Geography Fun for Hockey Fans

My husband and I were both born and raised in Canada. The small region I was born in has a proud and abiding hockey heritage, but that is essentially true of all of Canada to some degree or another. Each year we watch the hockey season as best we can, relying on news from NHL.com and the team sites to a large degree because Southern CA is not the cradle of hockey we are accustomed to.

For those of you not in the know, the trophy that the teams play for each year is the Stanley Cup, and it is the only sports trophy that tours the world each summer with members of the winning team as each player, coach, scout etc takes their special day with the cup. Most of the guys take the cups to where they grew up and it is a family celebration. The cup is often the proud holder of babies and breakfast...not at the same time.

Each year the Hockey Hall of Fame chronicles the adventures of the cup, and this year the adventures will be posted here. (If you want to read about previous years you can find them here).

Although it does not look like they plan on including the travels of the cup before it starts to travel with the players. To include that you would need to add at the beginning:

1. The Cup lives at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto ON Canada when it is not traveling (and it travels a lot!)
2. The cup was in Pittsburgh for game 6, but the series went the full 7 games.
3. The cup was won in Detroit by the Pittsburgh Penguins
4. The cup then went back to Pittsburgh for the team celebrations, including the victory parade.
5. The cup was in Las Vegas for the NHL awards
6. The cup was in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the Draft.
   

So this year with a North America and World map on the wall (the kind you can write on with dry erase markers), some hockey stickers, and some dry erase pens (and probably an atlas for greater detail to find those small hockey towns) we will be following the path the cup takes around the world and reading the accounts that will be posted Tuesdays and Fridays. The journal accounts require very little editing as the HHOF and NHL try to maintain a family friendly atmosphere. So this is a fun activity that we think Miss Pear will enjoy, after all, she loves hockey and maps!

This is also an inexpensive activity as we already have the maps, the stickers, the pens, and the internet connections!

What other unusual activities do you have planned for the summer?

Trace Font

Well, it is official, we have run out of number tracing sheets. We have finished up 10 and all my favorite tracing sheets are complete.

I was so disappointed.

So I started a search to see if I could find tracing sheets that went to 20.

Nope.

But I did find a free downloadable font for you to make your own! I recommend about a 48 font size.

So now, not only can I make number tracing sheets, I can transcribe Miss Pear's notes for grandparents, print them in this, and she can trace and mail them!

How great is that!

A Baking Day Detour

Today we had an impromptu baking day when the cookie jar was empty, the last loaf of bread was taken out of the freezer and some breakfast treats were needed and the freezer yielded nothing!

So I pulled oatmeal raisin cookie dough balls out of the freezer and got them baking....these are the same cookies I often give as little gifts, most recently to a little friend on her birthday (we are saving her present for her party).

Then I made a double batch of Banana Chocolate Chip loaf that yields 3 loaves...which is good because we love to share this too! Most recently with a friend who was having a crafting party and just needed something else for her table, but I often include this with I take meals so that there is a little something for breakfast the next morning too! Or a snack.

Then I started the oatmeal bread, a double batch to yield 4 loaves, and I cannot even think how many loaves of this we have given away to friends for no other reason than they stopped by on bread baking day!

As I was thinking about this I started thinking about the whole volunteer thing again, and I was deeply convicted again of something I kind of thought I had overcome. I love being the one helping others, being generous, and offering kind words of encouragement. Yet when I am asked what help I need, or if I need help I usually decline and say that we are doing okay. This is not only a point of pride, it is selfish! People want to help, and I usually deny that opportunity. When times are tough people really do want to help, and I know that I am disappointed when my help is declined, and yet I do just that.

So I have been convicted to stop lamenting that my family lives so far away and cannot help on a regular basis, and to learn to say yes to the help that is offered.

Am I the only one who has this problem to overcome?

Insensitive or just not thinking

I try not to vent here, really, I do. But I am severely annoyed.

In talking to a friend lately I started to wonder why companies were surprised that employees were cutting their 401K contributions, and some even sent out emails reminding employees that this was so important...a couple weeks after they cut everyone's salaries and announced no more 401K matching. Insensitive? Rude? or Just not thinking?

There is a loud cry that we should all volunteer, all sign up to help out our communities this summer, to take volunteer vacations. That we should sign up for the big things, for the big projects. I am sure you know what I am talking about, but I am not going to give air time to that here. Please tell me how people are supposed to do this when many were forced to take vacation time per a company schedule, cannot afford time off work, are working 2 or more jobs, have the full time (or more) job of trying to find work or are simply overwhelmed because of the economic climate? Again, is this insensitive, rude, or just not thinking?

I guess I am just wondering when we, and I mean as a society, not just individuals, forgot how to be sensitive to each other, to speak kindly and supportively to each other, to look beyond our own situation to others. To look beyond our own cause to the people around us and their needs. To think about what it means to preach the Gospel of Jesus with our actions and our attitudes.

While 401K's are important, and volunteering is important, maybe the message should have been thought through before being addressed people who are struggling.

