Aloha!

Well, Jason and I are now back from our little jaunt over to Oahu. We had a splendid time, and I even got everything crossed off my trip wishlist too!
1.Bask in the warm sun and green of it all. Check.
2.Devour as much pineapple as my tongue would possibly allow. Check
3.Go snorkelling among the fishies. Check.
4.Find and eat at a shrimp truck. Twice.
5.Play in the surf. Check.
6.Wear a real flower lei. Hve decided that they're my favourite fashion accessory.
7.Wake up in the morning to some sound other than the alarm clock, or worse, the snooze button. Check.
8.Watch a Hawaiian sunset. Check.
9.Get some serious bech time. Definently.
10.Savour the feel of warm sand between my toes. Check.

Book of the Week

These days Winter seems determined to linger-despite Spring making repeated attempts to boot it out. Here's a few good finds to read while you're waiting for Spring to finally arrive.

Traditionally Built with a Tricky Trade:
I love The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. They are a delicious read, soothing yet intriguing in a way that always keeps me turning the pages. When Precious Ramotswe of Botswana opens her detective agency she gets confronted by all sorts of interesting troubles. The story always unfolds in a winding and leisurely manner yet never loses your interest, all thanks to the marvelous characters within the pages. First there's Maa Ramotswe herself, traditionally built (aka larger) with her moral standards yet sympathetic understanding of people's foibles, Grace Makutski with her 97% from the Secretarial College, J.L.B Matekoni mechanic extrodinaire, Maa Potokwane the relentless orphanage mother who makes delicious fruitcake and many more. These books always make me want to curl up with a cup of Maa Ramotswe's favourite bush tea, and smile through the pages of the latest in the series.

Dealings with Dragons:
My finding of this next one was purely coincidental. I plcked up on a whim admist the piles of books at a library book sale, unknowingly having found a treasure. I originally got "The Dragons Are Singing Tonight" by Jack Prelutsky because I like some of his other poetry books for kids, plus Ben and Brigham are really into dragons lately. After reading it though, I found that I loved this one. It's even illustrated by Peter Sis, a favourite of mine, and the combination of fun poems with his great pictures is a fabulous one. There's some that'll tickle your funny bone, or just fun to read or dream about. Here's a sampling:
"My dragon's been disconsolate
And cannot help but pout,
Since he defied a thunderstorm
That put his fire out."

Happy Reading everybody!

The End of an Era

Often nostalgia will hit me whenever my kids develop past a certain stage. Mostly because I find the stage so cute in it's own way, that I grieve knowing that my Ben or Brigham will never be like that again. Oh there's excitement for the next phase, but still nostalgia for what will now be no more. But I said OFTEN.
Such is not the case with Brigham this week: he is finally, and completely potty trained! I'm over the moon about this new development. It's hard to wax nostalgic about dirty diapers, particularly as a few months ago Brigham decided that Mummy was the only one allowed to change him (I still suspect that Jason got him to develop such a decided preference in his favour).
Just over a week ago I decided it was high time to bite the bullet and begin his potty training in earnest. After my experience with Ben, I was bracing for the long haul; bribery, and fortitude over a period of a few months. But wonder of wonders, and miracle of miracles, within a week Brigs had got it! Now he just announces when he has to go and if he needs help. One of my favourite moments was one evening when he raced into the livingroom saying "I went potty Daddy! You're so proud of me!" Well, yes Brigham, we are. Brigham just seems to love being such a big boy and wearing underwear too.
After four straight years of doing diapers, it is a glorious feeling to be done them. At least until September, when we get to start all over again...

Book of the Week

One of the great advantages of feeling so sick lately has been the comfort of good books. As Dad says, you can always tell whenever I'm really sick, because then I even refuse to read! Luckily, such has not been the case with these pregnancy symptoms. Admittedly, the floor may go unwashed and we will eat far more cold cereal than is normal, but at least I can still curl up with a good read. Check these ones out.

A Portrait of a Young Girl:
I love history, but not of the grand historical figures, not the pomp and grandeur of the mighty and great, of the leaders. They are all too well documented. What fascinates me is the lives of the ordinary souls- what of their story? Take the holocaust for example. We all know the horrifying numbers of the victims, but often the faces and personalities fade behind the staggering tragedy of it all.
That's why I love "Hana's Suitcase" by (forget her first name) Levine. There are few books that make me cry, but this one did and it is beautiful. It is the slow unraveling of a mystery, a telling of two stories that are intertwined. It begins at the Holocaust Museum in Japan. The curator has on display several items donated from Europe, but what garners the most attention and curiosity is a child's suitcase with a name painted on it:Hana Brody. After countless question about her, the curator begins a quest to uncover the truth about Hana; who she was and what happened to her?
The other half of the book is the story of Hana herself, and the two stories go back and forth leaving you cheering for them both, anxiously reading to know what will happen next. A beautiful story full of sadness and ultimately, hope.

