Best. Quote. Ever.

(Jeepers this was supposed to have gone up on December 10. No wonder you guys are giving me such a hard time)

Mackenzie came for supper. 

"I saw a real live fox stand on its own two legs. The back legs"

Oh really? Where did you see that?  

"On the show What Does The Fox Say". 

Planning Ahead

Maddy (but today she is spelling it Maddie...) set her clothes out for school for tomorrow. 

Wait for it. 

In the hallway. Outside her room. 

Sort of like a chalk outline. But soooo endearing. 

Everyday she steals a little more of my heart. I think Jason would say the same. 

Gifts

Sand Art Brownies

(Jenn Style)

Because it's always Spray Paint Season....

These will go to our fabulous neighbors. 

Random

Jason brought these home. Just because. 

Life List

Last Thursday I checked one more thing of my Life To Do List: participate in a craft fair. Done. Did it. Been there. 

And loved it!

I shared a table with Emily and Sarah. Sarah an I sold felt items. Emily sold honey and moustache wax. (Oh yes she did.) 

By the way, the Moustache Wax is an awesome lip balm. 

Im so glad Emily invited us to join her. It was a really great experience.

Im also so glad Jason and Maddy came by to show their support. That meant so much to me. 

Sunday Plans

My plans for Sunday:

Maddy's plan for Sunday:

In case her visuals are not completely clear:

Sledding

Make a Snowman

Watch TV

Make Christmas ornaments

Watch Maddy put on a magic show

Drink Coffee (and hot chocolate)

decorate the Christmas Tree

play office

eat cupcakes

and I honestly don't remember what that last one is that looks like a t shirt.

Cousins

Yesterday my cousins, Shelley and Serena and their kids (8 - 18) came up from The Pas to have lunch with us.  I used my mom's (super fun) DSLR camera (yes, I still only have a point and shoot which is fine 90% of the time when your sister in law is a photographer)

Mom and Shelley

All the cousins - the last time we had this shot Maddy was swaddled in a blanket in Blaise's arms.  

L-R Back Blaise (recent graduate, now a university student!) and Jazzlyn

L-R  Front  Maddy, Jett, Storm, Uncle Britt (wait, how come he's in the kid picture?), and Hutton

We went youngest to oldest, and Shelley pointed out that I needed to move b/c I was CLEARLY older than her (by 6 months.  jeepers) 

Britt, Shelley, Me, Serena

Girls against the....

(again, how is Uncle Britt in the kid pictures??)  Last time I saw these boys I swear I was taller than them.  I must be shrinking. 

And there you have it.  Dad was there somewhere.  I don't seem to have a picture of him (Mom, can you email me one?)

Thanks for driving up for lunch, guys.  Was so great to see you!

It's Recipe Monday!

Stephanie (my friend in Seattle who Treena still calls Shawna) shared her recipe for spaghetti sauce.  I tried it tonight and it was such a huge hit.  Maddy had seconds and they both voted to eat it for leftovers (like they really had a choice)

I have her permission to post the recipe here.  This recipe does require a bit of an appreciation for your grandma/great grandma/baba's recipes where she'd say

 "put in some flour".  

"How much flour grandma?"

"enough so it looks right"

Know what I mean?  That kind.  My mom has a recipe for "crunch"  (you can buy it at starbucks and it's called an oat bar - kinda of close). Anyway, this recipe basically talks about how to get the wood oven hot enough.  That's basically a lost art (except for Em and Kurt).

Anyway.  I'm rambling.  It's bedtime. I shouldn't blog a bedtime.  

Here is Stephanie's recipe.  Exactly how she sent it to me.  I made it and its delicious so I'm going to say it's foolproof in its current form. 

CUT and PASTE commencing NOW:

Keep in mind as you read this that this recipe evolved through trial and error so I don't have concrete measurments for a lot of this stuff.

 

Brown Mild Italian Sausage in olive oil, onions and garlic. (I started out making it with 1lb of sausage for a smaller batch.  Now I use 4-6 Lbs each time and make a huge batch to put in the freezer.  My kids love this stuff though so it goes fast and over the winter I will make 3-4 big batches) If you can only get it in the casings just cut the casings off before you brown them.  The picture below was what I started out using, now I buy it in large tubes. 

