Sledding Night.....

We had fun tonight.....together.

 Breaking the concentrated look when the dads came out on the quads.....

 This is what older boys do when they go sledding...the prefer to be towed.

 Now it was Isaacs turn!!!

The big boss going sledding with Leleini!!

 This was the best she gave me.....

 The kids playing Uno in isaacs fort.....

 Getting ready for volleyball....just wanted a picture of us Fashionistas!!!!

However, the kids would NOT let us get a shot without them jumping in front of the camera.....i look impressed hey?  Meh.....its nice having a full house.....i mean, we still out number the little minions when we all get together....its loud, its crazy and its currently our lives at the moment.

Wednesday while the kids are in school......

Do you ever wonder how you ended up where you are at that moment?  Had a few of those this morning.......walking around this place that is my home....is pretty incredible.  I have this happy dog {who drives me absolutly bonkers most days with his crazy barking}....but on days like this just makes his own crazy look really fun!

 Chris and I drove the kids to school in the morning due to the snow......after we dropped them off, and we knew we were going to have a sledding party that night--we stopped in at walmart to pick up some boots for little Elliot who has been wearing runners in the snow!  After we picked up some sweet little cars boots.....we stopped back at his school (just in case they threw the kids outside at recess....though they had to combine the 2 k classes because the majority of parents kept their kids home for a self-imposed snow day.)  Anyways!!   Showed up just as the little kindergarteners were playing outside in the snow.....i scanned for Elliot.....locked on him as he was standing up near the door, in his little runners talking with a couple teachers.  As i came around the corner, the teachers saw me and yelled 'ah!!  super mom!  We were just trying to convince him to put another kids boots on so he could play out in the snow'......so, he slipped the warm boots on and his new gloves and took off to party in the snow with the rest of the kids! 

When i got home, i wasn't ready to clean the house.....so i ventured out with Caleb for a walk in the snow and to stop in at Mels......

 This girl lives in a cozy cabin in the woods....and she cooked up a storm yesturday.  While i was there, she made these glutten free pancakes that were alot of work....and then later she was going to make a lasagna......i didn't stay long....but i stayed long enough to scoop a new book and a new recipe for soup......

 Snow Tires!  The best investment we have made all year!!! 

They aren't pretty.....but they sure handle well!!

While other parents who live 4 minutes from school locked down for a snow day....we drove our kids 30km cause we had snow tires!! Thats right!!  Get out boys!!  Don't slip! Learn Stuff!! Be kind!! Mom and dad are off to get a coffee and enjoy a quiet ride back home and talk together with no interuption!
Love you!!!! 

This morning Caleb and I walked the boys to the bus in the snow.....there is something

 so special about being the first one to put the footprints in the fresh powder!

 This afternoon i met with a really special realtor that Chris and I met through our house flipping days...i always liked him and felt that, as far as a realtor went, he was an honest guy with integrity and i really admired that.  I also love this market....i don't want to be a realtor, i don't want to punch a clock, but i DO want to be involved somehow....so I approached him last year and pitched him an idea to train me as his assistant and when the market picks up again...i will be ready to go!!!  We started today and I think its going to be great.

After i left the realtor office, I picked the boys up for their piano lessons.  I love walking across the playground and collecting one boy at a time...each grabbing my hand and walking back to the car together.  I dropped them off at piano and left to hunt out new lunch ideas!!  I mean, they won't eat sandwiches, soup or anything typical...... so i figured i should try my hand at homemade granola bars....i need more snacky healthy ideas since i need to pack the lunch pails full of snacks......

 These ended up being no bake chewy granola bars....here

is the recipe because i know you are dying for it!!!

No-Bake Granola Bars

• 2 .5 cups rolled oats
• 1.5 cups nuts (I used walnuts and pecans)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup craisins
• 6 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoon molasses

1. Toast oats, nuts and coconut in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, stirring often. Remove to a large bowl and toss with raisins.
2. Place butter, sugar, cinnamon, honey and molasses in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir into oat mixture until evenly coated. Let sit just until cool enough to handle.
3. In the meantime, line a 7×11 inch pan with plastic wrap. Spoon mixture into pan, pressing down to compact. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. Remove from pan, peel away plastic wrap and slice into 16 bars (half lengthwise and then into 8). Wrap individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper, if desired. Store covered at room temperature.

Makes: 16 servings



 Currently Mel and I are sitting on the computer working on our pictures and our blogs.....

but now its time to visit.....have a wonderful night....see you tommorow!!

Parts of my monday....

