Sandwich Slump

So after many years of school and work my husband is sick of sandwiches. Especially since the last couple of years he has not had a work place with a microwave so I cant send leftovers or soup. Over the years I have tried to think of different types of sandwiches or other food I can send that add variety. I thought I would share, and feel free to share other ones with me!

Meat - I think I have had him try every type of deli meat in the store!
Peanut Butter & Banana - the key to this one is to make sure there is peanut butter on both pieces of bread so the banana is completely encompassed
Chicken Breast - slice up a leftover chicken breast for a different type of texture to deli meat
Peanut butter & Jam
BLT - good old bacon, lettuce and tomato


Instead of bread, try using a pita pocket or a tortilla

Salad: I throw as much as I can into a salad to make it as filling as possible. Such as lettuce; tomato; cheese; carrots; bacon bits; croutons; slice hard boiled egg; or pretty much anything else! I do send the croutons and the dressing in a seperate container.

Hard boiled eggs or devilled eggs. Still gives him protein but is a change from sandwiches.

Popcorn - pre-popped popcorn, but only as a partial meal.
Crackers & Cheese - also only a partial meal.

Hopefully if you are stuck for ideas in adding variety to your packed lunches maybe you have taken away a few, and once again, if you have anything to add, please do!

Lead me not into temptation, I can find the way myself

The last couple of days I have been thinking about temptation. Why is it so easy to fall into? The obvious answer is, its tempting. But what is it? Is it our sin nature, is it selfishness, is it simply us being too weak? I think we could blame any number of things, and different things for different situations, but when it comes down to it, there is no excuse.

We are all guilty of giving into temptation, but I think its learning not to get ourselves into situations, or sometimes you are in the situation before you realize its a bad one, but to always look for the way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

I like that verse because it really sums things up nicely.
-You aren't tempted anymore than anyone else has been.
-You aren't tempted past a point where you could say "it wasn't my fault". You still made the choice.
-God didn't say it was going to be easy, that's why its called temptation, but He will help you out of it, as long as you look to Him

Carmie

I had started blogging about members of my family and why they are particularily special to me, and so I shall continue on with my older sister Carmen, since it is her birthday today.

Ahh the older sister. The one you always tried to copy when you are younger.

Some of my favourite memories growing up with Carmen was wrapping Shelley up like a mummy, playing with Carmen, and learning things from my big sister.

Learning things like, if you are in the bathtub, and you dont want to waste time to go to the toilet, just poop in the tub, line up your turds along the edge of the tub and then flush them down the toilet later. Thanks Carmen!

Now Carmen on the outside is a little more reserved and not quite as out going. But, there is a very fun side to Carmen that isn't often seen. I have had the joy of spending many times with her where she is completely at ease. She is goofy, she is silly, she lets her "inside voice" come out, she is relaxed and she is a little crazy. Those are honestly my favourite moments, and I think its because she lets herself be herself. I'm not saying she isn't herself other times, but when she has her guard down completely, she is different than how most people have to opportunity to see her. It doesn't hurt if we have had a drink or two as well. :)

I am priveledged to have those fun special moments with her.

Thought Process of a 1 year old

Most adults really don't give babies enough credit for their intelligence. Sometimes I think my baby is smarter than some adults.

Now that she is 1, she is mastering the walking thing. She had taken a few steps before her first birthday, but a couple of days after, she decided this walking thing was okay. She will walk, and walk and walk. Sometimes she has walked in circles for 30 min, just because. As of Monday, she no longer needs a source to pull herself up on. No one showed her how, she just figured it out.

She has also learned that if mommy tries to eat something secretively, that its usually something Zoe wants. The other day she realized I was just finished chewing something and she pryed my mouth open with her finger and tried to pick chocolate out of my teeth.

Although we were initially opposed to baby sign language, when she started screaming to get what she wanted, we saw the value in it. She knows more, please, milk, thankyou and all-gone.

She also comprehends a lot of what I say. I have to spell milk out otherwise she starts signing it to me and tries to pull down or lift up my shirt. She does understand no - but often doesn't want to listen. If there is something she isnt supposed to have, she will try to go to the other room so I dont see her.

Yesterday, after calling moommm for several minutes from her crib, and me not responding to her, she quickly changed her tune to dadde dadde.

Every animal is a "daw" even if it isn't a dog. She also tries to say banana, and Grandma. She also taught her cousin Hailey to call the cat a "daw" much to Auntie Shelley's dismay.

Zoe understands to a degree the different roles that mommy and daddy play. She knows she doesn't see daddy as much as mommy. She can be perfectly content playing with daddy in a room, and then she will come find mommy - because she has pooped!! And she knows that daddy has never given her a clean bum.

I'm always amazed to see what new thing she will come up with. The amount of information that babies learn is their first year is mind-boggling. I'm surprised they dont have a constant headache!

Zoe keeps me busy with her antics, but I wouldn't change her one bit.

PS: As I was just blogging this, she put her toy in the recycling bin and managed to get the kitchen garbage can lid open (its one of those small step cans) and pull out a wrapper. The fun never ends.

Moms are Marvellous

I am very thankful that I have such a wonderful mother to celebrate. I appreciate her all of the time, but with tomorrow being mothers day, we pay extra attention to the fact that we have wonderful mothers.

It is also wonderful that I get to celebrate my second mother's day. The first one I hadn't been a mother that long. But now that I have had a full year to be my mother, it is the best job in the world, and we are wayy luckier than dads.

I love my mom and I love being a mom!

My Baby Is 1 Tomorrow

Well at this time last year, I was pretty sure I was in the very beginning stages of labour. I had just felt it was real.

Tomorrow my baby turns one. I am very happy and excited for her to reach this milestone. But I am also a little sad today thinking about it. For me it means a few things. She is more of a toddler than a baby. I have to go back to work in a few days and this is the end of the best year of my life so far. I know there is a lot more life still holds, and I have many more years to potentially have an even better year, but this really has been the best year of my life so far.

I am so richly blessed in so many things, but most of all my family.

I love you so much Zoe. You mean the world to me.



Enjoying her cake at her party.

Having a cat vs. having a baby

CAT: You clean up its poop
BABY: You clean up its poop

CAT: Climbs all over your lap
BABY: Climbs all over your lap

CAT: Anything you are eating, it wants
BABY: Anything you are eating, it wants

CAT: Unrolls the toilet paper roll
BABY: Unrolls the toilet paper roll

CAT: Creates extra mess in the house
BABY: Creates extra mess in the house

CAT: Makes noise for attention/food/etc
BABY: Makes noise for attention/food/etc

CAT: Allows you to give them affection on their terms
BABY: Allows you to give them affection on their terms

CAT: Loves to play with your hair
BABY: Loves to play with your hair

CAT: Unseemingly knows exactly how to be underfoot
BABY: Unseemingly knows exactly how to be underfoot

CAT: Loves you til you forget to feed them
BABY: Loves you in a way no cat ever could