mama mandypants

Souper Squared

2012-01-19T13:05:00.001-07:00

In case you don't read little sisters blog, I insist that you try a soup recipe she posted.

There are two points about this soup that I want to shout from the rooftop....

"It's so filling & yummy!!! and super healthy!!"

Seriously? How often does that happen? For this carb-aholic....almost never.

I tried taking a picture, but for some reason it didn't look appetizing in the picture. So go warm up your belly with some of this delicious soup....you won't be disappointed.

Recipe:
http://www.versesfrommykitchen.com/2011/11/soup-series-market-vegetable-and-quinoa-soup-with-celery-pesto.html

Oh, and I also didn't make the pesto and didn't miss it. The only change I made was adding sprinkle of Thyme.

Potty Training

2012-01-12T10:05:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the deafening silence, but we have been busy with our girl who is growing up to fast. We are attempting potty training, so it might be quiet here for a while longer.....wish us luck!

Pile of "Underwears" (as she calls them) and Jar of Treats

Is it okay that I had tears in my eyes the first time she went in the potty? She is getting so old....

Reflections

2012-01-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

The other night at my dear cousins home, I was stopped in my tracks by a quote she had on her wall.
It went like this:

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. ”

-Guillaume Apollinaire

This is my New Years Resolution.

What's yours?

Hide and Seek

2012-01-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Lucy & Daddy have a new game. Well, new to her anyways. It's the classic Hide & Seek. She loves it and will play all day long if she could. It is so cute & fun to watch.

She covers her eyes and counts to 5 and then sneaks around the house looking for Daddy. Then in true girl style she lets out an ear-piercing squeal when she finds him.

Covering Her Eyes & Counting to Five

Sneaking Around on her TipToes and Looking for Daddy

When it's her turn to hide she picks the same 2 spots and you can hear her giggling in anticipation while she impatiently waits for you to find her.

Hiding, Waiting & Giggling

Love these moments....

Fairmont

2011-12-30T18:28:00.002-07:00

The Girlies on Sunday Morning

Off to Fairmont again! How lucky are we? This time for a whole week for a much-needed vacation with the Jay & Jodi's family. Lucy & Sophia had sooooo much fun together and for several days after Lucy was sorely missing her friend. We had no snow - which was so strange in the mountains in December. But we had loads of fun anyways.

I'll let the pictures tell the story.....

Dawson - Happy in the Pool

HotTub!

She Loved this Fountain!

Two Monkeys Ready to go Swimming

Building a Candy Castle

Walking with Daddy

Sitting Still for a Micro-Second

Sliding on the Ice

Throwing Rocks into the River

Daddies & Daughters

Mac&Cheese at the Rec Centre

Matching Jammies & Cheerios

Opening Presents

Notice anything? No pictures of the adults...the kids are much cuter anyways!

Christmas

2011-12-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

We all spent the night at Grandma & Grandpa's. Such a fun & memorable time! Big, Big Thanks to Grandma for all the effort she made to make it such a wonderful Christmas!

Lucy was so priceless when she was opening her gifts.....she would clasp her chest and say "oh-my!" and when she was trying on her princess outfit from Grandma she was saying "oh-my-goodness-sakes!". What a kid!

Bread Sticks

2011-12-19T08:00:00.007-07:00

Bread-Sticks will always have a soft spot in my heart. Every day at Bev Facey Community High School at around 3pm the enticing smell of breadsticks would come wafting up the main atrium. The Commercial Foods class would make a big batch of breadsticks at the end of the day and sell them for I think 25cents (help me out here Aimee) a slice. They were soooo yummy, soft and garlicy...the perfect end of the school day treat.

The other day I was browsing a new favorite recipe website of mine, Mels Kitchen Cafe and saw a recipe for Bread Sticks. They were quick and simple and she claims they are no fail, family favorite. And they did not disappoint. We were having some pasta and I decided last minute to give them a try. I literally stood by the oven watching the minutes count down until they were done.

I think once the munchkin starts school these will the official "after-school snack" in our home. Paying homage to what I enjoyed in high school.....but mostly cause they are awesomely delicious!

Here is the recipe....Divine Breadsticks.

(I used Johnny's Garlic Spread Seasoning from Costco and it was the perfect garlicy flavor!)

On Napping

2011-12-16T10:00:00.014-07:00

We nap. Every day in the Pipke home between the hours of 1- 3pm all is quiet and still. Weekday, weekend - doesn't matter. We nap. I went through a phase of feeling guilty about it. I felt I should be up and doing. And some days I do. But, most days at around 1pm....I lay down and give a big relaxed happy sigh. Close my eyes and drift off for an hour of restoration and rejuvenation.

I have a recipe for a really good nap:

1st: cherry-pit bag (which Lucy calls my berry bag) heated up for exactly 2.5 minutes in the microwave

2nd: my fan. All Hail White Noise! Can I get an amen?

3rd: iPod. Enough said.

4th: baby monitor. Where I softly hear the sound of Lucy's fan while she sleeps & then her darling little voice saying, "hi sweetie!" when she wakes up.

Coming Soon to a MailBox Near You...

2011-12-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Signed, Sealed, Stamped & Sent....

BIG HINT: I love getting mail back!

Pipke Central

2011-12-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have a bulletin board on the back of pantry door. On it I keep 4 major things. First, is my cleaning schedule. Which I will get into in another post. Second, is a calendar. Found on etsy here. Third is current recipe to try, recently tried etc. Fourth is misc. I am envisioning school calendars & soccer schedule. Although once that starts happening I'm thinking it might be too small. For now, it's empty. Hmmm, maybe we need to spice up our life a little?? Do you have a grand central station?? What works for you?

I started this bulletin board for the calendar and recipes. I always had a random little piles all over the kitchen and drawers of recipes and it drove me bananas. Plus I was always grabbing my phone to check a calendar. Hence the bulletin board was born.

Note to Self: buy more freezer bags.

RRRRRibs!

