I am determined to bang this post out in one sitting...so that it is actually posted on a reasonable date. To that end, I am not going to include pictures now, but will add a few later. Pictures = complications!
The major events of this past year really included my stepsister Shelly's wedding in June, and various other trips to Toronto. We didn't do any other major trips or have any interesting holidays, but it was a busy year nonetheless trying to figure out the routine with me back at work starting in mid-January. I was definitely dreading my return to work, not because I don't enjoy my job and the people I work with (which I most certainly do!), but more because going back to work the first time was pretty challenging trying to learn how to juggle everything. Overall, I would say this time around was nowhere near as bad - of course there are phases of everything seeming so overwhelming and frustrating and like it is never all going to get done, but overall I think we have the work-life balance somewhat in check. Greg might disagree...he is always concerned that I work too much - and that is something I need to keep in mind. As hard as it is likely to be, I am going to stop worrying so much about advancing at work, and just enjoy this phase. In all, I/we have a pretty sweet gig with our jobs - assuming we still have them come Budget time.
Our latest drama has been all about the computers - I had a work reject computer at home for the last while. It came in handy for remote access purposes, and it was far better than the hunk of junk we had been using (my brother-in-law's cast-off from his university days, circa 2001?). Anyway, the work computer has been slayed by some kind of virus and work doesn't loan out its reject machines anymore. We are all supposed to be getting laptops, but I am not sure when that will happen for me. In the meantime, it is back to the 2001 machine, or the "freecycle" machines Greg gifted himself with from the side of the road. So at this point, I think we have at least 4 crappy towers at home, Greg's work laptop, I might get a work laptop one of these days, and we are thinking about buying one. I was more or less convinced about getting the MacBook Pro, but spending that kind of money doesn't really seem prudent at the moment. Sigh...the office is getting a little crowded (with junk!).
The Christmas season was pretty good - we had an "open house" party in December that seemed to be quite a success. It was a little crowded and I learned a few more lessons for the next time. Hopefully we can continue to make it an annual event. We had Christmas here in the Odot with Greg's family and my mom, then moved the party to the Tdot for a few days, which was very luckily combined with an impromptu visit from Uncle Dan. As always, it was great for the girls to get to spend time with him (though we missed Auntie A), and we'll have to make more effort to get out to Calgary for some visits. Or Auntie A and Uncle Dan could move east...Anyhoo, once again the girls received way too many presents. Next year we are going to have to be really diligent about limiting the number, especially given that their birthdays follow so quickly after. Avery was in her element opening presents, but not so understanding of the concept of "giving". She was also more than happy to open Micaela's presents - though it could be the last time she gets away with it. We are also going to have to work a little harder on the "giving back" concept and giving to those who are less fortunate. The January toy purge is going to be interesting.
And some observations on the girls at this stage: Micaela will be two in a few weeks. She is still a little monkey, mischievous and headstrong, in both a good and bad way. She is quite shy and loud noises frighten her, and yet she is a little daredevil (tobogganing...no problem!), and can be very chatty, loves to sing, and is even outgoing at times. As long as it is on her own terms... :) Avery will be four in March and has matured a ton. She is starting to listen more (maybe wishful thinking on my part), is really good at creative play, loves to dance, and is still into all things girlie. She is very social and always wants to go meet new people - she's very good at integrating herself into the activities of other families at the park for example - and she is definitely looking forward to starting JK in the fall. Full day kindergarten for her...not so sure what our daycare solution is going to be and I am a little sad to think she won't be going to Linda's anymore. Oh well, a few months to go yet.
A favourite anecdote from this year - it can be very challenging getting the kids out the door in the morning, particularly when winter gear is involved. One morning this fall I was trying to get them ready, only to be frustrated at every turn. At one point I had them both sitting on the stairs, Avery whining and flopping instead of zipping up her sweater, saying "I can't do it...can you help me?" even though she definitely can do it on her own. Micaela, on the other hand, was trying to do up her own sweater, saying, "I do it. I do it!" instead of letting me help her. And, of course, she can't do it on her own!! That was one of the crazy mornings...and I am sure there are a few more to come. But then, they are so darn cute!!!
