Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Sunday Sweetness

Sunday, April 10, 2011 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Let's just take some time to delight in the beauty of my new camera and the sweetness of my little models.

My two week old nephew in all his sweet newborn glory

Big sister Bean, my brown-eyed beauty

Goodness gracious, I love these children.

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Labels: bebeh, bragging, family, love, snuggles

You Fine You Fine

Monday, March 28, 2011 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Everyone needs a Jessica.

You need someone who is completely delighted to be in the same room as you. You need someone who says "WOW" when they see you and tell you they like your fingers. And your toes. You need someone who likes your toes. You need someone who looks at you and says, "he good, he good." You need someone who cringes when they hear you cry. You need someone who says "you ok, you ok" as many times as you need to hear it. You need someone to get in your face and say, "you fine, you fine" over and over again. You need a Jessica. Everyone needs a Jessica.

I have Jessicas in my life. I have a Jessica who says "WOW!" when he sees me. I have a Jessica who likes my fingers. Another Jessica thinks my toes are pretty great. I have several Jessicas who affirm my "good"ness. I have Jessicas who cringe when I cry. I have Jessicas who will sit with me and tell me I'm ok over and over. I have Jessicas who are relentless in their efforts to assure me I am fine.

And do you know what? I AM good. I AM ok. I AM fine. And I am ridiculously thankful for all of my Jessicas.

Be someone's Jessica. Tell them they're good. Tell them they're ok. Tell them they're fine. It's really quite simple. If you don't have a Jessica in your life, this next part is for you:

You good.
You good.
You ok.
You ok.
You fine.
You fine.

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Labels: bebeh, family, hugs, love

Typically Out of the Ordinary

Monday, January 10, 2011 - Posted by Amanda Bast

While internet browsing, I came across the following video at Jesus Needs New PR:

The reason I find this video funny is the same reason it's funny that my 14 month old niece keeps saying "douche"*. This is also why I like knit in public and use the phrase "oh my lanta" as much as possible. It's the same reason it's funny to see a big burly man walking a tiny frou-frou dog.

It is also the reason this next story is funny.

A couple of years ago my brothers, cousins and I had a conversation about why our grandparents keep their TV remote hidden behind a clock. They have always kept it in the same spot and it has puzzled us ever since we were little. My brother speculated that it was their little security measure. His idea, roughly paraphrased:

"The robber would come in, pick up the TV and tell his partner to grab the remote. They wouldn't be able to find it because hiding a remote behind a cuckoo clock is brilliant, so the guys would just give up and go home. Later Grandma would enter the room, see the TV had not been stolen and say, "Oh no you didn't!" and that would be the end of it."

If you need a visual representation, take a look:

*We don't think she's actually saying douche, but it sure sounds like it.

3 comments Labels: family, seniors

Paraphrase of a Dinnertime Conversation

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Note before you read: Barb is our cleaning lady and consequently my mother's favourite person.

Mom: I want to see Jan Arden in concert.

Me: Really? Since when do you like her? Name one of her songs.

Mom: Um...well...she's funny!

Me: Why would you go see her in concert if you don't even know any of her music?

Mom: BUT SHE'S FUNNY!

Dad: Ask Barb, I bet she'd go with you.

(Dad and I laugh)

Mom: Hey, what's that called again? Baking and waking?

Me: Wake and bake. It's Monday, so Mom is going to clean before Barb cleans.

(Dad and I laugh)

Dad: Barb is your mother's best friend.

(Dad and I laugh)

Mom: I get a massage in the afternoon now so I don't smell it any more.

Me: Jan Arden?

Mom: Noooo, the university students smoking pot!

This makes about as much sense to you as it does to me. I love you, Mommy.

1 comments Labels: family, I wish I was making this up, this doesn't even make sense

The Great Cake Experiment: The Finale

Monday, October 25, 2010 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Friday night I started another cake adventure. This time it was the real deal. I learned from past mistakes, took some tips from a co-worker (Thanks, Shannon!) and I am pleased to announce that the cake was pretty near perfect. I was very happy with it, and so were my niece's party participants. Observe:

I am also pleased to report that The Bean was quite impressed too. She was a little weirded out we all starting singing at the same time, but she got over it pretty quickly.

She also very much enjoyed her piece. She takes after her Mommy - she's a chocolate lover!

