The Birthday Girl

Yes.... TessaDog is 12 years old, her birthday was yesterday. She's such a party animal!

Happy Birthday to an old mature lady who thinks she is still a puppy!

Let's Go Blue Jays!

Our first Major League baseball game of the season and it snowed all day! I thought baseball was a summer game..... obviously I was mistaken. This is what we woke up to.

It was YoungerSon's birthday, so for a birthday treat the whole family met downtown at the Rogers Centre to watch the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Detroit Tigers. OlderSon arrived with a chocolate birthday cake, paper plates and plastic forks so we had our own birthday party up there in the 500 level! You get a great view from up so high. It was the first time the twins had been to a game, and they loved it.... and behaved really well!

 It was a good game.... started off slowly but got pretty exciting towards the end. The Tigers scored 3 in the top of the seventh, then the Jays retaliated with 3 including a home run in the bottom of the 8th. 3 - 3 at the end of the 9th. They went to the 11th inning, when Detroit scored in the top of the inning, but the Jays just couldn't catch up. Final score Jays 3, Tigers 4.
Better luck next time.

Let's Go Blue Jays! CHAAAAAARGE!!!!!!!!

Stuff Sorted

I've been a really bad blogger recently, no excuses, I know. January and February weather does that to me. It has been a surprisingly mild winter, with not even one huge blogworthy snowstorm. And I haven't been to Florida, or Arizona, or anywhere hot to get away from Old Man Winter. But tonight the clocks "Spring Forward", the evenings will be longer and signs of Spring will start to appear. Hooray!

Stuff Sorted over the past few weeks:

1. YoungerSon, my techie genius, helped me change my internet provider to one that gives me 6 times more download room than I had before, and for a much lesser price. And he also set up getting rid of my expensive phone land line and connecting an internet phone. So far it's worked perfectly...... fingers crossed.
2. Finished making a multicolour baby/toddler quilt for a baby expected on May 1. No, not my family, but very dear friends are becoming grandparents for the first time. So exciting.
   
3. While I was in the sewing mood, I cut multicolour strips of leftover cotton quilting fabric, and started making another toddler quilt. Stay tuned for pictures.
4. Set up a weekly "Dinner Date" with the grandies who live just down the road from me. The 3 of them are always together, so they take it in turns once a week to come to Nana's house for dinner after school. It's good to have some one-on-one time with each of them, and they can't wait until it is their turn. Last week it was Isaac (6). Dinner was sausage, egg, chips (that's French Fries to the non-Brits) and Heinz baked beans (has to be the one with the green label) and ketchup.... mmmm gourmet dining.
5. Our Art Group has been asked to display paintings at the Town Offices.... there are about 30 paintings exhibited until March 31. The moo-cows are mine.
   
   
   
6. Grandie Callum celebrated being 8 years old by inviting 14 6 to 8 year olds to Laser Lounge for 2 games of laser tag. It was mayhem!  Warriors are divided into a red team and a green team, outfitted with vests with flashing lights in the appropriate colour, and given laser guns, and the battle is on! The battle ground is filled with smoke so the laser rays can be seen, and parents can watch through the window.... looked like so much fun creeping around shooting people that next time I want to play too. The kids ended up red faced and sweaty, but still had enough energy to consume 8 large pizzas and birthday cake in the shape of a Star Wars robot. 
7. Birthday parties weren't anything like that when I was 8.

Another Year.... Another Decade

I had a birthday recently. It was one of those "milestone" birthdays. So we had a party. That's the best way to celebrate a birthday, any kind of birthday.
My family in England sent me some beautiful flowers. No idea what the long green ones are, but they are spiky. The bouquet included ornamental kale.... what could be better, a bouquet you can eat!

We used the community room at the village. The Bride and The Equestrienne worked so hard decorating the tables with a purple and white theme, while OlderSon appears to take the credit in this picture. The Bride decorated the vases, The Equestrienne provided the flowers. YoungerSon organised the photo slideshow and the music. Callum blew up the balloons. Family team work!
Food.... yes, lots of it. Samosas and pakoras from my favourite Indian bakery, spring rolls, spicy meatballs, a cheese tray, crackers, veggies and dip, French pastries, English trifle, all washed down with a choice of ice water, red or white wine, beer, spiced apple cider, coffee, tea.

