His birthday banner (we each have one in a different colour)
Rainbow pancakes by Chef Kate
A doughnut cake (partially consumed)
And some specially chosen presents (what - you can't tell that's a ninja?)
A good day.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Monday, May 13, 2013
Strivings
In the Anglican Sunday service there is a part called the "Prayers of the People" (or the "Intercessions")where someone from the congregation comes up to offer general prayers. There are a half-dozen "scripts" in the service book that can be used, or the Intercessor (we Anglicans like to have fancy names for everything) can essentially make up their own prayers.
We have some people in our congregation who do a pretty bang-up job of intercessing - writing prayers that verge on poetry in some cases. Recently, one of the Intercessors added this hymn text to the end of her prayers:
Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Til all our strivings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And make our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
~John Greenleaf Whittier
It was just what I needed to hear that day. So much of what goes on in our heads is needless "striving" - a constant, restless searching/seeking to make things better, faster, more efficient, or otherwise different than how they are. We're always on the lookout for that magic formula that's going to make our lives perfect in one easy step. Thank you, John Greenleaf Whittier, for helping me put a (temporary) stop to all that chatter in my head and realize that I do not need to work so hard at "striving".
We have some people in our congregation who do a pretty bang-up job of intercessing - writing prayers that verge on poetry in some cases. Recently, one of the Intercessors added this hymn text to the end of her prayers:
Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Til all our strivings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And make our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
~John Greenleaf Whittier
It was just what I needed to hear that day. So much of what goes on in our heads is needless "striving" - a constant, restless searching/seeking to make things better, faster, more efficient, or otherwise different than how they are. We're always on the lookout for that magic formula that's going to make our lives perfect in one easy step. Thank you, John Greenleaf Whittier, for helping me put a (temporary) stop to all that chatter in my head and realize that I do not need to work so hard at "striving".
On parenting
Over the past four years, I've read a lot of parenting books. Recently, I went on a bit of a binge and took about six out of the library at the same time. Reading parenting books can be overwhelming - so many opinions, perspectives, suggestions...
This latest round seemed to be no different. Until, that is, I started to feel like I was reading the same book over and over. Once I started to see the patterns, I realized that the same messages have been echoed in almost all of the books I've read (maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake).
So, to spare others the trouble of reading dozens of books (and to save myself from having to read any more), here is my take on the collective wisdom:
1. Foster strong connections with your kids. Tell them you love them. Play with them. Laugh and giggle with them. Learn what makes their eyes light up. Compliment them. Ask them their opinion and listen to the answer.
2. Be an empathetic listener. Let your kids know you have really heard what they are saying. Resist the urge to always jump in with a response, lecture, or suggestion. Sometimes all they need/want is to tell someone that they had a lousy day. If a response is required, they will be much more receptive to what you have to say if they feel like they have been heard first.
3. Be a strong, consistent, guiding presence their lives. Kids feel secure knowing there is a loving adult "running the show". Be clear and consistent with your expectations and values (which is not the same as rigidly adhering to rules no matter what the cost). Be as decisive as possible - avoid "waffling". If you need time to think about something, say so. If you make a bad decision, admit your mistake and explain why you've changed your mind.
4. Focus on problem solving, not punishment. Instead of trying to come up with new and more effective punishments or consequences, focus on trying to help your child avoid repeating the same behaviour in the first place. Are they developmentally ready for what is being asked? Do they have the necessary skills, knowledge, or tools? Do they need some kind of reminder or cue to remember the desired behaviour? (Nagging doesn't count!) Involve your kids in this process as much as possible.
No problem, right?
This latest round seemed to be no different. Until, that is, I started to feel like I was reading the same book over and over. Once I started to see the patterns, I realized that the same messages have been echoed in almost all of the books I've read (maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake).
