Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Brothers

These two crazies have definitely hit that stage where they have the same interests, and are friends (they are 3 years apart). Oftentimes the "friends" part involves lots of "he hurt me" "no he hurt me first", but...boys! They enjoy each others company, and often play wild LOUD running crazy imaginary games.

The nice days are when they are inspired to play calm and quiet games:-) A few days ago, they played cars for hours. Brian even came home from work early, and offered to take them to the store (for the necessary cilantro needed for an "emergency batch" of guacamole:-)...and they chose to stay home and play. I think that was a first!

Love these cute little guys






Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Surprisingly, Byron

Brian has had a few nicknames in his life. Barney is a noteable one - given to him by his former boss, and friend, Luc. I don't even really know how it happened, one day, he called him Barney, and it totally stuck. To the point that everyone on the jobsites didn't know that wasn't his real name, it's all they ever called him.

Well, now he has another one. Byron. It comes from this SNL skit, about Canada, which is hilarious. I believe he was officially dubbed by a new "boss", the youth pastor we work under at the church, Pastor Paul. Much to Brian's chagrin, he's being called Canadian-by-association:-)

Well Byron, surprisingly, Canada is not the threat that once it used to be:-D

My Favourite Things

It's been awhile since I've done a "My Favourite Things" post, and I thought I'd share something with you that I LOVE.

If you are someone who bakes and takes things places, this is sooooo nice. Or even if you just bake and keep it at home, still great. I never knew it existed, actually, until my sister in law was given one at a bridal shower a few years ago. Then I borrowed all.the.time, since we were neighbours. Then I moved. My life was basically incomplete, lacking this handy thing:
This is a Snapware 2 Layer Cupcake and Cookie Carrier. I got mine from Amazon for 20.99, free shipping:-)

Great things about this handy dandy storage container - well, first of all, you are not limited to 2 layers. If you buy more of them, you could do triple, or quadruple, or more!! Haha. They just snap to each other, so there is no end to how many you can stack and carry. I intend to buy one more set of these, actually, but so far I only have 2 layers.
It is big/tall enough that cupcakes piled high with icing don't touch the top. You can easily bring 24 cupcakes to an event, without them sliding around, getting smooshed, or getting plastic wrap stuck to the icing. That alone would make it worth the investment in my mind. But it doesn't end there...
When you arrive at your party, you easily lift the tray out, and snap the handles down - no need to transfer to another tray to set out on the table!
AND, it's reversible. It does the same thing for the other side, which is smooth, so cookies, or even small cakes can go on that side.
Again, snap the handles down the other way, and set it out! So easy.
It's a sturdy and well made product. I feel there is nothing similar on the market (that I have seen, and I've looked). For an approximate $20 price tag - uber worth it.
Here I have mini blueberry muffins, using the "cookie" side of the tray. I have no intention of going anywhere, but I do need to make more banana muffins today, so they will go on the bottom - keeps the flavours from melding, and they snap together to keep everything fresh on your counter - without having a bunch of different containers going on on the countertops containing all the baked goods.

I so totally highly recommend this product, it's not even funny. I seriously think you need this. And it really makes the best wedding gift ever!

Monday, April 28, 2014

Box Hockey

We sure do have fun with our "Grace Gatherings" - yesterday we hosted 35 people for dinner and fellowship, and the weather was so perfect, allowing us to use the outdoor space we have with this "new house". It's a really great house for hosting a crowd, when the weather is nice, that is for sure.

In the yard we had a few games to play too like, Washers (similar to cornhole) and Box Hockey! Here Brian is playing Pastor Paul, but I am unsure who won this one. It's basically a fight using ax handles and heavy ball (boce or similar). Totally fun. We had a marvelous fire, roasted marshmallows, and made cookies (and ice cream sandwiches), and a little midnight snack milkshake, with whipped cream and a cherry on top! Who doesn't wish they were over for a night of fun and fellowship?!


Saturday, April 26, 2014

Mt Trashmore

We played at Mt Trashmore today with lots of friends. It was the perfect day to do so! I wish we'd brought our kite to fly! Baseball got "rained out" because a big storm came through last night, leaving the field underwater this morning.
Mountain Climbers!


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Maisy Daisy

Well, this is a glimpse of what talks to me all day long. I've been watching May everyday since she was 3 months old! She's soooo not a baby anymore (she was 2 in Oct), and I can't say I'm sad to see the era gone. The occasional babysitting for a baby or 1 year old, and yah. I guess you don't realize how much work it is, until you're not in it anymore;-) There is MUCH wisdom in having all your kids close together. Yes, it is helpful to have older ones to watch and help...but really...it's much easier to stick with one age bracket instead of spanning them all. But anyway, she's still the "baby" around here and generally has figured out a way to use her "sad eyes" to manipulate Kenna into anything she wants.

