New Links

I really do have a TON of excellent photos to add, but I haven't had a sane moment to do so. What I can share with you are some interesting, fun links I've found recently.

But first, Congratulations to Tammy and Ryan and the birth of little Everett.

Tammy was a tower of strength through her challenging experience, but I have no doubt that she stood strong, rolled with the punches, coped with the unknowns along the way so her littlest son could enter the world in health and strength. Wish I could be there to meet him and pamper Tammy for all her hard work! Our love is with you!

Second, I've added two crafty links to my blog roll. I've been inspired by the Artful Parent for while, and have incorporated some more art ideas into our family fun times. Of course, Dave is really the art leader in our home, creatively engaging Corrina in pre-dinner drawing lessons, monster making, or still life sketches (I kid you not!). I'm more the one who has to turn to other creative people for ideas, especially at the end of draining days, so I'm happy there are resources for me, and for you! And my next idea is to cut some scraps from plain fabric and pick up fabric markers for making fabric monsters and dolls!

The second link I added is the Crafty Crow, a collection of children's crafts and activities that is put together daily around season, subjects, special holidays, etc. Someone searches creative blogs and compiles all the ideas for you so you don't have to do the leg work, you just get to have the inspiration and fun!

I also put up a new book link for The Mindful Brain. This book is about brain development, the ability of the brain to change and grow in incredible ways through ALL OF LIFE, in ALL circumstances. One little line I caught in a quick scan last night was "nature needs nurture." All of our experiences influence our brain and the way we feel, sense, live, and think. Fascinating, to me!

On my to do list this week:
Many crafts with Corrina, including embroidery sewing
Planting/thinning my lettuce seedlings before they die
Making apple crisp with airport bruised apples from Dave's trip

AND
Posting blog photos

Corrina's Princess Magic

While watching Sesame Street yesterday, Corrina was amazed when a little girl waved her magic wand and made wonderful things appear. Her jaw hanging somewhere around her navel, she managed to sat "How did she do that?"

So here is a little lesson in the wonders of TV magic. Corrina displayed not only stellar acting skills and a great on-screen presence, but also helped out in the editting process ("We need Fairy Sparkles!").

-DAve

Long time no see

I have photos to share! Finally! Courtesy of Chris and Mary who cam to visit us over the weekend, and celebrated a birthday party with us.

We had a silly party with lots of fun games and dressing up.




I'm just getting around to cleaning up bubble solution footprints, and popping left over balloons. Of course the left over cake and candy was gone alot sooner than the mess...

A mean man

Yesterday at the park sandbox Corrina was playing with two little girls we had met for the first time. One was named Pilot, and her sister named Penn. Neither were short for anything.

Seconds after learning Pilot's named Corrina made a connection: "I know a man named Pilot!" pause. "He was a mean man!" Voice increase. "And she said to Jesus, Crucify Him!"

What is a mother to say? "Uhm, yes, that was Pontius Pilate." To the Nanny accompanying the children. "I guess we memorized that story rather quickly."


I promise, we are not religious bigots. We are safe to play with in the sandbox.


Janie

The Story of Bottled Water

I don't know about you, but I really appreciate the Story of Stuff project. Their latest video, the Story of Bottled Water, has this delightful little moment:

"Drinking Bottled water is quickly becoming as popular as smoking while pregnant!" (with the pregnant lady looking down on the bottled-water guy!)
-Dave

Chocolate Moneky

This week we will be giving into chocolate cravings with two treats:

Moneky Banana Biscotti gone Chocolate (and Half Baked)
Here is the original RECIPE
And here is my version

3/4-1 Cup Ripened Bananas, mashed
1 Egg or 2 Egg whites
2 Tbsp brown Sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1 Cup white flour
3/4 + 2 Tbsp Whole Wheat flour
1/2-3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cocoa *my addition, and it is delicious!* (I encourage you to use fair trade from which ever local store sells it, like Ten Thousand Villages)
1/4 cup Chocolate chips (optional to make this double chocolate!)

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Place first 4 ingredients (wet) in a bowl and combine.
Mix together dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients to form a thick dough.

