Easter baking

My Mother in law (MIL) didn't know how much fun the girls and I would have when she asked for me to bring dessert for Easter. My copy of Kraft Kitchens arrived in the mail a few weeks ago and since I have been dieing to make the ooey gooey treats!

Today was the day for sugar madness!

The girls enjoyed helping and loved licking clean all the bowls and spoons after each recipe was finished.But I got stuck with the dishes afterward.... not fair!

I made Jello Marshmallows. So easy, but will be messy to unmold and eat! We made fruity fiesta and strawberry banana.
I made a small pan of Blondies for MIL since she can't have chocolate.

And for the chocolate fans...dang just erased my photo of it but here is the magazine shot. I can't wait to try these!

While all the baking was cooling the girls and I dye some eggs,

and even shrink wrapped some!Tomorrow is dinner/lunch at the in laws, I hope these treats last till then...

(PS, I hate blogger! I lost 2 photos and if I wanted to insert them the whole post would be wonky and I don't have the patience to deal with it right now! Arrg!)

More sad news

Mike put it best: "feels like something is broken". That something would be our hearts...

Rupert has been limping for a few weeks, we thought he hurt his paw and his leg got stiff when he barely used it. We thought it could be associated with his arthritis... We noticed a huge difference with his leg after we came back form the Cariboo.

So I took Rupert to the vet of Thursday. Dr. Ruth thought he could have broken his upper shoulder and the bone was knitting back wrong or strained muscles were building up from carrying his foot wrong after twisting the paw. She asked if I wanted an x-ray done, I almost said no but thought it would be best to know what was wrong. Dr. Ruth said to leave him with her and she's take an x-ray when she wasn't so busy.

An hour later I went back to the vet's, she was busy with a surgery and I was told she'll call me later with the results. So Rupert and I went back home and continued with our day: got the kids off the bus and babysat the boys, and I sort of put the whole things out of my mind. At 7pm we got the call. Mike answered. It was bad, Rupert has bone cancer. It is eating away at the bone in his front shoulder and and leg and it's growing fast. At his last appointment, in February, the vet didn't notice anything. Dr. Ruth said our options are to do nothing and give him pain killers if needed or amputate the leg, but she said this will only slow the growth and prolong things.

This has hit Mike and I hard, Rupert has been our baby for 11 1/2 years, everyone teases us that he is our first born, we got him the same month we moved into our home. I feel ashamed that I have cried more for my dog then I did my Nana. Mike says it's alright, I had been expecting a call about Nana for several years, she was getting on in years and her health wasn't the greatest. I hadn't been close with her and haven't seen her in a few years. Rupert was so healthy till this past winter, even the vet said he was doing great for a 12 year old Lab cross. Very unexpected news....

We will not amputate. We will see how he does. He doesn't complain, just limps when walking and runs with 3 legs. Rupert is still playful and has a healthy appetite but he sleeps alot and lays down instead of sitting. Not sure how much time we have together, we'll take one day at a time.

I want to shoot everyone who asks if we'll get a puppy before he goes (so that Rupert can teach it) but Mike and I can't do that to Rupert, he'll be sad and know we'll be trying to replace him, that may work for some but not us. We will need time to grieve, I needed almost a year after we put down Missy cat. Ivy was being a pest and stating she wanted a puppy, I could have strangled her when she said it, I yelled at her that she better not ask again! Yesterday, Ivy tentatively asked why I was so upset about Rupert. I tried to keep it simple but she didn't understand, couldn't grasp the concept until I said his owie was cancer. Ivy asked "Like Terry Fox?" she told me all she learned about Terry Fox and how he had a fake leg because of cancer, then she asked "will Rupe die like Terry Fox...?" Yes I said... Oh was all she said. She understands now. I think I saw her mature a little in that conversation.