On tap for 2012: again, no major plans as of yet. Sorting out the computer drama, making some progress on home reno projects (that damn gazebo is coming down this year!!! And hopefully we will rebuild the back deck too), maybe a summer beach adventure, Greg's impending 40th birthday (maybe a trip to Vegas???), and the usual day-to-day chaos...setting up to be another busy one! I also have approximately 40 New Year's resolutions - I want to do a post about those as well, because of the whole "write it down, and publicly commit to them" philosophy, but I worry that I won't quite make it happen. Sigh...and I didn't like the looks of any of the apps that are available. Oh well, resolution post (maybe) to come.
Happy 2012 everyone!
Monday, January 2, 2012
2010 - A year in review
This post was literally a year in the making...and I still never finished it. Since I now have to get to work on the 2011 summary, I figured I would post this one first. As you can see, the end is a little "point-form" :)
This is only a little later than I meant for it to be...like a month. But what can you do, right?
Trying to remember all the things that happened over the last year will be a challenge - all I know is that is was one of the fastest years of my life. Probably the fastest actually.
The biggest event was of course, the birth of our second daughter Micaela in January. It was all very exciting to finally give birth and have the newest member of our family at home, but I'm not going to lie, the first few months were very challenging. She turned out to be a little colicky, particularly around bedtime, which coincided nicely with our challenges getting Avery to bed at a reasonable time. While that particular phase seemed like it was never going to end while we were in it, now I look back and can't remember when it did actually finish. But I suppose it did at some point.
Anyway, moving on...we had some nice visits from family just after Micaela was born, including my parents and my brother and Andrea. In April we headed to Toronto for the long Easter weekend - which was nice, though we quickly realized how much more challenging road trips and being away from home would be with two little kids. In May the girls and I went back to Toronto for a longer trip and Greg joined us for the last weekend. I had been toying with the idea of driving alone with the girls...I figured it wouldn't be that bad since I had done it with Avery once at 5 months and she slept for the whole drive. However, my dad offered to take the train to Ottawa and then drive to TO with me, so I took him up on the offer. And thank goodness...everything was going fine until we were detoured off the 401 near Kingston and Micaela started to cry. And basically didn't stop until we got to TO 3 or 4 hours later. Man, was she ever pissed off! And then she fell asleep when we got off the 401 in TO - you know, about 5mins from my mother's house. Still slightly scarred from that trip! :)
Summer in 2010 seemed like it would never end, what with the great weather we had in April. So what did we do? A bunch of fun things, but the main highlights were our trips to Kincardine and Calgary, a few pool parties, visits from a couple of Toronto aunties, as well as Grossmueti and Aunt Barbara, and other assorted adventures.
Starting at the beginning of July, my aunt Barbara from Switzerland and my mother came for a visit. In Barbara's honour, we decided to brave the masses on the Hill on Canada Day with the girls. Don't get me wrong, I love the atmosphere on the Hill on Canada Day and it would be great to go every year. However, having done it once now with a single stroller and once with a double stroller, I am not so sure we will be heading there next year. I could be wrong, but probably only if the Queen doesn't decide to pop over this time. :)
At the end of July we took two weeks off to go to TO again, and then to a cottage on the beach at Kincardine with Uncle Ted and Auntie Jamie. It was a really nice week. Avery had a great time playing on the beach and collecting rocks, having fun with her aunt and uncle and getting ice cream after dinner. Micaela didn't love the beach so much this year (apparently, babies and sand aren't a great combo!), but will surely enjoy it more if we decide to go again in 2011. Greg was able to golf and I managed to play tennis with Ted. Which actually made me remember how much I enjoy it and would like to get back into playing...another thing to add to the list! :)
In August the girls and I had a major adventure - the 3 of us flew to Calgary to visit Uncle Dan and Auntie A! I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into flying with the two kids by myself, but other than a couple of "pull my hair out" moments, it actually went pretty well. And the pulling-out of my hair was mostly induced by encounters with obnoxious people and/or Air Canada employees, rather than by either of my children. They were real troopers and I was very impressed with how well they coped with all of it. Before I tar all AC employees with the same negative brush, I should say that most of the in-flight crew on the way there were very helpful and courteous...it was the ones on the way back who seemed annoyed at me for taking so long to get us all off the plane when we landed in Ottawa, while they watched me struggle with all of our stuff from the back of the plane rather than actually help me! We did a bunch of fun things in Calgary, including hanging out with Andrea's family, and it was nice to finally see where D&A live. I think the trip also really helped Avery understand where they live and how far away it is that we needed to go there in an airplane. In all, it was definitely worth to effort to make the trip...especially since Grampa Kelly picked up the tab for the tickets! :)
Fall - mostly defined by weight watchers for me, but will do another post about that. Avery doing sportball, tried to get her into a dance class, which she would have loved, but couldn't so did Gymboree. Micaela coming into her own, settling down in temperament, starting to eat, move, crawl, get more chatty - started slowly at daycare...Avery at Halloween with the Cinderella costume - her love of all things princess, shoes, dresses all the time, not wanting to dress warmly.
