royal wedding scones

Inspired by friends, we ate scones this morning while watching highlights from the royal wedding. We used this recipe, but I substituted chocolate chips for the raisins, and added a bit of whipped cream and frozen blueberries on top.


I'm glad I didn't just let the event pass by....it turns out Isabela already knew a lot about it. I guess they've been talking about it in class.

I explained the royal family to Joaquin, using our own family as an example....Juan Pablo is the King....and the first born son, Joaquin, would be prince and heir to the throne.

Could we be in trouble?? Just kidding. Joaquin is very caring and FAIR, if anything.


And for the record, my royal name is Lady Dorothy Ameoba -Walker's Ferry...or Lady Sarah Sunshine-Bromley...which sounds a bit more British if you ask me.

Cheers!

Holy Week... filled with sadness, tears, triumph, love, excitement, wonder, joy.
Our Spring Break... filled with the same, but not necessarily the same order.

The highlight was probably our impromptu trip to Forest Hill Park. The big boys rode their bikes on the trails, on and off road!



Joaquin even wanted to ride across this bridge! I had to say no way. Am I the only voice of reason in this family?


Meanwhile, the rest of us enjoyed Mother Nature's spring show.


I think other people love this park, too.


Oh! And Isabela got a haircut...first she did it herself, then we took her to the shop. I actually liked what she had done on the soccer field with a pair of scissors, but somehow it morphed into something scary later on, so we had to get bangs. Bangs make her hair so much easier!


WORLD OF MIRTH. If you haven't been here, it's definitely the funnest toy store ever. Make sure you don't bring your purse if you don't want to buy anything, or else everyone will come out with a bag.


Then we headed across the street to The Byrd Theater which was playing Gnomio and Juliet. The whole family got to see the movie, eat a huge popcorn and a drink for only $17. Definitely a deal these days.

And that was just Day One.

A FUN BUY.

I came across this typewriter in a thrift store...the same kind my mom owned when I was little. The kids have been fascinated with it...and while I had great ideas of them practicing their spelling words and writing to their penpals on it, it turns out the C, E, P, J, and R don't work. Some of those letters are pretty important. (Som of thos ltts a tty imotant...see what I mean?)

So instead, Isabela just types up "prescriptions" as she calls them, super fast typing with whatever keys her little fingers hit first. And that's how I learned, too.


Day Two, we headed out with friends to Pocahontas State Park.

Our walk around the trail was slowed for some reason. He insisted on pushing. He's getting quite insistent lately.


Isabela got to be big sis' to a little sis' for a day. So sweet.


And the only sign of the beavers was this tree. Pretty cool, but a little too far away from the lake to do them any good, in my opinion.


I was wary of letting Diego get too far off by himself, but I was able to bring him back by yelling "bichos!" (it means bugs in Spanish). He's not that scared of them, actually, but likes to be near just in case.


Day Three, our Aunt Leah Ann came to visit and put on the best Easter egg hunt of all! I told her to make it hard for them, and she complied. They were stuck up the gutters, in the watering can, under bike seats.


I loved the rosaries she included in some of the eggs. And she even explained how to pray the rosary. FYI, they are not necklaces....only gang members wear them around their necks.


Yes, I need to cut those weeds.


And just so you don't think we always eat healthy...homemade donut holes: canned refrigerated biscuits, cut and rolled into balls, fried, then dipped in cinnamon/sugar or powdered sugar. There's something about sugar and bread that I just love.


I did a little sewing...I was trying to make a dress for Isabela that took me over a month, with stopping and starting and figuring it out. When it was done, she didn't like it and neither did I. So I whipped up this skirt in thirty minutes, and that's what she wore for Easter. The instructions are here. And anyone can make this.


CRAFTS: Mostly they involved dye and vinegar, but this bird nest wasn't too messy and turned out so realistic! Unfortunately, I can't remember where I saw it to link back.


CANDY: Way too much.....

...but so good.


EASTER on PARADE:

Definitely HOT. It was our first time going. While it was fun, I'm not sure it will become a tradition.


People, dogs, and even yard ornaments were dressed up.


These birds put on a good show.


And Joaquin caught a short line for an inflatable. But again, it was hot and snow cones were $3 each!