 

In a large pot combine:

    Browned Meat

    2-4 large cans of tomatoes that have been pureed in the blender (doesn't matter if they are sliced or crushed or diced as long as they are plain and you puree them) the number of cans depends on how much sauce you want to make and how saucy vs stewey you like your sauce

    2-6 small cans of diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil (here they come canned that way and I think they have more flavour because they have had time to meld together)

    1-2 cans of sliced black olives

    Chopped Mushrooms (as many as you like depending on how much you like mushrooms)

      Dried Spices:Basil, Oregano, Italian Blend and a little bit of Red pepper flakes. Just dump them in. I have never used so much that it makes it taste yucky but you should use enough that the sauce turns a darker color when you stir them all in. With this though you can start slowly and add more if you need to.

    Salt to taste (always wait until the end to add salt because the sausage will be pretty salty)

 

Bring to a boil then simmer on low for an hour.  Eat it or let it cool on stove to freeze.

 

  Last night when I made a fresh batch I added Zuchinni because it doesn't have much flavour of its own but I thought it would increase the veggie content and for the kids. 

Enjoy everyone!  (I used two of these packages, one can of diced and 1 1/2 cans of plain.  That made a huge dutch oven pot full - I do not KNOW the size of pot she must use.....)

Thank you, Stephanie!

Flin Flon

Maddy and I hopped on the good ol STC bus and came to flin flon last night. Glad to be on the bus and not driving. We were part of the 6 total passengers so we had plenty of room! 

This morning we went to a craft show and then poked through a fabulous thrift shop. Three new sweaters for felting and lots of other treasures. 

I love being up at my Mom and Dad's. It's so relaxing. I love how clean and organized it is. It's how I love things, everything in its space but not sterile and cold. I love it here. 

Flin Flon

Maddy is playing "bank" with my mom and dad. She is going through their accounts. Dad asked to make a Withdrawl, but she seems to be discouraging this idea. After all, he only has $16 in his account. 

Maddy's Thursday Adventure

D

Last week Donna (our fantastic next door neighbor) texted me to ask if Maddy could come over and help her decorate her house for Christmas.  So we made plans for her to pick Maddy up from school and Maddy would stay until after supper.

I didn't get home tonight until after Maddy was in bed so I'm not completely sure of the details from tonight, but I do have these pictures Donna sent. 

First you need to know that Donna has this wonderful hand made victorian doll house, complete with all the furniture.  Maddy loves this of course.  You also need to know that Donna had planned to be a caterer at one time in her not so distant past.  

Cake Dahlias - made from marshmallows cut on the diagonal and dipped in coloured sugar.  Brilliant and beautiful. 

Calming jar - glitter, glue, and sparkles. 

When someone irritates you: throw this at their head. 

You  will feel instantly better. 

Seattle

I made it! I'm here!  And I'm having such a great holiday!!

People were giving me a hard time about all the things I wasn't planning for this trip.   But I didn't come here to sight see (I didn't like Kurt Cobain in the 90s and I sure don't care now). I came here to see my friend. This is the person I have been friends with the longest (she gets all bent out if shape when I call her my oldest friend). 36 years? 

We have been busy. First stop was Discount Shoe Warehouse so I could get boots. 

Boot selfies are hard. 

After a bit more shopping Kathy (Steph's friend who I adore) picked us up and we headed to historic downtown Renton for delicious steak. And G&Ts. And a lot of laughing. 

Today we loaded the boys in the car and went to Pike Place Market. It was crazy windy out which meant the market wasn't too busy. We went to the first ever Starbucks so of course I bought a mug. 

One of the best things Steph and I have in common is our mutual love of naps. We came home and had a lovely afternoon nap. Ahhhh. Naps are the sweetest sleep. 

Favorite Mathew quotes:

"Mom, I'm going to need something higher to jump from. My parachute isn't working"

"Jenn, did you know I'm going to wish upon a star?"

"Jenn, I know you're going to want to get in the bath with us"

(Boot boxes make sweet rocket ships)

Trick or Treat!

Singletons Unite!  Jarrett and Joy came Trick or Treating with us this year - there are times when two kids are better than one and this was one of those times.  

They came at 5 for a quick supper.  Just before that, Loretta (from across the street) came over with HOT homemade hamburger soup.  Soooo yummy and so appreciated.  Don't I live in the greatest neighborhood?  I love it here.  She delivered the same soup to us when we moved in.  I loved it then and I love it now.  What a treat. 

So we had soup, as well as spagetti and eye balls.  

Then we hit the streets!  

Costume List

Maddy - Grizzly Bear (her own creation, she also did her own make up - I made the ears)

Jarrett - Optimus Prime

Me - Clown Remains (didn't have much costume left by supper)

Joy - creepy monkey

Jason - Stay At Home Dad

(my upcycled Halloween "wreath")

Optimus Prime and a Grizzly Bear

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!

