slow cooking

I've been interested in our slow cooker lately.  Because somedays, by the time 4 o'clock rolls around, the last thing I want to be thinking about it prepping and cooking dinner.  And frankly, sometimes I feel like I'm out of ideas; like I've cooked chicken in every way possible, made every single salad combination out there and made pasta a million times.

So I'm looking for some new ways to use the slow cooker.  

Get that whole prepping and cooking thing over and done with in the morning.

Last week I tried salsa chicken and then shredded it for tacos.  It would have made a good taco salad too.

Here's what I did:

Add 1 jar salsa, 2 tsp. cumin, 1. tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp. oregano, 1 tsp. seasoning salt, 1/2 lime - squeezed, and 4 - 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into the slow cooker. Stir and cook on high (4-6 hrs.) or low (6-8 hrs.) Remove chicken and shred with a fork. Place meat back into slow cooker and stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup cream cheese; mix. Spoon into tortillas and top with corn, black beans and avocado or your favourite toppings.

Up in till now, I've just been using it sporadically.  It seemed that all slow cooker meals are so meat-heavy and don't always look the most appetizing but I'm finding a few more modern recipes out there.  

 here, here and here are a few recipes that I am hoping to try.

our favourite library books of 2012

One of the wonderful things about being back home is utilizing the library.
Because I could literally go broke buying children's books.  I'm a big fan.  Jake too.  We take out a big stack each week and while some are duds,
others we just eat-up.  

Here are some of the winners...
(the books Jake wanted to read over and over and over...)

An Egg is Quiet

Couduroy

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes

Iggy Peck Architect

The Little House

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Madeline's Rescue

The Lion & the Mouse

My Friend Rabbit

Olivia... and the Missing Toy

356 Penguins

 Ball for Daisy

Farm

Cloudette

How beautiful are these pictures of An Egg is Quiet?!  

It's a rare to find a book so elegant, simple and engaging.  Especially one that falls into the biology category.  So well done.
Possibly the perfect Easter gift.

(I think I have some pictures of Iggy Peck too and will try to find them because it's such an impressive book!)

What are your favourites?!

this post is a thank you

I have a very sweet and thoughtful friend in Germany who sent Avery the most adorable, princess-y outfit out there.  Gosh, we love it!  And it's even more special because it travelled so far to reach us.

Thank you!

Dankeschön!

    

Tutu + Sophie = a happy Avery

Admittedly, I've struggled with girls clothes.  I'm continuously overwhelmed by how many different shades of pink are out there because they don't mix-and-match too well.  She however has two absolutely adorable girls of her own, so she's got it all down pat and knows a thing or two about tutus (when I saw her youngest in the same outfit I just melted over the cuteness of her)!!      

And while we're on the subject of girls... 

anyone have any idea how to keep baby girl hair under control?!  Because we could use some serious help in that department!  

Those bangs are growing fast ;) 

he smiles

Jake is serious about a lot of things (picture taking being one of them).  He is extremely observant, thinks everything through, is cautious and very thoughtful.  But most importantly, he is one happy little guy.  Full of smiles and laughs.  And has a heart of pure gold. 

   

I feel that every time I take his picture he is in a serious, contemplative state and that's only a small part of his big personality.

He is fun and funny and...

he smiles

   (He's also fast and so all these pictures are blurry.  I love them anyway, because this is the Jacob we see everyday)

a few favourites

Stuffed Animal: Cuski

Toys: farm puzzle, building blocks and train set

Activity: sticking stickers, reading, building bridges, playing hockey and playing fetch with Hailey

Food: Boursin on anything, raspberry jam, pears, pistachios, porridge, feta, havarti and croutons

Miscellaneous: The entire cast of Cars, skipping naps, waking-up at six am asking for snacks all-day-long, talking non-stop, and reciting books. 

