Just Doin' My Part - Public Service Announcement (again!)

Who doesn't love ice cream?  

Click HERE

and enter to win a free ice cream party for your neighborhood.

FUN!

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.