Left Coast Mama » Holidays

Farewell 2011, Hello 2012

Gwen — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:14:30 +0000

Like the last few years December has gotten away from me. I was so busy writing Advent letters and planning for surprises and trying to get something that might actually be a surprise for Anthony that it left me with little other time to write. Of course we have also had two bouts of intestinal illness go through the family as well.

Christmas was wonderful in many different ways. The best was Quinlan’s reaction to Christmas morning. He got up pretty early but we managed to keep him in our room for a few minutes so we could get upstairs with him and give the surprise guest a few seconds to get up as well. When the boys saw Grandpa sitting at the dining room table they were thrilled. When Quinlan saw the cookie that Santa took a big bit out of he was absolutely flabbergasted. I tell you I wish I had been awake enough to have my camera set up for his reaction as it was classic. He had the biggest round eyes and open mouth, and the hand to the cheek as he exclaimed “Santa ate the cookie!” Once Quinlan saw the presents under the tree there was absolutely no turning back. It was all we could do to open our own presents. I have never seen anyone open presents so fast in all my life. He was so excited that he even “helped” Aidan with the opening of Aidan’s presents.

Having Grandpa John come to stay for 5 days was fun, but went really quickly. We were able to have a small family get together on the 27th, and I am so glad we decided to have the turkey then and not on Christmas day.

There have been a lot of great things about 2011. The start of preschool for Quinlan has been a highlight. He loves school, and ballet and swimming. Aidan is growing up so very much. He is getting so grown up and he is so interested in learning about everything. It was especially acute during our road trip. Aidan was so interested in figuring out about everything. He found out about so many of the parks and their geological features. He got to look at the night sky and actually see stars.

This new year I am hoping to keep up with all the boys activities including theatre, swimming, skating, piano and ballet. I am also hoping to keep up with writing and photography for me. We want to keep up with our geocaching and keep going to events like the few that we took in this year. The Geo-monster ball and the best of the bad events were fantastic and really helped to give us the best caching year ever.

In 2012 I am going to try to get to Blogher in NY again. I won a conference ticket and as soon as I get the confirmation I plan to figure out the rest like hotel and airfare. I also want us to take the boys camping this year, it is about time we used the tent.

Those are my goals, simple and easy. No worries about losing weight or being a better person. I like who I am and I think that I will be much happier if I stop trying to change myself. All I want is to be happy.

© 2011 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: Aidan, family, Family Time, goals, Gwen, Holidays, hope, My Boys, New Year, Quinlan.

Do You Believe in Santa? I do.

Gwen — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:54:24 +0000

When I was growing up we were poor. I look back now and I am not sure how my mother and father managed as well as they did. I think for the most part my brothers my sister and I did not notice how poor we were. We had clothes and we never went hungry. My parents never let us know, until much later, how close we came to losing the house. If there were nights when we had pancakes many days in a row we didn’t notice or for that matter care. Pancakes for dinner was a treat. I understand why we had regular milk mixed with powdered milk.

One year when my dad lost his job and my mother was at that point still home with us, things must have been quite bad. I didn’t know how bad things must have been. I remember being asked to help out a family at school. All classes brought all kinds of canned food for this family and we did as well. What I didn’t realize and neither did my parents that the family they were supporting was us. I remember the surprise and I admit a little excitement when there was a knock on the door. Our pantry, well the shelves on the stairs going down to the basement was filled to over flowing.

I am not sure if it was the same year, or another when there were three deliveries to our door. One was anonymous where someone rang and ran. I still remember that there was a huge Christmas colouring book that kept us well occupied. That year there was also a visit from a Santa’s helper in a Santa suit bringing wrapped presents for all of us. The most surprising was when the doorbell rang and Papa Smurf was at the door helping out Santa.

When we were better situated we were happy to help out other anonymous families who were in the same situation at Christmastime. Being a helper to Santa was a big part of feeling good about Christmas for our family. Even when we didn’t have much, we always found a way to help others. I am not saying this to brag, but it helped us to feel less guilty about having things when we knew there were other people in bad situations.

My back story is part of the reason I want so badly to get Aidan and Quinlan to understand that since we are in a better situation that we need to help as many people as we can. Donating to the food bank with money and canned goods is our biggest focus for the season. There are so many families who are not making it in BC, especially in the lower mainland. I want them to see that we are in a very good situation and it would be really good to help other people. Aidan really gets it. He has a philanthropic plan for the Aidan company already. Quinlan is starting to get it and by the time he is Aidan’s age he really will as well.

My hope is that by helping others my boys will grow up to be empathetic and enlightened men. That they will not look down on people for their monetary situations. That they will be generous human beings. I think we are on the right track.

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

Gwen — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:42:15 +0000

My boys and I are wearing our green and orange today, and while we may be going out for Chinese food tonight, we are Irish to the bone.

