Fun and Games

I don't really feel like writing much, so here are some videos that I think are cute. I am a little biased though.

Brian figured out how to press the button on the quad so he decided to take Elijah for a spin. I like how they aren't smiling at all....do they like this even?



John had to go to Edmonton for work on Monday, so the kids and I decided to visit. We went to the mall and had so much fun. Hadley wanted to go on this ride so John took her on it. The lady almost didn't let her on even though Hadley was an inch taller than the line. She didn't really know how to measure I guess, but John made sure Hadley got on. She said it was her favourite ride.


Elijah loved the ball pit. He thought this kid was funny too.

John's awesome

John took the PARE test for the RCMP application process yesterday. It consists of three stations. The first station is an obstacle course that is supposed to simulate a foot chase. He had to jump over things, run up and down stairs, and fall and get up. He had to do it 6 times. Then he had to go to station 2 where he had to push on this machine thing and when he pushed it pulled up a weight and he had to push it 180 degrees back and forth 6 times followed by falling onto his chest and back 6 times. Then he did the same thing but pulled it. Those 2 stations were timed. He had to complete it in 4:45, and he did it in 4:08!!!! So happy. He did station 1 pretty fast, but he had a harder time with the weights section. He did station 1 in 2:39. Then for station 3 he had to carry an 80 lb. bag 15 metres. He did that fine. Soooo, in the end, he passed!

We're not sure what the next step is, but he's still in the running!

Here's a good description. I think John looked exactly like that guy probably.

Valentine Cookies

Hadley had been asking for cookies for just about every meal, so we finally made some last Friday. They were delicious. We used a recipe from my sister. They are the best sugar cookies ever (according to John). I think they're good too, but I'm no sugar cookie connoisseur like he is.

Hadley got so messy. She was a fan of the little red sprinkles....I wasn't.

John did all the fancy white icing.


Here's the recipe:
1 1/4 c butter
2 1/4 c sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp almond extract
5 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and extracts (You can use 3 tsp of vanilla if you don't have lemon or almond available.), beat well. Add dry ingredients, mix. Chill one hour. Roll out on lightly floured surface, and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 400 for 4-6 min., do not brown.



In other news. Last Friday (the same day we made these cookies, so at least this is somewhat related), I decided we needed to change how the boys went to sleep. I had been rocking them to sleep separately one after the other, and it was taking too long. I'd heard about other people with twins just putting them both down at the same time and letting them cry it out. I don't like the idea of letting them cry to sleep (hence the rocking), but we decided we would just use "The Baby Whisperer" method and just lay them back down when they cry and stand up until they fell asleep. John and I took the boys to bed, laid them down with sippy cups and let them drink for a bit, put in their soothers, and then the fun began. It didn't take too long. Elijah was just being a goof and laughing and Brian was crying like crazy. I think it took 20 minutes. For their nap on Saturday, John was gone. I put the boys in their beds with sippy cups and soothers and just left. I went in a couple times because one was crying (I just laid him back down and gave him his soother). It worked wonderfully. Saturday night I was gone to the adult session of Stake Conference (with Elder Perry!) so John put them to sleep. He said it was simp! We've been doing the same thing since, and it is amazing how well it's working. I just lay them down and leave now and they are fine! Weird. Who knew it would be so easy! .....sorry for the long post...I'm just so excited about this new development, you have no idea how much stress it relieves!

Sharing

Brian is happily playing the recorder
Yikes
All is well again.

Unfortunately this happens all too often. There's a fine line between, "ok, I'm done with it so it's ok that you just ripped it out of my hands" and "wahhhh, what are you thinking?? I wasn't finished with that!" It's all good.

Macaroni Taste Test

I have always been interested in food. I love eating it, and like getting the best for my buck. Sometimes I'm too chicken to try the cheaper brands, so I just never have. I've always wondered though if they're just as good, or maybe even better than the "brand name" foods. A while ago we needed some more Kraft Dinner (mac & cheese for you americans), I decided to try out a few varieties of the store brand counterpart at Superstore. Here's the rundown in order of preference. (This was a while ago, so it's based a lot on memory....so it may not be completely accurate...also, I didn't use exact amounts of milk/butter, so it's not completely scientific...but you'll get the idea)

1. Kraft Dinner
Price: I think it was around $1.10
Taste: Superb. I don't add as much milk as it asks for because it's always too "soupy" when I do.







