Surprise! It's a baby! (Not long now!)

[lovethattink]

Praying a great opportunity presents itself and he can continue to pursue his hearts desire doing the research that will help so many, that will have longevity, work space and financial backing for a secure future for you family.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Alysa, I've only been lurking on your PTR, but I did want to offer my prayers that your DH finds something soon and your uncertainty is ended! You have a beautiful family!

 

[Alysa]

Awwwh, you are in the same boat I was in. We had Disney planned for last June. Dining reservations made in December 2011 and then boom. Missed my period, took a test and there it was. My sons were 8 and 6. Shew......
We cancelled our trip and planned for a new life. He came into our world on August 30th this year. And he is amazing. And he will be taking his first Disney trip in June of this year. I can't wait to see what is in store for us!

Hi Kim! Welcome over! Do you know the song from The Princess and The Frog soundtrack: Never Knew I Needed? Yeah.

Prayers said! I can imagine how frustrating and stressful it is to be so up in the air. But I agree with you...you do have to love your career and follow that path with the hope and belief that you can realize your dreams. It is comforting to know he has back-ups, but I can understand how you would use those only as a last resort. Slightly different, but along the same lines, DW had an opportunity to do a few hours of extra work each week for an insurance company - and it paid very well - $1,000+ a week for a few hours a night. But it quickly became apparent that this job was not going to mesh with her ethics and after a few weeks she had to give it up. We really weren't too torn up over it because even though that money would have been really nice, she couldn't, and I could never ask her to compromise her ethics and her desire to do the right thing.
P.S. I continue to be blown away by your creativity and inspiration for your movie nights!
And WTG on that bag - between you and D, I am getting closer to dusting off my SIL's sewing machine that has been in our attic forever - I don't even know if she remembers it's there!

Thanks Christine! Good for you for supporting Clara. Harold and I have been talking about it and he says if he doesn't get the position he wants this year that he will go to med school next year do he can be an MD/PhD.
And no problem with the sewing - if I can do it, you certainly can!

I have been wanting to join your PTR for a while now but kept putting it off until I had time to read it through and get caught up. Well I finally did that today and let me just say I am exhausted.
I have no idea how you do it.. Your movie nights are amazing. Your children are very lucky.
Sending your way with hopes that you will be able to book your trip soon.

Hi Lisa! Welcome and thank you! I'm exhausted too - and Robbie is still teething!

Hi!!! I am all caught up now on your report so far! You have the most kindest eyes! You seem like such a sweet person and your family is just adorable! I am going to start up movie nights soon to get us excited for the trip and you have given me some awesome ideas! We watched Atlantis last week but I did not make anything special for it. This week we are going to watch Treasure planet and I think I am going to try to make cupcakes like you made them! Loving your report so far and Congratulations on your new baby boy!!!

Hi Nichelle, thank you for coming by! Any verdict yet on the WDDR? I have a silly idea for Atlantis - beans, bacon, whiskey (apple juice) and lard (some vanilla ice cream cut into thick slices with a knife to look like lard). And some lettuce too for Sweet. I look forward to reading more of your pre-trip!

Oh Alysa, I am sending prayers and all kinds of good thoughts your way...
I hope that something works out soon for Harold... He's sounds amazingly talented and I hope with all my heart that he finds a way to use that talent and get renumerated for it... Personally I'd like to think that people with those kind of brains are using them for the common good...
I continue to be impressed by your talent and would love to know what is in Hazelnut soup...

Thank you Patricia! You are a sweetheart!
PS - here is the link for the soup!

Alysa, your Up cake was adorable! The corn chowder looks good. I think my kids would like that!
OK, so I just got to the episodes of Doctor Who with Matt Smith, so I get some of your references! I think I watched the first three episodes in that series. I must make fish custard!
I truly hope your husband can find a tenure position! I understand the need to do something you love rather than doing something just to pay the bills. He sounds very intelligent and talented! I'll keep hoping and praying that he won't have to work for the wreckers!
The Tangled bag you and Eveie made was amazing! That's it! I'm learning how to sew! That was a great idea to turn Pascal into a little zippered pouch!

Thanks Erin my dear, and again, if Eveie and I can sew - you can sew!

I am really late getting here... Sorry about that.
I must admit to only reading the last page - so I have NO idea what is going on... However, I do have a bit of commentary - surprised? LOL
OK - this totally caught my eye...
My brother is hydrocephalic - when he was born in 1977, they told my parents that he wouldn't live a week (I was only 2) - the hospital was nice enough to let me in to see him.
He is now 35 years old... To explain his life would be difficult at best, but the fact that your DH may have found a cure really tugs at my heart... I am sure that there is nothing that could be done for my brother at this point, but to save another family the heartache - that would be amazing.
With out going into a huge amount of detail, my brother has been in foster care since he first came home from the hospital... When he was 9 y/o, he moved in to his current foster home... This foster family has become an extention of my own - and we are so very fortunate that Jonathan has them, and we have them - as they have made his life as normal as possible.
I hope you don't mind - but I did want to share one picture of him with my girls - last winter - it's one of my favorite pictures of them together.