Here is some music to get you into the St Patrick’s Day mood.
The Pogues: If I Should Fall From the Grace of God

The Cranberries: Ode to My Family

The Dubliners: Whiskey in the Jar

Christmas Eve Tradition: Tourtiere

Gwen — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:53:32 +0000

There are a few Christmas Eve traditions we have and like most traditions they have to do with food. I like to make something my mother made and our boys absolutely love, Tourtiere. Tourtiere is a French-Canadian spiced meat pie.

Warm from the oven, Tourtiere. YUM!

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs lean ground pork

1.5 lbs lean ground beef

small diced onion

2 grated potatoes

2 diced cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cloves

1-2 tsps cinnamon

1/4-1/2 tsp allspice

salt and pepper

water

2 double pie crusts

egg wash

Instructions:

In a large sauce pan saute the onion in a little bit of oil until it is softened then add the meat and spices and enough water to cover the meat. Stir until the meat is no longer pink. Add the grated potato and simmer, stiring occasionally. Simmer for at least 1/2 and hour, longer is better. If you want you can add grate carrot and diced mushroom to the meat mixture. If the mixture seems not spiced enough you can add a bit more.

Once you have finished simmering you should put the meat mixture in the fridge overnight or at least until the mixture has gelled. Skim the fat off (you can leave a little) the gelled mixture. Divide into the pie shells and cover with a top crust. Vent the top and brush with and egg wash.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown. The filling should be bubbling.

I will update the post with pictures of the process and finished pie when I make it this week.

© 2010 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: Christmas, Healthy Eating, Holidays, Menu Plan Monday, Recipes.

Oh Christmas Tree

Gwen — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:08:49 +0000

We got a new pre lit Christmas tree this year. I actually took a few minutes this evening after choir practice to take some pictures of the lights. I love using the 50mm lens with a 1.8 aperture. I love the bokeh effect it has on the lights. I used to get this effect and I had no idea what I was doing. Now I am able to get this effect on purpose.

Quinlan's train

Aidan's Plane

I love this picture even though it isn't the best technically.

Bokeh, Bokeh, Bokeh, Train

What’s on Your Menu?

Gwen — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:34:50 +0000

I haven’t posted a Menu Plan Monday in a very long time. It is not thatI don’t plan the menus, just that I am having a hrad time sticking to them and if theyare posted here, I feel like I am more bound to them. So in the interest of keeping to the menu this week I aam publishing it. Though if you have some really good meal suggestions or recipes, please let me know.

Sunday (Today, the 20th December.) Hamburgers and salad.

Monday (21 December) Ham and mashed potatoes for the boys and scalloped potatoes for me.

Tuesday (22 December) BBQ Chicken kabobs with basmati rice and veggies

Wednesday (23 December) Pasta with tomato and meat sauce, salad.

Thursday (24 December, Christmas Eve) Tortier, a spiced meat pie (ground pork and hamburger), Milk and cookies set out for Santa. Ho, Ho, Ho!

Friday (25 December, Christmas Day) Turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, turnip, nugget potatoes (veggies cooked with the turkey.) pumpkin and apple pies for desert.

Saturday (26 December) Leftovers of all sorts.

Sunday (27 December, Happy Birthday Dei!) Turkey soup.

The only thing that may change is if we can’t find a small enough turkey. I love it, but since we don’t have anyone coming over to help eat it, it may not be practical. I am also planning to clear off the table fully and setting the table really nicely on Christmas Day. We have been working on table manners with Aidan and I think that a nnicely set table helps. Though I will be checking for a plastic wine glass for Aidan. (He broke one at Thanksgiving.)

All meals will be full of lovely deserts like snicker doodles, lemon loaf and gingerbread men. I may also make some chocolate balls of some kind. What are your favourite holiday foods? Any good recipes?

© 2009 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 2 comments
Related: Christmas, dinner, Family Time, Healthy Choices, Healthy Eating, Holidays, Menu Plan Monday.

Lists Are Made to Be Crossed

Gwen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:06:44 +0000

On most days I have an idea of the things I need to get done. Sometimes I actually make a list so things can get crossed off and I can feel like I have accomplished something. Today was one of those days, and there were six things on the list.

1. Clean Living room,and Dining room

2. Vacuum

3. Take out recycling/garbage.

4. Put Cooler down in the storage.

5. Bring up some of the Christmas Decorations.

6. Take Family Christmas Pictures.

Luckily we were able to take care of all the list and I feel pretty good. Since we had to move all the furniture we even were able to get under the sofas clean. Anthony was able to take some nice pictures even though it was difficult to get the boys to stay still long enough to get the shots.

Finally a nice one of the four of us.

Mommy I want you to be a sled.

This test shot turned out nicely.

