in advance

I sat down, plugged in my camera to import and blog about my dear little Logan who is turning 2 tomorrow and give you a sneak peek at his cake but alas! I got lost in Google Reader (this happens often) and my camera batteries lost their life while waiting for me. A good thing to happen the day BEFORE a momentously big day.


Until tomorrow then! There are silver jimmies on my kitchen floor that should be swept up...

charm design giveaway on grograin

And yet another giveaway on Grograin! Check out Charm Design on Etsy -- fabulous bags and tote! Grograin is hosting a $50 gift card guest giveaway to Charm Design. And since I'm such a bag freak, I had to subject you to my favourite: that being the bag pictured above. Gorgeous! Oh, I would feel like a million bucks with that on my shoulder and it looks like it can easily accommodate all the things moms need to carry. (did you notice the little birds?)

tassimo giveaway

Hooray! My Organized Chaos is giving away a Tassimo... how delightful. Since we all love a latte, we should all enter. but I should win! Enter here!

Logan is two already!
It's a party and you're invited
just please rsvp so there's enough cake for all.
This kid may not leave much!

sick

We have a flu-ridden household but we're on the mend! Logan started with a little cough on Tuesday morning and we all went down hill in this order: Mike, Logan, Me and Carter. The doctor says it's just a virus -- nothing to be concerned about. The nights are rough tho. Logan and Carter are still having a tough time with coughing. I was told that I may not be sick since I am the glue.

What not to ask your sick-&-nearly-four-year-old at bedtime:
"Who's the sickest right now?" "Carter."
"Who's the perkiest right now?" "Yogan."
...and looking at Mike, sacked out on the couch, I asked: "Who's the grumpiest?" "Mom." Serves me right, eh?

The worst part: we woke up this morning to snow and a good amount. We watched Opa shovel what looks like a half-foot of heavy white stuff (ie: Opa left a lot and went in assumeably for a rest.) Carter is bent on going outside and helping Opa shovel. "Opa NEEDS my help!", he said in his croaky voice with a cough. There will be no outside time today.

To finish off, check out Carter's Christmas List as scribed by Mike. There was no prompting on these items and it is two-sided but I'm treating you to just the front. (The reverse lists "Hungry, Hungry Hippos" game and Levels: torpedo, magnetic, 2-foot, 6-foot, aluminum line level. Okay, there may have been some help with the levels... or it may have been destined for Mike's list, not Carter's. Mike was creating two at once.)

pizza boy

On the weekend that Uncle Kyle visited, we made pizza and Logan had his first crack at helping me make the dough. I'm not sure if he was invited but he certainly made himself at home. You have to admit, Logan does look like he knows what he's doing. Maybe he has inherited Opa Buikema's bread making skills?

...testing the elasticity, I think.

Mark your circle for rolling out...?

a couple of times; with much care.

and lick the dough (notice wet divot at top). He went in for another lick but I stopped him before he made contact. We DID have a guest, even if it was family!

And for Uncle Kyle who rated our pizza dough as good enough to ask for the recipe:


DeHaan Pizza Dough

In a large bowl combine: 1 tbsp quick rise yeast, 1/2 tsp honey and 1 cup warm water.
Let rest 20 - 30 minutes until foamy and yummy smelling.

To this yeast mixture add:
2 cups flour (we like no more than 1/4 whole wheat)
a generous tsp salt
fresh ground pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 - 3 tsp dried herbs (use your imagination: I've put in 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, fresh minced garlic, minced sundried tomatoes. This dough is forgiving!)

Stir until it forms a dough ball. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic. Add more flour as necessary. Depending on where you live and the weather you made need more or less each time. Dough is always fabulous on calm days!

Let the dough rest while you prepare your toppings (10 minutes)

Roll out and place on parchment-lined or cornmeal-scattered pizza pan. We make one large cookie sheet with this recipe for crust that is not thin or thick. If you have time, let rest 5 - 10 minutes on the pan before topping.

Once "topped" place in hot oven immediately so the crust does not get soggy from your sauce. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes depending on how heavy your toppings are.

Enjoy!

I should have waited (Split Green Pea Soup)

I'm not sure how we exactly got into this conversation but at one point this past June, while visiting our family in Winnipeg, Auntie Alice and I got on the conversation of boys at play. She mentioned that she used to give Matt split green peas as gravel (pea gravel! groan.) to play with his construction vehicles. She mentioned all the best things: easy clean up, no chocking hazard and if they do eat them, well, they're peas!

I kept this information in my back pocket sure that an opportune time would present itself. You know the day: the boys are "bored", getting into things they shouldn't and needing something new to entertain themselves. I had a bit of peas I had bought in bulk -- not quite enough for a pot of pea soup. I offered the peas to Carter and Logan and it was an instant hit! Quiet and industrious for so long....

(I fear that pig in the background may have been railroaded by the John Deere tractor and manure spreader. though he smiles still.)

(seafoam green carpet rocks, doesn't it?)

Logan's toes. He refuses to wear socks on any day and those peas stuck nicely to his soles. Have you heard a child with dried split green peas stuck to his soles walk on hardwood? delightful.

(Carter is building roads.)

So now: the clean up is not all that bad and Logan did eat many many peas with no ill effects. I have been finding peas in strange places though. The boys did spread them over the house very nicely. Logan had them in his diaper and not because he had eaten them.

AND! each boy put one pea up his nose. That's why I should have waited.


Slow Cooker Split Green Pea Soup

In your slow cooker combine:

• 2 cups dried split green peas (I like to soak them overnight first)
• 5 cups cold water
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 ribs celery, sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp chicken boullion concentrate
• 1 bay leaf

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

At the 6 or 7 hour mark I like to add 1 1/2 to 2 cups ham garlic sausage (half a ring), sliced in bite-sized pieces.

Serve with fresh bread and butter!