Monday, October 31, 2016

Let's Talk - October


Today's topic is recipes - what's cooking in your kitchen lately.

We cook a lot at our house, and part of that is because of the planning we do.  We make a meal plan each week and try to cook ahead when we can so it doesn't take long to throw together a meal when it is time to eat. Now that I am on mat leave I have all day to prep meals and pick up odds and ends for recipes so I can be a more flexible. 

Now that the cold weather is here, we will be eating more stews and soups.  You can find a lot of the recipes we use on my Pinterest boards.  You can find me at "Sarah Mac" (and my photo is me and E on a tobaggan).  I usually go here first when I am planning meals as there are a few standards

Our favourite cookbooks are mostly the same as they were with a few additions.  Here is our shelf of cookbooks today.  I will consult these for some old favourites or for some new ideas after I get tired of my Pinterest recipes.  


I also have a bigger sweet tooth than I thought I had, and since I am home all day now I am often searching around for something sweet to snack on, and mostly just end up with a handful of chocolate chips.  I want to make more cookies and sweet breads.  I have Pinterest boards for desserts and for breads, and I plan on baking a bit more.


Linking up with Andrea and Erika today.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Friday Favourites

Linking up with AndreaErika, and Narci for Friday Favourites.


Dave created a work space down in the basement for the kids, but since they don't have any homework yet, it has been used for colouring and now Lego building.  I have a feeling this will not the last time the three of them will be gathered around this table.


I went to the movies again this week with this guy.  He was pretty much passed out in this position this entire time.  The movie was Keeping up with Joneses.  It was not the best movie I've ever seen, but it was entertaining enough for a Monday afternoon.  Next week is Inferno but since it is also Halloween, I think I will forego it and go to E's school for the Halloween costume parade instead. 



I saw this on Facebook yesterday, and it rang sort of true. Click on the link for the entire thing. 


"Our" Raptors started their regular season this week.  Hopefully Dave and E can get to a game or two this year.  I'd also like to go to some 905 games with some other families with kids.   


I am going to school with E this morning for his show and tell. I am glad I will be able to visit his class a few times this year when I am off.  


Have a good weekend everyone.



Thursday, October 27, 2016

November Goals


I did not make any set goals for October, the basic one being to survive life with a newborn, which has been successful!

But for November, I wanted to get some set goals back on the table.

1. Get our flu shots.  We are full supporters of vaccinations, so I don't want to hear any of your anti-vac rhetoric here!  I just need to figure out if we should go to our doctor's office to get them or just a local clinic. 

2. Start planning for our annual Christmas party.  This will pretty much be the same as the last two years, but will still require some planning.  See last year's party here.

3. Have some of E's friends over for playdates.  He has been to other peoples' houses but we didn't want to have anyone here until we were somewhat settled with Q.  I think we are ready to invite some friends over and E loves it when he does have people here. 

4. Organize our winter clothes.  This is a standard one, figuring out what we need for coats and boots, and putting away our flip flops and shorts. 

5. Start writing in Q's baby book.  I did a good job of completing most of E's book during his first year and I don't want the second child to be left out of this.  I have a book, I just need to start writing in it. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

What's Up Wednesday

How is time for another What's up Wednesday post?!  This month has flown by. Linking up with ShaySheaffer, and Mel.


What we're eating this week...
Sunday - turkey burgers, salad
Monday - Cabbage Roll Casserole
Tuesday - leftover casserole
Wednesday - Risotto
Thursday - Roasted Garlic and Shrimp Pasta
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - to be determined

What I'm reminiscing about...
Q is a month old tomorrow (!) and we just celebrated E's 5th birthday and so I am reminiscing about when E was a baby.  Reminiscing may be the wrong word, rather trying to remember life with a newborn, like what is normal, and what sort of "schedule" we are supposed to be on.  Are we doing this "right"? Were we doing it right with E?  What else should we be doing?  Overall I think we are doing fine, but these are the thoughts we have. 

E (I don't think this looks like him at all now!)

Q

What I'm loving...
Our new fireplace.  It hasn't been that cold yet but when we have had it on, it is nice and cozy.  I can picture coming down on winter mornings, enjoying coffee and sitting by the fire.  

What we've been up to...
Enjoying the fall weather, keeping Q fed and in a clean diaper, making food, and building new toys and lego sets that E got for his birthday.
  
What I'm dreading...
I think I said the same thing last year at this time, but I am dreading the yard clean up.  The leaves are already starting to pile up.  I can't really do as much as I want to, and Dave will be doing most of the heavy lifting, but I will still help out as much as I can.  
(last year)

What I'm working on...
Trying to accomplish things around the house while still taking it easy. I like to keep busy and complete tasks, but I also know it is important to enjoy time with Q while he is little.  He is a good little boy who sleeps well during the day and there is nothing like holding a snuggly newborn, especially when you know it doesn't last long. 



What I'm excited about...
Tomorrow will be four weeks since Q was born so I can drive again!  Driving restrictions can be up to 6 weeks but last time I waited 4 weeks and was fine, plus I have no pain and can move around like normal so I think I'm ready.  Although I am able to easily walk to do most things I need to do, now I can go grocery shopping and pick up E from school. 

What I'm watching/reading...
We are watching Westworld (which I insist on calling Westwood), The Walking Dead, and we are back to watching The Wire (which is now available on demand).  I also watch a lot of HGTV and Food Network during the day, and when there is nothing else on, I watch Friends and Mad Men on Netflix.  And I love the new show This is Us.


