Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A weekend of playdates!

Jaymi had a full and fun long weekend.

Friday - after school, we went to the library to return her last 10 books and borrow some more.  She read one in the library while I looked for books for myself, and as usual, she read one on the way home in the car as well.

I have to make a comment on her chosen outfit for earlier that day, too.  She wanted to wear a gymnastics/dance bodysuit with leggings, but no skirt over top, and a cropped sweater.  There was nothing really wrong with the outfit...it just looks a bit strange.  To me.  Not to her.  Ah well...I figure on those days, there is no way that anyone is assuming that we picked out her outfit, right? ;)


Saturday - ballet followed by a playdate with Gareth and Kaytlyn (long time friends since preschool).  Beautiful sunny day with lots of outdoor playing.

Sunday - off to the store with Daddy, then a playdate with Shayla, including fun at the park.

Monday - a trip to Rona with Daddy, followed by a trip to Dairy Queen for a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone, and then lots of outdoor fun at home playing pretend, finishing a puzzle, playing Velcro Ball (among other games) with Colton (our neighbour),

and finishing off the day watching the hockey game together and eating a yummy dinner.


Here is the recipe for our dinner and our dessert.  Mmmmmm :) !!

Slow-Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner:
3-4 pounds corned beef brisket, packaged with spices
water, to cover
1 pound baby carrots
1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges
potatoes
hot mustard

Cut the brisket and add to slow cooker, along with included spices. Cover meat with water and cook on low 7 hours.
In the last hour, add the carrots.
Steam or boil cabbage separately.
Serve with hot mustard and mashed potatoes.


Clean Eating Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp:
2 stalks rhubarb, sliced
18-21 fresh strawberries, sliced
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp honey
1/2 lemon, juice only
3 tbsp flour, spelt
TOPPING
1 cup oats, old-fashioned
1/4 cup Sucanet (or sugar, if you don't have Sucanet)
1/4 cup coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
2 tbsp flour, spelt
2 tbsp flaxseed, ground
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F.
In an 8 x 8-inch baking pan, combine rhubarb, strawberries, 1 tsp cinnamon, honey and lemon juice. Sprinkle with 3 tbsp flour and gently toss to coat.
Prepare topping: In a medium bowl, add all topping ingredients. Mix until well combined, then spread over fruit mixture in baking pan.
Place pan in oven and bake 25-35 minutes, until topping is golden brown.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Pet Cetera Field Trip

Jaymi's class went to Pet Cetera for a field trip last week.

They got to see various animals, like....

cats,

dogs,

a ferret (one of Jaymi's new favourite animals - she was thrilled to see it in real life),

birds,

rabbits,

mice,

and of course, fish, chinchillas, hamsters and guinea pigs.

They also had to price out how much it would cost to buy a specific animal and what you would need to buy to take care of it.
Jaymi's group chose the ferret, and learned that it would cost $375 to buy the ferret, a cage, wood shavings, a water bottle, food, a bed, a toy, a food bowl, and a hay guard.

Thursday, May 20, 2010