried with relief.

A couple hours later, Gen had screamed herself to sleep in my arms. No amount of coaxing could convince her to nurse, but with her breathing settled the doctor sent us home with the assurance that she had probably swallowed whatever it was and would be back to normal soon.

She wasn't.

The next morning, she was obviously in a lot of pain. She'd cry, gag, cry, and drool massive amounts of spit and snot. She was definetly not okay.

I made the decision to bring her back to the ER when suddenly she gave a great heave and for the first time in 12 hours, looked at me clear-eyed. She was chewing on something! I scooped her mouth and there, in her cheeks, waiting to be re-swallowed was a plastic snowflake. A stupid, party confetti, plastic snowflake.

And she's been A-1 since.

I thank God that that snowflake had ragged enough edges to get stuck in her esophagus and not slip into her larynx. I thank God that when we were sent home, she didn't aspirate the flake in her sleep. I thank God that it scared me so much that I didn't put her down the entire morning until she finally coughed it up, allowing me to catch it before she re-swallowed it. I thank God for my little girl.

For a Better Start in Life, Start Cola Earlier!

2011-04-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Or so these vintage ads claim!

It's a bit small to read, so here's what is written on the ad:

"Laboratory tests over the last few years have proven that babies who start drinking soda during that early formative period have a much higher chance of gaining acceptance and "fitting in" during those awkward pre-teen and teen years. So, do yourself a favor. Do your child a favor. Start them on a strict regimen of sodas and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness."

And the third ad:

"So completely wholesome that even the youngest can "fresh up," just as often as they want...and with as much as they want too."

Hunh. That's some laboratory.

Ah, pop (or "soft drink" or "liqueur" as I grew up saying)! We rarely partake, but every once in a while we'll buy a 2L to serve at a birthday party. Sadly, most of it goes flat in the fridge.

I'm not a pop extremist. I treat it like any other junk food - once in a while, in small doses. A bottle for my baby while we visit the zoo, though? Um, no.

Thanks to Time Warp Wife for the good laugh :)

Chatahoochee

2011-04-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

We're not above kickin' up our heels...Graedy especially. We're saving the world, one dance party at a time.

'Round About Home

2011-04-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

What have we been up to lately?

We've been up to no good, learning how to bum-scootch and getting into drawers.

We made Irish Soda Bread for Saint Patrick's Day.

We've crafted.

We celebrated Richard's birthday. Don't you love how children shop? They gifted their dad with princess books, their favourite teddies, and a wallet that Maddie sewed herself.

We've had fashion shows.

We've been busy. It's been good.

April Showers Bring...a New Baby?!

2011-04-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Wow...we weren't expecting this!

...and we still aren't! Happy April Fools' Day!!

Summer Plans

2011-03-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

We took our house off the market. The more we looked around, the more we realized that we had it pretty good right here! We're planning some major renovations to accomodate our growing family. By the end of the summer, we hope to have the basement finished. That means that we'll have a family room we can fit ourselves and our guests into, an extra bedroom that will be temporarily used as a hobby room, and our living room will turn into a dining room. Eventually we'll knock down the wall between the kitchen and the spare room and make it into a big kitchen/dining room and the living room will be back to a sitting room. I might even get a new bathroom/laundry room combo and a mudroom! That's a lo-o-o-ong term project. I think each 'o' in that word stands for a year. Maybe even a decade.

There are plenty of other things to do around here this summer that don't involve mucho mullah. Here's my rundown:

*go through all those totes in the basement and get rid of all the outgrown & unwanted clothing

*add a couple pear trees to the orchard (I HEART my orchard!)

*make a sitting area on the lawn somewhere...maybe in place of the ~~death trap~~ ornamental pond?

*Waldorficize the backyard. I'm not very Waldorf, not very Waldorf at all, but I can't help but get super pumped when I think of all the possibilities. I'm thinking wash station, fairy village, x-tra large xylophone, modified teepee...

