Tuesday, December 30, 2008

It's Up!

WAY UP I mean. Lev finally got the TV up on the wall tonight. It took the poor guy forever, but we expected that. The easier the job sounds the harder it usually is. I don't think it helped that the mounting brackets were made in some country where a stud is a bamboo pole. 

I escaped as soon as it all got plugged in. I figured Lev could use some "alone time" with the TV. And this way he can show me all the features when I venture back upstairs. Lukas wasn't too impressed with how long it took since he was stuck in the pen. The playpen that is. Something tells me that Carmen won't be his favorite person tomorrow since she gave me the idea. Although, he did have some fun mashing his face up against the mesh as hard as he could. I found it hilarious too. Lev did not.

Unfortunately, I think the TV got placed too far up on the wall. But hey, at least he managed to align the studs and the bizarrely placed pre-drilled holes. 

I wonder if it's safe to go and check it out yet???

Monday, December 29, 2008

Woo Hoo!!!

The grandparents came, loaded up my 2 oldest and drove of with them for the week. Lukas, Lev and I have to fend for ourselves this week. Whatever shall we do??? How will we fill the time??? Hopefully Lukas won't take it upon himself to try and fill the gap that Mikah has left.

Hmm, it's not looking too promising though. I just went to rescue him from the Christmas tree and by the time I turned around he was already speeding across the living room for my laptop. Ah, Mikah's little grasshopper has learned well. Mikah should be so proud.

I actually have a huge list of things that need to get accomplished this week while the kids are away. I love lists and can't seem to get by without them in life. So, here's my list in no particular order...

- hang up the new TV
- figure out what kind of TV programming we are going to go with
- find a dresser to refurbish for an entertainment unit
- refurbish said dresser
- fold the mountain of clean laundry
- actually put away the folded laundry
- keep sorting out and storing clothes that are too small
- clean out toy room
- assemble all toys in the house and purge
- clean laundry room
- figure out a new storage solution for the laundry room
- separate the kids toys
- clean Alek's room
- organize toys
- set up computer in Alek's room???
- assemble all the household furniture/items that we want to sell/give away
- post said items on kijiji or take to Salvation Army
- move the old couch and loveseat to their new home
- haul out the old stove
- take down the tree
- buy new curtains for our new room
- clear out our room
- do the big bedroom switch; move us upstairs; move Mikah into Lukas's room
- see about buying a new leisure pass
- take our old TV to work??? give it away???


As Alek would say, "Good Lord!" The list seems very long. Too long. But strangely I'm much more motivated now that I've gotten it all typed up. I'm sure there are things missing which I'll fill in as I go along LOL!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

I indulged tonight. As Alek and I were rushing through Superstore at mealtime (yes, I must plan better) these ended up in the cart. All I can say is, "Thank you President's Choice!" OMG, those little cakes were so good, they were just like the real thing. Granted I haven't tasted real pineapple upside down cake in years. Not since my mom gave up her "microwave cooking phase". I can picture the upside down cakes that she cooked in that old microwave like it was yesterday and we were all sitting at the kitchen table eagerly awaiting dessert.

But I digress.

Everyone liked the PC version so much that I must try and find a good recipe. And yes, I'm going to try and find a microwave one just like my mom used.

Ah ha! I found one here...

Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Microwave)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Margarine
1/3 cup Firmly packed light brown sugar
16 ounces Pineapple slices, canned
4 Maraschino cherries, halved
1 1/4 cups Flour
3/4 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Egg
1/3 cup Oil
1 cup Pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon Almond extract

Directions:
1. Cut 2 circles of waxed paper to fit bottom of microwaveable 8 inch round cake pan.
2. Place margarine on waxed paper. Microwave on high, 45 seconds; sprinkle brown sugar on melted margarine and arrange 7 pineapple slices on sugar, add cherries to center of pineapple slices.
3. Put flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in mixing bowl. Blend together egg, oil, pineapple juice, and extracts. Pour into dry ingredients and blend with wooden spoon. Pour batter over pineapple slices. Microwave at 50% (medium) 5 minutes. Rotate disk once. Microwave on high, 4 to 4 1/2 minutes, rotating dish twice. Let stand in pan 5 minutes. Invert onto Serving Plate. Peel off wax paper if it comes out with cake.