Tub Trouble:
Now here is one that I would never have found one my own. Thankfully, I did due to a treasury of beloved picturebooks compiled into one that we got for Ben's first Christmas. We all love "The Tub People" by Pam Conrad in our family. It is a great peek at what just what it might be like for the toys living near you. The tub people are a little family who lead a happy lie lined up along the tub and filled with fun whenever bathtime comes along. But when tragedy strikes and one of them gets sucked down the drain, how can there possibly be a happily ever after? Naturally there is, and the end is so very satisfying that I never tire of reading this wonderful tale anytime my munchkins clamour to hear it yet again.

The Little Events in Between

Well, Valentine's has come and gone yet again, and it's started me thinking. As Jason can attest to, I love an excuse to celebrate, and almost anything will do. I find these little events be it Groundhog's Day, Valentine's or whatever help to perk up the usual path of life. It adds a splash of colour to what otherwise might have been just a gray expanse of weeks going by.
After some years of my little "events" I have come to notice something: I am more fond of the little events I have created myself or with my family than some of the bona fide holidays scattered across my calender. Here's my top three:

1. Pi Day-more commonly known as March 14 (get it? It's 3.14). Celebrate by eating an abundance of pie.

2.The Frances Picnic- First, read all the Frances books by Russell Hoban to appreciate these great picturebooks. Then once it's warm enough in the spring, this marks the first real picnic of the year, with some of the delicious food mentioned in the Frances books of course. We like including fried chicken in ours.

3. Talk Like A Pirate Day- celebrated on September 17 (which, coincidentally is my due date). It's where you get in touch with your inner pirate. You can talk like one, and the munchkins and I choose to dress like one too! Find a bunch of good pirate books to read from the library, hold the skull and crossbones high, eat a good piratey dinner (no cutlery allowed) and "ARRRRRRR!" to your heart's content.

Books on a Budget

Despite Jason's protestations to the contrary, we really do need another bookshelf in this house. I am not one of those practical souls who contents myself with the perusal pleasures that the library affords: there are certain books that are worth owning your own copy of. As such, each book on our tightly crammed bookshelf is one we love and not one I am likely to relanquish.
This is problematic as I have become quite adept at finding books on a budget (a necessity during our years as students). It's almost a sport really, how good of a deal can you find on a book you badly want? Here's my standard venues:

The Chains-naturally they are used, if only because I love ordering their books for cheaper online and receiving packages in the mail. It is the most expensive option though so I don't use them often, usually used just for acquiring anything hot off the press.

The Independents- while seldom cheap,everyone needs a favourite one of these. Not only is it important to encourage variety when it comes to shopping, but I've found my favourite independent will find what I want, even if it is not in their catalogue. They're more prone to specialize too.

The Second Hands- Here is book hunting at it finest, because you never know what treasures you might find every time you go! Possibility and delight may await you on each shelf. These are the ones where you don't go in with expectations of what you want, but can simply enjoy the fun of browsing.

The Libabry Sales- Go with a fellow bibliophile to aid and abet you (like I did last weekend-thanks Eva!) and make an outing out of these! It's unbelievable what you can uncover admist all the books the library is hoping to clear off their own shelfves in the hopes that you'll take some to your own. It's hard to beat books for a dollar that are still in good condition, just be prepared to hunt more here than in anywhere else. Still, you can usually find a few treasures hiding among the tripe.

See what I mean? Having just accquired no less than fifteen new titles from my foray to the later venue this past weekend, I am quite out of space on my shelf, yet badly need a home for the latest accquisitions! Although a new shelf would be rather empty at first, knowing me, it would not stay empty for long.

Cookie Fever: The Grand Finale

I know that this post is long over due, but I simply had to share these pictures form when we made our very own gingerbread house in December (see "Cookie Fever, Part Two).


Ben was pretty enthusiatic about his gingerbread house-it was like a candy explosion!

Brigham spent most of his time working on quality control and sampling the candy instead of festooning it on his house.All in all, we had a grand time, and the boys are already begging me to do it again next year.