Divide into two equal portions and place on a silpat lined baking sheet (or parchment paper) 4 inches apart.Form each piece of dough into a 6 inch log, about 3 inches wide. They turn out to be flat style logs, more like rectangles. Bake for 25 minutes.
Remove, and decrease heat to 250 degrees. Allow logs to cool ten mins.
Using a serrated knife cut biscotti into diagonal strips.
*This is where I stopped! Biscotti means twice baked, so if you like follow the remaining instructions for a great treat. Or, if your pieces were a perfect cakey crunchy combination like mine why not leave them and have Half baked Biscotti!
To finish: Place back on cookie sheet, and bake for 20-25 mins, turning once for evening browning if you like.
Go Bananas and eat them up!
Store in air tight container, if they make it that far!


Peanut Butter Balls
My mom made these all the time in little logs instead of balls. She called them chocolate bars and never shared because they were her special dessert. Please, share these with your family because they are a healthy treat for their sweets cravings too!
Mix 4 Tbsp light, crunchy peanut butter with 4-6 Tbsp hot (or left over) coffee (could use water for caffeine-free) .
Mix in 3-4 Tbsp hot chocolate mix (or cocoa and sugar if you like).
Toast 1/2-3/4 cup oatmeal in a frying pan on medium high heat, stirring often (don't need oil or spray or anything, just keep them moving). Just toast till light brown so they are no longer raw.
Add oatmeal and 2 tbsp dark raisins to wet ingredients and mix.
Wet hands with cold water and shape into 1/2-1 inch balls. Refrigerate to firm, and store in fridge or freezer.

Thank You, Ukulele Man

The other day on the bus ride home I had a delightful encounter.

I got on the bus and sat near the front. There was a pair of young people sitting in the seat opposite and I couldn't help but be drawn to them almost immediately. She was your typical downtown young lady, trendy/hippy hand-made clothes and hat, while he was tall, bearded, wearing a huge winter coat and playing a blues scale on on a Ukulele.

Now, I've recently had a bit of an obsession with the beloved UKE, ever since an radio article on CBC's GO stated in no uncertain terms that the Ukulele is the perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for person in your life, as its easy to play and growing in popularity. Plus the host said that playing a UKE makes you feel like a GIANT, which is no doubt all kinds of awesome.

But the pair on the bus had something else going on, beyond excellent taste in fashion and musical instruments. They were lively, daring, and looked to be having a lot of fun. In a place where most people sit silently avoiding attention, they were relaxed and even having some fun. Eventually he was able to coax his bus mate into a little impromptu jam session, while he played and she invented cold, bitter lyrics of lament and tragedy.

Now, I'm not saying I necessarily want to play the blue on a Ukulele whist (and at the same time) traveling on public transit, but I do want to take every opportunity to enjoy the company of those around me and not to let life slip by.

Thank you, crazy Ukulele Man. May we all follow your cute, under-sized example.
-Dave

Dave's Article for CFGB

Fine Dining on the Rooftops of India

Monday, March 01, 2010

As part of a recent Food Study Tour, a group of Canadian Foodgrains Bank supporters and staff visited the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR). EFICOR is a partner of World Relief Canada and has long been active in the Indian state of Bihar, working with people who have traditionally been among the poorest and lowest castes in India.

Read more here:

Updated: Custom Action Figure Bookends

Custom Action Figure Bookends

People on facebook have been asking what the paint fumes are all about. Well, a long time ago Janie started to get a little frustrated with the experience of living amongst and around action figures/toys/collectibles. I started to look for more practical applications of my beloved playthings. I started creating more elaborate dioramas, which pacified the maternal urge to purge, but my real dream was to create highly detailed and sculpted bookends. Still the problem remained though: Janie still just saw them as a pile of multicoloured plastic. Janie can't stand the visual clutter. All that colour and form leaping out from the shelf gets my imagination roaring, but for Janie it's just an attack on her eyeballs. Then my beloved boingboing.net, curators of all that is awesome online, provided the answer.

Three bookends, constructed of some of my lesser loved figures and a last minute few thrift store additions, hot glued to a metal bookend, and painted and sealed. Perfect.

