Thomas Jack o' lantern

 

My husband's creation - as requested by my 3 year old.  Pin It

My pumpkin cake

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My proud chicken

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Halloween

We went to a Halloween party yesterday with Bothell Mom's Group. It was at pizza restaurant - we had a big room to ourselves. I made a pumpkin cake and Jello jigglers. Lots of cute costumes.

Tonight the boys had their first real taste of candy. C can say candy. He's got the hang of the Halloween thing - he was trying to take from people's bowls after they had already given us treats.

First we went TOTing in downtown Edmonds in the late afternoon before it got dark. They shut down the streets and the businesses handed out candy. A didn't like the scarey music and decorations. We saw 2 other chickens. There was a man wearing black with Barbies stuck to him. I'm sure it was a pun but I didn't get it. Have to look that up.

We also went around our cul-de-sac as a family. Not many people were home. People liked C's horse costume. C liked picking up rocks - his kind of treat!

I dressed up as a farmer. My husband put on a pig nose (at my insistance) when we TOTed on our street.

We only had 2 kids come to our door (as of 7:30 as I write this).Pin It

Things to remember

A asked yesterday for a guitar for Christmas. This is the first time he's ever done that. I think he wants it from seeing Connie at CBS play every week. We saw one at a toy store but it might be a little too deluxe. Hmmm.

C loves happy faces. When we went to WalMart the last time, he kept saying Happy Happy since he was seeing all the WalMart smiley faces on signs. (eye rolling) He just asked me to draw some happy faces.Pin It

Pumpkin spice latte addict

I admit it. I'm addicted. I LOVE the pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. Yummmmmmmmm.
But, they are over $3 a pop. Ouch.

So, I found some recipes for making them at home.

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Gingerbread Syrup
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup fresh espresso
8 ounces milk, steamed (with a little foam)

Garnish
whipped cream
ground nutmeg

Recipe


1. Make the gingerbread syrup by combining water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Be sure the pan is not too small or the mixture could easily bubble over.

2. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer syrup, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat when it's done and slap a lid on it.

3. Make a double shot of espresso (1/2 cup), using an espresso machine. Use the machine to steam 8 ounces of milk, or heat up the milk in themicrowave if your machine does not foam and steam milk.

4. Make your latte by first adding 1/2 cup espresso to a 16-ounce cup. Add 1/4 cup gingerbread syrup, followed by the steamed milk. Stir.
**Note: I read somewhere else from an alleged starbucks barrista that the order the ingredients should be mixed is as follows:
-Syrup
-Espresso
-Steamed milk

5. Top off the drink with a dollop of whipped cream, and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

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I've been making my own pumpkin spice lattes for over a year and my husband says they're as good as SB. I think SB is a tiny bit better because of the syrup, but this saves big time on the bucks. Mine are also a lot less fattening. Here is my recipe:

8 oz 2% milk
2 oz expresso
1 oz Torani pumpkin spice syrup

I use an Italian stovetop espresso maker, very easy.
Nuke the milk in a glass measuring cup 2 minutes, pour into a tall container (I use an SB metal coffee commuter cup $20.00), froth with a hand held mini whipper, add syrup, then coffee. Voila.

You don't need an expensive espresso maker,this is faster and less cleanup. I use the SB 2oz shot glass. The stovetop espresso maker and whipper can be purchased at Sur La Table or most kitchen shops.

I will try the Da Vinci Gourmet Pumpkin Pie Syrup someone mentioned above. I usually get Torani online at Espresso Parts.com
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Favourite photo of pumpkins

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Annual trip to pumpkin patch

We tried a new (to us) patch this year. As recommended by my friend Rebekah we went to Craven Farm in Snohomish.

It was a good choice overall. It was pretty busy and we had a hard time finding a wheelbarrow and figuring out where the wagon ride was. The wagon ride was a bit lame - it just went in a big circle. The tractor was pretty cool, though.

I enjoyed seeing all the interesting gourds.



Here are my little pumpkins.
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No caption required

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Date night - finally

My DH and I had an overdue date night on the weekend. We left the boys at a friend's place and went to a restaurant near her place. That seemed to work out well. A. didn't want to leave when we came to get them! He was really enjoying playing with our friend's daughter. We let the boys stay up later than usual.

