Helping Daddy

It was a chilly Saturday afternoon but that didn't stop Liam from dressing up enthusiastically and running to help Linds rake up some of our leaves. He was out there for a lot longer than I though he would be and he had fun helping.

Thanksgiving

We were able to go to Saskatoon for Thanksgiving weekend this year and spent some time with both families. Here are the Anderson grandkids. The cute new addition is Isabella Rose, Chris and Sam's little one.

What's Kickin'...at 36 weeks!

I found this shirt last week and couldn't resist. I haven't bought much in the way of maternity clothes this time and have recently felt very frumpy. I think that has more to do with my expanding size than the lack of "in" clothing I have. :) If my due date of November 24 is anywhere close to when this baby will arrive, I have less than a month to go!

I am...

I am... half Canadian, half American

I want... to always have a great servant attitude when our ministry at NBC means extra hours of work for Lindsay away from us.

I have... a wonderful husband, a 2 year old and a pregnant belly

I wish... Liam's skin irritations would clear up now or at least as he gets older

I know... that my Redeemer lives and his mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!

I hate... opening my fridge and realizing by the smell that it's time to find that tupperware containing the scary remnants of a meal gone by.

I fear... heights and creepy crawly things.

I hear... Liam walking around the house holding books that he wants me to read to him

I crave... chocolate

I search... for that balance between family and ministry.

I always... love a good book and a cup of java

I usually... try to do things first in my own strength before I stop to trust, lean and acknowledge God.

I am not... an extrovert, but maybe not an introvert either...somewhere inbetween.

I miss... Liam taking naps, which means I got to nap once in a while too

I love... my life

I never... have cheered for the Dallas Cowboys, nor will I ever!

I rarely... turn down the opportunity to watch a football game.

I cry... when I've had a rough day or when I am mad about something

I lose... my temper when too many frustrating things take place in a day

I am confused... about why there must be three to four evenings a week dedicated to dancing competitions on our two channels (sorry Jen).

I should... fold the laundry I did two days ago...and then iron. ;)

I worry... about the labour pain coming up in a few weeks.

I dream... about seeing friends and loved ones again that have gone to heaven.

I tag... Brad (my brother) & Jen (my wonderful friend)...but I don't know how to put links to their blogs in this posting...thought I did, but it didn't work.

Can you tell me how to get...how to get to Sesame Street?

We were recently at my parents house where, besides my parents, live a few of the most annoying toys made with kids in mind. There's the Leap Frog counting train guaraunteed to not only teach your child how to count but is able to get a song in your head that may take weeks and certain over the counter drugs to exit your brain. And if it's not bad enough in English, it just happens to be smarter than most and is bilingual. Yes, that's right...you can sit in my parents living room on any given weekend and hear a very annoying rendition of the train song in French. I won't even "sing" it for you as the drugs and several weeks of counseling have cleared it from my brain. :)

Oh, and then there are my personal favorites and the reason I write this post this evening. My parents have great neighbours that have handed down some toys for Liam. This was a great idea until my parents decided that two of these toys should go home with us the last time we visited. The two I am referring to are the Sesame Street violin and electric guitar. I can picture you cringing already. These two have so many different buttons on them it is impossible for Liam or anyone his age and size to walk past and resist the temptation to push them. Now, he isn't content with just sitting there and pushing a button, listening to the song and then pushing the next one. No, he has to find a couple buttons he likes and pushes them almost at the same time and continues to do so until you think you just went through a portal and our now standing inside a Sesame Street night club with Ernie in the corner scratching some records. To add to this loveliness, there is a button on the electric guitar that changes the key as it plays. This is my favorite button. Sometimes to live it up a little, Liam will play both instruments at the same time. What a talented young man we have hey?! And what, you may ask, I am doing while Liam is showing off his great musical ability? I am in the next room trying a new recipe that requires sticking a bunch of different veggies into a food processor so there are pieces of veggie all over the counter and the floor. I'm also half way through making a batch of cookies that Liam was helping me with before he decided to enter into the Sesame Street night club scene. Into this scene walks Lindsay after work today. Poor man. Instead of being greeted by a happy wife holding his slippers (this doesn't usually happen) and ready with a kiss ;) he gets to walk into veggie chernobyl where his wife is about ready to grab the two afore mentioned toys, walk outside and place them on the drive way and then proceed to back the CRV over them. Thankfully this does not happen and we eventually clean up the kitchen, eat supper and laugh about the toys later in the evening. I believe the words, "devil incarnate" were used regarding these toys but now that they are safely tucked away on the shelf and Liam is sleeping I have a better attitude.

