the muse

the father of my children

My friend Desirae Struthers took this photo at the wedding we attended on the Sunshine Coast.  This is perhaps my most favorite photo of my husband.  

A glimpse into his soft side.

It's a, wear a cheerio on your head, day

This weekend we celebrated my mom's birthday.  The girls had so much fun making cards for her.  I had to run into the grocery store for some bandaids and since I had the girls with me I popped Nora into the pull cart, the two older girls had the mini shopping carts and I really felt like the mother duck with three little ducklings following me:)  

 Our power was out on Thursday so I took the girls to The Old Spaghetti Factory.  We had so much fun and they behaved themselves beautifully!  

 Bummer that I caught my mom with her eyes closed but this is us at the healthy living and retirement show. We had a booth for ASEA and I had so much fun!  My mom loved these shoes that you can run and bounce in and paired with the walking stick make for the perfect exercise, bought me a really cool exercise tool that I'll have to post photos of sometime.

 I forgot to take photos of these salads at the beginning but boy, where they good!  I thought this recipe was from the blog I mentioned below but I couldn't find it.  Just ask me for the recipe if you'd like it.  It has four cups of spinach and one whole bunch of cilantro, wow it's my new favorite salad!

These next two recipes are from this blog Heather's Dish I love the fresh taste of this potato salad.  

 This recipe is for brussel sprouts which aren't in season so I used asparagus and carrots instead, so yummy!

 For dessert I made banana muffins with a maple cinnamon cream cheese icing.  These totally reminded me of cinnamon buns:)  I can't remember where I got the icing recipe but it a regular cream cheese icing but you add 2 Tbsp Real maple syrup, 2 Tbsp Cinnamon, and between 1-3 Tbsp buttermilk depending on how you'd like to use it.  I used 1 Tbsp so I could spread it thickly on my muffins:)

 Nora was having fun eating her organic cheerios and I couldn't help but laugh when I turned around to see this:)  Things I'd like to do soon, made soup and homemade buns, get some dark mint Lindt chocolate (my stash is gone:)  and clean and organize some things in my house.  Have a happy day!

wedding bliss

This last weekend we got the special treat of being invited to a wedding on the Sunshine Coast.  For some reason I didn't take very many photos, I think I just wanted to really be in the moment without the feeling that I should document it.  Neka stayed with the wonderful Alessandra who made her time so special by taking her to the Vancouver Aquarium.  Also, Aunty Shannon was gracious and had her stay for the day to have play time with her cuties.  We had such a relaxing time!  One kid down created such a different dynamic.  Nala and Nora really bonded which was so special.  

This is a photo of the table at the reception, it gives a feel for the wedding theme, It was gorgeous!  The accomodations were amazing and the view of the inlet was spectacular.  There were deer, bald eagles and seals.  The bride was simply gorgeous in her lace overlaid dress and the ceremony was on the beach which made me happy because there is nothing quite like watching the waves, feeling the air soft on my skin and seeing a couple joined together in love.

 We had yummy snacks, played with the girls in the pools early in the morning before anyone else was up and of course I got to wear my new dress that I bought just for the occasion!  I felt happy and carefree aside from all the stressing over the time and making it on the ferries:)  Tey and I are a good team with things like this.

I am off to make yummy birthday treats for my mom and get ready for the Senior's show in Chilliwack.  We're doing an ASEA booth and I'm really excited for that!  Have an amazing weekend, I know I'll be out in the sun every spare minute that I can:)

luluc

refreshed by digging in the dirt

On Mother's Day Tey dug over my garden plots and then I prepared them for planting.  The day was hot and I felt giddy about getting my seeds in the ground.  I want to experiment with green beans this year so I picked out five different kinds and I can't wait to taste the  tender beans with some roasted potatoes.  Does anyone remember reading "Little House on the Prairie"?  Well I did about ten times and my favorite memories are when they described eating the food they had planted.

 Neka as always is excited to be in the garden.  Here, she's picked some chives for lunch wearing her butterfly wings from Aunty Shannon.  

 The next day I put my stakes in with the names of the different kinds of beans I planted.

 The Strawberry patch is in full bloom and the girls can't wait until they see the fruit:)  The raspberries and blueberry bushes have buds on them already!  In the other garden plot I have tomatoes, lettuce and wildflowers!  The watering begins, I love the quiet time that this gives me.  This weekend I look forward to celebrating the dedication of my niece Amelie, attending a wedding on the Island and spending some quality time with Tey!

flowers and strawberry rhubard crumble

 The girls started picking the flowers as soon as the first one appeared.  Each day they have handfuls to show me.  I particularly love this little project Neka came up with.