It was great to have some adult conversation and drink an adult beverage. My criteria for date night restaurants is that they can't have any highchairs.Pin It

A feast for the eyes

We went to Molbaks this week. I've been searching for lavender to put by our driveway. We're replacing (gradually) some of the plants in the front which we're not crazy about. I want to have lavender right by the front step. I tried my favourite large nursery (Flower World) but they had a surprisingly small selection. Molbaks was somewhere I hadn't visited because I'd been told they were pricey. They were but they did have lavender. Not as much as I had hoped. I guess it isn't the right season.

Anyway, Molbak's is a gorgeous place. Great for letting A run around. Here are some photos.

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Swinging in the backyard.

 

My little guy in the summer.  Pin It

What a cute kid!

 

I was just looking through some photos from summer. I like this one.  Pin It

A non-licensed character costume!

I am so tired of licensed characters. My son loves Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Elmo, etc. He even recognized Blues Clues (we saw BC yogurt at Safeway) even though he's seen the show only once (at a neighbour's house). He recognizes Dora, too, and he's never seen a Dora show.

He said he wanted to be Elmo for Halloween and the last day or so he said he wanted to be Tigger - I think because he watched a Pooh movie.

I wasn't looking forward to him being Elmo. Not much imagination there.

I found a chicken costume today at Old Navy and surprise, surprise my son agreed to wear it - including the head part. I know there are a zillion other kids who will also be a chicken thanks to Old Navy but he looks very cute in it and he can act it out more than the famous red character. He suggested his brother be a horse and that I be a cow (ha ha). I said Daddy should dress up like a farmer.

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Got portraits taken on the weekend. Photo added!

Tried the picture people for A's 3rd birthday (kinda late) photos.

Here is the photo with a disclaimer - I don't have the rights to this photo. It is copyright of the Picture People.Pin It

Tomato

I ate the first tomato from my garden today - kind of a late harvest. It is a brandywine tomato. Delicious. I have more coming.

Satisfying to eat something you grew yourself.

No photo - maybe the next one.Pin It

Clapping for a great vacation

 

I've been looking at our vacation photos tonight. This is C on our last day, heading home.  Pin It

Playing around with digital editing

 

Love this photo - from our vacation. Playground in Sequim. C at 15 months.  Pin It

We'll all have chicken nuggets when she comes....

That's my son's version of "we'll all have chicken and dumplings when she comes" from the song She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain.

He loves to sing right now.Pin It

Tired today

C is at an exhuasting age. He turns 16 months this week. He has SO much energy. He is self-confident (according to a friend of ours). I say he has no fear. He is into everything and I do mean everything. Today he brought in a bucket of sand and dumped it on the kitchen floor. My husband and I joke that he doesn't play with toys that he's more interested in the electrical outlets.

He pulls books off shelves. He turned the computer off 2 or 3 times yesterday. We had to move the wipes up onto a shelf since he used to suck on them.

He had three falls at the playground last Friday. One resulted in his first black eye. (photo to follow). He banged into a slide after he went down it. The worst fall was head first off of a "bouncy bridge." I was on one side but he fell off the other side - he just went backwards. I'm so thankful for wood chip surfaces under playground equipment. If it wasn't for that we would've been at the ER.

It is next to impossible to keep the house tidy.

OK, my whining is over. :) I love my little boy like crazy.Pin It

Planted bulbs today

The weather was gorgeous this afternoon - a little cool but sunny.

I planted 80 crocus bulbs today - some while C napped and the rest after supper while my husband watched the boys.

It will be great to see them pop up in the late winter.Pin It

Summer's over???

I think summer is officially over. Today was cloudy and misty. Just a few minutes ago I heard it raining, hard. An unfamiliar sound.

We went to the library story time this morning. This afternoon our friend A. came over (not to be confused with my son A).

My son A. had a sad milestone today. We were looking at some used books for sale at the library. I showed him one and he said "that one's boring." Sigh. I think he's too young to say "boring."Pin It

Beautiful photo

OK, since its Sept. 11th and the 5th anniversary of the attacks, I decided I better post something related.

Yes, I remember hearing the news. I had just woken up and J had already heard the news, sketchy, though. He told me to go find out myself. I imagined worse than what actually happened. I was a scary morning.

I saw this photo today. Patricia Smith is the daughter of a police officer (Moira Smith) who was killed on Sept.11th. She probably doesn't remember much about her mom. She was two when her mom died. How sad.
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My last read - a light one.

