Both my little children have completely different personalities and I have started to notice that Audrey, who is generally my little comedian, has developed a bit of an evil streak at 20 months.

Case in point, I am currently typing on a laptop without the “J”, “F1”, “.” or “?” keys. Instead I have little white nubs.

NUBS!

Fortunately I have managed to painstakingly reattach the other 9 letters she pulled off while I had innocently ran outside to grab something from my car.

I think I was gone for about 20 seconds.

Imagine had been outside for a full minute.

I’m hoping this will just be a phase that will pass through briefly, so she can catch up to her sister’s current “Why?” stage.

Because that’s an awesome one…

It seems every Olivia conversation now revolves around the word ‘why’ and her need to understand something so intensely that she insists on asking ‘why’ after EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

(Good morning Olivia, would you like cereal?

Why?

Because, it’s an important part of your morning.

Why?

Because it starts your brain.

Why?

Because without your brain starting, you can’t think.

Why?

Because I said so.)

Yes, every conversation is beginning to end this way.

Ironically enough, as I just sat down for 5 minutes to type this post, I just turned around to see, the littlest one drawing on the wall…

Sometimes I wonder if this mommy will every have five minutes without disaster striking…

Did I also mention Audrey is doing a screaming thing? Try spending two hours at the Apple Store with a screaming kid.

It’s fun!

I also notice a lady who was in there just to use a computer (I mean seriously…Do you really need to be there?)  opted to put ear plugs in.

Who does that?

*Note to Self
Awesome… X-large double double, now all over the kitchen floor… thanks Audrey…was that 5 minutes?

Last weekend I had the mostly delightful Tea Party, hats were expected (and worn) and it was a smashing success (one tea cup later…)

Of the things I learned putting it all together were most importantly, that with two small children and one on the way, you can’t do everything yourself so it’s good to have a buddy – especially if they are an old friend. Little sandwiches make me smile. Devonshire Cream is also good for breakfast. And, oh my god, what if this baby is a boy child.

All in all it wound up being a beautiful day, the garden was lovely, tea was served, and the food was excellent – especially surprising was the Curried Chicken Sandwich – don’t be put off by all the ingredients , it’s really quite extraordinary!

CURRIED CHICKEN SANDWICHES

2 cups cubed, cooked chicken, pulsed in a food processor
1 small peeled apple, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 celery spears minced
1/8 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
1/2 to 3/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing – enough to bring it together
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon curry powder
12 slices crustless bread
Lettuce Leaves

Pulse chicken until it is broken up (but not smooshy)

In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients.

Combine mayonnaise, lime juice and curry powder; add to chicken mixture and stir to coat.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Spread on slices chicken salad and add a piece of lettuce.

Makes about 6 sandwiches

*Note to Self
I also learned it is totally worth splurging on expensive tea and cookies.

My hubby and I are opposites (cause you know, it ain’t fiction, just a natural fact) and we seem to mesh pretty well together except when it comes down to air conditioning.

I hate sleeping in a cold room. Now, I don’t love a super hot one either, but I’m pretty easy… that’s how I got pregnant for a third time…

(Just kidding mom…you thought it too).

But in the summer I opt to sleep with no blanket when I’m hot, and in the in the winter, when I’m cold, I choose to use a …blanket.

Simple right?

Apparently not.

The hubby doesn’t like to function under the same guidelines. He just likes air conditioning, naked, freezing, drooling with love for air conditioning. And I mean, freeze you out of house and home, I need to wear flannel in the middle of summer type air conditioning.

Not cool.

And because of that I now have an air conditioning cold that he is NOT taking responsibility for.

A cold in the middle of summer! I am dryer than a desert, and I feel like a creepy California raisin.

Now don’t get me wrong… I do like the feel of a cool room on a hot day. But Siberia in July is not my party destination.

In fact, if I had a choice… its winter in Australia right now… That means it’s like…30 degrees… right?

But how can one argue when you love your Hubby?  I must somehow take this all in stride, and try to survive the freezing summer nights, because what’s living like a Popsicle, for a man who would defend my pond, naked, at 2am from a pack of rabid raccoons, while holding a garden hose…?

*Note to Self
At least when it’s hot at night a girl can sweat off a pound or two…

Today I wanted peanut butter.

And when you want peanut butter, there is nothing worse than opening up a jar and looking down into nothing but scraps and old crumbs.

That didn’t matter. It was 7am, and I had already made toast. What’s a girl to do?

I literally took out a rubber scrapper and wiped that puppy clean, for the smallest amount of peanuty goodness.

It was pathetic; I was literally spreading 1/2 tsp over a sad little piece of toast, and the instant joy I felt was incredible.

Thank god I don’t have a drug problem…

Usually I don’t have peanut butter on hand. Lil’ A is allergic to peanuts, among other things, and I make Olivia suffer with her by eating almond butter. I still call it peanut butter… but even she knows the difference.

I’m just trying to keep the dream alive.

I tried almond butter.

I even tried to like it. But let’s be real here, if you spent your entire life just eating Skippy… Almond butter is like switching to Adams… You just don’t do that.

It’s a sacrifice, I just can’t make.

