summer fun

The best part about the summer months is there really is no schedule we have to stick to. It is great to wake up and not be in a rush to be anywhere. The kids then have all the time in the world to be outside and creating their own fun. The other day it was this:

running around the trampoline, screaming and plenty of laughter. I sure hope the neighbors enjoy it as much as I do. :)

Sprinklers are also very helpful and enjoyed by all:

We also love going to the lake and recently went with family:

They loved not only being at the lake but playing with their cousins. 

Another summer fun activity we enjoy year after year? 

Going for ice cream:

Twist cones and these beautiful faces - I just cannot get enough!

born a canuck, always a canuck

The Hubs recently took the plunge and became an American citizen. He figured it is about time he votes and has the eligibility to run for public office (the only two things he wasn't able to do as a Canadian).

He was naturalized on June 13. It was quite the event. It was held in a large theater in downtown capital city. Big time stuff. He was ushered in one way and we were ushered into the basement. Yes. A total party for the kids and I. I'm very very happy I actually packed snacks and a diaper bag full of distractions. This is the room we were in:

Super fun. The Hubs is somewhere in the room we are watching on the screen.

I must say how surprised I was at how emotional I got during the swearing in. It was truly such a neat experience and I'm glad we were able to be there all together. I know I take my American status for granted. Being there, I was reminded of what a sacred thing it is. My citizenship is definitely not on my mind all day, everyday. But I know for many of the people there it has been and to be able to achieve the seemingly impossible, for them, is life changing.

I always knew I would marry a foreigner but I'm glad he can now join the ranks of the stars and stripes. Besides, he will always be a Canadian at heart. He still loves his Big Turk's and Ketchup chips.

chubby club

Back in April I took on a challenge: to be chubby no more. I am sure there are many who can relate to my plight. 

I was introduced to The Chubby Club and decided to join. It is an eight week weight loss challenge and I decided working hard for 8 weeks can't be so bad. Plus it was the exact motivation I have been needing. Between The Chubby Club and using MyFitnessPal (one of the best apps), I started to lose. 

I went from this:

(yes, I totally just posted my fat pic)

To this:

Three weeks in I was on fire but then in the fourth week I hurt my leg. I was told to stay off it for 6-8 weeks. To be sidelined was a HUGE disappointment especially when I was doing so well (of course this had to happen to the most impatient person on the planet). 

I have signed up for my second round of The Chubby Challenge and am happy to report the leg is functioning at a good 97%. I have come a long way but still have more ground to cover. I am so glad I will be able to now cover that ground wearing these:

I know now how Dorothy felt when the ruby slippers ended up on her feet. BUT I bet those were not as comfy as these puppies!
 

first dance recital

Omi had her first dance recital. We were a bit worried about how she would do performing on a big stage in front of people. They had a pre-performance performance at the old folks home a month before and she didn't even want to set foot on the dance floor. Gratefully, she overcame her stage fright and, in my opinion, was the star of the show. Not biased at all. :) 

Here she is with her BF. This was their costume for their first number. Their second number was my favorite. They were orphans and danced to "Its A Hard Knock Life" from Annie. Their prop was a mop. It was such a fun routine!

They were asked to sport grumpy faces as well. Too cute!! 

And you are lucky enough to see the dance now:

sugar cookies that i like

I was never a huge fan of sugar cookies except for the ones my grandma would make. She pretty much ruined every other sugar cookie I have tried since. I honestly cannot find a recipe that competes with this one. I realize every human in this world has some sort of sugar cookie recipe. 

But truly, you will throw them away once you have tried this one. 

It is the best. I am Nell-O and I stand by this message. 

The Best Sugar Cookies in the World
(Italics added for effect)

• 1 C butter (I didn't say these were healthy by any means)
• 1 1/2 C sugar 
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t baking soda
• 1 T almond flavoring (this is the magic right here)
• 2 T vanilla
• 4 1/2 C flour (I usually add a titch more since the altitude here is elevated)

1. Beat sugar, eggs and butter until fluffy. (I use my KitchenAid and they aren't paying me to say that...but they should). 
2. Add rest of the ingredients and beat until mixed.
3. Lay out a piece of SaranWrap (not paying me either) and half the dough. Lay one half on the SaranWrap and carefully roll out. 
4. Wrap and place in the fridge. Repeat with other half.
5. Best left for 4 hours (or overnight which I find is easiest).
6. Roll out to a 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes and bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.

Frosting

• 1/2 C butter, softened (like I said, no calorie cutting with this recipe)
• Half and Half or Cream (or I use whole milk)
• 3 1/2 C powdered sugar
• Almond flavoring to taste (like I said, magic)

Mix, frost and enjoy!

valentine

Celebrating Valentine's day can sometimes become much of the same. This year we changed up a few things. First, we started the day with a Valentine breakfast which we have never done before.

We had strawberry pancakes shaped like hearts and pink milk. We ate on red plates and had heart name tags on our chairs. Second, I didn't expect to have the doorbell ring after lunch, only to find the hubs standing on the porch with a dozen roses. It was a very pleasant surprise.

Third, in elementary school land Valentine's day is celebrated on the 13th instead of the 14th. (Who knew?) So the annual Valentine's day manner's tea was celebrated yesterday. Mase looked pretty slick:


Fourth, the hubs and I tried out a Valentine buffet instead of me cooking up a holiday meal.


