Alphabitty Moments


Carrie at 4 the Love of Family  has started a new blog carnival today and it will run for the next 25 weeks !    It's pretty simple each week just post a picture corresponding to the letter of the week !  But stop by her site for all the details

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I selected a picture of our "adorable"  little Laila - she has brought so much laughter and love to our family since being born in December '07.



This should be lots of fun  !!

Feeling better and getting ready...

for our little road trip to Edmonton this weekend.  Although we don't feel 100% this is about the only weekend that we can all go without missing an activity here in Calgary.  So I have been busy trying to pack clothes, food and toys for our quick trip.


I'm also trying to get my house tidied before we leave...not sure if anyone else does this but I like my house clean before I leave for even the shortest of trips.  I hate coming home to a messy place.

Weather is still chilly but the forecast is for more seasonal temps tomorrow...let's hope so as we are heading further north and that usually means colder to begin with.

Did anyone catch the "Top Chef" season finale last night...I know I said my favorites were Fabio or Stefan but I really started to like Carla over the last several weeks and was sad to see her not win last night.  I cried when she started to cry at the final judging.    

I taped the 1st episode of the new season of "Big Love" last night and can't wait to watch it.  I had rented the first two seasons sometime last year and really enjoyed it - Any other fans out there.

I caught a preview for "Nip/Tuck" as well last night...I think they said it was starting next week sometime.  I'm not even sure what season we are getting...I'm sure the US is way ahead of us but none the less I'm still looking forward to seeing what they are up to.

I seriously don't watch a lot of "live" TV - it's a waste of time but if I'm working out, cooking or playing on the computer I will watch a something that is PVR'd. (It's more for background noise - I hate it when it's totally quiet).

Should run and finish cleaning/packing before Laila wakes from her nap.

Have a great weekend !!!

Wordless Wednesday - February 25th

Laila and I are down for the count again with terrible chest and head colds....Please pray that we will find some relief soon. Daddy is out until around 9 tonight so I'm not sure how I will manage with both kiddies but I guess we will survive.

Here is a picture of our little ladybug yesterday...I love those chubby little cheeks and just want to kiss them all day. I had the doctor weigh her the other day and she is now a whopping 23.6 lbs (good considering she was only 19 lbs a few months ago).



We are scheduled to go to Edmonton on Friday to see Faruq's mom who is recovering from knee surgery but honestly I'm not sure if we will make it in this condition. The weather is still bitterly cold here as well and I'm just hoping it will warm up in the next few days.

Gosh this really wasn't a "wordless" post !!!

Chow for now !!

Nice and quiet...

Was the way we spent our Monday !! We hung out together in the morning having breakfast, doing puzzles, building Lego's and coloring until it was time for Hayden to get ready for school.

We had a bite of lunch then drove him to get the school bus (usually we walk to the stop but today was snowing, cold and windy). Brought Laila home and she went for her nap which gave me a few hours to try to organize my digital pictures. I have taken over 10,000 pictures in the last 5 years and honestly still haven't figured out the best way to organize them. (I would love to hear how everyone else does it !!)I

I threw together a yummy spaghetti sauce with ground turkey & whipped up some biscuits for dinner then it was time to get Laila up and fed so we could get Hayden at school. He will usually take the bus home most days but we like to surprise him once in awhile with a drive home.

Faruq got home just after us and we managed to sit as a family for dinner before he was off to workout with his trainer. The kids and I played in the toy room for awhile then time for baths and bed. Daddy got home just in time to read Hayden a few stories before bed (we are currently reading a kids version of the Bible and he is loving it !).

I managed a nice long soak in the tub and now I sit in bed typing on this silly laptop when I should be trying to get to sleep. I have a new book just calling my name so I may have to start that before I call it a night.

I have taped the latest Bachelor episode but haven't watched it yet....it's really next week's that I can't wait to see. Honestly, I think he picked Melissa at the original rose ceremony then dumped her for Molly or even Gillian (wouldn't that be scandalous). Can't wait to see it all unfold next week !!!