I'm still trying to figure out however, why my parents figured it was best to have the Sesame Street band here 24/7 when they only have to hear them when Liam comes over. Maybe it's because Dad just couldn't resist the urge to push those buttons when walking past the toy box. I know first hand how this could be slightly annoying for mom. It is more likely though that they are getting back at me for the years of frustrating and annoying things I did while at home, especially those during the years we now call the brat years (3-9). I guess when I put it that way, I should probably ask if we can bring the Leap Frog train home with us too. I do owe them...a lot.

For those of you who are interested...

Crunchy-Top Pumpkin Cheesecake (pictured below)
Welcome a dramatic new dessert to your fall table this year. Our creamy pumpkin cheesecake, glowing russet brown with easy-to-make caramel topping or shards, will add pizzazz to a bountiful feast.

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 mL) gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 9 large cookies)
1/2 cup (125 mL) finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter, melted
2 Pkg (each 8 oz/250 g) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup (125 mL) sour cream
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) pumpkin purée
1 tsp (5 mL) each cinnamon and vanilla
1/2 tsp (2 mL) each ground ginger and nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
1/3 cup (75 mL) packed brown sugar

Preparation:
1. Grease 9-inch (2.5 L) springform pan; line side with waxed or parchment paper. Centre pan on square of heavy-duty foil; press to side of pan.

2. In bowl, combine cookie crumbs, pecans and butter; press evenly over bottom of pan. Bake in centre of 350F (180C) oven for 10 minutes or until firm to the touch. Let cool on rack.

3. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time; beat in sour cream. Beat in pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg and cloves; pour over crust smoothing top.

4. Place pan in roasting pan; pour in enough hot water to come 1 inch (2.5 cm) up sides of pans. Bake in centre of 350F (180C) oven for about 50 minutes or until edge is puffed and centre is just set.

5. Turn oven off; let cool in water bath in oven, with door closed, for 1 hour. Remove pan from water. Remove foil; let cool completely in pan on rack. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until chilled, or for up to 24 hours. Score into 12 servings.

On greased foil-lined baking sheet, trace 9-inch (23 cm) circle; with spatula, spread brown sugar evenly over circle.

6. With oven door ajar and watching closely, broil sugar for 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbling and starting to darken, rotating pan to melt evenly. With greased knife, immediately cut into 12 triangles; let harden. To serve, break along cuts; with tips at centre, stand long edge of each at 45-degree angle on scored lines.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

As I sit at the computer tonight...tired from a long day and trying to keep my mind off sweet treats (which I have lately been craving...a lot)...I decide to post about a cheesecake I made last week. Really brilliant pregnant one! Thankfully it takes longer than I have tonight to make another cheesecake. I will just try to keep my paws out of the chipits bag in the pantry. :) I had a few ladies over last week and thought I would use the Fall theme and put together a pumpkin cheesecake. I tried a new recipe off the Internet and overall I was impressed. Lindsay caught me taking pictures of it before they arrived and just laughed at me. I told him the pictures were an attempt to keep me blogging more often. Looks like it worked this time. Now where are those chipits? :)

Spitz, Green Bay Packers and Miami Mice

Picture this...it's the 1980s and it's a Sunday afternoon. A family of four has come home from church and has already eaten lunch. The brown and orange plaid arm chair in the living room has been pulled across the orange and brown shag carpet to get it closer to the TV and the dad is sitting in it. He is sporting a mustache and has changed from his church clothes (which might have, on that day, included his light brown mesh loafers that were at that time all the rage) into his comfy "Miami Mice" (a spoof on the TV show "Miami Vice") shirt and jeans. Some have said that his appearance then could be compared to the Kokanee beer guy on the recent commerials...just to help you with the mental picture. :) Beside one leg is a bag of sunflower seeds and a bowl for the shells. On his other leg sits a small and captivated young girl about 7 years old. No doubt this young girl is also wearing something that fit the decade and a hair style to match (sorry, no pictures to prove this fact) :) The chair they both occupy has been pulled closer to the TV because they are watching a National Football League football game. If they're lucky it's the Packers playing the Bears but even if it's not, the two don't mind because they are together, watching football and eating spitz. If you were to walk in the front door of the house at any part of the game you might just hear the words, "KILL HIM" or "GET HIM" as the dad cheers on his team and wants them to make that important tackle.