*clear out the baby barn of all our junk, sell it and use the money to turn the building into a chicken coop/goat barn.

*make eyes at Richard and ask for forgiveness for buying a goat. :)

*charm Richard into loving and accepting the animals as part of our children's education by making a spectacular goat cheese quiche.

*finally, after 7 years of living here, install the deck (which we have) so that we can use the "out" door in our bedroom. This leads me to imagine a cute little serving trolley that will stay by the door in our bedroom which I can stock with mini-coffee maker, cookies and good books to entice us to actually use the deck.

*on the school front, I'm nixing summer vacation. After the March break meltdowns, I'm not going there again! Let's face it, though - the kids need a break, and so do I. Since a change is as good as a vacation, we're going to mix things up a bit to have a little fun while still staying in the school groove. We're going to do some wildcrafting (another reason I love my house. I know exactly where in the woods the mint, yarrow, burdock, etc grows.) and start on Story of the World. I'm giddy just thinking about it!

I can't wait for summer!!

How You Think...

2011-03-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

I like this article.

6 Years

2011-03-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

This May, Noble Electrolysis celebrates 6 years. This May, I celebrate a new chapter in my life: being a full-fledged Stay At Home Mom (SAHM).

When I first started Noble Electrolysis, I had Maddie. 6 years later, there are three more tykes running around. Somehow I had it in my mind that once they'd get out of the baby stage, they'd be less demanding on my time. Not so. As they've grown, their schedules have gotten more hectic and I've found my precious supply of energy and sanity quickly dwindling. Finally, I couldn't avoid making the decision any longer.

It was a tough call - on the one hand, the kids. On the other, my business. Geez, I don't know....

I chose the kids.

There will be many, many things I'll miss about working from home. I'll probably regret my decision many times, but it is what it is.

Wish me luck!

Losing a Tooth

2011-03-13T17:32:00.000-07:00

Eva lost her first tooth! It dangled and jangled for the longest time, but there was no way she'd let us yank it out. Finally, while we were visiting some friends, it popped out! Our hostess, J, put it in a baggie so that Eva could bring it home and put it under her pillow. Sadly, even with the baggie precautions, it got lost in the hub-bub of the evening. J will probably find it when she is spring cleaning.

No worries, though. Tooth fairies don't dwell on the details. They'll take your word for it if you leave a nice note explaining why your tooth is not in its rightful place.

Here's Evie - one tooth poorer and one dollar richer.

Blue Potatoes

2011-03-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

I bought some blue potatoes the other day. Check 'em out!

They're blue all the way through, and not just on the skin. I mixed them with normal, white potatoes to make them go further.

They were scrumptious served with asparagus wrapped proschiutto.

Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grows

2011-03-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

I think this is a passage worth thinking over. It's from Whole Child/Whole Parent, by Polly Berrien Berends (which I have not read, but wouldn't mind taking a look-see);

. . . It is written into the very nature of the oat, pea, bean, and barley to grow into fruitful plants. Nobody questions whether they want to do this, or can. So why do we doubt our children? When the farmer sows a nice, round, healthy oat and it doesn't grow well, he doesn't say, "What's the matter with the oat? It must be lazy or sick or emotionally disturbed in some way." He assumes that something is wrong with the environment in which that oat is trying to grow. Then he sets about trying to perceive what is needed."

To Market, To Market...

2011-02-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

Groceries with four kids in tow can get pretty crazy. It's not for the faint of heart. My best tip is to move, move, move. The quicker it's done, the better the chance of getting out in one piece. My second rule is: Every man for himself. Mommy is in charge of doing groceries, and each kid is in charge of keeping track of Mommy. If Mommy moves, kids move. If Mommy goes down one aisle, kids go down the same aisle. If you run off, you're in big trouble, Mister.

Actually, this is what the kids believe. The reality is that I'm doing a head count every time I blink, but they don't know that...

