Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hamburger Soup

Hamburger Soup!
Easy to make, a great slow cooker recipe, and oh so swell to freeze. I love dinners you can make once and eat twice!
1.5 lbs Ground Beef (I always use extra lean)
1 medium onion, chopped finely
28oz canned tomatos
3 cups beef broth
1 cup tomato soup
4 carrots chopped finely
1 bay leaf
3 sticks celery
parsley (use own judgement)
1/2 tsp thyme
pepper to taste
8 tbsp barley
Personally the barley is my favorite part so I often add extra. Brown meat , add onions, then through everything else in your pot and simmer for 2 hrs, or all day, whichever works for you!


In Other News:

Lumsden's first snowfall! October. This is an old picture I kept meaning to post.






















Thursday, December 2, 2010

Stars and Kitchens



This week has not been kind. It was 'one of those Mondays' that has become the monster of 'one of those weeks'. Amaris has decided she has a huuuge attitude problem, and Jamison has been super gassy. It's also the one of the few weeks left until we leave for our much deserved Christmas holiday! I can't wait to have tons of hands available to hold my babies, ah, to take a shower without two kids in the bathroom = bliss.
Also, Jamison decided not to sleep last night. Ugh. But in more upbeat news, I bought three stars from Dollarama (I mean, uh, Pottery Barn) and I think they're super cute on my hearth. What do you think? I really would love to get a wreath for above them, but alas, there isn't much point since we leave next week for HOME. Will I ever call Saskatchewan home? Will I ever call anywhere that gets -35 home? That would be like admitting that we're stuck here.
Also I've been all over this dinner making business lately (no easy feat with two kids under two). Last night was hamburger soup, I'll post the recipe tomorrow!
In Other News:
In the website I'm loving right now, Young House Love, there was a link to this:
Cutest Homemade Kid's Kitchen EVER! Check it out, couldn't be sweeter, now to convince my Dad to make one for Amaris....





Thursday, November 25, 2010

Lemon Loaf, etc



This is a lemon loaf recipe I have fallen in LOVE with, all through my pregnancy I craved lemon loaf and it's not until the past few weeks I found a recipe that I can make and indulge in, so good!



The Recipe for the Best Lemon Loaf Ever:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt



3 eggs, room temp.
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 c. oil (I always use applesauce as a substitute here, it is so moist and delish, and less fat!!)



Icing:
1 c. icing sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp lemon extract (if you want, I don't have any so I don't do this)

The loaf is so good you don't even really need the icing (although I still like to, I'm not going to lie).
Mix the dry ingredients, then the wet (but not the oil), then combine together, then add the oil (or applesauce) lastly, stir, pour into loaf pan, cook for 45 mins at 350, cool and enjoy!!

In Other News:
Two new websites that I'm loving lately, during those late evening, middle of the night (he's actually sleeping amazing the past few nights, falling asleep on his own and in his own bed) feedings I peruse them on my iphone.
Young House Love (I almost put, 'Young House Loaf', you can tell what's on my mind!!)
Lizzy Writes (this lady is amazing, I wish I had this much energy!)

Well I think that's about it, I'm off to start my roast chicken before the kidlet's wake up, having a 23 month old and a 1 month old means not many quiet moments and I want to capitalize one and do more than just blog!
xxoo Meredith

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Past Two Weeks

The past two weeks have been eventful. My mother in law came out to visit, seeing family is always so great! It's so nice for Amaris to be able to spend some time with her grandparents! Especially when they are playdough-playing, song-singing, book-reading grandparents!

In Other News:

On November 12th we had an adrenaline moment, driving down the highway we were the second vehicle to arrive at a rolled over vehicle in between the highways. I guess he lost control somehow. We were driving along and we see the car on it's side, smoking, and a lady who had just pulled over (I guess she saw it happen) standing next to it looking at us screaming. That alone made my heart start pumping!! It was like in those action movies where there's the slow mo of the people freaking out (have you seen Transformers??) Anyways David pulled over right away and the ONE time I couldn't find my cellphone, I needed to call 911! So he threw me his phone and then ran down to the car. By this point about 5 other cars had stopped.