So can I say something? Volunteering? Great idea.

Might I suggest that you reach out to those in your neighborhoods who need help because they are struggling for one reason or another? Might I suggest spending time with children whose parents cannot be home with them this summer for one reason or another? Maybe helping a family who is moving? Helping a mom adjust to being home full-time? Maybe writing an encouraging note to someone you know who could use it? Sometimes the needs of others are huge to them, but easily met by you! And only you know your family's needs and abilities! (Just for the record, with 2 little ones we will not be signing up for a big project this summer, but I have a few things to do to reach out to my neighborhood like have some neighbors who are moving over for supper while they are in the midst of chaos, and taking over a snack for playtime with all the littles to give the mom a break).

While volunteering for big, time demanding projects is great, I guarantee you that if you reach out to someone near you it really does count. It might not change the world, but might just change that person's world.

Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words
Francis of Assisi

Revisiting Childhood Favorites

I have discovered that in many cases motherhood is a case of deja vu.

This past week I have been sorting 18 month clothes for my very long 9 month old who is almost ready for them...this sounds familiar...oh yeah, did the same thing her big sister!

But mostly I find that when I am in the toy stores or book stores I often find things that I remember from childhood. Maybe not in the exact same format, but a new version of it. While taking my favorite classics and either abridging them or turning them into easy readers horrifies me (sorry, I just cannot help it), and seeing Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony make me look twice, there are some things that make me stop and look again, and then smile with delight.

I am delighted to see that Winnie the Pooh is still popular, we love him.

I love that Paddington Bear is still available! As well as Madeline!

But today I had to laugh out loud.

As a child I grew up in the country and our TV and 2 channels. Not including off and snow. So it was a real treat to go into the city and have almost 2o channels! It was a treat because I would get to see Reading Rainbow! I LOVED Reading Rainbow!

We have noticed that some books that are newer have the Reading Rainbow logo on them, so I searched for it and found the book list from the newer version! While we have not read all the books, we have read quite a few, and some of our favorites are on here, so I look forward to checking out the rest!

And what does it say that one of my favorite childhood programs (and my husband's fave too) was a show about books?

What are some of your favorite picture books and read alouds?

Boston Cream Cupcakes

These are my new favorite cupcakes. And for what goes into them, it is not hard to understand why....

Boston Cream Cupcakes

Cupcake
1 pkg Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix (I used Butter and it was good too)
1 sm pkg instant vanilla pudding mix, dry
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup oil

Mix all ingredients together with a mixer. Line cupcakes pan with liners (16 large cupcakes, 24 regular size). Bake at the temperature the box of cake mix says for 25 minutes for large cupcakes or 15-20 minutes for regular sized.

Let cupcakes cool for 1 hour...and yes, the middles should fall.

(this is where I froze the cupcakes, then I pulled them out the night before so they were room temperature to fill the morning of the actual birthday)

Filling
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
1 1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients in mixer and beat with whip atttachment until stiff peaks form. Put filling in decorator bag and fill using a star tip (do not use the pastry stuffing one because the filling is too thick). Practice squeezing to see how much comes out, you are looking for about 2ish tablespoons, and if you squeeze too much in the cupcake will split or the top will pop off...

Frost with either home made or ready made chocolate frosting.

Birthday Party Menu

For Miss Pear's afternoon birthday party I had a very easy menu:

Veggies and Dip
Fruit
Pasta salad (pasta, veggies, Italian dressing)
Pizza Fondu
Yummy Breadsticks (Quadruple batch) Really worth trying this excellent and simple recipe!

I could not find the link to the pizza fondu recipe, but here is what I did:

Pizza Fondu

1 jar of spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning
pepperoni to taste (this will taste stronger than you think so go lightly).

Melt on low either on stove or in crock pot until cheese is melted, although little specks will remain regardless.

Serve with bread sticks, it is a dipping thing...

I did a triple batch of this and it was almost all gone! It is an excellent treat, and hearty enough to anchor a substantial snack table!

Encouraging Myself

Can I ask you a question?

How do you encourage yourself?

I find that lately I am having to do that a lot. My husband is very supportive and encouraging, but the times when I need to be encouraged most seem to be when he is at work, especially if he is in a long meeting away from his phone! (Of course!)

So I am finding ways to encourage myself.

One thing that helps me lots is making lists.

Oh, not of things to do, forget that! Not the least bit encouraging!

I make lists of things I have accomplished! Loads of laundry by name.... whites, towels, etc. Strip bed, wash sheets, dry sheets, make bed ... look, 4 things done! Reading to the girls, playing with the girls, making lunch etc. I write it all down and then I feel like I got so much done!

I also make a grateful list, things that I am thankful for! To prompt me I either do every letter of the alphabet, or a 1-25 list.

I take the time to do something creative that makes me happy like finally finishing the hem on my Edwardian apron...pictures to follow.

I read a little bit.

Steal kisses from my girls...hugs and cuddles too.