So, we parked next to cart carrier (another rule) and headed in the door - Graedon firmly clasped in hand, baby in my arms, girls keepupkeepupkeepup. We walk into the store's entry and I head to the rows of carts. I fasten Baby Gen into the seat, I turn around and - where's Graedy? Graedy? No little camouflage tuque bobbing around the entryway. Crap. I knew I shouldn't have made him wear camo. Now I can't see him! 2 seconds later (which felt like 10 minutes), the doors slide open and out comes Graedon from the main store, bawling, followed by a nice store clerk. Poor Graedy. We hug, we make up, and he doesn't let go of my leg for the entire trip.

The usual, we pick out our fruits & veggies. The kids are super interested in all those exotic fruits. We buy some lychee just for fun, but I say no to the pistachio nuts. Old ladies stop me at every turn with comments of, "My, you're busy!" and stories of how many kids they had and their moms had and when the latest grandbaby is due. I don't know these people.

One younger lady stares and gasps, "Are they all yours?!" In my head I say, "Nope, I just picked up an extra couple from the parking lot cuz I like to torture myself at the grocery store." but in real life I say, "Yes." She shakes her head and moves on.

Up and down the aisles, the kids trotting behind, and all is going well. There are a few helpful suggestions to load the cart with Kinder Eggs and Easter candy, but since we avoid the junk-laden middle of the store, it's not too bad. They're being very very good.

Finally, we get in line at the cash. Graedy is being extra helpful and placing (throwing) food up on the conveyor belt. I start grabbing the breakable stuff and place them on as quickly as I can so that he doesn't need to "help" too much. The man ahead of us laughs, saying, "Whoa whoa whoa! I haven't put my stuff on yet!" Crap. My face red, I realize that he wasn't the one paying. The woman in front of him was pulling out her wallet, and I completely wedged myself in front of him and his cartful of groceries! I apologize up and down and he just laughs and blames it on having 4 kids at the grocery store. At least that came in handy.

Off we go! We load up the van, we take off and half way home...

Maddie's conscience gets the better of her. She holds up her fist and asks, "Mommy? What's this?" A tiny lonesome pistachio nut. A stolen pistachio nut. A 2 cent stolen pistachio nut, but that's not the point. A U-turn and a scolding later, we're back at the store. I was hoping to avoid hauling all 4 back into the store, but the only employee I see is the cart-guy. He doesn't look like he could find his way out of a paper bag, never mind play along for the Crime Dog scene I have in mind. We march in the door, purposely avoiding the male employee with the hair net. He looks like he might be too "Bad Cop" for the purpose. I spy a mature, matronly looking woman on her break.

Holding hands, Maddie and I walk up to her.

"This is Madeleine. She has something she needs to return to you and she has something to say."

Employee looks at her friend, they knowingly hide their smiles and give me a wink over Mad's head. They catch my drift. They've been through this before.

Maddie hangs her head, "I'm sorry" and hands over the nut.

The lady crouches over with an Oscar worthy frown. "We'll forgive you for this time."

Light hearted, conscience clear and footloose, we skip out to the van. It wasn't a perfect shopping experience, but it sure was a learning one. And our supper conversation subject? Juvey.

Hobbies

2011-02-16T08:27:00.001-08:00

Today, someone asked me what I do for hobbies. The best I could come up with was, "Hmmm...well, every once in a while I take an extra long shower." Seriously. I think I might be boring.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to write a post about how life is changing for us, but every time I start, I sound whiney and I say things I shouldn't. So, here's a post about Valentine's Day instead.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Richard and I celebrated by going out to a local restaurant - Fresh Spectacular! It's in the little town of Bristol. The restaurant is a restored 1930's train car. It's quiet, it's adult, it's fancy and oh, my, it's delicious! Check out the website (but turn off the music. It reminds me of questionable late-night naughty girl TV shows. LOL BTW, has anyone noticed how "sexy" cooking shows have gotten? No more clean cut, motherly types...it's all close ups, slow mo and badoink-a-doink music.)