2011-12-12T08:04:00.003-07:00

Ok, so ribs have been my nemesis. I tried many-many recipes & many-many ways of cooking them. Hubby loves them - so do I! And yet, they hadn't been perfected. I could get them "okay", but who wants ribs that are "okay"?? Not this gal.

Mom makes amazing ribs that are tender and flavorful. I never could seem to make them as good as her so I thought I would leave them to the expert. She makes them in the oven & I really wanted a recipe that could be made in the slow cooker. My biggest complaint about the slow cooker is the texture almost gets too soft & too stringy.

Then on one of my daily foodgawker visits...okay thrice daily....okay not counting the foodgawker app which would probably make 6-9 times daily visits I decided to look up rib recipes. I stumbled on this recipe. And it was exactly what I wanted! Tender yet a slightly crispy coating. Here is how they looked. in my crock-pot.

There are a few key steps to this recipe. I think the most important step for me was having the ribs stand up in the crock pot. (I think because they aren't sitting in the sauce they just get tender & not soft) Then after they have been in the crock-pot all day (and you wish you would have planned an outing instead of doing housework 'cuz you have to smell them cooking alllll day while your stomach annoyingly growls). You thicken the sauce and put them in the oven on broil. And you put them on the bottom rack for a slow broil.

I just used bottled barbecue sauce with a few extra sprinkles of liquid smoke. The taste was very good - restaurant like. But, I want to try them next time with a homemade barbecue sauce and will report back.

Oh, these were good.....like comfort - sit and slowly savor each bite good. I may or may not have texted Glenn while eating them and told him to hurry home from work as there might not be any left by the time he got home.

This recipe or more correctly this cooking method is definitely going to be a repeated many-many times in our home!

Homey Touches of Winter

2011-12-09T08:04:00.002-07:00

Just a few small touches of the season. Not as much as last year, really trying to keep things simple - but they make me smile...!

Sorry about the picture quality...I took them last night when it was dark and I was tired etc

Outside Mom!

2011-12-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

She says this quite often. And just like her cousin, it's what we've been doing. She is in her glory!

Guacamole

2011-12-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

So. I buy avocado's every week. Usually a bag of them. Why? Cuz Glenn loves them on his sandwich. But, I don't make him a sandwich ever day so I usually end up with a bunch of leftover avocados that sometimes get eaten & sometimes don't.

Now I love me some guacamole, however I have yet to find a home-made recipe I like. Mostly because the majority of them have cilantro in them. And people I loath cilantro.

So when I spied the jar at Superstore on Monday I decided to gamble. And it was great!!! I love the idea that I can pull it out last minute if I have some avocados that are going bad.

My New Favorite Recipe

2011-12-02T08:50:00.001-07:00

Seriously people, this bread is so amazing! I promise. I passed this recipe along to older sister and she had the same "so delicious" response. It reminds me of the bread you get at Earls. You must eat it with olive oil & balsamic vinegar (just like Earls). Plus, it smells divine when it's baking. I think I told Glenn that if we ever were staging a home to sell I would bake this bread every time we had a showing. I would totally buy a house based on the smell of this bread alone. (no? just me?)

Foccacia Bread

1 Cup of Warm Water
2 TB Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Garlic Salt, Basil, Oregano
2 Tsp Rosemary
3 Cups of Flour
1 1/2 Tsp Yeast

Put all ingredients in order into bread machine. Put on dough setting. When finished press into greased glass 9x12 pan. Just use your fingers to push into corners. It doesn't have to perfect, in fact Foccacia bread is usually quite "rustic" looking. Place cloth over top and leave to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.

Brush with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt & a bit of rosemary. Then bake @ 400F for 20-25 minutes.

The hardest part is letting it rest for a few minutes before cutting into it!

On Homemaking & Blogging

2011-12-02T08:27:00.002-07:00

Dear Internet,

As much as I know her Aunties and Grandma's love seeing pictures of Lucy, I'm sure there is some virtual eye-rolling going on every time "another picture" of Lucy shows up. So I'm going to "try" and remedy this situation.

MandyPants

My Favorite Apron

I've been thinking about why I have this blog and keep it up. I came up with 3 main reasons. First: to keep her family & friends updated on our goings-on. Second: as a "virtual-diary" if you will for me to look back and remember our life. Third: I have gotten so much inspiration and help from other blogs & I am a firm believer in what goes around - comes around. In other words, because of all the wonderful tips & general help I have gotten, I owe the blog world to pay it forward.

So what does this mean? I want to start recording more of what my day-to-day life really is. Of course a big part of it is Lucy and I am sure she will continue to dominate most of my posts. However, I do stay at home. And "keeping the home" is my job. My sister and I realized the other day that much of our almost daily phone chats revolve around cooking, recipes and the latest thing we saw on FoodGawker.

So heads up for more blogging on recipes, organization & feathering our nest!

These Glasses are Made for Seein'

2011-11-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

Wearing Mommy's glasses...

These Boots are Made for Walkin'

2011-11-27T12:54:00.001-07:00

Wearing Mommy's boots...

Fairmont in November

2011-11-21T16:42:00.001-07:00

Annual Lewis pilgrimage to Fairmont. Was a whirlwind trip with a big hiccup up at the end, but all in all a wonderful time. Lucy loved being with the family (especially Grandpa!) and had so much fun swimming, walking, playing etc! How long until next year??

Oh, and the hiccup? Our vehicle breaking down in Banff. If you are going to have vehicle trouble, it was a great place to do it!!

And I didn't take one single picture, so thanks to my MIL for sending me a copy of this! (even if we do look a little scraggley & ready for a nap after Meeting & then Brunch at the hotel)

Sweet Baby Cove

2011-11-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

In the blink of an eye he has gotten so big! Took a couple of shots for his mom & dad...

PhotoShoot Bloopers

2011-11-05T13:19:00.001-06:00

Is it obvious when the bribery-Smarties kicked in?

