Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!!

We laugh when we think of the misconception that some people have that Canada is always cold.  Heh….not so much!  We’re in the middle of a heat wave and I’m loving it!!  I’d take heat over cold every day of the year if I could so I’m thoroughly enjoying this summer of sun and fun!  Today the highest temps are forecasted and records will probably be broken.  At 7:45 am it’s already feeling like 38oC/100oF when the humidex is added in and today’s high is anticipated to feel like 50oC/122oF!!!  Now that’s hot!

Hannah and I have been taking advantage of the hot evenings by finding ways to stay cool.  Tuesday night we hung out at a local splash pad with my SIL Trish and niece Makenna then went back to their place to enjoy homemade sundaes.

Whoa!  Almost tripped but caught themselves!

Who wants to go home for ice cream?  We do!!

Ice cream!!!

Last night’s recipe for beating this summer heat was a dip in Mom and Dad’s pool with Auntie K, Uncle J, Chick and Pea!

Tonight we’re going to a circus that is in town.  Thankfully it’s indoors!

Hope you’re finding fun ways to enjoy these wonderful warm hot summer days!

Cottage Time = Annual Making of Monkey Munch!

Each year as we prepare to go to the cottage I whip up a batch of Monkey Munch.  It’s a fun, yummy treat that is perfect for sharing with a crowd. (Recipe at bottom of post.)

Last year Hannah was a little too young to help out but we made more last October and her first Monkey Munch experience was a success!

Last Wed night she and I had fun as we whipped up a batch to take to the cottage with us on Thursday.  Too bad we forgot it in the fridge….oops!  (Ended up being just fine though as Mom had had the same idea and made some while at the cottage so there was plenty to go around.)

So, without further adieu I give you, ‘The Making of Monkey Munch!’

(Warning:  There is much tasting involved in the making of MM!  )

While the warm ingredients are melting in the microwave – test the peanut butter

Mommy says this spoon is for stirring but I’d much rather taste the ooey, gooey chocolate topping!

After stirring, quality check to ensure all pieces are equally coated…by tasting them!

Who needs a wash cloth to clean chocolaty fingers?

Shaking the bag with the cereal stuff and icing sugar.  Note to self:  next time don’t use no-name bags!  This oversight caused the initial shaking to create a small blizzard in July!

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet for cooling.

Taste the final product.

Heh….looking back at these pics, I guess it’s a good thing this batch will be in the freezer for the two of us to enjoy.  There sure was a lot of 2yo quality testing going on!!

Monkey Munch (aka Puppy Chow)

9 cups Rice Chex or Life cereal

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

• Pour cereal into a large bowl and set aside
• Put chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 1 min.  Stir.  Continue at 30 sec intervals until all ingredients are melted
• Pour over cereal and mix well
• Transfer covered cereal into a large zip-lock bag
• Add icing sugar.  Seal and shake
• Spread on a cookie sheet and cool
• Enjoy!!!

What? You think I ate some? Whatever gave you that idea???

A Treat Night with GG and Grandma Dale

Last week Grandma Dale called and invited Hannah and I to a quaint little coffee shop that has recently opened near our home.  We were excited to spend some time with them and quickly said, ‘Yes!’

The night of the big event arrived and we picked up GG and Grandma Dale at their home.  I didn’t realize it at the time but it hadn’t been a very good day for GG and he just wasn’t up to doing much of anything.  About 20 mins before we arrived Grandma quietly mentioned that Hannah was coming and we were going for coffee.  It was like a light went on in GG and he was up and ready to go practically before Grandma knew it!  Hannah is a light in so many lives and I love the precious relationship she shares with her great-grandparents!

While Grandma and I were in line it was wonderful to look over and capture a little bit of the fun that these 2 were sharing!

Little fingers tightly grasping those of her special GG

Mmmm…an M&M cookie!

Treasured moments with loved ones

We love you GG and Grandma Dale!  Let’s do this again!!

Princess Attire is Commonplace in the Salsa Home….and We Loved It!!!

(Hannah and I are now home but there are still some posts I wanted to share.  We had an AMAZING trip with our friends and all too quickly our time together came to an end.  So many wonderful memories and pictures that we will treasure for a long, long time!)

Hannah quickly realized that princess dresses were in abundance in the Salsa playroom and throughout the week she could be found trying on a variety of them.  There were always lots of little helping hands there to dress Her Mini Royal Highness!   Kate and Will may have been visiting Canada while we were in CA but we were amongst the most precious princesses ever!

Ro and Ree have mastered the art of wearing a tiara and know that truly no outfit is complete without one!  Hannah didn’t catch on to the tiara thing but I have a feeling it’s only a matter of time.

Princesses do everything in their dresses including eating

colouring

dancing

chatting with the commoners

shopping

and sharing a tea party

Hannah and Mommy also learned the very important lesson of custom fitting a princess dress.  Who needs trips to the seamstress when chip clips will do the trick?

One evening M3 and I went shopping with Hannah and it was easy to see that she had found her inner princess.  What fun to take her out dressed like this!  We have a couple of princess dresses here at home so I’m hoping there are more shopping trips like this in our future!

M3, Tuba Dad and I were surrounded by royalty all week long….and we loved it!!

Special Moments with Wela and BobBob

One of the special parts of being friends with someone is that you are privileged to meet their family and friends.  The first time I visited M3 and her family back in January of 2008 I met her wonderful Mom!  I still laugh when I remember that Wela questioned M3 before I arrived the first time about having someone she met on the web come and stay in their home for an entire week?  Was she sure??  Heh….3 1/2 years later and a number of visits under our belt and our friendship is better than ever!  And from that very first visit, Wela and I have been great friends too and shared some fun times together!

This visit Wela and BobBob invited us to their home once again for a yummy supper.  While Wela was finishing up supper I found Hannah and BobBob playing together and it was oh so sweet!

Hannah absolutely adores spending time with men who remind her of her Grandpas and it warms my heart over and over to see these men spend time with my little girl.  Being a single Mom I am very aware of how important it is for Hannah to have special men in her life and we are blessed over and over…and over again by both family members as well as friends who spend time with my sweetie.  Thank you to each of you!

After supper M3, Wela and I were enjoying a visit together while BobBob took the girls for a walk.   I still chuckle when I think of what I saw when I looked outside and saw BobBob jogging by, trying to catch up with the 3 girls on the run!

When they came back in there was a fun picture scavenger hunt that the grandparents had put together.  Much laughter and running from room to room was done as the girls searched for each and every clue.

In the end there were princess treats for all!

Wela and BobBob, we love you!!  You raised an absolutely amazing daughter who in turn with her great hubby are raising 2 awesome daughters!  Hannah and I are blessed beyond measure to have each and every one of you in our lives and we cannot wait until the next time we are all together!

We love you Salsa Family!!!

Thank you for welcoming us into your home once again M3, TubaDad, Ro and Ree and for the wonderful visit!  We’re already looking forward to next time!