A purple theme meant purple table cloths, purple streamers, purple candles on the birthday cake, and I even found the perfect purple scarf to wear with my purple top. As you can see.... there were a lot of candles, but luckily I had professional help close by to help me blow them out. We didn't have to call the Fire Department.

The Albert Street Four entertained us with two sets. I used to live on Albert Street, so I know them well. Lots of singalong songs, including my favourite song of all time..... The Teddybear's Picnic.
If you go down in the woods today......

Thank you to my wonderful family who organized the party and to all my family and friends who helped me celebrate. Next birthday party in 10 years. Everyone's invited.
Which "milestone" birthday was it? Well, look carefully and you might find a clue.

4 + 4 = 8

Yep, another year (or should that be two?) has gone by in the life of the twinnies.

Mummy planned a chocolate layer cake, but before she had a chance to put it together, the twins came into the kitchen asking "which one is mine?" so they had a cake each. 

Happy, happy, happy.

Back to Europe trip pics in next post!

Rainbow Cake

I celebrated a birthday a while ago.... actually it was back in November. We had a small family gathering to mark the occasion. It wasn't a particularly significant number, that comes later this year, and may require some partying.
But my lovely DIL The Equestrienne thought it was significant enough to make me this fantastic Rainbow Cake!

Sunglasses optional while eating it!

3 + 3 = 6

Pictures are self-explanatory, I think?

Return of the Lost Blogger!

I know, I know, it's been far too long. Did you miss me? I'm not sure why I neglected this blog for 3 months, but I'm back, and I intend to keep on blogging. It's been a brutal winter here in Southern Ontario, with ice storms destroying trees and hydro services, and bitter temperatures. In fact, so cold that it seems that I have been trapped indoors all winter, with no opportunity to get outside and enjoy the snow with my grandchildren. I'm deliriously happy to see some sunshine and feel the warmth of the sun at last.

I've been continuing with art classes, and really enjoying it. This is my latest painting. I'm not sure if it is finished or not. It's at the stage where I'm scared to do anything else to it, although Colin says there are too many hard edges. Perhaps the door needs more detail or texture. And I think it's a bit too blue......

Party at the weekend.... grandson Isaac will be five. Menu (birthday boy's choice): BIG sandwiches with pickles, cheese and mayo AND a big "chunk-er" of chocolate cake. Sounds good, right?

Four!

Isaac celebrated three fourth birthdays this year. Yes.... THREE!

The first 4th birthday was celebrated at his Montessori Pre-school classroom a week early. He was the V.I.P. for the morning and got to sit on the Birthday Chair while all the other children sat on the floor and sang to him and were allowed to ask him questions such as "What is your favourite animal?" (giraffe) "What is your favourite car?" (taxi).

And the fancy birthday cake is cardboard.... it gets recycled for every birthday!

Unfortunately the teachers lighter had run out of fuel and he had to pretend to blow the candles out. But he didn't mind!

The second 4th birthday was celebrated at the weekend with a family BBQ in the back yard. This time the cake was real, and so were the candles.

There's nothing better than a chocolate cake covered with multicoloured Smarties.

It was a nice sunny day and the paddling pool and the garden hose got a lot of use.



The third 4th birthday was on his actual birthday, when they finished up the remnants of the birthday cake and Isey and I went to watch his mummy play baseball. All excitement is over for another year. Happy Birthday Isaac.

Pizza Party!

It was a Pizza Party to remember! Callum invited his cousins and his kindergarten friends to celebrate turning FIVE! When you're five, you're big enough to learn to cook, so his mum and dad booked a pizza party in the party room at the local Superstore and the birthday boy and his guests learned how to make pizza.
First you wash your hands, write your name on your chef's hat, and put on your apron.
Then you are ready to start. Squish the dough so it's nice and round and flat (don't drop it on the floor, well, not all of it!).