Still cute even though Quinlan isn't looking at the camera.

These guys are way too cute for their own good.

© 2009 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 2 comments
Related: Aidan, Anthony, Christmas, cute, family, Gwen, Holidays, organization, Pictures, Quinlan.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Gwen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:20:36 +0000

I know it is only the 6th of November and we have barely passed Halloween but I have been thinking about Christmas for a while. This will be the first year that Aidan is really excited about Christmas and we will be celebrating here in Vancouver. That is not to say that we haven’t celebrated Christmas in Vancouver, just that last year we were in Nova Scotia, and that was the first year Aidan was anticipating Christmas and all the fun and pageantry that goes with it.

Last year we wrote a letter to Santa and went to visit him at the mall here in Vancouver. We also put together a box for Operation Christmas Child and bought some food for the food bank. I wanted the giving not to be all about the getting. I wanted Aidan to understand that we can help people who don’t have as much as we do.

This year we have a few things I want us to do in the way of charity. We (in the next week) will put together a box for Operation Christmas Child. I fully plan to go to the CBC Food Bank Day and make a donation. I also hope to be a part of helping a local family have a great Christmas. I think that it would be really good for Aidan to be a part of making someone else’s Christmas special.

I know that one of the things I really appreciated as a child was being able to give back to another family the way our family was taken care of. It is hard to write, but I don’t know if people realize how happy they can make some children. The wonder of opening the door and having a box on the doorstep with no one around is wondrous for both the child, and I daresay the parent. I know that even without the generous people who helped us that Christmas, my parents would have made it wondrous for us still. I still thank those anonymous people for making us all believe that Santa Claus was alive and well.

I also fully plan to make Advent more of a reality in this house this year. Aidan is old enough to know that Christmas is about more than getting presents and Santa Claus for us. With the help of books, and Advent wreath and the creches we have I hope to make this season both fun and spiritual.

Anthony and I have some traditions that I want to keep. We like to go to see the lights at Stanley Park and VanDusen. I love singing at Midnight Mass. Putting way to many lights on my Christmas tree to make it the most beautiful (and shiny) thing in the living room. Going to Maplewood Farms on Christmas Eve. Having the friends, who have become family, over for dinner on Christmas Day. These are all keepers.

There are other things that I want so much to stay as part of our traditions, but I am not sure that they will this year. This is something I can’t write about here, and I have been a bit cowardly about trying to make it better if I can. I am still unsure about how to proceed without making things worse from what was a big misunderstanding. Unfortunately I cannot control how other people can hold grudges. I can only hope that things will get better and that forgiveness is found.

So before I put my foot further in my mouth and make things worse I will sign off.

© 2009 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | No comments
Related: Advent, Aidan, Anthony, Christmas, Family Time, Gwen, Holidays, Quinlan, Santa Claus, Vancouver.

Thanksgiving and Entertaining

Gwen — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:38:45 +0000

Since we have been living in Vancouver our house was the house to come for a dinner party. We have introduced many a newcomer to Vancouver and sometimes Canada to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners. For almost every turkey holiday we have a multitude of religions and countries of origin represented. We have at least 1 vegetarian at every dinner party. Some people have diet restrictions and some have diet preferences. This always makes things fun, but also requires a bit of juggling. This year is pretty simple, well until we get a call from Tomer and Carla saying that they have decided to go kosher or bring a kosher friend with them, with only 1 vegetarian, a picky preschooler and an infant. The rest of us eat anything.

Even with the complications that having different religions and dietary needs in the mix, I love cooking a holiday meal. I love the planning, the food, the decorating, the wine, the nicely set table with flowers and candles. I like the ceremony of eating a big meal with friends and family. I like cooking a turkey, and if I do say so myself, I am really good at it. I like making the pies, and rolls. I love cooking this gigantic meal that takes me two days to cook and even with the big clean up.

Why do I love making this big deal holiday meal, but I don’t really like cooking everyday meals? It is something I often wonder. It isn’t that I want to cook a huge meal with all the trimming more often, don’t get me wrong here. I couldn’t handle that kind of prep work all the time. I think it maybe that while it is a lot of work, it is always really appreciated. It is nice to get those accolades.

I am also of the opinion that the dinner conversation and after dinner conversation or games really make the meal. It is wonderful to socialize and take the time out of your everyday life to put on something a little special, eat some good food and drink some good wine and enjoy some good company. For those not here this year, Ali and Noushine, and Tammy, we will miss you. You might even come up in conversation.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Happy New Year

Gwen — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:08:29 +0000

Happy new year to all!

I hope you were all able to start the new year as we were, in your pyjamas all day. We haven’t taken down the tree or gone for groceries, or gone out at all today. We will take the tree down on the weekend and tomorrow life goes back to normal. Sigh. I wish there were a few more days of respite.