candy cane cookies

Here is a new batch of cookies that I tried. I always love seeing the picture of them in magazines and dream of being able to make such nice cookies. Well this year I gave it a shot.



All in all they came out nice :) very fragile of course but not as bad as anticipated. I have not even tasted them yet but Maelie has and seemed to think they were ok ( I would have heard about it otherwise). My taste tester Bill still being out of town, I may have to take some to someone else for a taste test! :)

I find it really interesting how I have been into making all kinds of cookies this year. Usually I am not a cookie baker but this year I tried so many and still want to try more! Maybe because it is so relaxing to be in the kitchen, I'm not sure.

Happy New Year!

Christmas recap

Merry Christmas!



As you can imagine, we have been pretty busy for Christmas. We went to bed at a decent time on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning began at 5:00 am.... By 5:45 Maelie couldn't help herself anymore and had to go wake up Bill. We opened up our presents. Maelie always insists that Bill and I go first.

After opening up presents, we played a bit but then got dressed and out the door we went to drive Bill to the airport. He went for a surprise visit to his moms.

Maelie and I drove to visit my folks. It was extremely quiet on the road which was nice and it was also perfect driving weather! What a blessing.

We had a great time. I thank everyone who helped make this Christmas special once again. It is wonderful to have a great family on both sides. Maelie enjoyed all of her presents. I don't like to name presents one by one. I feel like it is just way too much and I don't think it is important what she got from who. But please know that Maelie loved her presents from everyone. She was completely surprised and is playing with each item little by little. Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!



I worked on a few projects the days before Christmas. I wanted to make a few homemade treats for my side of the family and also for Bills side. (I hope the treats made it in one piece!)

We came back home yesterday and were in bed very early. We had a good nights sleep that's for sure!

Now the next few days will be for resting, cleaning and enjoying a few days off. I love it! We have no plans for the rest of the holidays season, except for last minute activities we may choose to do.

We have some cat sitting to do across the street... some of our neighbors left yesterday for Florida for almost a month and we offered to cat sit for them so that's our plans for the next month.

This is the life! :)

We had company today... lots of gingerbread people.



Look at this cute family :)

She was awesome!

Keener parent that I am, I was almost first in the gym. Especially after missing her dance recital the other day, which I did NOT blog about because I felt like the most horrible mom in the world. (I showed up at 12:30 for dance and it was at 12:00) It was an innocent mistake, but I almost shrivelled up and died that day.

So anyway... needless to say that for this performance, I was gonna be there on time no matter what!



Maelie was nervous in front of such a huge crowd. She told me a few days before she was nervous about forgetting the words. I explained to her that it was ok to forget words, because with all the kids singing together, everyone was bound to forget some words, but then the others would make it unnoticeable by just picking it up. She did fabulous! She was in the back row, more on the right, you can see her head between a couple of kids (if you click on the picture to make it bigger).

I am extremely proud of her! I can't wait for the next shows now!

My first play was "Frosty the snowman" in Kindergarten and I was Frosty! I was in a big snowman costume, and I think they chose me for the part because they needed someone who was LOUD.
My line : "Hi, my name is Frosty, can you and I be friends?"

6 days to Christmas ....

Guess what this cutie pie is doing today

Today is Maelie's concert at school! The kindergarten classes are joining together to sing "Must be Santa". They all had to wear red and white.



This is Maelie all dressed up to go! I would not miss this concert for anything in the world :)

Look at our snow!

After the incredible snowfall we had yesterday, my neighbor Marc Andre got carried away with his snowblower and made an amazing hill for the kids!

Maelie had a couple of issues going down the hill as you can see....!



But don't you agree it looks like a lot of fun???

how do you wrap a gas tank?

so the news about my car....
a nice Christmas gift worth $1020.
and they didn't even wrap it.

something about the gas tank and the something in the gas tank and a whole new gas tank, and lots of hours to take it apart and stuff. All i could hear was "bla bla bla gas tank bla bla expensive bla bla"

"tis the season to not be so jolly?

well yesterday, coming home from work, excited about it being Friday, my car stalled. Kaput. right in the yield of the busiest intersection in town at traffic hour. One good samaritan man came to try and help but I could tell he knew nothing about cars really. He did help me push the car off the road a little.