David tried pulling the windshield off (it was broken) to get the guy out, but he couldn't get it all off, so he climbed on top of the car. Inside the car was luckily only one guy. I would have been so upset if there had been babies or kids in it, how awful to think about! The guy was from Ontario though, and his car was CRAMMED full of huge suitcases! All of which had flung forward and landed on him when he crashed! So I see my husband, standing on top of this car which is on it's side, with the passenger door open, pulling about 6 huge suitcases and duffel's out of the car and onto the snow.
At this point about 10 cars have stopped and there are about 8 people standing around the car, a couple of women freaking out. Eventually David 'dug' him out of his luggage, and got him out, he was okay! Thank God!
I was off the phone by now and the police were on their way, an ambulance was dispatched too although I don't think he needed it. I was transferred from the 911 operator to the RCMP dispatch and put on call waiting. REALLY?? What if someone had been seriously injured? C'mon people!!
All's well that ends well though, and we went on our way!

May you have a safe, accident free week!!

xoxo Meredith
P.S This is an old post I wrote and never posted!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Yellow Dress

My Beauty, pictures Auntie Annette took this summer.
She fell in love with blackberries!


But learned very quickly that the bushes are prickly! Grandma sympathizes :(













Tuesday, November 9, 2010

October Recap

October, our first snow! Big suprise. But not really. My mom was out again because Jamison was just born, and the snow and cold invaded our sunshine! Amaris LOVED it!

Babies do the best old people impressions. So cute.


Our pumpkin carving party! Too bad all of our pumpkins froze and then collapsed when it thawed out again!

Stretchy Pants

These pants are from babygap, and they are amazing play jeans! They don't have the bothersome and tight button and zipper and don't cut into the cute little belly that adorable babies have. Perfect for crawling, bending, rolling and jumping. Amaris has almost worn through hers! So we ordered them in two more sizes for Jamison!

On the note of stretchy pants, I can't remember the last time I wore pants with a zipper and button myself...sigh. Time to dig the post pregnancy pants out of the basement!! And then hopefully pack them away again when I 'Shrink' out of them! My goodness I can't wait to be the same size for more then a year soon. Two kids in two years is a lot of clothing fluctuation!



Saturday, November 6, 2010

Dimples

Thought I'd share two of the reasons I love my daughter's smile - and they're perched on either corner of her mouth!

Wonder where she got these indents of cuteness? Look no further!


Sometimes life is about the little things....


Like smile enhacers!


Thursday, November 4, 2010

My Babies



I think I will be typing many blog entries with one hand in the next couple months, as I am doing right now. It's not too bad enless I try to do a capital p. See, I can't do it.

Right now Jamison is asleep in my arms and Amaris is watching old Sesame Street episodes. I am trying desperatly hard tp keep my house tidy and clean. I hate it when it starts getting cluttered, it makes me feel anxious. So far I'm proud to say I'm winning, mostly.


Jammison is an amazing baby, he rarely cries and is an amazing sleeper at night! Except he caught a cold from Amaris and gets so stuffed up he thrashes and snorts and snuffs and chokes on his mucus for hours at night, which keeps me awake! It's awful.

Well, my eyes are too tired to keep typing, and this is taking too long with one hand! So I will see you all later!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Halloween

We had a super Halloween, we had a BBQ steak dinner with our friends, and the men took the kidlets out tricker treating. Do we all have the cutest kids ever or what!
Jamison didn't get to dress up. Or eat candy. He'll have to wait till next year!!

Hannah the Dragon, Konnor the Cow, Amaris the Bumble Bee.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Jamison David Hugh Marks




We had our sweet little boy this week,
October 19th 2010
at 2:18am
7lbs 4oz
Regina General Hospital



Three hours of labour from first contraction to birth, no epidural or intervention. Only complication was showing up at the wrong hospital and having to be ambulanced over to the other hospital. Nobody remembered to tell us the hospital we went to won't deliver, and we didn't even know about the other hospital!! All's well that ends well though, and we managed to convince the nurses and doctor's to let us out the evening of the 19th.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

It Was a Grand Day

Today was a good day. We grocery shopping, napped, and then went to the 'Pumpkin Patch'. We Saw a mini horse, a few sheep, had a tractor ride, and the kidlets played in a sandbox full of corn. So a cornbox, if you will. And we got a pumpkin. It's green. Lyndsey and Hannah, Amaris and David, and myself, had a lovely fall afternoon. Can't complain about 14 degrees mid October either, can we?