Anyone watch the Oscar's last night...I always like to watch to see what everyone is wearing and who makes the best acceptances speech...Loved Kate Winslet and Sean Penn's speeches and actually there was only one dress I really disliked and that was Whoopi Goldberg...What the heck was she thinking !

I did catch The Amazing Race last night and I'm totally digging the Mother/son team Margie/Luke. I wasn't really surprised that Steve and Linda got eliminated this week and I had thought they might have gone in the first week but they managed to sneak by for a week. I love love love this show !!

I will post the recipes for the Turkey Spaghetti Sauce and biscuits tomorrow but they are both super easy and very yummy !!

Oh and by the way Laila's poor hair didn't look any better today but man she looked cute in one of her hats when we went to get her brother !! :}

Chow !!

I know his intent was a good

but the result was not.  Hubby took the kids out this afternoon so I could get a little "uninterrupted" cooking time in the kitchen.  (I know lucky me !)


They were only supposed to do the weekly recycling, a quick trip to Safeway and wash/gas my van...that's it nothing else but he decided to do me the favor of getting the kid's hair cut.  I had mentioned it earlier in the week and while he can't remember something I told him this morning he remembers that. (SadlyNot so lucky for me this time !)

Laila has only ever had one haircut in her short lifetime and that did not go smoothly.  I was glad I had been there that time to hold her and try to add some distraction while the poor stylist tried to trim the mullet I had let grow because of my fear of taking her there in the first place.

She did okay but it was a great salon with a "kid-friendly" vibe but daddy thought it was silly that we paid $20 for what amounted to all of a 5 minute cut. So today on his mission to do me a favor as well as try to save a few bucks he took the kids to MasterCuts at one of the local malls.

Again I keep saying in my mind "The intent was good, The intent was good" because the outcome was far less then that.  Now as a second time mama I have learned a few things... roll with the punches & stay calm when things don't turn out the way I think they should.

I'm pretty sure  Faruq knew he might be in a slight bit of trouble when he sent Hayden in first upon arriving home.  Hayden's hair wasn't too bad if you only looked at it from the back... the front was not exactly even and it is so short it appeared that a few attempts were made to repair the damage then it was just decided to cut it all off.  All the time I'm thinking "Oh no, he would have sat still and this is what the outcome was..... what has happened to Laila".

So my little girl comes in with her daddy and all I could think was "OMG I'm the mama of one of  Stooges".  Seriously, my beautiful little girl could now join the 3 Stooges and become the 4th member.  Laila has the weirdest head of hair to begin with and I wasn't there to distract her that poor stylist didn't stand a chance from the start.  :{  It is uneven everywhere especially around the ears and again she went for the "shorter is better" look in the front.

I think Faruq could see the shock on my face and the silence made him slightly nervous so felt it was a great time to add that not only did he save $ 5 per cut he saved me the hassle of taking them myself this week.   

She didn't seem to terribly traumatized by the whole event so I just rolled with it and calmly told my "well meaning" hubby that I would be handling all hair cuts from now on.  

I guess all the little hats I have bought her over the last few months will come in handy while we wait for her hair to grow out again !!!  I hate to even take or post a picture of it but might try to snap a few tomorrow.

Lazy Saturday

Laila woke 4 times last night because of this nasty head cold she has had and mama was the only one that was going to provide her with cuddles.  I'm so not used to this because she has slept through the night since about 2 months old (please don't hate me I know I got lucky with her).


It didn't even feel as if I had gone to bed cuz after the first few times is was just easier to sit with her in her rocking chair and sleep there.    I thought maybe she would sleep to say noon but no such luck as she was yelping from her crib around 8 this morning.  Daddy did get her but I find once I wake I don't typically go back to sleep so I got up a and joined them for breakfast.

We have season tickets to go see all the Broadway shows that come to Calgary and today we had tickets for Annie.   Sadly, Hayden decided that he would take daddy this time as  I went to see Hairspray with him last time.  I was a little disappointed because I'm the "Broadway show" lover in the house but thought that the boys were in need of a little "male bonding" time so I stayed home with my little lady.

