Dancing Boy

Teo has started to do the cutest thing: whenever he hears music, he starts dancing on his little bum. The other day, we were all having breakfast and relaxing to my classical music. I hadn't had coffee yet and was half asleep. Sapphie said "I'm going to put different music on..." and before I could protest, she had turned it to a station playing loud rock (not ideal for pre-coffee mornings). Teo imediately perked up and said "uhhh, uhhh!" and started kicking is little legs in the high chair, then started wiggling his bum back and forth, with a very serious face. It was so cute! Then yesterday, we were watching Holiday Inn, and everytime a dance number came on Teo would start dancing! He kind of looks like Liz when he dances. I took this video of him dancing to a musical birthday card that Sapphie got from Lukey. It's so cute! Oh and check out his outfit...it was Grandpi's when he was Teo's age...you do the math! We love it.

Hurray for the Holidays!!

This is my favorite time of year. It brings me so much joy! Starting with Thanksgiving, I get a warm and cozy feeling. It is a time to hang out with our loved ones, eat wonderful harvest food, and just enjoy our lives. Then we get snow (well, usually we get snow), and the spirit of the Holidays fills us with love and happiness. Gratefulness that we live in a beautiful part of the world, close to people we love, and that our lives are truly blessed.

This year especially, I am so grateful that I live close to family. Sapphie and Teo now have a cousin; Amelia is just 3 days old! She's also just 3 blocks away, and I can't wait to watch them grow up together.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful Holiday season too, and find many things to be thankful for. Happy Holidays and lots of love to everyone!! xoxoxo

I'm an Auntie!!

It's a girl! The waiting is over. Amelia Illingworth Alger has arrived, and she is such a sight. The fuzziest black hair you've ever seen, and jowls that would make Winston jealous. She's beautiful!! Colin and Penelope are totally relaxed, pros already at being new parents. I'm so proud of them. Here are some amazing pictures.

Welcome to the world Amelia!


Proud Papa


Got a new hat and ready to go home!


Look at those jowls!



I love my new niece.



She likes the carseat!



Relaxing at home with her daddy, by the tree.

Learning to Walk!

I can't believe he'll be walking soon...crazy!!

Checking in from Paris...

Hannah, Teo and I have been having a wonderful time in Paris. Here are some pictures we wanted to share! I'll write more later...but now we're enjoying our last night here with some wine and cheese.

Here are Teo and I being very impressed by the well-endowed horse statue.

Teo with Hannah, on their way to Le Louvre. Teo absolutely loves Paris. I know it sound crazy, but he does. Late to bed, late to rise, and he loves les croissants!!!

In our favorite little cafe (cafe du raspails), Teo was the big hit with all the waiters. Here they gave him deux bisquits, and he was very proud of himself. They spoke to him in French and he wowed them. The owner kept saying "il est trop!!" (he's too much!)

He loved the luxurious bathtub in our hotel room.

Cranberry sauce muffins

These are delicious. I got part of the recipe from the internet and altered it. I can't remember what that's called...recipe make over? Anyway these are great and it's an awesome idea for leftover cranberry sauce!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour (or 1 cup of the flour plus 1/2 cup ground flax seed)
  
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups of leftover cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• grated orange rind to taste
  

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups or coat with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour and flax, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; mix well. In medium bowl, combine milk, oil, cranberry sauce, egg, and orange rind; blend well. Fold into dry ingredients all at once; stir until dry ingredients are moistened.

3. Fill muffin cups about three-quarters full.

4. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.
   

Yummy!!