Saturday, July 31, 2010

I like to move it move it

As soon as a door opens Nathan heads for it. And he moves quick. Josh went out to his car the other day and somehow Nathan made it out the door as well. He crawled over to the fence and stood up and wouldn't let go. I should've gotten video as Josh tried to pry his hands off the fence to bring him inside. That boy is strong.

Yesterday Nathan was trying to pull himself up on the sliding door. He fell over which caused the door to open. I went to check on him and this is what I saw.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

shoulda kept my mouth shut

or knocked on wood or something after saying we've been healthy all winter. Nathan was fussy all day yesterday and today woke up cranky, feverish and coughing. Emma has a cough too. And judging by Beka's dramatic crying fits (yes, more than one and it's only 9:24am) she's not feeling the best either.

UGHHHHH.....

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Random

  • After two weeks' of holidays (no aerobics) followed by two weeks' of trying to learn a new aerobics video I feel like I haven't exercised in a really long time.
  • Monday I used a "Walk it off with George" dvd and even though it's hokey and lame it was better than the one I don't understand and I actually felt like I had done something good.
  • Even after publishing that post last week I still didn't eat well. Doing better this week but afraid to step on the scale.
  • Nathan will be 1 in one month!!!
  • I'm having fun planning his party.
  • I'll have three fun weekends in a row. Nathan's party on August 28, My birthday on Sept 4 and a girls' weekend in Montville the following week!!
  • Then three weeks after that Beka turns 5!
  • And 6 weeks after that we head to the States!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!
  • Our schedule is crazy lately. (well, crazy for me)
  • Mondays I have aerobics at 6:30 the girls have swimming lessons at 8:30 and then we do the grocery shopping and whatever other errands need run. Josh has a meeting on the 4th Monday each month that usually runs late.
  • Tuesday is stay at home and do nothing day. Josh has a meeting on the first Tuesday of each month that usually runs late.
  • Wednesday I have aerobics at 6:30 and we host either playgroup or ladies' meeting. And every two months or so we have Bible study here Wednesday night.
  • Thursday mornings Roseanne comes over and cooks with the girls. Thursday night we get a babysitter for the kids and we go off to Young Marrieds' Bible study
  • Friday I have aerobics at 6:30 but otherwise is a stay at home and do nothing day.
  • Saturday, Josh is home so what we do varies.
  • Of course we have to fit homeschooling in there somewhere.
  • And Josh has a day off every other week.
  • I've been trying to craft.
  • I need to get VBS ready.
So, that's us recently. I am so thankful that except for a sore throat/headache thing that Josh had last week we have been really healthy this winter. So much better than last winter. I'm off to find sheets for beds. The only reason I will be happy for warmer weather is HOPEFULLY there won't be anymore wet beds. I'm definitely over them.

Monday, July 26, 2010

11 months




pretty soon this boy is gonna take off running and never look back. can't believe he's already 11 months old!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Baking Biscuits with Mrs. Blackman

a couple things: I forgot to put this picture of Nathan enjoying the bickies his sisters gave him at the end of the post but I wanted to include it so it's first now. Biscuits/bickies=cookies they used Elise's sugar cookie recipe from Mom's cookbook. Roseanne is going to kill me when she sees the picture of her I put in there. I put Nathan to bed and went to breakfast with Josh and we had a quick look at the Target Toy Sale while Roseanne and the girls worked so hard. Thanks Roseanne!!










Friday, July 23, 2010

Picnic


Just another day at the Risser homestead. =)

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Dress shirt to Romper

Remember this? Well, I managed to duck into an op shop the other day with all 4 kids in tow. I grabbed two boys' dress shirts for a grand total of $3.50. I got a few minutes later that day and made the modifications called for. I learned a bit and it's definitely much cuter on than hanging but kinda impossible to get photos on this busy baby. =) All in all very much worth the $2.50. Now I have my favourite one that cost $1 to do. And I bought a $5 polo shirt at Big W to do the t-shirt refashion. I'll let you know how that goes.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

