The Corn Maze

A fun, family outing was enjoyed by the boys, myself and my cousins as we spent the day getting lost in corn, petting animals, racing rubber duckies, milking pretend cows, shooting canons full of garlic and just generally chasing boys. Thankfully S & J were there to help. They were awesome and the boys fell in love with sweet J.

W's highlight was the garlic canon and R....well, not when he stuck his fingers up the miniature horse's nose...maybe watching the chickens.

A definite do again!

The Corn Maze

A fun, family outing was enjoyed by the boys, myself and my cousins as we spent the day getting lost in corn, petting animals, racing rubber duckies, milking pretend cows, shooting canons full of garlic and just generally chasing boys. Thankfully S & J were there to help. They were awesome and the boys fell in love with sweet J.

W's highlight was the garlic canon and R....well, not when he stuck his fingers up the miniature horse's nose...maybe watching the chickens.

A definite do again!

Damage

As B & I were tidying up the toys in Man's World, W & R were sitting on the upper level of stairs having a time-out for their behavior. What did we hear?

W: Do you want to do damage, Bup?
R: Yum.
W: Yeah! Let's do damage!

Exactly, what is damage?

Is it when a 4 yr old & 2 yr old take the salt & pepper shakers and drain them onto the couch, kitchen floor and top of the roll top desk? This is what took place while FH & I were cleaning Man's World. This is why the two of them were having a time-out at the same time.
Or is it when....
-the battery operated quad is submerged in the pool and then attempted to ride it there?
-the half loaf of home made rice bread is crumbled from the fireplace to the kitchen counters and back again several times.?No, we had not read Hansel & Gretel!
- the eldest child escapes to the backyard naked, yet again?
- the two of them escape from the yard completely and are found, after much panic, in the car?!
- toddler hieroglyphics are found up the stairway, on a blue bedroom wall, and behind the toddler's ear?
- one boy is emptying the pepper shaker so the older boy decides to join him with the salt shaker?
- one boy confiscates his mother's wrinkle repair serum from the vanity and the other child tries to feed it to her while she is sleeping?!
Where is the parental supervision during all this damage? The supervisors were tidying up their toys. Sweeping & vacuuming the bread. Rescuing the quad from the pool. Chasing Master Nudist down for clothes.

Consequences? you ask.
No TV. Ever! Not even "16 minutes".
(Whose being punished....children or parents?)

*By the way, all of the above took place in less than 24 hrs and no children were harmed in the creation of "damage"....only the parents.*

Damage

As B & I were tidying up the toys in Man's World, W & R were sitting on the upper level of stairs having a time-out for their behavior. What did we hear?

W: Do you want to do damage, Bup?
R: Yum.
W: Yeah! Let's do damage!

Exactly, what is damage?

Is it when a 4 yr old & 2 yr old take the salt & pepper shakers and drain them onto the couch, kitchen floor and top of the roll top desk? This is what took place while FH & I were cleaning Man's World. This is why the two of them were having a time-out at the same time.
Or is it when....
-the battery operated quad is submerged in the pool and then attempted to ride it there?
-the half loaf of home made rice bread is crumbled from the fireplace to the kitchen counters and back again several times.?No, we had not read Hansel & Gretel!
- the eldest child escapes to the backyard naked, yet again?
- the two of them escape from the yard completely and are found, after much panic, in the car?!
- toddler hieroglyphics are found up the stairway, on a blue bedroom wall, and behind the toddler's ear?
- one boy is emptying the pepper shaker so the older boy decides to join him with the salt shaker?
- one boy confiscates his mother's wrinkle repair serum from the vanity and the other child tries to feed it to her while she is sleeping?!
Where is the parental supervision during all this damage? The supervisors were tidying up their toys. Sweeping & vacuuming the bread. Rescuing the quad from the pool. Chasing Master Nudist down for clothes.

Consequences? you ask.
No TV. Ever! Not even "16 minutes".
(Whose being punished....children or parents?)