The boys left around 11 for Hayden's swimming lesson at noon then they went to the show at 2.  Thankfully Laila had a nice 3 hours nap so mama took a little nap at the same time.  

We chilled for the rest of the afternoon together eating, playing, dancing then eating again.   Here's Laila rockin' it out to Pink !!

(I wonder who needs a few new pairs of pants ?? Darn growth spurts !)


My little theatre lovers got home around 7 just in time to say good night to the little lady (I so hope she sleeps through the night).  They are watching Madagascar 2 again before it needs to go back to the store tomorrow.

~~~~~~~

Okay totally off topic but I'm just watching Jon & Kate plus 8 (know them) - I have one question (okay maybe a few) - When did she become so annoying ? How the heck did they get this mansion they are now living in? and where are the twins?  I know if I asked Faruq he would say that she has always been somewhat annoying (he is not a fan) and I guess I could probably figure out how they can afford the new house.  As for the twins maybe they are just not cute enough anymore for TV (kidding) - I'm sure they are just sulking in their bedroom (kidding again) .

Don't get me wrong I'm happy for them but life definitely seems to have improved since the early days of this show.  It just doesn't seem as "real-life" as before except when she is belittling her husband that really hasn't changed much.

I think I'm going to try to do a little digital scrapbooking tonight before bed...I'm really trying to get the creative juices flowing again as I have really missed this hobby !  I spent some time getting the Mac's set up with the appropriate software and files now I have no excuse to not get started.

I hope you all had a great Saturday !!

Friday is about Family

Like most families our weekly schedule is overbooked to say the least. From Monday to Thursday it is non-stop go-go-go !

Six months ago I decided that something needed to change so after a little family meeting we decided that Friday evening was going to be about "family" and only that. We take turns every week deciding what's on the menu and what the activity of the week will be.

Tonight it's Veggie dogs, homemade fries and chocolate sundaes ! Then we will be viewing Madagascar 2 and if there is time a game of scrabble. (Mama loves this game but daddy hates to play so she is very happy to have a new playing partner)


I can't tell you how much fun it has been to reconnect with each other after our busy weeks.

Have a great weekend and take a little time for family !!

Totally forgot...

to post a picture of the cake Faruq and Hayden decorated for me on Valentine's Day.  I had baked the heart shaped cakes the day before and they surprised me by decorating them while Laila and I had a little nap.



Hayden loves to be in the kitchen helping and he is actually getting pretty good at it.   Do I smell a future "Top Chef" contestant.  Let's hope so because this Mama doesn't really enjoying cooking !

Thanks boys...I loved the surprise !!

What's for Dinner...

I can smell this cooking in the slow cooker and can hardly wait for dinner.  We are having  Taco Soup tonight and everyone loves it so it makes it really easy on mama !


Here's the recipe if you would like to give it a try sometime.

Stuff you will need:

16 oz Can of Chili Beans
16 oz Kidney Beans
16 oz Black Beans
8 oz Tomato Sauce
15 oz Stewed Tomatoes 
16 oz Can of Whole Corn
16 oz Creamed Corn
1 Pkge of Taco Seasoning (We have the big container from Costco so I add 1/4 cup)
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
1 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef
1 Onion, chopped
1 small can of chopped green chilies

Here's what you need to do:
  • Brown the ground beef with the onion in a frying pan - then add to crockpot.
  • Add all other ingredients to the crockpot but DO NOT DRAIN any of the cans before adding.
  • Simmer on Low for 4 to 5 hours.
  • Serve warm and garnish with shredded Cheddar Cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips (or just plain if you are watching your calorie count like me :} )




I founded this recipe on the incredibly talented Becky Higgin's blog and it is really a favorite of ours now.

Role Playing - Hayden style !!

So this morning while cleaning the kitchen after breakfast I hear the following coming from the toy room...

"Fetch doggie....fetch doggie...go get it doggie."

Silence


"Good doggie...okay fetch again doggie."

This time a ball comes flying by me as the toy room is actually our formal dining room so it's connected to the kitchen.   Low and behold Laila (AKA "our new doggie") comes whizzing by after the ball and once she retrieves it takes it back to Hayden.

So is wrong ?  I really didn't say much as she got bored after the next throw and refused to go get the ball.  

I love the relationship that my kids have (It's something I missed growing up as an only child) and I can't wait to see it grow as they do !! 

