| busyness |
seems like a crazy busy/full week. Currently preparing for a night class I'm teaching beginning Monday - about faith and art. I'm excited, but there is much still to do. I would appreciate prayer for productivity, good time management, wisdom and creativity over these next few days. thanks. I hope to steal away some alone time tomorrow to really buckle down and get a fair bit of the work done.
better go to bed.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| my husband |
Lance and I have an interesting relationship when it comes to cooking.
Two things you should know about Lance: He has an incredible sense of smell and is very concerned with the smell of our home. Also he is a tweaker, a fiddler, a stirrer.
Here is the typical 5:45pm interchange interchange at our home:
Lance enters the back door
The kids hear the door open and race into the kitchen yelling, "PAPA PAPA PAPA" and just all out screaming.
Lance says, "HEY who is that in there" and while removing his coat promises to chase them into the living room and wrestle them.
The kids run away in delight.
Lance smells the kitchen, "sniff, sniff" and asks/tells, "Is something burning? Smells like something's burning"
Aimee responds with a slightly disgruntled sigh, "I don't think that's a good first comment about supper. It's not burning, there's just something on the element."
Lance adds, "Well you do burn things quite often"
Aimee doesn't think she burns things that often but thinks oh well and goes back to cooking.
Lance stops and stirs whatever is on the stove before wrestling the kids down in the living room.
Eventually we all sit down for supper and it is usually good, not usually burnt, atleast not badly.
Here are some specifics from two nights ago.
Lance peers into the pots, says, "That looks weird, what is it".
Aimee feels okay about the fact that he thinks it looks weird, because it does, and infact she is not at all sure that the meal will taste good and has been contemplating how to get across the idea, "Just eat it, it is healthy and we can't waste it". Take a look for yourself:
And you're wondering what it is too...
Aimee informs Lance, "It's yellow curry with lentils and wild rice"
Lance laughingly responds, "Boy am I glad it's me who lives here"
Both Aimee and Lance think of many of their Albertan friends who may have never eaten any of the above mentioned items and who would be appalled to arrive home from work to find their wife had cooked up such a foreign concoction.
Smiling, Lance follows his last phrase up with, "Where am I, Princeton?" referring to my sister and Andy and their wild but delicious healthy meals.
Lance plays with the waiting kids.
Aimee adds the lentils to the curry and tastes the goulash - you've got to be kidding, it's delicious! - she thinks.
She proudly serves up the meal, topping it with yogurt (our version of sour cream)
Lance LOVED it.
Aimee learns that Lance really likes wild rice. Good thing too, since she cooked like four times the amount they needed and now has multiple portions frozen.
There you have it, a little window into our life.
better go, they're hitting each other.
amo |
|
|
|
| my kids |
From the living room I hear two 19 month olds laughing like crazy while they are supposed to be eating in their high chairs in the kitchen. I let the laughter continue and eventually make my way into kitchen - probably when the whining for more food starts. This, I presume, was the cause of the laugher. He LOVES "yo goort".
This morning when I came to get Eva from her crib this is what I saw:
 |
|
|
|
| Recipe - Spicy Crispy Fries |
Lance always chuckles a little when I proudly declare to him the title I've given supper. Usually the titles I make up include multiple adjectives - for example: Savory Autumn Harvest Vegetable Soup. I make up the title to give legitimacy and interest to recipes I've created myself. The other night I concocted a mexican meal of a tomato/beef/spice mixture layered with refried beans and cheese on cornbread, "Mexican Cornbread" (okay so that one's a little plain, and anyway it ended up tasting just like chili and cornbread). So there's this recipe, one that I will share with you today that I didn't need to embellish the title at all:
Spicy Crispy Fries - from the Guilt-free Comfort Food Cookbook by Georgia Kostas
3 large russet potatoes (I use any kind and yams are incredible. I also get away with more than three)
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice (lemon in a pinch)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
Cut potatoes into fry size pieces. Heat oven to 400. Combine all other ingredients into a bowl and whisk together till well blended. In a large bowl toss mixture and potato strips until coated. Spread on baking sheets - either oiled or lined with parchment paper (which I prefer for easier cleanup). Make sure there is space between the fries or they won't get crispy. Bake for 25-35 minutes turning occasionally for even browning. Serve hot. Yum.
