Understanding

If you haven't read "Sushi," read it before this one, or you will be lost! :D

Tonight I was reading Savannah a bedtime story. I had choosen one entitled "Santa's Eleven Months Off," by Mike Reiss. It talks about what Santa does the other 11 months of the year when not preparing for Christmas. As I was reading, Savannah told me that Daddy read her this story.

In the part about February, Santa goes to Hollywood. One line says "Sunshine! Sushi! Flashy cars!"

OH! Sushi! Guess that word stuck with her.

Sushi!

Savannah was playing in the tub this morning. Just as I was getting her out, she had a conversation with "Sushi." She was saying "Goodbye Sushi, I'll see you tomorning!" I asked her if she knew what sushi was. Thought maybe she had named a fish that. Nope, it was a Ladybug! Funny girl.

Mongolie Girl

We have a favorite restaurant in our family. At least for 2 out of 3 of us, it's the favorite. Mongolie Grill. Savannah absolutely LOVES it. I mean who wouldn't. You get to make your own stir-fry. There is a large variety of vegetables, meats and sauces to choose from. If you don't like your meal, it's your own fault!!! Our favorite part though, is the rice wraps, paper thin wraps that you put your rice and stir-fry choices into. Then you fold it up and enjoy every delicious mouthful. MMMMmmm, I'm getting hungry now! :D

Savannah also loves that they make her "kids" chopsticks, complete with a rolled up napkin and elastic (like a spring action lever) to make it easier for her to use them. No worries though, if they don't do it, she is perfectly fine handling the adult chopsticks too.

So a couple times lately we have been "just driving by" on our way to do other things. The first time we passed it the way we usually drive to it. So it was no surprise that she noticed "Mongolie Girl." Today, however, we drove past it from a different direction. I wouldn't have even noticed. From the back seat we heard, "Mongolie Girl, I see Mongolie Girl!" I don't think we could sneak past it if we were trying too.

No, we didn't go eat there. It's a little more expensive these days, so it's a once in awhile treat. Too bad. I LOVE Mongolie Grill too.

Ho Ho Ho Hum

I have a strong dislike for November. We've decided next year we are just going to call it Remember! Maybe it's just because it comes after the excitement of Halloween and before the excitement and joy of the Christmas season. Maybe it's more than that. It seems like almost every year something not so nice happens during that month for my family.

So years ago, I started decorating for Christmas about the first week of November. This year I started on the first. It was great. Christmas decorating always puts me in a good mood. It takes at least a month for me to decorate, a little at a time. Mostly due to the large number of Nativities I own and the garland I loop around the walls next to the ceiling.

This November was pretty good for me. I got a lot of my decorating done, just a little bit left. Maybe I'll get some more decorations! :D I've also done a cookie exchange of which most of the cookies are already gone. Cake class has been a lot of fun as well.

The best part of November has been Savannah's excitement for Christmas. She kept saying things like "Christmas is coming soon, but we need a lot more snow!"

So amidst all the ho hum of everyday life we are in full swing for the HO HO HO and happy times of December. Having kids at this time of year is great! I can hardly wait to see her joy on Christmas morning.

Happy December everyone!!!

Budding Picaso

Savannah has recently started drawing people. Not just faces, the whole person. I think this was a drawing of me. She tells me I am pretty. Only in this picture she says I have crazy hair. No kidding!

She asked Daddy what kind of monster she should draw. This is her version of a scary one.

Dat Ta Da!

Cake Class

For our anniversary, Rick got me cake decorating classes. I finally found a time to take them and started last Saturday. This is the cookies I practiced making icing stars on. The designs came from our class book. I just happened to have the Lifesaver Mints in my pocket to make the baby carriage! Savannah was so excited to eat those cookies after we got home.





This week we decorated cakes. We had to do the cupcake design, but I had already showed it to Savannah in the book, so she was super excited about it. Tonight we had friends over for super and their oldest girl thought I had put Smarties around the base, not just icing. Of course all the children wanted a piece of the cherry on the cupcake! I think the decorating turned out okay, but I am not a fan of the icing we have to use. Hopefully I can figure out how to get our own icing to work for future cakes at home.



There are still two weeks of class left. Next week we are decorating cupcakes. The final week will be another cake with our own design on top.

Next year I am hoping to do the fondant class. I got the big kit with all the tools, so now I need to learn how to use them all! :D Good thing I like cake a lot.

The Bed Beg Strikes Back! (or again)

So, a couple nights ago, when we went up to go to bed, this is the scene that greeted us!

She's all tucked in sound asleep. If it hadn't been for the leg on top of the covers, I'm not sure we would have even noticed her right away. :D

Bed Bug!!!!