Then, this evening, the kids decided to surprise Richard. They made him valentines - glitter everywhere! - wrapped up gifts they found in their toyboxes and set the table with linen and stemware. Then, they made him spaghetti. I kid you not, they pretty much did it all. They chopped the veggies, stirred the pot, grated the cheese and even helped roast the garlic. All I did was supervise and boil the pasta water. They were so proud of themselves!

I made dessert, though. Strawberry mousse in chocolate cups with a strawberry coulis. Yum! It was like eating little strawberry clouds.

I hope you've had a wonderful day!

Formula Sticker Shock

2011-02-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

I have lots of milk. Baby Gen is chubby, happy and certainly well-fed. If Gen lets go in the middle of a feeding, more often than not I end up spraying half-way across the room. It's great entertainment when we have guests over (kidding!). Pumping, though, is not my forte. Somehow the machine just doesn't trigger my milk making hormones like that cute little baby face. I can pump a half bottle in one sitting, but only if I give Gen a bottle to ensure that I'm full when I pump. See the predicament?

So, since Richard surprised me with the news of a fancy supper out on the town, I needed milk. With 4 days to prepare, I figured I'd have plenty of time to pump a feeding for Gen. Nope. 2 ounces is not going to tide her over. Six months old, and Gen will be having her first taste of formula. Sigh.

At the grocery store, I located the baby aisle, found the cases and cans of formula and nearly fainted. Oh. My. Goodness. A case costs $47.99 Atrocious! I finally settled for 6 cans of ready made for $19.99! Even the powder DIY cost an arm and a leg. If I had to formula feed all the time, I'd have to sell my first born to afford it.

By my calculations, if the typical baby drinks 5 bottles per day at 6 ounces per bottle (this is an older infant), then it would cost $12.50/day if using the pre-made Nestle brand. That's $87.50/week and $375/month. Wow.

So far, breastfeeding has cost me about $55 - including breast pads, Lansinoh, and a pump. Granted I got an awesome deal on the pump, but still.

True, the store brand powder stuff would be less expensive (but not for me since I'd end up throwing most of it out because I couldn't use it up in the 30 days), and with all the breastfeeding stuff you can buy (which advertisers would have you believe is *essential*), the cost difference won't be so extreme as my example. However you look at it, though, money talks. My money says, "There's no taste like homemade!"

Madeleine Olivia

2011-02-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

Somehow, I wasn't able to post this picture of Maddie in yesterday's post. Here she is - my 7 year old.

Lover of all things soft and cuddly, wearer of many hats (literally), leader of the pack, and little woman in training. If you could only see how she has grown, not only in the last 7 years, but even in the last few months. What a girl!

Happy Birthday, Maddie!

2011-02-09T07:10:00.000-08:00

Maddie turned seven last week! Oh my goodness, where has the time gone? Her birthday party included a sleigh ride. What a beautiful day it was - sunny, warm and filled with all sorts of good things.

The kids had a ball. They loved jumping off the sleigh and running to catch up with it.

The snow was so deep! Thankfully, we had the sleigh ride last weekend. We've had about a foot more since then.

Kitty cat cupcakes (or are they bunnies?).

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

2011-02-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

A bit of background: There have been times when the kids have stuck up their noses at things - my cooking, a handmade gift, etc. I've been very adament that they never openly criticize someone else's labours because, after all, someone took the time to think of them and make whatever it was.

Now the story...

Grammy L. gave the girls new colouring books and they've been colouring up a storm for the last couple days. Eventually, Maddie came to a picture of a prince that she thought lacked a bit in the "handsome" department.

Maddie: Why would anyone want to marry a prince like that?!

Eva: Maddie! Don't say that!

Maddie: Why not?

Eva: It's not nice. Somebody worked really hard at making that colouring book.

There you go. Proof that something I've told them has actually stuck.

