Crazy Cousins

Kellen and I had a fun visit for a day to Stoughton. All summer we have planned to take Kellen swimming with the cousins, so of course it turned out to be a rainy day when we finally went. Too bad, but we had lots of fun anyhow. Here is Nolan dressed up by Kayla. Mostly fun, and a little scary. I hope he turns out "normal". hee, hee. Thanks so much for the visit, Jenn.

This weekend Ian is playing tennis, so off to Regina for us tomorrow morning. I am also being brave again this year and playing doubles with him. Hopefully it will go better than last year. I really wanted to play singles too, but I guess there's next year, when Kellen is not so attached to me...

More of Photo Shoot 3

Had to add a few more. Isn't he the cutest???!!!!

Photo Shoot 3

Just sharing a few favorites from his 6 month photo shoot...

Yummy!

Kellen had his first taste of rice cereal last night (just 2 days shy of being 6 months! I was too curious to wait any longer.) He seemed to love it and gobbled it up. But, this morning he would have nothing to do with it. I'd have to do the airplane until he would laugh so I could get it in his mouth. He would shudder like I was putting a lemon in his mouth! I guess we'll have to try again tonight and see what his verdict on the cereal really is. 

Cool Dude at the Beach

Kellen & I went to the beach yesterday with Twyla, Emerson (3yrs) & Quinton (1 month). Kellen had fun in the lake at first, until he decided it was too cold. Watching Emerson play I realized how different it will be to go to the beach next year.

Kellen was very cute with Quinton. He gave him more attention than I thought he would and was mostly gentle.




It is so nice to know more moms around town now. We are talking about starting a moms group in Sept. Either finding a space or taking turns in our homes. I'm really looking forward to it!

Recipes 1: Couscous and Chickpea Salad

Kellen & I were at Auntie Evelyn's birthday party last night, here are a few pics. I took a couscous salad that J'nea likes. So, I decided to share it with all. I think I'll start a series of recipe favorites...we'll see, here's a start...


Couscous and Chickpea Salad
3 cloves garlic minced
1 Tbsp margarine
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup couscous
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cucumber
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp cumin
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper

1. In a medium saucepan, saute garlic in melted margarine for 2 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous and salt. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
2. Transfer couscous to a large bowl, add remaining ingredients, and mix. (I would recommend to store in fridge for only 2 days.)

Weekend pics

I love this picture and am naming it the Calm Before the Storm. Seems appropriate with baby on the way and the rain/hail storm that hit minutes later!
Here's Dad and babe at the Fringe. Yeah, we were out a little late for Kellen.
After the Saturday morning adventure with teething Kellen, we left him sleeping at the Wallace's with Ian, and headed to the scrapbooking store. When Ian called and Kellen was wailing in the background...back we went. But, there was no need to rush. Ian had Kellen happily examining the gun cleaning kit with him by the time we arrived!

Weekend Away

Our weekend to Saskatoon was wonderful yet frustrating and disappointing. Here's the not so good points of the weekend first:

1. Missed the second half of Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan because Kellen was screaming at the Wallace's and not taking a bottle (as I suspected, although I had held on to the hope that he would give in and take it). Though I don't know if he was really hungry. Jenn and John seemed to think it was panic when he realized mom & dad were not there. The instant smile when he saw me would suggest they were right.

2. It rained and was cold so the weather cancelled our BBQ at the park plans.

3. Kellen is definately teething and continued his incredibly unsettled behavior that began earlier in the week. The teething tablets DO NOT work.

4. Kellen cried most of saturday morning, which was suppose to be a relaxing girls morning out with Jenn and Pella...brunch at Calories, farmer's market, scrapbooking store, Parables, and Jysk. Ahh, wonderful plans, but the crying just didn't let me enjoy a moment of it and we gave up.

But, I've saved the best highlights for last (and there are way more of the good than the bad):

1. The first half of the Taming of the Shrew was delighfully funny and worth the money on its own. Now I have reason to read to find out what happens!

2. I learned it doesn't matter if it rains (or baby cries) when you are with good friends! I had such a good time catching up with Jenn and Pella. Good friends are treasures.

