Scattered Fortunes

Chinese fortunes found around the house yet again.
Music is the soul of language

Enthusiasm is contagious. Not having enthusiasm is also contagious.

Emotion hinders your true self.

Life is about making some things happen, not waiting for something to happen.

It is sometimes better to travel hopefully than to arrive.

Express yourself now

Enjoy your good company, they are true friends.

Where there is a will, there is a way

Hug's are life's rainbows.

Sometimes I wonder if we are eating out to Chinese a bit much.

A Touch of Reality

A shoeless child - not by choice - simply does not have any

The sandwich and orange may have been her most substantial meal that day

Cleaning her "front yard"

Home sweet home

Their day job.

I went on a tour of some of the hidden parts of life in Mexico. A simple drive through the unseen parts of town. Homes that were made from whatever materials people could find placed on land they hoped not to be evicted from. Children awaiting their parents return from the garbage dump where they hoped to have found enough salvaged materials to sell to afford food for a meal. It truly was a wake up call.

Some of the sights

Cathedral

Theatre

Turtle

Hours of Fun!

Run from the waves and jump over the waves.

Favourite activities for the PK.

and I always love the tropical plants!

and last nights sunset

In 24 hours a lot can change

From this

To this

Sing a Song

"Birthday Party to You
Birthday Party to You
Birthday Party Little Mister
Birthday Party to You"

So it isn't anyone's birthday nor has it been one in a while but someone starting singing at the breakfast table this morning his own little rendition of a well known song. I just had to share cause it was so super cute!

Hoo Hoo

Little Man PK likes to wander around the house saying

"Hoo Hoo Me an Owl Hoo Hoo"

A Fundamental Parenting Rule

I am currently reading Children at Play by Heidi Britz-Crecelius. I came across this quote and thought that it was such an amazingly worded piece of advise that I had to post it for everyone.

There is nothing bad, terrible or humiliating that can happen to a child that would not become worse, more terrible or more humiliating, if it were concealed from his parents.

She goes on to tell of a late night fire-bug whom crept home to tell his parents of the fire and was praised but his parents. We as parents much be constantly aware of how we react to the actions of our children. By having a child come to us when they have done something "wrong" we can help them correct the situation before it becomes worse (put the fire out before it spreads). They already know they have wronged and don't require a lecture but do need assistance to rectify and make ammends.

I can recall a day not too long ago that PK came to me to show me that he had drawn on the windowsill. Together we got out the cleaning supplies and washed it off the sill - no lectures - no upset by the end we were laughing together and the crayons have stayed on paper ever since.

I know I for one want to try to always remember this in my reactions in hopes that it will keep PK coming to me when the mistakes in life occur.

Fortunes fortunes all around

Doing some cleanup of my sewing table and here are some of my fortunes that I have found in the process

In the midst of a busy life, take some time to be a kid again.

Money is gratifying, not satisfying.

You have all the assistance and luck this month to succeed.

Your self-confidence is warranted.

Fortune smiles upon you at this time.

You will live a long, happy life.

Your magnetic personality will draw people to you.

Winter Projects

So here is what kept the hubbie busy over the winter break this year.

New washer and dryer. Hubby had to re-vent for the new dryer and we had to redo some of the plumbing to make it fit which was actually to our benefit as it will be nicely finished now rather then pipes just sticking through drywall. Still have some drywall patching and painting to do but it looks way better and works wonderfully.

I labelled the storage containers as someone else

was always asking "where do I find....".

The new fridge and stove. I am loving the induction cook top. I have noticed that someone else is cooking hot breakfasts more often too which is an added bonus.

And lastly the gate which I am in love with. Not to be too boastful but I think I have the best gate in the valley now. So inviting and beautiful but keeps the wandering woof woofs and horned critters on the outside.

A close up of the sun and mountains.

I think they did an awesome job!

Peanut Butter Balls

2 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
3 cups confectioner sugar
3 1/2 cups rice crispies
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Melt peanut butter and butter over low heat.
Remove from heat and mix in sugar, rice crispies and vanilla extract.
Form into small balls - chilling for 15 minutes may help if too sticky.
Melt chocolate over low heat. Place into plastic sandwich bag, seal and snip corner.
Drizzle over balls.
Chill until ready to serve.

Update -  I was invited (see comments below) to post this to the party on Lisa's site.  I did and what fun. A ton of yumminess going on in her world. Stop by her site  Sweet As Sugar Cookies for some great inspiration.

Our Ski Bum

Just got home from four days of fun on the mountain. Took little PK for his first experience on the skis. Little dude loved it! We were so surprised at how well he did. Actually managed to stay balanced for several metres at a time.

Showing off how well he can stand on the skis

Wipe out

Sledding with Daddy

Christmas is coming....christmas is coming

So little PK is getting excited about Christmas. He obviously isn't to the oh goodie presents stage but he senses that there is excitement about this event. He is very into turning on 'my christmas light' (snowman lamp) and plugging in the christmas lights (bannister is decorated). He is also newly attached to 'my christmas bear'

He has helped me make him a stocking as we used a christmas fabric bag for him the last two years and we thought perhaps a proper stocking was in order this year. Here he demonstrates what a smartie pants a two year old can be - stocking looks like a sock so it should go on ones foot shouldn't it?

Greetings from snowland

Well they said it was coming but I'm not sure I actually believed it. Here however is the proof.

And the littlest PK helped out with some sidewalk clearing.

It started Friday evening and as I write this on Monday at 3pm it is still snowing!

Move me........

So as a parent you get to experience so many great stages of a little ones learning. One of these is the learning words, expressions and so forth. Sometimes little ones come up with great versions of sayings.

A fav right now is "move me" for excuse me

Another great one is how many things are now "no my like". Atleast I know his opinion.

He is also very caring of his baby. He takes her for walks around the house and makes sure she gets breakfast and bottles regularly.

Goldstream

We went to Goldstream today for a Strong Start fieldtrip. The Nature House gave a great story all about a salmon's life cycle. We got to watch a frog eat it's breakfast and then we went down to the stream to see some of the fish spawning. Not a lot of fish today but still neat to see.

Learning about owls

Taking a few photos

A spawning Chum Salmon

Posing in a log

My favourite photo of the day 

Our Little Trick or Treater

We took little PK to four houses for trick or treating this year. One aunty and her neighbour and his Papa & Mimi and their neighbour. Then we headed to the community centre to partake in their live music, hot dog eating, bonfire, bouncy castle and other activities. PK wasn't sure about all these weird costumes on people but he sure liked the balloon he was given at the centre and spent most of his time hitting it around.

Little Lion all ready to go

His loot from four houses and the community centre.

Way too much for a little boy! Guess Daddy and Mommy will have to help out.

A very bad picture of this years decor. We cut out faces in large poster board. Once dark out the house light shines through the faces welcoming any whom wandered up our drive.

A Visit to Providence

Last week we went for a hayride, a pumpkin patch tour, animal watching and other fun and games at Providence Farm with little PK's Strong Start program. They got all the local strong starts to go on the same day which was fun with all these little kids running around.

The Hayride

The Steeple

And many a People

10 - 10 - 10

This was how we spent our Sunday afternoon. Watching friends get married. After several days of rain the sun and warmth came out just to celebrate their day. Very fitting.

Summer days

Not sure what this meant but boy was it cute.

Some intense choochooing - loving the truck transport.

Still in love with my new camera