Lucy's Fall Picture

2011-11-05T13:13:00.000-06:00

Snips, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

2011-11-02T09:59:00.000-06:00

The other evening we got enjoy 3 baby boys at our place......each born 2 weeks apart! How lucky are we??

Katrina & Slater - Shannon & Rowan - Cheryl & Sawyer

Fishing with Jake

2011-11-02T09:55:00.000-06:00

A fun game Jacalyn planned at Jake's 2nd Birthday/Halloween Party!

Lucy & Babies

2011-11-02T09:51:00.000-06:00

Lucy loves putting her dollies to bed. She tucks them, sings them a song, gives them all kisses and then says: "nite-nite, nice dreams". So sweet.....

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T09:33:00.000-06:00

Being this is probably the last year I will have a say in her costume, we just used the same Giraffe costume from last year. After all, it still fit & was nice and toasty warm for the first snow of this winter. Our little Giraffe absolutely loved the entire evening! She kept saying to us, "so fun!" I would say the biggest hit was handing out candy. And then we went over to Franks to help him hand out candy and she couldn't have been more thrilled!

The Things She Says

2011-10-10T23:53:00.001-06:00

In response to me asking her if she was stinky....
"no thanks."
seriously, I laughed for like 1/2 an hour after she said this.

Any time she falls, drops something or does anything by accident....
"sorry CeeCee"
I love that she apologizes to herself!

Standing in front of the fridge or pantry....
"hmmmmm"
wonder where she picked this up from?

Just in Case....

2011-09-29T08:50:00.000-06:00

Because you never know when in your dreams you might need your purple-princess shoes.....

Friday Mornings

2011-09-23T08:34:00.000-06:00

Every Friday morning we listen for the garbage & recycling trucks. As soon as Lucy hears it she runs to the window and watches and waves. Can I say I love our simple weekly routines?

Play-Doh!

2011-09-23T08:11:00.001-06:00

After her bath & while waiting for Daddy to come home I introduced Lucy to Play-Doh! She loved it....and mommy enjoyed herself too!

2011-09-21T14:20:00.003-06:00

Charlotte Pictures

2011-09-16T11:35:00.000-06:00

Pictures have now been added of when we visited the sweetest little niece ever was born....

http://mama-mandypants.blogspot.com/2011/08/big-little-moments.html

Grandma & Grandpa Rule!

2011-09-16T11:00:00.002-06:00

This pic cracks me up...typical scene!

Seriously. Grandma & Grandpa's house is soooo much fun! To both children (as in us 3 girls) and grandchildren! While we spent alot of time cuddling baby Rowan, we also wanted to give the new little family some bonding time. And we had a whale of a time.....as evidenced below. Have I said it before? We have an awesome family!

Vintage French MoPed that Dad Restored

Picnic in the Park

These 2 are Crazzzeee Together!

One of Many Walks Through the Gorgeous Trees & Of Course, Rock Throwing into the Creek

Grandma Reading Bedtime Stories Out of a Book From When She was a Girl

Rowan Shea McGavigan

2011-09-12T16:00:00.000-06:00

He is a perfect little bundle of contradictory newborn-sweetness & boyish-ruggedness. A wee precious leprechaun. And this Aunty is just bursting with love & pride over him.....

100 Years

2011-08-30T13:47:00.002-06:00

100 years of the Lewis family ranching on the same piece of land! How incredible! When we received the invitation to come and help celebrate we were thrilled! I honestly didn't think it would happen with Glenn's schedule, but the stars aligned and we had an awesome time.

So great to see family we haven't seen in forever...Lucy had an absolute blast with all her cousins & of course her favorite "Pa" (Grandpa). So neat to hear family history we didn't know & the official presentation of a plaque from the province from their MLA.

Lucy Update

2011-08-30T11:21:00.002-06:00

I've just realized it's been quite awhile since I've done an update on our little sweetpea.
So mostly for my own record, here we go!

Learning 2-5 new words everyday
Will say 'men after grace & bedtime prayers (as in, Amen)
Still eating like a champ. Fav's: cheese, edamame beans, noodles, cucumbers and of course "treatzzzz"
Sleeps 2-3 hours at nap-time
Goes to bed at 8:30pm and wakes up between 6:30 & 7:00am
Get's mistaken for a 3 year old all the time
Hates getting her hair brushed & done
Loves picking out her clothes
Will twirl around when wearing a dress
Loves her trains, puzzles & dress-up clothes
Getting a bit more shy as she gets older
Still fights the carseat
Getting very-very slightly better at not running away
Still loves her "bee" (blanket)
Says "cryyyyyy" when she is crying (so hilarious)
Will reach up and say "HUG!"
Very selective with her kisses (makes us appreciate them!)
Interested in the potty, but still hasn't done anything on it
Still an energetic, mischievous little wiggle-worm that we are so lucky is ours!

We Heart Visitors

2011-08-24T20:17:00.003-06:00

"Though miles come between us - We are never far apart

For friendship doesn't count the miles - It's measured by the heart"

When they sent a text to say they were at Wetaskiwin, I set the timer on the oven so I would know exactly when they would arrive. Otherwise I knew I would be running to the window every 10 minutes to see if they had pulled into the driveway.

There really is nothing like spending time with the your 2 oldest friends. It's such a nice comfortable feeling being with people who have known you your whole life. I kept willing the minutes to go slower so I could savor every moment, knowing visits like this are few & far between. And now we share marriage & motherhood which just brings us even closer!

My heart is feeling pretty full right now, so instead or writing & re-writing, trying to get the words right - I'm creating a list of the highlights instead:

Meeting Gabriella for the first time
Classic Slumber Party
Staying up talking until 2am
Reminiscing & hearing lots of "remember when we...."
Reading old notes sent back & forth from 15 years ago
Staying in our jammies until lunch
Relaxing on the deck
Deciding to extend the slumber party another night
Other dear friends dropping by to visit
Sharing motherhood moments
Eating, eating, eating...
Lots of baby snuggling with not one, but two delicious wee ones (both born on the same day!)
Crazy two years old who are two peas in a pod & kept us thoroughly entertained
Tears when they leave....