Wordless Wednesday - February 18th

This is Laila around 10 months - We had a local artist in Calgary draw the sketch for my mother's birthday this past December.





We had Hayden's done a few years back by the same artist - I will try to find a picture of it to post. I can't wait to get some done for us.

Happy "Wednesday" Everyone !!!

Since yesterday was Monday....

I spent a few hours in the kitchen trying out a some new recipes and I have to say I think we have a few keepers !

I have been trying to cut back on using white flour so I'm always on the hunt for recipes that are similar to some of our favorites but use whole wheat flour.

The first one is Whole-Wheat Banana Muffins.....These were so yummy that I will probably make another batch before weeks end.

You will need:

1 cup Oats
1 cup of whole wheat flour
3 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup mashed bananas (the riper the better)
1/4 cup milk (I used skim)
2 tbsp Oil

(I also added 1/3 cup of grounded Flax Seed cuz it's good for ya')

Mix everything together and bake in a preheated oven at 350'F degrees for 12 to 14 minutes - Makes 12 muffins.




The second recipe is Oatmeal Chocolate-Chip cookies ( Healthy food for kids cookbook by Rachael Anne Hill)

You will need:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup of medium oatmeal
2 tbsp light brown sugar
1/3 cup raisins
2 oz semisweet chocolate (I just used chocolate chips)
1 egg
2 tbsp sunflower oil
2 to 3 tbsp milk

How to make them:

Put the flour and oatmeal in a large bowl - stir in sugar, raisins and chocolate. Put egg in small bowl and beat in the oil & milk. Stir egg mixture into the flour and mix to form a stiff dough.

Put small spoonfuls of the mixture on the baking tray. Flatten slightly with the prongs of a fork, then bake in preheated oven at 350'F for 12 to 15 minutes until golden.



My toughest critic "Hayden" likes both recipes so I would say they will be made again. Give them a try I would love to hear if you all like them !!

Ah Sunday's.....

Growing up I hated Sundays I always thought they were boring but as an adult I love them ! It's a great day for the family to just be together and really do nothing. Our weekdays are busy like most families with small kids and Saturdays are usually scheduled with swimming lessons, trips to the grocery store and library.

But Sundays is just our day to be together...We will go to church (sadly, not as often as I would like but we are trying to improve on that this year), afterwards we come home to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Laila is usually ready for a nice long nap after this. Then Daddy, Hayden and I will just hang out watching a movie, playing a favorite board game or reading a book that we may have started during the week... We are presently enjoying Harry Potter series !

If we are really lucky Hayden and I will enjoy a little nap in the afternoon while daddy plays with Laila. It's also my day to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen so we end up with a yummy dinner and dessert.

I think it so important to instill traditions with kids and to create wonderful family memories !

Enjoy your Sunday !!!

Random Picture Challenge #6

Another Saturday Random Picture Challenge from Brittany at 4 Little Men 

This week you can select the 3rd picture from either January 2007 or the 13th picture folder

I selected the 13th Folder only because my January 2007 pictures aren't on my laptop they are only on our iMac way down in the basement. :}


This is Hayden at Halloween going treat-or-treating as a cute little dinosaur !

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you all have that special someone to love you today...We are going to have a casual day at home watching a few new movies, decorating the heart cakes I baked yesterday and more importantly just being with one another



Daddy and I are going to have delicious Beef Wellington dinner with a nice bottle of red wine after the kiddies are in bed tonight.

Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine's Day 

Private vs. Public

So for the last 4 years Faruq and I have been going back and forth on whether to send the kids through the Public education system or to pay big bucks to go the private route.


We thought we had it all figured out a few years back when Hayden started in a private Montessori preschool but sadly he wasn't really a Montessori type kid so we both felt that the private elementary school we had selected just wouldn't work.  

A friend had suggested we check out the Traditional Learning Centers that are run under the Calgary Board of Education. We went to their open house and listened to the principal talk about the program.  We left that night with the feeling that while it was a good program the class sizes scared us  - 24 to 1 (with another 1/2 time teacher to help her).  The positives for us were it was an academically enriched program so the kids would be working at a higher level then the normal elementary and it was a uniform-based school.  I particularly liked were the school was physically located but it would be about a 20 minute drive both ways everyday.