Sisters

2011-01-31T12:38:00.000-08:00

Not This Time, Folks

2011-01-28T03:42:00.000-08:00

And .... the deal fell through. There's still hope that they may be able to make it work, but we're not holding our breaths. Humph. So I guess it's back to showings and cleaning and organizing and all that fun stuff.

Selling The House, part Two

2011-01-22T10:37:00.001-08:00

We got an offer! It was good! We accepted it! Now we have to go through all those tests (water, inspector, etc)! No, wait, that last sentence shouldn't have an exclamation point.

If all goes well, it'll be a done deal by early February.

Now the house shopping begins!

Happy Birthday, Graedon!

2011-01-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my happy go-lucky, snuggly, ham-it-up, truck loving, dinosaur rawring, curious little man!

Worms, Pub-Style

2011-01-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

My lovely husband brought me out on the town last weekend. We headed to the local pub for some nachos. If you've been to this particular pub, you'll know the ambiance is seriously lacking. They have those BIG screen TVs hooked up on every wall, and you can't help but stare at the screen rather than at your date. Not romantic. Worse yet, they had decided to leave it on the Discovery Channel where a fascinating documentary on moles was playing. I kid you not, this is the tame version of what was playing:

Actually, it was on a big screen, up close and personal (the mole's head was filling the screen) and that night-crawler was putting up a fight. It was all slurp, slurp, wiggle, thrash, gnash, gulp.

I'm so glad I didn't order the spaghetti.

We're Selling Our House

2011-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

Well, it had to happen sometime. 7 years, 1 business, and 4 babies later, we've outgrown the house. When we're all in the house, the walls bulge out like in cartoons. The neighbours look at us crooked when we exit the front door...it's like one of those circus cars where the clowns just keep coming and coming and coming.

We've had 5 showings, with another on Wednesday night. I'm impressed with how respectful everyone has been. There have been no dirty boots on the hardwood floors, my underwear drawer hasn't been rifled through, no smudges on the windows...maybe it's the signs I put up everywhere that say, "DON'T TOUCH MY STUFF!!!"

I jest! I jest!

No, I've been good. No signs, no lipstick messages on the bathroom mirrors, and only a couple breakdowns. All in all, I'm just fine.

Take a look at our place while it still is our place: http://www.century21allseasonsrealty.ca/linda365.html

In Praise of the Nature Walk

2011-01-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

It's a January cold day. The Christmas lights and decorations are packed away, and the fields and woods behind our house are a contrast of white and brown. The world is stark.

We bundle up. The baby is snuggled against my chest, tied firmly in place with the pashmina Richard gave me for Christmas.  I've zippered his vest over the both of us, backward, to fill the gap my own coat couldn't breach.

Graedy runs ahead, yelling, "Race you! Race you to the rabbits!" Our new favourite outside activity is identifying animal tracks. Today we found rabbit, fox, mouse, weasel and what might have been a very very big moose.

We meet our neighbour, carrying old carrots from her cellar that didn't make it through the winter. She dumps them behind the barn and we discuss gardens and planting asparagus and garlic. She goes back to her house, and we keep going up the hill. At the turn off, straight to the field, right to the cabin, we choose right. We stop at everything and nothing - little tunnels in the snow. Mice?  Rabbit tracks, followed closely by fox tracks.  We peek into the camps windows, no one has been for weeks.

Maddie starts to follow what she is sure is a very cute fox trail. She asks if fox eat people. No, probably not. Wolves, maybe. She decides not to follow the cute fox after all.

Melt down at the end of the trail...I won't let Maddie dig up a baby fir tree to bring home as a pet. We talk about what trees want from their lives, what they dream of, their biggest aspirations. I say that being a Christmas tree is a big thing for a fir, or maybe being made into a house. I say that if I were a tree, I'd want to be made into a baby cradle. I'd always be remembered fondly and I'd hold babies every day. Maddie says she'd want to be dug up and brought home as a pet. Nice try. We settle on raiding our Christmas ornaments and bringing them back the next day to decorate her tree.