These aren't really spicy at all, so if you want spicy as opposed to just flavourful, I recommend adding hot sauce or just more chili powder to mixture.
Enjoy.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| the eagle, as it were, has landed |
| there was success today on the sample front and I must say that I am greatly relieved. Now we wait to hear results, but are really beginning to think that everything is fine. So we'll see. But no more poop chasing with plates. |
|
|
|
| Great news |
so the guy at the transmission shop says it's not our transmission! Hooray! Apparently it is our CV axle, which we just replaced a year ago and the part should still be under warranty. So it looks like things are a lot better than we had first believed.
In other news our computer power cord began sending up small plumes of smoke and has now totally bit the dust. I just finished a 24 hr computer fast and now am joyfully albeit briefly reunited with the internet! Lance borrowed someone's power cord at school and charged it up for me. I'm already down to 62% battery power so you can believe that I'm using my time wisely. No mindless wandering the world wide web.
On the poop front the story stays the same; I have yet to capture a sample.
Did a photo session today with a friend in town who is going to have twins in 6 weeks. She has three beautiful, exuberant daughters who she wanted to get some belly shots with. We had to get creative to make it work (the girls are between 1.5 and 4.5) but I think we got some good ones. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Okay I better not use anymore of my precious time here. See ya.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| Tranmission troubles |
yesterday when we pulled up to church our van started making terrible sounds and stopped moving. Elijah liked the sounds and called for "more, more!".
After church we were informed by our mechanically inclined friends (who don't normally attend our church but providentially were there yesterday) that it is the torque converter and a new transmission will be needed.
please pray for us as we have decisions to make about pouring more money into our should-have-been-great Honda.
Thanks.
Aimee
ps. a BIG blessing is that these mechanical friends have lots of connections and sources for getting the best deal possible, and they actually like searching for car parts online etc. |
|
|
|
| So you liked the poop eh? |
Still no success on the sample front. She didn't poop at all yesterday, and so, as I suspected, woke up covered in it this morning. Guess who's washing sheets again?
Today has actually been quite nice so far. Both kids seem quite cheerful and so am I since I'm not stressing about sample catching.
The kids had a fun bath time. Eva likes to do "fwimming" in the tub and they both like to act like "Wroggy"s. We did have to perform an emergency evacuation because the girl who held it in all day yesterday didn't do the same while she was fwimming. So I'll wash the tub twice today.
As far as I can hear both are sleeping so that leaves me with a little free time. I've been enjoying touching up some wedding photos that I took in October, I finally got the program and now Avey has been giving me some tips. I really enjoy learning new things (especially when they're not too hard!). I'm currently working on two design projects (CDs) and am enjoying them.
See you later.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| and now something totally unrelated to poop |
Today is my little brother Steven's birthday. The kids are in bed, the groceries put away, the house moderately tidied and I can now sit down and write a few thoughts in honor of Steeb, as the twins call him.
I thought I'd gather up some pictures from us growing up - but my photo albums are in Eva's room and I am not going to dig around and risk waking her. So there will just be some recent shots.
Things I remember about Steven:
First memories: Mom had just come home with him from the hospital and was changing his diaper. There was mustardy poop (whoops, there is poop in this post afterall) all the way down his leg. I, three and a half at the time, declared, "I hope he never does that again!" I also remember meeting him at the hospital and thinking that his eyes were stuck shut like kittens are when they are born. In retrospect he must've been sleeping or maybe his eyes were kind of stuck shut from eye mucous or something. Anyways, I for quite a while, thought that all babies had their eyes shut for a bit after being born.