One thing that I found really disturbing is a man that drove by in his huge 4 X 4, put his window down and yelled "you could move it out of the road!" - um if I could move it, I would! If he had slowed down, I could have told him to come and push it out of the road for me. That's one of my pet peeve. People who are so quick to comment negatively to people, but they are the last to offer to help. There are unfortunately MANY people like that nowadays. They truly think that their little negative comment will make someones days. not.

So anyway, I was kiddie corner to a garage. So I walked over there and begged the man to come and check it out. He had to finish with a lady's wipers first but then he walked over to confirm that my car was sick. and it would have to be towed.

I called Bill to come and save me. I was trying to avoid making him come all the way out from work, but I just didn't want to disturb anyone else. I had to go pick up Maelie at the school daycare. We at least made it on time. Bill dropped us off at home and returned to work. So today, we will know the outcome. Perhaps it was just slush or ice that got in the wrong places considering the very dirty, wet, slushy conditions we had this week.

Santa, if you hear me, all i want for Christmas is a low repair bill!!

'tis the season to be jolly

This is what we worked on an evening this week. Unfortunately, as I don't have enough hours in one day, I have to buy these things prepackaged. Then again, the convenience we have nowadays of having things prepackage helps when you have a 5 year old who can't wait to build the gingerbread house.

When you make actual gingerbread dough, it takes about 30 minutes to take out the stuff, make it and put the stuff away. Then you must refrigerate the dough a few hours or overnight. The you need to roll it all out and make the shapes and pray they don't break. If you are lucky, you will end up with all the pieces for your house.

This express way is... send your husband to IGA to buy a box for 10$, open the box and glue all the pieces together with icing, then decorate. I personally won't eat a gingerbread house anyway, and Maelie will lick the icing... the fun is in the building and decorating!

Please don't get me wrong... nothing beats a batch of homemade goodness... i LOVE making gingerbread cookies from scratch. But not for the gingerbread house. I don't trust my architectural abilities enough for that.

Yummy Frosty

Here is an easy yummy craft the kids made at the Santa Breakfast. It comes from the Kraft magazine. ( you can get it for free if you sign up online here .

We were not even able to take Frosty home.... he melts in your tummy...!

Santa Breakfast

This Saturday I snuck out of the house to Maelie's school to help prepare for the Santa Breakfast. Maelie joined me at 9 am. The gym was filled with a mix of happy excited kids, and sleepy parents wondering why they got up so early on a Saturday morning...

The excitement and fun was well worth it!

When Santa walked in at first, it was like he was just another person in the crowd. Maelie and I were in line for breakfast when he arrived. So I asked her if she wanted to go see him. She said "Mom, let's just get our breakfast first, and then we can go see him".
Ok... my priority list would have been Santa! but hers was the delicious looking rice crispie squares on the table. hehe

After breakfast though, she was very excited waiting in line.





Maelie never really knows what to ask Santa for. She is not a child who is always wants the latest thing. I honestly believe that the fact that she watches tv with no commercials helps out a lot. Also the fact that when she DOES see a commercial, we discuss the motive behind these appealing ads. We are truly trying to make her see that things are not always as exciting as they make them seem on tv.

Anyway....back to the breakfast. We had craft tables set up for the children. They were all really into it! Maelie had a few friends from her class and so she got them playing a balloon game. It was fun to watch her interact with the kids. She is quite the leader.




There was also a nice hug for Santa before he left... because you know... if yougive Santa a nice hug, he will for SURE remember to visit your house on Christmas :)




Ho! Ho! Ho!

Don't even think of stopping once you hit our street

Well it IS a snow day today! Maelie got to sleep in. She also got to play outside this morning while Bill was shovelling. It is a full time job to shovel today!



I came home at lunch today because Bill had to go to work. We spent a while outside playing with our neighbors. The snow is just so gorgeous. It was coming down nicely. The wind just picked up a bit just now so we came in.



It's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Maelie enjoyed a nice hot chocolate when we got in... and I enjoyed a nice cup of peppermint tea :)

in case

In case anyone was looking for me at 4 AM this morning, I was outside shovelling. There's nothing like shoveling early AM when it is really quiet (for me). I am sure I have a few neighbors who will be out to get me once they've had their morning coffee... The windows in the homes on our street are not the most sound proof. If I can hear my teenage neighbors playing basketball in the summer.. can you imagine what they heard for an hour while I shoveled the driveway packed with at least 10 inches of snow? well, to score points with THEM at least, I did their yard too. I am sure Bill won't be impressed when he gets up. Our bedroom window is right by the driveway and he is a light sleeper.... Oh I locked the door behind me in case some neighbors have anger issues.

