Wonderland Round Up -- Week of July 24

Goals for the Week:

My darling baby is not sleeping very well (at night or at nap time), so my goal for the week is to see what I can do to help her ... oh, and try not to fall asleep while driving, cooking, walking or anything that may be dangerous.

Recipe that we have tried or want to try:

Something easy and tasty ... anybody have any suggestions?  When in doubt, bake bread!


Book(s) I am Reading:

The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno.  Along the same lines as last week's book, but a little more drastic.  Not sure that I could ever get down to 100 things, but I like the idea.

Website or Blog Discovery:


Looks like some great activities here and all done with frugality in mind -- my kind of fun!  I hope to try some of the ideas this week.  I'll keep you posted!



Kid Saying of the Week:

Owen walked into my room early one morning and announced that Dada was home (Dada delivers the morning newspaper, so it is not uncommon for him not to be home when he gets up).
I:  How do you know?
He:  The car is here.
I:  Maybe he walked.
He:  No, it's too far.
I:  Maybe he took a train ...
He:  No, there are no tracks.
I:  Maybe he took an airplane ...
He:  No there is no airport.
He then walks down stairs to check and returns with this report:  Dada's in the shower.
I:  How do you know?
He:  I heard the soap rubbing!


Finally, a favourite picture from the week:

 Kids, water, and sun ... what else do you need?

Wonderland Round Up -- Week of July 17th

Well, we've been home for a week now, so I guess that it is finally time to admit that vacation is over and get back to work.  Here goes ...

Goals for the Week:

Two of the boys are taking swimming lessons for the next two weeks so we'll add that to our regular soccer nights and a couple of get togethers with friends.  I had promised the boys some painting time last week that didn't happen, so the rainy days this week will be the perfect time to do that -- I've got an idea that will either be great or blow up in my face -- should be interesting!  Oh, and I should probably start working on my report for the department of education -- hmmm, let's see, what did my kids learn this year?

Recipe that we have tried or want to try:

We haven't had anything note worthy this week -- post vacation laziness again, so this week we should have to do double right?  Well, I have just the thing.  I have recently been given an old recipe box that used to belong to my grandmother.  After flipping through it today, I'm thinking that we should pick something from this new collection to try.  There are some interesting ones to choose from:  Brown Betty and Fruit Betty both sound good, but what are Canadian Palettes?  Then there is Squirrel Cake -- I think that catching them would be the hard part! -- and my personal favourite, the card titled:  "Butter Scotch Pie & Omelet"!  Should make for some interesting meals around here.

Book(s) I am Reading:

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider. I have almost finished this book and the fact that I haven't actually finished a book in quite some time should speak volumes about how much I am enjoying this one!  Yes, it's about cleaning your house -- that's not really the most interesting part, although it is infinitely more interesting to read about than it is to do!  I love that it encourages you to create a Family Purpose Statement and then arrange all parts of your life (your time, your money, your home) so that they are all in line with this statement.  Brilliant!  How often have you bought something, or done something, or even held onto to something, not because it was meaningful to you, but because you felt that you should?  Guilty!  So, yes it is about organizing and de-cluttering you home (something that I really need help with), but with a very specific purpose -- to make it work better for you. 


Website or Blog Discovery:

I discovered "The Lucas Adventures" this morning after reading an article in the paper entitled:  "With four kids under seven, life is hectic, amazing".   A fellow Nova Scotian with 4 kids who keeps getting the comment:  "you must be really busy" which really means:  "wow, you're really crazy!" -- I can totally relate to this, I thought!  I'm looking forward to finding more commonalities, and maybe some commiseration, as I following along with the Lucases.


Kid Saying of the Week:

We were visiting with some friends last week who have a 13 year old exchange student staying with them from France (how cool is that? I am so jealous!). While sitting around and snacking, we got talking about food. There was cheddar cheese among our snacks to which our new friend (in all his 13 years of wisdom) responded: "That is not cheese". Knowing that the french take their cheese very seriously, I asked what was different about it. "Everything!" he said. We all had a good laugh, but what struck me even funnier was my friend's comment in return: "We have good cheese, we just don't eat it!"


Finally, a favourite picture from the week:

Isaac running after the soccer ball at this weekend's tournament.

Wonderland Round Up -- Week of June 26

Guess what?  This is my 100th post here at 6 Winters in Wonderland!  Wow, we should have balloons or confetti or something, don't you think?

There, that's better.  Okay, so the yard sale was a success despite being rained out of our outdoor location.  Luckily the legion was also having a yard sale and was able to fit a couple of us in.  Even with paying $5 a table, we still did well!  And, like I said yesterday, we managed to escape without buying anything from the other vendors.  Now, what to do with the left overs?  The boys had big plans to have a refreshment stand and were disappointed with the move indoors, so we're thinking about storing the stuff to try again later in the summer so they can put their entrepreneurial spirit to good use.  We'll see.  For now, on with this week.

Goals for the Week:

Next week we will be on vacation, so this week will be dedicated to preparation -- laundry, packing and all that boring stuff.  But also, more exciting things like baking muffins, breads, granola bars, and anything else that I think of.

I'm also hoping to write a couple of extra blog posts and schedule them for next week, so that things won't be so quiet while I'm away -- not sure that will happen, but it's on the list to work on.

Strawberry u-picks are open ... think that I can fit that in too? And oh yea, Canada Day is Friday -- can't forget that.

hmmm, it's going to be a busy week!


Recipe that we have tried or want to try:

Muffins!  Got a great muffin recipe that we should try?  Please send it along.