And then you take a spoonful of tomato sauce and spread it on the dough (remember not to lick the spoon, the next person has to use it too!). Take a chopping board and a cutter, and choose the toppings for your pizza.... Callum chose pepperoni and cheese but there were many more choices..... chop it up and put it on your pizza.
It doesn't matter if you put your sleeve in it.... does it, Mom?
While the pizza is in the oven it's time to make a cookie for dessert.

 A ball of cookie dough flattens out nicely, make lots of  holes with your finger and pop a chocolate chip in each hole. Finish it off with a handful of pink sugar.... bet this is going to taste awesome!
The cookie goes into the oven as soon as the pizza is done.... and then it's time to eat!

 No birthday party is complete without a birthday cake. This one had five candles and Callum blew them all out in one big puff. He's been saying he's been feeling as though he is five for a long time....

.... so now he really is five! Next thing you know, he'll be wanting to be six!
Happy Birthday, Callum!

365 Days

Last year about this time two tiny people arrived in my life. They made their blog debut here.

One year old today!

And now they are celebrating their first birthdays! Almost walking, and definitely talking. Happy Birthday Max and Emma! And congratulations to mum and dad and big brother Isaac for surviving the first year of the Double Trouble Terror Twosome.

Birthday Boy

Combine a sunny Saturday, a back yard, some cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents, good food, a jug of sangria, a barbecue and a Big Birthday Boy, and what do you get?

A Back Yard Party, that's what!    


YoungerSon and the Bride invited the family to celebrate Isaac's third birthday.

What kind of birthday cake would you like, Isaac? With no hesitation he said   A BLUE CAR!

So that's what Auntie J made for him, with a green one thrown in for good measure. Mmmm... Oreo cookie wheels. And candy tail lights. But the icing didn't like the heat.... we should have left it in the fridge....  and suffered a partial meltdown, but it tasted good anyway.

Isaac had no complaints.

He blew all three candles out with some timely help from his cousin Callum. There's something very enticing about blowing candles out, no matter whose birthday it is.  
Isaac pronounced the cake "very yummy".

Callum was in complete agreement.
After all, these boys are experienced cakeologists.... they know a good birthday cake when they taste one.
The cake soon disappeared, leaving a couple of cute faces smeared with blue icing.

Then they started on the chocolate chip cookies.

Good cake work, Auntie J!

The twins weren't allowed to eat any birthday cake this time, but only a couple of months to go and they will be celebrating their own birthdays. Now that they've had a taste of Back Yard Partying, I bet they can't wait for their turn to come.
And what do you think they would like for their birthdays? I'll give you three guesses. That's right.... Hair!

Dragon Trouble

Mummy:  So, Callum, what kind of cake would you like for your FOURTH birthday?
Callum:  I want a Dragon!
Mummy:  A dragon! Are you sure?
Callum:  Yes, I want a really big green dragon and I want him to be very very scary and breathing fire out of his nose and I want him next to a police car.
Mummy:  Next to a police car?
Callum:  Yes, standing next to a police car and breathing fire on the police car and I want his tail to have broken the police car window and the policeman is trying to arrest the dragon.
Mummy (hoping he'll forget):  Oh my goodness. That would be quite a birthday cake!

But he didn't forget.

The chocolate spike at the end of the dragon's tail had shattered the police car's back window, as requested, but Callum ate it before he got to the party.

The Equestrienne did a fantastic job, right?

Canada's Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!

Canada is 144 years old today!

I'll be heading to OlderSon's "country estate" to enjoy a family gathering. There'll be 5 children, 8 adults, and a crazy dog. We'll be BBQing, watching the kids fight over who rides the Gator, playing baseball in the front yard, catching up with family news, having a bonfire and letting off fireworks when it gets dark. And eating and drinking, of course.

My mission this morning is to make a blueberry and apple pie as my contribution to the feast, so I'd better get on with it.