BFF's, so cute.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Camera Died

Well my amazing Mother flew out to Regina this week to be with us, in case I happen to have this babe early and everyone I have to watch Amaris is gone Thanksgiving weekend! Needless to say, no baby! But I had a lovely visit with my mom, which is NEVER a bad thing! After she flew home it felt very lonely here in Saskatchewan.
We made an awesome Thanksgiving dinner, complete with Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie, so good! I wish I had pictures but my camera was dead and I couldn't find the charger!!
It was so nice having help with housework and Amaris, my mom never fails to amaze me with her energy! Which is awesome because I have none!!
David and I went on not one but two date nights!! And I got a haircut! What an swell week! And we also got a new bed! By new bed I mean a king size duvet, duvet cover, sheets, and pillows. Ah bliss. We'd only been putting it off for over a year!!
There is something deeply satisifing with having nice bedding.

In Other News:
Had a Doc appointment, almost 5cm and 75%, I think I'm scaring the doctor. She said she's only ever seen one person before ever reach 6cm without going into labour and they induced her to be safe, but that was years ago when they used to induce on a whim.
I think I'm all maxed out uncomfortable wise. Well that's not true. But sleeping is getting to be close to impossible.
C'mon baby! But please let me make it to the hospital! Also my Doc is on call today, so today would be good.

Other Other News:
Websites I like to drool over -
Pottery Barn
Blissliving Home
Hope everyone had an super duper Thanksgiving!!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Fall's Digs

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus
Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Anyday Now?

(My new white dishes - unrelated to this post but hey, who cares!)

Well, I had a Doctor's appoinment last Wednesday, apparently I'm 4cm dilated and 50% effaced. I wasn't expecting much, either nothing or maaaaaybe 2cm tops. This was at 36 and a half weeks. As of today I'm 37 weeks.


I feel like I've been going in and out of labour all week! Super bad gut aches and lots of heavy Braxton Hicks, and a few actual contractions. I've been told numerous times now that I need to get to the hospital ASAP when I start having regular contractions, or as the Doc says, 'It'll be a home birth if you don't."

It's a little scary when you live half an hour from the hospital, your hubby works half an hour away, and you have no family to watch your daughter! Seems like a lot of things to get into motion to 'rapidly' get to the hospital! Stressful!

Luckly, my friend Jenna can come watch Amaris, but it's still an hour worth of things to set in motion to get to the hospital.

I feel a little obsessive, trying to monitor everything going on, because last time with Amaris I woke up at 4:30am and my contractions were less then 2 mins apart. I would prefer a little more notice this time!

Well, here's to any day now, or three weeks from now! Who knows!!
In Other News:
Pumpkin Festival in Lumsden this weekend, Amaris thought the pumpkins were nifty; cutest thing ever: 20 month old saying Pumpkin for the first time.

P.P.S Amaris is now almost 33 inches tall, and she is almost 4 months from being 2, if that 'take the height at 2 and double it' thing is true, she is going to be tallllllllllll!! (Weird!)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

This Week






Well I better write some before I forget all the things I keep meaning to say.
This week we've been slowly getting better. Slowly, as in it's only me that's still sick. Which I am used to. My ears are still plugged, (do you know how annoying it is to hear yourself breathe?) and my nose is still stuffed. But otherwise it's all good.
Pregnancy is wearing on me. Three and a half weeks left. It's depressing to think it's just three weeks of getting fatter. But chubby baby in mind (and I really have no choice) I plod on.
I got white dishes this week, that was my highlight of a weekend that was no weekend, as David worked all day Saturday and Sunday. We also had our good friends (it feels nice to say that) from Lumsden here over for supper. Lyndsey and her hubby and their daughter Hannah live down the road, and Amaris is in love with her little friend Hannah. I hear about it everyday. "Fun, Hannah, Park, Hannah play dollys, etc etc." It's very cute.
Amaris has been an angel the past couple days, mainly in the mornings. She is being sweet (randomly giving me hugs, how cute!) and listening well and we've had a couple mornings with NO temper tantrums!! It's amazing! Afternoons she's been a little grumpier but still pretty good!
Her talking is going like crazy, she says everything and is learning awesome sentances. Like, "Daddy, hold that man." (as she hands him a toy soldier she found at the park). It's melt my heart cute.
This week has been nothing but sun. It's glorious. I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible before winter sets in (don't want to think about it)! We've been getting outside lots, the park twice a day and the yard once.
In Other News: My dear friend Katherine is expecting baby Mila hopefully this week to arrive! How exciting! I keep thinking about her and then that brings me to three weeks from now when it's my turn - women are incredible beings to deliver babies!



In Other News:
The ceramic flower pot on the top of my toilet fell off the other day. This was David's solution on what to do with the flowers after the pot broke. Thought I'd share what made me chuckle.