Growing up: Steven was (and is) very rambunctious. I took it upon myself to keep him in line, like any good mother would...except I wasn't his mother. I heard, "Aimee you are not his mother" a lot. Eventually he started saying it to me himself... In a completely uncharacteristic and unmotherly move I once bit Steven on the nose. It was Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma Wellunschegs. We were face to face arguing about something and I got so mad I just bit his nose since it was right in front of me. He of course was hurt and started to get upset. I was mortifyingly embarrassed and somehow managed to convince him to be quiet and not tell anyone - I have no idea how I did this, maybe I bribed him. I remember knowing that I was WAY to old to be acting like that, 11 or 12 maybe...
Highschool: We got to share one year of highschool together and I'm so glad we did. I was so proud of Steven. He was so free to be his own person. Dressing crazy - polyester pants before other people were catching on that this was cool. Glasses without lenses (well I thought that was cool as you already know). He was very kind. We were involved in the SALT (student action leadership team) together. He was a great leader.
Things I learned more about after the fact: The wild adventures of his group of friends. Taping eggs to string and hanging them over powerlines so they'd smash into car windshields. Throwing things off freeway overpasses- yikes... The depth of care that he expressed (and continues to express) for friends in difficult situations - family trouble, drugs, mental illness.
Things I really like about Steven - he loves me and tells me that every time we talk. He is VERY funny - witty, impersonations, you name it he does it - But his "mentally challenged" character always worries me. I have, on more than one occasion - in keeping with the mothering theme - insisted that Steven remain in character until we are through the drive-thru or out of the store. I worry that if he returns to real Steven then people will think that he is mocking people with disabilities when this is not actually the case at all. He's so good at it, that if he stays in character people will never know he's not that way. He is friendly. He loves my husband and my kids. He is deeply compassionate and has a soft heart (can you say that about guys, well, the soft heart is in a very manly exterior). He likes to have fun. He is exuberant and attacks his areas of passion with zest. He is an excellent musician and engineer/producer. He thinks outside of the box and gets to where he wants to be by following a different route than most of the world. Steven is honest. Steven is a great photographer.
So there you have it, a few thoughts about my 24 year old brother. I love you Steve.
ps. And I ask you readers, what do you like about Steven, any crazy memories? |
|
|
|
| Relief sort of - if you don't want to hear about toddler stool samples better skip this one :) |
we are doing a lot better. We stayed in the kitchen for a full day, each child threw up once. I even had one day off from changing sheets. Now I'm back at it. Eva has thrown up once an night for many days now, we don't know what this is about and are in contact with the doctor about it. Elijah threw up last night too. Yesterday and today have been consumed with trying to get a stool sample from Eva - was that an overshare? Well it's what I've been up to and maybe you have no idea how complicated it is to get an uncontaminated sample from a one and a half year-old. It has been a long week. But, the kids are just now waking up from an almost 2hr nap. What a treat for me. Lance is going on a school retreat for part of the weekend so he came home to see the kids, they were sleeping, so we ended up having lunch and a really good talk about the future.
Okay just got the kids up. Both of their diapers leaked (read, two more sets of sheets to change)! Eva's leaking only makes sense because her diaper is lined with saran wrap as per the labs instructions, and the bag that is supposed to catch her urine leaked, like the other two before it. Her pants were soaked. And still no poop! What a comedy of errors! I have spent much of today chasing a diaperless girl around the closed off kitchen waiting for her to poop so I can catch it on my paper plate. I know, it sounds crazy, it feels crazy too. We need a sample before 5 and if not I have the weekend off from this pursuit.
It has been a long week - wait a minute, I already wrote that. Well before you think I'm on the brink of insanity realized that I am writing the post in multiple sittings, so I really could remember if I already wrote that. Yesterday night Odegards babysat and we had a little date night. It was my first time out in three days! The kids are really feeling cooped up too and often request to go outside. It has been very cold, -21, but is now starting to warm up. So we shall venture out soon. Now that they are mostly feeling better I think we're all up for some outings. Maybe grocery shopping tonight...