3. Many people were delighted with Kellen and were happy to entertain him. Despite the crying periods, he actually did quite well. He slept really good at nights. I was able to remember that teething will only last for so long.

4. I did get lots of scrapbooking ideas at the store and am so excited to get busy on Kellen's pictures! I got tons of great paper at Costco for cheap. Pella & Brad gave some fun scrapbooking supplies that have inspired me to have some fun!

5. Ian & I grabbed some coffee at the Broadway Roastery after we returned to the Wallace's and got Kellen to sleep. (He was instantly cured of his panic and tears when he saw mom and settled amazingly quickly). How fun it was to feel like it was pre-baby, pre-marriage times in Saskatoon again at moments like that! And I think I learned a lasting lesson...that the free-spirited times and humor can be there in greater abundance! (Reminder: Relax, Janet)

6. It was great to visit the Saskatoon church again and see so many wonderful people.

7. I found a good deal on a food processor. I can now make my favorite carrot muffins anytime without dreading the hand grating and the mess. (oh, the little things that make me happy)

8. I didn't lose my camera after being sure I had.

9. I had some travel time to get into some great books.

10. I know there are so many more. I feel so refreshed, and want to hang on to that feeling, so I'd better go get to bed...

Auntie Jenn is going to be 30!

Jenn is going to be 30 on Sunday. I was waiting to post these until then, but remember we are going to be away. So happy early birthday Auntie Jenn from Kellen! We're sorry you have to work on your birthday, but hope you have a good day! Here are some pictures from the BBQ that we had in honor of Jenn!
Kellen sure loves his Great-Grandpa. It was so nice that Grandpa and Ruby could come!
The guys had a rowdy game of football with the kids. Amazingly there were no injuries to my knowledge. Except for Uncle Tim being bitten by Nolan. As Ian said though, he understood Nolan perfectly. What else do you do when you are 2 and see everyone playing aggressively? You use you limited abilities!
Here's Grandpa with his great-grand kids that were there!

Jolly Jumping Skills

Here is another video of Kellen in action again. At 5 months his jolly jumping skills have increased significantly since the last video posted, which showed some pretty weak jumping. Hee, hee. If you wonder if we analyze his athletic ability, we wouldn't be able to deny it. But it's okay if he wants to play the violin and not sports!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxJf2dSv0UE

Handsome Boy

Somebody is growing so tall! J'nea and I measured 28 inches...that's another 1.5 inches in a month!



Thanks Auntie Andrea for the so cute outfit. We almost lost a shoe already, but luckily a lady chased us down outside the hospital to return it!

There's a Spider on the Floor

Kellen has a book called Spider on the Floor. As I started reading it, I realized a tune was starting to come. Sure enough its a Raffi song. I never would have imagined I'd remember something like that from my childhood. But the memory of the Raffi record (yes, I said record) came flying back. Along with it, I pictured the big old record player/stereo thing in our "harvest gold" colored living room. It's amazing how the memory works.

It seems like Kellen enjoys his books. Mostly it seems still just to chew on them, but hopefully he'll enjoy reading. This picture does look like he is quite interested though!

The Sleeping Blanket

Kellen sleeps best with this blanket. If he's crying and won't sleep, the blanket brings a smile to his face and soon sweet sleep. I think its funny that he usually scrunches it up in a ball on his face. I can pull it off and next time I check on him, its on his face again. I guess I don't understand comfort.

Sleep has been more of an issue lately. He didn't cry too much in his crib before he would fall asleep. But lately he cries for long enough that I finally give in. I wonder if its because a tooth is really trying to come through. I can feel it pushing through and know it can't feel good. A friend told me about some little dissolvable tablets that worked wonderfully for her daughter. So, we stopped at the health food store today and picked some up. I'll let other moms know what they are if I decide they are worth recommending...

I'm so Cool!

Kellen is looking cool these days with his sunglasses! I can't believe he leaves them on. Rarely does it pull them off. But I have learned to watch...if he does take them off they are a good choking tool.