2. PC Deluxe Cheddar
Price: Around $0.90-ish I think
Taste: Good. Not as good as Kraft Dinner, but good enough to enjoy eating it.


I might buy this kind again if it is on sale.







3. PC Mini Chefs cha-cha-cheesy mac & cheese
Price: I think it was around $0.90....I really should have documented this!
Taste: Pretty good, the kids liked it.

I wouldn't buy this kind again







4. No Name Macaroni & Cheese (from Superstore)
I couldn't find a picture...sorry...
Price: I think it was $0.69
Taste: Super gross. I was surprised how gross it was .It tasted like cardboard...gross! I couldn't even finish it...the kids still ate most of their portion though.

I was really hoping that this one would taste good just cause it's so cheap, but alas.....


Conclusion: In this test, price and brand definitely was the determiner of what was the best. Too bad. I think I'll just stick with Kraft Dinner, but buy a box of it from Costco to save money.

Cute Like Me Giveaway!

Hey Everyone!

Go check out the Cute Like Me blog for a chance to win 1 0f 2 super cute scrabble tile necklaces. Be sure to spread the word for more chances to win! You have until Friday the 13th to enter. Good luck!

Yeah, John Passed the first test!!

So we finally heard back yesterday from the RCMP. John wrote the first test in December and we were anxious to hear back, we were pretty sure he passed, but we wanted to know so that we could start the next step. We really want this to work out, and want to get in as soon as possible!

Well, we got the letter and they referred him to a weblink with all the forms that he has to complete. Holy cow, there is a lot of info that they want! He needs a whole bunch of references, job info, past addresses. Basically a history of everything for the past 10 years. And since we've moved around a tonne, it may take a while to complete, but they set a deadline. It has to be done in 21 days! Yikes! He also has to get ready for the PARE. It's the physical test - it's basically an obstacle course that he has to complete in a certain time. He's doing that on February 26th. Fun, fun.

Anywho. We decided that that was reason enough to not make supper. We got Joey's Only because we had a 2 for 1 coupon. It wasn't as good as it normally is, but it still hit the spot...and no making supper!

Well, I should go feed some kids breakfast.

If you didn't notice, I'm getting a little addicted to this whole blogging thing, so I'll probably be posting more often now. Sorry....just kidding....hopefully it's not too boring!

Twin Stroller Giveaway

This stroller is awesome...and I want to win it! It has loads of fun features...dual reclining seats, extendable sunshades, and comes in great colours. I love it. Check it out

Hopefully Canadians can win too!

Seeking new template

So, as you can see I've changed my template. I don't really like it, but it was one of the best I could find. Does anyone know of good sites for blog templates? I want to change mine soon!

Kids at Play!

Lately I've been in search of places to take the kids where they can run around and get out of the house. I found out about a play area at the Market Mall. They had covered, heated parking too, so we didn't even have to drag our coats around in the mall. We went to a couple stores and then to "Kids at Play". They have a bunch of squishy plastic toys for kids to climb and slide on. It was fun to watch them run around. Hadley had a blast, and I didn't have to watch her too closely because I knew she would be all right. The boys though....I had to watch a little closer. They kept running in the opposite direction. Well, I guess they don't really "run" yet, they just walk as fast as they can. Luckily the area was gated and there was only one exit. It was interesting to see how differently Brian and Elijah play. Elijah was much more interested in the puzzle toys on the walls. Brian kept wanting to climb up everything, but he was a little to small to climb up most things(and they were all slippery), so I would have to lift him up, and then he would slide down and then want to do it again. Elijah liked to climb up things too...but not repeatedly...thank goodness! I think I had the most kids there though. You have to be under 42" to play, so I guess most people don't have 3 kids under that height. There was another mom there with 3 though. She had a 3 yr. old boy, and 15 month old twin girls. Just opposite of us. Weird.

It was a fun day, but Elijah hasn't had a nap, and Brian only slept a bit in the car, so I might be regretting this decision in about an hour...oh well!