Now time to finish packing b/c my flight leaves at 7:20 tomorrow morning.  SQUEEEEE!

Happy Halloween!

#1

Happy Birthday to my MOM!  Hope you have a great day today!!

#2

Here is Maddy's SUPRISE treat for lunch.  

#3 Costumes:

Maddy - a princess vampire

Me - a clown

Jason - an engineer and pilot with his own sense of style  

Brownie Badges

Maddy cooked her first meal tonight, using a REAL recipe.  In the past her "cooking" has been a bit more, shall we say, creative.  She has previously not been shackled to the confines of a recipe.

But not tonight!  She picked a recipe out of a cookbook (Jean Pare "Kids Cooking" circa 1997) and followed it.  Her inspiration?  Her Chef Badge for Brownies!  Yay.  

By the way, her meal was very good.  She made Jiffy Pizzas and even made the sauce "from scratch". True story. 

In other news:

It's CRAFTING SEASON!  Last Sunday I spent an afternoon at Chandra's working on my Woodland Series of hot pads.  That's right kids - I'm branching out in my hotpad mania.  Now I'm making owls and foxes (didn't get the fox done, ran out of sweater.  Must. Go. Shopping.)

These guys aren't done, just cut and pinned.  Need to sit and sew.  If I get all my chores done tonight, that will be my reward.  

Ok, so these chores aren't getting themselves done.  Better get cracking.  Top priority:  LAUNDRY.  Why? B/c there are things in there that I need to pack.  

Pack?  Why Jenn, where are you going? 

I'm off to SEATTLE for the weekend (like you do).  Stephanie was doing the hour countdown, but I'll make it easy and say TWO SLEEPS.  

My Seattle Wish List includes (but is not limited to)

- grown up dinner with Steph and Kathy

- shoe shopping at Discount Show Warehouse (aka DSW)

- 1 hour in Hobby Lobby (or more if I can get away with it)

- 2 mugs from Starbucks (one for my friend and one for me)

So.  Time to get the chores done!

bye. 

Artist in residence.

Maddy has decided to start an online store. 

At the moment she is busy building up her stock. Not as easy as it sounds. Much of her merchandise has been flying off the shelves lately. She is selling her own hand crafted items as well as some art produced by her "partner" (aka Daddy). His work hasn't been quite as popular although it does seem to be priced much lower. 

Yesterday she added jewelry. I'm saving up to buy a pair of turtle earrings. She was accepting Canadian Tire money but that offer appears to have expired. And I am fresh out of Paper Money (the good stuff)

Don't have enough pictures. Photography is not allowed in her studio. So take my word that there is an Open/Closed sign on her bedroom door. Her merchandise is displayed nicely on the table in her room. Each piece is priced (Janna questioned if it reflected market value, and maybe wasn't it a tad high?  I'm not going there). 

I have a feeling the next step will be to place the pictures online.  Time to update your paypal account people. 

She drew the beagle. I bought it already. 

Steal of a deal

elle markosky photography by lisa  is offering

FALL MINI SESSIONS!

This is such a great deal.

Run, don't walk, to her website and check it out (I've made it easy for you: click here).  All the details are on the blog tab.

You can thank me later. 

J

Grade 2

Tuesday was Maddy's first day at Ecole Alvin Buckwold School.  She is excited about:
1. her teacher, Mme Stewart (who worked at Victoria). 
2. two kids from her kindergarten class in this class with her (and sitting at her table)
3. a class pet:  a Bearded Dragon who I believe is named Ratchet. 

Source: Urban Dictionary:
"A diva, mostly from urban cities and ghettos, that has reason to believe she is every mans eye candy. Unfortunately, she's wrong." 

In the case of a Bearded Dragon, I'd say it's an appropriate name. 

Although I would have gone with Eleanor. 


It's only been three days and she already this has been such a positive experience.  I can't tell you how fabulous it is to take the 90 second walk to her school to pick her up.  So great.

special delivery

The Wish Book came in the mail today.  

Maddy thought it was sent directly from Santa.  And she also thought she could only circle three things b/c that's all Santa brings.  

She didn't like it when I said Mommies and Daddies have final say in what Santa brings.  

__________________

OH OH OH, AND

Something else arrived today:  Big Blankie #3

I know, I know - another Blankie? Really?  

Yeah, really.  Deal with it.  

Maddy loves them to death (literally, to death).  And she's a little girl and won't be little for long, and Nana Pollock (formally known as Grandma Pollock but Maddy is excited to have a Nana) makes kick ass baby blankies.