*By the way, all of the above took place in less than 24 hrs and no children were harmed in the creation of "damage"....only the parents.*

Cheeky Cookers

Bathtime was over so these little cuties assisted in creating Carob Haystacks.

The things that go on in our kitchen!

Cheeky Cookers

Bathtime was over so these little cuties assisted in creating Carob Haystacks.

The things that go on in our kitchen!

Married, Twins & Engaged

We were lucky to attend the wedding of B's colleagues during last Saturday's monsoon. It was the most personal, casual and muddy wedding I have ever witnessed. Did I tell you that I was also photographer and florist extraordinaire? Now, that's one relaxed bride to have me involved in those two very important aspects! It all came together and the bride & groom are happily married. Congrats!

These two little babes are just adorable! I really wanted to take one
...or both...home. Their momma wouldn't let me though. After two hours, we just came to accept that we would not get a photo of them happy at the same time. Poor babes! It was probably a twin conspiracy to get rid of the wacko lady with the camera attached to her forehead.



It's just the beginning for this blissfully in love couple. Congrats to Uncle B....and our soon to be Auntie J! Twitterpated, perfect for each other and soon to be married. We're all so happy for them!

Married, Twins & Engaged

We were lucky to attend the wedding of B's colleagues during last Saturday's monsoon. It was the most personal, casual and muddy wedding I have ever witnessed. Did I tell you that I was also photographer and florist extraordinaire? Now, that's one relaxed bride to have me involved in those two very important aspects! It all came together and the bride & groom are happily married. Congrats!

These two little babes are just adorable! I really wanted to take one
...or both...home. Their momma wouldn't let me though. After two hours, we just came to accept that we would not get a photo of them happy at the same time. Poor babes! It was probably a twin conspiracy to get rid of the wacko lady with the camera attached to her forehead.



It's just the beginning for this blissfully in love couple. Congrats to Uncle B....and our soon to be Auntie J! Twitterpated, perfect for each other and soon to be married. We're all so happy for them!

Recipes -GFCF, SF, DFPF

Just a heads up that I'll be posting recipes on a regular basis. For those that are interested in Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Dye Free, Preservative Free & Dairy Free eating. Clean, clean...squeeky!
It's taken a bit of super sleuthing to find tasty recipes, so I hope sharing what our family enjoys will make it a little easier for someone else who is eating the GFCF way.
A tip I received tonight is to check out the SDA bookmobile! Why I never thought of checking into Seventh Day Adventist websites etc? Of course! This group of people truly take clean eating to a higher level so will have a wealth of information to share. In fact tonight I tasted the best cookies made only from ground cashews, lemon zest and coconut. As well as Carob Haystacks. Mmmmm...every childhood should include Haystacks!
Carob & Coconut Haystacks
1/2 cup carob powder
3 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup coconut oil (sometimes called coconut butter)
1/2 cup agave nectar
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the carob powder & shredded coconut. Mix well. Add the coconut oil & agave nectar. Mix well. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop into approximately 16 mounds. Freeze for at least 30 minutes before serving. The Haystacks can be stored in the freezer.

AND...
many thanks to my friend, Miss Moe, who kindly shared her bread machine with me today in which I made a kick-butt loaf of rice bread, which my bread-lovin'-hubby gives the thumbs up! I guess he won't have to keep contraband bread at work now!
Miss Moe also tipped me as to this website which has some helpful GF recipes. Yay!

AND...last night my friend since conception who now lives in LA...her mother called with a bread recipe that her celiac friend swears by.

Now, isn't that amazing! One little sentence of requesting a GF bread recipe, and I had a plethora of help. That's what I call friends & an example of a "village to raise a child" & to raise the mother too! Thanks to all my friends sharing their knowledge, my family won't starve. Wuhoo!

