Hanna Turns 2 - September 2, 2013

It was a beautiful day for a birthday party and Hanna had a wonderful day. She got to spend her day with her Mommy and Daddy because it was a holiday.

She talks to her Grandparents on the phone. She even got to facetime with with most of them...even Great Grandpa Phillips! Good old technology. But we missed talking to our cousins...:(

Supper was definitely nothing fancy but she does like her corn on the cob so of course we had to have some of that.

2 bite brownies decorated up a bit in our bird theme this year.

Amazing what a little inspiration from Pinterest can do when you put together a party. Even if I did only plan it in a week.

Our supper meal...pizza buns, corn on the cob, plenty of chips, salads and sushi for the gluten/dairy abstainers.

Low key this year....had the locals come this year and lots away.

Our new guest Asher and his Mommy Joey- it was also his "birth day" today too - the day he was supposed to be due.

No fancy baking this year...just a good old DQ ice cream cake - works for Hanna as she loves ice cream and the egg allergy puts a dent into any good baking.

Of course she wanted to dive into it.

Lots of sugar to be had here.

Hanna is delighted.

We are delighted to have had 2 wonderful years with our little girl.

I was shocked...after we all sang happy birthday, she easily blew out the candle on her own.

Posers...Carly Lewis and Brody Newman

More after supper guests come to help us with our cake.

Hanna loves being outside...

Karina and Hanna play with her iPod. Well actually, she doesn't have her own iPod. It was mine that Hanna has "taken over". Amazing how that happens.

Hanna somewhat cooperates enough to have a picture with her presents.

She gets into her gifts.

New hair bands for her birthday means...a new crazy hairdo.

The morning after....sitting in her new chair from aunty and uncle...reading her books

Morning of her birthday.

Her big girl bed.

One of many visits to the park. Some special family time.

Getting ready in the morning...a new outfit from Nana Radom.

June and up until July 30, 2013

Has a month really gone by since I last posted a picture? It is very hard to believe how fast it has gone.

In June, I attended 2 funerals -both people from our little Sunday morning fellowship meeting, attended my regular checkups with my midwife, had Rodey and Coral's kids stay with us for a night while Rodey and Coral went on a hike.

The flood really summed up the school year in a big hurry. I will really miss that school and the staff. As of now, I have been placed at an Elementary school doing a 0.5 ELL (English Language Learner) position but highly doubt I'll actually make it there before baby comes.

Nana Radom visited in June and we also visited the zoo. I just love that place and since the flood, there will be a few changes which is sad.

With convention - attending parts of Greenshields, Didsbury and our full-time Aylesbury and post-convention activities/visitors plus the daily routines of life in-between, it really does seem to fly by.

I would have to say, this feels like the coolest, rainiest Summer, we've had in awhile. I sure hope August starts to show us some decent weather.

A quote was sent to me awhile back and I really appreciated it...

"Our prayers may be awkward, our attempts may be feeble, But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. - Max Lucado.

Without further adieu, I'll let the pictures do the talking...

July 30, 2013 - Hanna's bath time when Daddy baths her. All the bath toys are in the tub.

July 30, 2013 - Our new favourite playground - mostly because it's the perfect size for Hanna at this stage.

Our bike ride home from the play ground - July 30, 2013 - Mommy had to get off the bike and walk up the big hill by our house because the added weight was too much. So we had fun and picked wild flowers while we walked up the hill.

Speaking of added weight, at 29 wks, this baby is making its presence known and the usual tasks of life are taking a lot out of me. I am now PARANOID (to the say the least) to go into labour any earlier than Hanna was)

Another preemie baby in the family! (which is why I need to learn to slow down) But so excited to meet Asher Jacob Pihrag at a whopping 4 lbs 7 oz.

 This past week - post convention, found us in bed quite a bit during the day thanks to a nasty cold that hit us all. Thankfully, we are on the mend but was a busy week to get it.

June 17, 2013 - Ok...major event of the Summer...Graham got rid of the Lincoln and bought a.....

Toyota....Look at the size difference!

This calls for a local sibling picture. It's been nice having brother Braden in Calgary this year and we will miss him terribly but....such is life.

Father's Day wknd - Ok my pictures are rather pathetic for this event - a lot better than Mother's Day this year, and as of yet, our Anniversary. Sigh!

Father's Day meal consisted of Ribs, corn on the cob and mashed potatoes. We then had a very rich creamed dessert that I found on Melskitchencafe blog under the suggested Father's Day meals.