Books I am Reading:

 I am really enjoying The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity, by Meg Meeker, MD.  I could immediately relate to the author's point of view that doing your best never seems to be enough.  There are so many opportunities for woman and our children these days that we are trying to, and in some cases expected to, do it all -- "raise superstar kids, look great, make good salaries, volunteer for everything, run errands, keep a perfect house, be the perfect wife".  Whew!  I get overwhelmed just thinking about it.  I'm looking forward to finishing the book -- maybe next week when we're on vacation -- and maybe sharing a little bit more about my thoughts on motherhood.



Website or Blog discovery:

Yard sale preparations took priority this week over Internet surfing, so I'll throw this one out to you.  Got a blog or website that you want to share (yours or someone else)?  Send us the link.


Kid Saying of the Week:

Sorry to say that I haven't got any gems this week.  But, I could tell you what Laurel won't say.  Aidan has been trying for a couple of weeks now to get her to say his name, to no avail.  The problem is not that she can't say it -- because I think she could come up with some combination of sounds that would satisfy him -- but she thinks it's funnier to say "Isaac" when prompted to say anything new.  I don't remember the boys having such a sense of humour, so it's really fun to see her get such enjoyment from playing her "trick" on Aidan (and to see him play along).  Funny girl!


Finally, a favourite picture from the week:

Wonderland Round Up -- Week #2

Okay, the title is a work in progress, but you've got to admit, it's better than "Week 2".

We had a busy week last week, so the blog posts were a little sparse, and the calendar is filling up for this week too (translation:  I'll try to do better this week, but don't hold your breath!)  I thought that things were supposed to slow down as you got closer to summer.  Oh well, here is the round up for this week:


Goals for the Week:

The yard sale is now a week away!  Yikes!  I am not as ready as I need to be.  The goal of the yard sale for me is to purge our house of all unnecessary objects -- a lofty goal, I know.  But our house is not feeling very restful these days (although, that might have something to do with the 4 kids that are running around ... hmmmm) and isn't that the very definition of a "home" -- a peaceful place to which to return at the end of a busy day?  So that is my goal this week -- to purge, and feel peaceful (that'll happen, right?)


Recipe that we have tried or want to try:

The doughnuts didn't get made last week -- it probably has something to do with those 4 kids that have been running around -- but I did try something else this week that was heavenly.  Ice cream cake!

Chocolate cake + chocolate icing + "Udderly Divine" ice cream = chocolate overload! (recipe here)  It was enjoyed by all (Happy Father's Day Dada!), but I think that there was a little too much chocolate -- I can't believe that I just said that!  I think the next time we'll try plain vanilla ice cream, or cherry vanilla!

Books I am Reading:

Alright, truth be told, I not really reading this book, it's more like skimming.  I'd like to read it, but those 4 running kids again -- they just keep popping up everywhere! ...  Anyway, for what it's worth, this book is sitting in my house waiting to be read.

Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats


Website or Blog discovery:

A Mom With A Lesson Plan:  A former teacher who blogs about educational and fun activities for preschoolers.  She has some great ideas that are easily adaptable for older kids as well.  A great resource.

Kid Saying of the Week:

The boys were watching the last bit of the golf tournament this weekend and discussing the prize for the winner.  We told them that in addition to the trophy, the winner would also get a lot of money.  To which Isaac replied (with great excitement):  "Two dollars!"  Then Aidan added:  "no, five hundred dollars!"  "No, six hundred dollars" contributed Owen! 

Finally, a favourite picture from the week:

Happy Father's Day Dada!

This Week #1

Today, I've decided to start something a little different. I have seen a couple of different versions of this, so I decided to add my own version to the blogging world.  So, here is ... well ... I'm not sure what to call it yet.  I'm still searching for some snappy title (hence the boring title for this post, suggestions?), but it will go something like this.  I have compiled a list of questions about what is going on in our life right now.  Each week, I will answer the same set of questions and give a quick report on the week before.  Okay?  So here is Week #1!


Goals for the Week:

Our yard sale is in 2 weeks and I really must get things together.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, 

or believe to be beautiful."   

This quotations by William Morris has inspired me to put our possessions into a new perspective -- and into a yard sale box!  Posters and online advertising should also be done this week.


Recipe that we have tried or want to try:

Doughnuts! -- cause I have time for that!  But think how good they will taste, mmmmmm........  Here is the recipe that I am going to try:  Doughnuts.


Books I am Reading:

This one is almost funny -- like I have time to read.  Maybe a better heading would be:  "books that are sitting around my house that when life settles down (ha!) I will read".  Oh well, here it is anyway.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle -- A Year of Food Life  by Barbara Kingsolver.

 

I have actually started this book and am finding it very interesting.  It is about a family's year-long journey of "deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we worked, went to school, loved our neighbors, drank the water, and breathed the air."  It is divided up by month (more or less) and I'm already into April (don't tell anyone that it starts in March!).  There are recipes mixed into the story, along with facts about agriculture and nutrition.  Although, I know that I will never get the boys to eat everything this family does, it does inspire me to make some small changes and maybe one day, we too will be able to make the same proclamation.

Website or Blog discovery:

My 1/2 Dozen Daily -- A fellow Canadian blogger who has some great things to say.  Check her out!


Kid Saying of the Week:

While visiting some friends this week, we were asked to take our shoes off before entering the house.  It was explained to the boys that their dad was from Vietnam where they believed that by leaving their shoes outside, they also left the weight of the day and were, therefore, able to enjoy the peace of their home.  The next day, Owen suddenly announces:  "Wearing boots or shoes in the house makes your house heavy."  I was impressed!  I didn't think that he had even been listening, let only retaining what had been said.  Then he said:  "Well, if a giant came to your house, he would make it heavy too."  How can you argue with that?

Finally, a favourite picture from the week: