Ashlyn's First Dance Class

photos courtesy of Christian using mom's iPhone.

Ashlyn started to take a little tap/ballet class right before she turned three.  She loves it, she says, and looks forward to going each week and getting dressed up.  However, she spends a great deal of time wanting to sit with me, or just doing her own thing.  At the beginning of each class, she wants to have me with her at the bar.  I manage to appease her by sitting along the side against the wall.  

This is the second-to-last class.  For few minutes, she'll do great and follow along, but other times she truly dances to the beat of her own drum.  Or run, for that matter.  And run.  And run. 

There's a girl in her class who is a bit difficult to get along with (I'll call her Mean Girl) as I've seen her make faces and be somewhat belligerent to some of the other girls.  Lately though, she just has it out for Ashlyn.

This video clip cracks me up!  It shows how Ashlyn is completely her own person, not quite getting the concept of  following exactly what the teacher says, but it also shows Mean Girl (in lavender) and the relationship that has developed.   Ash was not too happy when Mean Girl took her spot!

Chocolate!

Here's a public service announcement for you -  

Check out realchocolate.com for a free coupon!  

Every Friday, the first 250,000 people who log on will receive a coupon in the mail for free chocolate from the Mars Co.   

Great way to get your m&m fix.  

Or any other candy that floats your boat. 

Just doing what I can to help. 

Happy Friday!!!!

The End of the Season

Track is over! 

Well, almost.  

Yesterday was our last track meet  - the JV Finals.  Next is the picnic, which John is helping to put on, so once that is over, then it's over.  

For us. 

John will still have Board stuff to deal with.

It was a great season, with both Madison and Brooke taking a first place ribbon and reaching personal bests.  However, the best part is that they loved it and had fun.  Although Madison didn't get to run until the last three meets (she was diagnosed with calcaneal apophysitis and had to limit her activities to walking), she was able to do shot put and participate with the team.  Staying off her foot seems to have helped as her ankle pain is gone.  Yeah!

The JV Finals in Ventura

Run Brookie, Run! 

On our way home from Ventura yesterday, we stopped for lunch at the Boar's Breath. 

Tom Frazier (who I grew up with and haven't seen in 20 years), and his wife Gina opened this little deli at the beginning of the year.  

It was great to see him and meet his gorgeous wife.  The kids loved the restaurant and are asking if we can go back there tomorrow.  We'll probably stop by during the summer since it's a block from the beach we go to every week!

You Spin Me Right Round Baby Right Round

Ashlyn and her friend George playing on the sit-n-spin this afternoon.  

They were very, very cute!

Bobotjie and Malva Pudding

One of moms at Christian's preschool just had a baby (her 3rd) and since she doesn't have any family in town, I was asked if I would like to bring in a dinner for the family.  The mom has a lovely accent which I recognized right away as being from South Africa so I thought it would be a fun experience to attempt to cook some traditional South African food for her.

I contacted a good family friend, Gill, who shares the same lovely accent (that's how I recognized it), and is also a wonderful cook, for some help.  She sent me a couple of recipes that I tried and I think (I hope!) they turned out well.  

The first one is Bobotjie (pronounced Bobootie) which is a meat dish with onions and sultanas.  Do you all know what those are??  Golden raisins.

Anyone know what a dessertspoon is?  It's bigger than a teaspoon, and smaller than a tablespoon (I think). 

I made this dish the day before (just in case! I don't have that much confidence), and I had so much that I decided to use it for stuffed peppers for our dinner last night.  Yum!

Now on to dessert . . . this is the stuff that makes the world go round:  Malva Pudding!  Oh help me this is good.  I made a practice dish Wednesday and the kids downed it and begged me to make it again.  I quote: "mom, this recipe is a keeper!"

So today, I made a double batch - one to keep and one to share.  As I write this, John is sitting next to me with a slice of Malva Pudding, warmed up, and said, "wow, this is really good."

Give it a try - make it for your family - it's really, really easy.

Malva Pudding:

 

1 Cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon apricot jam, 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon vinegar, pinch salt.

 

Sauce:

 

1/2 cup cream, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup hot water, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar - melt all together, keep stirring until well blended.

 

Beat egg & sugar until light in color.  Add jam, melt butter and then add vinegar to butter.  Add to mixture.  Add flour, milk, baking powder & pinch of salt.  Bake 350 covered for 45 minutes.  Then 2-3 minutes uncovered.  Remove from oven and poke holes with a fork.  Pour some of the sauce over pudding until fairly saturated.  Serve rest of sauce hot with pudding in each individual slice. 

note:  The first time, I didn't have cream, nor milk, so I used soy milk and it turned out just as good. 

I delivered the food this evening and I hope the mom likes it!  She was excited about it, so hopefully it will satisfy!

Thanks Gill!!! You're the best!

Happy Easter!

I love Easter and this time of year.  

Everything is green and in bloom.

On Saturday, we enjoyed a family hike in our local National State Park. 

I love having it practically in walking distance from our home.

We even brought Cole and he loved it! 

