snuggles

This past Tuesday Carter came home with a large purple backpack... reluctantly. It was a school project and he did not want to participate. The pack sat unopened in the front entrance for a few hours before my curiosity got the best of me. I opened it. A binder and fur. Out popped Snuggles, the class bear and the binder gave me clues as to what we were to do with this house guest. Basically: show him a good time (and document it). Show him a good time, we did when I finally convinced Carter it was going to be fun.

Carter and Snuggles headed out to our rink in the back yard for a little hockey.

Maybe Snuggles isn't the best goalie?
or is that balaclava restricting his vision?

Logan takes his turn.

A sleigh ride for Snuggles back to the house.

Okay, a fast sleigh ride back to the house.

Some shoveling work with the boys.

Snuggles is way into the shoveling, isn't he?

A snack after hockey and shoveling: hot chocolate and oranges.

Snuggles preferred honey.

Carter and Paityn had a tea party with Snuggles.

Breakfast was honey again.

Good night Snuggles!

a space for me & a prototype

I finally found/made some more time this weekend to tidy up my new sewing space a bit as well as do a little sewing.

My new sewing space: just off the kitchen in our 'sunken' family room. See? the boys can gaze at me through the railing from the kitchen.

This is the bookshelf that Opa Buikema made for me while I was in university. Hoping it's okay to store fabric on it too? Top shelf is dedicated to projects planned. The right side is flannel for baby receiving blankets. The basket holds a fishing game I've been working on for the boys. The left side is a stack of fabric for the following...

Here is the prototype of item #1 from me to go into our Etsy shop (soon to be opened).
I'm nearly happy with the little zipped bag. Just a couple tweaks and it'll be just right!

The lining inside
(does blogger ever do this to you? I can't get this pic to upload right side up!)

The stack of fabric from 'the left' ready for cutting and sewing.
Now to find/make the time...
(#5,6 & 7 from the bottom are "Bloom & Grow" (Riley Blake) from stitchsteals.com I've got it on order in pink too!)

our new lifestyle

just a few more pictures of life around here since we've become five...

Our arrival at home from the hospital and three very curious boys: Logan, Carter and Papa.

Two very proud big brothers.

Paityn, post-bath, on Saturday morning.

Logan finally felt that he should take a turn on his own to hold his sister.

Sunday morning before church...
Upon being introduced to the congregation, Paityn gave a very royal wave which brought many giggles and chuckles.

On this new lifestyle with three little ones: day by day, right? -- I've got half a day (that's me alone with the three) under my belt and it's not too bad. yet? I'm thankful for the season and that we can go outside to get the sillies out of little boys -- walks to the mailbox, digging in the sandbox, riding bikes and street hockey on the driveway.

(I do have an itch to sew but when and how, I just do not know right now. All the sewing equipment and supplies have been packed away for a while. I do still have to post my most recent projects though. I think I'm behind about five, or so...)

she has arrived!

Early this morning, we met the newest addition to our family:

Introducing Paityn Mareika born this morning at 1:07am.

She weighed 7lbs, 3 oz and measured 19 1/4 inches.

Paityn has two very proud big brothers ready to help with anything!

We are all doing great but are a bit tired after the ordeal. Papa and Gramma are here visiting/helping out/entertaining Carter and Logan while the rest of us recuperate.

some smiles

They were absolute monkeys today but there's always a shining moment, isn't there?

The boys were putting away laundry for me as fast as I could fold it this afternoon. This is what they did with the stock of facecloths I keep in the kitchen for mealtime clean ups. Normally, the cloths would be in a lovely basket.

roar!

There's been a bear sighting! Logan's favourite game of late is to pretend he's a bear. He gets up in your face, puts on a snarly expression and roars: "RAAAR! BEAR!" and his hands go up to show his claws followed by fits of giggling. It's really cute and we always act scared of Logan the bear.

Much cuter than the ACTUAL BLACK BEAR I SAW IN OUR BACKYARD LAST NIGHT. What? I'm not needing to act as much now.

We're really not that far from civilization. In fact we live in a large subdivision of more than eighty-five homes. There are people everywhere. Trucks, cars, atv's and lots of noise. and there is a black bear.

I'm sure you can imagine: the neighborhood was a-buzzin' last night. phones were ringing. even a conservation officer received a call...

our new favourite chocolate chip cookie

It's our new favourite and you must try -- especially if you're a peanut butter lover!

The original recipe for Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies is from Kraft Canada and here's my version (because I can never leave a recipe alone).

Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1-1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup butter/margarine, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups quick oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat peanut butter and butter with sugars until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, oats and baking soda. Add to peanut butter mixture, stir until just combined and stir in chocolate chips.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls, 1 inch apart on parchment lined baking sheets (or use your little tiny icecream scoop with the scraper thingy inside).
5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes (my oven does them perfectly in 8 min) until centres are just set. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes and cool completely on wire racks.


All three boys have been eating these so fast, I swear they're inhaling them. My changes to the recipe just 'health it up' a bit with more oats and whole wheat flour instead of all purpose. It does make for a heartier cookie but I found the original recipe tasted too buttery almost. TOO BUTTERY, think that's possible?