Thought you may be interested to know that I am buying time to finish the post with multigrain Cheerios. They are a fan favorite and can extend the lunch time quite a bit longer. Especially for Elijah who has already requested a tray refill twice. Eva is proclaiming that she is done so I better go see if I can catch some poop. Please pray that I do.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| Three Down One to God |
So I meant to write, "Three down one to go" but I miss-typed and wrote "One to God" and maybe that is more than just a typo, but a pointer to the truth. I'm the only one left in the house who hasn't puked and I guess I need to trust God that he will take care of me so I can take care of everyone else - well just my family, because of course I am not the stewardess for the whole world!
Anyways after a lot of throwing up last night Elijah ended up with some sleep and this morning is feeling really pretty good. Eva is now sicker than before and is having an early nap - after throwing up her breakfast. Lance had a terrible night I won't go into details. I am still feeling fine and am hopeful about making it through.
Lance called his dad who then brought over ginger ale, applesauce, yogurt and soda crackers. This will be our diet for today.
Bonnie phoned and offered to do a ginger ale run for us, since she was already doing one for her own family. Guess it's going around.
We're holed up in the kitchen today - don't feel like cleaning any more carpets (well Lance was the one doing that yesterday, but he's out of commission today)
Okay better go. Thanks for the comments and prayers.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| Changing sheets - I'm sure you won't mind there are no pictures! |
I hate changing sheets. Yesterday morning we woke up hearing Eva (through the monitor) saying, "mama, mama, change, change" I came upstairs to find her sheets covered in poop. Poop had somehow migrated out of her diaper, down her pajama pants and out onto the sheets. So gross. So I took care of that.
This morning I came up to get Eva and peered into the crib. NO WAY! There is no way that poop escaped a full-body-attached-feet-sleeper! Oh, that's not poop. She had thrown up. Same morning Elijah's diaper leaked so his sheets were wet and needed to be changed too. 3 sheet changes in 24 hours.
Well that's not the worst of it. Now it is clear that we have the flu or something. Elijah has been throwing up every ten to thirty minutes for the past number of hours. He is such a cute/pathetic sick little boy. Lance snuggled him to sleep (with intermittent puking) which is not usual at all. Lance is coming down with the same thing to. Feeling nauseous, achy, chilly, rumbly... We can only assume Elijah feels awful like that too. Poor guys.
Eva seems to be doing better - didn't puke all day. But is being checked for a bladder/urinary tract infection.
Seems like we're falling apart over here.
I am praying that I don't get sick too. At least not till after the others get better.
Any tips for pukey toddlers?
Hope you are doing better than we are.
Aimee |
|
|
|
| Random |
You know how people are always tagging each other to write 7 random things about themselves? Well I have been tagged many times and never done it. So tonight I'll write a few random things. Maybe 7, maybe less... we'll see how my creative juices are flowing.
1. I am very particular about proportions when it comes to the food on my plate. When I prepare a snack (brackets are tonight's snack) I'm careful to make sure there will be just the right ratio of sweet (pears) to rich (cheese) to salty (crackers) to liquid (water). If Lance eats/drinks some of my snack then the ratio is off and I just show him my plate and he knows he threw me off and will go and get the missing item to set things straight.
2. I want glasses. In highschool I would sometimes wear lenseless frames to have the effect of having glasses. I think I just like the look. I know that if you actually need glasses you are thinking, "No Aimee, you do not want glasses". But I do. I don't want to have bad vision, but I do want to wear glasses (of course only when I feel like it). My friend Kristin had a pair of glasses (with no presciption) that she'd wear to school (university) when she wanted to feel smart - I borrowed them once and really liked them too, there is something studious about glasses.
3. I have a really big overbite that actually hinders my ability to eat certain foods. Have I blogged about this before? Pizza is a challenge because my top teeth and bottom teeth do not meet and so don't cut through the cheese/meat layer. Sometimes Lance and my eyes will meet when I've got pizza hanging out of my mouth, he gives me a sympathetic look and I just laugh. I think I'm used to it now. The orthodontist said the way to fix it would be to break my jaw and move it forward and refasten it with bone screws. Breaking jaw and bone screws? To fix the pizza problem? I don't think so!