Love you both dearly.....

Heritage Park

2011-08-16T18:37:00.000-06:00

It really was the perfect morning for a two-year old. And it was all thanks to Grandpa. We were so glad to have Grandma and Grandpa come and spend the night with us. Then an impromptu decision to go to Heritage Park.

Grandpa made sure that Lucy loved every single moment. And let me tell you, she did! Come again soon G&G!

One of Those Days

2011-08-14T21:29:00.000-06:00

Saturday was a day where every moment was savored. Glenn is working insane hours, so thus days like yesterday are red-letter days in our books. We arrived at the Zoo right when it opened and had lots of zoo fun. Lunch, then a family nap followed. Then Lucy's favorite babysitter showed up to spend the evening with her. Glenn & I went on a long-overdue date. And to the #1 raking restaurant in my books. And it did not disappoint.....(oh, Crying Tiger Beef & Lemon Pepper Curry I am still spending a shameful amount of time thinking about you.) We over-ate & then indulged in a lazy cappuccino at Starbucks.

And at the end of the day, this wife/mommy went to sleep with a very happy heart.

Big & Little Moments

2011-08-08T13:58:00.001-06:00

Sadly my memory card is sitting on my dad's desk.....and too much time has gone by already and I am bursting with pride over my new little niece.

Little Miss Charlotte Elodie

She is precious & sweet...all the things a newborn little girl should be......and in the little time we had together, somehow she managed to find a big spot in my full heart.

lots of pics & details on Tish's blog

Pictures now here!!

GGJ Roses

2011-07-16T19:32:00.001-06:00

Remember these? They are absolutely flourishing and chalk-full of beautiful roses. I am really missing Grandma right now.....I know she would loved the hilarious stage Lucy is at right now. And I also know she would be so proud of me for helping her roses to flourish!

Interesting that they started blooming at the one year anniversary of her passing.....

New Neighbor

2011-07-16T19:25:00.001-06:00

We are just over the moon that Ang (Awesome Friend, Favorite Babysiter & Uber-Aunt) decided to buy her very first home close to us! We are looking forward to many evening walks to her & Sarah's place.

I was there for the momentous move in day....

Summer Lovin'

2011-07-16T19:16:00.001-06:00

Evening sun & ice-cream cones are the perfect pair!

Charmkins

2011-07-05T09:54:00.001-06:00

Remember Charmkins? Remember the tiny furniture & tiny people who each smelled like a different flower? Thanks to my mom, I totally do! And also thanks to my mom saving my sets, my daughter can play with them too!

There has been a bag of this 80's favorite girl toy set sitting in our basement. Lucy has been taking awhile to get over a cold - so we decided to have a quiet morning in. The two of us still in our jammies, laid on our tummies playing with it for most of the morning. What an almost surreal experience, to play with a toy that I played with as a child, with my daughter!

I honestly thought she might be a bit young for it yet. I expected her to be a bit "destructive" with it. But she was gentle & patient with the small parts.....I was so proud of my big girl!

My favorite one - then & now!

The Toddler Speaks

2011-07-05T09:02:00.000-06:00

For the past 6-8 months or so we have listened to our daughter talk to us in a strange, but adorable language. She acted like we totally understood what she was saying, but sadly it was foreign to us. I secretly was a little worried. Most children her age were talking in sentences. I expressed my concerned to the public health nurse, and was given advice and phone numbers to call.

But once again "the village" (aka: the other wise mothers in my life) told me to fret not, children are all very different and that one day her language will explode & we will be able to understand! Boy oh boy did it ever!

Here is a small portion of her rapidly growing vocabulary:

peas : please
yeth pea: yes please
how: help
bee : blankie
ma: milk
joosh: juice
treatzz: treats
buu: bug
baby
owwie
seepin: sleeping
dee: Glee (yes, we listen to alot of Glee music around here. yes, our daughter loves it!)
mo: more
side: outside
shooz: shoes
nummy: any type of food
papa: grandpa
pawee: potty
She also knows ABC & 123.

And the most adorable of all....
CeeCee: Lucy

Disclaimer: this post is for my own memory bank, to remember this amazing time & to remind myself to let her grow at her own pace

Toddler Patience

2011-07-02T20:22:00.002-06:00

Whether you are waiting for your pool to fill or your sweet-potato fries to cook.....it's always easier in a swim-suit!

Canada Day Fun

2011-07-02T09:53:00.001-06:00

As soon as Glenn got home from work, we zipped down to the Canada Day BBQ at our community center. Lucy still had so much fun! She was soaking wet, but very happy!

...and the living is easy

2011-07-01T10:04:00.000-06:00

Little Visitors

2011-06-26T19:46:00.000-06:00

What a fun week! At the start of the week we spent some time with Donovan and his mom & dad.

And then Sophia & Dawson came to stay! (of course their 'rents came too!) We had such an awesome time! Us Mom's got a spa night & shopping without the kidlets. Lucy & Sophia had an absolute blast together - they are both little mischievous monkeys! It was so hilarious to watch them play together. Lucy was also very smitten with Dawson. She kept trying to hold him and would put blankets on him & tell us, Shhhh, baby seepin'

Bubbles!

2011-06-22T16:32:00.001-06:00

Thanks for the Bubble Machine Grandma, we had lots of fun with it today!

Clothes Horsey

2011-06-20T18:35:00.000-06:00

My little fashionista loves clothes & shoes! She fell asleep with her favorite shoes (or as she would say, shoosh) on at naptime today. She notices if I get her new clothes and insists on trying them on right a way and will run to the mirror to check her outfit out.

Aunty Shannon got her some new shorts for her birthday. She had to try all three pairs on at once!

If there was ever a picture to capture Lucy's crazy personality, it would be this one:

More Tales from the Toddler

2011-06-20T08:54:00.000-06:00

What? You thought that flushing things down the toilet was the only mischievous thing she did?

