cheers to all

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best in 2013.

(And oops about getting my cards made and mailed on-time! So sorry. So belated. This could be a possible new year's resolution.)

happy holiday

The holidays' brought us much joy, an abundance of family, more baking then we could have possibly ever eaten, Jake's very first flu (the saddest sight you've seen) and a lot of love.  

a happy holiday, indeed.

Luckily, Jake recovered from the flu quickly and went to the rink for his very first skate.  It was a little more challenging then he thought it would be.  There were a few frustrated tears when he couldn't stand on his own but he didn't want to leave the ice either. 

Santa

Our second encounter with Santa turned out like this.  

It almost didn't happen. Jake needed Cuski and Elmo to get through it but it was much better than when we met Santa at Bill's work Christmas party.  

And afterwards he was so pleased that he sat with Santa.  He's showed off the picture to everyone.    

The Christmas party a few weeks back involved a few tears and a whispered plea to go home.  Santa patiently sat with each child and asked them what was on their list, what were their favourite things and what do they do to help around the house.  When it was Jake's turn he basically grabbed his gift and ran away.  Avery sat quietly on his lap and wondered about his beard and eventually we got Jake within a few feet to mumble a little thank you.

Here is Jake's first picture with Santa two years ago when we were in France.

And if your wondering what's on Jakes wish list for this year, he thinks about it really hard for a moment and then will announce "a present".

winter white

We finally have our snow.

Big, beautiful flakes are falling 

and looking so, so festive.

But I'll admit, even with all the Christmas joy abound, my thoughts are a little heavy and sad.  If you feel it too, take a minute to watch this tribute .  It was moving and beautifully sung.  I think we will draw a card and send it to Sandy Hook Elementary, because I just cannot think of what else to do.

picture via pioneer woman

tree trimming

Tree decorating was fun for Jake this year.  He carefully placed ornaments in a little cluster at the bottom corner of the tree,  He was so impressed with his work.      

The tree is busy glowing away, 

making our home feel so merry and bright.

cookie making and decorating

Holiday cookies were in order. 

We made Eggnog Sugar Cookies again and this icing. 

This was Jake's first time helping and what I thought was going to be a giant mess turned out to be perfect.  He was a huge help, so patient and gently stamped the holiday shapes.

Cookies are baked and ready for a taste test.

(they passed!)

Now it's time for a cookie party with our friend Leni.  

Cookies, sprinkles, smarties and icing are ready.

Time to decorate.  Mom's helped with the icing while the kids indulged in some sweet sprinkles.  Jake was very focused this year and only three cookies not-so-mysteriously disappeared from his plate. 

B e a u t i f u l cookies to show Dad when he returns home from his exam!

celebrating six months

Six whole months today!  As in, half-a-year old.  

It seems like such a big occasion. 

16 pounds 9 ounces
27 1/4 inches 

Avery at six months...

is always in motion.  

rolls from front-to-back

and back-to-front.

scoots in circles on tummy to get toys. 

talks and talks.

still gets up once at night to eat.

does not sit still while reading books.

really likes to grab and eat books.

is full of smiles

but never giggles.

loves to watch Jake and Hailey.

only falls asleep in the car if her hat slips over her eyes.

sleeps on her tummy.

and is as sweet as can be. 

merry and bright

I've been slowly getting my Christmas spirit on but, to be honest, it came much slower this year.  There are no Christmas markets or Cathedral light shows or mulled wine being served on the streets.  It doesn't feel quite at Christmassy here.  

But I've pulled out my Christmas boxes and found some treasures we brought home with us.  

   

So for our first Christmas at home, we can be surrounded with a few small things from our past Christmases.  Because one thing is for sure, Europe does Christmas well.  I only wish I brought more ornaments back! 

autumn quinoa

We had fresh acorn squash from my grandma's garden and a friend passed along this recipe.  It looked good but I didn't feel like going though all the trouble to stuff the squash (and, truth be told, I wasn't thrilled about the raisins either or the tofu).  

So I made this instead.  

It was so, so good.  

We all ate it up!  And I was more than a little disappointed there wasn't enough leftover for lunch the next day.  

So, to the best of my memory, here is what I did

...