Home again, home again, cheeks rosy, baby sleeping, everyone hungry. The stew is simmering.  The smells of the cranberry, orange, nutmeg and cinnamon make my tummy ache.  Richard calls. Just because.

It's a good day.

So This is Our Christmas

2010-12-27T07:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas at the Patterson household...

Christmas Eve with the Noble side has come and gone - this year we tried something new and got together in the afternoon so the kids could play outside. The annual feasting, Christmas Eve service, stockings and present exchange went well.

Back at home, the little ones slept in on Christmas morning. Our traditional Christmas runs like this:

When the kids (and parents) wake up, they discover their stockings at the foot of their beds! They can open them as soon as they're awake. The kids usually end up with a good dose of candy before breakfast (although we went easy on the goodies this year - only a handful of special treats).

We have a special breakfast. This year was chocolate crepes, stuffed with berries and bananas, served with chocolate flavoured whipped cream.

Daddy said grace, and we all ate together, taking our time.

Next, Daddy read the Christmas story from Luke.

At this point, the kids are getting a bit impatient...Mommy, too :)

Then, we open presents!

Here's Graedy, with his Black & Decker tool kit. He's been "drilling" anything and everything in the house.

Maddie got a pogo stick. She needs to gain a few pounds to make it work right, but she's been trying hard to get it to bounce.

Eva with her very big doll. She named it Lucy-Anna.

Baby Gen was my best present this year!

Later, we congregate at Grammy & Grampy Patterson's for the traditional Christmas turkey dinner.

Merry Christmas from all of us!

How Mothers Shower

2010-12-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

I laughed so hard at this video...so true!

What's missing is a part that describes How Mothers Shower. Here's how that would look:

Around 11:45 am, realize husband is about to come home for lunch. Glance in the mirror. You look like crap. Plop kids in front of TV to ensure relative safety while you hose down. Lock all the doors. Put up all the baby gates. Order the kids not to open the door, answer the phone or touch anything. Make them repeat it.

Grab clothes from the dryer. Slip on a puddle on the bathroom floor. Turn on the water. Shut off the water. Go back to the kitchen and turn off the dishwasher, since you want an even water temperature during your shower. Try again.

Put your jammies (the flannel ones) into the separated hamper. Sigh. Take all the clothes out and put them back into the hamper in the right place. Make a mental note to show the kids and the husband how neat and tidy the bathroom is when the hamper is used correctly.

Step into the tub. Grab the shower rod when you slip on an entire shampoo bottle's contents all over the bottom of the tub. Rip down the shower curtain while trying to save yourself. Tread carefully.

Grab a cloth. Look for the soap. Try and salvage all the little bitty pieces on the edge of the tub leftover from the kids' game of "Make Barbie Soap". Give up. Rub the bottom of the tub with the cloth and use the leftover shampoo instead.

Stick your head out the curtain (what's left of it). Yell, "WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING?" Don't believe the, "Nothing!!" Yell back, "I CAN SEE YOU!!" Smirk satisfactorily when you hear them scamper back to the couch.

Wet hair. Grab shampoo. Lather, rinse, don't repeat.

Open the peanut butter jar that the 4 year old just stuck through the curtain.

Look for your razor. Find it next to a bald Barbie doll. Skip it. Make a mental note to put razors on the shopping list.

Yell, "WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING?" again, for good measure. Step back and trip over the naked 2 year old who decided a shower sounded like fun. Sigh. Hose him off.

Shut off the water. Puzzle at the silence from the other room.

Get out of the tub. Grab the only towel and dry off the kid. Do your best to dry yourself with the wet towel.

Write "razors" on the steamy mirror. Write "Tylenol" as an afterthought. Write "liquor" as a joke. Well, not a funny joke.