Recipes -GFCF, SF, DFPF

Just a heads up that I'll be posting recipes on a regular basis. For those that are interested in Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Dye Free, Preservative Free & Dairy Free eating. Clean, clean...squeeky!
It's taken a bit of super sleuthing to find tasty recipes, so I hope sharing what our family enjoys will make it a little easier for someone else who is eating the GFCF way.
A tip I received tonight is to check out the SDA bookmobile! Why I never thought of checking into Seventh Day Adventist websites etc? Of course! This group of people truly take clean eating to a higher level so will have a wealth of information to share. In fact tonight I tasted the best cookies made only from ground cashews, lemon zest and coconut. As well as Carob Haystacks. Mmmmm...every childhood should include Haystacks!
Carob & Coconut Haystacks
1/2 cup carob powder
3 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup coconut oil (sometimes called coconut butter)
1/2 cup agave nectar
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the carob powder & shredded coconut. Mix well. Add the coconut oil & agave nectar. Mix well. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop into approximately 16 mounds. Freeze for at least 30 minutes before serving. The Haystacks can be stored in the freezer.

AND...
many thanks to my friend, Miss Moe, who kindly shared her bread machine with me today in which I made a kick-butt loaf of rice bread, which my bread-lovin'-hubby gives the thumbs up! I guess he won't have to keep contraband bread at work now!
Miss Moe also tipped me as to this website which has some helpful GF recipes. Yay!

AND...last night my friend since conception who now lives in LA...her mother called with a bread recipe that her celiac friend swears by.

Now, isn't that amazing! One little sentence of requesting a GF bread recipe, and I had a plethora of help. That's what I call friends & an example of a "village to raise a child" & to raise the mother too! Thanks to all my friends sharing their knowledge, my family won't starve. Wuhoo!

Gymnastics Camp

Jump, bounce, run, hang, jump, bounce...do it all over.
Break for fruits and veggies and he's off again.
W is enjoying gymnastics this week. It's so great to see him so happy and spent.
While W is doing the monkey hang from the high bars, R and I are enjoying the local parks. We had a lovely time at a downtown park today where we met a sweet, white, 8 week old Russell Terrier...which R was scared of! "Bring on the big dogs, these little ones freak me out!" He kept getting closer and closer to me, while pointing at the puppy and yelling, "No!" Funny fella....Bup's foot was almost the same size as this soft little sweetie but he seemed to pose a big threat to R.
Two more mornings of jump'n'bounce. Whatever will we do after that? The end of summer is nearing much too quickly. The great outdoors will be calling as long as the sun is shining.

Gymnastics Camp

Jump, bounce, run, hang, jump, bounce...do it all over.
Break for fruits and veggies and he's off again.
W is enjoying gymnastics this week. It's so great to see him so happy and spent.
While W is doing the monkey hang from the high bars, R and I are enjoying the local parks. We had a lovely time at a downtown park today where we met a sweet, white, 8 week old Russell Terrier...which R was scared of! "Bring on the big dogs, these little ones freak me out!" He kept getting closer and closer to me, while pointing at the puppy and yelling, "No!" Funny fella....Bup's foot was almost the same size as this soft little sweetie but he seemed to pose a big threat to R.
Two more mornings of jump'n'bounce. Whatever will we do after that? The end of summer is nearing much too quickly. The great outdoors will be calling as long as the sun is shining.

Coconut Salmon on Rice

The trial of the Elimination Diet was one of a little effort and great results. There were definite days that were easier than others, but the information we learned was well worth the creative effort....and pain of the sugar-day!
W reacts strongly to sugar, dyes, preservatives, wheat and dairy. The behavior difference is incredible and undeniable. We're onto something here!
This new way of eating really causes a person to be creative, to plan ahead and to cook from scratch...often. I'm still searching for a good wheat free bread recipe. Know of any? There's got to be one! Plus, spending up to $7.50 for a loaf of rice bread? Not in this house. It's rice cakes all around!
Tonight we enjoyed this gluten free meal. I tweaked the original recipe a little and it all worked out smashingly. W who does not like to try new foods, was forced to try a forkful with squinted eyes, and turned up nose only to respond, "Mmmm! Good!!"
Coconut Salmon on Rice. My tweaking included Stevia (no sugar), double the ginger (no lemon grass or galangal), grated carrots (no corn), powdered ginger (2 tsp) and ground coriander-1/2 tsp. It's delish!

