time flies....

I hadn't realized how long it's been since I've posted.  School is officially out for summer!  I've got pictures from the girls award ceremonies and last day.  I'll try to work on those during this long weekend coming up. 

video #1

Check out a short video from our day at Universal here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSd97-TIw7M&feature=plcp&context=C406063eVDvjVQa1PpcFMLPkFOAgb17eH14NENVflNEe2x10PiykY=

Universal/Disney Spring Break 2012

What an AWESOME time!!!!











The "Lost" foot!!  haha



Butterbeer



Yay!  The teacups!

Walking through the Cinderella castle.  The details are amazing!

Flowers at Epcot....WOW!!

Morocco

Talking to Tinkerbell in the UK.









LOVE this picture!  <3



watch out Florida!!

We are leaving Saturday morning for Orlando.  Disney and Harry Potter World here we come!!!!  We are sooo excited!  I've got several things planned for along the way also.  We are going to make the most of our week of travel.  :)  I'm sure I'll have tons of pictures to share when we get back.

My little drama queen

About a week ago Taryn started complaining of blurry eyesight.  The strange thing was that she just all of the sudden started walking around holding onto the walls because "everything was so blurry that she couldn't see where she was going".  She has been asking me daily to please get her eyes checked because she HAD TO HAVE some glasses!! 

Last night she spent the night with a friend.  When I picked up my phone around lunchtime today to call and see if she was ready to come home, I had 2 voicemails from her.  In the first one she was asking if I was taking her to get her eyes checked today and if I would also take Chloe.  The second message was a desperate plea for glasses....again...because she said "she couldn't even walk around because she had hurt her foot on a rock because she couldn't see what it was on the ground". 

This child has been acting like a blind person for several days.  So off we go to the eye doctor.  When she told the doctor that she could barely read the largest letter on the chart, I caught myself from laughing out loud because she had just been playing hopscotch on the tiles in the waiting room...which I don't think she would've been able to see if she couldn't see an E about a foot tall.  After some checking, getting funny looks from the eye doctor, and dilating her eyes to get a more accurate reading, we determined that, in fact, her eyesight is 100% perfect.  That's always a great thing to hear but Taryn was not pleased!  I'm quite sure that good news totally ruined her day.  

She got plenty of drama from having her eyes dilated though so no worries.

A girl at school got new glasses and apparently Taryn and Chloe really love them.  So, the scheme began.  I guess it's good to know that whatever Taryn is doing she pours her whole heart into it.  There is no 1/2 way with her. 

  There is never a shortage of drama in this house.  :)  I wouldn't want it any other way!

Whole Foods

Just looking at my fruit basket makes me feel healthier!  We had to try these little red bananas and baby bananas.  I hope they are yummy because they sure are cute!  :)

cherry blossoms

Can't get much better than friends, drinks and paint!  What a great night! 

My finished product:  Cherry Blossoms

Calzones

I decided to try something a little different from our regular pizza.  We made Calzones.  They were really good! 

Make your favorite pizza dough recipe.  Roll out two 8 - 10 inch circles.  Spread 1/2 of the filling on one side.



Filling:



2 cups ricotta cheese (let liquid drain for about 15 minutes)

1 cup mozzarella

1/2 - 1 cup parmesan ( I only had about 1/2 cup so that's what I used)

1 cup cooked, chopped spinach (be sure to get the liquid out)

Brush a little water around the edges, fold over and press together.



Cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

We had pizza sauce for dipping.  This made about 6 servings.


ENJOY!!!  :)



dog treat recipe

I found this old recipe that I printed years ago and discovered that I had all of the ingredients in my pantry.  Taryn and I decided to give it a try.  It seems like a lot of work but it really isn't and it makes a ton.  I made about 40 treats and still have 1/2 of the dough in the freezer.  The dogs recommend it!  :)

Pooch Peanut Butter Swirls

Dough #1

4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 cup water
1/3 cup peanut butter (I used chunky because that's all I had)
1 egg

Combine all #1 ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Knead on a lightly floured surface.  Set aside.

Dough #2

4 cups whole wheat flour
2/3 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup mashed banana (this was about 1 1/2 small bananas mashed up)
1 egg
1 1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp molasses
2 Tbsp cinnamon

Combine all #2 ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Knead on a lightly floured surface.

Roll each dough separately to a 1/8 inch thickness, into rectangles.  Lightly brush a little water over the top of the light dough.  Place the dark dough on top, then roll up like a jelly roll.  Wrap the roll in plastic and chill in the freezer for one hour.  Cut the roll into 1/4 inch slices.  Place them on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. 

***The dough was a little too dry so I added a little more water until they mixed better.  Next time I will probably only cook them for 45 minutes.  They are SO hard you can hardly break them apart.  The dogs don't seem to mind though.