Petered Out

So...how's things?
It's been awhile.
How is it that I totally forgot about my blog? Life is BUSY!
R just turned 3. O just turned 5 and A is almost 8! Where has the time gone?!
Since my last post we moved to Kelowna and back. Things just weren't working out. Everything seemed to be against us and it proved to be too much and we retreated back to wonderful green Chilliwack! Can't say I'm sad about it. I love Chilliwack. I love all my friends and the humidity. I love my house and my community.
S and I have just purchased a clinic which we have transformed into a multidisciplinary practice.
We have an RMT and a Medical Doctor and a new receptionist. We reno'd everything and a lot of stress came with it all! But somehow we are managing.
A is just finishing grade 2! She is so smart. She reads huge words! But I suspect she doesn't let on how smart she is at school. She can be quite the shy little mouse. But once u get her home she is such a joker! She is getting more and more independent-which I LOVE. Mornings are getting more bearable when I can just say "Go! Pour yourself some cereal. And make some for the other kids too!"
O is starting kindergarten this Fall...what am I gonna do with one kid at home...things will be so QUIET! O and R are always in each others space. It makes for some loud days. But they love each other...which is what I have to keep telling myself. And I know this because I'll catch them hugging or holding hands. They are so adorable. O has been really getting into videogames too. His latest conquest...Skylanders SwapForce. At any given moment he can tell you what upgrades each of his characters has.
R is a smart little cookie too. Always using words way beyond what you think she would understand. She really likes pretending lately. She likes tea partys, teddy bears, dress up. You know, the typical girly stuff.
I have been working at the hospital here in Chilliwack and trying to pick up shifts in Abbotsford as well. But sometimes I feel so busy that life gets all jumbled and I tend to forget things...double book myself. And most of the time I'm pretty hard on myself. I feel constant guilt that I'm not good enough...or more commonly I'm not as good as everyone else is. I managed to get A signed up for piano, and O and A signed up for swim lessons...with R being not far behind! I miss the days when I was a stay at home mom and I had the mental capacity for keeping up with my life. Sometimes I just have to let it go cuz we need the money..so I have to work.
My house has been a fun project that always keeps us busy. My garden is growing every year. This year I have had less interest as I've been busy with life. But still somehow I've managed to get somethings planted. Let's hope Chilliwack weather takes care of it for me!
When we have sunny days I'm just in heaven. Honestly. I love hanging out. In the sun. With my kids. Sometimes we put the speaker in the window sill and listen to music while we play, and BBQ and the kids play on the trampoline! I feel so blessed to live here.

For Pinners-Inspired by Pinners. 

I found a pin today-I was looking for an idea for my light switch cover. I liked the frame of the cover but not the ugly painting on the plate. So-I looked on Pinterest-found an idea-but made it my own. Instead of using regular paper/scrapbook paper-I used a page of old scriptures- Using scripture that means something.
Voila- a much nicer-more meaningful- light switch cover.

PIN IT! Share with the world. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. -Matthew.

My canning craziness

I was introduced to the world of canning earlier this summer. My M-I-L came with boxes full of peaches and apricots and we did a few sets of each. Fresh from the Okanagan. It was tedious at first...peeling, boiling, filling, wiping, tightening.....making sure i only did one at a time lest any of the jars/lids get too cold that they wouldn't seal. I was actually quite the stress basket. At one point...it was like a revelation! Why am I worried about the chance that they won't seal? We can just eat them!!! Luckily for me...a big ego boost...was the sounds of lids popping!!! S actually made fun of me cuz I was doing a happy dance everytime one popped! So...we ended up not eating any...they all worked :D Heeheehee...i'm still giddy about it all.

My peaches...so beautiful!

My apricot jam. A nice golden brown-thanks to not adding the lemon juice soon enough :D

Next I tried blackberries. Blackberries grow everywhere here. I mean EVERYWHERE! They are mostly a problem plant-like a weed. They tend to overgrow taking over roads/trails. And they are a bugger to pick too! Expect to come out with a few battle wounds. But...in my personal opinion it is worth every berry. They are wonderful to me! My whole life I waited to live in BC where such yummy things can grow. And these things are expensive in the stores too...obviously a good portion of the cost is going towards the berry employee's danger pay! LOL. Well-one night we were driving around finishing a service project and we came across a large bramble just waiting to be picked...huge juicy berries were calling my name. S helped me and we only managed to pick maybe 1/3 of a shopping bag. I hoped it was enough-and it was plus some. I decided to use my Vitamix to puree my blackberries...thinking I was oh so smart....well.....turns out you don't puree berries when you make jam. Apparently Pectin is released from the seeds and skin and it makes the texture come out funny. So...although my jam tastes amazing...it does have a funny texture. *Mental note for next year-don't puree* Then we had some left overs so I tried making syrup. The syrup tastes even better than the jam-however-because of my puree problem-my syrup is more like jam. Very viscous. Oh well. A's dance teacher says "it's alright if you make mistakes-as long as you know how to fix it, once you know how to fix it, you'll start to notice you aren't making as many mistakes" Smart lady.