I am just sitting here waiting for the updates on school closures. Who knew they didn't even decide that THIS early! Stay tuned...

Let it snow... and snow ... and snow...

Wish us well! They are calling for 20 cm of snow tonight and about 10 more tomorrow... that's a lot of snow! I assume schools will be closed, but I don't know for sure yet.

This week, during morning rush hour one day, it stormed. All day, it was nice. Then for evening rush hour, it stormed again! go figure.

It was really gorgeous though as there were HUGE snowflakes... and not too much wind so it was really peaceful even if it WAS a storm.

This weekend, we went to see Santa at St-LAurent mall. They really did a good job with their decorations. I enjoy going a couple times a year just to see Santa and take pictures. We really will have to go back with our camera this time. They have igloos for the kids to go in, and a snowman the kids can sit with. We of course have to go get the overpriced 5 X 7 picture with Santa every year. I figure it's my way of helping with his salary. hehehe

In the afternoon we went swimming with Jacinthe, Koryne and Raphael. No pics... too afraid to get my camera stolen at the public pool! Maelie jumped off the diving board and went down the slide. I am so glad she is comfortable in the water. Her swimming lessons ended this past Friday and so she completed her level. We will wait a bit before joining again. It is very exhausting for her to have extra activities. We will take it easy for a while.

Today, we took it easy. I went grocery shopping. I love the ambiance in the grocery store. It is so festive. You see all the festive foods and packaging. People are not stressed out of their minds yet (give it a couple of weeks). I am all in the mood for winter baking! :) I baked a bday cake for a colleague and made some date squares for Bill. I probably haven't made him those in about 3 years or more.

Here is Maelie having some of her favorite... cappucino frozen yogourt from M&M. We HAD to go out of our way to get some for her. She loves that stuff! Note the Rudolph make up on her face.



Let's hope for a fun & safe snow day tomorrow!

missing in action

Life has a way of keeping one busy. Tonight i am out of commission! :)

This weekend started out rather busy. Saturday morning I was at Maelie's school at 9 am to help out with the wine & cheese and silent auction preparations. I wasn't actually going to the event itself, but I helped out from 9 am - 2 pm, then did some running around at Grand & Toys in Ottawa for work.
Sunday morning, I was at work at 9 am to prepare binders for our Directors meetings on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I worked all day, then by the evening I wanted to do a bit of home baking for them, as I always do! it just wouldn't be the same without it.

So i ended up making a 6 batch of muffins (didn't calculate the liquid correctly). Then I tried a new cookie recipe, chocolate & almond. very very good if I muct say so myself. Bill and Maelie don't like them as they have almonds.
So by 10 pm last night, I was pooped! I had to get up at 4:45 this morning to be at work by 6. Everything that could go wrong this morning actually did. Well not ALL but close enough. It all worked out in the long run though, but not without draining every single ounce of energy I had left.

So tonight, I am really exhausted. And i am doing NOTHING. I promise. well almost.
There are so many things to do before the holidays. I am going to take it very easy this year. I need time for myself, and time to just stay home and relax, and perhaps clean a bit! :)

Less than a month to Christmas... almost advent calendar time.

This year instead of buying adult gifts in my family, we are donating to family members who could use the extra cash. We simply seem to have everything we need and some people have so little. I just wish i could give so much more all the time. But i do know this is a way of draining oneself...

i promise pics are coming soon! :)

pictures don't do justice

well last night i worked on my chocolates Christmas creations for quite a while. The pictures I took don't really do them justice though. My workplace, where I am currently displaying them, looks like a winter wonderland!

Here are some pictures. I am currently setting my pricelist. I am hoping to actually make a bit of money to help out at Christmas... and not just break even or under as I usually do. It seems I am afraid to charge good prices. When you think about it though, I buy a lot of chocolate, buy a lot of packaging supplies, and spend a lot of time making them.







I am donating one item to Maelie's school for their auction this weekend. I am not sure which one yet. The sleigh with chocolates around it is HUGE. The picture doesn't show the actual size. I may donate that one because it just stands out well. The candy store is also cute. I have a lot that I didn't make yet.... can't do it all in one night!

I have a lot of different patterns for baggies. I fill them with 20 chocolates. They are great stocking stuffers.



I made a bunch of suckers and placed them on a sucker rack for now.