New Fabric

For Girls' skirts using this tutorial Split Twirl Skirt



For Nathan--obviously--using the shorts pattern below or something similar



and something for Mama--a skirt, using the pattern below (the green and brown flowers/brown shirt)

I bought the fabrics from Holly via her Etsy shop. So much more I could buy. I love the coordinating damask fabrics from the line of fabric for my skirt. The car fabric for Nathan has cute coordinating fabrics too, and in two colourways. They have the cutest red snowflake, snowman fabric too. oh well, next time!!

p.s. originally I asked just for the fabric for the girls' skirts. When she sent me a price she told me that she could fit up to 8 yards for the same shipping price!!! So I spent two days checking out fabric because it's better fabric than I can afford here for a better price. So fun!! =)

Monday, July 19, 2010

ughhh...

so, you may have noticed that I have a weight loss ticker over on the side bar. And if you are friends with me on facebook you may have noticed me say a few things about aerobics. This is my attempt at getting serious about getting healthier. So far, we do aerobics 3 days a week (some of us girls meet at the church 6:30am M, W, F.), Josh and I don't keep Coke or Pepsi in the house and I eat a fairly healthy breakfast. What I want to do is a bit more: eggs & bacon, oatmeal or fruit smoothie for breakfast, apple & peanut butter or some other fruit for morning tea, salad with eggs, ham, chicken or avocado for lunch, nuts with a little dark chocolate for afternoon tea, whatever dinner I make for everyone, and tea or cocoa or popcorn of an evening. I need to do something like walking or a different exercise routine on T, T, S. And I need to be in bed by 10 each night. So, here's where you come in. If you don't see the weight loss ticker going down or don't hear me say anything about it, bug me!! Nag me!! do whatever it takes!! I'll still love you. I promise!! =)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Laugh, Kookaburra



♫ "Kookaburra sits in the ol' gum mango tree" ♪ ♪

Friday, July 16, 2010

waiting with Nathan


"Hey, Mama, I'm gonna go look for my sisters and Daddy."


"Hmmm...maybe they're over here."


"It's Catie!!"

"And Emma"


"With Daddy and Beka bringing up the rear.
Where's my bike? This looks like fun!"









Thursday, July 15, 2010

new shorts

I traced these

which resulted in this

from which I made these.
Yes, I'm bragging. But I'm quite pleased with myself. =)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Rest time

For them



For me



I didn't dare risk waking the grumpy one by taking his photo but just imagine the cutest little boy you've ever seen, laying on his tummy with his legs and arms tucked under and little bum up in the air. =)

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I've gotta go shopping...

at the op shop that is. I found two cute tutorials that seem so easy.

romper from t-shirt
and (my favourite) romper from dress shirt

and I'm posting this so I remember. =)

Monday, July 12, 2010

Us...today

  • doing school work
  • working at school (Josh)
  • cleaning house
  • resting
  • beading
  • sewing
  • reading
  • swimming
  • playing
  • computing (HA!)
  • blogging
  • folding laundry
  • organizing
  • planning
  • loving
  • dreaming
  • sleeping

Friday, July 9, 2010

Sorry, Mom...

but I've found a new fried chicken recipe.

Southern Fried Chicken Strips
by Genise Krause from the Taste of Home magazine

1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
2 lbs (1kg) chicken tenderloins
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
*I also add just a tiny sprinkle of Cayenne pepper

In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the flour and spices. Dip chicken in egg mixture, then flour mixture.

In an electric skillet, heat oil to 375F. Fry chicken a few pieces at a time for 2-3 minutes on each side or until no longer pink.( I do it in my big electric frypan and fry them all at once.) Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with cheese. (I just realized it said parmesan cheese. I've never done that)

This is so yummy. Last night I made mashed potatoes using part buttermilk/part whole milk. And I made chicken gravy like Mom does. We ate it up and there was barely any left for Josh to take for lunch today.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Did someone say...


CHEESE!!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Monday

we loaded up the car (and ended up swapping Beka for Ben) and followed the Sauvageot's to Bargara

we played at the park






and we held a baby.






If you ask me, that's a pretty good day!