That Lara Bar recipe..

I think you guys are going to be a little disappointed by this recipe... We really like lara bars and have made tons of different types but it's not really a 'recipe'...

To make one bar you need:

dates
nuts (we like almonds and cashews)
dried fruit
oats
spices (cinnamon and nutmeg are good)

Combine 1 tablespoon of pureed dates with 3 tablespoons of finely chopped (I use my mini food processor) dry ingredients. Mix well. Plop mixture onto piece of plastic wrap, form into bar. Put into Fridge until ready to eat.

That's it! It's really east but you can make up a million different combinations. We like cranberry almond with some cinnamon. I always add some flax seed meal... This is a really easy recipe and you can make it a million different ways. Mary really likes them, I cut them up and put them on her plate at lunch and she always eats them first.

If you come up with some yummy combinations let me know!

Simple Woman's Daybook: November 9th

Outside my window... it's cloudy but so warm for November, the weather network said we are supposed to get up to 5 this afternoon... that is unheard of in November!

I am thinking... that just because I find a great deal on organic pears does not mean I should buy 15 pounds of them... what am I going to do with all of them!?

I am thankful for... all of the Christmas presents I bought this summer, only a few more and I'll be done shopping!

I am wearing... my jean skirt and a blue t-shirt. Home clothes.

I am remembering... how easy our life was before Luke started crawling, man that kid is fast!

I am going... no where. Between flu season and potty training this is going to be a home type week for us.

I am reading... Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic discovers Unschooling. Love it.

I am hoping... to keep on top of my laundry this week so it stays caught up!

On my mind... giving up most of my computer time for Advent... I know I should... but can I?

From the learning rooms... getting ready for Advent! I have lots of fun stuff planned and I can't wait to show Mary!

Noticing that... My son is quickly growing out of his 18 month jammies... time to unpack some more! Poor kid is going to have to wear Mary's old jammies if he keeps this up!

Pondering these words... I'm too tired to ponder anything today.. up too late crafting!

From the kitchen... home made chicken noodle soup yesterday. Mmmm. Pumpkin butter and ginger chewys too! Recipes coming soon.

Around the house... I clean... it gets messy... I clean... it gets messy... I clean...

One of my favorite things~ Playing dolls with Mary. I was never interested in playing with dolls growing up so it's fun playing with Mary now!

From my picture journal...

Conversing with Mary

this is a conversation we had in the car the other day...

Mary: Mommy, are we in Grande Prairie?

Me: Yep we are.

Mary: And Daddy too?

Me: Daddy too

Mary: Mommy and Daddy live in Grande Prairie. But not me. I'm too little.

Me: No Mary, you live in Grande Prairie too..

Mary: NO! I'M TOO LITTLE!!!

Me: Mary, Grande Prairie is the place we live in, just like Nana lives in Prince George, we live in Grande Prairie.

Mary: NOT ME! I'M JUST A LITTLE GIRL!

Me: ....well... Mary... you live in Grande Prairie with Mommy and Daddy and Lukey..

Mary: STOP TELLING ME THAT!

Me: Alright Mary, where do you live?

Mary: The grocery store.

Me: ...

Mary: I live in the grocery store and I buy food for Daddy. Daddy likes food. I buy him FOUR things. Do you like food Mommy? Daddy likes food. Lukey likes food too but he mostly has to have milkies because he is a baby. I like living in the grocery store.

The Simple Woman's Daybook- November 2nd 2009

FOR TODAY... from Chelsea's Daybook

Outside my window... It's dark! Even though the time change wreaks havoc with my children's sleep I do enjoy it getting dar earlier. I enjoy putting the kids to be early and sitting down with a cup of tea and a book.

I am thinking... how much I still have to do to get ready for Advent!

I am thankful for... a healthy family. We are doing our best to keep those flu bugs at bay!

I am wearing... Jammies. Have you tried Costco's yoga pants? The ones that come in a pack of two? I could live in these! I was never allowed to wear pjs out of the house growing up, even as a teenager. Now I'm the kind of person who gets up and gets dressed right away in the morning, I don't like wearing jammies all day... theese might just change my mind!

I am remembering... a friend's baby boy who would have been one tomorrow. We have been praying for their family.

I am going... grocery shopping tomorrow! It is 15% off day and I think I'm going all by myself when Nathaniel gets home from school.

I am reading... Real Learning!!!! A friend lent it to me and it is just as good as I hoped it would be.. I *love* this book!!!!!

I am hoping... that I have my Jesse Tree done by the beginning of Advent!