So, to spare others the trouble of reading dozens of books (and to save myself from having to read any more), here is my take on the collective wisdom:
1. Foster strong connections with your kids. Tell them you love them. Play with them. Laugh and giggle with them. Learn what makes their eyes light up. Compliment them. Ask them their opinion and listen to the answer.
2. Be an empathetic listener. Let your kids know you have really heard what they are saying. Resist the urge to always jump in with a response, lecture, or suggestion. Sometimes all they need/want is to tell someone that they had a lousy day. If a response is required, they will be much more receptive to what you have to say if they feel like they have been heard first.
3. Be a strong, consistent, guiding presence their lives. Kids feel secure knowing there is a loving adult "running the show". Be clear and consistent with your expectations and values (which is not the same as rigidly adhering to rules no matter what the cost). Be as decisive as possible - avoid "waffling". If you need time to think about something, say so. If you make a bad decision, admit your mistake and explain why you've changed your mind.
4. Focus on problem solving, not punishment. Instead of trying to come up with new and more effective punishments or consequences, focus on trying to help your child avoid repeating the same behaviour in the first place. Are they developmentally ready for what is being asked? Do they have the necessary skills, knowledge, or tools? Do they need some kind of reminder or cue to remember the desired behaviour? (Nagging doesn't count!) Involve your kids in this process as much as possible.
No problem, right?
Sunday, March 31, 2013
No-Book Recipes: Tzimmes
I'm not a great cook, but i really hate following a recipe. So, I'm always on the look-out for recipes that I can do from memory, and that will come out right even with variation in the ingredients. This is one of my favourites.
Tzimmes is a traditional Jewish dish of root vegetables and dried fruit in a sweet sauce. There are many variations. Google it for lots of pics.
Slow-cooker Tzimmes
(Note: I use a vintage 4 quart slow-cooker. Adjust accordingly for smaller or larger ones. )
1. Fill slow-cooker nearly to the top with cubed root vegetables.
(I usually use carrots and sweet potatoes, sometimes parsnip as well if I have some. Carrots and parsnip take a lot longer than sweet potato - cut them in smaller chunks.)
2. Add a few handfuls of chopped dried fruit.
(I usually use apricots and prunes, but I have also heard you can use cherries - that would be yummy!)
3. Add 1/2-1 cup of orange juice, 2-3 spoonfuls of honey, and a few shakes of cinnamon.
(Remember - I said I do this from memory. It is not exact each time. For the juice I use one of Kate's drinking boxes, since I don't usually have a whole jug of orange juice on hand!)
4. Cook until vegetables are soft (on low or high depending on how much time you have).
Mine is fine if I leave it on all day while I'm at work, but I have also done it in a couple of hours on high.
Serve as a side dish or with a grain base, like couscous, to make it more of a main.
This is my favourite dish to bring to potlucks, since it suits all diets (dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.)
Enjoy!
Tzimmes is a traditional Jewish dish of root vegetables and dried fruit in a sweet sauce. There are many variations. Google it for lots of pics.
Slow-cooker Tzimmes
(Note: I use a vintage 4 quart slow-cooker. Adjust accordingly for smaller or larger ones. )
1. Fill slow-cooker nearly to the top with cubed root vegetables.
(I usually use carrots and sweet potatoes, sometimes parsnip as well if I have some. Carrots and parsnip take a lot longer than sweet potato - cut them in smaller chunks.)
2. Add a few handfuls of chopped dried fruit.
(I usually use apricots and prunes, but I have also heard you can use cherries - that would be yummy!)
3. Add 1/2-1 cup of orange juice, 2-3 spoonfuls of honey, and a few shakes of cinnamon.
(Remember - I said I do this from memory. It is not exact each time. For the juice I use one of Kate's drinking boxes, since I don't usually have a whole jug of orange juice on hand!)
4. Cook until vegetables are soft (on low or high depending on how much time you have).
Mine is fine if I leave it on all day while I'm at work, but I have also done it in a couple of hours on high.
Serve as a side dish or with a grain base, like couscous, to make it more of a main.