L-R Peaches, Apricots, Apricot Jam, Corn Relish, Zucchini relish,
Blackberry syrup, blackberry jam, pickled beets, corn salsa

So, after trying the blackberries by myself, I took to my next project. Corn Relish. This was the recipe I'd been eyeing since I decided I wanted to learn to can. I always loved the corn relish on my street meat in Toronto. So, I called a friend and she helped me and I successfully canned a few jars of corn relish which tastes...surprise surprise...like corn relish. It wasn't super spectacular...but it was still yummy. I'm still showing it off...it looks pretty :D Then i did zucchini relish, then corn salsa, then I did pineapple coconut freezer sauce (not shown in picture). Then the beets. While I was in the middle of preparations-the canner was boiling and I was just getting ready to prepare the beets. My house is old and has poor ventilation so I was canning...in almost no clothing...*gasp*shock and awe* when I get a knock on my front door!!! I ran to get a more modest cover up and it turns out my uncle who does not live here just decided to 'drop by'. He is a great canner so he jumped right in to help me. Gave me some great tips: Like baking your jars instead of boiling them to sterilize them! Turns out boiling them to sterilize them can be dangerous. I can attest to that as that very day O came running up to me while I was trying to get the jars out and I nearly spilled boiling water on him-thankfully I didn't but managed to spill it all down my arm-got a burn. It wasn't too bad-could have been worse. But so far-that has been the best piece of advice.The other thing is that you don't actually have to boil the rings...duh!! So it's not too hot when you tighten them! Also handy.
Also not shown are the Pears that I did. I also had left overs from that so i made a Pear/Cranberry conserve which went so nice with our turkey dinner today. I also took a nice big dollop of that conserve, added olive oil and white wine vinegar to it and it made a great vinaigrette with our salad of Romaine, apple, roasted pecans and feta!!! I am not a salad lover...but i loved this! 

I also did another conserve-made from blueberries, maple syrup, pecans, currants. all I have to say is DROOL! The recipe suggested serving it with Brie and crackers. So we tried it...it was good-but i'm gonna wait til the Brie ripens some more and see if it's better cuz I wasn't a huge fan. We did try it with ice cream though and OH MY! I had to have seconds-and I'm NOT an ice cream fan. Tomorrow I'm going to try it on breakfast crepes with ricotta cheese. I heart cooking.....so fun!

I also canned fresh strawberry jam. Found a neat recipe that suggested adding gingerale. I did...but I can't really tell the difference. The jam was really good though-and what are the chances?? I found just the right amount of strawberries at a local farm. Totally organic, small and sweet. Not those huge bitter ones you buy in the grocery store. And at the end of September no less! I love this town!

And we did more peaches...the last crop...freestones. Let's not talk about it. They were not good canning peaches. I shall try to remember that for next year. The left overs of the peaches I used to make GF Peach cobbler though...it was very good. So I guess they are better for cooking. 

Well...i think that's all the cooking canning i've done. But wait...i'm not finished! I canned all my baking supplies into cans. Raisins, nuts, oats, sugar, flour, etc! My baking cupboard is so much neater now! And I canned bath paints, and playdoh!!! HAHAHA....SOMEONE STOP ME!!! LOL

Here come's the deep and meaningful part of my blog.
With all this canning on my mind-preservation of food-I had a moment the other day where O was being cute, loving, sweet, cute...amazing! And I thought...can I somehow preserve this??? I need a jar that I can put all of my happy-amazing-more than words can describe feelings of love for my kids- in. There are videos, pictures, sentimental items-but we can't stop time from continuing-nor stop kids from growing. So-although our best efforts to preserve these moments are tried-we still need to enjoy the moments while they are happening-and be happy while we are here-

I'm off to can onions-ciao!!

Keep busy and be Joyful

Anyone who has played Settlers of Catan should be able to understand the comparison I'm about to make.

The other day my in laws were here and we were all playing Settlers. I lost. I wasn't getting ANY cards so I couldn't do anything!! Bah! I think i lost at about 6 points. I was a really sore loser...I was totally annoyed and pissed off. Why? Cuz nothing was getting done. No cards=no action. Then we played another game. And I still lost....at about 6 points...but this game was still totally fun! Why? Cuz I was getting cards, things were happening, I got lots of development cards...but I still lost, but it was fun cuz I was able to participate.

