2007/12/30

Christmas with family


Getting spoiled.
Callum and his Uncle Dan

Merry Christmas!



Proost!


Mom and Leanne being...well, Mom and Leanne!


No one saved me any dessert...*pout*


Callum and his Aunty LeanneHi Gramma!

Turkey two ways - barbequed and....

... roasted! Yum!

Listening intently to Gramma's story

It was funny.
Love on both sides
Eric and his model squint


Two sistas

2007/12/15

A Christmas Carol?

A lot of Christmas carols highly romanticize the birth of Christ. Although this event, in which God becomes man, is the most amazing thing to ever happen, it is not praised in the proper way with these traditional carols. Consider for example "Away in a Manger" where Jesus wakes up because "the cattle are lowing", but "the little Lord Jesus no crying he makes". He's a newborn baby! Anyone who's had a child can attest to the fact that newborns cry, and they cry quite a bit! Jesus was perfect, but he suffered and endured everyday things that we deal with when he became man. He felt pain, sorrow, and hunger just as we do. The following song has got to be the worst, though...well, along with "Little Drummer Boy", which is pretty silly...

Do You Hear What I Hear? written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne

Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see? A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite, With a tail as big as a kite."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, "Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear? A song, a song high above the trees With a voice as big as the the sea, With a voice as big as the the sea."

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, "Do you know what I know? In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know? A Child, a Child shivers in the cold-- Let us bring him silver and gold, Let us bring him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people everywhere, "Listen to what I say! Pray for peace, people, everywhere, Listen to what I say! The Child, the Child sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light, He will bring us goodness and light."

The REAL story...

Matthew 2

2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men
[1] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose [2] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,weeping and loud lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children;she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

2007/12/13

Pics

A teddy bear from Aunt Leanne
Falling asleep during our walk
Stu reading Beowulf to Callum
















2007/12/11

Fifteen Weeks

Everything must be taste-tested.

The boys hangin out


Cute touque!



Bathtime...Callum's favorite activity!


Cuddles





Waking up from a nap









Hanging on real tight!





Talking to Daddy





Poor Larry!





Now that he knows he can sit up, he wants to do it all the time!



A favorite spot.














2007/11/19

Banana Bread

I've been using this recipe for years, adapting it here and there. The paper it's printed on is well-worn and crusted with numerous previous batter accidents.
You can find ground flax at bulk barn. Flax contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. You can also use it in seed form, but to get the full health benefits the seed should be ground before using.


Banana Bread

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 beaten eggs
5 smashed overripe bananas (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 cups whole wheat flour (you can also use all-purpose flour)
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a seperate bowl cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and smashed bananas, mix well. (I just peel and squish 'em with my hands above the bowl...it's more fun that way.) Add banana mixture into dry ingredients, stirring just to moisten. Pour batter into a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-65 minutes.

Yum-o!!

2007/11/15

New Toys

New toys! (drool...) The ladies at church spoiled Callum with a lot of great gifts at the baby shower they threw for us! Callum recieved an excersaucer, an activity center, a car seat, a car toy and clothes. Thanks again, everyone. It was greatly appreciated.
This piece is "Stage 1" from the exersaucer kit.


Thanks for finding this mobile Mom! He really likes it! Hangin' out.
Playtime!

Getting tired..."Hey, my hands can grab stuff too!"
"Yikes! There's that flashing black box again!"