October - Baby Jacob being born. Very exciting for the girls to have a new little baby cousin, and a first nephew or niece for both Greg and I. Congratulations to Jamie and Ted!!
November - another trip to TO
December - open house, Christmas season
Wrapping up the year - return to work, Micaela turning one, Avery soon to turn three, the girls starting to play together more, weathering the sick storm, figuring out the rest of our lives. looking forward to Shelly's wedding, maybe more nieces/nephews/cousins
This is only a little later than I meant for it to be...like a month. But what can you do, right?
Trying to remember all the things that happened over the last year will be a challenge - all I know is that is was one of the fastest years of my life. Probably the fastest actually.
The biggest event was of course, the birth of our second daughter Micaela in January. It was all very exciting to finally give birth and have the newest member of our family at home, but I'm not going to lie, the first few months were very challenging. She turned out to be a little colicky, particularly around bedtime, which coincided nicely with our challenges getting Avery to bed at a reasonable time. While that particular phase seemed like it was never going to end while we were in it, now I look back and can't remember when it did actually finish. But I suppose it did at some point.
Anyway, moving on...we had some nice visits from family just after Micaela was born, including my parents and my brother and Andrea. In April we headed to Toronto for the long Easter weekend - which was nice, though we quickly realized how much more challenging road trips and being away from home would be with two little kids. In May the girls and I went back to Toronto for a longer trip and Greg joined us for the last weekend. I had been toying with the idea of driving alone with the girls...I figured it wouldn't be that bad since I had done it with Avery once at 5 months and she slept for the whole drive. However, my dad offered to take the train to Ottawa and then drive to TO with me, so I took him up on the offer. And thank goodness...everything was going fine until we were detoured off the 401 near Kingston and Micaela started to cry. And basically didn't stop until we got to TO 3 or 4 hours later. Man, was she ever pissed off! And then she fell asleep when we got off the 401 in TO - you know, about 5mins from my mother's house. Still slightly scarred from that trip! :)
Summer in 2010 seemed like it would never end, what with the great weather we had in April. So what did we do? A bunch of fun things, but the main highlights were our trips to Kincardine and Calgary, a few pool parties, visits from a couple of Toronto aunties, as well as Grossmueti and Aunt Barbara, and other assorted adventures.
Starting at the beginning of July, my aunt Barbara from Switzerland and my mother came for a visit. In Barbara's honour, we decided to brave the masses on the Hill on Canada Day with the girls. Don't get me wrong, I love the atmosphere on the Hill on Canada Day and it would be great to go every year. However, having done it once now with a single stroller and once with a double stroller, I am not so sure we will be heading there next year. I could be wrong, but probably only if the Queen doesn't decide to pop over this time. :)
At the end of July we took two weeks off to go to TO again, and then to a cottage on the beach at Kincardine with Uncle Ted and Auntie Jamie. It was a really nice week. Avery had a great time playing on the beach and collecting rocks, having fun with her aunt and uncle and getting ice cream after dinner. Micaela didn't love the beach so much this year (apparently, babies and sand aren't a great combo!), but will surely enjoy it more if we decide to go again in 2011. Greg was able to golf and I managed to play tennis with Ted. Which actually made me remember how much I enjoy it and would like to get back into playing...another thing to add to the list! :)
In August the girls and I had a major adventure - the 3 of us flew to Calgary to visit Uncle Dan and Auntie A! I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into flying with the two kids by myself, but other than a couple of "pull my hair out" moments, it actually went pretty well. And the pulling-out of my hair was mostly induced by encounters with obnoxious people and/or Air Canada employees, rather than by either of my children. They were real troopers and I was very impressed with how well they coped with all of it. Before I tar all AC employees with the same negative brush, I should say that most of the in-flight crew on the way there were very helpful and courteous...it was the ones on the way back who seemed annoyed at me for taking so long to get us all off the plane when we landed in Ottawa, while they watched me struggle with all of our stuff from the back of the plane rather than actually help me! We did a bunch of fun things in Calgary, including hanging out with Andrea's family, and it was nice to finally see where D&A live. I think the trip also really helped Avery understand where they live and how far away it is that we needed to go there in an airplane. In all, it was definitely worth to effort to make the trip...especially since Grampa Kelly picked up the tab for the tickets! :)
Fall - mostly defined by weight watchers for me, but will do another post about that. Avery doing sportball, tried to get her into a dance class, which she would have loved, but couldn't so did Gymboree. Micaela coming into her own, settling down in temperament, starting to eat, move, crawl, get more chatty - started slowly at daycare...Avery at Halloween with the Cinderella costume - her love of all things princess, shoes, dresses all the time, not wanting to dress warmly.
