What has happened to my boy? Jeff bought him a book last night, Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles.  Parker has not stopped reading it. It’s a graphic novel and 150 pages. He’s to pg 92.  Seriously I caught him doing Hannah- type stuff today. Like standing in front of the laundry basket that he was supposed to be emptying, and reading. Right now he’s laying in front of the fire place reading while the tv is on 3 ft away.

 

Parker does not have a love of reading like his sister.  It’s near impossible to find books that he will willingly look at let alone read.   Avatar and now Knights of the Lunch Table are really the only books he wants to read.

Here’s a good review and when he’s done, Parker will be giving his own review of the book. http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/09/25….all-chronicles

I am so glad to see an end to this story.  http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/10/14/pe-fraser-charges.html#socialcomments

 Master Cpl. Robbie Fraser was charged with manslaughter after an incident in Afghanistan.  I’m pretty sure Robbie Fraser went to my high school and therefore would have been in the reserves with my brother and friends.

An accident is an accident and does not equate to manslaughter.  Even Walsh’s wife wanted the charges dropped.

And more PEI news- http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/10/06/pe-intercity-bus.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g12:r4:c0.123139#socialcomments

I also went to school with Caroline Bertram.  She likes to stir things up and she is a get’er done type of person.

Getting ready for my shower this  morning, I remembered a foot soak that I had picked up quite a while ago at Sudsmuffin  I never have the time nor ambition to soak my feet.  I put the plug in the tub, tossed some in and started my shower.  What a refreshing way to wake up.  I think the peppermint and tea tree would be great combined with the steam for a cold.  Check out their cool promo to earn free Sudsmuffin stuff.  http://skinfulscentsations.com/streetteam.html

But before you go, take a look at this yummy muffin of soap.  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7432160

I have a 19 lb turkey to cook and it’s just the five of us.  Mil also gave us two more turkeys today since they were $.99/lb.

Now what all do I need to make?

Mashed potatoes with sour cream in them..NB potatoes are soo bland.  The sour cream gives them some flavour.  Sweet potatoes with apple, corn, carrots, squash, rolls, stuffing, cranberry sauce and for desert a new pumpkin cake recipe from Kraft.

Cara’s Crockpot Stuffing 1 cup butter 2 cups chopped onion 2 cups chopped celery 12 1/2 cups dry bread cubes-  (I bake them in the oven until crisp and sprinkle Bell’s on them before baking 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage- the spices I substitute bell’s for1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 1/2 cups chicken broth- might not need all of it2 eggs, beaten 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion & celery, in butter, stirring frequently. 2. Spoon cooked vegetables over bread cubes in a very large mixing bowl. Season with poultry seasoning, sage, thyme, marjoram- (Bell’s), and salt and pepper. Pour in enough broth to moisten,(might not need all 4-1/2 cups) and mix in eggs. Transfer mixture to slow cooker, and cover. 3.Cook on High for 45 minutes, then reduce heat to Low, and cook for 4 to 8 hours.

Crock Pot Sweet Potato and Apple Combo
4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced

2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cubed * I added extra

1/4 lb. butter or margarine, melted * I suggest skipping this

1/2 C. brown sugar

1/2 C. apple juice

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

Peel and slice sweet potatoes. Peel, core and cube apples. Place both in slow cooker.

Mix the melted butter and brown sugar. Spoon it over the apple and sweet potato mixture. Pour apple juice over the sweet potato and apple mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. * cooked on high for 3 hours

And for desert:  http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/luscious-four-layer-pumpkin-cake-88186.aspx

Guess I should go pick up a few groceries and get started.  I need a lock on my kitchen doors.

That and some happy pills for the grouches in this house.  Sleepovers ruin long weekends.

For those of you that took part, Thank You.

For those of you who contributed, Thank You.

