A New Hope:

It is a time of great celebration in the Galaxy...

Annika Bananika

What can I say?  We have fun together!

BIG NEWS!!

Well everyone! We've been eluding to it for some time on here, but now is the moment when we finally announce the BIG NEWS! DON'T SCROLL DOWN and ruin it! Just be patient! This is not the kind of thing that comes around every day! And I was thinking about telling family first, and then friends, but I'm just so pumped that I can't keep it in! (I haven't let Janie know that I'm doing this blog post right now!) I've been so excited, and Janie is too. We haven't told Corrina yet, but I have no doubt whatsoever that as soon as she knows what we know, she'll be just as thrilled as we all are! Oh my goodness, everyone! Don't tell Corrina! We don't wanna ruin the surprise! As I was saying, and as I'm sure you've already figured out, things are getting pretty exciting around here! A little stressful, sure, but the business and all the preparation is about to pay off and in the end it'll be totally worth it! It's like they say, good things come to those that wait, and man, I feel like I've been waiting and waiting forever! But then folks also say that a watched pot never boils, so I've been trying not to be TOO anxious, but how can I not be! (is that the same pot that calls the kettle black? huh.) Anywho, I was talking to a friend today on the phone earlier. It was one of those calls, you know? When you hear it ring and you just thing "I'll be this could be THE call" You know? Do you ever get that feeling? I'm not saying I'm clairvoyant or anything, but sometimes you just KNOW. But anyways, I really appreciate your support everyone, 'cause this really has been a long wait for me, and even longer for Janie, I'm sure. Not many of you realize just how important this is to Janie. But what I really want to say is thank you to all of you, friends, family, etc., who has stuck with us, shown your support, and lent a helpful hand or two. It really is a blessing to know that all of you are behind us in this, and that as we move forward on this very exciting journey, you'll be behind us to!

Thanks a ton, once again! I really can't express what I'm try to say in words, and it means so much to me that I know that you already know! So thanks again!
-DAve

It's Love

note the opportunity Corrina takes to cheat here :)

I just love these people!  There's always room in each day to remember that more! 

I think some of these people are sneaking up on me now.  Yup, with tickles!

Clever

Watch out friends, five year olds are clever!

Corrina asked, while brushing her teeth, "what if I want to get married one day, and the other person doesn't want to get married?"

Today when we arrived at Nursery school Corrina classified her friends in the hallway as boys and girls.  It went like this "so and so has a vagina, so and so has a vagina, he has a penis, and daddy has a penis!"  Loud and clear, everything is so loud and clear with this kid!

When Corrina asks about/for something and I've taken a moment to think about it my response, if positive, is "sure." Yesterday I was instructed that I should not say sure.  Corrina thinks I should say "YES!  or Absolutely!"  with great enthusiasm.

One afternoon I told Corrina I'd like five minutes to rest, and I would sit on the couch, with feet up, and read my book.  I said she could play toys, or look at books, or really do anything at all that she wanted apart from tv/computer.  She plunked down beside me with a book, flipped through the pages in seconds, and said "I've been watching that clock, and look mom, the big hand has moved now, and your five minutes are over."  I explained how I need a few more minutes, and she could have some time with me here, but letting me rest so I'd feel better.  Corrina began stroking my arm, and kindly said "your time is over, but that's alright because you can sleep later when your friend comes over to visit, and I'll play with them, but now your time is over."  So gentle, so kind, so strongly an extravert that can't play for 5 minutes alone!  Hmm, I'll have to cash in on that sleep thing another time!

"Dried apricots make my brain hurt."

Well, the list could go on, but that's about all I can recall.  Fun times.

Corrina was being a wedding planner, putting together a lovely tea reception.  She's available for hire if your looking!

A spy following a clue for a certain little girl!

When Corrina holds Annika it looks like a person holding a twin of themselves as a baby.  I recommend having your twins at the same time, otherwise its just too creepy!

A smile!!!  It's hard for Annika to keep a smile when all the little orange lights and burst of white flash at her. 

We sit, we eat, we spit!

We have more snow than I think we've ever had, at least since we've lived in Winnipeg.  Do you see that composter?  Basic model, same as the one in your yard, almost up to the top in snow.  Makes for create tunnel building!

It has been so warm outside, -5 t0 +1, that we've been out without freezing in five minutes.  From -45 in January, to +5 in February!

Accidental Nutella

Last night I was set to make a really nice no bake cookie I found here, and I accidentally made a delicious nutella like spread. 

No one minded to mistake! 

Here's how I botched the recipe:

- use a blender instead of a food processor
-added too much water
-tried to make up for the water by adding extra dates

-gave up and spread concoction onto a graham cracker and called it a night!

I'd show a picture but I'm sure you can guess what this chunky, brown, thick mixture might look like in a photo!

The actual no bake fudgey snowball cookies are excellent too.  I'd suggest making a proper batch next time you have someone coming over for tea!

And here's a picture of my baby.  How does this relate to the recipe?  She'll be eating the chocolate nut spread in just a few moments!

For those interested this is the Plan Dollhouse we bought Corrina for Christmas.  She has alot of fun everyday with this house and all the special people in it!

Another random picture to show the new, way more functional home of our wonderful and free piano, in the dinning room.  Now to learn how to play it :)

Birthday Bash

How to have a fantastic 5th Birthday:
1. Start with a rainbow cake




2. Add a Birthday Tree (to put the presents under of course)


3. Invite a crazy scientist aka Dad!  Forgot to buy smocks for all children, but buy a ton of prizes!






4. Make explosions, gak, and goo, all with lots of colors that inevitably end up on your guests tee shirts.

5. Finish with delicious rainbow cake, homemade pinata and fun presents!

Even with the massive amounts of preparation, and the energy needed it pull it off, I'd do it again.  But only once a year!
Just for fun here is Corrina through the years:

6. Go shopping post party to replace all guests t-shirts