Coconut Salmon on Rice

The trial of the Elimination Diet was one of a little effort and great results. There were definite days that were easier than others, but the information we learned was well worth the creative effort....and pain of the sugar-day!
W reacts strongly to sugar, dyes, preservatives, wheat and dairy. The behavior difference is incredible and undeniable. We're onto something here!
This new way of eating really causes a person to be creative, to plan ahead and to cook from scratch...often. I'm still searching for a good wheat free bread recipe. Know of any? There's got to be one! Plus, spending up to $7.50 for a loaf of rice bread? Not in this house. It's rice cakes all around!
Tonight we enjoyed this gluten free meal. I tweaked the original recipe a little and it all worked out smashingly. W who does not like to try new foods, was forced to try a forkful with squinted eyes, and turned up nose only to respond, "Mmmm! Good!!"
Coconut Salmon on Rice. My tweaking included Stevia (no sugar), double the ginger (no lemon grass or galangal), grated carrots (no corn), powdered ginger (2 tsp) and ground coriander-1/2 tsp. It's delish!

Mr. 4 yrs Old.

W is four! After weeks of waking every morning, to ask, "Mom, am I four yet?" Or comments such as "I'm working on turning 4!", the grand moment has finally come.

On the day we celebrated W's fourth, I had to wake him up and coax him out of bed. His little eyes would not open, and he turned his back to me until I whispered, "W, you're four today."

He then sat bolt upright, threw his arms high in the air and declared,"Yay!! I'm FOUR!!"

A morning at the Zoo with two friends, some special monster truck gifts, and a (gluten-free, sugar-free, chocolate-free....now, tell me that sounds divine?!) Chocolate Almond Monster Truck Cake singing a quiet, whispered Happy Birthday wrapped up the festivities. It was a super day. A great way to start off being 4.

Of course, it amazes me that my little 10lb, snugly babe is four years old. So much has happened and yet there is so much more to come. I wish for the little man the very best life has to offer: Acceptance, love, humor, accomplishment, prosperity and more love. Those are tall orders for a just turned four fella aren't they? That's okay. Everyone wants the best for their child, regardless of age, and I am not exception to the rule.

We, my Favorite Husband, and I will keep right on loving, documenting and enjoying this year of 4. The crazy-loco, wonder-what-will-happen-next antics of our Wonder Boy, Mr. 4.

Mr. 4 yrs Old.

W is four! After weeks of waking every morning, to ask, "Mom, am I four yet?" Or comments such as "I'm working on turning 4!", the grand moment has finally come.

On the day we celebrated W's fourth, I had to wake him up and coax him out of bed. His little eyes would not open, and he turned his back to me until I whispered, "W, you're four today."

He then sat bolt upright, threw his arms high in the air and declared,"Yay!! I'm FOUR!!"

A morning at the Zoo with two friends, some special monster truck gifts, and a (gluten-free, sugar-free, chocolate-free....now, tell me that sounds divine?!) Chocolate Almond Monster Truck Cake singing a quiet, whispered Happy Birthday wrapped up the festivities. It was a super day. A great way to start off being 4.

Of course, it amazes me that my little 10lb, snugly babe is four years old. So much has happened and yet there is so much more to come. I wish for the little man the very best life has to offer: Acceptance, love, humor, accomplishment, prosperity and more love. Those are tall orders for a just turned four fella aren't they? That's okay. Everyone wants the best for their child, regardless of age, and I am not exception to the rule.

We, my Favorite Husband, and I will keep right on loving, documenting and enjoying this year of 4. The crazy-loco, wonder-what-will-happen-next antics of our Wonder Boy, Mr. 4.

