Merry Christmas!

Here's our GREAT Christmas tree decorating event finally! Just never did get around to it before this and then buying a tree didn't seem worth it anymore. So we pulled out my old tree that I bought when I lived in a dorm. I think Kellen enjoyed the whole experience with this tree as much as any tree anyhow!

Sending you wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Hope you make many wonderful memories with family this week!

Any Practical Food Blogs?

Reading sister Jenn's post today got me thinking again. As much as I love reading wonderful food blogs such as this or this one with great pictures, really, do I ever have time or the ingredients to cook these recipes? Rarely or practically never. I like Jenn's quick meal, because that's more and more of what I do lately (Except for the shake and bake - have you read how much salt is in that? I'd make my own seasoning mix. Sorry Jenn.) Tonight Kellen and I had deer sausage, roasted cubed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli. Nothing fancy but healthy and tasty. And very much kid friendly. Prep time minimal so that I could pay attention to the demanding boy under my feet who had been at the sitters all day.

Where are the food blogs that would be of assistance to the majority of us? The normal people who aren't chefs. I really like this blog that has 5 weekly recipes and a shopping list to go along with it. Wouldn't that be handy? Too bad for me that it's vegan, since I don't want to go that route. Last week I was talking to a mom who actually does a weekly menu and grocery shopping list. I would love to be that organized. Wouldn't you? I think I have to do it. No more thinking about it. That's why I'm saying it here. Now I'll have to do it - a practical food blog. Maybe, hopefully, even with a shopping list. Maybe then I would finally get more organized with our meals. Tomorrow is my last day of work for this year (and only 7 days in January!!!). I should start soon... Hmm, it's so easy to put things off. If I get it off the ground, I'll let you know, maybe. Would you use my ideas Jenn? (Maybe I should tell you that we had curry carrots and tofu last night...are you still interested?)

Kitty Love

We finally got a new battery charger, so I have pictures again. Kellen has changed so much in a month. He has become very attached to Kitty. Very funny to see him get very concerned and pretend wail when Kitty "falls" (with some help) on the floor. It think its the first time I've really recognized him pretend playing.

I've been enjoying my day off, but finding that there is never enough time. I'm trying to remind myself of the things I did get done instead of feeling frustrated by all the things I didn't. Lunch took some time, since I tried a new recipe - Cranberry Chicken Stew. I think it might be time for a recipe post soon. Anyhow, I promised Kellen we'd go play in the snow when he woke up, so I'd better take him out before it's dark.

Confusing mommy feelings

I'm not sure how to feel. Kellen started going to a new daycare this week (long story). The second day I literally dragged him screaming out of there. He didn't want to go home with me. This morning he asked "Betty's?". He was upset when I said no, Mommy and Kellen get to play together today. Am I suppose to be happy he LOVES his new daycare? I am glad, but I wish he didn't seem to love it more than me!

I need a journal...

I should probably get a journal for the odd time I need to write on my life reflections. But I don't have one, so here I am. I guess you read by your own free will so I shouldn't apologize.

On Wednesday night, I worked late. I was doing a babyfood making/infant feeding class that went really well. I went as far as to say it was probably the best class ever since I've been working for the Tribal Council. It was the best turnout and the women were so interested and had so many good questions. I really enjoyed all the discussion and I had a lot of fun with these women!

Anyhow, on the way home as I came to the top of the valley the snow was falling and the town lights were twinkling and the lakes were reflecting beautiful light...like a picture in a movie. It took me back to the time, almost exactly 4 years ago when I drove into the town and it looked like exactly the same picture. I remembered how overwhelmed I felt thinking this was going to be home, wondering what kind of a job it was going to be, and just wondering what I was getting into. I was amazed when I realized how much has happened in just 4 years...all the life things like got married, had a kid. But I thought of more, like how this town is home now and how much I've learned about my job, people, and life. It made me thankful. It also made me want to live life with more purpose every day because every day adds up to something bigger in the big picture. Do you know what I mean? I suppose I could try to give an example, but I'm not even going to try.

Ian and Kellen should be home any minute. They went to Regina to watch the Rider game at Andrea's. I'm sure they had more fun than me. I kept checking on the game but I was mostly studying. I write an exam to be a personal trainer on Tuesday. I've finally been through all the material once really good. Now my approach is try get some sleep so I can remember it all. I'm sure I'll be dreaming about muscle names tonight.

Boring Household Update

• I have taken no pictures recently, so you are stuck with a boring update...
• Ian's getting ready to go moose hunting for the week. That means the happiness level is pretty high in our house.
• Kellen is making up for his lack of eating during the week and a half of battling a stomach flu. He is eating everything is sight and constantly asking for more. He must be gathering stores for a big growth spurt. He is even eating meat really well, which makes his mommy very happy.
• After 3 weeks, we finally have our car back. I was getting worried I would be without transportation for the week of moose hunting. Being a one vehicle family was a real pain when public transit is non-existant. On a happy note the bill was much less than we had prepared ourselves for. On a sad note, it's not completely fixed as it still needs a $1000 part. However, happy note - the mechanic is looking for a used part for us, perhaps at the more reasonable cost of $300. Cross our fingers.
• Baby girl is growing more active all the time and will be joining us in only about 11 weeks.
• I am tired all the time. I pretty much go to bed at 8:30 or 9 these days. I seem to barely keep up with meals, house, work, and Kellen. I can't imagine having much else going on in my life. I am already looking forward to not being pregnant anymore.
• A highlight of my week was probably taking Kellen to preschool gym night. Fun to be out with other families and see Kellen have so much fun. (Plus he goes to bed so good when we get home!)
• Also fun was Kids Cooking Club at a school I work with (even though I confess I hoped it would get cancelled cause I was so tired). I had 3 super fun boys in my group that made me laugh. They were pretty excited to crack eggs! Working with kids always gives me the most hope.
• My boys are both taking naps, so I should get to what I came down here to do...go on a scrapbooking frenzy.

Smarty pants

Here's my little smarty pants! I don't care that I look like "one of those parents." I will brag - while I laugh at myself for being so amused by the little things Kellen does.

He managed to find a little hole in the steering column of his payloader that fit Dad's keys. I had a good laugh when I saw him driving around with the keys hanging there. I think he's so smart to know where he should be putting the keys! Dad was quite amused too and got the camera...which lead Kellen to know he'd done something to be proud of.

Kellen does and says lots of new things lately. He's such a little boy now. He throws real great big fits when he doesn't get his way. He tells me to "go" with an emphatic punch in the air. Tonight he didn't want to watch me eat his supper and I got told. He knows how to ask for what he wants to eat...most often "noon-els", also know as noodles. Yesterday I learned that it has to be the usual - rotini pasta. Macaroni does not cut it. He surprised me by asking for toast the other morning and beans tonight at super. His vocabulary is finally picking up the pace a little!

I hope I have a good baby on the way so I can spend lots of time with Kellen on mat leave. I am very much looking forward to not having to drop him at the sitters. If he's grouchy in the morning and I reassure him that we are staying together all day, he is a much happier, cuddlier boy. He is definately communicating his emotions more (or maybe I'm just tuning in now). If I tell him we are going to Lori's he sometimes shakes his head "no". Aww, it breaks my heart.