Busy Wed

Lately, in the morning time my sides have been really sore.  :(  Its my lower ab, so I'm thinking that my body is just adjusting to whatever weird position I slept in... with the ever growing Norah inside.  One morning Lucy got up really early so Gaetan brought her into our room so hopefully she didn't wake Dude up.  Usually when this happens she's up for the morning but she was down with laying on me and she went back to sleep.  However, she wanted to sleep on me in the most uncomfortable way possible... so she got a few more hours but I didn't.  Her end position that she liked was all bent backwards with her head off the bed, laying on my arm and punching me in the face.  it was pretty cute watching her sleep, but I was pretty uncomfortable after that.  However, once both kids got up Gaetan was sweet enough to let me lay on my side and try to get feeling back in my arms and sleep a little more :)  He and the kids even made me breakfast in bed.  It was very sweet.

On a different note... I found this really sweet Korean market about 2 miles away from our house!  I was really stoked about it!  I was there initially to buy some sweets for a little girl who was adopted by a sweet family I met on a missions trip, but after I found what I was looking for I just browsed a bit to see what they had to offer.  I will definitely be stopping back there again sometime soon!  :)  I ended up mailing her care package off for her 'gotcha' day, which was last month, but it's the thought that counts right?  And by the time all my errands were finished the kids were up from their naps so it was perfect timing.  :)

Also, I feel compelled to print off pictures that we take on our phones for the photo albums that nobody really looks at.  Gaetan and I have discussed that the reason why we feel the need to print them off is because the generation before us did, and now it's kind of a novelty.  With all the technology and sharing, we never have hard copies of pictures... so I printed off almost all the pictures that we've taken since we've gotten our phones.  I think that it's also very interesting that our phones, ya those things that are supposed to be used for making phone calls and texts, have taken over my camera!  It's crazy to think that my phone has better resolution than the device made solely for taking pictures is better.  Anyhoo... We had a lot of pictures to print off... I'm talking in the thousands.  I guess its probably easier when your kids are so dang cute you *have* to take pictures of them daily :)  Am excited to start this new project of putting them all together in an album... speaking of which, I should probably put the pictures from the last time I printed them off in an album... haha.  Gotta love snapfish!

Since we had returned some of that stuff back to Old Navy we had some money on a gift card so we headed back to see if there was anything the kids could use or Gaetan.  We did luck out and Gaetan found some shirts that he really liked from last year this year on sale!  So we got a handful of those, and the kids were really excited to find their 'ninja' slips.  Now, last year was the first time we ever lived in a place that didn't have free heat, so we bought these slippers for Tristan hoping that it would keep him warm.  He wasn't real excited about them initially, but then Gaetan told him that they were ninja slippers and not only would he stay warm, but he could be sneaky... from that day forth he LOVED them. So much that he wore a hole right through the bottom.  He was heart broken when we had to get rid of them, but... he saw another pair of ninja slips at ON and he was beside himself with excitement.  Not only that, but he picked out a pair for Lucy too.  They LOVE them.  He was actually looking for something for Norah, but then he saw these and they had to get them.  Best of all, they were on sale :)

JVG

One of those days

Ever have one of those days where it seems like everything was a joke and you were the punch line?  The other morning Lucy decided that waking up at 5:30 was a GREAT idea, and so I went up there to get her and hopefully snug her back down to sleep.  She was pretty much awake and just wanted to play... so she signed 'eat' (which is her normal morning ritual, as soon as she's awake she wants to eat!) so we started heading downstairs, and it was pitch black... and I didn't see that the door had shut after I had come in and I slammed right into it.  Face first, no holding back.  I walked right into it so hard that my arms flew backwards too!  I was happy that my face only somewhat hurt, nothing was bleeding and my nose was still in one piece.  Lucy kinda looked at me like, "are you kidding Momma?  Did you not see that the door was shut?"  It was funny really.

Later that morning the kids wanted to take a bath, which is pretty standard also, and they actually played in the tub for over an hour!  I got them out because the water had turned luke warm... but while I was getting Lucy out, dried and lotion, I was holding onto her to take her to get dressed and she PEES on me!  Really?  I haven't been peed on in such a long time!  It was weird...

