Day 335

I made this little snowman today from a tutorial I found online. I'm either going to add a string to him to make him an ornament, a pin so he can be worn, or a magnet so he can hang on the fridge.

Day 333

Tonight I got everything ready for the Elf's arrival. I also started a new blog chronicling the next 24 days with Elfie, which you can find here:
Project Elf 24

Day 294

Ryan was in school and Alex was in daycare, so I had some "me time" today to do whatever I wanted. I had saved these stackable tea tins the other day when I was cleaning up and had an idea as to how I wanted to re-use them in a craft project. So today I sat down with my supplies, and made it.

After Ryan got home from school and spotted it, he said "What is that?" So I told him it was just a Halloween decoration, to which he replied "Pffft! It isn't even scary!" Well excuuuse me! I think it's cute anyways. Hmph!

After he put away his school stuff, we went to pick Alex up at daycare. When we got back home, I got out of the car and something started meowing at me under the trees. Sure enough, another stray had found it's way to our house. So once I got the kids inside, I put on a movie for them, got out some cat chow, and went to greet our new friend. She is super friendly. She was shivering a bit, and was very happy to get something to eat. I went to the barn and got out our winter cats shelter, but by the time I got back with it, she had disappeared. Oh well, she knows where the love and food is now.

Day 267

The boys have been watching George of the Jungle a lot lately. They think it's the most hilarious thing when he hits the trees. They keep jumping off the couch and splatting themselves into the wall while doing a jungle call.

Ryan asked to be George of the Jungle for Halloween, but I told him it would be a little cold to be running around at night in just a loin cloth. I went to Value Village and spotted a velvety jaguar patterned curtain for $5.99. It was perfect. I managed to make them each a George costume, and now they are both running around the house pretending to swing from vines.

Day 233

The cabinet we put over the toilet is great, but I don't like the fact that you can see all my "lady products" inside. So off I went to the thrift store where I found a vintage fabric that I just loved right away. I did a little cutting, some sewing and then with some tacks, I mouthed it inside the doors. I love the way it looks now!

Day 204

This morning I made the kids some peanut butter toast. My mom bought them a tube of Nutella-type spread from the dutch store. So as I squeezed it onto Ryan's toast, it looked to me like a big cat poop. So I brought it over to him and I said "Sorry Ry, I was making your toast and then one of the cats came over and pooped on it." He thought it was the funniest thing ever and we both cracked up over it the rest of the day. Sometimes I think I am an 8 year old boy trapped in a grown womans body.

I also started making another cake to practice my skills. This one I brought to my mom who is always commenting "Bring me some!" whenever I post food pictures on Facebook. So This time she got a piece :)

Day 201

I bunch of cake pans that I had ordered came in the mail today, so I decided to bake a cake and try them out. I live in a house full of boys, and share a birthday with my son so I never really even get my own birthday cake, so I made sure this one was nice and girly.

It took me 6 hours from start to finish and I learned a few things along the way as well. All in all, I think I did pretty damn good for someone who has never taken a cake course.

Day 183

Today I wanted to take the kids to the splash pad, but once we got there, we saw that there was a huge fair going on. The kids were disappointed, so I decided to turn around and drive an hour in the other direction to another splash pad. Once we got to that park, it was also packed with some kind of "family day" activities. I decided that we would go in anyways since I had just used about a quarter tank of gas and drove all that way. Well the kids weren't having it. I guess the drive made them cranky or something, all they wanted to do was go down some little baby slide. After getting into it with them and putting up with screaming and yelling, and dealing with an oncoming headache, I had had enough, packed them up and dragged them home kicking and screaming. I could have kept them home where we have a slide for free.

At home I told them, that after taking them out for fun and fresh air, they were not going to sit and veg in front of the TV all day. They could do anything else, but no TV. So this is what they chose to do:

  I had some left over cake in the freezer and decided to see if I could make some petit fours and fondant roses and leaves. It turned out really messy, but they still tasted good :)

 

Day 180

I made these cupcakes I made for Canada day tomorrow. The little maple leaves and the word Canada were made by me using melted coloured chocolate wafers.

 

Day 178

How cute are these guys? If we ever get the room and the money, I totally want a llama!

I have also been practising making roses out of the kids Play-Doh. I figure maybe one day it will come in handy if I ever make a cake with flowers :)

Day 127

I finished up a bag I made for Ryan today. He goes swimming on Mondays with his school and he needed something to carry his towel, suit, and pool shoes in. The first day he took it all in a grocery bag because I couldn't find a spare knapsack or anything in the house for him. I made a stop at the second hand store and found this single space themed valance and thought I could sew it onto one of those canvas grocery bags like I had done at Christmas time for gifts. I added an extra big pocket inside for his shoes and out of cardboard covered in duct tape and then material, I made a sturdier base in the bag as well.

Inside pocket and enforced bottom

His pool shoes and towel tucked inside

Ryan got crafty as well by making himself a giant paper Bumble bee Transformer costume.

I was itching for something else to do so I covered the cupboard doors under my sink with some more spare material I had lying around. I find it funks it up a bit. At least it's not boring to look at anymore.

Today was also the first sighting of the rose breasted grossbeak this year. Welcome back little buddy!

Day 99

Did you know that if you took an empty water bottle, cut the bottom off and slipped a sock over it, you would have an awesome bubble blower? It's true, just dip it in some soapy water and blow, you'll be amazed how many bubbles come out. My kids are totally loving this.

Day 94

The Easter Bunny came today and buzzed my kids out on sugar. I think this picture sums it up quite well...

This was the little Easter/Spring display I put on our wine hutch since we were expecting guests for diner.

For dessert, I served my apple spice cake with a cinnamon glaze. It was so good!

Day 76

For St-Patrick's Day today, Ryan came home with a shamrock name tag that he had made in school declaring him to be "McRyan". He made one for Wally and I too, naming us McMom and McDad. :)

Day 67

I made this wreath with stuff I found on the ground while waiting at the bus stop with Ryan. I hung it on the post at the end of the driveway. Thanks mother nature!

 

Day 34

I tried out my new edible ink markers by making these little marshmallow sticks for the kids today.Nothing special, but they were well received.

Day 17

The local depanneur. What do people call these little stores in the rest of Canada? A corner store? A mini mart? I have no idea.

 

My purchases. Milk for the kids, celery for the guinea pigs, booze for Mom, and a lotto ticket for luck.

 

Decided that the fort needed a look out tower.

 

Ryan went to a birthday party today and came back with a slight fever. By bedtime it was already up to 38.7. Looks like he might be staying home from school tomorrow.

Day 15

I woke up around 3 am in a horrible coughing fit. My nose was all stuffed up and nothing was coming out. Every time I am sick and wake in the middle of the night, I make myself a hot chocolate milk with Manuka honey. It losens everything up and I'm able to fall right back to sleep after.

 

I was surprised at how balmy it was this morning. The thermometer was already up to 3 degrees at 8am.

  

After Ryan went off to school, I packed Alex up and we headed over to daycare and to drop off the cake I made yesterday.

Once I got back home, I vacuumed and tidied up the back room and built the boys a fort made from a giant box Wally brought home. A bunch of blankets and pillows inside made it nice and cozy.

 

I also had a bit of icing leftover from yesterday's cake, so I decided that I could get some more cake making practice in by making the boys an autobot cake.

  

Once Ryan got home, we went to pick Alex up. On the way home I noticed the gas gauge was kind of low.

Since the little gas station here isn't open on the weekends, I decided I'd better fill up, just in case.

 

Once we get back home, it's pizza for supper, some playtime in the fort, cake for dessert, TV, and then bed.