Week Recap

Wow its been a whole week since a post! I am a slacker. But this post should make up for that as its jam packed!

I left my parents place on Wednesday morning. Sad to leave but we'll be back mid February for my sisters wedding. Now that should be interesting. Ellee's the flower girl. Oh dear is right! Many possibilities of what can happen has crossed through my mind. Shoes coming off in the aisle, running down the aisle, seeing people looking at her and sitting down in the middle of the aisle, shouting NOOOOOOO at the top of her lungs while stamping her feet like a raging bull in the aisle....It really is endless. But regardless, it will be funny for most and possibly embarrassing for matt or i, whichever is scooping/peeling her off the floor. Or even it could go perfectly and she will be a little darling...or not. :) 
Matt and I both got home on Friday. I was able to spend Wednesday through Friday at my Sister and brother-in-laws. Its was great to be able to spend some time with them. They don't have kids, so of course their home isn't baby proofed and Ellee was downright into everything. I wouldn't expect anything less from my little monkey.  It was so unfortunate however, because a storm rolled through Friday morning and delayed my departure from Detroit. So I wasn't able to be home when Matt got home and got in several hours after him. I wouldn't change my decision to not leave however, with the girls I just don't ever want to risk/regret something I could of possibly prevented.

So Matt and I both came home Friday, he was about 7 hours off from the time change, and I was just exhausted. Saturday we got all the errands done from the past 2 weeks we needed and then stayed in at night. Included in our errands has been finishing up the basement. We've been building a ofrth bedroom down there and today the carpet guy is coming. Saturday we bought the carpet and padding and it should be installed today. Which is nice since we have some fmaily coming this weekend and we could use the room. Not to mention all the spare bedroom furniture is in the basement being unutilized. Beyond that its just been the usual :)

 Saying Bye to auntie and nana!

 Mild meltdown, mid mall. Auntie Em was partaking in the meltdown too!

 Duck!!!Duck!! Quack Quack! And of course gotta fit some dancing into our day!
And Maybe a fire alarm interruption at lunch too!

 We missed our papa!

 Shes such a little butterball. She looks like shes flexing in the one on the right. And Oh her smiles. I love them!!!

Time flies when you're having fun!

Its just plain crazy how fast time flies. I hate saying that, its overused, Ive said it before, and I am sure Ill say it again. I can't believe Ill be starting the journey home tomorrow with the girls.
We'll be making a 2 day pit stop to see auntie em and uncle taytay. So excited! We love all the quality family time we can get. We like to stop and drive everyone crazy, then leave (maybe give them a little birth control too. hahahahahha!)

Yes I am a busy momma. Luckily I have two hands/arms and have figured out the tricks to picking up one kid with one kid already in arms. Not to mention lots of love to go around :)


I am ready to be back home with my little family though. We really miss matt :(
Ellee is going to be so excited to see him, I know I am!
And on skype he said something about going shopping when were back. He must really miss me if hes willing to take me to the mall :)

 Apparently Ellee thinks its necessary to sit closer to the tv then it is wide...
And now a little tiny bit of the peyton montage of pictures I took today. Since Ellee wont hardly sit still for a picture Peyton gets most of the shots!

 The pavlova turned out delicious. I couldnt figure out why it tasted cinnamon-y though. Finally I did. I used this vanilla my mom bought in Dominican when she went with the family a while back. It must be made with some cinnamon or some spice in it besides just the vanilla bean. I added a little to the whipping cream and it also had that cinnamon like taste so I know that has to be it! Delicious nonetheless.
Seriously. it takes patience but if done right, its delicious! Recipe here:

http://www.joyofbaking.com/Pavlova.html

I tried a couple different ones and liked it the best. My only suggestion is for the fruit on top choose a more tart or potent fruit and not a super sweet one. Thats why raspberries and kiwi are my choice.

 Ellee ate like nothing for dinner...Meghan and darren enjoyed their food. I think at least. Mom said it was good!

 The pulled pork turned out really good, except my moms crock pot is amazing at keeping ALL the moisture in. I probably needed to take the lid off a bit before and let the moisture come off a bit to thicken up the sauce.

Second last day in Canada..

 Checking out Peyton's buttons.



Bath time! My little hammer! shes so crazy! love her face!

 This one cracks me up everytime!!!

 Great Grandma Valerie and Peyton Valerie

 Swiss chalet!!!! Canada does it right!
 My grandma valerie, my mom and my dears!

 Oh ya know, just riding around on mamma's shoulders :)

Tomorrows post will be awesome! I am making a delicious dinner and dessert! :)

Oh those weekends.

They just seem to fly by as if we were doing something constantly. I managed to slip in a short nap on saturday but nothing today. Boy what a tiring day.
Getting 2 kids already for meeting as well as making my self look presentable is hard in itself. Props to all single mothers.

 Spending time with shayshay,

 my turkey. running naked with a hat.

 spending time with grams.

 comfy cuddles with mamma.

 sunday afternoon nap.

 working on her spoon usage. by the end of the yogurt she finally flipped the spoon around.

