Chocolate-Gorging Holiday!

I love how blogs can evolve in design and format.

I love playing with layouts and graphics, only I know that too much change can just be irritating to readers.  However, I've updated the background on this blog, for seasonal purposes.  Also, Little B was watching me in the Layout mode of this blog, and she squealed at all the background options that popped up.  She wanted to see the "ducks".  She literally said "I want to see Ducks!!" and laughed in delight.  I admit that Little B is the Boss of me, so of course I obliged.  The background image is now of "Ducks!"

In any case, Easter is arriving, and I'm somewhat happy to say that Little B will not be partaking in this chocolate-gorging season/holiday.  We don't even need to limit her consumption; Little B simply doesn't like chocolate.

Chocolate-Rejection Examples

1. Little B has, on more than one occasion, licked a spoonful of chocolate ice-cream, and said "I don't like it".  She asked for Vanilla.
2. She rejects Chocolate Chip Cookies, or any Chocolate-type cookies - although I think that's due to her being unfamiliar with chocolate chips.
3. She rejects Chocolate Cake.  She's tried Chocolate Cake, but then spits it out saying "I don't like it".
4. Today, she took a nice big bite of a brownie, chewed on it, and promptly spit it out.  She said "I don't like it."  (I don't like it, is her favourite rejection phrase).

Little B is a picky eater.  Very picky.  But at least, we don't have to worry about her becoming addicted, or developing cravings for chocolate.  That just leaves a little more chocolate for Hubby and I.  :)

A Canadian Thanksgiving

Monday October 10, 2011 is our official Thanksgiving Day.  What this means to me is having a big turkey dinner with family members.

This year, I'll be cooking the turkey on Sunday (today).  I actually enjoy hosting my families together.  It makes things a lot less complicated and a lot easier in terms of planning.  This will be year 2 of hosting (and cooking) Turkey.  The only thing I don't have down-pat is the stuffing/dressing.  My MIL will be cooking that this year, just as I had asked her last year.  She is probably the best cook I know when it comes to Turkey/Dressing/Stuffing./Roast Beef.  She's had many years of practice, and hopefully I will have a good number of years to perfect the art of roasting meats in my oven.

There will be fewer people at this dinner this year, than last year.  A friend of mine and her baby are away overseas for the month, and my SIL and her two babies are away overseas for two months.  It will still be a lively crowd though, with guests of big appetites!

Thanksgiving, to me, is a mark of more turkey dinners and holidays to come... Remembrance Day, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Years...  One long weekend a month until New Years...  And then the Long Weekend Draught... none from New Years until Easter.

Last year's turkey was bigger than our little Baby.  This year, no such luck.  Little B has grown beyond turkey weight (mostly)...  I'm sure that if we looked hard enough we will find a turkey that weighs just as much as her, but we definitely don't need anything that large to feed our guests.

In any case, the roast will go in the oven soon, and several hours later, our guests will begin to arrive.  Looking forward to it!!

Parties!

Did I speak about Cousin Z's b-day party?? I can't believe I didn't mention it!

Cousin Z is now 1 year old (and a bit). She had a lovely day with family eating home-made treats made by her mommy, including a lovely banana-bread type cupcake. Yum!

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And now prepping for more holidays...

Should Baby B get her own Halloween costume?? Not too sure... We've been looking for one but haven't found one that both daddy and I like. We are still hunting around, but I may have to take out the sewing machine and make a costume for her!! :)

We are now also thinking of Xmas... seems like we are needing a Xmas tree of some sort... gonna have to keep an eye out for when they are on special or on sale! Gotta have some Xmas lights for her first Christmas!!

Upside Down Turkey!

LOL!! I baked the turkey upside down!! No problem right?? Well, we had to cook it an extra 20 minutes just in case... I actually don't think it's a big deal to cook it upside-down... does it make a difference other than aesthetics??? Oh well... I thought that was funny, I didn't even realize it was upside down until my gravy-helper (hubby's mom) came over and took a look. I don't mind her critique though... she makes excellent roasts (turkey, beef...) so I will definitely take notes from her!! :)

The Atheist Thanksgiving

I have two upcoming Thanksgiving dinners this weekend, both of which hubby and I will be hosting at our house.

Saturday will be with my family.
Sunday will be with husband's family.

Saturday = Salmon and chicken wings... super-easy!!
Sunday = Turkey.... ummm more challenging...

Turkey... it will be my first time cooking a turkey!! Yikes!! So why am I cooking Turkey this time, and hosting Thanksgiving at our house?? Well... MIL was going to volunteer her other son to host Thanksgiving dinner... they just finished renovations on their basement and she was hoping they would want to host everyone. However, they have a cat and Baby B has not been exposed to pet dander of any kind... so I kind of jumped the gun and offered to host it at our place. Hubby and I were hoping to delay exposing Baby B to pets, so that was our solution.

So umm... now I'm cooking a large Thanksgiving turkey. Hopefully all will turn out well!! :)

And why did I throw in the Atheist bit in my blog title?? Well... all my family members are Atheist... Thanksgiving is just an excuse for us to get together, eat, and enjoy discounted Turkey from the supermarket. :P

Abbreviated Updates

Baby is napping right now so I'm updating super quick, since she is due to wake up soon!

Weekend:
Cousin Z's first birthday party was a blast!! Little Z stole the spotlight, as she should, in her very pretty dress and hair-clip, and her cute little smile. She received lots of presents, and seemed to enjoy her very tasty personal banana cake muffin-thing... home-made by her mommy!

Hubby and I took the little Baby to dinner with Hubby's extended family at the Boathouse restaurant. Parking there was crazy, dinner was just okay (nothing to rave about, but decent/average fare). I think I was a bit hormonal because a few things annoyed me a lot. I know that no extended family member would kidnap Little B, but seriously, if you are going to hold her and walk her around the restaurant to distract her from crying, please do NOT take her out of sight from her momma (ME!). I like to know where my baby is, and I don't care if she is fussing. If she is fussing in your arms, give her back to her momma (ME!!!). And don't use the baby as an excuse or tool to avoid your own relatives by purposefully saying, "Oh, baby is fussy, I'll walk her around" (and thus successfully avoiding certain relatives) because I know that's what was happening... GRRRRRR.

I really like it when I have the baby (and daddy) all to myself. I don't like to share her much these days, especially since I am now seeing a lot more personality in her... :)

2009 Bluesy Start

I slept through the ringing of the new year.
But many were more energetic and happy for 2009. I was just sleepy.

There is a new US President, talks of stimulus packages, and a new tax season! Oh fun!

I have been pessimistic and feeling down through the holidays and didn't feel like blogging much. I am still feeling somewhat the same... a little trepid about the future as I watch my savings drop bit by bit, and as I wonder what will still be affordable for us, middle class folks.

I think things will turn around, but patience and some optimism is required.

I am hoping to make self-improvements for myself... these aren't resolutions, but goals for this year and years to come. I feel that I have grown more realistic about life... or is it pessimistic? In any case, this feeling of reality hitting is making me a bit depressed and irritable.

I may eventually drop this blog and turn it into a creative project... we will see though. For now it will remain my sounding board.