We ended our Easter break up all night with a screaming Diego...that can only mean one thing...an ear infection. And when I say up all night, I mean I finally went to Walmart at 4:45am to get some Children's Tylenol, only to come home to a silent house. I caught a few winks on the couch before the cat started meowing to go out. Then it was time to start the day.

I think I'm ready for a vacation.

i heart faces....wind

Sometimes the wind blows more than your hair....oops!! I always thought this accidental picture was cute, but when Isabela sees it, she says, "Mo-om!" like it's a two syllable word.

the farm table

Locally farmed produce delivered right to your door.



Wouldn't you like to come home and find this waiting for you on your porch?

My first box contained:
4 sweet potatoes
a bunch of asparagus
2 yellow squash
2 zucchini
3 green peppers
1 head of cabbage
a bunch of kale

Before you say "Ewww. Kale." ...or, like me.... "Kale? What is kale?", the box comes with a newsletter that includes wonderful, EASY recipes to make with that week's produce.

With the kale we made 'kale chips' and the most delicious bruschetta ever. The kids devoured it and requested it a second night.

Doesn't it make your mouth water?


If you live in the Richmond area and would like to sign up, it's not too late!!! The season starts in May. Go to the The Farm Table and fill out the form to see if there is a neighborhood coordinator in your area. If there isn't, you can sign up to be one (like me!) and even get your box for free.

It's a great organization supporting local farmers, healthy eating, and new, exciting tastes for your family. I always have good intentions on shopping weekly at the farmer's markets, but sometimes it's just not in the schedule. I only went a handful of times last year. But this box is delivered right to you. One less thing to pick up at the grocery store.

And I know I NEVER in a hundred years would have bought kale. But it was amazing.

Who knew vegetables could be so exciting?

monkey see, monkey do

Stretching across the gravel path leading from the soccer fields to the parking lot is a long chain connected between two posts. I suppose it's there so people don't drive up the path, but for my kids, it's always the last obstacle of the night before we get in the car.

Juan Pablo takes all three kids to Joaquin's practice on Wednesday nights...and this is the story he told when he got home.

Joaquin said, "Hey, Dad...watch my new trick!" He proceeds to kick the ball toward the chain then takes off running...I assume to jump over the chain and stop the ball before it gets too far. I think you know where this is going.

His feet catch on the chain, and splat! he goes down, face first into the gravel. (This has happened before, by the way.)

Juan Pablo runs over to see if he's okay, and of course, he is. God was right to make Joaquin out of rubber.

They turn around to see ISABELA barreling down the path straight for the chain.

She almost. makes. it. over.

But her feet catch on the chain, too...and down she goes. A little harder than Joaquin.

She's crying. Joaquin's laughing. Juan Pablo, I imagine, is trying to comfort and chastise at the same time.

But where's Diego?

He looks up to see Diego charging down the path heading straight for...the chain.

Who are we raising here? The Three Stooges?

fear factor

I came back home to this over the weekend:


Why is a ladder down our well? And why are the children peering in?


Because someone wanted to fix it by himself.


Is the ladder leaning on something? NO. It is dangling 50 feet above the black water below, tied only to that tree with some ingenious method of Juan Pablo's. JP even admitted it was a little scary. Joaquin was the only one there when he first went down, so he gave Joaquin his iPhone with the instructions to dial 911 if he fell in.



He didn't fall.
And our well is fixed.
Obviously, fear is not a factor for him. But for me? Oh, yeah...most definitely a factor.

i heart faces....shadows

This week's challenge is shadows. Apparently, I don't take a lot of pictures with shadows...unless it's by accident and it's messing up my picture. But I did come across this one of Diego at the beach. I remember him just throwing sand while I was taking these pictures, but when I came across this one, I realized he was actually playing with his shadow. I'm looking forward to the tips on taking better pictures of shadows!

whatcha eatin'?

I was never especially interested in food.

After all, I was raised on canned fruit and a sad side of veggies staring at me from my plate. I even remember the taste of salty, mushy, squishy canned asparagus! Anyone else?

But I'm older now. I know more now. And I'm responsible for feeding a family.