The picture I have painted for you is the reason why to this day I get excited about watching football, either on TV or live. I was that little girl and (sorry Dad) the guy wearing that wonderful shirt was the dad. To this day when I sit down to watch a game with Lindsay I think of those Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings when I got to sit and watch with my dad. My mom enjoy watching football once in a while and on one occasion bought him a coffee mug that read, "I interrupt this marriage to bring you the football season". He definitely used to watch a lot more than he does now. This probably makes my mom thankful.

Lindsay and I don't have cable but CTV does show a NFL game or two every Sunday afternoon after church. As I cleaned up the dishes this last Sunday I noticed that Lindsay and Liam were sitting on the arm chair in the living room and watching the game together. I grabbed the camera and the result is what you see above. Of course this made the memories flood back. Spitz, Packers and Miami Mice. :) To this day watching football with my Dad is like coming in from playing outside in December to a warm plate of cookies and cocoa. It's like coming home. I'm so thankful for my Dad for so many reasons. One is that he shared this special time with me and it's part of who I am today...a crazy football fan (Go Riders! Go Packers!) who loves Sunday afternoons, watching the game or listening to it on the radio, spending time with my guys and coming home from a live game with no voice. Thanks Dad!

2 3/4 going on 18...

Liam's friend Addison (well his mom actually) just called to see if he could come over to play. With my head cold and lack of voice I decided it wouldn't be a great idea for today so Addison then asked if Liam could come over there to play. Of course his answer was yes so we set to work getting his jacket, shoes and hat on. He gave me a hug, opened the door and from the deck looked up and said, "love you, bye". He then proceeded to run through our backyard to Addison's house. I know that for all you mom's of older children this scene is no doubt a daily occurance but for me it was the first time that Liam ran over to a friend's house by himself. It thrills my heart that he is becoming independant enough to do this but as I watched him run through the leaves to get to the other yard I couldn't help think that it will only be a couple/three years before I watch him get onto the school bus...and before you know it off to youth retreats, college, marriage... As our little man becomes more man every day I know that these years are going to go by so fast. I pray that God gives us the wisdom to parent this precious child, a gift from Himself to us to help prepare, provide for and protect.

Another Belly Shot

Yep, I'm growing...or should I say, the baby is growing. Both would be accurate. I've hit the stage where sleeping can be difficult but very necessary. I've also hit the tired third trimester. Besides getting tired more quickly, I am feeling very good. The baby kicks and moves around a lot and I am having fun slowing getting the nursery ready. This picture was taken just a couple days ago at 33 weeks. We're getting closer!

Bowling 101

On Friday night we went bowling with the Yadlowskys. Their oldest boy is the same age as Liam and like Liam, this was his first experience with bowling. Addison and Liam did a great job. They were always very excited when their turns came up and by the end of the game both of them were bowling all by themselves. The gutters got a work out but it was so much fun to watch them figure it all out. Of course, the adults had fun as well. My first shot down the lane I forgot that I had a belly the size of a basketball, didn't adjust for the extra size and ended up pulling a muscle. :) We ended off the evening at DQ for ice cream. Something that I am much more equipped to do it my state than bowl!

Liam's New Look

Wednesday night was haircut night in the Anderson home. We decided to try buzzing Liam's hair instead of using the scissors. As you can see he wasn't really excited about sitting there for the event but I think the outcome looks pretty snazzy. The razor we used is not what it used to be so there are a few spots I notice that I need to trim. People have told me since the haircut that he looks a lot more like Lindsay.

Setting up the baby's room

The other day we decided to start setting up the baby's room. Lindsay and my Dad painted in there back in August but it is exciting to be setting things up. My mom is working on curtains and Doug and Tina just lent us a baby swing and rocking chair. It doesn't sound like I've had much to do with the process. That's because I haven't yet, but I'm looking forward to opening those couple boxes marked "newborn" from when Liam was that little and setting up the rest. We're getting closer...which reminds me that I should post another belly shot. I'll try to have one on here soon.

Oh, Brother...