Anyways... I pray your DH is able to find a position that uses all of his many talents, because there are many families who could be drastically changed due to his meaningful work.
D~

Hi D - thank you for stopping by. It's a beautiful photo of your brother with your girls. Harold and I discussed how maybe there is a reason he has been having trouble finding his spot, and that maybe there is a larger plan for him to specialize in paediatrics and go on to do more important research and actually work with and help children like your brother. Thank you for your prayers.

I found your PTR today and I have had a great read this afternoon. I am amazed at the amount of creativity in your house. Your little ones are adorable, and I will be praying for your DH to find the job of his dreams so you can take the Disney trip of yours.

Hi Reelmom! Thank you for stopping by and for all your kind thoughts!

Praying a great opportunity presents itself and he can continue to pursue his hearts desire doing the research that will help so many, that will have longevity, work space and financial backing for a secure future for you family.

Thank you for your kind words Tink! Oooo - I have something fun for Anakin! We made this last night for dessert at dinner! Only your family are such fans, you've probably seen this before!

"That's no moon!"

Alysa, I've only been lurking on your PTR, but I did want to offer my prayers that your DH finds something soon and your uncertainty is ended! You have a beautiful family!

Hi Candace - thanks for stopping by, and for your kind words! I've been enjoying your PTR too!

 

[Millie12591]

Definitely praying. Hang in there, you know the Lord will bring about what is supposed to happen. He's taken such good care of you all this far.
It may not look like what you think it's supposed to look like, but it will all turn out to be exactly what you all need.

 

[Alysa]

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Definitely praying. Hang in there, you know the Lord will bring about what is supposed to happen. He's taken such good care of you all this far.
It may not look like what you think it's supposed to look like, but it will all turn out to be exactly what you all need.

Thanks Millie. It's true! Look at all the blessings I have.

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you for your kind words Tink! Oooo - I have something fun for Anakin! We made this last night for dessert at dinner! Only your family are such fans, you've probably seen this before!

"That's no moon!"


Hi Candace - thanks for stopping by, and for your kind words! I've been enjoying your PTR too!

Sweet! You did a great carving job. Can definately appreciate it. My dh and son made a speeder out of a slice of cantelope, but they've never made a Death Star.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day! Love your picture!

How are things going?

 

[Alysa]

Sitting here beside a very fussy baby who had lots of immunizations today. Still no news on the job. He got a very nice rejection letter saying he was second choice from Ottawa out of over 300 applicants. Thought I would try to update some of our movie nights (one handed).

First, we got some free movie deals from the Cheerios boxes (thanks General Mils) so we went to see Wreck-it Ralph. Never having seen it before, I didn't really know what to serve so I decided on a nice healthy bowl of cherries, a la Pac-Man.

For the craft Eveie made candy clips from clay. She painted them with acrylic paint, coated them with sparkle varnish and hot glued them to clips à la Vanellope Von Schweetz. The movie was cute, just not my favourite Disney feature ever. I did like the Hero's Duty side story though!
And the kids really liked it.

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Cute ideas for the Wreck it Ralph night! I have no idea what to do for that movie night either. Sorry that you were up so late with a fussy baby! I remember when my little ones had to get shots Not fun. I’m also sorry to hear that your husband is still searching for a job, but that was at least great validation that a company said he was the #2 pick! He’ll find something soon, I’m sure

 

[Alysa]

Cute ideas for the Wreck it Ralph night! I have no idea what to do for that movie night either. Sorry that you were up so late with a fussy baby! I remember when my little ones had to get shots Not fun. I’m also sorry to hear that your husband is still searching for a job, but that was at least great validation that a company said he was the #2 pick! He’ll find something soon, I’m sure

Thanks Erin! Definitely a tired mom today. Cross your fingers for us!

Almost everyone in our family is born in the beginning of the year. So this month we had a big family party, and because almost everyone coming to the party has said they want to join us in Disney (whenever that date will be), we had a Mickey theme. We had epic mickey 2 playing on the wii for the boys and The Spirit of Mickey on the television downstairs. We decorated with red roses and balloons, and red table cloths and black mouse ear garlands made from black bristol board. I also have been planning a painting for the dining room for ages but I haven't finished it yet so I took an old canvas and sketched out a retro Mickey to hang in that space just for the party.
The menu was black rye bread with red tomatoes, white turkey, havarti and swiss cheese cut into mickey shapes, pizza cut in mickey shapes, fruit plates with raspberries, watermelon, and strawberries, veggie platters with cherry tomatoes, red pepper, button mushrooms and cauliflower with dip, strawberry juice, water and coke to drink with mickey labels made by Toby, mickey cookies and cupcakes for dessert and cinnamon hearts, malt balls and candy sticks and bags of popcorn also decorated by Toby.