So my mom is in Mexico right now getting some dental work now.  We have all been a little nervous about her safety....you know, being down there all alone, beautiful blond......but as we skyped last night and i asked her 'so mom, you feeling ok down there?  Safe?'   She responds with much confidence "oh yes....i feel quite safe!!  I mean, i did push the dresser across the door but i feel really safe"

 Boys....ugh.

 Note to self: don't mix these 2 up...

.....although i am sure the bear would love to smell like Febreze

Organized their room while they were gone today! 

Note the name boards....finally put them up after all these years! 

 Zalinkos and Burdge boys coming in from the snow this aft: Elliot

and I made everyone hot chocolate - thank you Nona!!

 Buddies.....comparing heights......Max, i think, seems

 to figure he is shorter than Isaac

 Not by much though!!

 We are thinking of enrolling these two in a week long juniors camp this

summer.....they say they are ready....not sure if i am!!!

Chris is currently on his way home from victoria...he got stuck on the malahat, lots of accidents on that road and it shuts down traffic both ways!!  But he is on the move now and should be home by ten.

It was a good day....low key...had the fire on all day....organized alot of the house....had a nice visit with Rach this aft.....hung out with chris in his office this morning (he says he likes that.....though i can't talk to him cause he is concentrating!! haha)....loving this stage!!!

First Monday Without Sarah.....

It is a chilly monday morning here at the camp.  Samarah and I walked this morning in the cold....walked the kids to the bus....it was super slippery with the ice everywhere!

This is the first day of Sarah not being here....she felt that it

 was time to move on and I wish her all the best!! 

Hope she knows that there is always a bed here for her and that she can walk the

boys to the bus anytime she wants...just for old times sake!!

Bye Sarah!!   We'll miss you!!!

Want to come back to play at the Womens Outdoor Retreat??



Sunday....day of rest?

Everyone was up around 8.....we went to church.....came back to the house and decided to stop in at Wildside.  The pond at wildside was frozen....not very thick....but enough to get a kick out of chucking a stone on it and watching it skip across!

As we all turned to get back into the warm car....Elliot lagged behind.

As i turned to give him a final hollar to move it.....I see that he had quietly slipped on the grass into the frozen pond and he is trying to claw his way out of the water.

I run....fast.....but he got himself out by the time i got to him....but only then did he cry out loud.

So many 'what if''s' plague my mind today.  What if we had been closer to the car when that happened?  What if we hadn't turned around when we did?  What if the embankment had been steeper and he slipped all the way up to his head enstead of his waist?

There is no question in my mind that there is a God and that we are being looked out for....I will always have questions ABOUT God and what its all about but I have no doubt that i am his kid...holy and dearly loved. {colossians 3:12}...and i am feeling really really thankful tonight.

After we got home....I made lunch for a few extra peeps who decided to stay for a nice lunch!

Who doesn't love quesadillas?!  

 Kids Table!!!

 Not sure where Pauls hand was planning on landing here.....

Rachel spent the afternoon upstairs working on her curriculum for the boys upcoming week while i puttered downstairs making spaghetti sauce for another round of homemade pasta tonight and caesar salad!!  Chris and i also headed to Nancy's house to pick up Merryams old bunk bed.....so the boys were super excited about that new addition to their room! 

 Til now, they have been sleeping on a makeshift bed (isaac) and on the mattress on the floor (elliot).......so check it out!! NEW BEDS!!  Off the ground!!! 

Here they are at bedtime with their headlights on doing a little reading before bed. 

 Thank you Nancy and Merryam!!  They love their new beds!!

Saturday Night!!!

It was a typical Saturday.....slow morning together and by 10:30 we were off to duncan.  We stop at the free store, dreaming about our ship coming in!!  You know, finding that discarded treasure that will bring in a ton of cash!!  Well...no luck today!  But we did find isaac a pair of rollerblades and a helmet (both in their boxes..very new) along with all the pads and shin/elbow guards!!

Then it was off to Tim Hortons for coffee and then downtown....elliot needed a new paid of shoes!  And a very trendy little kids store downtown was thankfully having a 50% sale!! So, my boy got a pair of shoes that would regularly cost $70 for $35!!! love it!!

Then it was time for the chiro.....i love my little job at the chiro.

Home by 2......and the boys helped me prep an amazing dinner!!  Roasted chicken with a pile of lemon shoved into the cavity and under the skin....super lemony!!  Isaac chopped the salad for Caesar salad, elliot was going to peel the carrots but got turned off by the beets i had been cooking....and he took off somewhere!  So--a few hours of slow roasting a chicken....i made a lemon chicken gravy to go with the chicken!!  Beets, salad, carrots.....oh my!!!  SO good!!