I love my brother. I like to be silly...yikes, our whole family likes to be silly, but Brad definitely takes the cake in the silliness department. These pictures were taken at Steven and Camille's wedding. I wanted a picture of Craig & Jen so he was on purse duty for Jen. Of course, Brad could not pass up an opportunity to use this and of course his almost equally silly sister could not pass up the opportunity to take a picture. Very nice Brad. I think the purse goes well with your outfit.

The Core

September long weekend we were very excited to celebrate with Steven and Camille as they got married in Saskatoon. Camille and I grew up going to the same church, same high school, youth group...and she was a bridesmaid at our wedding. She is a wonderful friend. Someone that you just want to be around. She's fun, bubbly, sincerely cares for others, has an amazing ability to do more than you think is possible in a 24 hour period, loves her Saviour with a passion...the list could go on. We are very excited that she found such a great guy. A guy who is now officially a part of "The Core". This is a name that we started using the year that a College & Career group started up at DDCC (the year that Lindsay and I were living in Saskatoon between years at NBC). There were some nights when it was just the Glens, Andersons and Camille. That didn't stop us from having fun and digging into Ezekiel. Yep, it was tough slugging at times but interesting and different (way to be courageous Craig!) We dearly love this group of people and very much miss seeing them on a weekly basis.

The Stuffy Nose

I hope that Liam sleeps well tonight and doesn't cry out every time he tries to breathe through his stuffy nose. This happened last night. I think God might be trying to prepare me for life with a newborn again. Yikes. I could not for the life of me get him to just relax, open his mouth and breathe that way. God forbid I try to put some Vicks Vapour Rub under his nose. He's fine with that during the day (when he doesn't need it) but is extremely freaked about the whole thing at 3:00 in the morning.

Actually come to think of it...maybe it's not the vapour rub that he's freaked out about...maybe it's me. :) I can't look all that attractive and motherly at 3 am...hair matted, big pregnant bulge gutt pushing out of my PJs, bags under my eyes, a pasted on "I love you but really wish you would sleep...forever" look on my face that probably looks like it could quickly turn to the "stop crying or I will give you something to cry about" look. Oh never mind, he couldn't possibly be scared of that! :) It must be the strong vapour rub smell. That's what I will tell myself anyway. Ahh...being a mother. Why do I get the feeling that I will never completely understand how to do this.

Camping Adventures

A couple weeks ago we decided to borrow a bigger tent and head to Nipawin Regional Park for a Friday night of camping. When it's just been the two of us we've gone farther and for longer, but with Liam we thought we would start with baby steps just in case. As you can see he was a great helper and enjoyed cooking his supper, eating it outside and sleeping in the tent. That last one I mentioned was a little fun. I wasn't scared but with all the excitement it took him a while to go to sleep. Lindsay and I had had plans to relax by the fire and read but that didn't happen quite as planned. Once he was finally asleep we joined him and had a pretty good night. Something I would suggest to other pregnant women out there considering going camping and sleeping on the ground...bring a foamy. It wasn't terrible but I was definitely happy to sleep in our bed the next night. All in all it was a great time.

Friends and Summer

A couple weeks ago we helped our friend, Doug Kroeker celebrate his 30th birthday. We did this on a house boat from the regional park in Nipawin. We had a beautiful evening and lots of fun.

Swimming Lessons

Liam went into swimming lessons again this summer. He did a great job but we could tell that he is a year older and more aware of the "risks" of such activities. Last year he didn't think twice about sliding down the slide or jumping off the edge. Although the water didn't seem to scare him, this year he was a bit more timid. Unlike last year though, he did a great job with his floats. This whole experience made me very thankful that we decided to hold him back and do the same class he did last year. That means I got to be in the water with him. That was a nice bonus. He passed "Duck" again and will go onto "Seaturtle" next summer.

The little man in the raspberry patch

The other day Lindsay and I were moving things out of the spare room and into the garage in preparation for him and Dad painting the baby's room this weekend. Liam had been helping us move the little stuff but then disappeared for a while. I went around the garage and into the yard and quickly saw a little head poking out from behind the raspberry patch. I ran back inside and grabbed the camera and got two of these shots while he was still unaware of my presence. This kid could eat raspberries until he turned into one. We often just come outside, walk through the garden and have a snack. Gardening has been a lot of fun with Liam this year. He helped plant all 27 potato plants and is a lot more excited to eat potatoes because he's got a sense of ownership. Obviously in his mind he also owns the raspberry patch. :)