The Terrible Twos

Hey, did you know I had a birthday?
Yup... now I'm TWO!
Auntie J got me a cake.... with Lightnin' McQueen and Tow Mater on the top. Isn't it great? Let me grab it... YIKES! What's that gooey red stuff all over my hands? (See naughty little finger marks bottom right.)
Help! Wash hands, Daddy! I all yucky!

OK, all cleaned up. Hmmmm... now I'm not sure of the next move. And there's my cousin waiting for his cake.

OK, Mummy lit the candle so that means it's my cue to blo-o-o-o-ow!

Now everyone is happily munching on my cake... and I get to play with the toys.

WooHoo! Being TWO is a blast so far. I must make sure I'm TWO more often!

Three At Last!

When you're little, it seems to take forever for another birthday to arrive, but last week Callum celebrated being THREE!

OlderSon and The Equestrienne booked a birthday party at the local 5-pin bowling alley (YAY! Glow In The Dark Bowling) but it turned out to be a brutal weather day with high winds, blowing snow and freezing temperatures, and not all the birthday guests could brave the roads to join in the Glow In The Dark fun.

Oh well, bad weather's to be expected in Canada for a February birthday. Perhaps Callum should celebrate an official birthday in June, like the Queen.

The Equestrienne created yet another work of art in the form of a scrumptious birthday cake. Cakes 1 and 2 were a train and a car. All forms of transport, I wonder what next year will be? I'm told that the big C on the tail stands for CallumAir.

He did a great job of blowing out the candles.

And then he ate one of the wings. And then it was prezzie time.

Like all little big boys, Callum's really into Matchbox cars. But he also got a toy kitchen complete with pots and pans and vegetables and pies, and has been having fun cooking dinners with it ever since.

Life's pretty good when you're THREE!

What I've Been Up To

I haven't been a very good blogger over the past couple of months.
And I have a really good excuse.
I've been house hunting. I've looked at big, small, old, new, detached, semi-detached, town houses, condos.
But I've finally got myself a new home and I move in a couple of weeks.
So now I'm doing this.

And this.

And since I last posted, this happened. Yes, I had a birthday. A significant one too. I can't imagine how I got to be this old (not telling just HOW old) but it's better than the alternative!

So the whole family got together and we went for a birthday dinner at the Mandarin Chinese Buffet. Mmmm... buffet style Chinese food, and if that doesn't suit you, there's pizza, or roast beef, or spare ribs or sushi.... I love the baked salmon and the spicy shrimp, and the hot and sour soup, and the mango salad... it's all so good!
And then home for a cuppa and fancy birthday cupcakes.
And finally both my grandboys. It's hard to get a picture of them both at the same time, they move so fast.

We've had a couple of new family additions in UK recently. William (baby brother to Oliver) arrived 4 weeks ago and baby Charlie arrived last week, cousins to each other and new second cousins for Callum and Isaac. That makes 5 little boys born in the last 3 years in our family.
And in The Bride's family there are 4 more little boys all under 4 years old.

We're aiming for our very own football team!

Party Animal!

Whenever another birthday arrives, everyone comments on how fast the year has flown by, and especially so when it's a Very Important First Birthday. Little Isaac is celebrating being a Citizen of the World for a whole year.
And to mark this auspicious occasion, there was a special family party this weekend in YoungerSon's back yard, and his clever Auntie J created a very special dinosaur cake.

Chocolate buttons for spots, chocolate chips for toenails and Hershey kisses for those scary spikes all along his back. But how could he look scary with that friendly smile on his face?
Isaac needed a little bit of help from his mummy when it came to blowing the candle out.

He was offered a handful of dinosaur tail before the cake was cut, but when his fingers sunk into the soft icing, he screamed blue murder and desperately tried to wipe the icing off..... he's never touched anything that squishy and green before.
But once he discovered that it tasted pretty good, he soon cheered up!

And then it was time for the prezzies. Lots of them too. He told me that the best part was ripping the paper up.

Isaac had a terrific time at his party with all his cousins and second cousins and uncles and aunties and Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and great grandparents and friends and babies and kids. He wishes he could have a party like that every day!
In Isaac's words.... "WOW!"