 Graham - Father to be attends the Fathers Day meals and poses nicely for me.

 June 7th 2013 wknd - Nana's visit found us at the zoo again. I don't normally take portraits of animals but the pictures I got that day were rare. Very rarely do the wolves make themselves visible.

The same is true with the cougars...

  A beautiful day at the zoo with Nana and Hanna.

I wanted a portrait of Shawn's mom ...so the butterfly exhibit was a perfect spot to snap a picture. Thanks for modelling!

 I have never seen such a massive butterfly!

 The kiddos at the end of May wknd - we took a visit to the zoo as well.

 Hanna just loves her cousins. So awesome to see the care they have for each other. We know that her American cousins love her just as much and wish the distance wasn't so far.

And now...it is time for bed! 

Canada Day 2013 in Cochrane, AB

An awesome, hot day was had by all on July 1st. Despite lots of sunscreen, Hanna is still getting tan lines. She only keeps her hat on for a certain length of time.

She had a blast. Chasing beach balls around and wooing all the people sitting near us.

Hope all are well.


Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Early reader....in the tub

Just like her Great Grandpa, Uncles, and Dad, this girl likes to read in the tub.

Cheers from all of us tonight.

Amish Sweet Bread - mixed in Kitchen Aid-updated

Ok, I found this recipe online -made it, ate it and then didn't write down or bookmark the page where I got it. It's a rather random webpage (a forum for those of you that know what that is); So I just needed to copy down the recipe and post it here.
 1) So I can share this easy bread recipe that I can make up in my kitchen aid and will make a solid 2 loaves and
2) I will know where to find it in the future.

AMISH SWEET BREAD

2c warm water (110 degrees F)
2/3 c sugar (or other sweetener) (I used mostly molasses and a bit of honey)
1-1/2 Tbsp dry active yeast
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/4c oil ( I used melted coconut oil)
6 c flour (add gradually as you may not need that much) ( I added 3 cups of whole wheat flour and about 2-3 cups of white flour)

When using the stainless bowl, I usually rinse with hot water to warm before proofing the yeast-don't know if it makes a difference, but it makes me feel better-lol

Add warm water, sugar, and yeast to bowl- allow to "proof" or rest for about 10 minutes (it will be frothy)

add in salt, oil, and 3 c flour and mix well
add flour one cup at a time-dough will be a nice ball with a soft velvety touch
knead by hand for 8-10 minutes or 1-2 minutes with the KitchenAid.

Allow bread to rise covered, free from draft until doubled in size, (about an hour), punch down and briefly knead by hand (30-45 seconds).
Divide into 2 equal parts, place in well-greased loaf pans.

Loosely cover (I use a paper towel) and allow to rise for an additional 30 minutes.
Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for approx 30 minutes (it will be golden on the top-kind of like a loaf of traditional packaged white bread).

This is a great recipe from the Amish colonies in Indiana, it is slightly sweet and my kids and husband love it plain and with sandwiches-even though it makes 2 loaves, it is usually gone from my house in 1-2 days.

Source:http://community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/p/125603/126954.aspx

A wee bit of news for you...

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jocelyn Radom <sjradom@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 21:05:32
To: Jocelyn Radom<sjradom@gmail.com>
Subject: A wee bit of news for you...

Coming soon...

Oh So Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

I've been trying to eat healthy...but I love my sweets. So I met in the middle and attempted a recipe off my beloved Pinterest.

Extraordinarily Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup blueberry applesauce or any other sort of berry-applesauce without added sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 egg whites, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (at least 60% cacao)

~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
~ Whip together the Greek yogurt, berry-applesauce, and honey until creamy.
~ Beat in the egg whites and vanilla
~ Stir together the whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt, and stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients.
~ Stir in the rolled oats.
~ Fold in the dark chocolate chips.
~ Drop the batter by rounded tablespoons onto the baking sheets, and bake for around 14 minutes - until the cookies are lightly golden brown. Of course, they're oh so very good warm...

As a side note, I added a tsp of cinnamon and also added a 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and 1/2 cup of choc chips instead of the stated 3/4 cup choc chips.

Recipe courtesy of: http://foodforlaughter.blogspot.ca/2010/05/extraordinarily-healthy-oatmeal-cookies.html

My opinion of these cookies: takes away the craving but reminds me of a breakfast cookie. They're not that sweet. They did, however, pass the Hanna test.