Hooked on Wii

I asked Darryl to buy me a Wii for my birthday this year. I know this may sound like a strage request but back in the day I used to be a little bit of a game junkie, lol. That was before I discovered boy's...well Darryl :) I loved the idea of the Wii and Darryl had already had enough "toy's" as gifts this year so that's what I got.
But with the move and it being summer etc. I never bothered with it too much and was starting to feel bad about having this expensive game system and not even using it that often. But...now I have the Wii FIT and it is soooo much fun. Now i'm a little worried that i'm going to be playing too much. I just spent almost an hour on it.
At least i'm exersizing with it :)

Its such a great idea and its neat how it can be fun for everyone. Even Ella loves it now. It is amazing how far tecnology has come. Even in the last 10 years, its crazy.
Anyone have any Wii game suggestions? We have sport and Fit and haven't rented any others yet.

Jumping in

Today was mine and Darryl's official first day voluntering at our church here, connections community church. I say official b/c I ended up helping at the last minute in the kid's church last week too :) This week on the info table.
When we were looking for a church, we really wanted to find somewhere that, as I mentioned before in a previous blog, that was passionate about God and connecting with people and changing the way people see "church" and also somewhere we could be of service relatively quickly. With the short time we are spending in each place this put's the pressure on. So, after making the decision that we felt to be a part of this church we went to the volunter meeting on the seccond week we attended. Perfect timing!
Now, we are outgoing people but not usually this outgoing. But we knew there was a need and that we were in a place right now that we could help.
It was really neat to see the amazing way that everyone comes together every sunday to put this church together in the theatre week after week and the attention to detail to make sure it is an enjoyable and welcoming experiece. In the last 5 years, God has really helped us through Darryl's residency in so many way's and also through the amazing teaching's of of our church in Ottawa. It is so great to be able to give back or pay-it-forward and also to be able to learn so many great things to take with us rather than being so disconnected for a whole year. I am so excited to be a part of something that is making a difference in people's lives and to be in this season of change and growth and purpose. But to be here, I had to make the first step, and jump right in. Everytime I do this, it is potentially awkward and uncomfortable but so rewarding and worth it.

Apple picking-check

We went apple picking yesterday so I guess I can check that off my list :) It was so fun for the kids. They had a little train to bring you into the orchid/pumpkin patch and a lot of the trees were really short so the kids could pick them themselves without a pole. They also had a really nice pumpkin patch where I was able to get a few nice photo's of the girls as you can see. Now, to use all these apples.... Any favorite apple recipes anyone??? Here's an apple crisp one I used last night that was super easy and very yummy!

3 layer Apple Crisp:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter
2 quarts peeled, cored and sliced apples
*I also drizeled caramel sauce over the top before putting in the oven


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Cut butter into mixture until crumbly.
Take half of the mixture and pat it into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Cover crumb mixture with apple slices, then sprinkle apple slices with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes or until apples are tender.

We got skunk'd

For the first time in the almost 6 years we have been living in Ontario, Jax got sprayed by a skunk. Poor little guy. Hopefully he's learned a lesson.

We had a few new friends over for dinner, and made the mistake of letting Jax out in the back without his leash. B/c its a condo, (argh), there is no fence and forgeting this fact, Jax wandered down into Skunk domain.

Just as I realized that he had left our patio we heard the growl, bark and then wimper, and I knew that it was a skunk this time.

The smell of skunk is so-putrid.
I found a great remedy on-line that works (and its not tomatoe juice. Apparently that only masks the odour) This actually worked.

2 bottles of 3% hydrogen proxide, 1/4 cup of baking soada, and 2 tsp of liguid soap. Worked like a charm on Jax but there is still an underlying hint of skunk throughout the house and in the backyard. YUCK!

African Lion Safari

We took a trip to the African Lion Safari yesterday and it was so much fun. D ended up having the day off, which is nice b/c he is on-call all weekend :(, so we decided, spur of the moment, to seize the day and check off something else on our list of things to do southern ON.
The monkey's were the best part. We were a little concerned earlier in the summer about going b/c everyone talks about how the monkeys can destroy your car but really they are the most fun to see. The longer you stop the more monkeies that will jump on your car. If you don't want them on there then keep moving. There is a truck watching also to drive them off if they are trying to escape wtih you :) We enjoyed them so much we went through twice.
Ella also got to take part in the bird show and help out a parrot with his trick. Such a big girl. I have no picture of this b/c the camera died at that very moment, argh. I hate when that happens.
Next on the list- apple picking!!!

Kids say the darndest things

I was just telling a couple of girlfriends about something Ella did last week and thought it was cute enough to share on here.

The other night as I was getting her into bed and I had to once again hunt down "doggy" the special cuddle toy that helps her fall asleep. She grabs him and begins to rub his tail the way she always has and say's to me "Mommy, I'm going to cuddle doggy until I grow up and marry Elijah (her oldest and bestest friend) and then i'll cuddle him like you do daddy".


And then of course we had to talk....:)

Movie madness

I am currently and single handedly supporting Blockbuster in my neighborhood these last two months. D and I missed out on so many movie nights while he was studying this last year that we have been renting them like its an addiction. I am at the point where I know the workers (by face and not names...yet) at my blockbuster so i'm sure they know me. I am now trying to spread out my visits to blockbuster by getting D to go for me b/c I am too embarrased by how often I am going.
We LOVE watching movies and now that things have slowed down slightly we are trying to play catch up. So, now that we've seen like a hundred over the summer, I need some recomendations to keep me going. Got any really good ones that you love to talk about or that you've seen recently?????