Later, Tristan asked for some OJ, so I was happy to get it for him, but I had to open a new one and I ended up cutting the palm of my hand!  That requires some skill right?  It was the Simply Orange kind and the lid had gotten smashed so when I twisted to get it open the outside rim came off and the jagged edge was exposed to my tender hand!  Again, really?

The day did take a turn for the better though!  :)  Ingrid bought Gaetan and I some winter coats, and mine was a maternity one... which is very thoughtful.  However, it's not very warm and the material that its made out of made my face very itchy and it kind of chaffed it a bit!  So, I was going to take it back, but on the receipt it said it was an online return only... so I was just crossing my fingers that they would take it back... and I figured with the kind of day I was having they were definitely going to tell me no... but they took it back and gave me a gift card for the return.  :)  So, I figured that I could look for stuff for the kids or different maternity stuff for me!  It was extremely helpful!

And I am so lucky that I have such a wonderful husband that notices when I'm having a rough day and steps up big time to help out above and beyond what he already does.  After he got home from colloquium he told me that I should get out and do something solo... normally Monday nights that would be my orchestra night, but since we had our concert our next concert cycle doesn't start until Jan!  So, he suggested that I go to capo... burn some energy, get a chance to kick at some people, and have some me time.  :)  It was a perfect.  And I still fit into my whites!  That's nice!

While I was gone my fab husband moved the bathroom towel bar to where I wanted instead of where it is.  :)  And he even kept the kids up so that I could say good night to them when I got home.  It was very sweet.  I know that the bathroom bar things sounds silly, but when you're stepping out of the shower and your towel is right there, its a daily reminder of the thoughtfulness... and warmness  :)

I'm glad that the day could turn around... and that I have the support that I need.  Daily I am thankful for it, but its days like this when you realize just HOW much you really have.

JVG

Dude sayings

This past week Dude has come up with a few gems.  I'm not quite sure where he gets them all, but sometimes when I hear them I know exactly where they came from!  haha.

Last Sunday in Sunday School they were playing 'good idea' (thumbs up) vs. 'bad idea' (thumbs down).  He was telling us all about it on the car ride home so I thought that I would test try a few and see what he did.  I asked him what he thought about going to visit Grandma and he looked like he was thinking and then he shot both thumbs up in the air and said, "GREAT idea!"  I thought it was really cute.  We did a few more and he was very spot on with all of them.  :)

Ever since the ultrasound he's been very cute about my belly.  He'll come up and be very gentle with it and tell me that, "I'm being very gentle to Norah.  Then, when she gets bigger in a few minutes we can play."  He gave me a hug yesterday and then he very carefully gave my belly a hug and told me it was for Norah.  While we were driving he asked me if Norah had a seat in my belly, like his car seat.  And then he told me that he was happy that Norah had a nest in my belly so that she could be comfortable until it was time to come out.  A nest is something we just stack a bunch of pillows and blankets all around so they're real snug and comfy like :)

The other day Lucy was being funny (like normal) and Papa asked him if Lucy was funny.  He said, "Oh Yes.  She's freakin' hilarious."  I almost lost it.

He also asked if he could have a swag bag treat (his trick or treat bag) if they ate all their food.  We said that the both had to and Lucy was kinda slowing down so he went over and ate the rest of it.  haha.  She was pleased that she got a treat too.  :)  Now, out of the bag he got a mini nestle bar and he ate the N off the end and then he put one of his letters from this letter mat (the N of course) on the front of the bar and said, "look!  now it's fixed!" haha

I think one of the sweetest things that the kids do is when Gaetan comes home, depending on if it's really nice out or not (then they can do it on the sidewalk), they RUN to him and give him the biggest hug ever.  They laugh and have such a nice time.  Well, this time we were picking him up from school so the kids were in their seats and when he got in the car Dude said, "I'm so glad you're here Papa.  I really missed you."  How sweet is that?  As a parent, those are definite thing you cherish.

He is really into singing songs now.  He has learned his dinosaur alphabet A to Z, which I think is impressive and now he likes to make up songs too.  There's a song we sing for Lucy when we want her to get silly and dance and the other day I caught him singing it to her so that she would dance around with him.  It was really funny.

The last thing that I find just so sweet is that when its time to either go take a nap or go to bed he always makes sure that he's there to tuck Lucy in.  We put her in bed and get all her blankets and pals around and then he sits next to her and gives her a kiss and says, "Good night Miss Miss.  Sweet dreams.  I love you."  And she LOVES it.  I think that she expects it now and is quite unhappy when it doesn't happen.