After dinner, we all settled in to watch Night at the Museum! We love it because we remember being in that museum....so its fun to chat about what rooms we recognize!

 hey mel....our little guy still loves to curl up in your discarded foot stool!!

Rach just arrived.....and the movie is almost over....so kids need to get to bed so she and i can have a little visit!  Typical saturday....all good.  Not much new to say......

June Margaret Winter

Beautiful baby #2 born to my amazing friend Kim......and her husband Jamie.  It feels like this stage of my life is filled with new little babies coming into the world.....its so nice watching my friends and my sister with their new little babies......i know some really great moms...

But here is kim and 2/3rds of her crew.....enjoying a caramel macchiato {her choice!!}

Jamie and June.....

 Oh babyland..... 

 I brought June some little legwarmers that older sis Penny promptly snagged and rocked out in!!  Not the best photo quality...but its a cell phone, what do you expect!  It did, however, catch how adorable she was in them!!  I love legwarmers.....so she and i have similar tastes!!!

Kim....its really crazy for me to soak in that you are old enough, not only to be married, but to have TWO children now!!!  I have known you for almost half my life and you will always be 12 in my mind!!  I think that you are a very mindful mom....with strong values and beliefs that i know these girls will absorb from you!  I am so proud to be your friend....i really am.  I am glad that you are here, and not winnipeg....there, i said it!!!  And i think i am allowed to say it because i am from winnipeg too!!!  May you enjoy a good beer tonight, may your milk come in strong....and may you BOTH master the LATCH!!!!!!  love you xoxox

This is my sister!!!!!

This is my sister......I love her ALOT!!!  Maybe even a little more than she loves me? maybe?

 Thats ok though.....she is cool and beautiful and she makes really sweet babies!!!

Oh Ellie......

How sweet you are.....you're lucky i don't live closer....or you'd hardly see your mama!!!!!!

Day of Domestic Bliss.....

Picked up eggs from a local guy here in town....his house smells like pot, but he has these sweet chickens running around his yard all the time....i like that! {the chickens, not the pot....}
Picked up a $50 bag of dog food....arg...that dog.....no comment!!
Popped into the thrift store and ran into fellow thrifter Amanda.....it was good to see her face.
Groceries....including a new container of cocoa for those beet chocolate muffins that i made today! Not sure how they will taste, but they look amazing and my good friend Yanin loves them.....so here we go!!! 

My mom kept me company while i baked!!

 Finished product!!

 My first attempt at buns!! 

And a little tiny loaf with the left over dough!!

thank you susan for the little loaf pan!!

Finished product

Now, i am blogging and watching a reno show about 2 guys who want to flip 4 houses in 1 year!! I also have called a few of the instructors that i need for the retreat.....so its been a really productive day!
Fire is on and i need to leave in a little under an hour to pick up my little boys from the bus!!!

Its been a great day....and the fun part with friends is still to come!!!

Who doesn't like their smoothie in the tub??

Seriously.....all my boys enjoy eating/drinking in the tub!  Sorta like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer put a garbage disposal in his shower drain because he started to enjoy cooking in the shower!  We aren't there YET.......

Rachel and I walked the boys to their bus this morning.....then had a nice long, but super cold walk together - 1/2 hour of daily activity - CHECK!!!  I hate to even mention that i just sat here and mindlessly ate 4 chocolate turtles.....sigh....they were good...but i should probably go for another walk!

On the cooking agenda today i am making buns and whole wheat bread for Rentons dinner tonight to accompany JL's reg. chilie and white turkey chilie!!   Plus i will try my hand at yanins suggested muffin recipe: chocolate beet muffins.....currently the beets are cooking on the oven....so i will make those after lunch!! 

Well.....off to continue to the day!!!  Hope you have a good one too!!  Filled with love and laughter!!

Waffle Wednesday and Volleyball Night and Soccer Night...whew!!!

Yup...thats a mouthful, isn't it? 

Well, tonight I made buttermilk raspberry and blueberry pancakes for our gang.

Whats so nice about this night, is that the kids get a good play in, get fed, and we all have a little time to hang out together before we all head out to our respective destinations!!

Here is Chris showing everyone the talking german shepherd....the one who wants the meat wrapped in bacon on youtube.....

 Our little soccer player!!

 Wouldn't have believed it if i wasn't there...but chris came to play tonight!!!

 Jon, Amanda and Joan were on our team.....

i am still a steady underhand server, i tried overhand, and sorta threw my back out....won't try that again....

Strategizing!!!

 Check out my mans air!!!

 Our little ones.....adorable hey amanda?

 i like wednesdays....alot.