Thank heavens for the following:

Spot-Shot: one entire bottle took it out of the carpet
MrClean Magic Erasers: took it right off the lino & cupboards
Patient Husband: calmed down very upset mommy & picked up the aforementioned cleaning supplies.

I say it again.....

Sigh, toddlers.

Tales from the Toilet

2011-06-19T16:53:00.001-06:00

Background: the toilet in Lucy's bathroom hasn't been working for quite some time. Glenn tried plunging & snaking it, but nothing was working. When my parents were here, Glenn and Dad took the toilet apart to see what was wrong.

I should also mention that Lucy has some foam letters & numbers that she plays with in the bath, they stick to the side of the tub when they are wet.

Are you starting to make the connection?

Yup, down the toilet she flushed them - that's right THEM down the toilet. Dad & Glenn took it apart, found one letter, patted them selves on the back that they had solved the problem and put it back together. But still no go! After more digging, this is what they found (as described by the text Dad sent):

Tish & I were in the change room at H&M when my Dad sent this text. We honestly had tears pouring down our faces we were laughing so hard!

Sigh, toddlers.

Happy Birthday Aunty Shannon!

2011-06-18T09:59:00.000-06:00

Wish we were closer to celebrate with you!!

Love, Lucy

PS I want to be Just Like You!!
PPS I can't wait for my little cousin to arrive!!

Lucy's 2nd Birthday Party

2011-06-13T19:12:00.002-06:00

A Big Special Thanks goes to my Mom for helping me with all the "kitchen-stuff".........I felt like I really-really enjoyed my daughters birthday because of her help!

Motherhood is Not for Sissies!

2011-06-13T10:24:00.000-06:00

Night One of No Soother

Lucy: "waaaaa"

Mom: "waaaaa"

Dad: "I think I will sleep in the basement for the next few nights."

Happy 2nd Birthday Little *Squee!

2011-06-11T22:14:00.004-06:00

(trying to blow out the candle)

Dear Lucy,

It's the end of the day after your 2nd birthday party. The house is still a giant mess, with balloons all over the floor, wrapping paper waiting for the recycle bin & most importantly, happy memories in our hearts.

You had an amazing time with all your friends & family. Your family from Edmonton all made the 3 hour drive to be there to help you celebrate another year. And several of your close friends (and their parents) came to party (or par-ee as you would say) with you. I would say you are one lucky & loved little girl!

You were a little too overwhelmed to eat the lunch your mom fussed over....you mostly ate chips. But, it was your party so I let it go. You didn't have any problems eating the cake, ice cream & strawberries however!

I decided to do somewhat of a "strawberry" party because of your undying love of strawberries. You would eat them everyday, all day, if I would let you! There was also some streamers & balloons and a few other decorations your mom made.

You had so much fun opening presents. You got some super awesome gifts - your family & friends are so generous!! Grandma & Grandpa (who you have started calling PaPa.....so-so cute!) got you a little play kitchen.....which was a big hit with all the kids. But, I think my favorite reaction was when you opened the doll from Aunty Tish & Uncle Jeff and you squealed so loud - like a crazy excited teenager girl! Then you chanted, Baby-Baby! So hilarious.....and yet it made you seem so old!

We are so-so lucky, blessed & amazed that we have had the privilege of being your parents for 2 whole years......love you more then you know.

Love,
Mom

PS since you were born, I have called you sweet-pea. Now you call your dollies "Squee" which your Dad and I finally figured out it "SweetPea" in Lucy-Language!

When It's Been Raining Outside.....

2011-05-26T12:17:00.001-06:00

Build a fort for the head-quarters of the Static Hair Club!

Sights of the Start of Summer

2011-05-21T21:20:00.002-06:00

Lucy's new Crocs, from Grandma definitely broken in...

Little purple beauties that greet us every time we come home...

Glenn's World Famous BBQ Pork Chops - melt in your mouth delish...

Pretty tassels for Lucy's tricycle (or biiiiiiike as she calls it)...

Not pictured: popsicle stained shirts, very dirty tub & happy sun-kissed cheeks!

Braids!

2011-05-21T08:22:00.000-06:00

A Little Musing

2011-05-20T12:52:00.001-06:00

So much wonderful baby news in our little world. Dear friends having babies & sisters growing closer to their babies being born....has got me thinking & lets be honest here, a little misty-eyed.

I was listening to one of my favorite songs, and some of the lyrics got me thinking of those first new moments.

There is one little line that says, "I could hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love."

Glad I still feel the same way about my little pip-squeak!

PS this is not my way of saying I'm preggo, just so-so thrilled for those who are & for those who recently had their babies

My Life Lately

2011-05-19T16:00:00.000-06:00

In the Words of Rachael Ray, Yumm-Oh!

2011-05-10T18:58:00.001-06:00

If you ever buy those rotisserie chickens from those grocery store, or if you just like a nice moist-roast chicken, then I insist that you make this. And seriously, bacon & paprika? Totally a breakthrough. Plus, it smells amazing when it's cooking. Then only changes I made to the recipe, is I used fresh thyme and instead of carrots, I added onions.

I was talking to baby sister yesterday and she was telling me about the Tabbouleh Salad she had made. My mouth was totally filling up with water as she talked, so being the huge copy-cat that I am.....I made one too. I somewhat redeemed my self by making a Southwest Quinoa Salad. I found a few random recipes on foodgawker and then made my own version. Fresh & colorful.....like summer in a bowl.

Quinoa

Corn

Cherry Tomatoes

Edamame Beans

Red Pepper

Sliced Avocado on top

Dressing:

Equal Parts of Olive Oil & Red Wine Vinegar

Dash of Chili Powder

Dash of Cumin

Salt & Pepper

Morning Moment

2011-04-28T07:36:00.001-06:00

There was nothing special about this morning. We did our usual routine.....and after we stood blowing kisses to Daddy as he left for work, we sat down at the table....Lucy eating her cereal and I reading the paper.