 - 1 acorn squash, peeled and cubed into small bite sized pieces

Toss cubed squash in a little oil and roast at 400 degrees until tender.  Approximately 20 minutes.

 - 1 c. quinoa

Cook acording to package directions.

 - 1 sm. onion, finely chopped

 - 2 or 3 garlic cloves, crushed

 - 1 c. small mushrooms, quartered

Sauté in a small amount of butter and oil.  

 - 1 c. goat's feta (or regular), coarsely chopped

 - 1/2 c. pine nuts 

 - pepper

 - dried parsley 

Gently toss the quinoa, squash, sautéed mushroom mixture together; add feta, pine nuts, pepper and dried parsley.  

Yum!

Franklin

Franklin is a new favourite in our household.  Favourite stories are nothing new but Jake is always eager to drop them off at the library each Wednesday and pick-up some new ones.  Well last week he asked is we could keep them.  All of them.  He wasn't quite ready to give them up just yet.    

Franklin Fibs is his top pick.  Aunty Brenda has to read it each and every time we go for coffee because out coffee shop has a worn-out copy.  And I love it too.  It's one of those books I think every child needs to own.  Not only is Franklin so sweet and captivating but this story teaches a lesson.  In this book he tells a little fib and has to deal with the consequences of his lie.  It is so well done that even Jake at two understood, for probably the first time, what a lie meant.           

We're requesting more from the Library for next week.  

I know Jake can't wait.    

pinecone bird feeders

I was feeling crafty.  

And I'm so over play-doh!  and stamps and felts and stickers... 

So we decided to take the mangiest, most misshapen pinecones around and make them into bird feeders.

And it couldn't have been easier.

Supply list: pinecones, peanut butter, birdseed and string.     

Expect some peanut butter fingers (and maybe even a peanut butter moustache too.  Jake was looking really dapper).  Spread the peanut butter all over and don't forget the cracks, roll the pinecone into birdseed and tie on your yarn or string.  

Ta da!

   

Now go and find the perfect tree. 

We only have one, so for us the choice was an easy one ;)

 The whole thing took about fifteen minutes!  

Now we just have to wait for the birds and hope they find us.  

Hopefully they like peanut butter, too.

looks can be deceiving

Because judging from this photo above, one might assume that Avery likes avocado.  This is not the case.  Not only is she not-too-thrilled with avocado, she's not impressed with the whole concept of solid foods.  At all.  She is keeping that little mouth of hers shut and if I manage to sneak a bite in, she is quick to push it right back out with her tongue (that little manoeuvre there is equal parts of cute and frustrating).       

however, she is pretty interested with the spoon, so we'll just start with that for the time being.  And happily no tears are being shed, 

so it's not a complete fail.  

a true story

Several weeks ago, Jacob saw this pictures from

  The Animal Print Shop and said...

"Oh my gosh!  Sweet, fluffy, little owl.  

Look at it!  It has little feet." 

It was so unexpected, and cute, and pretty much made my day. 

The things two-year-old's say are such treasures.  

P.S. how darling are those animal prints!?

lately

We are still waiting for the snow to return.

I cannot believe that it is almost December!

I've been thinking about Christmas baking - a lot

(here, here and here are some favourites).

Someone in this household is teething.

And Billy and I snuck away for a dinner date this weekend. 

siblings

I'm excited to see the friendship develop between these two.  Jake is so darn sweet to her.  He sometimes lays beside her and reads out loud.  He gave her a hockey stick the other day and tried to play pass with her.  He put his cuski in her crib when she was crying.  He is always trying to help.  And Avery is always looking to see what he is doing.  She loves watching him run back-and-forth with his hockey stick or football.  She's always smiling at him.   

I figured I had better write a few of these things down, because there may come a day when they are pulling each-others hair out and I will have to take a deep breath and look back at this. 

bring out the bike

All our snow melted!  Hooray.  

For me, three days of snow was enough ;)  

I'm sure it will be back in no time so we figured might as well get a little more bike riding in, while we still can.  Buckle-up the helmet, hop on and mosey around the neighbourhood at a snails pace.  Jake likes to play things safe.  He still prefers to walk the bike instead of push and glide.  

It was the  s l o w e s t  bike ride, 

but we were just happy to bring out the bike.