Many Blessings

Yes, a basket-ful of blessings! Really! (that also need to be folded now that they are freshly laundered, but still blessings)
My neighbour called me today and gave me 2 big boxes (2 large loads of wash) of girl clothes. I can't help but take this little snapshot of the first basket of clothes I am about to fold. Sara came upstairs with me after receiving the two boxes and she and I went through each little outfit, ooooing and awwing.
So thank you to Teri and Satu. Satu gave Teri a bunch of these clothes last summer when Teri had a baby girl... now I benefit from it too!

And I want to thank my Mom too for the little surprises here and there with the treasures of Baby Girl things she picks up from MCC while she spends a few days there each week. :)
And to Jen T. for lending us a sampling of Baby Girl clothes too, last night! How fun!

We are very grateful for these basket-ful of blessings... so many pink outfits, so much fun! I can't wait to try it on her, but it won't be long and for that time being I can wait.

Thanks everyone!! We will be sure to pay it forward...

Tulips and Gumboots

Today the Girls went on a Fieldtrip to Victoria, so we decided we'd head down South for the day... we started with the Tulips in Skagit Valley. Love this Festival... and we hadn't been since Elijah was only 5 months old. He really enjoyed himself today too and of course, Samuel did too. Samuel had a great time running/balancing between the really uneven compact dirt path around the fields. (it's been raining a lot here, so we thought the fields were going to be quite mucky, which in fact it wasn't at all, it was dry! So the boys are dressed for Spring with the added fashion of these boots and muddy buddy pants for Sam)Take a look:

Next post... updated pregnancy photo!

Here I am

So here it is... LONG overdue, sorry about that. Alexa and I meant to take a photo together a week ago, but it just didn't happen... so today I made sure Jason snapped one of me for you! I am 32 weeks today! Wow, I guess Baby could arrive anyday in reality and she would be okay. Weird thought! I'm sure she'll stick around inside for at least another 6 weeks (is that it?)... here I am:

Infant Seat anyone?

I know, I know, these posts aren't ones I have ever done in the past, especially all in a row! (be sure to keep reading below for a few more that I've recently added)...

I am hoping, somehow someone out there (preferably that I know) has an infant seat (carseat) to borrow. We of course, have one that we used for Elijah and Samuel; but in our naivety we bought the stroller/seat combo used, not knowing that we should never buy one that's been in an accident...etc. (not saying it was in an accident, I have no clue, but it's getting too old anyhow)
Anyway, I am not comfortable anymore using this seat again for this Baby. The straps on it are not trustworthy anymore... but with that said, I first would like to see if there is one we could borrow for about 6-8 months (then Baby can be transferred to the bigger seat) (and of course, if someone is willing to lend us a carrier but would need it back before we've taken Baby out of it, we'd gladly give it back! No worries)... before we seek out purchasing one for this Baby ~ that will most-likely be our last child.

Blah, blah, blah

Does anyone have a seat that they could loan to us? Never been in an accident, not "expired" yet... please leave me a comment and I'll be in touch with you. THANKS!!

Patti's entered the blogging world!

I've added a new link to my blog! My friend, Patti, has joined us in "blogdom", as Sarah referred to it on one of Patti's comments!
Welcome Patti! I and maybe some of my other faithful visitors, will enjoy reading up on you and your Family life!

Frosty Chocolate Cheesecake

2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
6 oz (180g) semisweet chocolate (melted)
1 cup whipping cream (one small container)
Garnish: whipped cream, grated chocolate if desired

Combine crumbs and butter; press into bottom and slightly up sides of a 9 inch Springform Pan.
Chill.
With electric mixer, beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
Beat in egg YOLK and vanilla.
Beat in melted chocolate.
Whip cream and fold into chocolate mixture.
Beat egg WHITE until stiff but not dry; fold into chocolate mixture.
Pour mixture into crumb crust. chill until firm, at least 4 hours. May be frozen. Serve frozen or remove from freezer 1/2 hour before serving.
Garnish with whipped cream and grated chocolate.
Serves 8-10


I made this for our Care Group last night. It was really yummy and the recipe was requested, so I thought since I was typing it out anyway to email it, I'd just type it here for you too!
I served this cake frozen.... I can't say this is a fast and easy recipe. There are a bit many steps, but it's worth it.
Side note: this recipe came from Alexa (you won't remember that!) in a card for one of my many wedding showers. The theme for that shower, put on by Alexa for our Workplace, was "cooking/recipes". Everyone had given me recipes on recipe cards in their gifts. I have now made this recipe twice; and I guess that's not very many times seeing how I've been married now almost 9 years! But I am one, and do this over and over and over again, to try new recipes all the time....

