Maple Dijon Baked Chicken & This is What It’s All About!

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.

Marsha Petrie Sue

Quite a few people have talked with me this week about my last post. I’ve had friends and family remind me that I need to make more time for the youngest… sometimes we get carried away with our oldest. This is true. My husband explained to me the other day that I just might be too hard on myself. We had a sit down and we talked (we had to because I was taking out all my preschool frustration on him… and that just isn’t fair!), Ninja pointed out all the things that SBean gets that HBear didn’t.

HBear didn’t get play dates. We didn’t know anybody. HBear got the company of 4 adults. Yes, HBear got new clothes. But all of these clothes are new to SBean and she lights up with glee whenever she wear something “new”. Yes, I drag SBean around to all of HBear’s various activities but all of her friends have younger brothers and sisters so it is their own time together! Because I was down on myself last week I didn’t see/think that SBean and I spend a lot of quality one-on-one time together. But… we do. I spend every day with her. Every day we do something new and exciting. Well, it is new and exciting to her 😉

But, I wanted to clarify, of course I would accept an afternoon spot at preschool if it meant it was the only way the SBean would get to go. Also, it is not just because HBear’s activities. SBean has activities too. SBean still takes naps in the afternoon! I just find that SBean is at her optimal learning/playing ability before noon LOL there are so many reasons why I would like the morning spot… But I would definitely take an afternoon spot over nothing… but mornings are my first choice.

Sometimes, I only see what I’m not doing and bypass everything that I am doing. Hearing about other people’s struggles always puts things into perspective. Thank you to all my Readers, I LOVE comments, stories and feedback 🙂

I now know… I am not alone.

Other kids are also assholes! There are a lot of good kids out there that are attituding it up LOL

I… am not alone.

I saw a bumper sticker on Facebook the other day that I asked my MBesty to make for me LOL

Yep, that about sums that up lol

I honestly don’t know where my brain has been lately! Although I have finally realized that it was not my fault that SBean didn’t get into preschool, nobody on the waiting list got accepted, only previous students and their siblings… That is somewhat of a relief LOL but the Brownie leader emailed me and said I noticed HBear hasn’t been enrolled in Brownies next year. Isn’t she registering? I was like, of course she is, registration opens up on May 2. She then informed me that that was the second wave of registration and by that time it would be full! HBear is a returning Brownie so she was in the first wave. I got her registration in right away but… seriously?

What the hell is wrong with me? I am always so scheduled! I mean, Last week I registered the girls for all their summer programs lol.

Speaking of last week, I went preschool hunting 🙂 after viewing a few with some good contenders, I finally found the perfect one for SBean! I am so excited! I have another appointment early next week to show SBean around and to meet her teacher. I think she is going to love it! Every time we drive by it she squeals “that’s my preschool!” Lol I am reminded again… That I need to relax. Shit happens. And sometimes more shit happens. But sometimes you slip in the shit and fall into something better.

Just like last week,

I had the children from Hell.

But this week,

I had children of Wonder and Amazement.

It is so…

Energetic/renewing/motivating/gratifying/ to watch them do new things! I am overwhelmed with heartbreaking pride.

This week was our first week of summer. OK so maybe not summer LOL but that whole Okanagan vibe is in full swing. This is why you move here… The weather has been fantastic, the blue skies are breathtaking, it stays warm into the evening, everything is green and blooming, tshirts & shorts are everywhere, the smell of sunscreen is in the air, the Farmer’s Market is buzzing, the pools are open, and there is this energy. Everything comes alive. More money is flowing throughout the town and people are in busy mode.

I love it! Everybody is on a Vitamin D high!

HBear had a Curriculum Implementation Day last Wednesday so she came to SBean’s gymnastics class. Of course her old coach invited her onto the matt 🙂 Last year she was scared to try to climb the rope,

We went all over picking up flowers for the flowers beds,

and then the girls “helped” plant them,

This weekend was SBean’s first soccer practice!

We headed to the Farmer’s Market after practice,

HBear went to a friend’s birthday/pool party after. To be honest, I didn’t bring her bathing suit. She has had a terrible cough and I didn’t want her to catch a chill. I totally got pressured into going home and getting it though 🙁 However, it was +28 out and the water was like a bath. It’s a learning curve Folks 😉

That evening my SBesty and her daughter convinced us to go to the Dance Showcase. The Kiwanis Club puts on a Dance Festival each year and kids from all over the Valley come to compete. The last night is the showcase of all the winning performances. It was spectacular! I had no idea what talent our small Valley is producing!

The next morning HBear was up early to go check out the free flying day put on by the local flying club. She went with Daddy and Grandpa of course. Ninja was an Air Traffic Controller way back in what seems like a different life lol and his Dad was crazy high up in the Air Force and then worked for Standard Aero.

She was pretty apprehensive at first, she likes to REALLY think about things before she makes a move lol. This is the girl that sleeps beside her book for 2 weeks thinking about what it will be like before she starts reading it! BAHAHA

She did great though and really enjoyed the experience! I am so proud of her! I didn’t get up in a Sesna until I was in grade 8!! I took lessons and worked on my ground license when I was in Space Camp… a story for a different time 🙂

Later SBean helped Daddy clean up all the bikes,

While Papa took HBear bike riding. Last year we tried.

And tried.

To get HBear to ride her bike.

No go.

This year she got a new bike and Papa offered to take her out for a spin. She was UBER excited and put it in her calendar and overtime she saw Papa over the week she made a bike bell motion and said “ding ding!” LOL Of course when we got her new bike out, we realized the back tire was flat and the new tube was shot. I took it in yesterday to get fixed but for the weekend lesson she had to use her old bike.

I can’t believe she did it! Thanks Dad! After their lesson they went out for a reward!

While SBean had some fro-yo and “did” Daddy’s hair 🙂

Which takes us to the past 2 days,

And just to make this week even brighter 🙂 Yesterday, Ninja brought me home the most beautiful flowers!

And today he brought me home my favourite chocolates!!!

Last week I also, went out for dinner with the Girls (I already mentioned), had a PAC meeting, had a DPAC meeting, had a School Board Budget meeting, had my weekly date night (FaceTime) with my Sis and made time to start our bedroom changes! I bought a great duvet set to go with the curtains I am going to make 🙂

Remember a few weeks ago when I was all excited to support the Preschool I thought SBean was going to go to? Remember when I bid on a cleaning lady to come in and clean my bathroom? Yeah… she came alright. Last week she graced me with her presence and this week it took me 2 hours to actually clean the bathroom! She obviously didn’t even clean under the sink stopper, GROSS!

We still managed to eat during our busy ass week though! I made some simple dishes like salmon with rice and veggies, beef lo mein, chicken salad, BBQ’ed hotdogs, BBQ’ed steak with cold salads and an easy baked chicken dish with orzo and asparagus!

This chicken requires 1 dish and takes minutes to prepare. Put it in the oven and TADA delicious chicken the whole family will gobble up!

Maple Dijon Baked Chicken
Adapted from The Seasoned Mom

4 chicken breasts
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425.

In a bowl, whisk together maple syrup, mustard, and soy sauce.

Place chicken in a large greased baking dish.

Sprinkle chicken with a little bit of salt and pepper, to taste.

Pour sauce over chicken and toss to make sure that each piece of chicken is well coated. Place sprigs of fresh herbs in the dish (tucked alongside the chicken).