I looked up and watched my daughter eat. And for just a moment it felt like time stood still. I just couldn't believe it was really me having the nice-quiet-morning moment. Was this amazing little person really my daughter? Am I really lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom? I closed my eyes trying to take a mental picture, wanting to remember this feeling. And I know the day will progress as normal, there will be messes and toddler-tantrums.....but just for that little snippet of time, I was enjoying breakfast with my daughter. I am the luckiest.

Easter Fun Part Two

2011-04-24T18:49:00.001-06:00

Warm Spring Sun at the Zoo, Easter Egg Hunt, Tulips & lots of eating.....all in all a great weekend!

Easter Fun Part One

2011-04-22T15:46:00.001-06:00

We are kicking off our Easter weekend with some yummy cupcakes...we are so glad that Daddy doesn't have to work this weekend so we are making the most of our family time! More fun to come....

Take note of Lucy's apron. She is in love with wearing it! The moment the two of us set foot in the kitchen she insists we both wear our aprons...funny girl!

Lucy's Big Girl Room

2011-04-14T18:50:00.000-06:00

I was going for a "Vintage-Simple-Little Girl" look AKA not to frilly and not too cluttered. I'm so happy with how it turned out....seriously, sometimes I crawl into bed with her cause I secretly wish it was my room.

We (Glenn & I) made the headboard and everything else was at my usual shopping spots, Etsy, West Elm & Ikea.

Disclaimer 1: yes those are soothers & also one in her mouth. Yes, I know I need to get rid of them. But seriously, they are the only thing that make her still seem little.....

Disclaimer 2: I am looking at these pictures and now thinking I should have taken out the diaper genie & moniter...but I'm keeping it real people.

Playing at Gma & Gpa's

2011-04-05T14:26:00.000-06:00

Be prepared for lots of pictures! We had an awesome visit up to Sherwood Park....lots of family and play-time. But so nice to come home....Lucy has been running around the house saying dad-ee, dad-ee - she really miss him.....and so did I!

The kids had lots of fun playing with our old toys....the mom's did too!

They were absolutely soaked....but oh-so happy!

Singing "The Wheels on the Bus". This was at the part, ".......the people on the bus are tired...."

Showing off her yoga moves.

Yummy cake!

Preggo's

2011-04-05T14:13:00.001-06:00

Seriously. How adorable.

Playdate with Sophia

2011-04-05T11:56:00.000-06:00

While up in Sherwood Park we had a fun morning with Sophia!

Sophia giving me "the Look"

Jackson's 4th Birthday Party

2011-04-05T11:41:00.000-06:00

So-So Fun! Family, Brunch, Presents, Babies, Balloons, Cupcakes & a Pinata! What more could you ask for?

Labels on our yummy slush cups

Cupcakes

Lucy trying out Jackson's present

Jackson taking a swing

Wyatt taking a swing

Lucy taking a "swing" (she didn't quite get it like the boys...)

The candy!

The Ainsworth cousins....our first time seeing baby Reece

Isaac & Brooke Visit

2011-03-23T13:16:00.000-06:00

Isaac is eating pizza whether he wants to or not...

I was eavesdropping, but I unfortunately I don't speak the language.

Post Swimming Hair

2011-03-23T12:58:00.003-06:00

We go swimming Wednesday morning....love her whispyish-curly-Q hair afterwards....

And The Learning Continues

2011-03-20T21:53:00.002-06:00

Lucy has now officially been in her "big-girl" bed for just over a week. I would be lying if I said this was an easy transition....but thanks to a wonderfully supportive group of women who gave me some great advice I can finally say both Mom & Daughter are sleeping peacefully.

Pictures of her new room coming soon.....

Whoa...

2011-03-18T09:27:00.000-06:00

Sorry about the quality, this was done on the webcam.

Puddle Splashin'

2011-03-17T17:10:00.003-06:00

With spring tantalizing close, and with a wonderfully-warm Calgary day.....Lucy and I went outside to play in the melting snow.

Lucy had so much fun running-jumping-splashing-discovering......in fact she still refuses to take off her raincoat even though we have been home for a few hours.

These are the days I want to remember....

love this quote

2011-03-07T14:02:00.002-07:00

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I can think of quite of a few beautiful people & am so thankful they are in my life....

imPerfection

2011-03-03T20:42:00.003-07:00

Disclaimer: I always said that my blog would be one of memories to look back on and not to create controversry. However, this is a moment of time that I want to remember.....so it's being documented.

We all like to think our children are perfect. But really, deep down we know they are not. They need discipline & direction and they do things that can make us annoyed, angry etc. However, I have always taken comfort in knowing that these things can be worked on and changed.

But....when this imperfection is something that you feel is just beyond your control it can leave a mother feeling helpless.

We discovered today that our little offspring of perfection has a peanut allergy. Now it's something we have suspected for awhile now, only to have it confirmed by a specialist.

Which leads me to my initial (and continuing...) feeling. Guilt. That's right....Guilt with a capital G. Every parent has experienced it. It's starts soon after the stick tells you positive and never stops. And honestly, this is the worst I have ever experienced it. The questions are endless.....
did I nurse her long enough? was she over-exposed to peanut butter? will I turn into one of the those crazed-overprotective parents that no one wants to be around? will other people take her allergy seriously? will I always remember to carry the epi-pen? will I get negative reactions to trying alternative medicines? will I be so afraid of her being hurt that I don't let her live? am I blowing this WAY out of proportion? (can I get a resounding chorus of: "YES" to that last one!)

And yet tonight, as I rocked Lucy to sleep (for a special little treat as we had both had quite the day) with all these crazy thoughts and questions swirling around in my brain....I found a little peace. Looking back on her little life so far, I certainly was not a perfect parent. But, I always did what I thought was best at that moment in time. And really, waht else can you do?

So, I am going to TRY to just have a little faith and know that she will be just fine.