This addition is our 3rd big one but likely the 7 or 8th in total.  I could go upstairs and count b/c I'm pretty sure they are all in bed with her now.  As you may recall, Donna made small little "emergency" blankies.  I thought they would be brilliant - one for daycare, one for home, one for when the others are dirty.  But nope.  Instead they all live together in some kind of Blankie Collective. 

#3 was a group effort for sure.  Maddy and I went and picked out the yarn (yellow as always), then Nana Pollock made it to Maddy's specs (she chose to have the whole thing in her favorite square with a lacey edge).  Then NP dropped it off at Grandpa Kenco's shop.  

Time flies.

Then Auntie Lisa went home.  Admired the blankie.  Talked about brining it.  And then left it. 

Then Auntie and Maddy called Grandma Kenco who promptly put #3 on the first bus to Toon Town.  

AND VOILA!  It takes a family to make a blankie!

Thank you Donna and Marion!  You have made a little girl very happy.  

Just checking

Normal people label their fridge, right? 

Bat Sh!t Crazy

Sweet mother of pearl. It's 11:45. I'm awoken to Jason shaking me. 

Jason: "I need your help. There's a bat in the house."

Me: "a WHAT?"

Him: "a bat. Come on. I thought you were used to bats from Minot"

(A lot of bats there. OUTSIDE)

I'd like to tell you I handled it calmly. That I didn't wave an empty pop box in the air when it flew near me. That I didn't scream. That I didn't say 'what if it gets in my hair'. 

Id like to tell you all that. But lying is no way to make friends. 

So now it's 11:55. I'm sure I will drift off into a peaceful (bat infested) slumber. 

Nighty night. 

P.s.  the bat is outside now. Where it belongs. 

Tonic: it's not just for gin. 

Procrastination. Who? Me?

Things I did this weekend INSTEAD of the eleventy seven loads of laundry I should have done:

1. painted a lamp

2. took apart, made smaller, and re wired two lamps (would have done more but ran out of "stuff")

3. scavenged Canadian Tire money (saving up for yard lights - and the Can Tire bills are scattered throughout the house - it's like a treasure hunt)

4. went to a flea market/swap meet (FABULOUS!  Lots of goodies, that's a whole other list)

5. Painted my entry table cream (was white, looks MUCH better)

6. Painted a chair cream, then re did the upholstery in an orange with cream fabric. Love it. 

7. Weeded Morgan's garden (for her birthday)

8. Attempted to organize the garage (hard to organize a disorganized collector of things.  so hard I finally gave up)

9, made a chocolate zucchini cake

10. re-upholstered a kitchen stool with two 6 year olds

11. made icing for the cake (yum).

12. hung out at my neighbor's awesome house under the guise of "checking on the cats" (I was a cat sitter this weekend)

13. Went on a date (with Jason).  

14. Took Maddy and Mackenzie to the park (brought a coffee and a book - I love independent 6 year olds)

15. and this blog post.  

yep.  Did all that.  Did finally managed to wash and dry the clothes, but jeepers, now I have to fold the suckers and put them away.  I'm so all done with that. Ugh.  

Other chore I avoided: Getting groceries.  No me gusta. 

If I won the lottery, I wouldn't blow it on a big house, I might not even quit my job (I really like my job).  I would blow it on a personal chef and a housekeeper.  Yes, that's where my millions would go.  Same house, just sparkling clean and good food.  

So it's 11:45 and this girl should have been a pumpkin two hours ago.  Guess who is in denial about being at work at 8 a.m. tomorrow? Yes.  It's this girl.  

sheesh.

night. 

p.s. Anyone want a lamp? Its my new favorite thing.  

 

Truth

It's funny. I never think I'm actually THAT organized. As in, I always think I could be more organized. 

And then someone comes over and points out little things that I think are completely normal. Doesn't everyone hang their clothes by category and then colour?   Ball up grocery bags into a little pkg and put them in a special bag bag?  Label everything that isn't tied down? 

Then  it hits me: I am organized. My mom taught me how to do those things. I still fold my grocery list in half the way she did.  Well, when I don't use my iPhone grocery list app...

Ok, so big surprise: I'm pretty organized. Except when I'm not. It drives me bonkers if I'm not organized. If I don't get something done on time. Or, heaven forbid, I can't find something.  I usually know where things are. They have a spot and I put them there.  But then there's the times when I don't. Times when I can't find something. Oh that is the worst. 

