Welcome SUMMER!

Since Summer has arrived early here on the West Coast, my kids and I decided it was time to create our yearly Summer "To-Do" list.  Now don't get me wrong, I do not plan to entertain my children every day, taking them here there and everywhere at their demands!  My kids will have many hours at home this summer.  And I will hear the dreaded "I'm bored!"  In these times, I will not be quick to jump in with an idea but instead will encourage them to be creative.  In fact, today we spend most of the day at home prior to Matthew's final 3-on-3 hockey and both kids made awesome StopMotion Animation videos, which I will try to post later.

But on those days when Scott is off or we are ALL looking for something to do, that is when we will turn to our handy list for ideas.  I feel very lucky to have my summers off and as someone who likes to be active, I take great enjoyment out of doing things with my kids.  Occasionally someone will have a cranky moment, but for the most part I find my kids are almost always better behaved when we go out for at least part of the day and are quick to share their appreciation and say thank you.  In doing these activities, I love that I get to re-visit many of the fun things I did as a kid.  Also, as the kids get older each year, I know that time is fleeting and I need to cherish these special years where they love hanging out with Scott and I, as much as being with friends.

SUMMER TO-DO LIST:

Enjoying Ice Cream At La Casa

• La Casa Gelato Ice Cream (They have 218 flavours at all times!)
• Ride doubles bikes around Stanley Park 
• Include the kids in creating many photo books on Shutterfly
• Walks to the look out by our house
• Have the kids assist me in completing some "Random Acts of Kindness" I committed to earlier in the year. 
• Go to Queen Elizabeth Park and roll down the hills
• See a Vancouver Canadians Game
• Pick strawberries at Emma Lea farm and have a Strawberry Sundae
• Have a picnic at Pajo's at Garry Point
• Have numerous picnics at Centennial Beach
• Splashdown Waterpark
• Cultas Lake Waterpark
• Make Sprite and Gummy Bear popsicles
• Zone Bowling
• Chuck E Cheese on a rainy day
• Mini-golf at West Richmond Community Centre
• Swim at South Arm Pool 
• Take the Big Bus around Vancouver 
• Stanley Park Horse Ride (in the Entertainment book)
• Playland
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• The Vancouver Zoo or the Seattle Zoo if we go to Seattle
• Ride the Ducks of Seattle
• Have lunch with Daddy at work (Scott)
• Take the Skytrain and Seabus to Lonsdale Quay
• Granville Island - kids market, water park and lunch 
• Keep up a walk/run schedule so that the whole family can run the 5km "Colour Me Rad" Run in August

  

  Chuck E Cheese

• See the Million Dollar Arm with Matthew
• See Blended with Megan
• Stay up late on the trampoline and watch for falling stars and place glow sticks in water to make a path
• Get up really early and see a sunrise
• Go to the Symphony of Fireworks
• Paint rocks that we collect
• Let Matthew drive a Go-Kart with me (Jen) as his passenger
• Swim at Kitsilano Pool

ANNUAL EVENTS:

• Camping with the Mommy Group 
• Canada Day at the McNeil's
• July 4th at the Satos cabin
• Osoyoos with the Nakagawas
• Whitecaps Afternoon Soccer Camp

Megan and Whitecaps player, Darren Mattocks at a FREE Soccer event in Ladner

Christmas Fun

The decorations have been hung on the tree with care

And Rachoo, our Elf has returned with a flair

Christmas baking has begun, this year Gluten free

Despite no wheat flour, our treats bring glee!

SKOR BARS GLUTEN-FREE

Base:
Mix together the dry ingredients and cut in butter until it is crumbly.  Empty into 8 x 11 greased glass dish and pat down evenly with your fingers.

• 2 1/2 cups of Gluten-free flour (We used Cup for Cup - just make sure yours has xanthan gum or you'll need to add it)  *For those who don't need to do GF - use 1 1/2 cups of regular flour
• 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup of softened butter

Bake the dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown.

First Layer:

While you base is baking, heat one can of sweetened condensed milk with 2 Tbsp of butter over medium heat.  Stir frequently until thickened.  Usually about 8 - 10 minutes. 

• 1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 Tbsp of butter

Pour the topping over the baked crust bottom and then place back into the oven for another 10 - 12 minutes until the next layer is bubbly.