-Dave

A Poem, and a Warning

Dear Traveler
by Dave Colvinson

Should you ever find yourself
In distant lands or foreign scenes
And notice, much to your chagrin
The faintest of internal screams

Pay heed, dear friend! Do not ignore!
Cast away the very idea!
Resist the urge to shrug it off
As Traveler’s Diarrhea

The warning signs are obvious
And you’d do well to give them heed
A temperature spike of ninety-nine
The inability to feed

A body wrought with aches and pains
All these signals do incite us
Take action now, make no delay!
I’m afraid it’s Appendicitis!

Congratulations! Off you go!
One ultrasound and two X-rays
Blood work, urine tests, monitors
Get comfy! You’ll be there for days!

It’s true you may being to fret
When they remove all of your clothes
And you may shriek when given pills
Inserted where pills seldom go

But do not fret! You’ll make it through
Despair will surely be your folly
If hope itself seems nearly spent
Fear not! Just call on ***** Paulley!

Was ever there a friend so dear
As she who sleeps on tiny cot?
Who makes you smile when all seems bleak
And helps you hobble to the “pot”?

And so when all is said and done
Dear Traveler, do not lose heart
But perhaps in future journeys try
To return home with all your parts

Breakfast

We usually eat a very healthy breakfast around here, but this morning I started thinking about variety.

We've done the whole wheat pancakes, the apple, banana, blueberry pancakes. Fruit and granola, high fibre protein packed cereal, oatmeal with berries and nuts, healthy muffins, and good old fruit and yogurt.

And I love them all! Especially pancakes and muffins! Ohhh, and homemade granola when I had more time at home! Yum!

But, I wondered what ideas are out there that I just don't know about, if any!

Well, here are a few good links I found to freshen up breakfast time:

10 Tasty, Easy Breakfast Ideas


Best Health Breakfast Ideas (Lots!)

Quinoa Porridge (Making this right now)


Another Banana Muffin Recipe

Apple-Walnut Pancakes (I want to try)


Some of my tips for healthy breakfasts:
Add ground flaxseed to everything you bake (Muffins, pizza crust, breads, sprinkle on cereal, add to smoothies)

Add oatmeal to baked goods ( My Favorite Banana Oatmeal Recipe: I add spices, reduce the sugar, use whole wheat flour, add flax seed, and sometimes nuts)!

Use as much whole wheat flour as you can to add fiber, nutrients, and to avoid the blood sugar spike that comes from white flour.

I didn't even mention eggs in this post, but those are often part of our breakfasts too: poached is my favorite, on whole grain toast, with fruit. Dave loves scrambled, or soft boiled with "toast soliders" and corrina loves them anyway!

What is your favorite HEALTHY breakfast?

The Chronicles of a 4 Year Old

Corrina has been 4 now for just over a week! The day after she turned 4 she told me "Mommy, now I will be 5 and go to Kindergarten, and than I will be 6, and than I will be every number!"

As a 4 year old she told me on the way to daycare that she might have to leave our house to go learn to be a crossing guard, but she would wait till we have another baby so I would have someone to take care of. She said "Than I will come home and teach the baby everything I learn. And I will be able to reach things for the baby that they can't reach." She has also requested that when she turns 5 that we have another baby for her because 5 year old people need to be big sisters.

So, in short, being 4 is all about being 5!

Dear Corrina

Dear Corrina,

You are turning four this month, and growing so much every day! Since you're growing up so fast, I wanted to take a minute to write down some facts about you to be forever immortalized in the solid marble slab that is the internet.

Corrina, you have told us (and often list for us) that when you grow up, you plan on being:
a Doctor
a Nurse
a Teacher
a Truck Driver
a Crossing Guard
and (my personal favourite) the Calgary Stampede.
and not a rider in the Calgary Stampede, or a Rodeo Clown, but the ENTIRE EVENT (as depicted in a poster you saw once).

This morning you told us you had a dream about finding "flying clothes" with your friends from Daycare and that you went flying up in the sky. This seems to be a recurring dream of yours.

You still sleep with your Pooh Bear every night, but have occassionally gone to bed without him (in which case I try to sneak him under your arm in the night).

You have told me that you remember when I was a baby, that you wish you could be mommy's mommy, and you cried very hard yesterday when I admitted that infact you and I cannot get married.

You love to sing. You love to play with dollies and with Lego. You love to colour with big heavey markers that blanket the page. You are constantly climbing, whether me or the furnature or a play structure. You love animals and babies and baby animals. You'll eat just about anything most of the time. Even celery.

