Customs . . . and I Don't Mean Traditions

You may have noticed my accent, but just in case you didn't, I'm not from around here. I was born and raised in Canada. My parents and siblings still live there so I like to visit as often as possible. A recent trip to visit my family in Canada resulted in a visit with a few Canadian Customs Officers. Three to be exact.

Usually when you arrive at the Toronto Airport, you fill out your card, hand it to the agent, answer some questions, then you're waved away to collect your bags

I was traveling alone with my two young children so I was stressed about having to collect and carry all the luggage before meeting my Dad.

As we get of the plane I am feeling very thankful to have the worst part of the journey over, the three hour flight, so I feel calm as I approach the customs officer. She takes our papers and barely looks at me. Then she asks if I have authority to travel with these children. I respond in the affirmative, and she says, "Prove it!"

I reply indignantly, "I'm their mother!"

So, apparently there a policy - not a law - that you need written permission to travel with your children if the other parent isn't present. Maybe everyone knows this but me, but no one told me I needed to have a letter!

The officer explains as much but instead of sending us to baggage claim, we are sent to another officer.

This man stamps the girls' passports and asks me if my husband knows we are traveling and if he could call him and ask as much. I respond, "yes," and am waiting to give him the number, but he doesn't ask. I'm sure it's all part of the process and that he is well trained to read people and just knew I was telling the truth . . . .

After speaking to him we are sent to collect our luggage. Great, one step closer to making it through the travel experience with two kids! All that is separating us from my Dad is a wall with automatic sliding doors. Almost there!

We approach the end of the line to said wall and an officer looks at our customs card. He sends us in a direction away from the wall.

AH, thwarted again!

Now we're in an a true office. There are more custom's officers and some travelers have the contents of their bags strewn all over counters. Great!?!

Thankfully, this officer is more laid back, asks a couple of questions, and sends us on our way. When I ask if I might need a similar letter to get back into the U.S., he responds, "Worse comes to worse, you just stay here and become Canadian!" :)

So, if you plan to travel internationally with your children and your spouse is not tagging along, get a letter of authorization.

Holy Swagamole!

I just won 59 Swagbucks using the toolbar to search online! No joke.

Happy day. Sorry, it's a big deal to me so I had to share my success with you!

If you haven't heard of Swagbucks before it's a way to earn while you search online. I use my swagbucks to get amazon.com gift cards.

Interested? Check it out:

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/rTricky

Just Keep Smiling

Lately I have been thinking about trials.

A lot.

Too much, probably.

I started thinking how the past couple of years we have had one ongoing trial with a few others sprinkled on top.

I wondered when it would end.

Then I wondered IF it would end.

I thought of Job.

I realized that it was quite possible that our trials would not end. That we would forever be faced with heart-wrenching and stressful events. One after another, after another, after another . . .

Then I thought, so what?

What would that change?

Okay, life would be hard, but should I let my circumstances dictate who I am?

If I did that, I would be a sad and lonely person. (Okay, some days I am . . . )

But, if I rise to the challenge with courage and faith I am a better and stronger person for having made it through that trial.

It's okay to be happy in our trials. To happily endure. To grieve for loss or struggles and to then move forward with faith.

There's always something to be happy about.

Like these pictures! :)



Faith, not fear!

Kids crack me up!

Whether it's my own kids or someone else's, I just love the things they say and do.

We were at the library for toddler time last week.
A mother was there with her two children for the first time.

The oldest seemed to be about 4. He was not happy to be there.

While waiting for it to start, I heard such things as, "Can we go home?" "I don't want to be here," and a resounding, "No it's won't," when his mother told him it would be fun.

Now, don't picture in your mind a bratty little boy. He didn't seem bratty at all, just perhaps unsure of a new place. (The only reason I heard him was because we were sitting right beside them.) His mother was also very sweet and kind in her reassurances.

Anyway, after a few more complaints the program was over and everyone was dismissed. I couldn't help but laugh as the little boy walked out saying,

"THAT WAS FUN!"

Here's a friendly reminder to read to your children everyday! ;)

Once Upon a Time . . .

There were three potties . . .

While taking my little sunbeams for a potty break on Sunday,

one little boy kept peeking into empty stalls.

I asked him to please pick one.

I finally heard him say, "Too soft."

It's important to find a potty that is just right!

Veggies on the Side

Remember this fun meal?




Well, here's the recipe for the veggies on the side.




Nana Jan's Vegetable Medley Casserole

Ingredients:

1 -2 bags frozen California mix vegetables
1/3 - 1 C sour cream (more = creamier)
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 C shredded cheese *

Place veggies in 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes to soften the vegetables.
Mix sour cream, soup, and 1/2 C of shredded cheese in a medium bowl.
Add to slightly softened veggies.
Sprinkle 1/4 C shredded cheese on top.
Return to oven for 30-50 minutes depending on how soft you want the vegetables.
Optional topping: French fried onions.

*The original recipe calls for swiss cheese, but any cheese will do!

In the picture above, I actually just added some cream of chicken soup to the veggies and sprinkled a little cheese on top. It was less creamy, but still tasty.

Super easy.

Super adaptable.

Super yummy!

DIY Pasteurized Honey - Or Not . . .

I love honey.

I've heard if you eat local honey you may have fewer problems during allergy season. I haven't tested this line of thought myself, but there's probably some truth to it. And it doesn't hurt to try!

I recently found a local lady who sells honey at a great price. It's yummy and the drive is kind of fun too. We pass goats and other farm animals on the way there.

The only thing is, the honey is not pasteurized. Does that matter? Well, the thought of getting botulism is pretty scary. It's pretty rare, but still a concern when you have children.

So, I decided to buy the honey and pasteurize it myself - after googling it of course!

I put the honey in a pot on the stove, stuck the candy thermometer in, and waited for the temperature to rise to 140. It did. And it kept rising. I tried to get it to remain at 140, but I was also feeding the girls breakfast, doing laundry and dishes (separately) and really just not qualified to be in charge of pasteurizing this honey.

So, it may have gotten a little too much heat.

And may have boiled over and made a mess all over the stove at one point.

It also may or may not have been on the stove a little too long.

(I picked the WRONG time of day to do it, really!)

All of these things resulted in honey with what I think is a slight burnt taste. My husband actually likes it. He says it tastes just the same as it did before - it's a wild clover honey and a little stronger flavor than most honey you get in the store.

But, if Mr. Picky-Pants - don't tell him I called him that! ;) - likes it, I guess it's okay and I might even attempt to pasteurize it again. With more research and fewer distractions next time!

What do you think? Do you have any experience with unpasteurized honey?