One Big Happy Family

Last night we celebrated my Uncle's birthday, and got the first extended family photo in a long time.  There are some people missing, but a nice chunk of us were there.  Look at how cute we are!

2011 Monthly Goals Review

I'm a little late on my goals review post, but with Halloween I was a bit busy.  October saw Thanksgiving as well, so overall, it was a month filled with family gatherings.  Etienne saw a lot of his cousin this month! 

I feel more settled at work now that I've been back for two months.  Things are coming back to me now, so I don't have to ask my colleagues so many questions about how to do basic things.  I've got some plans to work on my thesis this coming weekend (fingers crossed), so I hope to get that rolling again soon. 

We've been slowly working on getting things done in the house that have waited a long time.  Our family room is now livable, so we're moving on to the playroom in the basement.  We'd like to have a nice area down there for both adults and kids to spend time, so the next few months will be spent getting that area figured out. 

On the blog front, I've been able to keep up my daily posting, but that's about it.  There are some changes to the blog that I'd like to make, updates and networking that needs to be done, but for now, just keeping up the daily posting will have to be enough.  I really look forward to my daily posting time.  Hopefully soon I'll be able to dedicate more time to making the improvements I'd like to make. 

I feel as though this month was just finding my rhythm again at work, at home, and in general.  The whirlwind first month was over, and now the regular schedule has settled in and I've been adjusting. 

How have your goals for the year held up over the months?

Happy Halloween: Part 2

I hope everyone had a great Halloween last night.  The weather was better this year than last, so we had kids out on the street until almost 9 pm.  My son made it almost all the way down the street, and then he spent the rest of the evening on the front porch, handing out candy.  We were left with a pretty good haul of stuff, but after sorting through it for gluten free options, the pile became much smaller, though more than enough for my 2 year old.  Here are a few images of our Halloween night!

Tigger!

Despite her expression, my niece was not in pain!

 

 

 

My spider pumpkin

Thomas!

 

 

No, that's not a self-portrait

The happy family!

Our next door neighbours, who had a special gluten free treat bag for our son!

My personal fave!

Now, on to Christmas preparations!!!!

Happy Halloween: Part 1

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! 

Yesterday, after cooking for the week, we carved our pumpkins and baked some gluten free Halloween treats for tonight's festivities.  Here's what we'll be eating before heading out trick or treating!

Dark Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows with Sprinkles

Creepy Spider Mini Cupcakes

Gluten Free Halloween Mini-Cupcakes

Happy Halloween!!!

Gluten Free Weekly Menu Plan

This week's menu is more meat-heavy than usual.  Must be the onset of fall that's making me crave comfort food!

 Monday: Gluten Free Lasagne and Salad 

 

Tuesday: Butter Chicken, Spinach Curry Potatoes and Rice 

 Wednesday: Tourtiere (Meat Pie) with Brussels Sprouts
(The crust cracked, but this pie crust was much easier to work with than the last brand I used.  Reviews of both coming soon!)

 Thursday: White Bean and Chorizo Sauce over Leftover Rice 
)A close up shot of the ragout still in the pot. YUM.)







Friday: Steaks in Dark Sauce and Pureed Squash

Upgraded to a Big Boy Bed!

Last week, as I checked in on my son before heading off to bed, I found him literally sleeping with his feet on the ground and his body reclining backward across his bed.  You may remember this photo:

The week before I found him in a similar position, only face first.

I knew it was time to put together his big boy bed. 

When I was pregnant and looking for cribs, we decided on this one in particular because it converted from a crib to a daybed with a removable safety rail to a full bed.  I don't regret that decision for a minute. When he was practically climbing out of the crib at 16 months, we converted the crib to the toddler daybed.  Now, at 2 1/2 years old, he's grown too big for that.

So today, we put together his full bed.  We used a mattress and box spring combination.  It makes it more difficult to tuck in his sheets, but it keeps the height of the bed low and provides great support.  After a little maneuvering, we put together the bed and rearranged his room.  It's no longer a baby/toddler room, but a little boy's room!  When did this happen?  I must admit, it's awfully cute though.  What do you think?

A bed I don't think he'll be rolling off

His little "reading" nook!

Friday Five List: Getting Ready For Halloween

Halloween is just a few days away, so now is the time to get all those last minute candy, costume and decorating item crossed off the list.  Here's what's on my to-do list to prepare for the big day:

1- Carve our pumpkins.  We picked up several pumpkins for 99 cents each at the local grocery store that have been adding to our fall decor.  Now it's time to get them ready for their big night. 

2- Buy gluten free candy.  I worry so much about my son coming home without any treats he can eat, so I figure there have to be other parents with the same worry.  So, along with keeping everything peanut free, I'm going to try and have a variety of gluten free and dairy free treats as well.

3- Finish putting up the inexpensive decorations I picked up the other day.  The spiderwebs are on the wall, it's time for the caution tape to up. 

4- Pick up some treats for my students.  Our school is part of a healthy schools program, so rather than buying candy, I think I'll get some Halloween-themed non-edible treats.

5- Prepare a family-sized meal for my sister, niece and parents, and bake some Halloween themed treats for the kids to decorate. 

Gluten Free Halloween Treats: Cupcake Skulls

I picked up a cheap silicone baking pan in the shape of little skulls, and got the urge to try them out before Halloween.  I used a box mix, so mixing the batter took no time at all.  Then I just used gluten free frosting in different colours to bring out the skull features.  Kids could easily do this part, and with a little imagination, a variety of edible goodies could be used for the eyes, teeth, etc.

Here's what our dessert looked like last weekend after our visit to the pumpkin patch.

Not very fancy, but it brought a huge smile to my two year old's face.

Gluten shmuten.  Who needs it?

Wordless Wednesday: They're So Cute When They're Sleeping

This is how I found him one night.  This is how we know he needs a big-boy bed.

We were taking him to a park, but he fell asleep in the car...

My Garden's Last Gasp

I know it's the end of October, but I've been very lucky this year to have a garden that's still producing tomatoes and other good stuff this late in the year.  I've been wanting to plant my garlic and onions for next year, but I can't bear to pull out plants that are still giving fruit!  This past weekend, I picked more tomatoes, a few hot peppers, and leeks.  I still have to cut my swiss chard (it keeps raining on my plans!)

My leeks

The cherry tomato plant that keeps on giving!

In addition to our weekly food delivery, we've been able to eat mostly local produce all summer and fall.  Some foods just can't be grown locally, but I've enjoyed the convenience and freshness of eating food minutes after I've picked it from the plant.  I'm going to miss that over the winter.  Maybe next year I'll plant a little plot just for my son, with strawberries or other yummy fruits or vegetables that he'll get to call his own!