The craft was mouse ears and Eveie made them for everyone. Unfortunately Robert hated them and screamed the house down when we tried to get a photo with Grandad. The dog also loathed them. Look at him, you can tell just by looking at him, he's thinking "Only because I love you. But I still really hate them."

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Alysa, you are such a great artist! The Mickey you drew is fantastic! It looks like you guys had a fun party! All of your food looked yummy and the Mickey Ears were adorable – even on the dog!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Alysa,

Love your Disney themed party... you can't go wrong with the classic black, red and white Mickey inspiration...

Only a dog would allow you to put ears on them... they really are so loyal... I cannot imagine what either of my two cats would do if I attempted that...

Still sending good thoughts on the job front... hopefully things pick up as spring is nearing... I think they usually do... it's like the world is slowly coming out of hibernation...

 

[Millie12591]

Yes, you truly are beyond blessed.

Love your movie night and Start of the year party, I love all the Mickey themed things! So cute!

I'm with you on the Wreck It Ralph movie. I'm not a big fan, or should I say... not my favorite.

Robert screaming the house down. I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but the way you put it has me cracking up. Grandpa looks adorable in his Mickey ears.

Well, it's March 1st. Where is the time going?!? Crazy, right?!? Still praying for y'all to hear a good word about DH's job.

 

[DMGeurts]

LOL Love the party! Everything is so perfect!

And I had to LOL at the look on the dog's face... You can totally tell he is not happy.

D~

 

[emmysmommy]

Alysa, I'm so sorry for the frustration regarding the situation with your husband's work/academic endeavors. I love that you are following after integrity and his passion rather than the plan Bs in life that may not really satisfy. Your hope is well placed in knowing that God is able to do above and beyond what we ask or think! Praying that the perfect answer will be revealed in perfect timing. Your DH is fortunate to have such a supportive wife!

You never fail to awe me with your themed dinners/parties and this recent one was no different!! How awesome that you are so influential that all of your family wants to accompany you to WDW!!!

 

[Amunet]

I just read the first post. After work I'll have time to read through the thread

I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS and I hope all is going well with you and your family ^_^

P.S. I voted for Peter

 

[Alysa]

Alysa, you are such a great artist! The Mickey you drew is fantastic! It looks like you guys had a fun party! All of your food looked yummy and the Mickey Ears were adorable – even on the dog!

Thanks Erin! Still makes me smile how much he hated those ears!

Hey Alysa,
Love your Disney themed party... you can't go wrong with the classic black, red and white Mickey inspiration...
Only a dog would allow you to put ears on them... they really are so loyal... I cannot imagine what either of my two cats would do if I attempted that...
Still sending good thoughts on the job front... hopefully things pick up as spring is nearing... I think they usually do... it's like the world is slowly coming out of hibernation...

i Patricia, thank you - keep the good thoughts coming. Harold has an interview for a university he really does NOT want tomorrow but so far it is the only option. NEED some pixie dust!

Yes, you truly are beyond blessed.
Love your movie night and Start of the year party, I love all the Mickey themed things! So cute!
I'm with you on the Wreck It Ralph movie. I'm not a big fan, or should I say... not my favorite.
Robert screaming the house down. I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but the way you put it has me cracking up. Grandpa looks adorable in his Mickey ears.
Well, it's March 1st. Where is the time going?!? Crazy, right?!? Still praying for y'all to hear a good word about DH's job.

Thanks Millie! I really appreciate all the prayers!

LOL Love the party! Everything is so perfect!
And I had to LOL at the look on the dog's face... You can totally tell he is not happy. D~

Thanks D! You are right, he hated it!

Alysa, I'm so sorry for the frustration regarding the situation with your husband's work/academic endeavors. I love that you are following after integrity and his passion rather than the plan Bs in life that may not really satisfy. Your hope is well placed in knowing that God is able to do above and beyond what we ask or think! Praying that the perfect answer will be revealed in perfect timing. Your DH is fortunate to have such a supportive wife!
You never fail to awe me with your themed dinners/parties and this recent one was no different!! How awesome that you are so influential that all of your family wants to accompany you to WDW!!!

Thanks Brenda! It's so hard to be patient and have faith when I am the most impatient person ever!

I just read the first post. After work I'll have time to read through the thread
I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS and I hope all is going well with you and your family ^_^
P.S. I voted for Peter

Hi Kris! Thank you for coming by! Love your pre-trip! I think trips with family make so many great memories!