Start dressing the kid, back into his old clothes. Shiver, since you're still wet. Pull on your own clothes. Realize you took 2 shirts out of the dryer, instead of 1 shirt and pants. Make a run for the dryer, again. On the way to the laundry room, trip over the toys, crayons and books that weren't all over the floor when the shower began. Evidently the kids didn't stay on the couch like they were supposed to.

Pick up the baby for some much needed cuddles. Get spit up on. Decide paper towel will work just as well as a shower to clean up with. Answer the door bell to let the husband in, since you forgot to unlock the doors and dismantle the baby gates.

Decide to "go green" and save water with monthly showers (worked in the middle ages!). It's the only way to save the earth, AND your sanity.

Christmas Craft Fair

2010-12-22T09:23:00.000-08:00

The craft fair is done, over, finito! It went quite well, I think. I'm a bit biased, but I think we had the most interesting table at the fair. Here's a quick look:

We've got quilting, candles, painting, prints, ornaments and kids' toys.

This is my stuff, below. The crayon rolls sold the best, followed by the I-Spy bags. I sold every one of my Play-Dough mixes.

Our strategy was simple: Bait the crowd of holiday shoppers using cute and cuddly babies.

See, it worked! Hi, Bob!

2010-12-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

Most men ... can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it obligates them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught others, and which they have woven thread by thread into the fabric of their lives." - Tolstoy

5 Little Monkeys

2010-12-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

My little niece, K, turned one a few weeks ago. I'd been knitting her little finger puppets and I'm so glad she's received them because now I can share them with you!

I went with a 5 Little Monkeys theme. I printed and laminated the poem, and made 5 monkey puppets. They're all a little bit different from each other.

Here's a close-up of one of the little fellas. I hope she likes them and has fun playing with them!

Homeschool Christmas Get Together, and My Little Piano Virtuoso

2010-12-11T04:27:00.000-08:00

Last night was our annual Homeschool Christmas Concert/Get Together. Each family or child can participate. All you need to do is let the coordinator know what you are planning to do, and sign up. Usually, our family does a little something for each get together. It's usually a reading, or a poem or something simple. This year I just hadn't had the chance to organize anything that involves practice. Lack of time and sleep, I guess.

So, we went to the Christmas party to watch and encourage the other kids. And for the food.

We sang some carols, listened to a couple poems and enjoyed some piano playing. Those kids are pretty good! Better than me, anyway. We were all having a good time when I noticed Eva fidgeting in her seat and whispering with our coordinator. After the last kid was done, wouldn't you know it - the coordinator announced....Eva!

Now, understand, we hadn't practiced anything and Eva hadn't mentionned a thing to me about performing. She marched up to the piano, sat at the bench and played a little melody that she just made up as she went along. It was actually pretty good for a first time at the piano. She finished her song, got up, turned around, smiled at everyone and sat down. I'm pretty sure I clapped the loudest of all the parents.

She surprises me sometimes, that one.

Future Doula?

2010-12-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

The girls were pretending to be mommies having their babies. Maddie and Eva discussed which one of them was going to have the breech baby, and which would have their baby head first. Eva lay on the floor, crying out while she pushed. I watched from the couch and finally said, "You know, Eva, you don't have to lie on your back to push the baby out." Maddie pipes up from across the room, "Yeah, you could just squat!"

I guess they do listen to me!

What Makes Me Happy

2010-11-26T17:36:00.000-08:00

Free coffee!

The Craft Fair

2010-11-24T03:52:00.000-08:00

A friend and I are booking a table at the annual Christmas Craft Fair at the mall. This is my first time doing a craft fair, and it's going pretty good. Not great, but good.

I'm making educational toys and activities for kids. The crayon rolls look sweet, the I Spy bags are nifty, the play-dough kits are innovative, the felt dolls are amusing, and the lace-up cards are laced. I'd been hoping on a few other ideas, but sadly, they didn't quite work-out.

I'm a bit confused as to how much stuff I should have. Like I said, this is a first for me. I don't want to have too much left over, but I also don't want the table to look bare. I guess we'll call this a practice run?