This is my favourite dish to bring to potlucks, since it suits all diets (dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.)
Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The people you meet
I'd seen them before. Four real, live monks, complete with black robes and rosaries. Youngish guys. Riding the bus downtown at rush hour. You can't blame me for being curious.
Last week I found myself sitting next to one of them, so I decided to move from curiosity to inquisitiveness. I somewhat bluntly opened with something along the lines of "so what's your story?"
Turns out they are from a Franciscan order in Halifax and are here studying for a year. They are living in the rectory of a church near us and had to decide whether to opt for a long-term car rental or monthly bus passes to get around. I guess you get to meet more people on the bus!
We had a nice chat about Ottawa, the Pope, the work of their order, and the price of bus passes. Apparently, few people make it past the curiosity stage, and if they do they blurt out some quick question just as they're getting of the bus. Their loss. I haven't been on the same bus with the brothers again since, but next time I see them I'll be able to just say hi instead of trying not to look curious.
Last week I found myself sitting next to one of them, so I decided to move from curiosity to inquisitiveness. I somewhat bluntly opened with something along the lines of "so what's your story?"
Turns out they are from a Franciscan order in Halifax and are here studying for a year. They are living in the rectory of a church near us and had to decide whether to opt for a long-term car rental or monthly bus passes to get around. I guess you get to meet more people on the bus!
We had a nice chat about Ottawa, the Pope, the work of their order, and the price of bus passes. Apparently, few people make it past the curiosity stage, and if they do they blurt out some quick question just as they're getting of the bus. Their loss. I haven't been on the same bus with the brothers again since, but next time I see them I'll be able to just say hi instead of trying not to look curious.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Coming out the other side
I wore my spring coat today. It was -8 standing out at the bus stop this morning, but I didn't care. It's lime green and it makes me feel happy!
The sun is getting stronger, the days are getting longer. It's already light out when I leave for work, and it's still light out when I leave. The long-range forecast no longer has any minus double digits - in fact, there's more than a few numbers on the plus side. There's still mountains of snow, but you can feel things starting to turn. It's something in the air. When you have a mild spell in January, it's not the same. Now you can smell the spring, smell the earth, smell the green-ness.
We're comin' out the other side, folks.
The sun is getting stronger, the days are getting longer. It's already light out when I leave for work, and it's still light out when I leave. The long-range forecast no longer has any minus double digits - in fact, there's more than a few numbers on the plus side. There's still mountains of snow, but you can feel things starting to turn. It's something in the air. When you have a mild spell in January, it's not the same. Now you can smell the spring, smell the earth, smell the green-ness.
We're comin' out the other side, folks.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Fun with long hair
This is a bun with a scarf wrapped around it, and then a coil bracelet wrapped around that. Aside from the shape of the bun being a little wonky, I think I like it!
What do you think?
Monday, February 4, 2013
Budding correspondent
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Muffin tin dinners
Since we're on the topic of food for kids, I just thought I'd share this idea I saw on another blog (sorry, can't remember where) - muffin tin dinners.
They are really handy for enjoying impromptu backyard picnics :o) and they are also great for those nights where you just don't feel like cooking.
The one pictured here features strawberries, cereal, slivers of peanut butter toast, broccoli, raisins, and carrot sticks. You can also use one of the spots for a dip, like salsa or hummus.
Happy summer!
They are really handy for enjoying impromptu backyard picnics :o) and they are also great for those nights where you just don't feel like cooking.
The one pictured here features strawberries, cereal, slivers of peanut butter toast, broccoli, raisins, and carrot sticks. You can also use one of the spots for a dip, like salsa or hummus.
Happy summer!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
How to get kids to eat spinach
OK, so I guess it wasn't just the photo issue that was causing my blog-posting procrastination :o)
Today I just wanted to share one little tip that has been working for us lately.
