Hello everyone, Happy New Year, and welcome to 2017 chez nous at CloudMom! I’ve got so many ideas for this coming year that I am so excited to try out, and the New Year has me filled with enthusiasm. Thanks so much for sticking with me and following my site and videos! I’m so grateful for every single email, question, and all of you who come back. Thank you so much!

First up, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to shake up our family’s regular food fare. These colorful vegetables in a nearby cafe caught my fancy. Now, how to make them? Anyone have any ideas? For this roasted cauliflower, I imagine lightly sautéing it in garlic, oil and a bit of paprika and then roasting it in the oven. Next up, a yummy kale salad with juicy pieces of chicken, raisins, corn and almonds. Refreshingly bitter. Hedley took a day trip with his class to the Chinese Institute and his lovely teacher sent me this photo, which apparently bears witness to a birthday present headed my way. Yeah! I headed to Marielle’s school for her “birthday share”, which proved to be a second birthday celebration. Her classmates politely admired Marielle’s baby photos, and then partook of the pink and purple cupcakes below. Mommy indulged in two herself — who not?

The relationship of siblings to one another is perennially complicated. For Marielle, being the youngest child of five so close in age can be frustrating. She actively defends her turf as the youngest sibling and can get too-easily riled by her brothers! One of my other New Year’s resolutions is to spend more one-on-one time with Marielle and to figure out what frustrates her so much! I’ve been trying to give her the bath every day, read to her, and started a nightly story in which the Princess Marielle rejects every prince in the kingdom other than one … to be continued. After the birthday share, we had Marielle’s conference and her teachers showed us this drawing which says: “The important thing about me is that I have a sister and brothers!” My hair makes it’s way to the end of my dress! Funny that only the girls have hearts … hm? That’s it for this week and make sure to enter our giveaway below. Oh, and if you’ve got a drawing to share from one of your kids, please do so on our Facebook page. I’d love to see it.

Happy New Year!

Melissa

Weekly Giveaway

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Weekly $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