4. I have a unhealthy disproportionate need/desire to make sure everyone is happy. Peacemaker, people pleaser, I don't know, call it what you will. A ridiculous example from the other night - we were getting gas and there was a huge line on the other side of the pumps. One driver didn't pull all the way forward so there was an empty pump ahead of her and a huge line behind her. So I'm sitting there thinking about how the drivers behind her are like, "Move up lady" and I think that for some reason I should intervene and help everything go more smoothly. I came to my senses before acting, remembering the truth as said by Anne Lamott, "You are not the stewardess for the whole world". That needs to be my mantra.
5. I hate overtime hockey. Hockey games are long enough as it is, around 3 hours. Add overtime to that, and in the playoffs potentially more than one overtime, and that is way too much hockey. I think I don't like it because it takes Lance away from me and things I'd rather be doing together. Though tonight I read blogs and then typed this one while Lance watched the Oilers beat the Rangers in a shootout (which follows overtime), so that worked well.
Okay, I only got to five tonight. It's been a long day. We were up in Edmonton shopping/eating/screaming/driving/napping/visiting/playing/eating/screaming/driving...
Highlights - getting in a quick visit with Matt, Claire and Josiah who we don't see enough of. Eva talked about "Siah!!!" much of the way home. Whole wheat pasta, steamed veggies and marinara sauce with milk for 1.99 at IKEA. New drying racks from IKEA. Buying 5 items at Gymboree with a $45 store credit and having 8 bucks left over (one sweater there is usually $45!). Finally getting home and getting those delightful and tired kids to bed. Relaxing. Ahhh.
Just one more thing. My Grandma is really not doing very well. Mom has details on her blog and photos too. I wanted to post these photos from November and to ask you to pray for her. Pray that she would know that God is with her and that she if very special to him. Ask that he would give her peace and wholeness. Thank-you.
 |
|
|
|
| A winter walk and a new year |
The other day Bernell and Linda watched the kids while Lance and I enjoyed a winter walk and a dinner out - gift certificate to East Side Mario's! There was beautiful horfrost so we walked and took photos first - that didn't last long as it was getting dark and cold. We saw 4 deer which was great. They were just watching us. We were a lot closer than it looks like in the picture. These were the same deer I watched for a long time on my Christmas eve walk. Anyways here are some photos.
We ended up having a great new years. After waiting 2 hours for our Chinese food we scarfed down the delicious greasy fare at the Jensen's then rushed home to put the kids to bed. Jenna's folks came over to watch movies and keep an ear out for the kids. We went back to Jensen's where we all played "Rockband" together. I was on bass, Jenna sang and Pete and Lance switched back and forth between drums and electric guitar. At the beginning of the night I questioned if the girls would make it to midnight but I guess we got into the game. Pete and Lance were good which I expected since they've played before, but Jenna was incredible, even nailing songs while nursing her newborn! I was okay, and chuckled that I was actually getting into it, just like Lance described. I confessed to him part way through that I was feeling a little bit cool - which I think is the whole purpose of the game. The evening was made complete by getting to dance with baby Soren and hold him while he fell asleep, it was lovely.
Today we had brunch at Odegards. I had the idea to make traditional Mennonite new years cookies (raisin doughnuts) - even though I didn't grow up with this tradition, I'd had them before and they were tasty. Anyways, read on Lovella's blog (lovella-at-home.blogspot.com) that she was making them and got the recipe there. They turned out marvelous. A couple of problems though - we had the oil too hot and the whole house filled with smoke and made our eyes burn, that was remedied and then it was time to cook (read deep fry) them. Well I kept scooping out spoonfuls into the pot of oil and it seemed like the bowl of batter didn't diminish. We had over 5 dozen - which is fine if you have a big Mennonite family! They were heartily enjoyed and we have tonnes frozen to reheat at a later day. Thanks Lovella for the recipe. Oh, and I snuck my own alteration into the recipe and did 40% whole wheat! They were still light and fluffy.
That's all for now.
Hope you are well.
Aimee |
|
|
|
|
|
posted by Aimee at 