For those that let this opportunity pass by, start thinking about taking part next year.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Fall seems to be one of the most noticable changes and in our house there’s always something going on in Sept/Oct.  This year seems to be pretty smooth sailing yet hectic.  I’ve been busy organizing my Pink Party in time for Run for The Cure, the Quintessence Breastfeeding challenge and we’re trying to get a midweek program off the ground at our church.  The kids have started their extra cirricular activities.  Parker is doing Judo and Hannah is doing theatre  at IACT.  Same time, different places.  I drop Hannah off early and her class is a half hour longer than Parker’s.  It works well.   Lydia and I have settled into playgroup and i’m planning on taking her swimming on Thursdays.   Can’t beat $2 swims.  I am almost finished updating the October meal plan.  Check out the link in the blog roll on the left.

Has anyone had a Pink Party?  In trying to come up with a way to raise funds for Run For the Cure.  I decided I would have a desert party and invite friends to come and bring a donation.  As I took an invitation to my neighbor she told me about the kit her sister ordered from the Canadian Cancer Society.  Amazingly, I got my kit in two days, just in time for my party.   It includes Thingamaboobs, trivia on Breast and Cervical cancer as well as a self exam doorhanger.  The kit is free of charge and can be ordered from your local cancer society.  Here’s the link for New Brunswick. http://www.cancer.ca/New%20Brunswick/Prevention/Have%20a%20Pink%20Party.aspx?sc_lang=en   And here’s my Smilebox.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

My mom was coming for the weekend and so I thought it was a perfect time to have the party.  She had breast cancer three years ago.  She lost her mother in 1973 to breast cancer after a three year battle.  Two of my grandmother’s sisters have also had breast cancer and one is currently waiting for a mastectomy after having had radiation 12 years ago.  We had a great time and raised about $200 for Run For The Cure.  The Pink Party and Run For the Cure are two seperate objectives as there is no fund raising involved with having a pink party but I thought the two complimented each other.

Thanks Girls for a great evening.

So my husband pointed out the fact that it’s been a week since I blogged.  Ooops.

It’s been a busy week. Tuesday and Wednesday we went to playgroup.  Lydia was sooooo excited.  It doesn’t run over the summer and we really missed it. 

Thursday Cara and I met at the pool and took the kids swimming.  It was a great time, I’ll add pics when Cara sends them to me.  Lydia and I went down the waterslide together.  It was fast.  i think that’s a daddy job.

Friday night we went to McD’s for supper.  It’s only been about 4 or 5 months.  Sat morning we got up early and hit the road.  Mil has a huge two story garage and had rented a dumpster.  We went to help clean it out.  Jeff and Parker had been there a few weeks ago and needed another dumpster.  Old furniture and odds and ennds that have accumulated over the years.  We got to throw them out the second story window.  Styrafoam does not fly well.

After lunch we hit the road for Calais, ME.  It’s a half hour drive from mil’s and we hadn’t been there for two years…not since our car accident.  Since it was grocery week, we thought we’d get them in the US.  Got lots of good deals and a new game.  I’ll post about that another day.

It was late by the time we got home and Lydia was a bear the hour and a half drive back.  She woke up cantankerous in the morning so she and I skipped church.  That’s about it for the week.

I live next to the Irving Oil Refinery.  Parker’s school has a partnership with the refinery and they often contribute back to the school with donations and time.   The program is called CHEER.

 

 Yesterday, Irving held a Neighbor day for the community. 

 They had a free BBQ with hotdogs, hamburgers, salads. beverages and sweets.

Airbrush tattoos

Bounce Castles

Cookie decorating

Health and Wellness displays

Informative displays on pollution reduction- notice Lydia intently paying attention.  She lugged her bag around the whole school.

We also got to take a bus tour of the refinery.  Since we drive by almost every day, the kids were excited to see the inside.

They have their own fire department.

A safety sign- reminding employees that the best reasons for working safely are the smallest ones.

Oil tank

Here’s what we brought home in our goody bags

3 bags of chips, 3 treat bags, 3 bags of cotton candy, 3 puzzle magnets

8 shoelaces, 3 popup frisbees, 2 first aid kits, 3 apples, 1 Irving bag

4 cloth shopping bags, 4 pens, 2 pencils, 5 penlight key chains, 1 tire gauge

Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.