 Neka showing off her new summer clothes.  The girls have lived in corduroy pants this winter and it was time for some shorts.  I love how warm it's been in the last couple of days.

 Yesterday I had a quiet moment while the girls were napping and I wanted to show you my succulent garden, it was my mother's day gift to myself:)  I wanted some plants for the house that weren't too fussy about getting lots of water and these are just perfect.

 When I was at the grocery store I saw some lovely rhubard and these delightful strawberries.  I saw the tasted the crumble they would make and so they came home with me.

 The crumble I made with about 3/4 cup butter, 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 cup quick oats, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon.  I had a nibble before I put it on top of the fruit and I wanted to eat more of it, soooo yummy:)

 On the fruit I put 2 packages of vanilla sugar plus a generous handful of regular sugar.  The smell of the fresh strawberries with the vanilla sugar on top was divine!

 This is the end result.  I think Beckie's choice of Neopolitan ice cream was perfect on top.  There's a little leftover for dessert today.  I'll mow the lawn and get the house tidy for a visit from my family.  My mom is flying back from Germany today and I know she'll have lots of stories.  The doors are open and the soft air is calling me outdoors.  Have a wonderful day!

love day

I was so excited when flowers were delivered to my house on our anniversary.  I was busy baking Tey a cake and couldn't wait to go out with him on our date later that evening!

 Pecan Praline Cake, recipe found on make and take blog oh soooo yummy!  I made it without the Bourbon and substituted lemon instead:)  Mine isn't nearly as beautiful as hers but when I make it again I'll use my piping bag:)

 Finally we got to go out for dinner, yay, I was so excited!  We went to Thai Dor and had the vegetarian Pad Thai and a virgin Mangolini that was so delectable I would go again just for the drink:)  In this photo Tey hasn't gotten his plate yet, it wasn't just me eating:)

 Us, looking happy and content!

 Then, we headed to the Third Day concert in Langley.  I loved every minute of it and thought, we have to do this kind of stuff more often.  It was so fabulous to be just with Tey and have the time to connect.

ten years merrily married

 This weekend was very special, it held our ten year anniversary and mother's day!  On Saturday morning we took photos dressed in our wedding clothes with our three darlings.  

 We both have shorter hair, at the end of this post I put a photo of us at our wedding and it is so fun to see the difference!

 My three little monkeys are all so different and yet all the same precious!

This is us ten years ago:)

short and sweet!

I have been excited to get my hair cut for awhile now and yesterday was the day! It seems like after each baby I want to start-a-fresh.  All the new growth is about this long so I figured this cut would suit me for the summer.  I loved how quickly my hands moved through it as I washed my hair.  I went to modas operandi to get it cut and Bal, the owner, did a great job!

I feel much lighter and free from whatever has held me down in the last couple of years.  Does that make sense?  
Maybe it is just coincidental but I've been reading Katie Byron's book "Loving What Is" and some of the questions posed are causing some space for new thoughts in my mind.  I particularly love her question "Who would you be without that thought?"  She is referring to a thought that causes you stress or tension.  I'm loving this "work" and have already found that some of my thoughts after having been questioned have changed perspective.  It's very interesting and I'm intrigued:)
So, here's to summer and being free!

Oh so yummy!

These are my Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns once again I don't know where I found this recipe it was a long time ago but if it looks familiar to you let me know so I can give credit:)

 This dough came together beautifully and was so smooth and elastic, the kneading takes some arm power but I had fun:)

 A while ago I read somewhere that by turning the oven on for a few minutes and then turning it of it creates the perfect place to have dough rise perfectly, and boy were they right.  This is after one hour rising.

The yummy inside smelled soooo good. I added some cardamom and cloves

 Neka loved this part and said she wanted to eat them just like this, explaining that waiting would make them taste even better was the only way some of these didn't vanish from the table.

 Oh the ooey-gooey goodness of the caramel sauce!  I didn't have pecans so I went with slivered almonds leftover from my Bee Sting adventures:)

 Lovely and golden and ready to flip onto a plate.

 Here they are piping hot.  I divided them up right away and quickly saw that I was only going to get one so I know that I'll have to make more soon:)  

This is how it comes to you, right out of my book:)

Enjoy! I know I did.