She is also quite the talker! Mind you, not very many things are real words, but if you're tracking with her, you'll get the gist of it. It's adorably cute Alien Language, as my kids call it.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter

We had a fun time with friends this Easter! Last year, we were with family in Canada for this holiday, but year, we missed the family...and mountains of snow? Haha. Maybe not really the snow part:-)


My cuties! 8, 7 in ten days, and 4!

Trying to capture a picture of pile of very excited kids!
We spend the morning at church, and the afternoon and evening with friends. We had delicious food - (and too much of it!) and of course, an egg hunt for the kids.


Jackson loved finding a ring pop!


They were much more interested in counting their loot than posing for a pic, but I made them say cheese:-)
It was a good day for games too - Girls beat Guys in CatchPhrase, and I won Game of Things, yay!

I wish I'd taken more pictures, or got one of Brian and I, but oh well! I hope everyone had a great day celebrating our risen Lord!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Cookies Galore

Ok, well, I kinda did something crazy...
I started an impromptu cookie business!
Say WHAT?! Yah, I know. I'm hardly qualified. I've posted on this blog every cookie I've made so far...sooo...that started with Hello Kitty, like, 3 weeks ago. Haha. I am FAR from experienced. This is my third "batch"/time making cookies like this.
And to the "trained eye" (like mine, HAHA) there are more errors than I can even name. But I am a bit of a perfectionist, and well, icing is kind of a hard medium to figure out. Additionally, I have the least steady hand in the world. Or at least in the cookie business. I guarantee it.

I am a testament to all you can accomplish watching youtube videos. Not kidding.

For example, I have never made a leaf in my life. I have a leaf tip, because it came in the set of basic tips from Wilton...never used once. Until these little guys. So my leaves need much work.
So, I posted pics of my lovely cookies on facebook (which I am making these as thank you gifts, actually). Lots of rave reviews, and people messaging me asking about orders and stuff. So I made an fb "business" page, just to keep it separate from my Personal page.

I called it Cookies & Cupcakes by Darby Jane. I feel like I need better title. Anyway, it was all that was coming to me yesterday morning when I did it:-) So since yesterday morning - I have orders for
400 cookies
150 cookies (still tentative)
25 cookies
a smash cake and cupcakes
and an undetermined number of cookies for a wedding

Um, WOW. Ok. Not bad for 1 day in business, I guess, right?! Good news is, I learn fast, and can only get better from here:-)




These little guys were for a customer - doing an Easter dinner tonight, with a "lamb" theme.
Chocolate/chocolate

Almond cake, filled with raspberry, topped with almond buttercream and a cute little lamb
So anyway, I won't turn this blog into a cookie one, if you want to see pics of all my work, you can like me on facebook for updates. I'm sure I'll post about how it's going from time to time, since it's part of life, and that's what this is all about: Living life, and sharing the journey!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Our Neighbourhood

I've been trying to become a runner. For the sole purpose of losing weight/being in shape, really. So the kids come with me and run, ride bikes or scooters along side me...or waaaay up ahead of me:-) Today Brooks decided he would walk/run and take pictures of birds on the trip. I don't know that he saw any birds, but a few other neighbourhood treasures caught his eye.

I asked him to come tell me about the pictures he took, and his exact quotes are under the pictures they relate to;-) Enjoy!



I like that shed, because it's not a dirty shed. It's a nice shed, so I like it.

Yah, I don't have a sentence about this one


So, I was looking actually for houses actually, like if we want to move again, maybe we would want to move into this 'pecific house. Like, it looks like a pretty good house, actually.

That one, I was trying to get that really good house, but I took the picture too soon, but it was a really good house.

That was a little too blurry, but it had palm trees beside it
Oh, see that car? I took a picture of that car, because it looks pretty fancy. I really like that car, and I thought Grey'd like it.

That's a part of the house, I took

This one, I took of picture only of that part, cause it looks really good, right. Isn't that doorway pretty?
That one! Oh yah, the Honda! That one is so you can give it to Miss Foster on the computer. Cause it reminds me of just like their car.
I tried to take a picture of that mailbox. It's a nice one
See that house?! That was my favourite house! See how beautiful it is?

Hair Be Gone

Using her dress as a "ruler" - her hair came to just below the embroidered bodice, and after...not so much!! A lot of hair, gone!

She loves it. It was her first haircut by someone other than Brian or I - and it was Great Clips, haha;-)