Summer 2010 - Week #5

It has been a slower week last week.
We haven't done much, but it has been an easy, enjoyable week.

We have been to three library programs,

one free Tae-kwon-do lesson (which she absolutely LOVED),

one market and one park,

one art gallery,

Jaymi has built a fort in the backyard (with Mark's help and lots of power tools),

we have had one dinner outside,

we have watched the making of a beautiful, elaborate local fountain,

we have been princesses together for a day, which involved:
talking like princesses ("farewell" instead of "goodbye", "after you!" when we go through doorways, "I adore you" instead of "I love you", walking on tip-toes, walking softly and NOT thumping, holding our purses correctly and standing with our feet together, and sitting properly).
Jaymi has been 'teaching' me about how to be a princess.

And she has bought her very own little adult-like purse from the dollar store.  She had a lot of fun while we sat outside of Starbucks, organizing what goes in each pocket (she was happy to find a purse with THREE pockets).  She has the following in her purse:
- keys-house and car (they are really those tiny keys that come with diaries)
- lip balm (to keep a princess's lips soft)
- sunscreen (to protect the princess's soft skin)
- mirror and comb (she says that princesses like to look at themselves)
- kleenex
- cell phone
- cards (her pretend credit card, pretend coupon, and hotel key from a vacation we took - pretending it's another card)
- change

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.

Park Playdate