LG - Life is Good

Another week of camping behind us. What a great summer!
The boys did great. Of course, it wasn't all smooth. There were moments of me telling my FH that if things don't change W and I are going home on Friday and he & Bup can continue just the two of them for the weekend. But then, the bedtime challenges were ironed out and we all continued on together......
only to be hit by a MONSOON! In the middle of desert prairie Alberta. Come on! I'm serious here. Monsoon. Rain, wind and more rain'n'wind is not conducive to happy camping. Thank goodness for power sites and a portable DVD player.
W attended "Church Camp" in the mornings and after the fright of the first day...the unexpected....he did super! Made friends, was thrilled with the daily snacks, eager to show his crafts and advised me that, "God is a very nice man." So, VBS was a success.
This past week, my FH was not on vacation. Just the boys and I, however he was able to commute to work from our site which was a wonderful bonus. Having him "home" within in 15 min....well, giddy-up! I could get used to that. Although I wouldn't trade that for the convenience of a shower and flush toilets. I'm too vain and citified.
Saturday at our second location, allowed us to attend one of the most stress-free and heartfelt weddings I have ever witnessed. The only wedding where people wore rain-boots...re: monsoon & outdoor tents....and the cake was a rice crispie cake with a topper of the bride dragging the groom by his ankle....so funny! I was blessed with the title of official photographer and florist. Which was a bit of a surprise, but it all went well. Talk about wearing many hats!
It's been an eventful, outdoorsy week which has given me a little more faith in my ability to handle a family while camping... somewhat on my own....and also the complete pleasure in my own shower and clean feet.
Oh. Life is good. Very, very good.
*a few pictures to follow...but there's a diaper that needs my attention right now!*

LG - Life is Good

Another week of camping behind us. What a great summer!
The boys did great. Of course, it wasn't all smooth. There were moments of me telling my FH that if things don't change W and I are going home on Friday and he & Bup can continue just the two of them for the weekend. But then, the bedtime challenges were ironed out and we all continued on together......
only to be hit by a MONSOON! In the middle of desert prairie Alberta. Come on! I'm serious here. Monsoon. Rain, wind and more rain'n'wind is not conducive to happy camping. Thank goodness for power sites and a portable DVD player.
W attended "Church Camp" in the mornings and after the fright of the first day...the unexpected....he did super! Made friends, was thrilled with the daily snacks, eager to show his crafts and advised me that, "God is a very nice man." So, VBS was a success.
This past week, my FH was not on vacation. Just the boys and I, however he was able to commute to work from our site which was a wonderful bonus. Having him "home" within in 15 min....well, giddy-up! I could get used to that. Although I wouldn't trade that for the convenience of a shower and flush toilets. I'm too vain and citified.
Saturday at our second location, allowed us to attend one of the most stress-free and heartfelt weddings I have ever witnessed. The only wedding where people wore rain-boots...re: monsoon & outdoor tents....and the cake was a rice crispie cake with a topper of the bride dragging the groom by his ankle....so funny! I was blessed with the title of official photographer and florist. Which was a bit of a surprise, but it all went well. Talk about wearing many hats!
It's been an eventful, outdoorsy week which has given me a little more faith in my ability to handle a family while camping... somewhat on my own....and also the complete pleasure in my own shower and clean feet.
Oh. Life is good. Very, very good.
*a few pictures to follow...but there's a diaper that needs my attention right now!*

Tuberous Sclerosis Update

As I write this my Favorite Husband is undergoing an MRI to determine if there is any evidence of TSC within his brain. He has no symptoms but maybe there are features. My MRI was completed last weekend. While lying in the chamber I thought about our boys going through this exam and how thankfully they were "asleep" as it's so very, very LOUD and enclosed and scary to a child. These MRIs are a part of the genetic testing process to see where the TSC comes from....if anywhere....maybe it's a mutation of genes, but it really doesn't matter where the TSC originated from. It's a moot point.
It's hard to believe that it'll soon be one year since the diagnosis of TSC for Bup. When I watch our robust 2 yr old march around the house, playing, singing to himself, etc it's almost hard to believe there is a condition affecting him. But then we administer meds, and it all comes back that tumors and seizures exist, however dormant they may be. Wuhoo!
We are eternally grateful to have such a healthy little man. Healthy 'n happy, marching about in his diaper, yelling goodness knows what while golfing inside. It's a boys world in our household. A boy's world with one of the cutest little blue-eyed boys I've ever seen!

