Sorry I have been awol this past week, but we had some really great weather here and I just couldn’t stay inside. And you are probobly thinking, but you have a laptop. Yes I do, but running through sprinklers and water guns just don’t mix with laptops. Unless, of course you want a new one.
The weekend was so much fun. I can’t believe we had a fun weekend, it seems like we spend so much time doing chores on the weekends that we don’t have enough fun. This weekend was different. There was a little fair on at one of the shopping centres so we took the boys for a few rides and some cotton candy for me. J was so excited he talked about it for two days. Once we got there he went on one ride, played one game and that was it, he was done. Hubby got A to go on the zipper again after about five years when they had a really long ride that scared the daylights out of him.
Sunday Hubby wanted to take me out to lunch, but all I really wanted to do was go to the Tulip Festival and take photos. I got my wish and we were at the festival by 10:00am. It was a gorgeous morning, cool in the shade, not to many people. I got lots of photos and J even took some too. We were able to stop and enjoy a
Beavertail, an Ottawa original pastry shaped like a Beaver’s tail, topped with different toppings. My favourite is the Killaloe Sunrise, cinnamon, sugar and a squeeze of Lemon. I suffered with heartburn for the rest of the day, but it was sooooo worth it. We got a balloon hat made for J and watched a Busker do his thing. By the end of the show the crowds were getting thick and J and I were getting tired. (Lots more photos on my Flickr page).
We came home, A was finally up and he played with J all afternoon so I could read and lay about, perfect. Hubbby worked on the basement some more and all in all we got a lot accomplished.
I hope all of you Mom’s out there, had an equally as fabulous day yesterday and got to do all the fun things you wanted to do.
One of my favourite recipes to make this time of year is Martha’s Peppermint Bark. It is so simple and quick to make, yet it elegant and tasty.
The recipe is as follows:
2lbs white chocolate
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract and twelve big or twenty four small red and white candy canes .
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (if you don’t have a double boiler a heat proof bowl over a pot of boiling water will work.)
Put the candy canes in a ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin until 1/4″pieces.
Add extract and candy canes to melted chocolate. Spread out onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes (I usually leave it over night). Break the bark into pieces and serve.
In addition to the Peppermint Bark, I was able to make the dough for two more cookies last night. Knowing I would not be able to bake for the next two days while my embryos settle in, I got a couple ready so I can roll them and cook them on the weekend. I love, love, love baking. And the fact that I am a little behind is terrifying me.
Add to that fact that Hubby didn’t know how he was going to give his 40 employees a gift this year (he always gave his old staff of ten a little gift each Christmas), silly me offered to bake and package up some goodies for him. So I am well on my way, just need a few boxes from the supplier and we will be set for delivery next week. No standing for the next few days though.
My assortment of recipe books. I buy one new on every year, and every year I add another cookie to the list of must makes. The list in the binder on the counter gets bigger and bigger, but I love it. And the fact that I can share them with forty people this year just makes it all that more exciting!
We had a wonderful weekend full of doing pretty much nothing. How awesome is that? It was family time this weekend. We played Christmas Carols, hung the lights outside, J played with the tree ornaments all weekend long.
Our fertility report was great, we have 9 embryos waiting for me on Tuesday. We will be putting two back and praying that they are in for the long haul. Although I will be more than happy with a singleton, I would feel doubly blessed with twins. We will just have to wait and see.
I also had a Christmas party to go to yesterday with a bunch of girlfriends and their kids and Hubby’s. It was great. My Hubby didn’t go as he had a tummy ache. But J and I had a wonderful time. J played without me for the first time ever and it was so great to watch him playing with the other boys.
On with the Christmas spirit, two weeks to go!