Sorry about the quality of picture.....as you can imagine she wasn't super thrilled with having her armed poked over and over again. (sidebar: thank goodness for Daddy's who take the day off to come to the dr's)

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Lucy's Valentine that we sent out....

When All is Quiet

2011-02-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

This is going on!

The back story is this: Lucy has been sleeping in her playpen until we can get her transitioned from her crib to a bed. Because the crib hasn't been moved out of her room yet, I have her playpen in between her dresser and the closet. I had moved the playpen before her nap and so it was within reach of the top drawer. Ooooppps!

She was quiet from the moment I laid her down so didn't check on her right away..........now I see why! She got into the top drawer and into the baby Vaseline and let me tell you, it was everywhere!

She was having a grand-ole time.....and now we have a little greaser on our hands and that stuff is very difficult to get out of her hair!!

A Quick Shout-Out

2011-02-04T11:46:00.004-07:00

Lucy's Da-EE (Daddy) and my tall-dark & handsome Husband has been working alot of long hours lately. We really miss him.......but, we just wanted to say how grateful we are that he works so hard to take care of us.

Honestly, the last few weeks I have felt so guilty as I dash off to swimming or the story-time at the library while he slaves away down-town. So thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.......I'm incredibly lucky to be able to stay at home & Lucy is incredibly lucky to have such a smart & hard-working Dad.

So, Glenn here's wishing you had more time & wishing it was warmer out so you could be doing your favourite thing (see above). Love you!

First Batch of Cookies

2011-01-27T18:30:00.002-07:00

Today Lucy helped me make her first batch of cookies! We made a favourite in the Pipke house....Oatmeal Raisen and she did better then I thought she would.....I would measure then she would pour. She eventually figured out one of the best parts of baking cookies (in my opinion anyways) - sampling the cookie dough!

Watching the dough mix

Waiting...waiting...

Sampling the goods! mmmmmmm

Lucy Update

2011-01-25T18:07:00.005-07:00

I just realized I haven't done an update on Lucy in forever so here goes.....

She is in no way ready for potty-training...I am just getting her used to it. She loves playing with her potty - weird, but it keeps her busy.

"Hi Mom! Do you like my runny nose? Wanna wipe it? Sorry, I'm the Nose-Ninja! I will do everything in power not to let you! I'm off..........!"

Doing:

~starting to read books alot. It's adorable to listen to her pretend to read.

~as soon as I get her dressed, she runs down to the mirror and checks out what she is wearing

~she will climb out of her crib while in her sleep-sac (yah, you read that right!) she gets up on the edge and then shimmies down the side (we are looking at alternatives as we worry about her hurting herself)

~loves her dollies and teddies. She gives them hugs and kisses. (she is especially loving the dollie from Gma Evelyn - wish she was around to see this!)

~starting to follow directions (ie. bring that to mommy)

~still eating like a champ, loves most food! Gets into the freezer and takes a frozen cookie out and will eat the whole thing.

~sleeping great. Goes to bed at 7:30pm and sleeps until 6:30 or 7:00am. A 2.5 - 3 hour nap every day starting at 1pm. (So thankful for the sleep training I did at a young age - totally worth it!!)

~only one tooth left to come in

~still obsessed with climbing. She will climb anything & everything!

~her hair so getting so long and lovely. I can get it back in a ponytail easily now.

~still my crazy-full of energy little girl! However, she is starting to get alot more shy in public. Usually takes about 10 minutes to warm up to a stranger.

Talking: (still not talking much, but slowly-slowly)

Daee - Daddy
Ma - Mommy
Bawl - Ball
Sko - Let's Go
Mo - More
See - Horsey

Sidebar: I am starting to see myself alot more in her now. When she was a baby, I thought she was all Glenn. Now, I think she is looking more like me and her laugh is exactly like mine. Kinda cool.....ok, very cool!

Airport Visit

2011-01-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis were gone in S.Africa for a month and now they are off for a cruise and then to Hawaii. We won't see them for over a month! So, we had to go to the airport to get in a quick hug!

During

2011-01-12T15:47:00.003-07:00

Seriously, my husband is awesome! He took a big chunk of his holidays to paint the "orangey-wood" cabinets that have been driving us both nuts. We could have rolled them, but my guy wanted a professional finish...so he sprayed! Oh, and P-to-the-S.....he did an amazing job!

So, this meant smoothies & dishes in the bathroom and lots of takeout until it was finished.

Big Props to the Bestest Husband in the world.

Kitchen Reveal

2011-01-12T15:39:00.004-07:00

Before

After

Oh internet, I am so in love with it. Seriously, everytime I come down the stairs I do a little inner "squeeeeee!" It so nice, light, airy and so much more "me".

There are still a couple more things to do:

(but I think Glenn is safe from nagging for quite awhile after the amazing job he did)

paint the countertop edges
add some sort of height to the cabinets
do something funky with the stools

PS more on kitchen here

Little Pea

2011-01-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant my sister got us a book called "Little Pea". The gist of the story is that Peas' eat candy for supper and get spinach for dessert (they love spinach). There is one part of the book where the parents are trying to get Little Pea to eat 5 more bites. Lucy loves this part......

PS We used to called Lucy "Little P" when I was pregnant!

PPS after we had put Lucy to bed, we could hear her in her crib saying "yuck...ick..." so funny!

'Lil Ruffle-Bum in the Snow

2011-01-06T16:15:00.002-07:00

Nothing makes my girl happier then playing outside. She doesn't care what the weather is (which has been pretty warm lately!) She just loves exploring the snow in the backyard.

My favorite thing about this activity? (besides the good nap she always has) Is her rosey cheeks when she comes in the house...so sweet.

Veggie Girl

2011-01-04T19:07:00.002-07:00

Lucy loves vegetables...more specifically cucumbers! This is how I found her this morning...she drags a chair over to the fridge gets out a mini cucumber and eats the whole thing!

Don't get me wrong, this girl loves her some junk food and can put back a bowl of chips like nobody's business.....but I am so grateful she loves veggies.

