My Spring Reading List

I love amazon.ca! Its fabulous! I love buying books from there, and than waiting patiently for the mail to arrive and to open up my new books! I love books. I think the Ipad and kindle are fabulous inventions, but I will never reading books! So with tv coming to an end..meaning no more new shows for the season, not the actual concept of tv coming to an end*grin* I will have lots more time to read!! Here are three books on my spring reading list and more to come on my summer one!

I have just started reading Karen Kingsbury and quite enjoy her:) I have heard great things about this new book so I ordered it!



I read the back of this book in coles awhile back and thought it sounded fasinating, so I bought it! I will give you my review once i am done;)!

Ok, this one is a little different, and no I am not announcing anything:) This is the next book I am going to read on the Doula reading syllabus! Oh breastfeeding..such a love hate relationship we have with you! I took on online small class a few months back about breasfeeding and found some interesting facts that I didn't even know about before, so heres to learning awhole lot more and passing that wisdom on!!

The book that is currently on my night stand is called The last Dance by Karen Kingsbury as well, and so far so good!

Tuesday ramblings

Its Tuesday. Tuesday is our tired day. I don't know why, something to do with the day after Monday, still recovering from the weekend that really isn't a weekend in our world, or because its just Tuesday and that's how we role. Its twenty to ten and my baby is just going to bed! Well, she was in bed and proceeded to talk to herself for an hour, so we brought her out of bed, to play in our bed, call random relatives, because that's what she likes to do, and it entertains her parents, and away we go:)! She is in bed now, hopefully sleeping..hoping she sleeps in but I won't hold my breath!

Easter is just around the corner, so I have lots of baking to do in the next couple of days! I am going to attempt to make Paska again, because it is delish! And I want to start more traditions around here. Things to look forward to, things for my kids to look back on with warm memories...

I will also be baking away because we are celebrating Dave's side of the family's birthdays this Sunday in combination with Easter. Its a busy one! The dessert plan, PW's Chocolate Sheet cake and a new recipe for her Vanilla cream cheese cupcakes!

But first there is good Friday..I love good Friday; maybe that is morbid but I do. I don't think I ever make it through a good Friday service without breaking down into tears. I think I am in awe of the sacrifice HE made for me..it overwhelms me, and touches the deepest part of my soul. I am full of gratitude, humility and thanksgiving for what he did for us that day.

Its funny to now that I am a parent, I get it a little more. I get what it means to be willing to do anything for your child..let alone a couple billion of them. I was watching oprah today because I can..and I love her, and the show is almost done..and it was about a 61 year old mother who was a surrogate for her daughter. Its funny, when she was asked if she thought what she did was extra special or something along that lines, she answered no. She just did what any parent would do for their child who they love..so true. And I get that a bit more now. I am still learning and have a long ways to go, but I get it a percent more now that I am a parent. Now that I know there is no greater earthly love, more powerful, more undescrible, more heart wrenching, or painfully rich than the love you feel for your child. So as Friday approaches I am more in awe than ever, and more recieving than ever of the love HE has for me. Because if I don't recieve it, than what was the purpose?? What was it all for??

So those are my ever changing Tuesday thoughts of the day. Tomorrow is wed, I hope to meet a new baby by Thursday, and than its Friday:)

I will be back tomorrow with my summer reading list because I think its going to be a good one!!

Dad turns 60

What a busy weekend. It has come to a close..way to quickly as usual! But I wanted to get this post up quickly before the week takes off again..and because I am avoiding helping Dave clean up the kitchen at least for a few more minutes;) So my dad turned 60 on wed, so yesterday we threw him a suprise birthday party. He didn't want anything crazy, but we thought he deserved something special. And the thing that I learn more and more, at the end of the day, 30 years from now, I would rather have ten or so people show up at my birthday who know me like the back of their hand, than 100 strangers..just saying.. My mom and dad took off on a two day get away to Harrison and we got into party mode. It took a lot of planning, and co ordinating and working around my lovely work schedule, but we pulled it off. It was so worth it all to when dad walked in to see his family and friends there to celebrate with him. The sun came out in full force, and it was a beautiful evening. We put on a full greek spread, had yummy cake(thank you Shawna..it was fabulous!!!) and ice cream, and I feel everyone walked away with a full belly and a few more laugh lines from all the joy that was going on in the room..success! So try living with this man..see the size of his piece of cake, and than look at the size of him..where does it go?? non of us know! and yes it is annoying:) but I love him*grin*

sixty year olds don't need stuff..they have enough junk..so the gag gifts, and old age jokes were in full force:) Addy and Winnie helping dad open his presents!

