When your mom gives you plums...

...make plum jam!

My mom and dad stopped by last week on their way down to see my brother and his wife who live in Santa Clarita. They had been to our family ranch and picked a bunch of golden plums. I took a bowl-full and left them sitting on the counter all last week. They are really small to eat so we just didn't bother to eat them. Yesterday, Mike suggested we make some refrigerator jam out of them. I had a box of pectin so we did! They are still setting up on my counter and I can't wait to try some tonight. It sure does smell delicious!

Irvine, Sunset Beach and Disneyland Trip

Two weekends ago we went down to Irvine for the wedding of Mike's cousin. It was great to see all of his family on his mom's side. We went to the wedding on Friday. Spent Saturday with Mike's mom, his brother and his girlfriend, and his sister and her family. That night we went to a BBQ/birthday party at a house his uncle stayed at on Sunset Beach...literally on the beach. The backyard was the beach and the ocean! Mike's extended family on his mom's side was all there. Sunday we hung out with Mike' family. We went to Disneyland on Monday "on the way home." We only stayed until 5pm and headed back up home.

At the pool at the hotel in Irvine. The hotel is a converted lima bean silo. It used to be the largest lima bean silo in the world. They kept the original exterior. Our room was at the top of the silo. I wish I had taken a picture of it. Mike...no work...just relaxin' Colin pushed Katie around the pool by himself!Katie at Sunset Beach. It wasn't really cold, just windy.At Sunset BeachKatie was soooo tired by Sunday nightKatie and her cousin, GeorgiaEating dinner in the hotel room Sunday nightas long as there are cheeseburgers! Colin and Max at California Adventure Colin with Mater and Lightening "C" is for ColinMike took the kids so I could go on Splash Mountain. I had never been because every time we go to Disneyland the ride is shut down. I went by myself! Waiting for Finding Nemo submarine



Krista and Katie with the Queen of Hearts. Katie didn't like her too much.Colin with Lego Darth Vader!and the final business of the day...Mike and his churro.

Katie

Some of the things Katie likes to do lately:



Play the drums on Rock Band: Feed herself... and her doll:

A Sea of Chocolatey Peanut-ty Goodness!

The finished product. Don't they look delicioso?! Before I added the frosting...mmmmm...

There can never be too many shots of perfect yummy-ness!A close up of my masterpiece!

I made these for an activity I am going to tomorrow. Don't they look delicious?! This is two Paula Deen recipes in one. I used the recipe for her Brownie Peanut Butter Cupcakes and then took the peanut butter frosting from another recipe. Of course I had to make sure they were edible. Let me tell you that I savored every bite. I have never had peanut butter frosting and this was absolutely creamy and not too peanut-buttery. The brownie cupcakes were moist and stick-to-your-teeth scrumptious!! And I have to thank my mother-in-law for the awesome giant star tip and pastry bags. Love 'em! Some product shout-outs: Duncan Hines Fudge Brownie mix and Reese's brand peanut butter chips (available in bulk at Winco Foods) - I could eat these by the handful. They taste just like the peanut butter cups filling, without the chocolate of course.

Oh, and Mike - there are leftovers just for you!

Colin's First Day of Kindergarten!

In front of our house before school this morningThe front of his school In front of room 11, his classroomInside his classroom after he found his nametag. Doesn't he look so excited! It's official. Colin is now a kindergartner! The whole family dropped him off this morning at his school, Hurley Elementary. I was grateful that Mike was able to come with me to drop him off. In 20 years, Colin will know that his dad was there for his first day of school. I went in with Colin while Mike looked for a parking spot and helped him find his cubby for his backpack and put his snack bag on the table where they keep the snacks. Then he found his nametag and another nametag that he had to put under the question of the day. He went right up to his teacher, Mrs. Merrill, and said hello to her and then walked away from me to sit down at one of the centers. He was going to walk away from me without saying goodbye?! I don't think so! I gave him a big hug and I admit I got a little teary at the end. He is so ready for school and I know he will have a great day.

By the way... this is me in Kindergarten. I think Colin looks a bit like me. I think he has my eyes. The rest of him is all Mike! We are getting a hold of Mike's kindergarten picture and it will be posted soon.

Just Like Mommy

Grandma McCarthy made Katie and I matching aprons last Christmas, but Katie never wanted to wear hers. That is until last night when she saw that I was wearing my apron making dinner. She's too cute.