These are all very little things, but they have a remarkable influence on my attitude.

So how do you encourage yourself?

Still Here!!

It has been a wild week and a half! Both of the girls had their respective check ups, Miss Pear felt yucky after hers, and then I felt yucky. Thankfully both girls are healthy!

We have been getting some projects done, resting, and trying to organize pictures to send to family, all of which is taking longer than anticipated. Which is where I have been.

Hopefully now that Baby's appointment is done as of this morning things will begin to settle back down again...one would hope!

Birthday Cake and Cupcakes

For Miss Pear's birthday party I made a sheet cake using the conversions I mentioned here, cut it in half and loaded it with icing. Afterall, Miss Pear's theory on cake is that it is a delivery method for icing. The icing was topped with sprinkles...her favorite, and a Fancy Nancy crown for my version of a Fancy Nancy cake.





For her actual birthday the next day we were out of cake, and we knew we would be, and that is great because it gave us a chance to have Boston Cream Cupcakes.

The Party Decorations

The Saturday of Miss Pear's birthday was not the sunny California morning we expected. It had rained overnight, so we had to wait to decorate until things dried up a bit.

We put tissue flowers in the tree out front, but the only pictures I have of that include a dancing birthday girl, so I could not post them. But I did get pictures of the back yard.

Tissue flowers in the tree
(attached with the pipe cleaner that holds the flower together)

Tissue flowers along the fence

Inside the house we put bows in the top corners of each window and a happy birthday banner up, but in all the pictures are either family or pictures of family...so this is the only picture to show how the bows were placed.

And of course it would be the picture of the bow the the tails that refused to stay nicely curled! Oh well.

The decorations turned out so well, I was really pleased, and Miss Pear loved them, so that is what counts!

We brought in all the tissue flowers Saturday evening, and it was a good thing because it rained again overnight! That is very unusual because it is not the rainy season and we don't remember it raining in May or June the entire 10 years we have lived here! So we told Miss Pear that God must have sent the rain special just for her on her birthday because He knows the rain delights her.

Sunday Miss Pear ended up with a tissue flower hat once the flowers were joined together. It was so cute.

The tissue flowers cannot be repurposed, so we just played with them.

The bows have already been reused. We put 2 bows on the bench out front to welcome guests on Saturday, and Saturday night they were moved to decorate the wagon that Miss Pear got for her birthday. The bows will all be flattened and reused on gifts or in bouquets.

Ready and Waiting

The Friday before Miss Pear's birthday party I had this to show for my labor:


A basket filled with tissue flowers and ribbons waiting to be fluffed up to decorate the house and outside. Although the test ones of each we fluffed nicely. When all was said and done I had 8 bows and 16 flowers.

And they are in Fancy Nancy's colors! Pink and Purple! The bows are sporting butterflies in honor of her book Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly.

The guilty party...

...who has been eating our grass and leaving little pellets of ... ummm ... fertilizer was caught red pawed! This is the little bandit who is making dead spots on our grass and leaving stuff behind making our front lawn not so child friendly!


It appears he is a nightly visitor because he certainly thinks he owns that patch of front yard!

But at least he has not discovered the banquet in the backyard that is my garden!

CVS Pampers Deal

Usually we don't list the deals here, afterall, there are many who do it so well we don't need me chiming in!

But!

There is such a good deal on Pampers at CVS this week, I had to make an exception. Especially with the Long's stores becoming CVS so more of you hopefully have access to this!

The deal is buy a jumbo pack of diapers for $8.99 and get $5 in Extrabucks back! So net price of $3.99. Plus the P and G coupons were in the Sunday paper and they had a $1 off coupon in there. The limit is 3.

The catch is that it is not advertised in the fliers, only here.

The second catch is that my store did not know about it when I made a run on Sunday to pick up a prescription I needed that day but forgot to pick up on Saturday with all the chaos of company leaving. So the manager had to call about the deal etc. etc. etc.

Hat tip to Money Saving Mom - if you are not reading her for the deals, I recommend you check her out!

Still Learning

I am learning that:

1. I don't bounce back from 2 back to back days of celebrating as quickly as I used to!
2. The "weekend wreckage" is particularly acute after a birthday party on Saturday and a birthday on Sunday.
   
3. I am smart enough to not vacuum before hosting a party for 22 people - I wait to vacuum after!
4. Teething is not fun (okay, I already knew this)...Baby had her best night in about a week, only waking up twice.
5. Unless I have a backlog waiting to be posted I cannot blog everyday without boring you all to tears about what we had for lunch (actually, it was pretty good today, you might not be bored!)
6. I love being a mom. Yes, it is hard, and yes, I get frustrated, but usually the frustration is in my lack of ability, and I have a Father who helps me and teaches me.

We have company this week, a teething baby, weird weather going through, an overtired 4 year old, and our 10th anniversary on Saturday.

So while I don't know how this week looks, I am pretty sure I will be back next week with a synopsis of all the fun!