8 month / 38 month update

Well first thing's first DAKOTA HAS A TOOTH. I know, I know, this is big news. The little lady has been taking her time in all the typical milestones of transitioning from a helpless infant to a kooky toddler. She's not fond of sitting or crawling and has just a fuzzing of hair on her head, so that tooth cracking through was like her "big girl moment". 

Oliver has been Mr. Social, buddying up with guys and girls at church and in the neighbourhood. Tonight he was out at an outdoor movie in the park with my mom and sister. He's doing killer with underwear-wearing & own-bed-sleeping which makes for a happy mom. 

Also, we are moving! We've purchased a never before lived in home in the north east end of the city which puts Ollie in the district of the elementary school Cal attended as a boy. It's going to be hectic making the move, right around when I return to work but it'll be worth it. 

And yep I'm going back to work. Cal will finish out our parental leave mid November to end of January and then it's CAN YOU BABYSIT FOR US? time again. We just hate to sign them up for expensive day care when between our schedules and our moms wanting to spend days with them we really only need help 5 or less days a month. So, some photos:

Oliver has been loving this old mini laptop  that I used to take notes on in University. He will spend like 10 minutes (that's a lot in 3 year old boy time) typing on the word processor. He's also really into batteries, Calvin's tool set and big marbles. All things that suck if they spill all over the floor. 

 I adore this photo. Dakota figuring out how the swing works. Oliver getting max joy out of it. 

Dakota at her first Blue Jays game. 

It was a big move to allow him to bring his "map" and trucks out of the toy room and into the living room. We had fun. 

Ollie's new chore is taking the recycling out. Don't mind the chocolate cereal - we bought it when we had visitors :)

We loved painting on the porch in the dark while waiting for Cal to get home from work. 

"This right mom?"

Trips to Target are always good. 

The very worst evening of my mom hood:

Ollie somehow dislocated his elbow while playing. He ended up in emerg but had instant relief when the doc popped it back in place. 

 "Dis for me right?"

Ollie wore that hospital bracelet for days after. I had to secretly cut it off during nap time. You should see the stuff I have to do while he's sleeping. Throw out the stale half doughnut, hide the helicopter, remove the batteries from that annoying toy, photograph his drawing and then recycle it. And the list goes on. 

We went to the Children's Museum (wasn't impressed) and ate this on the way home. 

Kota with new hand me downs from her friend!

Ollie thought it only fair that I take a photo of him too.

And that was September!

Feeding 200 people

Last year Calvin & I were approached by our pastor to see if we would cook the meal for our church's big fall party. We were given a budget, told to expect 200 people and given "make it cooler than burgers" as the only guidance. It went great so this year we did it again!

We did a pulled pork taco bar. 

A number of people asked for our recipes so I want to include them (roughly) below. The desserts were made by my mom but perhaps with enough requests we can get her to share her secrets. 

Pulled pork

Buy raw pork shoulder from your butcher. About 1/2 lb per person you're serving. Rub it generously with a mixture of cumin, paprika, Chili powder, brown sugar, fresh garlic and sea salt. Pour about an inch of Apple cider into the roasting pan you'll be using. Cook at 250degrees for 13 hours making sure the liquid doesn't evaporate. Remove any strings and shred. (If you're using this a main you should toss with a BBQ sauce but for our taco bar we kept it unsauced.)

Serve on authentic corn tortillas with the following:

Slaw

Shred purple cabbage and carrots. Toss with an oil and red wine vinegar dressing. Add red pepper flakes, mexican oregano and sea salt. 

Corn bean salad

A 1:1:1 ratio of corn, rinsed black beans and diced bell peppers. Add lots of fresh squeezed lime, cilantro and sea salt. 

Pico de gallo (fresh tomato salsa)

Mix a few diced tomatoes with diced white onion, cilantro, lime juice and sea salt. Usually I would add jalapeños too. 

We also had out: jalapeño, red onion, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, hot red salsa, salsa verde, guacamole, Nacho chips and a veggie tray. 

Butternut squash soup

In an oiled baking dish roast 1 butternut squash cubed, a few onions chopped, a few bell peppers chopped and sea salt. Set a handful of each veggie aside raw. Once soft (15 minutes) cook in chicken stock. Use a hand blender to purée til smooth. Add reserved veggies plus corn and rinsed black beans. Cook half an hour longer. 

Do you want my extra supplements?

So I love trading.. I used to babysit for yoga money, write for juice, and lecture for child care. I would gladly work for trades with no money transfer at all, for life, if it was possible...

I was just cleaning out my supplement cupboard and was wondering if anyone would like these extras. 

I don't need money for them. Some are past expiration and others I've already opened (ask me if interested). Just suggest a trade you can do with me. I'm in the market for light pink nail polish, some dry pantry items (nuts, seeds, lentils, grains), material for making clothes/moby wraps/curtains, or second hand clothes for the kids (size 9 months, size 3T shoe size 10) or me (small/medium, shoe size 6.5/7), or anything really! Email me amyjoyharrison@gmail.com

Go trading go!

 

Con air easy start hot curling set

Salus Valerian (for sleep) & Nettle (for iron/other)

Vogel Molkosan (liquid whey supplement)

Vogel stinging nettle and Anti Stress

Flora floressene (detox tea)

Derma-E samples: a number of anti aging ones (and one is Yes to Blueberries), glycolic cleanser, scar gel, microdermabrasion, psoriasis cream

Natural Factors vitamin K & D

Swiss Papaya Enzymes for digestion 

Jamieson vitamin D

Natural Factors Anti Viral tincture

Vogel calcium absorber 

Genestra coenzyme q10

Now magnesium oxide powder

Pedis lute for when kids need electrolytes/rehydration 

I also have a large tub of a detox/cleanse powder to add to smoothies (too big for the photo)

Heck I might have other stuff you want -- clothes, cosmetics, I have millions of body washes and lotions and like dental floss for years, just ask.