A retreat.

Jason spent alllll daaaay cutting baseboards for the basement and he is DONE. Yipee! Now it's my turn to go in and fill the joints and touch up with paint. But not tonight.

While he was doing that, Madge and I have been packing and sprucing up. So far we've done her room, some of her toys, my closet, our bedroom, and the spare room. They all look good. Especially our room. I actually like it for the first time since we moved in. Probably bc there is a bedspread and the bed is made. That's a pretty rare occurrence around here. I will enjoy it while it lasts.

Company

One of the best things about living in Saskatoon is we seem to be "on the way" for lots of our friends and family.

Daniel, Colleen's son, went to Roblin this past week to go goose hunting with his poppa (you might know him better as "Grandpa Pollock").  It was time to go home, so everybody met halfway at our place and stayed for coffee this afternon.  I loved it.  I love having a house full of people who feel like family.  I especially loved that it was a total gong show when they arrived (we had just got home, were scarfing lunch, groceries EVERYWHERE) and it was completely ok.  They didn't even bat an eye.  That's the kind of company I love.

The good part about that is that most of my company is that way these days. I've managed to weed out the people who would get their nose out of joint if they stopped by and my house was a dissaster.  Don't need 'em.  

So we had a great visit, Colleen brought treats for the Beags and they were thrilled.  Last week, when Daniel was heading to Roblin Colleen brought Maddie her Very First Boy Poster.  Colleen (brilliantly) suggested that the best place to hang a poster like this is on the back of your door.  AMEN.

GORP

Jason cracks up at the thought of this being any type of "food blog".  And he does sort of have a point.  I mean, let's face it, if it can be cooked, I can burn it.  But...

Randa gave me this recipe for an energy snack.  After I made my first batch I realized I was basically making GORP from my Girl Guide Days (Good Ol' Raisins and Peanuts).  Dee-LISH.  I'm pretty much hooked now and just made batch number two.  My family does not share my enthusiasm, so here's what I do:  I mix up the stuff, roll it into balls (like a bit smaller than a golf ball) and throw them in the freezer.  In the morning I grab one or two and put them in my lunch bag for my snack.  Instant energy treat Just For Me.  

But, I do hope Maddie will develop a taste for them bc I think they would be a perfect snack for recess.  Like most schools, it's  Peanut Free Zone.  Both Allison and Randa (maybe even Patti?) have suggested Sun Butter.  Couldn't find it at the Co-op today (wonder if that's  Superstore type of thing?) but I did find something called WOWbutter.  Tastes 95% like peanut butter.  Probably tastes 100% like "natural" peanut butter.  Made from not peanuts.  Seems to be a soy based product?  Not sure if this is good or bad.  Thoughts?  I tried it, they taste the same.  I also added pumpkin seeds b/c I read somewhere they are a Power Snack.  And at 10 a.m. Momma  needs her some power.

Oh, here's the recipe:

1 cup oatmeal 

1 cup toasted coconut flakes(I use regular)

1/2 cup chic chips

1/2 cup peanut butter (sun butter?) - "wowbutter"

1/2 cup ground flaxseed 

1/3 cup honey 

1 tsp vanilla 

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Meet the Teacher Night

Last Wed was "meet the teacher night" at school. This is roughly translated to:

24 sets of parents + 14 younger siblings + 7 grandparents = 45 people clamoring to meet Maddie's two teachers (I don't know why she has two teachers, I think they are job sharing?)

Can you say GONG SHOW?

But we were still thrilled to be a part of it. Maddie showed us her desk (very organized, of course). There was also a wall of self portraits and we had to figure out which one Maddie drew. Thanks teachers, NO PRESSURE there. Jeez.

Maddie didn't think it was appropriate for me to be taking photos. But I'm a mom, so I did anyway.

Lois

Maddie: Mom...Mom....Mom...........Mmmmooommm
Me: Yes?
Maddie: Can I tell you something?
Me: Maddie, when you say my name and I look at you and say "yes" you can just tell me what you want to say.

Pause.

Maddie: So, should I just go ahead and tell you something now?

-------------------------


Maddie has her first pair of high tops. Who knew she could tie her shoes? We sure didn't. She told me she taught herself. Probably true.

First Day of Grade One

Kind of.

Ok, we forgot to take a picture so on Wednesday, Wear a Hat to School Day, i quickly snapped this one.

We need another photo session with Auntie Lisa.

Lucky 13

Happy anniversary to my soul mate and best friend. I love you.

100 Years of Home

Our friends, Mandy and Jared had a party to celebrate their 100 year old house.  The idea of the party was to dress up in your "favorite decade from the last 100 years". 

Stop.  You had me at Dress Up. 

In my mind I  immediately gathered a modest collection of "props" to deliver to Mandy's house.  In reality of course, I dropped them off the day before. As for my favorite decade?  In the last 100 years?   

Of course I have given this some thought, long before the party invite.  You see, I have always believed I was likely born at the wrong time, or at the very least I needed to access some kind of time machine.  As a little girl my career ambition involved growing up to work (in full costume) at Lower Fort Garry in Winnipeg (like Heritage Park or the WDM for you AB/SK kids).  I even found a camp in the states on the east coast where you lived like a pioneer. HOW GREAT WOULD THAT BE?  My parents were, as usual, very supportive of this camp idea.  They said I could go as soon as I saved up enough money.  They said the same thing about my requests for: a pair of real ballerina pointe shoes, a feather boa, and a waterbed. None of which I have ever owned. 

I have to tell you, up until I discovered Mad Men, I hadn't really been fond of anything in the last 100 years (except maybe the 50s and that was only for the poodle skirt).  What I loved were the
- 1860s (but only in the south, so I could be a southern belle and wear a hoop skirt)
- 1870-1880s (to live in the prairies with Laura Ingalls).
- 1850 - 1910ish (Victorian era)
It was all about big skirts, really.  My wedding dress was the one and only chance to wear a giant skirt and that is just what I did.

So anyway, what to wear to this party?  I felt that Mandy wasn't really set on it being your "FAVORITE" decade, and in fact -- let's be honest: I was probably the only one perseverating on that fact.  So I dug into the ol' Tickle Trunk to see what I could find. 

Unfortunately my personal geography seems to have changed slightly since I began my Tickle Trunk.  To say that there was "slim pickings" is true in more ways than one.  But I did manage to find a lovely outfit, and it came with a matching shirt for Jason.  He was So Delighted. 

I am sure this outfit came from my Grandpa and Grandma Butcher when they went to Hawaii, but I could be wrong. I know for sure it is handmade, and I know for sure it is from Hawaii (tag, and sewing).  And I also know that I must have bigger arms than my Grandma b/c it was a teeeensy bit tight.  Jason, beside himself with excitement, scampered off to the bathroom to carve a delightful (if not mildly appalling) handle bar mustache. Maddie wore an "olden day" dress from my childhood.  She looked fabulous, as always. 

What I loved best about this party was that people took it to heart!  They really worked on their outfits, it wasn't just a "wear tacky stuff and call it 80s" party.  There were grunge, hippies, rockers, 60s mod, and 40s glamour!  I don't think I have very many pictures, so hopefully I can get some from Mandy - they had a photo booth set up.

I'll put what I have here.  Enjoy!

Hey cupcake.

All dressed up for a retro party.