This is a problem we have been having for years! I blame it on her Daddy.

Reason number one:

I told him we weren't to have kids in our bed, but night number one she woke up every time he set her down, so he just brought her to our bed. I had a bad feeling about that. Think I was right. :D

Reason number two: Daddy always put Savannah to sleep when she was a baby. He'd hold her on the couch and bounce her to sleep. Worked like a charm. Got so good at it that when she was a little older she told him not to bounce her because she didn't want to go to sleep!

Reason Number 3: As soon as she was able to climb out of her crib, she would come toddling out of her room, dragging her Princess blanket with her. She soon learned that Mummy would just take her back to bed, but if she bypassed Mummy and walked around to Daddy's side, he would pick her up and put her in the middle. His excuse? "She's just so cute! She can barely see over the edge of the bed and there she is, holding her blanket and poking her Daddy!"

Now she has her own Princess bed, as well as a "spare" toddler bed in her room. If she accidentally wets the bed she can change and sleep in the toddler bed. It's come in handy a few times.

A very happy girl the first night in her Princess bed last year. Don't be fooled by the excitement Mummy, I'm still going to come sleep with my Daddy!!!

This was the scene sometime this summer. We had been downstairs watching t.v. and she was to be asleep in her bed. Somehow she learned how to sneak quietly to our room with her pillow and blanket. She'd been happily sleeping for a couple hours before we found her!!!

Reason Number 4: "Daddy's So comfy!"

This is a photo at a show home we visited recently. She's not actually asleep. I think this is her dream bedroom! (Other than ours of course)

About a week ago I think she thought if she hid at the end of the bed we wouldn't find her when we got in there and she could sleep in our room all night!

Just a couple days ago, yet again she was in our bed sound asleep when we arrived. Completely covered in a blanket cocoon.!!!

Last night she woke up around 2:30 or so and we got her changed and put into the "spare" bed. She was crying about coming to sleep with us, so Daddy went and tucked her in thinking that would keep her in her own bed. Not so, about 5 or 6 she ended up in our bed again. Neither of us woke up, so we are not exactly sure what time it was.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get this Bed bug to stay in her own bed before she gets too big?

She's still cute. She knows not to poke Mummy (the sleeping bear) either. :D So most nights she arrives in our bed, she stays in our bed. Yep, I blame her Daddy.

Here's hoping for a good night's sleep tonight. Free of Bed Bugs, of all shapes and sizes.

Halloween in four days!

Day 1 - Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Play school Halloween party day. The kids and teacher lined up so we could all take their photos at the beginning of the class. Savannah is Sleeping Beauty. She says it "Sleeping Eauty."

This is their "scary face" photo. I don't think Savannah quite knew what to do!

Day 2 - Friday, October 29th

Our radio station decided to give candy away to Trick-or-Treaters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We just happened to be in the city that day and after our Dr. appt. we drove over, got into our costumes and got our photo taken with Crash and Mars! Savannah was a bit scared of them. She has no idea what a nun or Catholic priest are.

This is the receptionist, Taz. Savannah says she is a Princess. She gave Savannah a lot of candy as we were the first Trick-or-Treaters at 11:15 a.m. There were only about 20 in total.

Outside we found the NOW! van. Savannah loved the "Poke-E-Dot" car and the little puppy on it.

Her "scary face!" Guess it's an "improvement" over the play school scary face.

Day 3 - October 30th, 2010

Posing with our Pirate Potatohead Jack-O-Lantern.

Another play school type pose!

So excited for Trunk-or-Treat!

The table cloth from Daddy's birthday party and a few new dollar store items as well as a few things from previous years made for a pretty good Halloween trunk if I do say so myself! This was our first time doing a Trunk-or-Treat so we weren't sure what to expect. It was a great time for everyone and so many kids!!!! Savannah got the hang of things pretty quick and after making the rounds once with an adult, she proceeded to make two more rounds!!!! I ran out of candy before all the kids made it around, so I "recycled" some of the candy Savannah had safely stored inside the car. She ended up with more than a shopping bag full anyway. Some people were giving out handfuls of candy!!!!

Closer up view of the trunk.

One of the coolest homemade costumes ever. This young boy was a Lego block. During this photo he was in the middle of doing robot like moves hiding in the block and then coming out again. He also fancied himself a comedian, but Savannah didn't understand his jokes.

Handing out candy - my witch hat changed to a crown so I could be Sleeping Beauty's mother!

Long time friends, Nora and Drew. You can read Joelle's blog too, she is hilarious!!!

Another trunk nicely decorated for the evening.

