Merry Christmas

I have so much to back post but I wanted to share this one before it was too late.

Consider it my Christmas card to you (since I have yet to send one out . . . ever)

Haunting Season

As much as I wanted to, I didn't have enough time to go really creative this year. We had Egg Brains, Goblin tongues, and Cinnamon "Jack-o-Lantern" Rolls.

Aurora was Princess Aurora, of course, thanks to Nana's birthday present that I had to keep away from her for five months.
Allegra was a tomato that my sister wore, so I guess you could call it a family "heirloom tomato."Although in that picture she looks a little more like a rotten tomato. With the ward Trunk-or-Treat and trick-or-treating all in the same evening, it was crazy, sugar-induced coma day!

Look what was found--the original tomato picture!  

Apple Dumplin' Gang

I have AAA to thank for many things, but the latest is for introducing me to our new family tradition, a fall visit to Oak Glen, CA, about two hours away, near Redlands. Some people think we don't have seasons here in So Cal. We do, we just have to travel a little to visit them. We enjoyed apple and cider tastings, and hot mini apple-cider doughnuts at Snow-Line Orchard.

Pumpkins, a petting zoo, and more apple tasting at Los Rios Rancho.

But my absolute favorite was lunch at Hawk's Head Public House, a colonial tavern.

It was like stepping back in time (or visiting Williamsburg again).

The employees were all in colonial dress. There was live colonial music from a quartet. The food was incredible--pumpkin soup, homemade rustic bread, veggie pot pie that put Marie Callendar to shame, green beans that really tasted like they came straight from the garden and applesauce that was by far the best I've ever had. I'm drooling all over again. I was grinning from ear to ear, and that was even before reading the sign at the door.

While we were waiting for our food, some school groups were outside reinacting the Revolutionary War with stick guns and flags and "Huzzahs". The docent played America the Beautiful on the fife, and I had tears in my eyes, because I'm just a sap like that. How had I not heard about this place before?
As if we hadn't eaten enough, we stopped at Apple Annie's Bakery for their five-pound Mile-High Apple pie. You can kind of see it in the picture below. One not-so-pleasant thing about Oak Glen is that it is full of bees--good for growing apples, not good for trying to eat yummy sweet things.
So we brought out pie down the hill and ate at a beautiful park in Yucaipa.
And when I asked Aurora what her favorite part of the day was, she said, "Riding the dinosaur".I guess she would be just as happy if we had stayed home and went to the park. At least I enjoyed the apples!

Distraught

I went to drop off a gift to a friend who had a baby a couple weeks ago. She opened the door and pulled me inside, "You've got to come try this." She made a fantastic pumpkin cake from Bon Appetit magazine. She just had a baby and she's making a gourmet cake! She's obviously SuperMom! So I thought, "I don't even have a newborn. Why am I reading all these foodie books, but not cooking? So I went through a pile of recipes ripped from magazines that I would *someday* try and found Squash Ravioli with Herbed Butter Sauce from Family Fun magazine. This just happens to be similar to my absolute favorite dish from my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. And if it's in Family Fun, it must be kid friendly, right? So after two extra trips to grocery stores to find butternut squash that I thought I already had in the freezer, I put Allegra down for a nap and enlisted Aurora's help, because the kid in the picture looked around Aurora's age. Ha Ha. After four hours I was ready to throw out Family-Not-So-Fun.

It made barely enough to feed the four of us. Thank goodness the family I invited over for dinner never called back. Aurora and Allegra wouldn't touch it, and they eat just about anything. I liked it, but was so tired that I couldn't like it that much. I told Mark he'd better eat it, or else. When I talked to my sister later about it, she was surprised it took so long. She said she just used canned pumpkin and wonton wrappers. AHHHHHHH! I think I'll just eat out next time.

A book for the tastebuds

I don't get to read much these days and when I do, I'm usually bored and disappointed (in a post Harry Potter/why did Twilight have to end so badly kind of way). But when a little old lady asked me how to find Julie and Julia on the library computer because she wanted to read it for the Canyon Country Library book club and then I heard it was going to be a movie, I was intrigued. So I added myself to the waiting list of 88 and it miraculously showed up just when I needed a good book to help me through the neverending baseball season.Now I didn't read a single review about it (which for me is unthinkable) because I thought, "If the library thinks it's book club material, then it's got to be good." Well, maybe I should have put it down because of the author's superfluous potty mouth or her bad judgment in friends with very bad judgment, but I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. I liked her snarky writing style. I like that I finally get to use the word "snarky". A lot of reviewers complain that she's whiny. But when you blog, you're allowed to be whiny and at least she admits to it. (I started reading another book that was whiny and self-righteous and sooooo annoying and a best-seller and I wanted to chuck it.)

Plus, I'm a sucker for food books, and Julie made me briefly think about trying Mastering the Art of French Cooking (even though my only experience with French food was a taste of my mom's Steak Tartar at a cafe in Paris that made me want to vomit). And let's face it, nothing compares to real Italian food. But when an author can actually make you think liver/kidneys/brains are delicious, that has to be a good writer. But really, can Mormons cook French food? It's seems like every recipe contains alcohol. Yes, I know, I know, it all cooks out, but I'd always have this fear that I'd run into the bishop at Stater Brothers with a cart full of booze. So instead, I thought I'd Master the Art of Mormon Cooking and learn how to can peaches, with the help of my MIL. It wasn't that hard, but definitly more fun with a partner in crime. So now I have 32 (no make that 31, I already gave one away) jars of beautiful canned peaches in my garage to get me through the long winter of apples and oranges. And if the rabbit hadn't eaten my tomatoes, I probably would have canned those too.