Giving Back

2011-01-04T19:01:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer: I'm not posting this because I think what I have done is so amazing....I am posting this because I have gotten so many ideas & more importantly motivation from seeing what others have done. So this is my way of saying thanks to the blogosphere.

It's the most wonderful time of the year......oh, New Years. How you motivate us so. Many of the blogs I frequent are posting resolutions alot which consist of organizing. Just the kick-in-the-butt I needed! Here is what I have started: (the first of many projects)

Under the Sink:
this is such a weird cabinet in my kitchen. It's on a corner and has alot pipes under it which doesn't leave alot of room. I wish I had taken a before picture. It used to have a huge garbage can right in the middle that you would have to move if you needed any cleaning supply at all: Translation - super annoying. Here is my solution:
1. Get rid of large garbage can and put a garbage can that attaches to the door. While this might seem like I am changing the garbage bag more often, it does encourage me to recycle which is a good thing!
2. Move all cleaners that aren't used in the kitchen
3. Label & put in different containers cleaners that are used all the time. Mrs Meyers cleaning supplies are in pretty bottles....anything that isn't I buy spray bottles from the Dollar Store and replace & label. Much nicer!

Drawers:
When we did our big kitchen project (coming soon!) I was replacing everything back in the drawers it occured to me that alot of the things in the drawers are either duplicates or never get used. So I downsized. For instance, I don't need 4 flippers or 2 can openers. I kept only what I use all the time and really like. Everything else went to Value Village (who I have discovered has most of the proceeds go to the Diabetes Society - which makes me feel good about donating)

Back Entrance:
This space still needs so much more work....but it's a start. I realized that because I don't dress up everyday for work anymore there is no reason for my dress shoes to be at the back entrance. So up to the closet they went. This left the perfect solution for a very annoying problem. I have a bin with all our mits, scarves etc etc. Every time we take it down things spill out and we are digging through lots of "stuff" to find what we need. In the vacated shoe spots, I put our "everyday" mits & scarves. So much easier! It's amazing how the little things can make life so much easier......

I can't believe how happy these small changes have made me! More to come....

Skating Party

2010-12-27T19:05:00.001-07:00

Friends, fun & food.....and of course skating!

Project Preview

2010-12-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a little teaser....

Xmas 2010 - Our Day in Pictures

2010-12-27T18:51:00.001-07:00

Hmmm....do I detect a pattern of eating??

From Our Home to Yours

2010-12-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

Stay tuned....lots of updates coming up!

Starting December

2010-12-06T15:23:00.004-07:00

We are kicking off December with lots of homey type things....

First: Lucy (aka Monkey) has figured out how to open up door handles. Normally I would be so proud - except for the following problems:

1. She is obsessed with toilets....flushing, playing in water, putting things in and seriously, ick.
2. She will open all the drawers in her dresser and then scale it to the top drawer. Like I said, monkey.
3. She wrecks absolute havoc in our bedroom.

Hence....

They are a little bit annoying, but so much better then plunging the toilet.

Second: Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products. Seriously Ladies, listen up. These products will make you look forward to cleaning. They smell amazing! In fact they say: "Squeaky Clean, Not Stinky Clean". So far the only place I can find that carries them is Canadian Tire and they carry only a small quantity. But I'm going to check-out Walmart. You also can buy them online.
Seriously, Big Love to Mrs. Meyers from Mrs. Pipke.

Third: We are left on our own for Xmas this year. Both my parents & Glenn's parents are in S.Africa for the month of December. So, we have to start being grown-ups and do most of the things our mama's do for us - ourselves. So, I've got started on the baking. As much as we will miss our families this holiday season, I am actually looking forward to starting our own little holiday traditions.

How is your December going?

Meet Glowy

2010-11-30T08:28:00.004-07:00

The Glow-Worm: Circa 1980-something

She was mine and I loved her with all my little heart. I would cuddle her, sleep with her, tell her all my troubles....oh, and did I mention when you squeeze her she glows?

My parents kept Glowy in a box for the last 20-something years. They recently brought her back to life.

Mom gave her a good scrub-down and my Dad put a new lightbulb and re-did all the wiring (which had rusted out). Then they sent Glowey to my daughter with the following note:

"Your mom hugged this Glow-Worm when she was little, now you can hug her hugs!"

Oh my stars, Lucy do you know how lucky you are to have such wonderful grand-parents?

Starting Young

2010-11-16T18:53:00.001-07:00

My little girl Loves-Loves-Loves shoes! She wears them all the time and there is seriously nothing cuter than watching her clomp around in my shoes. So darling.....

Lucy & Grandpa

2010-11-16T18:42:00.002-07:00

These two have a special bond that just melts my heart. The whole weekend Lucy wanted to be right where Grandpa was (and I think the feeling was mutual!)

As soon as we arrived Gpa had to bring in his new horse (Cash) for Lucy to see. He had her feeding the cats and making pancakes and doing all the things that Gpa does......

Lately

2010-11-16T18:37:00.002-07:00

Someone said to me recently that they try not to think of their lives as "busy" but as "full".

I really like this sentiment and feel like it has described our life lately. Full.

Lucy and I had an great visit in Edmonton with Tish & Jackson, Aunty Shannon & Uncle Paul, and Gma & Gpa. There was some underlying flu & colds going on but it didn't dampen our much needed sister-time. I didn't take a single picture but Tish took lots so hopefully she posts some.

Granny Lewis passed away and we were in Pincher Creek to pay tribute to her life. She was a wonderful & gracious lady and you can see the choices she made in her life reflected in the generations of her amazing family.

Many other little ordinary life things but these were two major things I wanted documented....

Sunrise in Suburbia

2010-11-05T08:23:00.002-06:00

My view out the window this morning.....

Dear Autumn,

You give us the most incredible sunrises.
Thanks for starting my day in such a lovely-rich-warm way....

Love,
mandypants

ps feel free to stick around for awhile