I'm just finishing up our book club selection (to be featured on next Wednesday's post), and have a few other books sitting around.
  

What I'm listening to...
All the construction in our neighbourhood.  I am not used to being home during the day but it is a busy place!  They are building a house, fixing another one, and they cut down that tree next door too.  
(The final felling of the tree)

What I'm wearing...
My wardrobe basically consists of yoga pants, tank tops and pyjamas.  I need to bring up my pre-maternity clothes from the basement so I have shirts that fit.  I can wear my maternity jeans, but not much else.  I remember wearing lots of skirts and tights last time so I think I will try that again.  I also want to get some real leggings and some longer tops. 

What I'm doing this weekend...
My dad and his wife are in town so we will be doing something with them.  It is also the annual St. Joe's Halloween Fest on Sunday so we will go to that, and one of our neighbours is hosting a party beforehand.  For those of you who remember Sharon Lois and Bram, you will be jealous to know that Sharon and Bram (Lois died last year) will be performing at the festival!! I think the parents will be more excited than the kids, but The Elephant Song is catchy enough for them to catch on quickly. 

What I'm looking forward to next month...
Some birthday parties, book club, our trip to Halifax for my cousin's wedding, my Stella and Dot party, and getting ready for Christmas!

What else is new...
Q and I going to school with E on Friday morning for show and tell.  The class has taken turns talking about their families this month and they were allowed to bring a parent and a younger sibling (if available).  I printed some photos and E has thought about a few things that we like to do as family (camping, playing and watching sports, cooking, etc.).  I told him he has to speak, I'm not there to talk for him, and he said if he forgets what to say then I can whisper it to him.



What is my favourite Halloween memory/tradition/photo?
This was E on Halloween when he was ten days old.  I still this outfit for Q but I don't think he'll fit in it for Halloween this year.  He can wear the hat though. 

Happy Wednesday!



Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Weekend Recap

On Friday evening we celebrated E's birthday.  He opened his gifts as soon as he got home from school and then we played with them for a bit before starting supper.  This is a Playmobil space shuttle.  One of the astronauts is female so E refers to her as me which is cool.  I am always looking for the promotion of gender equality!


The tile work on our new fireplace was also completed on Friday and it looks great!! So nice to be able to switch this on as the weather starts getting cooler.  


We had E's second favourite meal for supper, tacos (his first favourite of mac and cheese being on the menu for his party the next day), and then we enjoyed some cupcakes from Bake Sale.




On Saturday we worked on getting ready for E's birthday party.  I posted about that here yesterday.  


On Sunday morning, Q and I got up before everyone else and made breakfast.  

I made this breakfast casserole. We didn't have any applesauce so I substituted with chopped apples and it worked out really well.


E had "homework" this weekend to find some pretty leaves to bring to school so we set out for a family walk to find some.  E also has family show and tell on Friday so we needed to get some photos of the four of us to bring in.  The following photos are a mixture of cell phone and real camera photos. 

E taking some photos of us














We finished off our evening with an easy supper, SNL, Westworld and hiding under a blanket for The Walking Dead premiere. 

Bring on Halloween preparations!



Monday, October 24, 2016

E's Star Wars Party

We had E's 5th birthday party on Saturday afternoon at our house. I posted last year about hosting birthday parties, and I stuck to my usual routine again this year.  Some people commented on hosting a birthday party three weeks after having a baby, but it is E's birthday and it's not like I could skip it.  We did a lot of pre-planning, powered through and it turned out really well.   

I found these invitations at Party City, and then hand delivered them the day before I had Q.  Since we were only inviting some kids from E's class I wanted to avoid giving them out in school.  
I don't remember where I got this felt banner but it has been a good investment. 

When the kids arrived, they played with some homemade light sabres (long balloons with black duct tape on the bottom).  After they went a little nuts with those we went down to the basement where they ran wild for a few more minutes.  Then we went upstairs to start our crafts.  I had visions of the kids gathered around the table, calmly doing the craft, but then after the wildness when they first arrived, I wasn't sure that would happen.  However, when I called them upstairs for the craft, this is exactly what happened!!

This is my template for the R2-D2.  I gave everyone their own outline and then cut out some blue tissue paper and white and red shapes and away they went. 


Then we made this Chewbacca puppet. 


They liked that so much they wanted to do another one, so I cut up some gold tissue paper and threw down some white paper bags and they made a C3PO puppet too. 

These are E's finished products. 

Then we tidied that up and I called the kids back to the table for supper (one kid even helped to set the table!).  We had homemade macaroni and cheese, and some raw veggies. Some kids didn't like the mac and cheese but were happy with peanut butter and bread.  

Cake time was up next! Dave took a video of singing happy birthday but no still photos.  This is the cake, BB-8.  I didn't design this and I had to modify it slightly because our cake was smaller, but it turned out well.  The kids recognized it so that's all I could ask for.  Plus it was tasty and everyone likes cake!  I also served mango and strawberries, and those were also popular. 


This is Q's party style, no pants and asleep the whole time. 

Opening gifts before the parents came back for the kids. 

For the treat bags, I made these blue and white cookies (my thought being they were like R2-D2. 

And then added those cookies to the bags with a plastic drinking cup and a Star Wars learn to read book. 



It was a fun party, but we were all tired at the end of it.  It was also great that our friend (whose two kids were at the party) stayed and helped us out, although we agreed that we have made the right career choices that do not include teaching children :)