Kim 365

I saw this coffee cake on Pinterest yesterday, and skipped right by it, thinking, "No thanks, I don't bake cake in the microwave." Well this evening I wanted something sweet, so I went back online to find the recipe. It's really good! Now don't get all up in my grill about how microwaves are bad for you, because cake's not necessarily good for you either. But once in a while....yes, please!

Here's the recipe if you want to check it out.
A Cup of Coffee Cake

Make a new organizing board - check.
I found this lovely to-do list while I was browsing online the other day. I had been trying to figure out how to put it to use, since I have nowhere to keep such a piece of paper kicking around in the house. Then I remembered this frame sitting in my basement. Ta-da! My weekly to-do dry erase board.

I have been having a really good time with my kids lately, and starting to think I'm a pretty good mom. Then today happened. Last night was low on sleep. Today was high on conflict. Annoyed, frustrated, and just plain angry...it was not a good day.

I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store to get some stuff to make supper. The kids waited in the van while I ran in (please don't send the cops after me - my mom did this with me when I was small and I didn't kill myself in the vehicle or let a stranger in). I put the bananas on the counter and had a good chuckle. "I'm good with kids." Not today I wasn't.

I am thankful that I do not have to look inside myself to be a better mom. Inside myself is more of the same - there is sin in my heart and if you bump me, sin comes out. No, I don't look to myself but rather to my Savior, Jesus, who alone has the power to change my heart at make me more like him.

Daughter Dear. That's what my dad sometimes called me when I was small, and I can still hear the affection in his voice in those words. Now I am blessed with my own Daughter Dear. She is beautiful, articulate, passionate, affectionate, intelligent, and just plain amazing.

This winter is one for the record books. At this point in winter we typically have snowbanks a few feet high and temperatures that jump between -20C and -40C. This year we've had little snow, and temperatures dancing around zero degrees, hence the snow has almost all melted.

A year ago, when I was trudging through snow with three little ones and one on the way, I was dreading this winter coming. Fast forward to today, and I do not have to wrestle my crew into snow pants, toques and mittens when we leave the house - just a jacket and boots! This will most likely be remembered as my most favourite winter ever!

I start each day with a latte. Today was my first somewhat successful attempt at making microfoam for latte art. Or perhaps the foam was an actual success, but the art was not. I was going for a simple heart, and if I used my imagination I ended up with a tree. Sort of.

Practice makes perfect, so I'll keep on trying.

This little man has impressed me so much over the past few months. Big brother Markus began kindergarten work in the fall, and I thought Wyatt would tag along but I didn't have any real expectation for him to do everything that Markus was doing. He is learning so much, and keeping up just fine with his big brother.

Homeschooling definitely presents its challenges. When something isn't clicking for them, it is tempting to wish it were not my problem to help them through it...but when it does click, I am so thankful that I get to be the one to share in their victory with them! I never thought we would be venturing down this path, but I really do love it!

It's been a while since I've done a self-portrait. This is the kind I'm most comfortable with.

Hi!

Deacon joined us for supper today. While the rest of the family was eating tacos, he feasted on avocado. While not technically his first food (since he had a taste of peas a few weeks ago), this was the official first sit-in-the-high-chair-with-a-bib-and-be-fed-with-a-spoon food. He loved it. He kept grabbing the spoon on its way to his mouth and shoving it in. He's so eager to eat solids with the rest of us, and I am not eager for him to grow up too quickly. Stay small, my sweet child!

This masterpiece was painted by Markus. I quite appreciate the swirly theme throughout, and his choice of colours.

Before you get any ideas in your head about how patient I must be to let my kids find their inner artist, while the paint flies through the house...rest assured, that is not me. We don't do art often around here because it stresses me out, but I'm glad they have fun with it on the occasions when I do give in to their pleading.