I have been really trying to "up" my vegetable intake over the past several months. Particularly greens, since science is showing just how important these are for keeping us healthy and preventing major diseases. This effort has included venturing in to the world of green smoothies.
I noticed lots of references to kids enjoying them too, so I thought I would give it a try. Well, Kate was not universally impressed. She would drink them sometimes, but not reliably and certainly not a whole glass. BUT - what she will eat any day of the week is a green popsicle (a green smoothie poured into popsicle molds). Seriously, she eats one of these almost every day. She feels like she is getting a treat and I know she is getting her greens. And I don't have to restrict them in any way like I do for other treats - I would let her eat them multiple times a day if she asked.
There are a TON of green smoothies recipes out there if you care to search, but my go-to formula is simply one whole piece of fruit - usually an apple or pear - blended with two handfuls of spinach and enough water to get the consistency you want. (For freezing it doesn't really matter if it is a bit thick, but if I'm making it for myself to drink I prefer it on the thin side - more like juice.) Sometimes I add other things, if I'm feeling creative, but usually I just keep it simple.
In terms of blenders, I'm no expert, but I'm very happy with my new Magic Bullet. Mostly because it's SO MUCH EASIER TO CLEAN than a regular blender. That was one of the main reasons I rarely used my old one - I couldn't face the thought of hauling it out and then having to clean it. The Magic Bullet has just two pieces that you can quickly rinse under the tap. It also takes up much less counter space than a standard blender. I don't miss the larger size of the standard blender either because if I'm blending a large batch of, say, soup, I have a stick blender to do that right in the pot.
So that's my pearl of mommy wisdom for today - I'd love to hear if green popsicles work in your house!
Sent from my iPod
Today I just wanted to share one little tip that has been working for us lately.
I have been really trying to "up" my vegetable intake over the past several months. Particularly greens, since science is showing just how important these are for keeping us healthy and preventing major diseases. This effort has included venturing in to the world of green smoothies.
I noticed lots of references to kids enjoying them too, so I thought I would give it a try. Well, Kate was not universally impressed. She would drink them sometimes, but not reliably and certainly not a whole glass. BUT - what she will eat any day of the week is a green popsicle (a green smoothie poured into popsicle molds). Seriously, she eats one of these almost every day. She feels like she is getting a treat and I know she is getting her greens. And I don't have to restrict them in any way like I do for other treats - I would let her eat them multiple times a day if she asked.
There are a TON of green smoothies recipes out there if you care to search, but my go-to formula is simply one whole piece of fruit - usually an apple or pear - blended with two handfuls of spinach and enough water to get the consistency you want. (For freezing it doesn't really matter if it is a bit thick, but if I'm making it for myself to drink I prefer it on the thin side - more like juice.) Sometimes I add other things, if I'm feeling creative, but usually I just keep it simple.
In terms of blenders, I'm no expert, but I'm very happy with my new Magic Bullet. Mostly because it's SO MUCH EASIER TO CLEAN than a regular blender. That was one of the main reasons I rarely used my old one - I couldn't face the thought of hauling it out and then having to clean it. The Magic Bullet has just two pieces that you can quickly rinse under the tap. It also takes up much less counter space than a standard blender. I don't miss the larger size of the standard blender either because if I'm blending a large batch of, say, soup, I have a stick blender to do that right in the pot.
So that's my pearl of mommy wisdom for today - I'd love to hear if green popsicles work in your house!
Sent from my iPod
Monday, April 23, 2012
Easter etc
How was everyone's Easter weekend? (OK, I know that was a while ago, but not THAT long...)
We had a nice trip to visit Patrick's family (we're enjoying the innovation of breaking the trip into two parts, leaving after work the day before and staying in a hotel half way). Kate really likes seeing her cousins.
The weather was perfect for a Saturday hike (I recommend the trails at Recré-eau des Quinzes, particularly the Sentier l'explorateur, if you are ever in the area- not that I expect any of you would be!)
