Sunshine

The sun has been shining for a few days now, and we just can't get enough of it. All of us, including the cats!

Our snow is almost completely gone. So much that Izzie and I went to the park today. And stayed for a while! Oh it was glorious. Then we headed home....ran over a broken beer bottle and got a flat tire. And then I stepped in dog poop while walking home. But since today is baking day it turned into a great day with delicious homemade pizza and apple crisp. Nom!

Link time!

Trying to get someone to watch this movie with me. Anyone? Anyone? Oh, and to drink French red wine while we do...

I used to be a theatre geek. I would perform a 3 hour show (sometimes as the lead, sometimes not.) for two weeks and be so wiped and gross by the end of it. This just blows my mind. Never mind the audience, what about the actors?

I want to try this recipe...and this one.

Everybody else seems to be talking about this video, so I will too.

My dream kitchen.

I have been looking for a new purse for a long, long time. I could never afford this or have the patience to make it, but a girl can dream.

Because of my friend C, I am now addicted to the show Bones. Nards.

And lastly, tomorrow is St. Patricks Day. Here's a few tunes to get you through.

Trooper

He's a trooper.

It's -12 degrees Celsius (9 Fahrenheit) but -20 (-4 Fahrenheit) with the wind chill.

And he loves it.

Bike safely my dear.

Travelling Toddler

While driving to and from the US last weekend, Phil and I had an education. How To Entertain Your Exhausted Toddler Because She Doesn't Want To Sleep and She Hasn't Slept For 8 Hours Straight.

Ouch.
None of us are used to travelling in cars, which could be the reason Izzie was unable to fall asleep around her normal nap time. But we tried everything, and I mean everything. Including stopping for over an hour at a mall so she could play in the indoor playground. Surely that would tire her out? Normally, yes. But alas....
Feeding the backseat beast seemed to appease her. Playing with puzzles (ugh, puzzles while travelling) and reading stories over and over again also helped. And then, once the sun had set after the 8th hour of being awake, our backseat beast would quietly slip into slumber. We would sigh with relief....and then reach our destination 10 - 30 minutes later.

Moving on to my purpose of telling you this. Yesterday, Izzie, and I went to the Museum for some fun away from the house. Along came my friend and Izzie's Auntie. And her car. We strapped Izzie in and away we went.

Fun was had, slides were slid, stairs were climbed and we called it a day. Plunked Izzie into the seat and headed home. Two minutes into the drive, we look back....

Seriously?!

Lazy Days of Summer

..in September!

We are enjoying some lovely weather.

Going out for bike rides

Biking to the park and/or water park

Picking up some fine things at yard sales

Eating outside, picnic style

Running around in diapers...well, Izzie is at least

Basking in the warm glow of the sun and then breathing a sigh when a cool wind comes.

Yes siree, summer is upon us. (Hopefully for longer than three days. We're in day number two right now.) And the in-laws are coming to visit today and Phil is taking some time off of work. That's right, we're having a family weekend in the middle of the week.

Am I a lucky gal, or what?

A Few Pics..

...from the weekend.
No bike ride is complete without Izzie's Dog and Cat books. Man, that is one full bakfiets.

In the park, Daddy/daughter time while I...
..watched the sunlight through the trees.
Then I was attacked by my little dinosaur!

A very lovely weekend, if I do say so.

18 months old

Yesterday marked Izzie' s 18 month "birthday." She has grown so much in the last few months that sometimes I stop and am amazed by the young lady she's growing into.

Her fascination with bellybuttons grows.

Found yours!

I informed her that since it is her 18 month milestone, that means a trip to the doctor! For shots! This was her reaction.
So we piled into our bakfiets and set off.
Our neighbourhood is in full bloom! And the worms have stopped dropping from the trees which makes the view even sweeter.
Being originally from Ontario, the sight of vast open prairies makes me feel slightly agoraphobic. The neighbourhood of our doctor is very prairie-ish.
Water break. Also, we were super early so I decided to stop for a bit.
Just before the shots. I didn't get an after because I was a tich busy. But I did get this picture....
...when we stopped at an uber long traffic light on a quiet residential street. Note that the hand is still in the snack trap!
But all was well. Izzie went back to tormenting her little "brother" as soon as we got home.

The Tormentor!

I decided it was also time to get on this potty training thing. Not to force Izzie before she's ready, but to have the tools (step and toilet seat reducer) handy should she want to try.

And she was interested...in the toilet seat packaging.
Oh peanut! Please don't change, I love you just as you are. You goofy monkey.

Our New Car Has Arrived!

Note: This is not a product review. My family and I have received no compensation for this post and we paid for the bike with our hard earned (car write off) cash.

It's here! It's finally here!! Our beautiful bakfiets bike has arrived. And it sure is pretty...

Is that a banana in your bike, or are you happy to see me?

Phil stayed home for part of the day to be here for the delivery. (Getting a 100 pound bike off a FedEx truck? Not easy.) And then once we had our hands on it, we were off. We took a few test drives...and then we packed Izzie in and rode to the bakery.

She was so comfortable, she took off her socks and shoes!

Tall Grass Prairie Bakery...mmmm cookies time.

It was raining the whole time we were out. The handy canopy kept Izzie dry and warm. Now all I want to do is keep biking!

P.S. June! It's raining! I've got my eye on you....the evil, hairy, squinty eye!