I am very very proud of you and the little person you are. I love to read with you and tell you stories about the Hero Girl and her polar bear. I love you very much.
-D

Monday Morning

QUICK EDIT:
Day went great, people are kind and friendly. Lots of meetings and orientations, learned how to make the coffee.
-Dave


(Our camera is on the fritz! It takes pink/purple photos and adds an interesting streaking feature so they appear to be melting. We've found that if we do a B&W finish they are at least presentable.)

It's early on Monday morning. On Mondays we aren't usually up and ready by 8am, searching for public transit tickets in pockets and baskets. Right now I'm either lazing in bed, or snuggled with Corrina on the couch. But, today, Dave begins his new job at the Canadian Food Grains Bank.

I said I would join him for breakfast and coffee this morning, but I didn't make very good company in the end as I groggily sipped peppermint tea and munch raisin bran. He was chipper and alive, motivated by hope and nervousness. Soon he'll be biting his mitts off to show the transit driver transfers, deposit change.

This marks a large change in our lives as Dave will embark on a new career with some exciting challenges. His new position is the Youth Engagement Coordinator. His purpose will be to expose young people (undefined) to the work of the Food Grains Bank, and create opportunities for people to make changes in their own life and faith in accordance with it's mission: A Christian Response to Global Hunger. His first major project is to join a team of staff and volunteers on an awareness trip to Indian and Bangladesh in 4 weeks! In the future he will be a part of the planning team for annual international awareness tours (similar to a missions trip however the participants are there to learn how the work of the food grains assisted people and communities with sustainable food sources). Dave hopes to gain a better understanding of the day in day out tasks this week as well he is still learning the about the various work the CFGB does in full. I'm sure he will have much more to say about it in 8 hours.

My day: normal. Speech therapy with Corrina, head to the library, fold laundry, play games and toys, head to the gym later. I think our weather is warming up a bit. We had many plans for outdoor excursions this weekend but were stopped head on by severe wind chill warnings. I generally don't take those as a challenge especially when there are children involved! If the balmy -18 with no wind holds we may do the playground today!

Well, here's hoping Dave didn't miss his bus! And a little video to end things off!

All is Calm, All is Bright

Merry Christmas!
And a Happy New Year!

Graham Cracker Houses

The other night our family got into the creative Christmas spirit! I hope to post more about everything later but here are a few pics I had to share!
-Dave

Advent

We have no snow. Being from BC I was not aware how accustomed I'd grown to preparing for Christmas with snow. I always brag about the wonderful warm winters I grew up with. But now I'm bewildered by the green all around. The family traditions don't feel the same. I have no cue for what to do next. I really don't mind heading out to the car each day without scrapper in hand, but I really want to decorate now and it just doesn't feel the same without all the glittery snow blanketing my world.

That being said, I've at least been thinking about the upcoming celebration of advent. I've decided that we will do some advent focused activities as a family. We would like to prepare ourselves for the gift giving portion of Christmas before December so that our focus can be on learning, hearing, seeing, and feeling all the advent brings.

I found this neat page and may take some ideas from it.

I also watch this space for inspiration.

And this page always has appropriate children's lessons and activities.

What are you doing to bring the birth of Jesus in?

Wild Thing and Max

First I think Corrina wanted to be a Halloween Fairy. Next she wanted to be tinkerbell, and in the end she wanted to be Max, from Where the Wild Things are, with much celebration and approval from Mom and Dad!
Dave was her wild thing and the little walk around the neighborhood was very fun!

Presenting:

And a video too, 

It was time

About two weeks ago:
Pretty long curls, bouncing down Corrina's back, sometimes tied up in tails, or braided to perfection!

Long battles in the bath to wash dirt from these pretty curls. Longer fights to brush out the tangles and encourage the bounce! Running out of creative ways to convince Corrina to let me brush and do her hair every day.
Cochlear implants stuck in wild jungle-like tangles, being ripped free from implant eating vines of curls....
It was time!With help from a friendly neighbor...

And a very patient Corrina...
Who sat very well, being only a little silly...


She is now sporting a very cute, fuss free, SHORT cut!We love the short cut! It has improved our parent-child relationship by at least 10%! Although, we do miss the amazing curls. I hope they grow back in when her hair gets longer again.