I know they should eat real fruits and vegetables, not too much sweets, not so much fast food.

I knew chickens weren't raised on farms much anymore...I did a year of vegetarianism when I discovered that...but since my year of no meat made little impact on the treatment of those chickens, I went back to buying the same old stuff.

And to say I was slightly anti-organic, might have been a little truthful. I mean who can afford that stuff anyway?

But there've been signs. BLATENT SIGNS that are telling me... it's time for a change.

1. LENT
I gave up soda. I love soda. I don't care for wine, beer, or other drinks, just give me a soda and I'm happy. But I gave it up for lent. And while a lenten vow never meant much to be before, when I heard my daughter say, "I can't have ice cream because I gave it up for lent," that was all the inspiration I needed.
The first week was hard, but pretty easy after that. I did have one or two, but it didn't send me into a downward pity spiral, I just thanked God for the gift of His Son, and didn't drink another one.
And I had all intentions of drinking soda again as soon as lent was over, but now I'm not. It's not good for my body, and I'm choosing health.

2. A HEALTHY EATING SEMINAR
I heard a mother speak on some undiagnosable health issues she and her children had gone through...nightmarish doctors that wouldn't listen, and symptoms that wouldn't go away with all kinds of medicine. She decided it could be their diet and went gluten-free. Long story, short, the family is now healthy and thriving and hasn't seen a doctor in years.
So I went home and googled. What is gluten-free? I'd heard of it, but thought it was just some poor schmucks who couldn't eat bread.
And what can you eat if you're gluten-free? Fruit. Vegetables. Meat. Rice. Potatoes. Isn't that what we should be eating anyway?

3. FOOD, INC.
I know. Everyone's already seen this movie but me. I had resisted watching it because I figured it was that same sad chicken and cow treatment that got me before, and there wasn't anything I could do about it. BUT THAT'S WRONG.
If you haven't watched it yet, you can get it at the library or on netflix. It turns out there are things we can do about it. The industry caters to where we spend our money. Like it says at the end of the movie, you get a vote on where your food comes from three times a day.


So...what is my family going to do different?

1. Buy from farmer's markets. Local is better. Local is fresh. (Forest Hill Park's farmers market is near some great trails and pathways to walk.)

2. Buy organic when possible. I suggest starting with meat and dairy. That means free-range chickens and eggs, and grass-fed beef.
3. Join a CSA. Learn to cook what's in season. Branch out your taste buds. This is a learning experience for us. I'm no chef, and I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but it can't be worse than canned asparagus.
4. Visit local farms. Take the kids. It's fun.


5. Have a garden. Sure we don't grow as much as a farm. But believe me, that one cucumber that makes it WILL be eaten by us. And it gets us out of the house and into the dirt.


And here's what I've been bookmarking lately:

Richmond Food Collective
How to Go Gluten-Free (I realize we're not all gluten intolerant, but it can't hurt to try.)
Pantry 2 Plate (She shows what she got at the farmer's market, and new recipes she's tried with that stuff.)
The Market Umbrella (One of our favorite farmer's markets)
Avery's Branch Farms (A great family run farm)
The Farm Table (Local farmed fruits and vegetables delivered right to your door.)
**and I just ran across this one and had to add it. Life as Mom has links on ways to save money even when you eat healthy. I haven't read them yet, but they sound good.


Life is an adventure. Meals will now be an adventure. And it's exciting! Anyone else want to join us?

bullseye

I love how kids see things so differently than us. No need to hit the bullseye.



They're chinese finger traps!


On guard!


Shifting perspectives is good.

la guitarra

(Estoy participando en Spanish Friday de latinaish.com)


Para la Navidad pasada, el Papá Noel nos regaló una guitarra clásica. Pienso que no sabía que nadie en esta familia sabe tocarla, y tampoco hay ninguno que es un natural. Así que allí está en el rincón, parada solita. PERO...el otro día, Joaquin encontró la caja en que llegó la guitarra...y como es su estilo, quería crear algo. Qué sería mejor que....una guitarra!


Yo corté el cartón y él lo pintó. Y esa guitarra está tocada mås que la verdadera guitarra.

Como siempre, no hay nada mejor que una caja de cartón para la Navidad.