How we're Spending the Holidays...

Daily naps have been a must around here lately. Lexi's are few and far between, but I'm down for the count more than I'm awake lately. Today finds me entering my 11th week of pregnancy, and there seems to be no let up of the exhaustion and the all day, worse in the evening nausea. We are all thrilled at the prospect of adding to our family in July, especially after suffering a late first trimester loss last year. I have had an ultrasound already, and heard the heartbeat via doppler last week at my doctor's office. I start the day looking about, oh, 11 weeks pregnant, and finish the day looking about 6 months pregnant. There will be no hiding this belly soon.

We had a fabulous Christmas - lots of good food and company. Most of the pictures were taken on Doug's iPhone, so once we get those off I'll post them. We were all spoiled, Lexi most of all, and are looking forward to another week off before getting back to the grind on January 4th. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Homemade Love n' Goodness

We spent some time with my mom yesterday, who always celebrates her birthday on the shortest day of the year (what a rip off!). And how does she decide to spend her day? Baking bread. From scratch. She does NOT use a bread maker (which I used to do every week, and felt quite smug about it actually). This is a loaf of her molasses raisin bread, which Lexi and I promptly tucked into as soon as we got home. Thanks Mom!



My second bit of homemade lovely goodness to share is this awesome lunchbag made by my talented friend Kim. You can check out more of her amazing work here. I can't wait to take my lunch to work in this come the New Year. Thanks Kim!

T minus 3 days to go! We are really excited about Christmas here. I finally finished my shopping yesterday morning, and true to form, Doug has left all his until the last minute. Last night we watched The Polar Express and Lexi really loved it. It's nice that she has reached an age where we can sit as a family and watch a movie together, which is a tradition we hope to continue on Friday nights as she gets older. We've got mostly mellow, quiet Christmas plans this year, which is lovely, and we'll be spending a quiet New Year's with friends as well. Stay tuned for some sure to be amazing pictures of Lexi on Christmas morning!

Look what Santa Left Under my Tree Today...

I swear I did not put her into the basket. Best gift ever!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS! We were eager this year and put up the tree the last weekend in November. Combined with the snazzy electric fireplace we bought for our living room a few weeks back, it's looking pretty festive here right now. Next on the list is a piece for our front door, and finishing the Christmas shopping. Cookie exchange is set for this weekend. I'll be doing my mom's traditional Midnight Mint Chocolate Squares.

I took my class to Burnaby Village Museum this past week on a field trip and they had a great time. I was absolutely stuck by one house display when I eyed this beautiful old clock EXACTLY like the one my Grampy Wilcox had on his mantel for years. It's eerie when things like this happen to give you a little reminder that just because those you love aren't 'around' anymore, they still have ways of sneaking into the present when you least expect it.

Homemade Advent Love

What would Christmas be without an Advent calendar? You know the ones with the crappy chocolates in the flimsy cardboard punchout frame. I've HEARD that you can get Lindt ones, but that would completely defeat the purpose of punching out one measley chocolate per day when obviously if I was presented a whole box of Lindt goodness it would be gone immediately.

We hadn't done one with Lexi before, and while I'm not opposed to the idea of daily chocolate (live it, learn it folks), I'm not so keen on the idea for young children. Nana came to the rescue for us and made Lexi her own version of the calendar. The pockets are big enough for chocolates, small toys and everybody's favourite gift, money. Lexi's calendar contains stickers, a few tiny toys scattered about, and a quarter for each day (with the big payout coming on Christmas day at a whopping 2 bucks). I think it's lovely. Lexi is so eager to get her present each morning.

My friend Kim did an amazing version of an Advent calendar as well. I hang my head in shame to be surrounded by such talent.

Are you Going to San Francisco?

I think I know why there was a song written called "I left my heart in San Francisco." What a great city. The people are friendly and laid back, there is lots to see and do, and it reminds me an awful lot of Vancouver. Doug was attending the Q con Conference Wed-Friday last week, so I flew down Wednesday night and enjoyed 2 blissful baby free solo shopping days while Doug attended his workshops. Saturday was spent on cable cars and walking around Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown. The culinary highlights of our trip were crab legs and seafood bisque at Neptune's at Pier 39, and a delicious Sicilian style dinner at Trattoria Pinocchio (recommended by a family friend, thanks Bob!) We had a great time and are thankful to Nana for coming to stay with Lexi, and to Oma for her help as well. We missed Lexi terribly, but we had a great time. It's definitely a place I'd like to go back to, and would be a great family trip.