I have a lot more to make. Eventually I will have a whole catalogue full of samples. It makes it easier for people to order some. Now would be a good time to take a few days off here and there to just make some! At least I am starting early this year!

it's up!

I think this is the earliest our Christmas tree has been up. I snuck it upstairs while Maelie was in the bath Saturday evening. When she came out she immediately wanted to decorate it. We had to wait til Sunday because I had to pick up a new set of lights. This time,. we got 2 200 packs so it will light up nicely.



It hasn't changed this year. Maelie bunched up all the snowflake ornaments together. She has been doing that for years! Decorating on the same branch over and over... So I usually come by discreetly and spread out the ornaments so that they cover the tree! She usually notices and asks me why I moved them. We are all for tradition in this house! heheh




Our Christmas tree is completely mix and match. We have been collecting ornaments and making some year after year. It doesn't look like one of those trees in a magazine but it really works for us because each ornament has its own history. Maelie's favorite at the moment? Q-tip snowflakes we made last year.

Some people wonder why I wanted to put it up this early this year. Well I find that if I keep it to December, I am already so busy doing things that I don't have the opportunity to just enjoy it being there. Therefore Christmas tree = stress. By having it up now, it doesn't mean holiday time will not be hectic, it just means that I will have already enjoyed the tree.

Happy holidays!

new park

Who knew you could always find a new park with funky new toys just about anywhere in your neighborhood?

the boyfriends

Since you asked, I will let you know which kids are Maelie's boyfriends on the class picture. For those of you who didn't know, you can click on the class picture and it will get bigger, so then you can actually see the kids.

Theo, the first love, is the little boy in the back row right in the middle. He is wearing the blue shirt. The little boy to the right of him, Mathieu, is Maelie's good friend, but she has not considered marrying him yet.

The other potential husband is Sebastien. If you look at the middle row, he is the little boy in the white shirt right below Mathieu (who has the plaid shirt). He is kind of trying to look up in the picture. He is right on top of the little girl with the pig tails.

It is so funny for Maelie to talk about these little classmates.
Angelina and I are not friends anymore. She did this... or did that...
Heather is my friend. But she bosses me around. So she isn't my friend anymore (huh?)
and it goes on and on and on....!

Kath: I was wondering about what you mentioned. I keep looking at the little girls and try and see which one will she be friends with in 27 years! :)

ribbons & fudge

"ewww gross mom. peanut butter fudge is disgusting"
"try it Maelie... you may be surprised"

Results:



Please tell me I am not the only one who gets completely excited by a bunch of Christmas ribbons?

let me get this straight

"Mom, this girl in grade one would like to come back to kindergarten"

"oh really? who?"

"well she is the sister of my new boyfriend, Sebastian"

pause.

"oh, so what about Theo? is he still your boyfriend too?"

"well yes. I don't know which of the two i'm gonna marry"

"oh, how come?"

"well, Theo has a new girlfriend. you know, Heather. the one that bosses me around"

I guess that little Theo likes controlling women! Heather and Maelie really have strong personalities. And that little boy is so sweet and quiet.

Who knew kindergarten was so complicated!

Christmas is coming

Little by little... it's time to take out or winter stuff!
I find that if I wait until December to take it all out, I have no time to enjoy it. So Halloween night, off went the Halloween curtains and tablecloth and on went the winter ones....!




My internal Christmas clock is ticking. My goal for this year would be to enjoy making things to give. Edibles being the number one gift! :) It is hard in a commercial world to focus on simplicity for the holidays, but once again, I will try my best not to fall in the trap!

Back from our weekend away

For those of you who are curious to know, I survived one night without Maelie, and with no problems at all. I love going places. anywhere really. I am not afraid of driving anywhere, no fear of getting lost. Perhaps that is just part of me, part of my personality. I enjoy the adventure. I know I can't get permanently lost, so I just enjoy finding new places.

I didn't even take pictures in Montreal! How unlike me....

When we got to my moms though, I did take pictures of the new little additions to the house. (soon to find new homes however)





Three perfect little bundles of energy. My allergies went crazy with all this baby fur flying in the house. Two of the babies have really long hair, however one has a little bit shorter hair. One is the exact replica of his mama. The yellow one is a boy and the others are girls. They are really hard to resist...!

Maelie's swimming lessons

At Maelie's last swimming lesson, I took some pictures, but didn't have a chance to post them.



She really enjoys her classes. She tries really hard and even if she is afraid of something, she will do it to show the teacher she can... ! A people pleaser already... poor kid! :)