I had many sleepless nights trying to decide what was best for Hayden.  We toured a few of the private schools and noted lots of positives about them as well.  Classes size were smaller in some but surprisingly not all.   I think all were uniform based as well.  

One problem was that I was schooled through the private system and my husband via the public.  We both received excellent educations so we both had feelings where our kids should go.

The TLC program wasn't a for sure thing as you still had to submit an application then go through a lottery process.   We submitted the application so that we would at least have the option of sending him there if we so chose.  We also applied to one of the private school.  In March we got accepted to both schools and then had to make the decision on which place send him to.  

We took Hayden to both schools for a visit where he was able to participate in a class for a morning.  The TLC class was very active and busy to which he loved He cried when he had to leave at lunch and begged me to go back in the afternoon.  

We then went to the private school where I think the overall school has something like 120 kids so it was vastly different then the TLC experience.  There ratio is 10 to 1 for teacher/student.  Of course,  mommy loved it and wanted him to start that day but Hayden didn't react quite the same way.  It was much quieter setting and I think he felt to much attention was put on him.  He is a very shy  & quiet kid so the TLC was perfect as he just blended into the mix.  

So we listened to our kid and went the TLC route...He is 6 months into the program and seems to be loving it.  He wants to go everyday, has made lots of new friends and we are generally happy with the educational learning he has done. 

His vocabulary for both written and verbal has exploded, he is writing short stories and reading books that he wouldn't have tried to read last summer. He is tired when he comes home because I have seen first hand that this program is challenging for the kids.   But of course I'm having these feelings that if he is doing well in this school with this many kids what would he capable of doing if placed in the smaller school setting.

I just feel we have one shot with each of children to try to get it right so here I sit wondering if we should move him or not.

Breakfast this morning...

After asking a thousand times what my (apparently now deaf) 5 year old would like for breakfast this morning I finally decided on Buttermilk pancakes, yogurt and fruit.  




I remember growing up and only getting pancakes on "special" occasions because my mom always said they took to long to make - not sure where that logic came from I guess cereal was just an easier alternative back then.  Well now that I'm the mom we have them at least once a week.  I make a variety of different types ... plain buttermilk to whole wheat to Blueberry.  We have a waffle maker as well but honestly I think everyone just prefers the pancakes. 

I don't put whip cream on them because mean old mommy doesn't consider that a "breakfast" food.  Last year we went out for breakfast and Hayden ordered pancakes.  When it arrived it was smothered in whip cream.   I think he thought he had just died and gone to heaven. He has asked for whip cream every time since but sadly has never gotten it again.

We add a little organic syrup and butter then some fresh strawberries or applesauces if I have them on hand.

I couldn't resist posting a picture of the yogurt portion of our meal today....We have been slowing adding food to  "Things Laila can feed herself" list.  You be the judge but I don't believe yogurt has quite made that list yet.


 Shortly after this picture the spoon was pitched on the floor and she proceeded to finish the rest using her hands.

What did you have for the most important meal of the day today ?

Survivor Starts Thursday

I'm a "die hard" Survivor fan !!  I still remember getting together with friends to watch Richard Hatch be crowned the very first survivor...it's hard to believe that they are on the 18th installment.

So will you be watching when Survivor Tocantins: The Brazilian Highlands starts this week.  Click here for more info !


Ready to Bake Homemade Cookies...

I found a great tip the other day for when you are making cookies.  I'm not a fan of store bought cookies nor do I really like cookie batter that you can buy so I tend to make my own so this is right up my alley.



When making a batch of cookies (or maybe double the batch) bake some and then roll the others in small balls (I use my melon baller to get the same size everytime) and place them in a plastic freezer bag so they can be put in the freezer and enjoyed on another day.  You will have to add a few extra minutes to your baking time if you don't take them out before baking.