Breakfast Enchilada

2010-11-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

So, remember when I started The Breakfast Project? I was going to get really, really, really good at making breakfast, and track my progress on my blog? Then, I completely ran out of time and kind of forgot about it? Well, for those of you who were breathlessly waiting for news on The Breakfast Project, this one's for you.

My friend Abi gets the credit for this one. It starts out with homemade tortillas. Surprisingly easy, quick and cheap to make!

Yes, I meant for it to be square. Ahem.

I scrambled some eggs, poured enough of them to thinly cover the frying pan bottom, added shredded cheese, onions and peppers (which I had pre-fried to make them a bit less crunchy). I slapped a tortilla over it all, and waited for the magic to happen. Once the egg was cooked, I flipped it through the air and caught it on my plate. Sadly, I don't have video evidence of that.

I rolled it up like an enchilada.

I put it pretty on a plate with a green salad, added some salsa and ta-da! Lunch!

I know, it's The BREAKFAST Project. So, to make it the real deal, I would have put fruit salad with it. In this case, though, it was 5 pm, and I wanted greens.

The kids declared it yummy.

Lick My Floors!

2010-11-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

I finally broke down and hired a cleaning lady. I'm not one to pay for something I can do myself, and I don't normally spend money on me but facts are facts. Obviously, I can't do it all myself, and the money is going toward a calmer, healthier, less stressful home for our entire family. Good and good.

So now that I'm done justifying...I LOVE IT!! The bathroom is shining, the floor could be eaten off of (not that Graedon was ever picky), and she even unearthed the book I started a month ago and couldn't find. We now have a standing date for every Thursday morning.

I'm liking this. The only problem is that I've spent the afternoon wandering around not sure what to do with myself. So, I made cheesecake. I am now destined to have a clean house and a thick waistline.

But the floors! Oh, my!

Laugh of the Day

2010-11-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

Watching the food network.

Maddie: Mom, what's smoked salmon? Does it smoke cigarettes?

Spooky Halloween Lantern

2010-11-08T04:13:00.000-08:00

This post should have been done before Halloween, but I finally got my new camera and couldn't figure out how to get pictures from it to the computer. Better late than never, though, eh?

Here's a quick and easy project for kids. All you need is a mason jar (or any glass jar), tissue paper, white glue, water, a brush, black paper and scissors. First off, mix up the glue with the water to make it runny and less white. Then, brush the mixture onto the jar. Tear off pieces of tissue paper and smooth it over the jar. Once it's wet, it gets a bit fragile, so go carefully.

Then, cut out eyes, a mouth and a nose out of black paper and glue them on. When you've got the jar covered, let it dry a bit and then brush on more mixture to "varnish" it.
Pop in a tea light and ta-da! Jack-o-lantern!

Of course, it helps to have a little munchkin around to supervise.

This is great for Halloween, but how cute would this be in red and green for Christmas?

Graedon

2010-11-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

2010-11-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

It is November. We've had a few flurries in the last couple weeks. The grass is yellow and dry, the trees are bare. Maddie and I stopped on the side of the road on the way to town to watch a flock of Canadian geese. There must have been a few hundred. With babies so small, I've spent most of my time inside. Cabin fever is already setting in.

It's that time of year when the cold cramps your fingers and you finally give in to making a fire in the furnace...piling the kindling into a little teepee, lighting the match then slamming the furnace door shut and racing upstairs because you forgot to open the switch that feeds air to the fire. Come December I might remember to do that before I go to the basement.

I've been in a major decluttering spree. We've been deciding whether or not to sell the house. After a visit from the realtor and a disappointing look at the comparable homes in our area, we've decided to stay put for the time being. We'll renovate instead. I'm disappointed. I had hoped for a better price on our home, and to be able to buy a little homestead. This house is a good house, but not at all how I envision my dream home. When the market turns around for the better, we'll take a second look.

Who knows what might have happened between now and then?