Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas

We finally bought a full-size Christmas tree this year. I'd been holding out, hoping that one of these days we would be able to get a REAL tree, but since it seems we are always spending Christmas in Ontario, it doesn't make sense to have a real tree (i.e. fire hazard) drying out and dropping needles on the floor while we are away for 2 weeks.

We found a nice pre-lit one at Costco, and amazingly, had enough decorations to make it look quite lovely, if I do say so myself (pictures to follow). [This may be in part due to my savvy post-Christmas Superstore sprees where I can always find Christmas stuff for 90++% off!]

Getting ready to go out the other night, Elise was playing under the Christmas tree, and I thought it was a perfect opportunity for some photos. She was 6 months old yesterday!!!

Recipes!

I don't normally post recipes on our blog, but now that I am a "stay at home Mom" I have been spending more time in the kitchen and experimenting with different recipes. Here are a few that I've really liked:

This cookie bar recipe is so much quicker and easier than cooking sheets and sheets of individual cookies. They turned out great--I doubled the recipe...

http://www.bos-bowl.com/2010/04/oatmeal-cranberry-white-chocolate-chip.html

A great bran muffin recipe from All-Bran (see http://all-bran.ca/en/recipedetails.aspx?RecipetypeID=14141&t=512). I used the "molasses variation" at the bottom--so yummy and so easy!! Double the recipe if you can because they will go quickly!

1 1/3 cups or 325 ml All-purpose flour 1/2 cup or 125 ml Sugar 1 tbsp or 15 ml Baking powder 1/4 tsp or 1 ml Salt 1 1/2 cups or 375 ml All-Bran Original* cereal -OR- All-Bran Buds* cereal 1 cup or 250 ml Milk 1 Egg 1/3 cup or 75 ml vegetable oil

1. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl, combine cereal and milk . Let stand about 2 minutes or until cereal softens. Add egg and oil. Beat well. Add flour mixture, stirring only until combined. Portion batter evenly into twelve greased 2 1/2-inch muffin pan cups coated with cooking spray.

4. Bake in oven at 200°C (400°F) for about 20 minutes or until muffins are golden brown. Serve warm.

Variations :
Molasses: Decrease milk to 1/2 cup. Add 1/2 cup molasses to cereal with milk. Omit sugar. Follow directions above.

YIELD: 12 muffins

PER SERVING (1 muffin):
170 Calories
7 g Fat
26 g Carbohydrate
3 g Dietary Fibre
4 g Protein

"Baby Led Weaning"

Our sister-in-law Janet Jackson tried this approach with her twin boys, and we were always interested in trying it with Elise. See: www.babyledweaning.com 
As you can see, she is VERY interested in food, and we are so impressed with her ability (and interest) to feed herself!
So far she has tried a real variety of foods (avocado, banana, sweet potato, potato, carrot, apple, orange, toast, bread, waffles, rice, broccoli and salmon!) and we are enjoying having her "eat" at the table with us.

Our growing girl...

Here she is at 5 months old...

Happy Hallowe'en...

...From our little Pumpkin!

More of our little cutie(s)!

(Can't forget about Greyson!)

Calgary Corn Maze

After hearing rave reviews from several friends, we visited the Calgary Corn Maze  this past weekend to celebrate Fall. While it was a little chilly (we got there first thing in the morning to beat the crowds), they have a great set-up for kids: petting zoo, lots of playgrounds, slides, jumping "bouncy pillows", a "pumpkin patch", pig races, and of course, the corn maze. Elise is still a little young to really appreciate it, but we met the Gaffneys and Gordons there, and Gracie and Maggie seemed to have a blast! Highly recommended if you are looking for a great fall outing...

Our little pumpkin!!

Tessa, Grace, Maggie and Elise (with Daddies too!)

Thanksgiving

Our great friends Mike and Mel Wrigglesworth are bravely moving their family back to Libya. We were honoured to be able to spend their first Canadian Thanksgiving in many years, here in Calgary with Mel and the kids. Dave cooked his now-famous turkey and stuffing, and we went for a walk by the river to check out the fall colours. Chris and Marla Holliday also joined us for dinner--they too will soon be leaving Calgary, although they will be moving a bit closer to home: Toronto Ontario. Thanks for a great day!!

Lucy and Oscar

Our instant family--lol!

Beautiful Lucy and her beautiful bouquet of wildflowers

Pretty colours at the Bow River

Random September photos (mostly of Elise--surprise surprise!!)