Hayden I popped a few in the oven the other night before bed and both enjoyed the warm yummy cookies with some milk !!!

Wordless Wednesday - February 4th

"One baby + One Oreo ChocoStix Wafer Stick = 
A Really Big Mess"


Seriously I can now die a happy mama ...

Whoever developed the "100 calorie" packaging should be getting paid a lot of money cuz they are allowing me to still enjoy some of my all time favorite snacks while not totally busting my diet.


My latest finds were these little babies while at Safeway on the weekend....


But they come in a pack of 15 so I wonder if it's a bad thing that I have eaten half of them already !!

Thank you Dare Cookies !!

Lunchbox Mini-Frittatas

My family loves when I make Frittatas on the weekends for a late brunch treat so I figured I would try these super easy ones for the boys to take with them to school and work.



Prep time is around 10 minutes and they take 25 minutes to bake.  Preheat your oven to 350'F (180'C) - Spray large muffin with cooking spray.

Ingredients:

10 Large eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup Grated parmesan cheese
1 cup Red pepper (finely chopped)
1 pkge (300g) - frozen spinach (thawed, chopped cooked and well drained)


Step 1.
In a bowl whisk the eggs with milk, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Stir in the cheese, red pepper and spinach.

Step 2.
Pour equal amounts of egg mixture into the greased muffin tins.  Place in centre of preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until set in the centre.  Cool on a rack in a pan for 10 minutes.  Using a blunt knife, loosen frittatas all around and lift out.  Once cooled they can be individually wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

These were a big hit with both boys as well Laila and I even had a few for our lunch yesterday.  

Enjoy !!

Filling bellies and the freezer ....

For as long as I can remember Monday is my day in the kitchen...I usually try to make a few things that my family will enjoy during the week but also try to add a few items to my freezer for those nights we are running late I haven't prepared anything that day.


Faruq and I have committed to not eating out more then once a month.  In all honesty, it bothers me when someone else prepares my food and more importantly what is being put in these meals.  I try very hard at home to cook organically so I can just imagine the crap that goes into some of those "yummy" meals in restaurants.   I wasn't always this way though...there was a time when we would eat out (or at least bring in food) 3 or 4 times a week !  Not only did my health suffer with a huge weight gain but so did our bank account.  What we spend on one meal can now feed our family of four suppers for 5 days - it's really hard to justify it !

I have found through weekly meal planning (I consider this the most important step),  a few great cookbooks (my fav's are" The Complete Light Kitchen Cookbook" and "Fix it and Forget it for Slow Cookers", some time prepping food when you bring them home from the grocery store,  a slow cooker (a must in my kitchen) and a little prep time each day my family can have a good healthy supper every night.

Our grocery bill still sits around $800 a month  but again I buy organic where available so sadly we pay way more .  One example is 4 litres of milk will cost us almost $12.  I know my kids are healthy and honestly I wouldn't do it any other way.   I was watching a segment on our local news last night that was comparing prices of food across Canada and Calgary was the highest in almost every category so that isn't working in our favorite.  As they stated in the segment it would be nice if the government would regulate food pricing the way they do liquor.  Makes sense to me ???

I will start to post a few of our favorite family recipes for you to try...I hope your family will love them !!!

Happy Cooking and more importantly Happy Eating !!

Random Picture Challenge #5

I decided to join in on the Picture Challenge today hosted by a lovely lady at 4 Little Men

You could either pick from March 2008 - 5th picture from the end

or

10th picture folder - 5th picture from the end

I selected the 10th picture folder and the 5th picture because it is truly a favorite for me

It shows Hayden playing with Daddy at Baker Park during on of our weekly picnic parties.  I was 7 months along with our second so treasured these last few months as a family of 3.

Motherhood - Too many & Too old ....

Because of our struggles with fertility issues I'm always interested when I hear of stories in the news where women have beaten the odds. But this week there were two cases that more upset me then made me happy.