Halloween 2010

After the chaos which was treat or trick or treating at the mall last year, we decided it was time to venture out into our own neighbourhood this year (now that we have a neighbourhood to call our very own). Lexi had decided that she wanted to be a bumblebee, but when we went back to Old Navy to buy the costume, she saw the dalmatian one instead, and she wanted to dress up like "Lucky", her favorite stuffed animal. We headed out early, and we delighted to discover a large number of kids from our neighbourhood doing the same with their parents. Many of the houses around the corner were REALLY done up, complete with mazes, music and over the top decorations. Sadly, we did not get any trick or treators at our house (probably because there are no houses on the other side of our street. Lexi had a great time and still asks me "Is it Halloween again yet?"

Art Smarts

OK, I'm going to go into full on mommy bragging mode now. I always knew Lexi had good fine motor skills - she could spoon feed herself early, and could always grip a pencil properly. Today I caught her drawing her first actual decipherable picture of "guys." Who are "in trouble." Ah, the mind of a two and a half year old. Note the eyes, mouths, and arms.

The video got cut short due to a full memory card. I just can't bring myself to erase old pictures. And yes, I've already downloaded them to my computer. Call me sentimental I suppose.



Lexi has been doing a lot of coloring and TV watching the last few days as I have been hit hard with the flu. It came on quickly and was intense for a couple of days. The worst seems to be over and I should be able to head back to work tomorrow to the insanity of a Halloween party for twenty three 6 year olds. Don't forget the Tylenol.

Jack o' Lantern Hijinks

Making our way through the grocery store a few weeks ago, Lexi was enthralled with the large cardboard boxes of pumpkins. I brought one home (with the purpose of bringing it to school for my Grade 1 students to tie into our science unit) and Lexi enjoyed rolling it around on the floor for a few days until I brought it in to work). Last week when she was allowed to choose a treat at the store, she chose a mini pumpkin, and even wanted to sleep with it in her bed (as you would, and I'm sure a hard bumpy pumpkin stem in your back would nip that request in the bud next time). Yesterday I brought home a pumpkin to carve (our first as a family).

Normally this sort of crafty project would be my domain, but apparently jack o'lantern carving is somewhat of a sport at Doug's work come fall (complete with a free lunch to the winning team), so I let him take the lead. I agreed to be the photographer, and glad that I did as the first order of business was to cut the bottom off instead of the top, explaining that it was better stability and lighting access for the candle (brilliant!) Lexi enjoyed playing with the pumpkin "goo" and helping to pick out the seeds, which I will roast in a couple days after they have dried out. After we counted the seeds in our school pumpkin in class (176 to be exact!) I roasted them at home and brought them back for the students to eat, and they were a huge hit. I will post the recipe last in the week.





All in all "Alvin" (so named by Lexi) turned out pretty well. He'll be living inside, as I'm not really in the mood to clean up smashed pumpkin off my driveway from possible young houligans making Halloween trouble (the fireworks exploding from across the embankment out back are annoying enough). We've got a few decorations up, and are looking forward to our first outdoor trick or treating experience next weekend.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

When the afternoon light comes through the window in our bathroom just so, we often get a beautiful little rainbow splashed across our hardwood floor in the hallway. Lexi is always fascinated by it, yelling "rainbow, rainbow!" and pointing out all the colors by name.

Better Than Sex Cake

Can't wait to try this recipe care of Moms Who Need Wine. I'll let you know if it's appropriately named (wink).

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE:

Ingredients:
1 package dark chocolate cake mix
1 1/3 cups water (or as directed in cake directions)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or as directed in cake directions)
3 eggs (or as directed in cake directions)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 -12 ounce) container caramel topping
8 ounces frozen whipped topping (i.e. Cool Whip), thawed
2 Milk Chocolate English Toffee candy bars (i.e. Heath or Skor), crushed

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease and lightly flour 13″ x 9″ cake pan.
3. Mix cake as directed on package.
4. Bake the cake about 35 minutes or until it tests done.
5. As soon as it comes out of the oven, poke holes all over it with a fork and pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the cake, followed by caramel sauce. (Note, if caramel topping is thick, microwave until warm and liquid before pouring.)
6. Refrigerate overnight.
7. Before serving, spread whipped topping over cake and sprinkle with crushed candy bar bits.

Pair with your favorite dessert wine such as Port or Vin Santo.

Deer Lake, Now and Then...