So secretly in the way back part of tallest the cupboard, I keep a lone jar of peanut butter… for me.

Can you blame me? It’s just for the odd breakfast pregnancy craving; nobody needs to know about it…

Sometimes…I just want PEANUT BUTTER.

Oh… did I just mention I was pregnant…?

I think I did.

Surprise!

Ok not really. I was out doing the Fort to Fort last Sunday, and while in line for the bathroom at Wendel’s another woman in front of me looked over and asked me how many weeks I had left to go.

Yeah…Like 37… This is gonna be awesome…

So I guess if I already look super pregnant, there is no point in hiding it and letting everyone assume I was just getting fat for the next 5 weeks.

Speaking of eating…

RIDICULOUS NO FLOUR PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1/2  tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Combine ingredients.

Roll out into bite sized ball and place on cookie sheet, and squish with a fork. Sprinkle liberally with more sugar.

Chill in the fridge for 1hr.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Makes 1 dozen (so double it…) lol

*Note to Self
Maybe this time around my ass will stay small…

Ahh, so much to write about….and yet feeling so lazy.

Is that normal?

I just spent the last week up country, first with my girly friends and later with my parents in 100 Mile visiting my grandma. It was lovely…

If you exclude the extreme heat and bats.

Yes, I said bats.

Don’t tell grandma I told you, or she would be mortified.

Actually they are quite a common occurrence in the homes up there and if you are ever staying up country in a room where you hear a lot of early morning and midnight chirping… those are not birds.

To be honest the chirping wasn’t that awful, it did, however, add an element of paranoia.  Sort of like when you’re a kid sleeping in your bed at night and the lights are all off and you can hear a lone mosquito, and you swear its buzzing right in front of you so you spend the rest of the night sweating under the covers to save yourself from the little bugger.

A night with bats is the same… except your just keeping your neck covered.

*Note to Self
Last week to sign up for the Apron Swap!!

I know, I know…I haven’t posted…but I have been abscent.

It’s the summer?…

I have taken a little, now extended vacation, off visiting my grandma in 100 Mile House – and believe me, there is quite the lack of internet here…

You don’t want to know what I had to do to get THIS connection!

I digress… It’s Wednesday, and you want a recipe… Pack this puppy up for your next potlock out in the sun!!!!

HASBROWN CASSEROLE

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bag (30 ounces) frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, partially thawed
8 medium green onions, sliced
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom and side of rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches, with shortening.

In very large bowl, mix soups, sour cream, milk and pepper. Stir in potatoes and onions. Spoon into baking dish.

Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until golden brown on top and bubbly around edges.

*Note to Self
REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR THE APRON SWAP!!

I love this recipe it takes 5 mins to make and hits the spot with its warm gooey chocolateyness…

CHOCO HOTO POTO

4 ramekins well buttered
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tbsp flour
1/2 (more) chocolate chips

Butter ramekins and heat oven to 400F

In the microwave – slowly- melt the chocolate chips and butter, mix and set aside

Combine eggs, sugar and flour and mix; slowly add the chocolate mixture stir until well blended.

Fold in chocolate chips

Pour mixture into ramekins and place on a baking sheet

Bake until tops are cracked about 20 mins. The centers will be gooey.

*Note to Self
Oh….so…. yummy

So last night I got spend the better part of two and a half hours watching other people’s children dance.

The highlight was not only a bunch of little mice that forgot their lines, and the four other people that got to sit in agony with me, but also the smallest little crocodile in the pinkest shoes on the planet.

*Note to Self
Proud mama… yes.

Here’s a fun idea!

To celebrate my blogs one year anniversary on July 6^th 2010 I’ve decided to announce:

THE NUTTERMOTHER APRON SWAP!

Half, full, frilly, retro, modern, pockets, ribbons, patterned or plain – it doesn’t matter as long as it’s an apron that’s newly crafted or (for the more craft challenged type of people) bought fresh.

It’s easy to play along, so share this with your friends and tell anyone you know who might like to join in the swap – the more the merrier!

RULES, RULES, RULES

1. Tell everyone you know!
2. Buy or hand make a full or half apron.   We want that puppy looking awesome so here’s your opportunity to get creative!
3. Email me your info: Name, address, email – HERE (or add a comment and I’ll message you)
4. If you do sign up you are responsible for sending one completed apron to your partner.
5. Sign up ends July 16^th, you will receive your partner’s information by July 18^th and you have just over 1 month to complete your apron.
6. All aprons must be mailed by August 16^th 2010, because who doesn’t want to get a gift in the mail?
7. Feel free send images of your finished aprons or of the one you received.
8. Have fun!

*Note to Self
Need some inspiration…or a pattern? Try this

Bookclub Day! click here, or follow the link above…

In other news, Ms O had her last day of preschool on Thursday. It was full on pomp and circumstance… okay I wasn’t, but it did have a few cute moments…

When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up Olivia had said she wanted ‘to be a girl named Olivia’.   Well,  she may not be reaching for the stars yet, but at least she won’t be changing her name to Olivier anytime soon.

But if she did, I would still love her, and with her father’s Greek lineage, facial hair will never be problem…

*Note to Self
I’m gonna miss my Tuesdays and Thursdays…