One was a single mom in California that conceived Octuplets via IVF. This lady already has 6 kids under the age of 7 at home and now has 8 more babies to care for. I believe that this is somewhat irresponsible on the part of both the mom but also the doctor who did the actual transfer. I know when we received treatment at our regional fertility clinic our doctor advised us that if we did IVF treatments they would only transfer 3 embryos at one time and that was only due to my age. Usual procedure was 2 in one transfer.

The other case was a 60 year old couple who conceived twins via donor eggs and an IVF procedure performed in India. Again I find this somewhat irresponsible. Our clinic will only perform IVF on women up to the age of 50 (which I personally believe is still too old). This babies where born premature but with few complications and from what I have read the mother had a few issues but nothing out of the ordinary. While I can totally understand their desire to want children I just think that at 60 the children will at best have 20 (maybe 25) years with their parents. There appears to be a large family unit that surrounds this couple so I assume the children will be loved and cared for in the event something happens to either or both of the parents in the future.

But to each is own...I feel very blessed with the two beautiful children that I have and wish both these ladies nothing but goodwill and hope that their dreams have been realized.

TV Shows....

So I watched the latest cycles of Hell's Kitchen and Project Runway Canada this past week. I have to say I was a little disappointed with Project Runway - it could just be Iman I know she bothered me last season but I found the contestants entertaining to watch. I planning on watching another week to see if I get the same feelings. Thoughts ?

Hell's Kitchen was better... I mean who doesn't love Gordon Ramsey. They have the regular cast of characters who if not policed by Ramsey could possibly kill or at the very least make someone very sick with the food they are serving.

Top Chef was great as well this past week but my two favorites ended up on the chopping block but thankfully the third chef on the block was sent home.

Biggest Loser was great a well...this show still continues to inspire me every week. This show changes lives for the good !

I'm still waiting for Survivor and The Amazing Race to come back...I think it is sometime in this month !

Disconnecting....

I have been away from the computer a lot in the last few days and will most likely be more and more disconnected in the coming months. After self-checking myself on the amount of computer time I have during the day I knew I had to change this. While I love connecting with friends and family on-line I have two very busy kids that are demanding my time and I know they deserve it.

I'm still going to check my email in the evenings and of course,  play a few games on Facebook but for the most part I'm going to be off-line during the day.

We had a great weekend..it was all family time for 3 days !! Faruq took Friday off and Hayden had the day off from school so what a better place to spend a few hours but Ikea. We arrived just before lunch and afterwards Hayden hit the play area while Laila, Faruq and I shopped. I'm updating the kids toy room and love all the groovy things that they sell. I picked up a few shelves, a chair and some picture frames. I will post a few pictures when I have finished with the makeover.

When we got home Faruq and Hayden got to work on painting my office (it became the toy room a few years back). It was painted with black and yellow so both colors needed a few coats of primer to cover it. They finished the priming late last night and this morning the paint started going on. I hate to paint but know that the toy room colors were my idea in the first place so I have been pitching in a little with the whole process. The end result will be so sweet with me having a work space back where I can start to get the creative juices flowing again - I have really missed that !

Faruq took the kids this morning out for breakfast to give me a little break. They ended up at MacDonald's (not my 1st choice for nutrition) but I loved the few hours on my own so it was worth it. I finally finished a book that I have had on my night table for over 6 months then took a nice long bath. I did something to my back on Friday and it has been pretty tender all weekend so that was just another reason for loving the time alone - My husband is so sweet and I love the fact that he is such a "hands on" dad.

I spend the the rest of the day making meals for Laila, baking muffins and of course making a yummy supper for tonight. We tend to eat fast crock-pot meals on the weeknights but I have really tried to prepare a nice meal on Sunday's.

I love weekends but man they go by so quickly ! I find by Friday I'm usually just exhausted from the weeks activities so I look forward to my few days away from the regular routine.

I hope you all have a good coming week !