Stuffed Animal: Nothing specific but any tags she can chew on

Toys: Jake's mini sticks, Jake's mini pucks and Jake's building blocks (hmmm, interesting trend here!)

Activity: rocking on knees, jumping, chewing everything and scooting

Food: oatmeal, bananas and yams

Miscellaneous: Likes naps in the crib; doesn't like bedtime, waking-up at four am to eat, cannot sit still though an entire book, making g sounds and smiling always

I thought I had better get a few of those things down.  About time, really.  I am doing a horrendous job of keeping up with the kids baby books (confession: I haven't even bought Avery's yet...).  And I remember a sweet time when Jake loved to go for walks and smell flowers which goes to show that favourite things are forever evolving (quickly, I might add) and I should stop and record them from time-to-time.  

coffee with dad

We met Billy downtown for coffee the other day.

I don't know why we haven't done more of this!?  

It was so nice to spend a little extra time with him.  And Jake is always in the mood for some banana bread :)

I got settled at the table and un-packed the kids from the stroller while Billy ordered.  I think the barista may have liked him a little.  

fruit loop bracelets

Quick, fun and yummy too.

Fruit Loop bracelets!

We used pipe cleaners and they were really easy to thread.  String probably would have taken a little more time and coordination.  Next time.  It would also be a perfect activity to do some colour sorting and work on patterns. 

Obviously Jake's favourite part was eating his finished bracelets (he went through two).  He excitedly told me, at least six times, that he loves these Fruit Loops.  

My favourite part was that he needed no help.  He is getting much better at playing on his own, so I could set this one up and catch-up on a few things around the house :)

celebrating seven months

We cannot wait to see what this month will bring.

Seven months is going to be busy and fun,

I'm sure.  

Avery, we love you times a million!

late nights,

long nights, sleepless nights...

Pretty routine around here these days. 

It's funny how two babies can be so different.  Jake started off as a horrible sleeper and transformed into a super one right around the age Aves is now; Avery started off as a wonderful sleeper but is now a bit of a night owl.  Lately I'm lucky to get three hours of uninterrupted sleep.  But there have been a few occasions where Avery is up two or three times and then Jake wakes-up at 6:00 am (!).  Those are early mornings.  

It can be a little exhausting at times.  Luckily I have a wise friend, she's the kind of mom you want to be exactly like, who said "Sleepless nights wont last long. They won't!".  And of course, she's right.  It was just what I needed to hear.  So simple but true.  Such a valuable reminder. 

A few nights later, I found myself up late, walking back-and-fourth with a restless baby nestled in my arms and I suddenly thought that I'm probably going to look back on this as one of the happiest times of my life.  Surly not the happiest.  But one of them.  Definitely.  Holding your baby at night wont last either.  Those special moments will pass just as quickly as the ones that make you tired.  Who knew that having such a sleep-less baby was such a blessing.    

It holds true for Jake as well.  He has a cute habit everynight - after he's been tucked in and kissed and snuggled - of calling to Billy or I and saying, "I made some room for you. Come snuggle me" he then moves over a little and pats the bed beside him.  And whenever I am able to, I take him up on his offer because that too shall pass.

the art of staying still

Over the Christmas holiday's Avery started to scoot.  Not exactly your typical crawling - more like swimming the front crawl.  But it works.  She moves and we weren't surprised.  We're always saying she can't sit still for a minute. 

Then last week she, of course, proved us wrong.    

Learning to sit still in order to play blocks with a big brother is 

something worth sitting for.  

(At this age, I could prop a book up and Jake would be completely content laying still and looking at it.  Avery however, would eat that 

book in a second). 

snow play

An evening walk in the snow!

We bundled up...

and only made it about two blocks.  The snow-filled park was too enticing to pass up.  Jake and Bill ran around like crazy.  Found a snowfort.  Jake threw snowballs at the moon.  And I couldn't help but think two and a half is just so perfect.  Such a magical age where you really believe you can throw a snowball up to the moon.