Kate also enjoyed the Easter egg hunt at the local library. Her efforts were captured on the local newspaper's website here.
Back at home on the holiday Monday we had my parents over for an Easter lunch. The Easter Bunny decided that Kate had not done enough hunting and so left another stash of treats in our backyard, of course.
Aside from Easter we have been enjoying the early departure of snow (today's unexpected precipitation notwithstanding), spending as much time outside as possible. Dad has kindly constructed my square-foot raised beds - all they need now is some fresh soil and seeds!
Patrick has been accepted to grad school for September - his first step in making a (hopeful!) transition from researcher who uses the Archives to archivist who shows researchers how to use the Archives. So that will be a big but exciting change for us next year.
We are also preparing for Kate to move on from day care to pre-school in September. The waiting lists are long around here, and it is a tough to choose amongst the different options. We have been offered a spot at the local French pre-school (she has had no instruction in French as yet) but are still on the waiting list at the English school. So we'll see what happens there.
We are also starting to look ahead to summer holidays and have plans to return to Washington, this time with Patrick's brother and his family along for the ride. Another great chance for Kate to have some fun with her cousins!
Sent from my iPod
We had a nice trip to visit Patrick's family (we're enjoying the innovation of breaking the trip into two parts, leaving after work the day before and staying in a hotel half way). Kate really likes seeing her cousins.
The weather was perfect for a Saturday hike (I recommend the trails at Recré-eau des Quinzes, particularly the Sentier l'explorateur, if you are ever in the area- not that I expect any of you would be!)
Kate also enjoyed the Easter egg hunt at the local library. Her efforts were captured on the local newspaper's website here.
Back at home on the holiday Monday we had my parents over for an Easter lunch. The Easter Bunny decided that Kate had not done enough hunting and so left another stash of treats in our backyard, of course.
Aside from Easter we have been enjoying the early departure of snow (today's unexpected precipitation notwithstanding), spending as much time outside as possible. Dad has kindly constructed my square-foot raised beds - all they need now is some fresh soil and seeds!
Patrick has been accepted to grad school for September - his first step in making a (hopeful!) transition from researcher who uses the Archives to archivist who shows researchers how to use the Archives. So that will be a big but exciting change for us next year.
We are also preparing for Kate to move on from day care to pre-school in September. The waiting lists are long around here, and it is a tough to choose amongst the different options. We have been offered a spot at the local French pre-school (she has had no instruction in French as yet) but are still on the waiting list at the English school. So we'll see what happens there.
We are also starting to look ahead to summer holidays and have plans to return to Washington, this time with Patrick's brother and his family along for the ride. Another great chance for Kate to have some fun with her cousins!
Sent from my iPod
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
:: right now ::
Ha - so I bet you were all expecting a big long post after that last one. Well, I haven't been able to get on Blogger for a whole week - some silly redirect loop. So I am stuck doing another email post from my iPod.
I'm going to do a "Right Now" post, à la Soulemama(I'd make that a live link if I wasn't doing this via email! - look it up yourself if you are curious) Blogger issues resolved :o)
So, Right Now I am:
:: LOVING the warm weather
:: starting to make plans for a Square Foot vegetable garden(again, I wanted to make that a live link, but you're on your own...)
:: admiring Kate's creativity in bedtime excuses - the other day she told me she couldn't sleep because her eyebrows hurt
:: really enjoying being in my new choir, despite (or perhaps because of) the grueling rehearsals (We're recording an album! Check out our site or blog)
:: smiling at the lime green car that is always parked outside my office window in a sea of drab grey and brown cars - don't know whose it is, but it always makes me smile
:: disappointed that the second season of Downtown Abbey has ended just as we were getting hooked on the series
:: grateful that Vision TV is replaying the first season so we can catch up!
That's about it for me. What are you doing right now?