October - Baby Jacob being born. Very exciting for the girls to have a new little baby cousin, and a first nephew or niece for both Greg and I. Congratulations to Jamie and Ted!!
November - another trip to TO
December - open house, Christmas season
Wrapping up the year - return to work, Micaela turning one, Avery soon to turn three, the girls starting to play together more, weathering the sick storm, figuring out the rest of our lives. looking forward to Shelly's wedding, maybe more nieces/nephews/cousins
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Can't wait to try this!
Merry Christmas everyone! This recipe is an excerpt from the Globe and Mail from last Wed or Thurs and I am excited to give it a try. Here is a pic of the test case before it goes in the oven:
Since I assembled it already and will be taking it to my in-laws' house for dinner, I don't think it is going to get quite the puff, but it definitely tasted delicious before baking. And I added chives...also delicious.
Pommes soufflé
Irreverent and quick with a joke, Joe Beef's Frédéric Morin cooks elevated comfort food in the Little Burgundy neighbourhood. He loves esoterica and history (as evidenced in the madcap decor of Joe Beef and Liverpool House, the restaurants he co-owns with David McMillan), so it's no surprise he finds inspiration for his menu in the obscure French movie Le Grand Restaurant. In it, Louis de Funès plays a restaurateur. "He goes to a table of Germans who've asked for a recipe for the potato soufflé," Mr. Morin says. "So he recites the recipe with a German accent and gets very authoritarian. It's very funny, so I like to do this recipe.
"Start with basic Joe Beef mashed potatoes: two pounds of fingerling potatoes, skin on, seasoned and mashed with ½ cup of warmedmilk and ½ cup of cold, cubed unsalted butter. Separate four eggs, beat the yolks and incorporate into the potatoes, whip the whites to stiff peaks and fold into the mixture. Finish with a dusting of powdered parmesan and bake at 400 F for 20 to 25 minutes.
"Be sure to use powdered parmesan on top or else you won't get a nice crust."
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, August 22, 2011
18 months, 42 months and a summer update
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| Flower Girl! |
We have had quite a good summer so far. Highlights have included my step-sister Shelly's wedding, which was Avery first starring role as a flower girl. I wasn't completely sure how she would react, especially in a room with 400 people and all of them staring at her. But she did so well, she looked super-cute in her dress, she posed for pictures, and she partied her litle heart out. She actually cried when I told her at 11:30pm that she couldn't go back and dance more because we were leaving. Then she fell asleep about 3mins after getting into the car.
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| Party Girl! |
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| Trying to keep the kids under control during the ceremony... |
Both girls are quite caring, particularly towards their special toys, and even once in a while towards each other. Avery has a new favourite stuffed animal every few days, while Micaela has recently fallen in love with "Timmie" from the Treehouse show "Timmie Time". She and I took Timmie on a little walk around the block in the doll stroller the other day, and she wouldn't stop fussing over him - she kept stopping to make sure he was sitting up ok. So freakin' cute! And both girls seem to really like their cousin Jacob - it is clear that he is going to be a little in love with his big cousin Avery, but I suspect he and Micaela will get up to plenty of no-good with each other as they grow up.
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| Canada Day 2011 |
has a great trip to Toronto in July - went to Riverdale Farm, the Zoo, had a fun picnic with Grampa Kelly and Nana, and had a very nice visit with Great Grammie Beryl and the great uncles. Not too much more planned for the rest of the summer - but just trying to make the most of it while it is still here!
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