A Day at the Park

If we should actually have a day where we head out to the park, Abbey and Landen think big.  There is a small park in our neighborhood that neither one of them will acknowledge as a park.  I mention park, and the two of them list off the big parks near our house, and by the time they get to the park across the street, they are disappointed and irritated that I would even consider that park an outing.  It fits the bill when we have a few minutes between homework, naps, and dinner.  But, it is not their idea of "going to the park."
Today we wowed them with the Irvine Park.  With a railroad, a zoo, a duck pond, a boat rental pond, pony rides, and acres and acres of bike trails, grassy fields, and picnic spots, it is no ordinary park.  It's a park with a wow factor.

These 3 could not decide what to do first.  We did a big loop in the car to check it out and all of them were chattering at once in excitement!

Side-note:  If you would have received a Christmas card this year from us, it would have looked like this.  Hence, you did not receive a card this year.

 a trip on the railroad

visiting the horses

Layne was dying to ride the horsies.  From the moment she caught a glimpse of the pony rides from the car window, all she could say was, "ride the horsies."  I had a feeling she was too little, so we sent dad to go check it while we got up close and personal with these little fellas.  This was as close as they got.  Layne was too little, and Abbey and Landen were too chicken!

a pedal boat ride...fun for the kids...Royal and I's cycle class for the day!

The zoo was closing by the time we made it over to that side of the park.  Landen politely requested that next time we come to the park, we need to make sure we get to the zoo before it closes.  He did use a tone.  That huffy tone that implies he has come to the realization that his parents don't know everything.  Even he knew we should check out the time the zoo closed before we got to the zoo gates.  

Abbey requested that we move back to Irvine so that we could live just down the street and go anytime we wanted.  

We'll be heading back, to restore Landen's faith in us.  And to show Abbey that we can easily get to the park without packing up everything we own and relocating.    

Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day.

From our chocolatey, sweet-tarty, peppermint-hearty house to yours.

Birthday Sparkles

We spelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY in silver glitter, pink and purple pom poms, and pink pajamas this year!

The birthday girl...a fabulous 8...is great!

A few treats

A batch of rice krispies treats, all drizzled and sprinkled, headed to Abbey's 2nd grade class.

The kids and I were invited for a family show-and-tell to end Abbey's Star of the Week activities.  We sat in front of the kids and told stories about our family and answered questions.  It was a hoot!  Layne refused to talk and instead meowed at everyone, which brought on a classroom full of giggles!  Landen piped in a few responses which awarded him some high 5's from the big kids!  Abbey got to use the classroom pointer to call on her friends to ask questions and then stand with us to answer them.  She loved it.  We kept the treats a little secret until we finished up and took our bow.  Then we were quickly upstaged by the tray of drizzled chocolate with dinosaur sprinkles and dot sprinkles and fish sprinkles.  And the rice krispies treats underneath.  

Negotiations

"No, not that one" has just become a particularly overused phrase in Layne's vocabulary.

It's always hilarious the first few times.  Well, I guess it still is pretty funny to hear such decisiveness come from such a cute, little, chubby set of cheeks.  Even when it's lunch and you just want to feed the kid already!

Mom:  Turkey sandwich?

Layne:  No, not that

Mom:  Mickey nuggets

Layne:  No, not that one either

Mom:  Noodles and cheese?

Layne:  No, not that

Mom:  Grilled cheese?

Layne:  No (pause) OK, OK that one

 And there "that one" sits.  Perfectly intact, minus the 2 baby bites.

There's marshmallows on the scene.

Alright.  Put your tongue away.  I'll advance you a couple of marshmallows.  Then right back to the sandwich.

A little tower of marshmallows.  Then grilled cheese.

Hmmm.

Layne:  Not that one anymore (pushes the sandwich away)

Deal's off.  And so is the little negotiator with a handful of marshmallows.

Abbey's Week

Abbey is star of the week at school.  This mega-poster is just the beginning of a fun week of sharing her favorite things and her fun personality.

It's great to get to help with these projects and learn a little bit more about your kiddie.  Your little kiddie who suddenly grew up to be 7 1/2 turning 8 in a matter of days...whose favorite song is not off the Playhouse Disney soundtrack anymore.  How do they just up and have a favorite pop rock song one day?  Can we just S L O W down a minute?!  

Layne and I sing a few songs before bedtime each night.  Always "Follow the Prophet" and then a mix of a few classics, "Twinkle, Twinkle," "Itsy, Bitsy Spider."  She cuddles up with me in her dark room and sometimes I look down at her round face and light, wispy hair and I flash right back to rocking little Abbey.  Same round face, wispy hair.  Past that, they are 2 different ducks!  But...where have the Itsy Bitsy Spiders gone?  Where did those long legs come from that have outgrown my lap?  How come you are now teaching me the words to the songs?  Abbey, Abbey, Abbey:  Just stop growing up already!

Alright...you just enjoy your special week anyway!

Abbey turns 8 on Sunday.  We are excitedly looking towards her baptism next month.

We are celebrating in Pajama Glam on Friday night.  12 girls.  Pajamas.  Waffles for dinner.  Pillow fights.  Pre-teeny-bopper flick with popcorn on the side.  We can't wait!

  

We pile 'em high

chocolate chip cookies, baked weekly, sometimes daily

This recipe had me curious from the first ingredient...cake flour.  Then, bread flour.  In chocolate chip cookies.  Very curious.  It took me 3 stores to find the bittersweet chocolate chips and 4 days to get around to making these.  I just couldn't wait to try the cookies that the New York Times was boasting as the best chocolate chip cookies ever.  They did this in 2008.  I must have missed the joyous shouts heard nationwide.

This is the fussiest cookie recipe I have ever followed.  Maybe the fussiest recipe period.  I really didn't want to love these because I wasn't dying to fuss over cookies again.  But, I have to say, they are amazing.  And beautiful.  And extra-chocolately.  And, they were shoveled in by my 3 little taste testers.  

Go try them.  But no whining about the fussiness.  I warned you.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html