Bon Appetit!

Chuck E. Cheese's

This morning when Alexa came to pick up the Girls for school (we carpool, she drives them to school and I pick them up), she invited us to join her and the kids in Langley at Chuck E. Cheese's. And so we went!! It was fun!
We all fit into her van and headed out for a morning of little rides and pizza lunch.
It was our first time there (well, I had been in the early '90s for my Brother's birthdays, but that's sooooo long ago now) and I am really impressed with it. Might have to make another trip there before the Girls go back to China.
(I'm giving Photobucket a try right now... let's see how it works out for sharing photos) [it showed up for me, then when I edited it to add in text, the slideshow disappeared; so much for that] So here are the photos, the original way:

)

God is Love

Another busy weekend! (of course!)
Last night I got out on my own... hooray! I went over to Dana's for a Girl's night. She organized us Girls to bring along as many childrens books that we were ready to pass along and then we chose "new" ones to bring home. Follow? It was a very fun idea and my boys are enjoying the "new" books today.
Today I took the Girls and Alexa's Student (Katie) to a Children's Clothing/Toy Swap Meet. I have been planning to go to this particular one since finding it's date back in October (knowing by this point I would know the sex of our Baby and could then shop accordingly). So I did buy quite a few little outfits and things for our Baby Girl... many of them perfect for this summer, 0-3months. (Friends... yes, I do know there are quite a few clothes willing to be lent to me and that's WONDERFUL. I'm not buying much or spending much at all on what I buy. I can't help buying a few things!!)
Then we spent a good portion of the day shopping. I found quite a good batch of deals at Children's Place too today!
Then after dinner... we headed to the Park (again). It was sunny, then it started to rain, not really rain but like a nice Spring rain that didn't last long at all... the sun shone bright quickly after that again and this is what came of it:When I see a Rainbow, I know that God is love! (remember that song from "The Friendly Giant"?)

Happy Spring!

Saturday

This morning the Girls and I made an apple pie... they had a hard time peeling the apples, let alone cutting them. Too funny, but they did get the idea and helped a bit at least!
Then this afternoon we went to the local West Coast Amusement "carnival" set up in our Mall parking lot. We had coupons for each Girl and Elijah too, to do 6 rides each for $12. The Girls have not done this in China...so it was very fun for themthis is their classmate Katie, the one who is staying with Alexa. We ran into them there and so they went on one ride together.A hopping Bunny ride, how appropriate! Elijah did 4 rides, 3 alone and then the Bumper Cars with Jaosn. He enjoyed himself!Jason and Jade went on the Zipper ride too (not pictured)... Jade loved that!

Still enjoying some warm weather here, although you can see the blue sky isn't accompanying the temperature... oh well, it's still beautiful.

Good Friday, indeed

What a busy busy busy day!
Let's see... well, we started knowing it was going to be a beautiful and warm day, so we started to search our options on the computer barely out of bed this morning (can do that with a laptop!). Shall we go East? Shall we go West? And the West won...

We first went to Lynn Valley Canyon and did the suspension bridge and Jason and the kids did a bit of a hike (walk) down. (I went a little bit, but knew I wouldn't necessarily be as excited to walk back up, so I waited with Samuel)
Then we went to Stanley Park. We brought along our portable BBQ for a hotdog lunch (packed by Jason, thanks Hon). The kids played in the playground and ate up a hearty meal.
Then we went on the Miniature Train ride and went into the Children's Farmyard for animal petting and an Easter Egg Hunt (again, not a real hunt, but it was fun none-the-less).
Check out the pictures on the slide (again), it's easier to show you a bunch of photos in this format, IMO.

this picture highlighted especially for you, Suzan... Jason is smiling with an open-mouth smile! Happy Easter!

The day didn't end there. We looked at our watch at 2:30 and decided, if we left right then and there (since we were done anyway), we could head back home and make it in time for the Loonie Swim. So that's what we did. A swim and then dinner at Wendy's.
The Girls ended their day with a movie, Ice Princess and I am going to end my day watching a movie too with Jason (I know, I have watched more movies this pregnancy that I have combined for who knows how many years...still not a lot, maybe 5. LOL)... we are about to watch Maid in Manhattan.