The weather is clean and pretty, it's fun to get out and enjoy family time, and sisterly bonding time.  

Easter Morning!

What did the Easter Bunny bring? 

John had to go to a meeting at church, so I took pictures of the kids before we had to leave.  The neighbors got a kick out of seeing them all in their Easter-best.  (We are the only church-goers on our street).  It was classic!  However trying to get the just right photo is next to impossible - at least that just right photo of each of them at the same time. 

Ashlyn is singing Alleluia already.  The neighbors must have loved it.

Madison

Christian and one of his unique poses.  Not quite sure what it means.

Brooke is always ready to strike a pose. 

Here Ashlyn is now leading the neighborhood in an Alleluia choir.

Well done neighbors!  A round of applause - You did beautifully!

Brooke taught Ashlyn how to strike a pose. 

I love how they actually want to match still.  I'll take it as long as I can.

It's time to get in the car for church . . . Ashlyn decides to take a nature walk instead. 

In the evening, over at Lisa's, the kids had fun with a little Easter egg hunt.

How silly of us to forget our baskets and have to use lovely grocery sacks. 

I made a bunny carrot cake for dessert and for Sharon's birthday.  He turned out pretty cute! 

I also made an Easter egg wreath.  The dyed eggs were baked right in the bread. 

Now for spring break!  Yay!  I am ready for a week off school. 

Sacramento or Bust

Sacramento Here We COME!

After years of hearing about the trip, and months of fundraising and anticipating, the weekend was finally here!  The annual 4th grade field trip to our state's capitol.  

How odd is it that I've lived in California my whole life and have never been to the capitol?  They just didn't do these kinds of trips when I was a kid.

We left at a not-so-bright (in fact it was very dark) and early 4:30 a.m.  

Driving to the elementary school at that time is a strange thing. 

We boarded a giant tour-bus coach and headed to the airport. 

The kids thought it was fun to board the plane from the outside.  I had them stop for a photo-op.  Madison is here with her pal Fatima.  Fatima's parents couldn't go, so they asked if I would be her chaperone.  She is a delight and we had a great time all together.   Our itinerary was packed from the moment we landed, until check-in at the Hilton at 8:30 p.m., then back up again for 7:00 a.m. breakfast at the hotel.

9:30 a.m.  First stop:  The State Capitol!  It is so gorgeous!!  The weather the whole weekend was spectacular.  We really lucked out.  Governor Schwarzeneggar's secretary even came in to let us in the office and give us a little tour.  

We visited Sutter's Fort, then an 1861 school house, then the Railroad museum.  During the late afternoon 'free time' in Old Sacramento, we walked along the river, did some shopping, got ice cream . . . it was really fun.  Then off to dinner at the mall and "Under the Sea" at the IMAX.

The next day we went up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains - which were so spectacularly green and gorgeous that I thought I was in Northern England for a moment - and visited the "Gold Fever" era of California history.

Everyone passed right on by this little cabin . . . I happened to glance at the sign and it was the Mormon Cabin!  Set up by the Mormon Battalion who helped establish the area and were major players in the gold rush.  Seriously, which significant part of California was the Mormon Battalion not a part of??

Panning for gold along the American River.  Believe it or not, we found some.  They are just little flakes, but still!

Some of us chaperones were looking pretty spiffy in our hard hats! When going into the Gold Bug mine, you had to wear one if you were over 5' tall.

This is Sutter's Mill.  It was so cool looking!  I could spend a long time taking pictures of it.

After the Mill was a miner's lunch (which was fabulous) at a camp along the river, then off to the Gold Bug mine, then dinner at Hometown Buffet (I think I'm still feeling that one) and back to the airport.

We had a very exhausting, fun-filled weekend that was jam-packed with adventure, learning, and just a plain old good time. 

Madison and Fatima enjoying juice a'la Southwest with a beautiful sunset on the horizon.

We were home at about 9:30 p.m. and everyone had to be at school on time the next morning!

Itinerary (for journaling purposes):

Saturday

4:15 a.m.  Meet at Maple

4:30a.m.  Bus leaves

7:15 a.m. Burbank Airport - flight to Sacramento

8:35a.m.  Arrive in Sacramento

9:30a.m. Tour of State Capitol Building

10:45a.m. Sutter's Fort

12:00p.m. Lunch - Blimpie's

1:00p.m. Schoolhouse Museum

2:15p.m. Railroad Museum

4:00p.m. Free time in Old Town Sacramento

5:00p.m. Dinner - Downtown Plaza food court

6:30p.m. IMAX Theatre - Under the Sea 3D

8:00p.m. Drop off at Hilton for check-in

Sunday

7:30a.m. Breakfast buffet at hotel

8:30a.m. Bus departure

10:00a.m. Marshall Gold Discovery Day

10:30a.m. Gold panning

12:30p.m. Lunch - Earthtrek Meals

2:00p.m. Gold Bug Park and Mine

4:00p.m. Dinner - Hometown Buffet

5:30p.m. Drop off at Aiport

6:50p.m. Flight to Burbank

10:00p.m. Arrival back at Maple