And as for Julie and Julia, read it at your own risk. And if you do, let me know if you'll be doing any cooking too!

Zing Zang Zoom!

Talk about the Greatest Show on Earth! Aurora won 4 free tickets to Ringling Brothers circus from the library (oh, how I love the library) so we invited Annie and Spencer to join us for the greatest day ever! I was a little nervous finding my way down to the Staples Center and not being able to get the tickets until the day of, but boy, did we luck out!We couldn't find the parking garage the website recommended but instead, landed a sweet spot right across the street for less than half the price!
We were just in time for the doors to open for the amazing preshow where we got to go down on the floor of Staples and see up close and personal clowns, elephants, and acrobats. The kids weren't quite sure about the clowns, but I think they are pretty cute!
We were given seats EIGHTH ROW CENTER! They were incredible! We were right underneath the high wire act! We could see the expressions on the elephants faces! We couldn't have had a better seat in the entire place!
Aurora loved her first (and I'm sure not last) taste of cotton candy.
But best of all was the look of pure glee on Aurora's face. Nothing compares to the joy of a child!

Beach Babes

Our first beach day of the year was at Ventura's Pirate Ship Beach (at least that's what we call it) with JoElle, Keira, Allyse, Annie and Spencer.
Why don't we go all the time? It's so nice and cool and free and entertaining!
It was Allegra's first time and she just gobbled it up--literally!

Shake My Sillies Out

The Little StinkbugBathing BeautiesTickling the Ivories Times TwoIs she a banana or did Aurora try to dress herself?The Little Scavenger--I've never seen her crawl so fast!

Happy Father's Day!

We're so glad when Daddy comes home!We gave daddy some scrubs and a medical kit so he can teach us how to nurses too!

We love you!

Do you ever have days when you feel like this?

A Fantastic Fourth

I love the Fourth of July. I think my love was magnified by living outside the country. But every year I get all choked up with patriotism. We went to the SCV parade with Annie, Matt and Spencer. I've been to the parade a million times and marched it more than I care to admit. But this year was by far the best.Seeing Aurora's face as she squealed with joy while every entry crawled by, whether it be the forty-third fire truck or the sixty-seventh souped-up car, made my heart swell with pride for this country and our quaint little valley.
Her favorite was "Princess Aurora" who was actually "Little Miss Jr. Teen Tiny Bopper Castaic". And then she informed me that she was going to be in the parade next year. I wouldn't put it past her. Then we had a mouth watering BBQ with family and watched the fireworks. Hooray for the Red, White and Blue! God Bless America!

Shower help

I need shower help . . . and I wish I meant the wet kind.

I'm helping with a bridal shower and I have to come up with a game for at least 60 people. I hate shower games. With at passion. And for 60 people--so it really can't involve everyone paying attention at one time or sitting down. So if anyone has any great ideas, I'm in desperate need. And if you happen to be coming to "said shower" please pretend not to have read this post. Thank you.

Piano Recital 2009

Another year of music means another piano recital. And this one was the biggest and best yet. I combined with my talented sister and all of our students were fantastic! I'll especially miss MacKenzie, Carly and Kalei, who are all moving this summer. It's been an absolute pleasure teaching them. Keep playing girls!

Little Fishies

Here's a few shots of our first swim of the season back in May. It was also Allegra's first time in the pool. Guess who's not afraid of the water?

It's way too late

After the worst/craziest month ever I will quickly post a few favorite pics of the "few good times."

Easter with Cousins Bella and Jake

Allegra's first Easter

My little jailbird, who finally at ten months started to crawl, pull herself up, sit up by herself and get her first tooth all in one week.

A fabulous Mother's Day!

We're finally back in our house after a long week of home repairs. I'd post pictures, but that won't happen till I'm all up packed and decorated, which with my track record, means never. So you'll just have to stop by and see for yourself, as long as you promise to ignore the disarray!

Easter FHE

I'm so grateful for the internet. I love that I can borrow ideas from everyone else creative in the world. I felt the pressure after St. Patrick's Day to come up with something really great for Easter. Here's what we did:

Sang: Jesus is Risen (thanks Sister Barlow for teaching it to me!)
Read: Jesus Lives! The Easter Story (purchased from Castle Book, thank you 20% off sale)
Made FHE Treat (Aurora's favorite part): Resurrection RollsWhile those baked, she colored a picture of the resurrected Jesus from an old Friend
and I cut out this Easter Story and then did it with her. She loved it! And by the end, I think she started to understand it a little. Tender moments!

Luck of the Not So Irish

I have no Irish heritage but decided this year to go all out and celebrate St. Patrick's Day, thanks to inspiration from my Irish friends and family and the Internet.

Breakfast

Green Eggs and Bacon
Donuts with green sprinkles (green bagels were unavailable)
Honeydew

Lunch

Lucky Charms
Edamame
Limeade
Shamrock Shake from McDonald's

Dinner

Angel Hair with Pesto
Green Salad
Green Milk
Green Jello Shamrocks
Green Frosted Cookies


Aurora went on a Leprechaun Treasure Hunt among the shamrocks in the backyard.
She colored a Leprechaun and Rainbow, did a Irish sequence worksheet, and punched a Shamrock picture.
We sang some fun St. Patty's Day songs.
She took a green bath.
We read A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski (which by some miracle still happened to be at the library today)
And all in all consumed way too much sugar. This would account for why Aurora kept getting out of bed until 11:00pm. I'll have to modify the celebration for next year.