I read this in two days, I think. It was such an easy read. I was on the waiting list for it at the library forever.

Now I want to see the movie but it isn't out on DVD yet. Uggg.Pin It

Feeding the bears

 
A feeding a bear at the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim. Pin It

We're back from vacation.

 
This is one of my favourite photos. It was taken at Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula. My son LOVED the beach. We let him get into the mud and he got very dirty. Our other son - hates to get dirty and was afraid of the water. Such different personalities!

Good times. Good to be back home, though.  Pin It

Saying goodbye

Our good friend Linda died on Monday night. We went to visit her hours before she passed. I really wanted to say goodbye. She wasn't speaking at that point but she did respond in some way when I hugged her. She has been our friend since 2000 when we moved here. We were in a parish group with her. I visited her almost every Friday in the last 4 months. I took her to have blood drawn or to the hospital and occasionally we went to the park with my boys.

Her memorial service was yesterday. It was very well attended, especially by her work colleagues. She made a video the week before she passed and I was able to see some of that. It was nice to hear her again. Sniff.

Here's a photo of her. She was 61 when she died so this is an old photo - before I knew her.

I have many fond memories of Linda. I think I'll collect my thoughts and post them later.Pin It

Party day

Today was the big day. A's 3rd birthday party. Here's a photo of *most* of the kids. Getting a group photo of kids at this age is next to impossible.Pin It

Beach boy

This is my son at Richmond Beach last night at sunset. We had supper there with Grandma. J taught A how to throw rocks into the water.

Today we've been getting ready for the big party tomorrow. Running around.

Grandpa arrives tonight.Pin It

Union station

Took the boys downtown today and we went into Union Station. Fun place for them to run around. Love the old architecture and little features. Would be an elegant place for a reception or party. I got A to give C a kiss - how sweet!

I also went to the cake store this morning to get colours for icing the giant cookie for A's birthday.Pin It

The last book I read

The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope.

Over 800 pages.

Good read. Sorry to say goodbye to all the characters.Pin It

Dahlias from my garden

So, I can't take any credit for these since we bought them at Sky Nursery and Wight's but I wanted to show them off anyway.

I love dahlias. I tried to grow some from tubers but they haven't done very well.

Hopefully I won't kill these new, established plants.Pin It

You know you're a mom when.....

you derive great satisfaction from extracting a booger from your baby's nose.Pin It

Photo of me - brave, eh?

Me at Richmond Beach - August 6th.Pin It

Zoo trip today

I decided to take the boys to the Zoo today. We hadn't been since early June when we went with Grandpa.

We had to wait in line for 30 minutes! Yuck! And that was after having to search around for parking. I wish people could park better. So many spots wasted by bad parkers.

We didn't see many animals - not enough time. We did pet a bunny rabbit. A and C both liked that. A saw an owl - big.

Got stuck in traffic on the way home so it took just over an hour to get back. They both slept in the car. My brain was going to mush sitting in the car for so long.Pin It

I'm a gardener - here's proof!

I just harvested my very first cucumber. Yeah! I think I'll make tzitiki - can't spell it but I know what it is!

I harvested a small number of peas a while back but didn't get around to eating them.

I need some googly eyes to put on my cucumber to make it Larry from Veggie Tales.Pin It

Summer fun

Saturday we went to a local fair. A went on the huge slide with his daddy. I went down it, too. It was actually pretty fun. A asked me to write about the slide on his calendar - that was a first - him asking me to write something on his calendar. (I write down milestones or funny things he says on this calendar in his room).

Sunday was the company picnic. Love all the free food. The weather was terrific. The forecast was for rain. A & C went on the pony ride, the circus train and the play equipment. A went in the inflatible house. I got some good photos of them. Saw the billionaire president & founder taking video of his daughter riding the horse.

Today A went in the neighbour kid's electric sports car for the first time. M & M play with A every day now. A went to their house while I went grocery shopping with C.Pin It

Daddy go away!

Tonight as my DH was putting my toddler to bed, he was told (nicely) to go away. I guess he was ready to go to sleep. Too funny!Pin It

Swimming

We went swimming yesterday - well Daddy & A went with A's friend and his Mom. Baby and I stayed dry and watched.

A loved it. He has no fear of the water. He loved going under.