You guys are all the best. It's nice to know we have so many friends wishing us well!

 

[Alysa]

We are in the middle of march break here in Toronto. We had $3500 in car expenses this week and I've got to pay DVC this month so I can bank my 2012 points for the trip. Needless to say, it's been a low-key break. We've just been finishing off crafts, baking, watching movies, reading and having play dates with friends. The kids have 2 sleepovers planned and our big treat is Disney on Ice this weekend.

Here are three movie nights we finished off so far:

Harold's favourite movie is The Jungle Book so we did that for his birthday.
For the snack we had a whole bunch of jungle fruits - there were no tamarinds or prickly pear at the grocery store so we just had fruits that grow in India today - banana, mango, papaya (paw-paw), and dragon fruit. We had coconut lychee fruit juice to drink and surprisingly everyone seemed very full after this dinner.

We were originally going to do a iron-on t-shirt for the craft for Harold for his present but when we found out the transfer paper cracked and came off in the wash off (Dumbo onsie) we decided to turn it into a needlepoint craft instead. Eveie did the white embroidery on top of the transfer, then I helped her with the trouble spots and picked (most of) the transfer off for her. There are little specs left but I imagine they will wear off with washing. I've got to find an easier way to do this! Anyway, he loved it. (Wow, he looks tired here).

Mardi Gras is coming up so we did The Princess and the Frog in it's honour. I made Gumbo (first time) and Harold, who HATES shrimp said "No way am I eating that". Well, Eveie loves shrimp so I said "Fine, more leftovers for her". It took me a long time, the roux alone takes 30 minutes, and in the end I think I spent almost two hours cooking it but when I served it it smelled so good that my husband asked for a bowl - and then he asked for seconds! So bottom line, this recipe is so amazing it will make people who don't even like shrimp forget that they hate it. By the way, I cut the recipe in half and it still made buckets of the stuff. Unless you are doing a picnic for the church or something, cut in half.

For dessert we made Beignets and I left them in the fridge overnight to chill. I found a great recipe here that does not use shortening (Eveie has a soy allergy so we can't use that.) They were soooo yummy!

For the craft, Eveie made a Mardi Gras mask with sparkles, sequins, feathers, beads, and ribbons, all from the dollar store. Score!

This is one of our oldest craft, for Sleeping Beauty. We've been working on it since the summer. When I saw it online I had no idea how elaborate it was. I downloaded it and sent it to print. Then we went out to skating. When we got back an hour later it was just finishing printing. And since I had just killed an entire set of printer cartridges, I felt we had to do it. Before Robert was born I spent hours cutting out each piece. We only just recently finished it off. Toby folded everything, Eveie glued pieces together and I glued them onto the castle. Here's the website in case you go insane and think how fun it would be. Maybe if you have a fortnight with nothing to do. And it says the difficulty is level 8. Well, what the heck is 10 then?!?!

Plus the cake was a monster too. This is my third and final time working with fondant. I'm not going to attempt it again until I can take a proper cake making class because this was a disaster. I thought I would show you the photo though because it was so perfectly Flora. There was fondant everywhere! **.

"I'm going to make it 15 layers with pink and blue forget me nots.
And "I'm " making the dress.
But you can't sew, and she's never cooked.
Oh, it's simple.
All you do is follow the book!"
Yeah right. Heh, heh, heh.

Chat soon my friends! Keep us in your prayers!

 

[lsenquiz]

Your talent continues to amaze me. Honestly you should have a show or something. Maybe send the idea to food network I would definitely watch a show that matched dinner and a craft to a specific movie. You could even call the show family movie night Seriously send them an email!!!

 

[emmysmommy]

Mmmmmm gumbo and beignets. Sounds delicious! Your craft projects turn out fabulous! Very nice job with Harold's shirt! It's nice to see him modeling it! Yeah, that castle - wow! 693 full-color model parts?? Wouldn't have known it was home-made since it looks so great.

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Which Disney on Ice show are you going to see this weekend? I am going to do my best to put up the post of our Disney on Ice experience this weekend – I have procrastinated way too long! I think your family will love it, whichever show it is! What a nice birthday for your hubby! That fruit plate looks good! The shirt looks great! The gumbo looks delicious! That took dedication to cook it for TWO HOURS! I pinned the recipe, though, because I would love to try it! The beignets look so good, too! Eveie is amazing at crafting! The mask is beautiful! Isn’t the dollar store the best? I recently found one in my neighborhood that has EVERYTHING! Whoa, that castle is a monster! A gorgeous monster, but huge! You guys must have worked so hard on that! Yeah, I’m curious to see what a difficulty of 10 would look like, too! The cake is adorable!