She had so much fun at her party, it makes me so excited for upcoming birthdays, when she will actually understand what is going on. All of the kids in our family will be so spoiled...but really, look how cute she is - how could you not?

Happy Birthday, my sweet little Bean! You are the best little niece I could ever have asked for!

2 comments Labels: baking, family, love, The Bean

move over Chris, it's time for Cute with Mandie

Monday, October 27, 2008 - Posted by Amanda Bast

We've been talking in high pitched squeaky voices and spending a lot of time sitting on the kitchen floor at our house this weekend. Sitting on the floor and talking in strange voices is a favourite pastime of mine, but this weekend, the whole family got involved. We've been celebrating the arrival of the newest addition to our family.

I would like you to meet Marwyn's Sweet Sassafras (here she is with Kirk, waving hello):

M.S.S. (or Sassie, as we call her) is a 10 week old Miniature Schnauzer puppy, weighing in at a whopping four pounds. At first, Miss Sassie-frass was quite shy and timid (Kristi can attest to this) and didn't want to do anything besides cuddle, thus earning her the nickname, SQUEEZY BABY (thanks, Annie). Over the weekend, she's gotten used to her new home, and her true colours are beginning to show through, and I'm happy to report she is one spunky little puppy.

She's also very talented. Here she is doing her bunny impression:

Here she is being a wonderfully fantastic obstacle between me and my studies.

She's also really good at being impossibly cute.

2 comments Labels: excitement, family, hugs, love, puppy, snuggles

The Great War of Paderno

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Me: If you were in a fight, and could only have cooking utensils as a weapon, what would be the best?

Mom: Pizza cutter.

Me: Ok, that's not even fair.

Mom: Pizza cutter.

Me: What if we were only allowed Paderno utensils?

Mom: The whisk!

Me: That's not what I meant. The whisk is metal. The Paderno utensils are black and plastic.

Mom: But I bought the whisk at Paderno.

Me: I'm going to go with the spaghetti thing. It's pokey.

Mom: I will whisk you!

Me: Although, the potato masher looks promising. It's sturdy.

Mom: But the handle isn't very long, so you'd have to get pretty close to someone to do any sort of damage.

Me: True. The spatula would be best in terms of proximity.

Mom: I will whisk you!

Me: I will stick my spaghetti thingy in your whisk, leaving you useless, and then go in with the potato masher attack. I win!

Mom: Not if I have the pizza cutter.

4 comments Labels: family, I wish I was making this up

Betty Crocker would have trouble

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - Posted by Amanda Bast

My week long hiatus from blogging is because I was pretty sick. It wasn't fun. I don't want to talk about it any more.

This week has been busy with preparations for the cottage this weekend. Mom wanted to bake her famous secret family recipe cookies (I'm sure you've tried one before...I hear they're quite fantastic) gluten free this time so that I (and Annie) could have some. However, she was finding herself tired and employed me to mix the dough. I've discovered why these cookies are a secret family recipe, and get ready, because I'm about to share the secret....ready?

The recipe is completely illegible.

Just a list of ingredients (some misspelled) in a strange order (not normal cookie ingredient order) with no instructions other than how hot to bake them. Mom then starts giving me all these whacked out instructions that no one would ever write down because they're just plain weird (yes they are, Mom) and she ended up doing most of it any way. Secret family recipe can stay secret. Mama Bast, you keep making those cookies because I don't want to go through that again.

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Labels: family, gluten free goodness

heated conversation between best friends

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Laura: Dinner smells good.
Amanda: I don't really like what we're having.
L: Does your mom always cook the same things with the same thing?
A: What?
L: Like, does she always cook the same kind of vegetables with the same kind of meat? My mom always cooks beans with lasagna.
A: Yes! Beans and pasta!
L: And corn goes with roast beef.
A: Yes.
L: But what do peas go with?
A: EW, nothing.
L: I don't really like peas either.
A: (noise of disgust)
L: You don't like them because of the texture.
A: That's not why I don't like them.
L: Yes it is!
A: How do you know the reasons why I don't like peas, when I don't even know the reasons?
L: Because I REMEMBER. When we were little. You wouldn't eat big peas.
A: Because they're gross and big, which makes them more gross. Not because of the texture.
L: Try the little ones. The texture is way better.
A: It's not a texture issue, it's an all around disgusting issue.
L: No, it's NOT! You don't like the texture.
A: Stop arguing with me about peas. Texture does not bother me.
L: Yes it does.
A: Only with pudding.
L: And peas.