The pool was packed but it still went OK - after A. got over having to wear plastic pants over his swim diaper.

I was so glad that A. enjoyed it so much. I don't want him to be too afraid of things.Pin It

Photo of my toddler

Decorating gingerbread cookies with Grandma.Pin It

Thursday thoughts

CBS was pretty good this morning. Someone asked for prayer in parenting their 2 1/2 year old boy. I really appreciated her honesty and tears. There hasn't been enough of that in my group. I prayed for her while I had my rest time today.

C & A slept at the same time today - ahhhh. Heaven. A seemed in a better mood after CBS.

It's been raining forever. Yuck.Pin It

Christmas photo #1

C. in his Santa hat - December 25thPin It

Christmas memories

A. really enjoyed spending time with his grandpa. He called him "Papa" for a while. They ran around the circle, built train tracks, garages for cars, and went for a walk.

A. was excited to open presents. He would draw in a breath as he saw what the gift was.

A received big boy briefs from Uncle and Auntie with a Thomas theme, a magnetic map of Canada from his Grand Dad, Percy lego train, 3 Bob the Builder DVDs and a collection of little ABC books from us, a book on feelings from Grandma & Grandpa and a Bob the Builder calendar and ABC window clings from us.

C. received a sleeper and a sweatshirt from Grandma & Grandpa, an NRA bib from Uncle, an outfit from us and a discovery ball from us. The boys received socks from Grandma & Grandpa.

We almost didn't get a turkey. J & I were grocery shopping at about 4 pm on Christmas Eve and Safeway was all out of turkeys. We got one from Albertsons.Pin It

We're moved in.

We moved into our new house on Saturday. Exhausting. I wish I'd found a babysitter for C. since it was next to impossible to pack with him around. He really wants to be held these days. He can really roll, too. On moving day I put him on a blanket in the middle of an empty room and went into the next room. I came back shortly and couldn't see him! He had rolled so far!

Tonight J. is at the old house cleaning it out. I gave both kids baths tonight. That's so physically exhausting.

I'm looking forward to having time to work on this house. So many things to do besides unpacking. Curtains, etc.Pin It

We get the keys today!!!!

Yipppeeeee! We get the keys to our house today!! How exciting!! We're meeting our realtor at the house at 4 pm.

Rebecca watched A. this morning and C. napped for an hour. I got lots of packing and labelling done.

It's even sunny today which is so great.Pin It

Signed papers for our house today

J and I signed the papers today for our house. We hope to close tomorrow. Unreal. It still doesn't seem real. Our neighbour watched our toddler which was a big blessing. I can't imagine him sitting through all that.

Packing is going OK. It is hard getting much done with 2 kids at home.

We're moving Saturday. We're going to Mary's for Thanksgiving.Pin It

Bad day - feeling down

I had a bad day. Sunday wasn't the best either. I still have a sinus infection. Going to the doctor for antibiotics tomorrow. Both kids have colds. A. is really trying my patience. I find myself getting very angry and frustrated with him. He whines so much, repeats one phrase over and over, and sometimes ignores me when I ask him to do something or come to me.

The move has me worried and stressed.

I'm sad that my parents continue to resist coming to visit and when they do come it is for the shortest possible time. It really hurts me that they don't want to spend more time with their grandchildren. They are missing out on C's development. I don't know why they can't see that the best way they could help with our move is to help watch the kids before, during and after the move. I could ask them that flat out but I don't want to risk beign disappointed for the hundreth time.Pin It

Time for a photo

My baby, last month.Pin It

Halloween

A. wore his costume in the end. He resisted it when we did a "trial run" on Saturday when I bought myself a costume (which I never wore). We went to trick or treating at J's work. We planned on going to the Halloween party there but it had already ended when we got there - about 4:30. Pretty lame.

He gradually got the hang of the trick or treating concept. At first he wouldn't accept treats. He found that scary (someone putting a treat in his basket). At one person's door they had a bowl on the floor and he dumped the whole thing on the floor! He eventually said trick or treat (his version)and said thank you and accepted treats or took one.

We also trick or treated on our street. Several not home/not answering. I think not answering when you have the lights on and the curtains open and are sitting at the dining room table is very lame. An older man had a bucket of pennies and dimes he was giving out. I thought that was fun. We got treats from 3 houses on our street.