Spring break over

I sit in an eerily quiet house... the kids are back to school. Not sure if I'm very excited to have them going back, I was enjoying our time off together. Sure I complained some, the long trips weren't the greatest but I did like having them home. Many thoughts creep into my head when I'm alone, some I am not ready to deal with... I feel upset with the way my Nana passed away...

Spring has sprung a leak, it's been drizzling for a few days now. The rain has melted the snow away, it tries to come back but the rain stomps it out. The birds have come back, a bit late this year and not so many but they are here none-the-less. Now, if only the sun would shine a bit more then it would be lovely spring.

I'm frustrated with the slow Canadian postal service. I'm waiting for 3 parcels, one for me, one for Anna and one for us all (movies!) And they are taking their sweet time! It's been almost a month since I ordered my stuff and it will probably be the last to arrive which aggravates me to no end. My blog isn't very exciting lately, I haven't been taking many pictures... half the time I can't find the camera and sometimes I just forget to take it along with us...Maybe once it warms up I'll take some garden pictures.

Sad news

My Nana has passed away, I knew she was getting older but I kinda didn't expect it to happen. I'm not sure how I am supposed to feel. I feel some regret, a bit of sadness but there is also a bunch of relief ... I mostly feel sorry for my Dad, his Mom was a huge part of his life. Mike said it's very hard for a man to lose his Mom. So we are going to visit my Dad this weekend, hopefully we can remind him he still has alot to be happy about and that we love him. Grandkids can heal lots of wounds.

200 Posts!

Oh my goodness! 200 posts!

Who would have thought 3 years ago that I would still be blogging. Not I! I will be the first to admit that I don't stick with much, many hobbies get set aside for months and years...

A lot has happened since I wrote my first post. Way back in Jan of 2008, I had recently hurt my hand, had several surgeries and was fighting a bout of depression AND running after a 2 and 4 year old! I hardly remember those days, I've changed so much. My girls have grown, I have grown, my marriage has evolved, Mike is more involved.

I like where I am. It's not perfect but I am happy!

Mondays are....

... back to routines.

It's a little lonely here with the kids at school and Mike at work. We had a good weekend: lazy mornings, productive afternoons and relaxing evenings. But now it's Monday and that dang alarm has to wake us up, forcing us out of warm comfy beds and back to the hum drum work week... Blahhh

2 more weeks till Spring break and hopefully Mike will take some time off work!

I think I've grown used to our new bed, I'm sleeping for longer stretches and have no more back pain... my hip is bugging me some but that might be from more activities during the day. I did have to steal the step stool from the RV to use beside the bed, a bit easier to climb into bed now.

On Tuesday there is assembly at the school in the morning then Teacher interviews in the afternoon... bunch of back and forth driving tomorrow.

Wednesday is the school's 100 day celebration, they are off to GF for Bowling and swimming. Mike will be going with them, I was asked to come along but I do not function well with all those kids and in new environments. So I am very happy Mike will be taking my position. The teachers like it when Mike volunteers, the male children show him more respect then to the women staff and volunteers.

Thursday and Friday will be normal days. I wonder what next weekend will hold for my family...

Happy, Blahh, lonely Monday...

MARCH!

It's March!

Spring is almost here!

Can you believe it!

In 2 1/2 weeks it will be school's March break and I hope we can thaw out the trailer and visit our friends in Clearwater who have bought their very first home! I'm happy for them, no more renting!

Rupert is doing much better with the arthritis meds, three days in a row he has been able to climb onto the sofa! It's nice to have a happy dog again.

We bought a new mattress, but not just any mattress. It's got all the bells and whistles: Do not disturb pocket coils, memory foam, plush top and leak proof/non staining cover! The down fall of this mattress is it's 18 inches thick! On top of our platform bed with drawers, it's incredible tall! Our bed now comes over my belly button, I have to CLIMB into bed... I will be searching for foot stools next time I go to down. Mike is sleeping well now, the first night was difficult for me and last night was better but I'm not 100% sure yet, thank goodness we have the 90 day trial period.

Until next time,
yours truly,
Princess and the pea ;p