Gilory Gardens

Today was one of those days that as parents you crave for, it was the perfect family day. It all started with Aaron allowing me to sleep in, even though it was my day to get up with Aj. When I finally awoke it was to the boys playing trains in the family room. The morning was filled with Aj playing quietly with his trains and blocks and Aaron and I preparing for the week ahead. By noon we packed up the car to drive the two hours up to Gilory. Aj fell asleep within the first 10 minutes which left Aaron and I to enjoy each other and the drive. Once we made it to the theme park we enjoyed lunch over looking the lake and  then headed out to find the train. Aj was so excited for the train ride, once we boarded you could see the excitement in his eyes. Every time the whistle blow Aj would let out a little choo...choo. Aj loved the singing produce stand show that they had and even got all the kids up and dancing, but then became shy and stayed close to Aaron after that. We enjoyed the rest of the day with riding the air balloons, the fire engine and final the carousal. On the ride home Aj enjoyed his favorite show and we ended the day with Burger King. As I said it was the perfect day.

First Day of Pre School

You are such a big boy! You are already on your way to do big and important things. Today was your very first day at Pre School. You were so excited to be able to go and make new friends and play with all the toys. You loved the fact that the school had a bird and snake as well as a slide. You were so tried when you got home, you could tell that you had been busy learning and playing hard all day.

Sugur Cookies

4 dozen Cookies

• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. 
3. Decorating options:
1. Roll round teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place onto ungreased cookie sheets
2. Add food coloring to dough, mix well and roll out and use cookie cutter shaps
3. do either of the above with or without food coloring and add sprinkles.  (this is what we did today, Aj was not into using the cookie cutters, but loved choosing a color and sprinkling over the cookie
4. Bake 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on the cookies sheet for 2 minutes before moving them over to the wire racks
5. Enjoy

Paul and Tara's Wedding

The Rehearsal dinner

The Wedding

Walnut Festival

The Walnut Festival is a tradition that I grew up with as a child. To me the Walnut Festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year, as I child I would go with my family as a teenager I would go with friends and now as a mother I take my child. Here we are years later and the Walnut Festival still marks the end of the summer and the beginning to a new school year, but I experience it in a new light. I watch through my child's eyes as he marvels at the carnival lights and watch the joy of him tasting the sweetness of the cotton candy or candy apple.

Girls Weekend

Calostoga, Ca. here we come!
What a relaxing weekend with my girls. We packed our bag with just the essentials, pj's, a nice dress and lots of wine! We all enjoyed a mud bath, massage and a facial, basically two hours of bliss. One of the many thing that I love about these girls, is that not only do they know how to relax and have a good time but they also know good food. The photos of the flowers are from the restaurant where we had brunch. The restaurant grew a majority of there own food or bought from local farms. It was a fabulous weekend.

S'mores Brownies

• PREP TIME 25 Min
• TOTAL TIME 1 Hr 35 Min
• SERVINGS 16

1 box (1 lb 2.4 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme Premium brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

2 cups miniature marshmallows

4 graham crackers, broken into small pieces

2 Hershey's® milk chocolate candy bars, broken into 1-inch squares 

• 1 Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Make brownies as directed. After removing pan from oven, set oven to broil.
• 2 Immediately sprinkle marshmallows and graham crackers over warm brownies. Broil about 4 to 5 inches from heat 30 to 60 seconds or until marshmallows are golden brown. (Watch carefully marshmallows and graham crackers will brown quickly.) Sprinkle with chocolate candy. To serve warm, cool about 30 minutes. For brownies, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.