We had about 15 trick or treaters at our house. Mainly older kids.Pin It

We're buying a house!

I can't believe it. We're buying a house. This has all happened so fast. We looked for 2 weeks. I'm not super excited, though. Neither is my husband. We're both worry warts.

I'm so glad that it isn't a "fixer upper." There is hardly anything we have to do to it. I even like the paint colour.

We started doing serious packing. People from church came over to help this morning. Mainly moving stuff from the basement to the garage. Rebecca watched the kids which was a big help.

I got a Halloween costume for myself tonight. An angel.Pin It

Found a house to rent

We found a house to rent over the weekend. I can't get excited, though. I'm really dreading moving. I'm so worried that I'll end up not liking it there. It does seem to be a nice neighbourhood. Also, a good trial run for living north of our current house. Closer to friends.

My husband just told me that he would prefer that we buy at this time. I know where he's coming from but the pressure is so hard for me. I wish we had more time.Pin It

Bad day

I've got a cold. I feel achey. The baby has a cold, too. Getting ready to go out for groceries this morning and the toddler starts crying about having to wear a coat. He didn't want to cover up his Bob the Builder shirt. Then he starts screaming. The baby was already crying because he's tired and just needs to get in the car and he'll be fine. I lost my patience with the toddler. I yelled at him to stop crying NOW! I also spanked him. We can't go out the front door - it's stuck. We go out the back and I discover that there is a bag of garbage out on the deck that an animal has gone through. Gross! I'm mad at my husband for leaving the garbage there and not putting it into the bin.

The toddler is having too frequent BMs and he has a sore bottom. Resists diaper changes.

Now he has the cold too. I have such a headache.

I need a break.Pin It

Watch Bob?

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My artsy photo of pumpkins

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Pumpkin Patch

Went to the pumpkin patch today for a little mental health break. A. did great even though he missed his nap. He loved the tractor pulling the wagon we rode on to get to the patch.Pin It

We still haven't found what we're looking for.

Still haven't found a house. Sigh. We were *this* close. The landlord turned us down because of our toddler. Unbelievable. He was opening and shutting a kitchen cupboard door when we were at the house. Big deal. I was very sad and disappointed. I had already pictured myself in the house. It had a gorgeous huge renovated kitchen and a huge living room and dining room with lots of rooms plus it was less than a block from a park. We decided she wouldn't be a good landlord if she didn't like kids.

We looked at a couple houses yesterday. One very close to our current house. It had a strange floor plan and there was no dining room. The landlord was very nice. We wished him Shabot Shalom because he's Jewish. We drove by a couple others. Bad locations like too close or on arterials. One house had a tiny kichen and lots of potential safety issues.

We did stumble upon a house when driving around. Hubby phoned about it last night. The owners will return in the summer for 2 months and stay in the mother-in-law suite. That would be strange. We're going to see it this morning. The rent is very reasonable.

I really want to go the pumpkin patch today but we need to look at houses.Pin It

Location, location, location

Where to live? That's the big question. We looked at some model homes on the weekend and fell in love with a smallish one. My hubby really wants to get a house for me, as he puts it. The problem is where. The housing market is crazy around here. There aren't any new homes close to his work. He'd have to have a long commute whereever we picked. Gotta go, toddler isn't tolerating me "ignoring" him.Pin It

Blogger back up .... and we saw a great house yesterday

I was having blogger withdrawals. :)

We went to look at a house yesterday. The toddler was overdue for his nap and not doing well. Hubby was on edge and didn't notice one of the great features. It's a huge house with character. The kitchen is amazing - remodelled with tile counters, window seats, oodles of light and a brand new stove. Hardwood floors on the main floor. More rooms than we actually need. A small deck and a backyard. One and a half baths with a big clawfoot tub in the full bath. There is competition for it - another family saw it before us. It's back in the neighbourhood we used to live in. Less than a block from a park - how great would that be?Pin It

Such a great house, but......

We went to see a house for rent this morning. It was close to where we currently live, quiet street, nice backyard, awesome deck, lots of space, light, carpeted. The downside was there wasn't a bathroom upstairs and the one on the main floor was tiny without *any* counter space. The kitchen was small as well - not much counter space. I'm pretty sad. It had so many pluses that its really a shame to turn it down. A. enjoyed running around in the house. He seems to enjoy this house hunting thing.Pin It