Happy Easter Everyone... stay posted for more weekend fun tomorrow.

Dying Eggs

On Thursday after school, I invited a new Canadian Friend of Jade and Sara's over. The girls decorated eggs for the first time (not Caessia's first time, obviously) and then we went to see a FREE production put on by one of our Middle Schools... Aladdin Junior. Elijah came with us to that too and we really enjoyed the singing, dancing and acting of these Grade 6-8 kids. Elijah was looking forward to this all week, especially seeing the "Genie". He is very familiar with this story, mainly b/c of our trip to Disneyland at Christmas. He saw an entire drama there too, although it had a real flying carpet!
Here's the pictures... easiest to show on a slide.

Not a pregnancy picture...but,

sorry, no, this isn't an updated photo of me and my belly (yet), but it was one that Elijah and I took together yesterday. Thought it was kinda cute, so I'll share it with you. Speaking of growing up...Elijah is definitely growing leaps and bounds too (not in height mind you)! He is talking more and more clear and asking questions all the time like 3 1/2 year olds do.

Samuel's getting so big!

Nothing is safe anymore! For a couple weeks now, Samuel has been climbing up on chairs, on the table...wanting to walk up and down the stairs (not "crawl")... he is my monkey and keeps me (us) on our toes!He is also talking sooooo much already. He says new words all the time, no joke. I'll say something for him to say and he attempts it... it's so fun! We just love him to bits.

Lovely Spring Weather

This week has been pretty decent weather. On Tuesday we got out and enjoyed the sun... even in t-shirts and Elijah had bare feet. Tomorrow is supposed to be up to 22*, so we are really looking forward to that!

First Easter Egg Hunt

Well, it wasn't even a hunt like the ad said in the Newspaper. But it was fun anyway. We went on Saturday to S.O.F. and enjoyed an in-store scavenger hunt (not really even that; they kids had to get a stamp from each dept in the store and then got a treat bag at the end). Samuel wasn't so sure about the Bunny.



So now it's April and we woke up to snow yesterday. I don't really need to blog about it, b/c you can find posts about this on Korinne's, Alexa's, Sarah's, Cindy's and maybe other's blogs! Check it out.
Today we are back to a really beautiful day! True April weather!

Spring Break

Well, we made it through 2 weeks of Spring Break! It wasn't that bad; we actually had a great time! The girls are back in school this week, which is nice to have a regular routine back in order and not have to "entertain" them all day long!
The first week the School brought their group on 3 field trips...so that was nice.
Then since we had the wedding a week ago, the Girls went to Jade's Aunt's house since they aren't allowed to cross into the USA. Shucks, because that could have been neat for them to see.
anyway, so last week was our busy busy week. Last Tuesday I invited as many of the Chinese Students to join us for McDonald's lunch and 5 pin bowling. 4 Families including us came, so all of them had a great time including Elijah!I got the gutter guards put up and that made it easier for the girls to bowl and very fun for Elijah (and me, b/c that meant I could just sit down and watch).
Before we went bowling that day, I had a Midwife appointment. So along came the Girls. Which was also fun b/c they got to hear our Baby's heartbeat AND I had a bit of time to kill, so we walked next door to the hosptial to pre-register me into the Maternity Ward too. I brought them up to that ward for a peek....

We went to the park a couple times last week. One of the times I had again, invited all the Students to join us if they were available. Three Families joined us (you can see some more pictures on Alexa's blog; she was there too)A little boy had this Diego car there and allowed Samuel and Elijah each to have a turn.

Jason took the Girls and Elijah swimming on Friday afternoon... while I stayed back with a 'teething Samuel' and scrambled to get the house vacuumed and bathrooms cleaned while it was empty! We then headed out (the girls and I) to our local Scrapbooking Shop for a Free Scrapnight. The Girls had a blast. Mostly using the die cut machine like mad. Alexa and her daughter, Danika and her student Katie and the Chinese Teacher (also staying with Alexa) joined us too...Alexa is helping Nancy (the teacher)Sara is loving scrapbooking. They each asked when we'd be going there again!Jade, also loving itSara using the die cut machine for titles and for shaping her photos

So that's what we've been keeping really busy with...nevermind all the other normal things to do and take care of.