On my mind... something that I can't quite talk about yet... prayers for wisdom would be great!

From the learning rooms... books, books, and more books! Reading Real Learning has inspired me to do less formal 'school' stuff with Mary and more reading, it has been wonderful!

Noticing that... I need to keep my floors cleaner. I think Luke has a radar that picks up every single stray piece of fluff or fuzz or food that falls!

Pondering these words... The simplification of anything is always sensational. -GKC

From the kitchen... My crockpot chicken tacos were a flop so I turned them into chicken taco pasta and it was great! I love being able to rescue meals.

Around the house... There is no room! We desperately need a bigger house. We just don't have enough room here.

One of my favorite things... A cup of tea, a couple cookies, a good book, and quiet!

From my picture journal...

I know it's old but it's just so cute!

Boy + Food = Love

My two children could not be any different. They are complete opposites in every way. We practise child led solids (CLS)... at least I thought we did. With Mary I said that we did CLS and it worked great, she was hardly interested in food at 12 months, never mind 6! I watched for all the signs, pincher grasp, sitting unassisted, interested in us eating.... she wasn't interested. At all. We would give her little bits of whatever we were eating but she would rarely want more than a taste. She didn't start eating regular meals until around 16-18 months. Enter Luke... I figured we would do the same thing as Mary and let him lead the way. Well if I did that Luke would have been eating solids 3 months ago! That kid sat unassisted at 4 months and has been staring us down while we eat since then too. I don't believe that starting kids on solid food is early is good for them, especially when it is just rice cereal. If I had my way I would wait until 9 or 10 months to start them on foods like avacado and other healthy veggies. However, that isn't child led solids is it? Luke's situation really made me question how we wanted to do this for our kids. Do I truly want to do child led solids? If I do I am going to have to let Luke start having something to eat while we do (he started pitching fits every time he saw us eating because he wanted some). After discussing it with Nathaniel we decided to start giving him some veggies and seeing how he did. He had his first foods the week he turned 6 months old and let me tell you, he is the happiest kid on the block! Finally my babysafe feeder and my foodmill are getting lots of use... Mary wanted nothing to do with either of them. Luke has had avacado, sweet potato, pumpkin, pear... pretty much any veggie we eat he is eating now. I threw a handful of peas on his tray last night and he totally went to town! It was harder than I thought it would be to start him on solids, he is growing so fast and it makes me sad. It was easy to say we do CLS when it was Mary and she was doing it how I wanted it anyway... it was harder to let go and let Luke lead the way and give him the same freedom I gave Mary but I'm glad we did, this boy LOVES food!

We're Back!

After what seemed like a much longer 2 week trip back to PG we are back home!!

I was more than ready to come back this time, two weddings in two weeks, I was the photographer for one and a bridesmaid in the other. Those were two full weeks let me tell you!

I'm thrilled with how the photos from the wedding turned out though, but let me tell you, I am NEVER doing another wedding again!

Now that we're home and doing better it's time to get back to blogging!!!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...October 5th

Outside my window... frost! We have had such a beautiful fall so far that I'm so sad to see these little reminders that winter is indeed coming.

I am thinking... about all of the stuff I'm going to have to pack for the two weeks the kids and I are going to be spending with my parents. It's a lot!

I am thankful for... my wonderful and amazing husband. He takes such good care of me and the kids and is such an awesome father. I love watching him play with our kids.

I am wearing... my Thyme before and after jeans (they fit so good and are so comfy... I love them) and a purple fitted t-shirt. The usual.

I am remembering... hmm, that I forgot to take something out for dinner tonight... maybe we will have soup from the freezer.

I am going... to fabricland tonight! I found the cutest purse pattern and I'm dying to try it.

I am reading...Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick and Parenting the Strong Willed Child.

I am hoping... that by the end of the day my laundry room will be {EMPTY} and all of our clothing in it's proper place.

On my mind... Christmas. Nathaniel hasn't worked in a long time and so most of my gifts this year will be home made. I have ideas for most of them but there are a few people who really have me stuck.

From the learning rooms... we have been having lots of fun with the little pattern bears we borrowed from the Parent Link Center.

Noticing that... I no longer hear the dryer going... guess I better go do some folding!

Pondering these words... "Man and woman, He created them"

From the kitchen... coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

Around the house... craft stuff everywhere! When we move I am really hoping for a house with a designated sewing/crafting room!

One of my favorite things... Pumpkin pie coffee. We got a couple boxes of these K-cups and they rock!

From my picture journal...