It was around 2 years ago that I first started blogging, and one of my first posts was about a trip the three of us had taken to Deer Lake with an almost 5 month old Lexi. The weather was gorgeous, and we got some beautiful shots that day, including the close up of Lexi and I that was the header picture for the blog for ages. We went back today (Starbucks in hand, as you can see) to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and falling leaves on this holiday Monday. It reminded me that we have much to be thankful for this year - our beautiful house, food on our table, living in such a gorgeous city. Most of all, I am thankful for my health and my beautiful family. Hope you all find yourself with full bellies and much to be thankful for this weekend as well.

Fabulous or Fug-tastic?

I've always loved reading the quick-witted fashion review site called Go Fug Yourself. While folding laundry today, Lexi decided to try on an advant guard outfit of her own. So what do you think: fabulous, or fug-tastic?

First Haircut

I really was worried this day would never come. If you look back at pictures of Lexi on her first birthday you'll notice she is still basically bald. She really only started sprouting hair at around 18 months. So it took until day, just short of 29 months, for her to get her first haircut. I only cut the hair in the front since she is continually brushing it back from her forehead as it hangs in her eyes, and love her wispy fine curls in the back. So today, she got little girl bangs. She was NOT at ALL interested in getting a hair cut no matter which way I tried to spin it (playing hair salon, telling her it would be quick, etc). She finally allowed me a quick snip just before lunch.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


No, I didn't hack off all her hair, I just put the majority of it back in a ponytail when I was finished before I took this picture. Geez, she really does look grown up now!

Taking Care of Business

We're not there yet, but we're working on it. I've just ordered "The New Potty" from my latest Scholastic Order at school, so maybe that will help.

Das vi dan niye

It was finally time. On September 8, 2010, our long loved friends couch and chair went to the big furniture store in the sky via a Smithrite truck. Born sometime in the early 80s, these pieces have been with the Wilcox family their entire life, beginning in Fred and Sandra's home in Mt. Pearl. They made the big move to BC in 1990, and stayed in Kitimat until 1998 when they moved in with me in my first apartment in Victoria. They have been with me since '98, following me from Victoria, to Vancouver, to the Sunshine Coast, and then back to Vancouver. If I had the time and money, I would have LOVED to recover both pieces as the bones are fantastic and the shape is classic, and well, they are just darn comfortable. I'm not quite sure what you would call this look - Colonial? French Country? Either way, it just didn't go with our decor. I guess it hasn't really gone with my decor through the last 13 years either, but as a starving student (and then a starving substitute teacher, starving newlywed, and starving hope to be homeowner), I hadn't had the money to replace the pieces.

Over the years most of you have either sat or slept on this sofa (and my brother loved it because at 6 foot 4 inches, he could actually sleep on it instead of curl up in the fetal position all night). I lived on this couch for a summer when I had mono, took MANY after school naps on it while I was pregnant with Lexi, had countless friends and relatives crash on it, watched many mind-numbing hours of TV while sitting on it, and LOVED to curl up in that chair with a good book (with my legs tossed over the side edge). For now, an IKEA Ektorp sofa in Idemo Beige (which incidentally is now a discontinued color so we have no hope of getting matching covers for any future pieces) sits in its place, rescued from a dingy smelly basement in Vancouver for the low, low price of $175. It was originally covered in a rust colored slipcover, but I found the beige one on sale at IKEA for $20 due to it being discontinued. I have to say I'm loving having a washable slipcover on the sofa, and the cushion covers have been done about half a dozen times since the summer alone (thanks Lexi). The long term goal is to have furniture that, gasp, actually matches, but luckily the Ektorp series has many different options for slipcovers and those armchairs look pretty darn comfortable too. Soon enough I'll hopefully be slinging my legs over the side of one of those instead, curled up with my latest book...

Rainy Day View

Enjoying the rainy day view from our kitchen window the other day. The stream gets quite high in the fall when we get a lot a rain. We're hoping to see some salmon spawning over the next couple of months, especially since we participated in releasing some salmon fry into Stoney Creek back in the spring!

An ode to ale...

What I'm about to admit to feels almost sacrilegious to me, but I'll go ahead and suck it up and just say it: I'm in love with an American..... beer.

I will fully cop to being a snob about certain things: coffee, ketchup, laundry detergent (only Tide will suffice in this house) and beer. I love my Canadian microbrews. I've always been a big fan of the St Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale (Montreal), but I think I've found a new favorite. And it's brewed in the ol' U S of A (but at least it's West Coast USA).

Pyramid Apricot Ale is similar to the above, but just a bit sweeter. As someone who loves reislings and gewurztraminers (fruity white wines), I love fruity beer too. As summer draws to a close and we enjoy these last few warmish days of summer, I will indulge in my right to enjoy a wobbly pop in the late afternoon on a Saturday. Cheers!

Dork-tastic!