Condo living-not for me

Our last home (in Ottawa) was not a classified as a condo, but kind of was. We never really had any issues though. Most people kept to themselves and the only issue we had was at the end, right before we moved, one busy body took it upon herself to write down licence plates of everyone's car's so she could report them when they parked on the road and we ended up getting a ticket. Which was pointless b/c when there are no "no parking signs" you don't have to pay it.

But just since this summer, living in an actual condo neighborhood we have been pestered constantly with warnings, things we didn't even know about yet and just the silliest things. We even had a letter sent from someone else's condo neighborhood. We are going to be on some gian condo black list. I'm sure there is one.
The ridiculas thing is is that none of these "situations" were very serious, repeated occurances or affected anyone directly. With Condo's, its too easy for people to "tattle tale" on you to a board who will do the dirty work instead of the person dealing with you directly, like an adult should. D and I have decided we will NEVER live in condo style living again. Its a little too close in community and the benefits do not out weigh the con's in this case.

K, that's my rant.

Grrrrrrr

For those of you with napping kid's you will understand my "Grrrrr".
Darryl has taken to ordering things on-line lately, which is fine, except that when ever it get's delivered they ring the doorbell and Jax barks. This alway's seems to coincide with Zaiah napping. AKA "Mommy Time". So today, a very highly anticipated quiet time has been cut short by the UPS guy, grrrrrrrrr.

Maybe I should put a note on the door :)

God works through facebook

All summer we have been enjoying chruch hopping, in hopes of two things: To see fresh ideas of the things other churches are doing and what they are passionate about and to find one that we could commit to in the fall for even the short time we have left. Well, after all summer I became a little tired of this attending without knowing anyone, sunday after sunday. It was time to make a commitment somewhere where we could get plugged in and get the kids plugged in and hooked up with some new friends. So this week, we had decided that we would probably commit to this one church in particular. It had a lot of the qualities we were looking for in a church and it was a thriving group. But I was still not passionate about it. Then, on saterday, God intervened through facebook. Well, that's what I like to think. And it has been something we've been praying about for the last 6 months or so. As I was snooping around on the homepage, catching up with everyone's business (lol, you know that's what it really is), I happened to see this ad cycle through on my side bar for a church that was operating out of the Silver City movie theatre at the mall. This alone caught my interest b/c The Life Centre had rented a theatre while under going reno's so therefore it made it less intimidating. The tag line is what intriqued me enough to look into the website "Come as you are..." For us, this is one of the things that we are passionate about right now, comming as you are to God, to Church, into community and into grace. Coming with all your questions, your baggage, watever you are wearing :) AS YOU ARE!
The name of this church happened to be Connections Community Church. Which is another thing that we (I more specifically) am passionate about. Connecting people. I love a church that is passionate about people and connecting them to each other inside and outside the church. I know you are thinking "Should'nt they all? Its a church!" But trust me, genuineness and authenticity are harder to find than you think. Its not necesairly a church thing either. Its just that we (believers in Christ) should be better at it than we are sometimes. Our society is becomming more and more self-involved and too busy to really care.
Its hard to explain the feeling we got while being there for the short 1hr service but to best describe what got my attention was that the people were genuniely there b/c they wanted to be there, wanted to connect with others and God, and not just to warm the seat out of obligation. Their thoughts, idea's and words were all geared towards loving people the way that Christ loved them, "as they were" and with grace. With a willingness to be selfless in order to help
you find and experience the love and grace of who God really is.

Before moving, I had a lot of reason's to belive that out of this year of travels God was going to place us strategically in places and lives where we could learn things that would be useful in the future but also so that we could be of service with the gifts we have to offer. Maybe, hopefuly, this is one of those seasons. It would be so easy for us to say "oh, its no point, we are only here for a short time" but I don't think that matters. There is no perfect time, or perfect amount of time needed to give selflessly, learn, love or pay it forward. Who know's what we have to offer. I hope that by december I can blog about and share the amazing things that have come out of this.

First day at JK

Elle started her first day at JK this morning. I don't know who was more nervous. Probably me. She takes it all in stride. She's going to be attending all day every other day (9-3:30) that seem's like a long day for a 4 year old. But then I think about all the kids who go to daycare all day so its kind of the same, I guess. The thing with this morning was that I don't know if it's b/c I registered her late but nobody told or gave me any information about how long she's be there today. Whether they do a integration period, or what supplies she needed etc. So I show up following everyone else's advice that she would be only there for an hour or so this morning and feel totally un-prepared with no lunch for her. Everyone else I talk to about their kid starting JK seems to have had an interview with the teacher, bus drill, lists on what to bring.... The school seems nice, not budget or anything, lol. Oh well, i'm sure it will be fine. I'll blog about it tomorrow when I know more :)

Everyone keeps asking me how i'm feeling about her starting JK because most people get emotional about their baby starting school. I don't know how I feel. I'm sentimental but so far, no tears. I'm afraid i'll have a delayed reaction at some inappropriate time. Maybe its b/c we did this last year with pre-school for half the year or because I know she's only going until December and then we'll start regular kindergarden next fall like most other people outside of Ontario.
Its defintely quiet here and now Zaiah is more dependent on me to entertain her. And poor Jax has become her new focus :)

A great end to the summer

We had such a GREAT time back in Ottawa. The hardest part now is missing everyone all over again :( A great way to end our summer and I now feel ready to enjoy the fall months...before I get ready for summer again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks everyone (you know who you are) for all your hosting and visiting!