Tuberous Sclerosis Update

As I write this my Favorite Husband is undergoing an MRI to determine if there is any evidence of TSC within his brain. He has no symptoms but maybe there are features. My MRI was completed last weekend. While lying in the chamber I thought about our boys going through this exam and how thankfully they were "asleep" as it's so very, very LOUD and enclosed and scary to a child. These MRIs are a part of the genetic testing process to see where the TSC comes from....if anywhere....maybe it's a mutation of genes, but it really doesn't matter where the TSC originated from. It's a moot point.
It's hard to believe that it'll soon be one year since the diagnosis of TSC for Bup. When I watch our robust 2 yr old march around the house, playing, singing to himself, etc it's almost hard to believe there is a condition affecting him. But then we administer meds, and it all comes back that tumors and seizures exist, however dormant they may be. Wuhoo!
We are eternally grateful to have such a healthy little man. Healthy 'n happy, marching about in his diaper, yelling goodness knows what while golfing inside. It's a boys world in our household. A boy's world with one of the cutest little blue-eyed boys I've ever seen!

Driving Mr. W

Travelling with the boys is so unlike Driving Miss Daisy.
Yesterday, amidst the rain, we hit the highway to play at a fun indoor playground in a neighboring town. While driving, W informed me that...
"Mommy?"
"Yes, W?"
"I don't say "What the heck!" to you. Only to B because he thinks it's funny."
"Yes. W. Mommy doesn't like WTH."
"Mommy?"
"Yes, W?"
"I only say, "Sonofa!" with B too. He says it and I only say it with him."
Ahhh! "Mommy really doesn't like that one too. Daddy shouldn't say it either. Thank you for NOT saying it W."
"No. I ONLY say SONOFA with B. Only with B."

ahhhhhh.

So later we relayed this conversation to B who promptly told W that he had made a mistake and should not have said sonofa and that Mommy gave him big trouble for two days for saying that, to which W replied,
"Yes. It's a mistake when I say SONOFA too!"

Driving Mr. W

Travelling with the boys is so unlike Driving Miss Daisy.
Yesterday, amidst the rain, we hit the highway to play at a fun indoor playground in a neighboring town. While driving, W informed me that...
"Mommy?"
"Yes, W?"
"I don't say "What the heck!" to you. Only to B because he thinks it's funny."
"Yes. W. Mommy doesn't like WTH."
"Mommy?"
"Yes, W?"
"I only say, "Sonofa!" with B too. He says it and I only say it with him."
Ahhh! "Mommy really doesn't like that one too. Daddy shouldn't say it either. Thank you for NOT saying it W."
"No. I ONLY say SONOFA with B. Only with B."

ahhhhhh.

So later we relayed this conversation to B who promptly told W that he had made a mistake and should not have said sonofa and that Mommy gave him big trouble for two days for saying that, to which W replied,
"Yes. It's a mistake when I say SONOFA too!"

Blogging Action...almost

What a long hiatus.
For me anyway.
We were impatiently awaiting our new laptop and it's finally here! Not all loaded up yet....no programs, no pictures...but I just couldn't wait to check my email and the blog. I've missed it.
I've missed you!
So...soon there will be blogging action again. Wuhoo!

Blogging Action...almost

What a long hiatus.
For me anyway.
We were impatiently awaiting our new laptop and it's finally here! Not all loaded up yet....no programs, no pictures...but I just couldn't wait to check my email and the blog. I've missed it.
I've missed you!
So...soon there will be blogging action again. Wuhoo!