But you know what is really the worst? Jason looses things only slightly more often than I do. To the untrained eye he is the complete opposite of organized.  He is chaos. He is the Yin to my Yang. 

minibreak

Last weekend Maddy and I drove out to stay with Keely and her family.  I am hoping this is a start of a summer tradition b/c I absolutely love going out there.  She lives on a farm 10 or so minutes from Camrose.  It is beautiful and peaceful.  One of my favorite views has always been a prairie landscape and the view out her windows is perfect.  Just enough trees for privacy, but also wonderful open spaces.  

It's funny, b/c on this trip I started to tell Maddy all the things I learned from Keely.  At first I was just being silly, but then I realized: wait a minute...I have learned A LOT from Keel.  Weird things.  

Random Things I learned from Keely (and her family)

1. driving on gravel roads

2. kiwi fruit

3. my love of Fleetwood Mac

4. whip cream in a canister (like REAL whip cream)

5. ceasar salad from scratch (that was John and Jo when we stayed at their cabin, blew my mind)

6. veggie sandwiches with cream cream cheese

7. rhubarb jam with cream cheese (stop reading right now.  Go and get some.  I'll wait.)

8. Boys could dance (Nathan took classes with us and it never once occurred to us to make fun of him.  He could jump 2x as high as all of us. And let's just remember: this was rural MB, loooong before So You Think You Can Dance)

9. Duvets and not top sheet (still do this)

10. Ikea (I shit you not, never heard of that store until Keely took me)

11. Homemade yogurt (people MAKE yogurt? What? - this was Tim and Heather)

12. Hard work.  Truthfully, I learned hard work from my parents.  But three years on the Honey Farm cemented the notion that i did NOT want to work that hard (physical labour) ever again.  Hence the masters degree.  These hands are strictly for holding a bubble wand, thank you very much.  

13. I would also like to say I learned to drive a "three in the tree" truck - but let's face it.  I never quite got the hang of it.  

Hands down - may favorite scenic view. I love the horizon.  

Did I mention Keely CAN BAKE?  mmmmm  Strawberry shortcake from scratch with that crazy whip cream machine. 

Maddy's hero - Alyssa.  

Maddy loved fussing over Ella. 

Hayden - such a handsome kid.  That million dollar smile is gonna break hearts...

Not so unplugged.

I swore on this trip I would leave my phone at home. Or at least off. Didn't happen. I left it at the cabin while I was at the pool almost everyday. And one day I didn't have it at all bc I accidentally sent it home with Sarah. That day was weird. To not know the time. 

So I will admit it: I'm plugged in. It's the way it is. 

Our last night

We pack up and head home tomorrow. It has been a great week and of course went by so fast. Tues, wed, and today really flew by. That happens when you do basically the same thing:

Wake up

Bike to the bathroom

Make coffee/eat breakfast

More coffee, tidy up the cabin, make lunch for the pool

Load up the cooler and head through The Tunnel of Doom*

3 hours at the pool

1-2 hours at the beach 

Big supper and bevvies with all the gang

Shower

Bedtime

In there are also 47 applications of maximum strength bug spray. The Mosquitos, if I haven't mentioned them, are unbelievable. My mom has me taking garlic pills and vitamin b and while I still have a million bites they don't last more than 20 min or so. 

*Tunnel of Doom = the path through the trees to get to the beach. Millions of Mosquitos in there. Soul crushing. 

Best pool lunch!  PB and mini choc chips. 

Mandy, thank you so much for taking Maddie kayaking. What a great treat. 

Cole

The lake

We are still at Pike Lake. Halfway through our first ever lake holiday. Jason couldn't get the time off so he is commuting, another bonus of being 40 min away. 

Yesterday I used a fogger thing and that helped. The Mosquitos have been insane. Like swarms of 15-20? 30? Gross. No bugs at the pool so that is where we spend our days. 

We are here with two other families. Plus lots of friends have been coming out to join us for supper. 

There is a fabulous big campfire spot in the middle. We use it almost every night. Someone asked if we stay up after the kids go to bed and sit by the fire. Sadly we haven't done that yet. Too damn tired. And the kids just stay up late. The cabins are too far apart to put the kids to bed early and then meet up at someone's fire. I feel like I'm about 3 years away from that. But it's ok bc by 10 I'm tired too. 

Another pool day today. I have a wicked sunburn on a patch of my back that I forgot to sunscreen. By "patch" I mean my whole damn back. Shit. Ouch. 

Juliette & Maddy

Cole, Will & Gillian (I love these boys)

The Beags love camping!  Our music man. 

He doesn't take requests. 

Mandy, so tall and imposing. 

Juliette, Maddy, & Lakai

Our fantastic giant fire pit.