The SUPER family

Savannah was having a temper tantrum, but turned into a happy kitty as soon as the camera started to flash!!!

Day 4 - October 31st, 2010

The neighbors always do a super scary yard. This makes for an evening of Halloween music and twice scared Trick-or-Treaters. Rick thinks it is hilarious to scare the older kids that come over still watching the neighbours place. They aren't expecting anything since we don't do much decorating. He opens the door and makes some sort of noise to make them jump!

The empty chair is where the neighbour sits dressed like one of the dummies, so when the older kids come around he can get up and scare them! He has a "chainsaw" that he cuts the heads off the other dummies with. This year I saw someone else in his yard take off running after one of the kids halfway down the block. Poor kid.

Eating some of her loot. This is only about half of it.

My favorite part of Halloween. I go Trick-or-Treating with Savannah and take around a pillowcase (and the wagon) and collect things for our local food bank. The haul this year included quite a lot of canned soup, some "meal helpers", a box of candy (next to our Jack O'Lantern) and 6 kids toothbrushes. Love it!

At one house the lady was giving Savannah 2 bags of chips and a whole bunch of candy. When she said she didn't have anything for the food back, Savannah took one of the bags of chips and put it in my food bank bag! That's my girl, always sharing with everyone.

Here's hoping next year will be bigger and better! I've learned a few things over the years and now we take a wagon to collect all the goods in. Think next year I will deliver flyers prior to Halloween to remind everyone I am coming.

Officially Spoiled by Gramma's Mail!!!

A few days ago Savannah got a card in the mail from Auntie Michelle. On the way back to the house she says "Maybe she sent me some smushmallows!" I said, "No, there aren't any marshmallows in there. I think it's just a card."

Upon arrival to the house, she gets the letter opener, opens the envelope, takes the card out and holding it my one side shakes it and exclaims, "NUFFING!" Poor Auntie Michelle! Don't worry, I read the card to her, it was very nice.

Flower Gramma used to send flower seeds for Savannah's garden this Spring. Lately the cards have contained home made magnets with the cute Telus bunnies, hippos, etc on them. So, guess Savannah expects every card to come with something in it!!!

If only life and mail was that simple and good all the time. Here's hoping you get "Something good" in your mail today.

Nice try!

So tonight Savannah and I went to Tim Horton's to share a chili and a bun meal. We like to spread the chili on half the bun each and eat it that way. There is always leftover chili for the next day as we HAVE to share the doughnut dessert. Tonight it was one of those icing sugar covered ones filled with strawberry goo. MMMmmm. Savannah enjoyed the goo more than I did, I just like the doughnut!

After that we went to Walmart to get some supplies we needed for Daddy's upcoming birthday on Monday and a few odds and ends. Savannah is super excited about this party. She came up with the theme. Photos to come on Monday or Tuesday.

On the way home (at 8 p.m.) she decides to say "I have a surprise! Why don't we go swimming!"

Nice try little girl, nice try. Too bad it's bed time. :D

Surprise!

Daddy and I had just finished eating supper and were waiting for Savannah to finish hers.

A few minutes later she comes sauntering out with a sparkle in her eye.

She says, "Daddy I have a surprise for you. Maybe we could go swimming!" Big grin.

We laughed.

Now Savannah and Daddy are off at the pool while Mummy gets some cleaning, quilting, quiet time and blogging done! What a good surprise.

Is it Christmas time yet?

Savannah: Can we make a Christmas tree?

Me: Not yet, closer to Christmas we will get a tree to decorate.

Savannah: I want a Christmas tree now, I like Christmas.

Me too, Savannah, me too!

Think we will start making Christmas crafts soon. Savannah was checking out magazines for ideas today. She found several cute things we can make together. We are gonna be having lots of fun around here in the next several months. :D

Hobbies

I have a LOT of hobbies, too many to remember actually. Lately I have been doing several baby, toddler and preschooler quilts. A few years ago I made a few larger ones as part of a humanitarian project. I also have one that I am sewing by hand and have been working on, off and on, for years.

I have to get one more finished tomorrow that is for a birthday that went by a week ago already! Then I promise, there will be more photos on here of all the quilts I have done. At least of all the ones I can find photos of.

To all my Facebook friends, I'll let you know when they are on here! :D

Have a great day/night. See you on the sunny side! (Here's hoping it's not raining again tomorrow.)

Birthday Party Tomorrow?

"Sure Savannah can come." We got the call for Savannah's friends' party approximately 24 hours in advance. A couple years ago I started making quilts for all the kid's birthdays we go to. Well almost all of them. This one was no exception. Could I pull it off? Here's what I did in a few hours! It's not perfect, but it will do for a 4 year old!!!!