(I'm going to try this but without the cherries. And I'll use a microwave safe bundt pan which will hopefully help the cake cook more evenly. Uncooked cake centers are not good.)

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

I hope that if you travelled you made it there safely and without any hassles. We came out to my parents farm for the holidays. Having only the one stop has been nice this year. Less presents/clothes/diapers/etc to pack. We enjoy trying to see everyone during the holidays but less stress has been nice a nice change.

We've been having a great time so far and will hopefully get out to do some ski-doing later today. Too bad my sister isn't here to take part in the snow acrobatics that we have every year! I'll try to take some pictures for her to make her feel better though. But to be honest, she most likely isn't feeling too sad as she lays about on the beaches in Mexico.

We have a new tradition in our family. One lucky person gets to be dubbed The Christmas Ass. I got the honors for the first year. Yay me! I think The Christmas Ass gets to behave and say anything they want and they always have an out. I mean, an ass can't help being an ass can it??? We're a strange family to say the least but we have our share of fun.

I hope that everyone else out there has had a wonderful Christmas!

I'm off to try and upload some photo's...

Monday, December 15, 2008

It's Looking Up

I'm slowly coming around. I managed to sew one present last night, get it all packaged up with the other stuff that I was sending AND get it on the bus. Yay me! I also finished all of the calenders AND picked up the finished product tonight. Tomorrow I'll ship the ones that need to be shipped. 

I was super productive tonight. I mixed up 5 different kind of cookies and set my cherries marinating in booze in an hour! An hour. Wow, I can get something accomplished when i put my mind to it. Of course it helps that my brother had the two littlest ones in bed when I got home from the grocery store. Maybe he can stay. Maybe.

I always have such a hard time figuring out what to get Alek's teachers for Christmas. I can't break the bank but I don't want to be too chinsy either. I really like his team this year too so that makes it harder. It's easy to pick out something quick for someone that you are relatively ambivalent about. So they are getting baking. I'm going to make them up nice platters with Gingerbread; Ginger Snaps; Lemon Rosemary Slices; Sugar Cookies; Snowballs; and Cherry-whiskey Chocolates. Hopefully that will suffice. 

Alek has his Christmas concert tomorrow night. Hopefully I'll get some great shots with m new camera! Maybe even a video depending. He plays a "cool dude." I can't wait to check that out. His idea of a cool dude changes daily. Greaser to hip hop star. Yep, he definitely takes after me! 

Now I had better get back upstairs and put away the cookies that I baked before they disappear into "you know who''s" lunch tomorrow morning.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Fa la la la la, blah blah blah

I am having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Usually by now I have most gifts bought and have revised my holiday gift list (for others) at least 15 times. This year it hasn't even been fully completed! I have absolutely no idea what to even buy some people, which is stressing me out!

I normally try to give some gifts that are homemade, mostly because I love crafting and cooking and I really appreciate getting handmade gifts that come from the heart. This year is going to be tough! Every time I get the kitchen ready to cook something a tornado comes through and the project gets put off for another day. Which has yet to happen. I have a project partially started for the girls on my list but it's been sitting in the same bag for 2 months now and they are no closer to being completed. I broke down and bought some more material yesterday hoping that would spur me into action but, alas, it has not. I am slowly beginning to realize that it's not due to a lack of desire that I can't get anything accomplished, but simply, a lack of time and energy. We don't have out tree up (usually happens first weekend in December); I haven't done any baking; most gifts are not bought; Alek hasn't written or sent a Santa letter; there is no Santa picture of the boys; there is basically no sign around here that shows that Christmas is anywhere near. It's looking pretty bleak.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Barb the Grouch

I'm grouchy. And wishing that I had a garbage can of my very own that I could just crawl into and shut the lid. And every now and then, when I wanted to be social, I would just pop my head out and share some acerbic remark and then disappear again.

I need to find balance in life. I enjoy my kids; I enjoy my husband; I enjoy my work, and I wish that I could enjoy my house. It's feeling like there's just too much lately. Too much of everything negative and not enough of the positive. There is just so much work to do all the time (no thanks to a certain 2 year old in the house I'm sure) and not enough time to enjoy life. I guess I'm feeling like I'm treading water and not pulling ahead of the pack. My pack that is. I hate this feeling.

Hm, I wonder if Wii has developed a game for this yet? The balance board might be worth it then...