As of lately we've been teaching him some spanish.  We are done with colors and are now onto the spanish alphabet.  He has a few numbers down... and i'm sure he will have them all soon.  He is so quick!

I'm so glad that the kids can play together and really show each other that they care.  I still can't believe some of the things that come out of his mouth, but they are sweet and full of good intention.  He's got a great sense of humor and I can't wait to see what else he does!

JVG

New Crock Pot

I know I know this must make me old or something... but I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting new kitchen appliances.  Be it new serving things, blenders, pots/pans... I'm about it.  I was really excited to get a mini muffin tin!  haha.  But this was my newest purchase and I have used it a few times already!  I really like the color, but the thing that caught my eye was the fact that the lid latches to the base for easy transport!  Somehow my handle to the lid on my old crock pot broke, so I was just using a different lid that fixed... but this was ON SALE and handy.... couldn't pass it up.  Anyways, yes, I get excited about kitchen things...

JVG

Lazy Sunday

Last Sunday the weather was unheard of for being the middle of November!  It was in the low 70's!   I am definitely not complaining, because I like the random warm day, so we took advantage of it.

After church we went to my parents house, like we normally do, to drop off some recycles and just hang out a little bit.  Our weekend routine was interrupted a bit because of the orchestra concert, and Dude really wanted to see Grandma and Don again.  Side note, the kids did so well going to Sunday school today!  Dude has been such a big boy for about the past month about going into the room.  He used to get sad and cry and tell Papa that he wanted him to come too, but now he goes in and likes playing in there!  He's very funny about it, but I'm glad that he's come to grips with it... makes the transition a lot easier! And even Miss Lucy did really well this time!  She usually gets upset when we put her number bracelet on her because she knows that means I'm leaving soon... but this time she was very serious while we got our numbers and even during the hand off she did really well.  Usually she'll cling to me like a koala and just cry and say, "Mama Mama Mama!"  It's heartbreaking, it really is, but after a few minutes she does calm down.  But, she was a big girl champ today and I think it's because she's getting used to the people in the room.  :)

Anyhoo... church was great as usual.  It started out a bit strange, in my opinion, but I could see where they were going with it.  After church we decided since it was such a lovely day out that we would get some sandwiches and have a picnic outside at my parents.  :)  Dude was all about it.  Unfortunately, when we got there I was grabbing the drinks and trying to shut the door and I ended up dropping the drink and it pretty much volcanoed out the top!  The drink landed right side up, so we only lost a bit of the beverage, but that also meant that I got a shower, and so did the van, in root beer... It was really funny if you weren't the one cold and sticky, but we had a good laugh.

We picniced on the deck and enjoyed the weather until one of the kids wanted to go inside.  By that time Mom and Dad had gotten home from their errands so I could change my clothes, put them in the washer and wear some of Mom's clothes!  :)  It's funny to think that my Mom and I would share clothes, just purely for the fact that she's probably half a foot taller than me!  But, I didn't do too badly :)  I got this wild hair to have a bonfire because the weather was so nice out and they had some stuff that needed to be burned... so the kids and I went out for a little bit and enjoyed the fire.  Then, they got a little restless so my wonderful husband took them running around outside and then watched them inside while I had some quiet time to hang out by the fire, and just be.  It's was amazing.  To be outside, in the quiet, by myself.  I felt kinda bad about it actually because here I was sitting outside, enjoying myself, doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING while I knew the kids were being crazies inside with Gaetan... but he kept reassuring me that everything was good.  :)

They are to cute.  They liked sitting by the fire for awhile :)

He was watching Dad wash the car

Its so nice having such a big yard for them to play in!

Goose was pointing and showing where Momma was!

He was making a Pteranodon squawk!

What kid doesn't love being thrown way up high!?

Eventually they came out again for a little while, but it was starting to get colder, so we called it quits on the fire.  Luckily, it was after all the wood was burned down, so it was a nice closing time for it anyway.  It was in that weird in between time of if we left we knew the kids would fall asleep in the car and at 6, is WAY to early... so I quick made a grocery list and we hit up the cookie store in town before we headed home.  Luckily, by the time both kids passed out it was closer to 7:15, which is more reasonable for a bed time.