Apparently no one can see the "K" on first look. Look at the purple squares! The material is kind of fuzzy, so they don't look all the same color in the photos.

I am NOT a Runner!

I'm really not, but this is the second year I have participated in our Stake Duathalon. I do the short adult one, 3 km run, 10 km bike, 3 km run. I have to admit that the last 3 km run I pretty much walked the entire thing. A fast walk, but still a walk. My legs were hurting units by then!

My goal this year was to beat my time from last year of 1 hour and 33 minutes. Unfortunately my time this year was 1 hour, 33 minutes and 58 seconds! This year was much harder though, there were strong cross-winds blowing on us every second of the race. A couple times my bike was almost blown off the road! I am super glad little missy was with Daddy while I was racing this year, instead of being pulled behind me or pushed ahead. Although, a part of me really likes the idea of a stroller in front of me. It's something to lean on and hide behind!!!!

Last year Savannah got out of the stroller about 50 feet from the end of the race and ran across the finish line. She was so proud of herself! This year we entered her in the under 11 race which is 1 km run, 3 km bike, 1 km run. I thought she would be fine for the running part, but wasn't sure about the biking. She just figured out how to steer (sort of) this summer at our campground. She's still pretty unsteady on that part.

She managed 1 km run and 1 km bike. Then she was done. Off to breakfast and swimming with Daddy so Mummy could do her run alone this year. They saw me cross the finish line and then Savannah wanted to go race again!!! All day she wanted to go back to the race. Silly girl.

Later we went back to take these photos at the finish line. See the movement of the sign and our hair? It was still windy.

Savannah is a crazy photographer, she kept taking photos until I got to her to take the camera away! This one shows you the cute shirts we got with Mr. Potatohead cartoons on them.

On mine he's doing a duathalon, on Savannah's he's doing a triathalon. Unfortunately neither of us are swimmers, so we do the duathalon. S will be able to do a triathalon someday if she wants too. She is an athlete!

I repeat, I am NOT a runner. My legs were screaming at me for several days afterwards! Think I'd better do a little training for it next year. Anyone want to join me? If I can do it, so can you.

Sleeping Comfortably

April 2007

August 2010

S: "I'm gonna be a big girl. I'm not going to sleep in your bed tonight. Yes, I want to sleep in your bed."

Mummy: "No, you are a big girl you sleep in your Princess bed."

S: "But Daddy's so COMFY!"

Doesn't look like much has changed in the last 3 years. :D

Excuses, excuses, excuses!

We stopped at a Tim Horton's to get a snack for the road on the way to Flower Gramma and Grampa Sheep's house.

Savannah got a yogurt and berry cup to try. She loved the berries, but not the yogurt so much.

So then all of a sudden she had a "tummyache." I told her then she shouldn't have any Tim Bits (we had 20 waiting for "dessert").

S: "Yes, I can have some Tim Bits"

Me: "Then I guess you can still eat your yogurt too."

S: Dejectedly, "Okay."

So she ate a bit more, very slowly.

Later she says, "Mummy, does this food make you grow?"

Me: "Yes, it makes you grow bigger."

S: "I don't want to be a giant!"

Me, trying not to laugh, "Don't worry, you won't be a giant."

S: "I don't want to scare you."

Oh Savannah, what will you think of next?

Cirque du Soliel

We finally got the opportunity (and took it) to go see a Cirque du Soliel show. This one was called Alegria. It was AMAZING! Too bad you can't take photos there. There was so much to see every second of the show! I think my favorite parts were the joke skits put on by the clowns, the interesting costumes, and the singing by a lady we call the Princess. She was dressed in and all white "dress."

One of the clowns gave her a "letter" with a heart balloon attached to it. Our Princess was given this balloon at the end of the show! How special is that?

Here she is with the balloon the next day. I had to blow it up again to take a photo, and then it got a hole in it, so it is not as heart shaped as it originally was, but the photos still turned out well. The show and busy day wore out Savannah, so we had to wait until morning for the photos. She was still just as excited about the balloon from the Princess. Guess we will be checking out the Cirque show in Disney World the next time we go there too. Great show, great memories.

Special Lillies

All my Lillies, except for one kind, have been given to me over the years by my Gramma. Turns out this year I have some very special ones! The first three photos here are of an Oriental Lily that we didn't know anyone had. It's beautiful and I have three of them!






These last two are of an Oriental Lily (I believe it is called Star Fighter, or something similar), that I purchased several years ago. They smell wonderful. Still waiting for "smell-o-vision" so I can't share that with you, unfortunately.