I wouldnt have it any other way...

Oh wow. Today. What a very busy day. A bit sombre too.

The day started out early, Ellee was up at 730 (as in 630 ct time). I got her as she was chatting away and mom was already up. She took ellee and told me to go back to bed. Thanks mom :) I got up at 830 with Peyton. I even had a cup of coffee. Little did I know, that today, I would need that cup.

I met a very sweet, new friend in Sarnia for some lunch. It was so awesome to talk and get to know her a bit better! Then Peyton and I made our way back home. Yes, once again, my awesome mommy took my little stinker for me while I was out. Lunch would have been very fun with her, without her it was a little less chaotic :) 

Now that sombre part, our cat for the past 10 years had to be put down today. Just a pet yes, just an animal, but extremely sad nonetheless. He was such a sweet kitty. 

After that it was crazy energetic ellee time. I had her in the basement with me and she was terrorizing the place. Dumping buckets of toys LITERALLY upside down climbing up and over things, I really don't know how she does it. To be honest I think she actually feeds of her tired-ness. Its the only possible explanation for her go-go behavior!

Haha one shoe on, on shoe off...

And then tonight. Oh my goodness. Everything seemed to be winding down perfectly. Ellee in bed just before 8 Peyton fed. I decided I'd work on my dessert for tomorrow, as I want to make dinner for the family. Ellee never went to sleep. At 10 I finally gave in and went and got her. yes 2 hours later. I decided to get her since I thought Peyton was asleep in her cradle, down for the night. Nope. Now at 10 pm, when I should be winding down, I had 2 cranky awake kids and 35 truffles that needed to be dipped in chocolate. NIGHTMARE! Thank goodness I was not at home alone.
I plopped Ellee in her highchair and placed a bowl of yogurt and spoon in front of her. Disaster? Yes. Worth it? Yes. Because it takes all her focus and attention to using the spoon to conquer the yogurt :) I feed Peyton, yet again, while the spoon-yogurt- conquering is happening. The wrap her back up and rock her to sleep. Put her in the cradle and let my mom rock the cradle. Ellee is a disaster but this is fine as I plan to plop her in a lavender bubble bath. Bad idea. Every heard of a child afraid of bubbles. Now you have, let me introduce you to my eldest. She HATED the bubbles. She sat for a little in bewilderment then when she lifted her hands out of the tub and the bubbles covered her chubby fingers and palms she panicked. She stood up and started shaking her hands ferociously to get the bubbles off. She succeeded. I swirled the water in the tub and got the bubbles to die down and that helped immensely.
At approx 11 she was back in bed. Its 1140, and guess who is there shouting. Not yelling, screaming or crying. Shes shouting. As if preaching to her bear...oh dear. Tomorrow very well may be a long day.
Ive always had my kids sleep patterns under control. Ive never been in a situation like this with Ellee. She really has been a rockstar sleeper.

A friend told me not too long ago how waking up in the night and dealing with situations like these are really a blessing. I am truly thankful my kids aren't ill, and are healthy. I grow impatient and unnerved at the fact that I have to be up several times, but I would take lack of sleep anyday over then many pain and suffering associated with my child having an illness.
Thank you Lord.

Please keep Collin and Cheyenne in your prayers as well as their families. 

Regular day...

Today was fairly average busy fun filled day. I of course slacked off on my picture taking :( Sorry Matt!
I did snap some cute ones to share.
I particularly wanted to get a couple of ellee cruising around the bridal shop. Shannon had a dress fitting and we all went to see the dress and give our opinions and the whole sha-bang. It was fun, but trying to maintain and 18month old around thousands of dollars was a little scary. But when we got there, I new we'd be fine. There were mirrors on every door and wall! Perfect.
What does my child love the most besides juice and food? Herself!
So we spent some time there in the evening.

The day was pretty usual. Wakeup, play a lot upstairs, take a bath, nap,and lunch, play, episode of super why, nap. Pretty generic day. Ellee has really taken to the cats too. So when shes not grabbing any remote to try and make things go or watch super why, shes started crawling under tables and chairs to grasp any piece of the ragdoll kitties she can get. She has yet to succeed and not sure she ever will. At least not anytime soon.

Jack looooves sweet p. I had her chilling on the floor today and he just couldnt get close enough. And he was so gently. The only thing is his large size makes him slightly clutsy and unaware of his larges paws. I had to make sure he didnt crush her toes. But other then that!  :) 

Matt always says I am on my "throne" when I am sitting on the couch. Frequently because when I plop down its to get something done so I want EVERYTHING I need within cross proximity. This creates a large circle of a plethora of things around me, usually everything to work on my couponing along with a beverage and snack :) Below makes me think of that. Ellee climbed up on the couch with a book and several ponies to keep herself well entertained. Just like her mamma :)

Here's my stinker at Harvey's after the bridal store. I had to get a picture of her with the sign in the back. It  says something about eating hamburgers and being canadian. I guess I just like it for the canadian part :)

I was astounded when I saw this. Now maybe its just me, but do you notice how skinny this bathroom door is? This couldn't happen in America.....