What a WEEK!!

Wow! What a week. I'm glad it's Friday. Last week was my Spring Break followed by a wonderful Easter weekend. Then, I hit the ground running with Sky Mountain Charter School's STAR Testing week. I love seeing all of my students together in one place. It's great. I saw one of my 2nd graders on the playground on the second day. She's one of my favorite students (I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but I do.) I hadn't seen her on the first day because I was proctoring another grade.

Me: "How did yesterday go? I was thinking about you during testing."

My student: "Well, it went great. I made a new friend, I got a lollipop, and I had diarrhea!"

You just have to love the perspective (and honesty) of kids.

With that, I will leave you with a picture trail from the last few weeks :) It's a long one... Enjoy!!

We kicked off Spring Break by taking the kids to Sea World. They offered a free pass to teachers this year, and Erin and I partook.

Easter Eggstravaganza

On Saturday morning Ron and I decided to take the girls on a little bike ride. We started in Dana Point and discovered this great bike trail that goes all the way to San Juan Capistrano where we stopped for bagels and coffee.. and we hit a great park on the way home. It was great fun... and I see a new Saturday tradition unfolding.

Easter week was wonderful. Ron and I attended the Holy Tridumm services starting on Thursday night and concluding with the Holy Saturday service. Easter morning was amazing. After church were headed to Pasadena to be with the Hunts and Welches.

We hunt for easter eggs in formal wear.

I was in charge of dessert. The cupcakes were supposed to look like carrots growing out of the ground. No one could really figure it out. I asked Ron what he thought they were and he's like, "Ummmm. Pineapples?"

Dang it.

The chicks were cute, though.

Rosie had her Teddy Bear Picnic at preschool on Thursday. She and her bear wore matching bows and had a special snack.

I love American Idol.

There.

I said it.

It's hard for me to admit, but I love it. I always get attached to the singers and sometimes... ehhm. I vote.

Ron totally surprised me with tickets to the show on Thursday evening as an early birthday present. We had so much fun. I screamed for Steven Tyler and I think Ron did too. We were seated right behind the contestants' families and my husband, being the wonderful man that he is, totally made friends with Casey's parents. They gave him the inside skinny on the living arrangements, the song selections, and even the romance....If you're wondering, Casey and Haley are not an item. I think Casey's dad used the terms, "...in Casey's wildest dreams..."

By the time the show was over, Ron and Casey's dad were fast friends. As we walked out Ron slapped him on the back and said, "See ya later, Ira!"

and here they are:

We spotted Lauren at the Grove. She's adorable. I hope she wins.

The girls and I brought treats to the office for a little birthday party for Ron Sr (who would have been 77 today!)

Holes

These are my sweet Hubby's jeans. I say they're ready to be pitched. He says they're, "totally wearable." What do YOU think?

Brownies???

I receive Self magazine in the mail each month. Even the title is disturbing. Self. It was one of those things where I subscribed to a magazine by cashing in some airline miles that were about to go to waste, and then that magazine went belly up so they started sending me Self as an apology of sorts. I generally pick it up and thumb through it, admire the tanned and taught bodies, maybe glance at the recipes before tossing it out or using it for the latest collage project with the girls. I think I even tore out a article on jumping rope once because it looked like fun. This month featured Gwyneth Paltrow. I like her. I think she seems kind of normal and I like her as Holly Holiday on Glee. She shared some recipes that aim to cut sugar and fat, but still taste good. I like this... we try to cut sugar and fat wherever we can... but not at Surfin' Donuts on Sunday mornings. On those days, we like to invite sugar and fat. Anyway, the girls and I decided to try Gwyneth's recipe for "Fudgy Chocolate Brownies."

This one hung in there for a while before finding something more interesting to do.

Looks good, right?

The result? Gross. Yuck. Like brown Playdough with chocolate chips sprinkled on top. Soooo disappointed. I know now to be wary of recipes for brownies that don't call for butter and sugar. So, Gwynie, if I'm in the market for a great acting career or a budding music endeavor or rockin' hard abs, I might come calling again, but let's leave the delicious brownie recipes to Ina.

Even my sous-chef abandoned her treat for something better... like an apple :)

Keepin' it REAL!!

Rosie's getting so, well, capable. It's amazing, as a mama, to watch your children learn and grow and become independent and self motivated. Rosie's getting good at riding her bike. It's incredible to watch. She carefully crosses the street on my cue, steers well, confidently leads the way and even stands up while going uphill to get a bit more power and leverage. She's getting so good that Sadie and I have to jog to keep up. I was a puffed up, proud mama hen on Monday when we took our little bike ride....puffed up and proud on the way there.

I have to tell you about the way home. I tell you because parenting is messy and sometimes ugly and because I'm surrounded by a culture that loves to pretend it's not.

I tell you because I'm keeping it real.

On the way home Rosie decided she'd DO IT HERSELF, she DIDN'T NEED MY HELP and that she WOULDN'T LISTEN. Our "proud of ourselves moment" ended with me pushing Sadie home in the stroller and carrying Rosie's bike while she walked 10 steps behind us in a complete rage. She screamed at the top of her lungs while flinging her little limbs around and would throw herself onto the sidewalk every few steps to pound and cry. Middle aged women with small dogs on leashes stepped off the curb and on to the street and walked around us, avoiding eye contact, pretending not to notice while I wanted to say to them, "Really? You've never been here before? Orange County children don't freak out?"

It's humbling... and healthy for me to say that sometimes....somedays... some weeks... some bike rides: I don't know what to do. I need help. I don't have it together.

And guess what? I'm learning that.... it's alright....it's alright.... it's alright!

I adore Anne Lammott. She says, "It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools- friendship, prayer, conscience, honesty- and said, do the best you can with these, they will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough."

Kale

Have you noticed that Kale is the popular girl in school these days? The only time I had heard of Kale (up until the last year) was from my mom... who fed it to her Iguana, "Iggy," when she taught 7th grade at Oak Creek Intermediate.

Well, the girls and I jumped on the Kale wagon and gave it a whirl.

Baked Kale Chip

(from Smitten Kitchen)

1 bunch (about 6 ounces) Kale

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sea salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 300 F. Rinse and dry the Kale, then remove the stems and tough center ribs. Cut into large pieces, toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Arrange leaves in a single layer on a large baking sheet. I also lined mine with parchment for easy clean-up. Bake for 20 minutes, or until crisp.

Note: 20 minutes was too long. We scorched our first batch. Maybe it's the chef... maybe it's the oven:

Ron's nephew was in town last week. He asked me, "Does that oven work, or is it just for decoration?"

She works, Logan! She works!!

Guess who approved? Guess who asked (and also signed) for more?

While the Cat's Away.....

While Ron is here:

The mice enjoy time with niece Allison Eckert,

girls night at Fashion Island,

(with some spontaneous dancing in Express with Brieann)

and a sunny day on Papa and Mimi's sailboat with Great Papa Welch

We had fun... but we sure are glad that The Cat's coming home tomorrow! Until then... Go Butler!