Sent from my iPod
I'm going to do a "Right Now" post, à la Soulemama
So, Right Now I am:
:: LOVING the warm weather
:: starting to make plans for a Square Foot vegetable garden
:: admiring Kate's creativity in bedtime excuses - the other day she told me she couldn't sleep because her eyebrows hurt
:: really enjoying being in my new choir, despite (or perhaps because of) the grueling rehearsals (We're recording an album! Check out our site or blog)
:: smiling at the lime green car that is always parked outside my office window in a sea of drab grey and brown cars - don't know whose it is, but it always makes me smile
:: disappointed that the second season of Downtown Abbey has ended just as we were getting hooked on the series
:: grateful that Vision TV is replaying the first season so we can catch up!
That's about it for me. What are you doing right now?
Sent from my iPod
Monday, February 27, 2012
aaaaand, we're back! (sans photos)
So I guess it's been a while since I was here. The truth is, I've been procrastinating because of PHOTOS.
I always felt that there was no point in posting if I didn't have any photos to share. And since photos tend to stay on our camera for months before getting downloaded, this meant that I've been spending a lot of time feeling guilty and thinking "I really HAVE to download those photos!".
But, you know what? I really don't like taking photos - having to remember the camera, having to remember to take photos during an event, feeling disappointed when the photos don't turn out (which is most of the time), remembering to download the photos (that I'm not really happy with), feeling guilty that once the photos are on the computer they are neither organized nor backed up - see what I mean? A veritable mine field of guilt and frustration.
So I'm done. No more worrying about photos. The point of this site was to share news with friends and family, and I can do that without photos. It's less pretty, but I can do it. If I have some pics to share, of course I will do that, but mostly it'll just be me. Consider this the radio news rather than the TV news.
So now that I've sufficiently lowered your expectations :o) what have we been up to? Stay tuned...
Sent from my iPod
Thursday, December 1, 2011
We have faces!
Daddy is particularly proud of this one:
Monday, September 5, 2011
Beaten by Mt Mansfield
We're back in Vermont for Labour Day weekend this year. After last year's success with Camel's Hump, we were eager to try Mt. Mansfield this time around. But we had to "abort" the attempt after almost 1 mile (and 1300 ft of ascent). I blame:
- a late start due to a longer-than-expected drive to the trail head and a sudden thunderstorm that we had to wait out in the car (we didn't hit the trail 'til almost noon and had lost that early-morning enthusiasm!)
- a slippery, muddy trail due to aforesaid thunderstorn (and, of course, last week's hurricane!)
- hiking with a 2 1/2 year old who is MUCH heavier to carry (poor Daddy!), much less willing to ride in the backpack (good for Daddy!), and much more vocal about her opinions ("I go back HOtel") than the 1 1/2 year old we had along at Camel's Hump. :o)
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Kate-isms
A few of Kate's current (cute) words:
- hippopomolus
- bicle (bicycle)
- helpacopler (helicopter)
- teh-bear (teddy bear)
- bokalers (binoculars)
July 2011
Here are the latest highlights from our backyard and beyond...
We had a great holiday in the States, spending a week in Virginia and a few days in Washington DC. We got to see some friends and their new baby too!
 |
| Watching the RCMP Musical Ride |
 |
| Hiking in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia |
We had a great holiday in the States, spending a week in Virginia and a few days in Washington DC. We got to see some friends and their new baby too!
 |
| Canoeing on the Rideau Canal |
 |
| Using our new canoe trailer |
(This got us quite a few looks going through town, I can assure you.)
 |
| Swimming at Bon Echo Provincial Park |
We've just returned from a few days of camping. Kate didn't sleep very well in the tent, but she LOVED the beach. Hopefully she will get used to the tent!
Now it's back to work on Monday...
Saturday, June 11, 2011
OK, so spring did come...
Here are a few shots from the last month.
New tractor
First trip to the beach
Washin' dishes - current favourite activity
Hikin'
What happens when you let a 2-year-old dress herself
Saturday, April 16, 2011
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