YEs, she loves lemons..what a wierdo..but my wierdo:)*grin*

Cleaning up..I know, like I said what a wierdo..she loves to clean up, and I Love her for that!

The spread...and see the sun shining through..it was heaven!

Busted!!

Dad looking at the pics of his life up on the wall..so many memories..

Ok, I know what you are thinking, why is my kid wearing a touque in the spring time?? well it did snow the other day didn't you know??:) Actually, this toque means more to me than most people will ever know. When I was ten years old, my dad's best friend, and my god parents, lost their 17 year old son in a car accident. He was our big brother, he was family by love..and he was the first person I lost. That day is a day that is inscibed in my mind forever, and one that I will never forget. Yesterday, said adopted aunt and uncle brought me his toque and boots from when he was a kid...the water works were in full effect..I cant even begin to describe how touched I was and how cherished these pieces will be in my heart. and this girl loved them..however, I don't think Winnie appreciated her trying to put it on him..she tries..:) he is patient..they love eachother..

And yes she wears pig tails. And everytime she does I smile, because my girls in pig tails:)! and she is a big girl now..tear...

So happy sixth to the best dad around..we had a great time celebrating with you and realizing that old people are funny:)

Dinner Tonight!

So I am sharing a very coveted recipe around here;) So here is the story. I LOVE Cactus Club, its probably my favorite chain restaurant! That is why I am thrilled to know that there is one opening fairly close to us in the near future! woot woot! Spiked frapps.. Im just saying.. Anyways, my favorite thing to eat at this coveted Cactus Club is the Terriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl! Many restaurants have tried to copy, but none come close to this one! So the thing that makes this dish so delish is the spicy yogurt that accompanies it. So one day I did some serious diggin on the lovely internet and have found what I think come pretty close to the real thing. So today i am sharing.. So you need one cup of plain yogurt, 1/4 of mayo, 2 tsp of ranch dip mix, and a 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper. we add a little more because we like the heat around here:) Mix together and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour. Even better I find over night:) mix up your favorite veggies with some chicken, stir fry them up, add some terriyaki sauce. I love the thick one by Golden Dragon I believe is the name, let it simmer with some garlic, maybe some ginger and some red pepper flakes if you dare. Now for the layering. Bowl of rice, drizzle on the yogurt, and than the stirfry on top..and savor every bite!! yummoo...Thats whats about to be in our bellies:)

Amber teething necklace

My mom picked me up an Amber teething necklace the other day for miss addy. I had never heard of them, but she did through a coworker who's little guys teething and apparently thanks to this necklace you wouldn't ever know! The idea behind it has to do with the oils in the Amber absorbing into the skin and being a natural pain medication..or something like that;) So we think our girl is starting to work on some molars or the end of her eye teeth so we have been giving the necklace a try..and to be honest I actually think it works:) She doesn't seem to be as agitated or upset, chewing as much..and overall just more content:) So I thought I would pass it along, anything that isn't medication to me is worth checking out. And if anything its pretty cute!

sunshine:)

The sun is out so that makes me happy! Our apartment looks like it is officially rented out so that makes me even happier!!! but I won't quite breathe until that rent check is in my hand:) Its been an exhausting process around here. its been a month and a half of showing after showing, disappointment after disappointment:( and last week we paid the two mortgage payments this month, and that hurt..a lot.. but today looks brighter in so many ways! My faith is continually challenged and just when I start to feel like i have hit the bottom of the bucket my spirit is renewed! I think that is why I have had a hard time blogging lately is I feel like there has been a wall up blocking my thoughts and emotions so I don't come undone..because I am a wife, a mom, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a tax payer, and employee, housekeeper...I don't have time to come undone:) So we keep truckin along..and soon one day I know that surviving will turn into thriving again around these parts!

I think one thing that has been helping me lately is I have been getting out lately. Seeing friends more, talking, laughing, loving..and being me..because I am pretty cool, and I have missed myself:)*grin* I am just saying..

and then there is this girl..

She's been talking a lot lately..I mean a lot..some somedays we dial papa, or uncle, or grandma and I hand her the phone and she goes to town:) Thats my girl..and I adore her..really adore her because she is just really cute right now..even though my brain hurts by the end of the day some days because she doesn't stop..all day:)...I just really like my kid, and that is such a great feeling:) She is becoming a little girl, and I am so loving this time with her..just me and my girl, hanging out, trying on shoes..painting mugs for papa's birthday..and so on:) She's up now, and daddy's home, so off to the park we go where the sun is before we have friends over for dinner tonight..see i am telling ya, the love fest just continues lately..and I love it:)!