Last Layers:

Pour a bag and bit of chocolate chips evenly over the top.  Place the dish back in the oven for 2 minutes or until the chocolate chips are shiny.  Use a spatula to smooth melted chocolate evenly.  Then add a bag and a bit of Skor bits (they sell these in the baking aisle at most grocery stores - in the States they are called Heath bits).  I usually press these down lightly so they stick.

Enjoy!

Summer Roadtrip 2012

Last week we enjoyed a road-trip through Washington and Oregon.  My heartfelt thanks goes out to both my aunt who gave us her family discount for the hotel chain she works at (HUGE savings) and to Janice and Lisa who shared advice and suggestions about where to take my gang on this trip!   Each one had a big part in assisting Scott and I to create a fun filled family trip!

Most Memorable Moments:

• The American Girl Store & Bistro ~ I had as much fun as Megan!   We celebrated her 7th Birthday with a delicious cake and a new outfit for her doll "Holly" that she received on her actual birthday.

• Safeco Field ~ Wow!  What an amazing stadium... This was the only time we saw rain on our trip (not even a glimpse of fog - even on the coast), so I was happy we were undercover.   It was "Family Night" and our tickets were only $12. The bonus was that with each ticket we received either a hotdog and drink or $8 food credit - making the ticket to the game, only $4.

• The Space Needle ~ a first for all of us - unbelievable views!

• Powell's Books in Portland ~ a landmark in the city that fills an entire city block with both new and used books!  The boys went to the Portland Timbers soccer game while Megan and I searched to find all the books on my long wish list.  

• Eating a large, delicious piece of 'White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle' Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, while waiting for the Fireworks.   We sat outside OMSI and had a beautiful view across the river of Portland's city centre.

• Florence ~ the dunes were spectacular!  Bigger, and more stunning that I could ever have imagined.  Although I took a pretty bad tumble while "sand-boarding" I enjoy watching the kids successfully surfing the dunes.  As well, we ate dinner in Florence at The Firehouse Restaurant.   Although, I cannot attest to the inside of this restaurant, as we sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine and views of the quaint Bay street, the food was top-notch.  I had the crab cake dinner and it was amazing!  The kids had the children's grilled cheese meals (which were huge) for only $3.  Dinner for the four of us was only $34!

• Lincoln City ~ We fully supported the USA economy at the Tanger Outlets and were pleasantly surprised to find a coupon to our oceanfront hotel Surftides in the Tanger Outlet coupon book for $79.  The Surftides hotel is located right on the beach and has some neat features such as a courtyard with fire pits where kids can make Smores (you can purchase kits at the Front Desk).  We loved that you could open your hotel sliding door and have spectacular views of the ocean... listening to waves was so soothing!   The kids had fun flying kites on the windy beach.   We also made a family blown glass float at one of the many Glass Stores in town.   What a neat experience!

• The Tillamook Cheese Factory ~ Not only free tours, but the best Grilled Cheese sandwiches ever and the ice-cream - Yummy!

• Seaside ~ Arcades, bumper cars, riding a four person bike around town, playing in the sand, eating "Elephant's Ears" to name a few, were some of the fun activities we partook, in this bustling town.   Unfortunately we witnessed widespread homelessness throughout Oregon.  It was a real 'eye-opener' for my children and myself.  While returning to our van (parked in the hotel lot) to retrieve water bottles and some snacks, we saw a homeless man in the dumpster ripping open garbage bags, searching for food.   This was a pivotal learning experience for my kids, who like so many others of their generation, live lives full of abundance (especially on a family trip where they had many treats such as ice-cream, candy, and so on).   When Matt and Megan realized why the man was doing what he was (I had to quietly explain to them and they could tell it was serious from the welled-up tears in my eyes), they both suggested we give the man some water, food, and money (which we did).   This sparked several discussions with them about gratitude, poverty, and ultimately how they could respond to what they saw and take action to promote change such as donating to food banks, and working in soup kitchens, etc.   I hope to facilitate some form of volunteering in this realm for M&M in the near future.   

• The time spent talking with Scott and the kids was cherished.   Megan was a true ham and had us all laughing as she belted out songs.  Matthew brought us up to speed on all the goings on in the sports world and speculation on Luongo, as well asked many interesting and thoughtful questions.   Scott and I caught up and enjoyed the time to just be together both alone (Yes, my kids are still prone to falling asleep in the car - at least once on any car trip over an hour) and with the kids.

Disclaimer:  Matthew is not visible in this video as much as his sister - NOT due to favouritism ~ but due to his incessant unwillingness to have his photograph taken or his inappropriate faces captured within far too many images!  My boy can be very silly!