3 comments Labels: family, this doesn't even make sense

the goose is getting fat

Monday, December 24, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast

At our house, we get excited for Christmas. I think Mom is the most excited, and it influences the rest of us. Today I have been reflecting upon the number one tell tale sign that Christmas is here.

Every Christmas Eve, Dad goes to the workshop (fondly referred to as "the museum") to wrap presents. I have to say, Dad is the best male wrapper in our house. Josh prefers the "throw it in a bag with some tissue paper" method, while Matt prefers the "threaten to withhold little sister's gift unless she wraps everyone's gift but her own and then go with Josh's method to wrap hers" method.

But Dad, he actually wraps things. And when he does, he sings. Loudly. With no radio. Actually, Dad's singing is more like yelling, and he usually doesn't remember the words. Example: "IN THE MEADOW WE CAN BUILD A SNOOOOWMAN! THEN Mmmmdhhhahhmfhshsh haaaaa! HE'LL SAY ARE YOU MARRIED, hhaaamammahaaahaha jmmmdfsdkjfjjfff! BUT YOU CAN DO THE JOB WHEN YOU'RE IN TOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN!"

I experienced this event this morning. Ah yes, Christmas is here. I can't wait.

3 comments Labels: family

ready for Ricki Lake

Sunday, December 16, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast

I have now exposed my mother to the world that is my blog. This next part is just for her, but I guess you can look too:

I have no idea who that is, but it looks like he loves his mom. We have something in common.

Yesterday was Christmas with my Mom's side of the family. It was a nice night, and we had some laughs and good conversation. We even got to play the "make Grandma say things without her knowing the context or meaning of what she is saying" game.

This particular round, we (my brothers, cousins and I) were discussing various memories from Grandma and Grandpa's house. We all remembered how they used to hide the TV remotes behind the clock, but no one was sure why. Matt speculated that it was probably some ingenious security feature. Thieves break in, begin to steal the TV when one says to the other, "Dude! Where the heck are the remotes? It's completely pointless to steal the TV if we don't have the remotes! We'd have to get up and walk all the way across the room to change the channel!" Matt then proceeded to do an impression of Grandma discovering that her security feature worked, and yelling, "Hah! Oh no you DI'NT!" There was some snapping and head bobbling in there, too. Here is the rest of the conversation:

Me (calling across the room): "Hey Grandma, can you snap and say, 'oh no you didn't' for us?"
Grandma: (looking puzzled) *snap* (long pause) "Oh no...you didn't?"

1 comments Labels: family

discussing the recent shooting at the Sunrise Centre Shopper's Drug Mart

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast

Mom: "So they give a cop a gun, send them out, and then there is a huge investigation when the cop shoots someone. They said the Shopper's is going to be closed for a couple of days."

Dad: "Why?"

Mom: "Because it's a crime scene. They should just send in the guys from CSI and Law & Order, and they'd get it figured out in under an hour."

Me: "But the writers are on strike, so they wouldn't know what to say."

Mom: stares, then says, "Good point."

In other news, Blogger "remembers" me every time I sign in now. Thank you, thank you.

1 comments Labels: family, this doesn't even make sense

Amanda is Thankful For...

Monday, October 8, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast

...her parents who love her and hug her more often than she deserves to be loved or hugged.

...her brother whom, at 26 years of age, still needs to be told, "No honey, you aren't a wrestler," when he picks up a chair in a threatening manner.

...her sister-in-law, who has the patience to deal with her wannabe wrestler brother.

...her other brother whom, at 22 years of age, still thinks the words "penis" and "vagina" are hilarious.

...her best friends who never fail to make her laugh and support her when she's not at her best.

...her legs and feet - however dysfunctional they may be - that keep her walking.

...her sense of humour - what would life be without laughter?

...her kindergarten kids who constantly put things into perspective.

...the roof over her head, the food on her plate, the clothes on her body.

...the opportunities she has only because she lives in Canada.

...her Saviour - to Him she owes everything.

2 comments Labels: family, hugs, lists, love

the epitome of sophistication

Thursday, October 4, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast

getting trashed at Swiss Chalet before the wedding

Yes, we're really this classy.

1 comments Labels: family