This is what the crazies were doing inside

Dude was wrapping himself up in the blanket... you can see his little tuft of hair... sort of.

We were having a good time!  Explaining why the fire works and how it needs oxygen haha

After a good day of being outside and getting good and dirty, nothing like a warm soapy bath in the sink to end the day 

We got the kids home, unloaded groceries, and just relaxed a little before this tired Momma headed to bed too.  It was such a wonderful afternoon hanging out outside and just being in nature.  :)

JVG

Fresh Cranberry Bundt Cake with Hot Butter sauce

I love cranberries... they're tart, and such a vibrant color!  I was intrigued by this recipe because there wasn't any egg in it, and the ingredients were simple.  All I had to do was get a bundt cake pan and I was good to go!  Well, I have to say that it was DELICIOUS.  I can't wait to make it again for the holidays.  I think that it would be great if you were having somebody over for coffee or a family get together.  :)  The Hot Butter Sauce is really good too and I have found that if you refrigerate it it's nice that way too.  That way it's more like a spread than a melty frosting, but the flavor is still good.  :)  I was quite satisfied with how my first attempt with a bundt cake turned out.

My whole bundt cake fresh out of it's mold!  :)

With the butter sauce melted :)

http://luluthebaker.blogspot.com/2011/12/on-5th-day-of-christmas-fresh-cranberry.html

JVG

First K Phil Concert

Last Saturday was my first performance with the Kalamazoo Philarmonia!  It wasn't until later in the night so we had the entire day ahead of us.  :)  We had some friends coming down in the afternoon to hang out before the concert which was exciting.  Dude always has so much fun playing with Dizzy and reading.  :)  Quebra and I hung out in the kitchen making dinner and eating treats... :)

We had a bit of a catch when I heard our beloved babysitting, Ratty, was really sick and couldn't make it!  :(  I felt terrible because she was feeling terrible, and I know that she would've come if she could.  So we made some quick phone calls and it turns out that my parents were going to be back from their vacation in time to watch the kids.  :)  So, that meant that Gaetan could come to the concert and my Dad also!  I know that Tristan was really excited about the idea of spending some QT with Grandma and boy did it look like they had fun!  He said that they read a lot, played with his trains and even got to watch some Dinosaur Train.  :)  AND stay up late... what more could a little boy want?!  :)

Sure enough!

Made a new recipe that was a nice addition to our meal.  We had Mujaddarah, Indian Stew, Naan and lots of treats!  They brought peanut butter cookies and cupcakes from Dizzy's birthday, and I had rice krispie treats and puppy chow.  I was impressed that my Dad even tried a bit of it and liked it!  That is pretty adventurous for his palate, and I'm glad that he liked it.  They're pretty interesting dishes, not a lot of ingredients but I think the flavors are there.  SUPER cheap to make too, which is always nice on the budget!

Poor Goose bonked her face earlier that day and she ended up with a little black eye!  But, nothing a little puppy chow wouldn't fix (hence, the powdered sugar all over her face :)

Dude getting in all the reading he can.  Loves the Dinopedia we got from the library.

The concert went great!  I had to go an hour early for a quick rehearsal beforehand, but I think that the concert went really well.  My high school direction, Mr. DeLille even came to the concert with his wife :)  A friend from capo also came too, which meant a lot!  Of course my Dad, Gaetan, Quebra and Dizzy came, and I can't say how much their support in this extracurricular activity meant to me!  I was surprisingly not very nervous about it, but tried to have a good time.  Towards the end of the Beethoven, let me remind you that's about 40-45 minute piece... I started to get really hot!  I felt really bad for the guys in their tuxes... I could see the sweat on some of them!  But it the piece went really well, and I think that the Nielsen even went well too!

Baby Norah's first concert performance!

Pic of the group!

I was very appreciative of the explanation that our conductor gave of Nielsen's piece.  It seemed very avant garde while just listening to recordings and rehearsals, but it made more sense with his explanation, and actually made the piece a lot more enjoyable!  It was nice when we got to the last little bit of the piece to actually see him smile about our performance.  Our had a pretty rough dress rehearsal, and I could tell that he was a bit nervous about it, but I think it turned out really well!  :)

Looking forward to next cycle and the guest performer we have coming in!  I am also very excited about what new stand partner I will have.  I'm thinking that anybody else in the section is going to be a little bit more on rhythm than she was!  :)

JVG