So...yesterday was kind of a flop day. It was the end of the day. S just got home and I was in such a pissy mood. I was being short with my kids, short with my husband. I was annoyed at my kids every move, every sound. S asked me why I was in such a foul mood and I couldn't exactly say why. My day was like alot of other days...except for one thing. We stayed inside all day and I had big plans to clean my house. Big plans to get the 'longest road'.....Owen asked if we could go to the beach but I said No....I have to clean my house. But all day long one thing or another took my attention away from my task and nothing got done...I wasn't getting any cards....I was a big sore loser by the end of my day cuz my plans went by the wayside and I didn't accomplish what I set out for myself.
So...being the person I am...I TRY to look at things from another perspective...sometimes i'm successful...other times i'm not. But i realized yesterday that I've had lots of days where my house looks worse and i've felt better. Why? Because I didn't meet with defeat. I spent my time going to the park, entertaining my kids, playing outside the house. Getting lots of cards...getting lots done. And even if my house still looks horrid-I feel better cuz I've been busy.

I guess there is a life lesson to be had through this experience. Life is more fun when you keep busy!

Super Mom

So-
Hubby just left.
He went to Vancouver until Saturday for a conference.
We figured out A has tonsillitis today. She's been feverish and ill. And now it looks like O might have the flu? And R...well, she seems ok...but as an infant she is still needy.
That leaves me-by myself for 2 days and 2 nights.
Wish me luck.

Independance

Monday was technically A's first day of Kindergarten. Last week was a teacher/child interview and a meet and greet but this week was official-even though its a gradual entry into a full day kindergarten.
I was a little apprehensive-but mostly excited! So sue me. I'M EXCITED!  I will scream it from the rooftops! I think the thing that excites me the MOST-is that the teachers are going to give her all the 'good job's and 'nice work's and the 'A+'s that she always tries to get out of me. I'm not sure if i'm not doing my job as a parent in giving her enough attention, or maybe it's all normal. To all my friends with 4 yr olds: Does attention seeking -in your faceness- happen to you? If so-do you think it is normal? Or do you have guilt like me?
Either way-my daughter is well on her way to independence and there is NO DOUBT that we are both ready for this new phase in our lives!
 A was so excited her first day. She woke up at 630am and greeted me in my bedroom fully dressed and ready for school. I looked at her with my one morning eye...congratulated her and then begged her to play a computer game til I had a chance to wake up. Later, she was so excited to use her new lunchbag (and I have to admit...I'm a nerd and I was excited too.) Too much time on Pintrest has caused me to have pride in my coolness of sending a bento box style lunch -ideas compliments of Pintrest- Did that make sense? I'm cool and it's all cuz of Pintrest. There...that's better. So-off to school we go...but unfortunately my children have lost my camera so the only picture we got was one on the iphone. Once we got there we found her door. Goodbyes were not hard, she just wandered into her classroom navigating herself among all the kids standing around clinging to their own parents. It's like she knew what she was doing-and she definitely didn't need my help. I stood at the door watching her go, happy that I was the cool and collected mom that had the confident child. Then-I had a split second of sadness (my daughter doesn't need me!! Waaahhhh!) and i called out "A, do I at least get a kiss?" She looked back, shrugged her shoulders and reluctantly kissed me goodbye. She obviously had better things to do.

These are my hopes for her for this year:  I hope she will make friends. I hope she stands up for herself. I hope she has FUN. I also hope kids don't make fun of her. I remember (Grade 3 maybe?) bringing a pickle for lunch once. The torment that ensued lasted...well...at least that whole school year! Really? Torment for bringing a pickle? I still remember that day and it was a sad day for me. All for something really stupid. So...I think 2 things about that. 1-It doesn't matter how much I try to protect A, kids will ALWAYS find something to tease about. and 2-Don't ever send a pickle to school for lunch!
 So thankfully all went well her first day...and her second day. I haven't gone as far as thinking i'm in the clear though. I am feeling the adjustment. O is feeling it too. The first day he kept asking where A was..giggling mischievously I would say "at school". We went for a nice walk after dropping A off. We went to the park and played and it was SO GREAT playing with just him! It's a whole different experience. He is a different kid when A isn't around. He listens better, there is less whining, he laughs more, he is more inquisitive and he seems to learn more. I think when they are together they are just so obsessed with being naughty to each other...it's bordering on destructive! We explored in the Garrison Forest, finding rocks and leaves. He loves to run! I love it when he runs...it works out well for me at bedtime! We played at the park and he could actually play without fighting with A! I even got on the playground and played with him! SO FUN! Then we walked home and he helped me make macaroons. Look at all I can accomplish with only 2 kids. It almost feels like only 1 kid cuz R is so content and sleeps most of the time. It's like I'm in heaven!
Well...I'm excited. Excited for A to meet new friends, get encouragement and praise from someone that isn't me and for her to have the opportunity to grow and become her own person.
I'm excited for Owen...that he'll have more time with just me. That we'll have more time for Boy stuff-u know: dirt, rocks, bugs, running... that sort of thing. I'm excited that we'll get more alone time to learn, practice his letters/numbers, colors, shapes etc. And that he can be my little helper without the distraction of his older sister for at least 6 hours a day!
I'm excited for R. That I'll have more energy and time to just stare into her eyes and try to burn that memory into my brain. If she is my last baby...I need those memories to stick..(Mental note: Buy a new camera instead of waiting to find the old one.)
And finally...I'm excited for me!!! I'm excited to have a little more freedom to get out of the house...it's just easier with two than it is with three. I'm excited to see my kids growing and learning! I'm excited for the extra time and energy that will be added to my day.
Well...life gets busy now...glad I started a blog. Cuz if i don't blog it...i probably won't remember it.