Yes, I was alone when I snapped the picture. Only because I didn't want to subject the hubs or our friends to a during-a-buffet-dinner picture when you are feeling besotted by food. And they were off filling up their second plateful. But what I want you to see in this picture is the women were handed a rose before we were seated. We thought that was a nice touch before stuffing our faces.

We did do a couple of things which have become tradition. We were sure to make our favorite sugar cookies.


This actually started with my grandma. She would make one for each grandchild every year for Valentine's day. It would have our name written on it with icing and decorated all fancy. I'm not as fancy with my cookies. We stick with the hot pink icing and call it good.

And we read this book every year:


It is still my favorite Valentine book.

attencion

Um...yeah. So. Where were we?

As you can you tell there are a few pictures missing from this blog. I am not sure why Photobucket decided to cancel my account or take away my pictures. There is definitely something fishy about it. But here we are. Again.

What have we been up to you ask?

1.

I am completely intrigued. Anyone else? With all the garbage on TV these days (do I sound like I'm 70?) it is nice to have a show with actual depth. With all its deserved accolades and awards, it should be on everybody's must list.

2.



We sold our car. Why is this worth mentioning? This car has been with us for so long that we honestly felt like a piece of us was being taken from us. Feeling this way was all very new to us and weird. We brought Omi home with us from the hospital in that car. We took the kids to Canada for the first time in that car. We were a one car family for so long and this was a third child. But after actually having a third child we knew it had to go.

3.



Yes, I despise the techno savvy of the world we live in. How accessible it is and how it has found a way into our little world. This was my Christmas present from the hubs. I realize it was for him too. I'm just grateful he didn't take a cue from Homer Simpson and give me a bowling ball with his name inscribed on it. Though it did, at first, feel a bit like that. But since I am in a three step program and step number 1 is admitting you have a problem then I feel I must tell you that I have a problem. iPad is thy name.

4.



Do you know how many muscles are in your arm? Would you care to know? Yeah. Me either. But in order for me to truly understand medical transcription, I'm required to know. Not fun. I am waist deep in this and am completely oblivious to the basic every day. Laundry? What is that exactly?

5.

I really don't care who plays in the Super Bowl. What I like best are the commercials. If millions of dollars are spent to entertain me for a mere 30 seconds, then yes major corporations, I will partake. And how cool is it to preview them weeks before they air? This is one of our favorites:



6.

Last, but most certainly not least, I am completely obsessed with my favorite people on the planet:

taste test

With Melissa McCarthy's amazing hosting gig on Saturday, I'm hoping this sets the tone for the rest of the season. A lot of the skits last year were lackluster. This skit from Saturday night was reminiscent of the good ol' days when Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Will Farrell, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri and Kevin Nealon ruled on SNL. Enjoy!



i see pictures

Moi: "Omi, you have to close your eyes during the prayer."

Omi: "But then I can't see."

Mase: "Yes you can. See!"

(Mase closes his eyes)

Mase: "I can see dinosaurs and a T. Rex and a soccer ball..."

peppa pig

We are big fans of Peppa Pig. Never heard of it? We hadn't either until big sis came for a visit with her kids from London. With them they brought these giant activity books with all the popular British TV characters for kids. Peppa Pig was included in the book. I saw it and didn't think much of it. We then noticed it was coming on Nick Jr. and started to record it. The rest, as they say, is history.

The very cool thing about the show is it is something both Mase and Omi will watch together.
Plus, they talk with a British accent. Omi asks me all the time, "Do they have an accent?"
I will then notice her walking around the house trying to talk like them:
"Mummy, may I have some more please?"
"Tuck in!"
Makes for a lively and very entertaining day.

We have thought for a while we were the only ones watching the show. Or had ever heard of Peppa.
Then we were at the lake one day and saw a little girl wearing a Peppa Pig swimming suit.
We all were giddy realizing we had a fellow Peppa Pig lover in our midst.
Like the total unabashed loser that I am, I made a beeline to the mother and excitedly asked where she had bought the Peppa Pig swim suit.
Oh. Of course.
They had just returned from London and bought it there.
Should've known.
We will just patiently wait for the rest of the world to catch on.

 

not a mundane monday

                             A weekend full of fun. That is usually how a holiday weekend goes.

This one was no exception.

Orange rolls on Friday and a stop at grandma-great's house for a fun afternoon with the cousins:


A sparkly pedicure with my sis-in-law Saturday morning and college football in the afternoon.
A recipe for a fabulous Saturday.
Baby blessing on Sunday + heaps of food = good family fun.
Leesie Mae with her favorite cousin (they are a month apart):

And all of this leads up to the main event: Labor Day. And labor we did not.

A day of swimming and a dollar movie in the afternoon. Though I guess we can't call it the dollar movie

anymore since it is now $3. But still cheap. Especially when the kids want to use their saved pennies and pay for the movie themselves.
And while I'm on the subject, could the cashier have been more rude?
Would it hurt to be nice to my cute kids for wanting to take only one bill out at a time and slowly hand it to you like they are 92? If anything BE excited FOR them. They are KIDS paying for their OWN tickets!

Moving on.

It was Leesie Mae's first time swimming.

Can you tell she loved it?


A dull weekend, it was not (thank you, Yoda).
A mundane Monday? Not in a long shot.

fanatical friday

Can you guess what I'm fanatical about today?


* Time is up. Orange rolls would be the correct answer. And yes, I realize now that you can't really see the pans under those towels. But the rolls were rising under those nifty Martha kitchen towels. Sorry if I mislead you...or whomever still reads my blog. :p *