The Sound of Success

You know you've done your job as a caregiver right when all three kids (can you even find the third?) pass out in the car on the way home. Silence is the sound of success!

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Our homemaking skills have just expanded to include homemade Ricotta cheese. Its incredibly easy to do (about 15 minutes of actual work) and a bit of time waiting for the whey to drain.

The results? Super creamy tasty ricotta cheese. Definitely a do-over! Now we just have to figure out what to do with the leftover whey. Suggestions include adding to smoothies, soaking grains, substituting whey for milk/water in muffins, breads etc. We are excited about the possibilities!

 

Monsters that lurk in your sink

beautiful action shot of junk flying out of our sink
Dan was cleaning out the sink this morning and got a bit overzealous and began cleaning out the junk that lives in our sink drain. Before we knew it, the sink was clogged with junk and needed a bit more help that just the baking soda/vinegar drain cleaner. Out came the plunger....and the monsters that live in our sink. YUCK! But on a positive note, at least its clean now!

His mother's son

Dan was cleaning the bathroom this morning. And before we knew it, Joel was cleaning the bathroom. He did a good job too! He surely is my son! He loves to clean! And organize...and put things away. Do you think he has a bit of a problem? Type A personality? OCD perhaps? Whatever it is, we appreciate his spirit of cleaning. He's a BIG help around the house.

Happy Valentine's Day

We don't normally celebrate Valentines Day, but this year we got in the mood. (hahaha..sick. Not like that! Dirty mind!) Probably because we have a night out without Joel, thanks to a wonderful couple in our church. So Dan sorta decided to make it an all day affair. Okay, at least he made a delicious breakfast for us. Crepes with whipped cream and strawberries with a side of sausage. Swoon! That man sure knows that the way to MY heart is through my stomach!

Needless to say, Joel got to lick the beaters. I love how the beaters are actually in between his teeth! I guess the way to my son's heart is through his tummy as well. (yes, we are foodies!). Tonight, we are going on a "romantic getaway" to Rocko's for a mango smoothie! Swoon! (and pregnancy cravings fulfilled....my man sure knows how to please!)

Our Crazy Son!

He sure has a personality! I think he takes after Dan......hehehehe!

24 Weeks

24 Weeks, minus 2 days. At Stanley Park.

We're raising an addict

Its true. Our son is an addict. No, not to coffee....but to the cup it comes in. Our son LOVES Starbucks cups. It really doesn't matter what's in it, whether its water, smoothie or yes, even coffee, our son wants it bad. He's even drinks with the logo facing out...he could be in a commercial or something.

His favorite drink is definitely smoothies..mango smoothies to be exact. But I don't feel too bad about letting him drink them since its just ice and mango blended together. Sometimes, with pineapple or strawberry thrown in for good measure.

But what I am upset about is the fact that he's in tears if I want a drink of my OWN smoothie. He throws himself on the floor in tears if Dan or I take a drink. I guess he's still learning the whole "sharing" thing.

Crazy Cousin Christina, my Starbucks hookup, please send us a cup for Joel! We'd like to have our own cup back. I'm soooo thirsty for non-Joel slobbered on straw. But I must admit, sharing a cup with Joel is way better than him "sharing" a cup that he found in the garbage, in a strangers hand, on the ground.....I could go on. What can I say? I said he was addicted!!!!

Sledding: the Dutch/Menno way

When your parents are too cheap to buy a sled....

...you get pictures that look like their from the 80's (minus the unfashionable clothes). Pictures, where you could take out your own kid, and replace it with a picture of yourself. Don't we all have pictures from our childhood where we are riding down a hill in a cardboard box?

Perhaps we've moved up in the world. Cardboard breaks down too easily, especially in wet snow. Plus, we've recycled every box we had. So, we resorted to using a reusable superstore box, adding some string to help pull him across the snow.

Joel enjoyed riding in the box (at least a lot more than walking in the snow), until it happened to tip over and he face planted in the snow drift. But, it was much easier to travel via box than stroller in this much snow. Here, his buddy Cody also enjoys a ride. Luckily we own two boxes and both boys enjoyed a trip down the street at the same time. Because we all know that sharing a box (too small) or taking turns (while Joel cried because he had to stand in the snow) wasn't going to happen. The boys had fun, I got a workout and we all got outside and enjoyed the snow.

Scrabble: our ex-arch nemesis

For the first time in our almost 5 years of marriage, we have finally done it. We have played Scrabble without fighting or me questioning Dan's choice of words.

You see, Dan grew up playing Scrabble and reading the Scrabble dictionary. I grew up never playing. But I like the game. I like creating words out of random letters. Its a challenge that my brain totally needs after looking after Joel all day. But I could never play with Dan. Dan uses these obscure words that most people have never heard of or use in everyday conversation. I constantly felt as though I was either stupid for not knowing these words or that I was questioning Dan's intellect by making him prove that those letters actually formed a real word.

But last week, we decided to give Scrabble another go.  We laid down some ground rules (like only using conversational words or words used in your everyday vocabulary) and started to play. We actually made it through a game and enjoyed it! Now, we are addicted and play almost every night!!!

It only took 5 years, but we've finally grown up! Now, if you'd excuse me, but there's a lovely man waiting to play a rousing game of Scrabble with me.