How I came up with our Blog Name

I decided to start a blog. I've tried in the past..but lately seeing everyone's cool blogs is making me feel somewhat leftout. So I logged on to blogger and tried to put in a boring old blog name. It was unavailable so i started looking around at how people come up with their blog names. They suggested using unusual names so I googled "Rare words". It may be somewhat WITZELSUCHT (a feeble attempt at humor)..but it's my blog and i'll do what i want to.
The first word I found pertinent was ABDERIAN...'Given to incessant or idiotic laughter'. This is a common occurance in our household so I put it first on my list and thought I could maybe work it into our blog name. Next word: ADOXOGRAPHY 'Skilled writing on an unimportant subject'. I thought that interesting since...isn't that what a blog is sometimes?? Hahah! Next: AEOLIST 'A pompous windy bore who pretends to have inspiration. That could work. Sometimes I pretend to have inspiration...LOL.  Next: AUTOHAGIOGRAPHER 'One who speaks or writes in a smug fashion about their own life and accomplishments' I thought "HEY! I'm still in the A's and I've found 4 cool words that would describe my blog perfectly!! HAHA!!
EXSIBILATION 'The collective hisses of a disapproving audience' I thought-that could be the result of this blog?! Maybe....
FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION 'The categorising of something that is useless or trivial' Also pertinent...as my blog will probably end up being trivial in nature AND The blog name would probably be available!!
GOSSYPIBOMA 'A surgical sponge accidently left inside a patient's body' Dude...I didn't know there was a name for that!! Why didn't I learn that in my OR course? LOL-interesting though not a consideration for my blog name.
HADEHARIA 'The practice of constantly using the word 'Hell' in speaking' What the HELL? Who decides to make up names like this? Funny..though also not pertinent to my blog name.
HIPPOPOTOMONSTROSESQUIPEDALIAN 'Pertaining to extremely long words' It's at this point that I'm like....what website is this?? I still don't know.
INANILOQUENT 'Speaking foolishly or saying silly things'...could be a blog name...since i'm not a great writer and i'll probably try to compensate with humor-mine would probably be full of INANILOQUENCY (i just made that up...sounds good hey....they should add it to that website)
HAMARTITHIA 'Being likely to make a mistake' Also likely with my writing skills.
LETHOLOGICA 'The inablility to recall a precise word for something' Huh...I didn't know there was a word for that either...but I suffer from this all the time!!! Wait...it's on the tip of my tongue....
MYTACISM 'The incorrect or excessive use of the letter M' .......Really? Really?
ONYCHOPHAGY 'The habit of biting one's fingernails'  I also suffer from this. But it's worse when my mother in law is near....is there a word for that? MOTHERINLAWEXCESSIVEONYCHOPHAGY 'The habit of biting one's fingernails more excessively while their mother in law is near' (I'm just kidding...I made that one up too. But it could be legit...if you only believe.....)
POLYPHLOISBOIAN 'Making alot of loud noise or racket' This IS  my life with 3 kids...this could be my blog name!!! Put it to the top of my list...
QUIDNUNC -for those scrabblers out there (Jodi...i'm talking to u)...here is an unusual Q word. 'One who always wants to know what's going on'. I think this is a term to describe facebookers.
STRIKHEDONIA 'The pleasure of being able to say 'to hell with it' ' Hmmm....close second? Put it under Polyphloisboian.
ULTRACREPIDARIAN 'Of one who speaks or offers opinions on matters beyond their knowledge' A good blog name...certainly not for mine however.
Finally....at the end of the list: YCLEPT 'by the name of; called'

It's like it was meant to be...YCLEPT DEVENNEY. Perfectly encompassing our family name..but in an unusual fashion. AND I got to learn a bunch of cool new words. Anyone who wants to check out the website...here's the link: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/unuwords.htm