Memorial Day Fun

We were lucky enough to have my parents in town for Memorial Day weekend. We ate lots of good food and had lots of fun hanging out together. They even babysat for us so we could go on a date. On Memorial Day we went to the Channel Islands Harbor and rode the surreys. McKay and I pumped this on the way back.

Brad had fun for about 5 minutes. Then he had to be sitting on our laps 'steering.'

Hopefully Grandpas legs weren't too sore for the ride home. Thanks for the super fun weekend!

The Creekside Chase

We did our first family 5K at the Creekside Chase. The school district sponsored the race to promote wellness. The kids had fun and were proud of themselves for doing it. There were a few tears, a little whining, and some side aches but it was a pretty big success. We finished in 48 minutes. Stretching with Carly's teacher Mrs. New.

The free T-shirts were a total bonus!

The Big Recital

Carly and Anna have been working really hard all year at their dance lessons. They have learned lots of new things and had lots of fun too. They like getting all dressed up in their costumes (minus the little bit of itchy they had going on.) They especially love any excuse to wear makeup.

I must admit this is the first dance recital I feel like they actually knew the dance! I was very impressed.

They even smiled the whole time.

Here are all the dancers in Miss Ashley's dance company Twinkle Toes.

The girls in her class with their flowers after the dance. SO glad McKay picked up the flowers. I didn't see any dancers without them. Good job Anna and Carly

Strawberry Festival

After the competition was over we got to go enjoy the festival. The best part was the rides were free with paid admission. Unfortunately, the lines were pretty long. There were so many people there you could barely walk. Even the lines to purchase way overpriced food were really long. Overall it was a fun experience. I don't think we will be attempting the festival again anytime soon, but now we can say we did it! I love how Carly is being brave and not holding on. :-)

Mac getting excited he could see Carly on a different car. He was in heaven.

This was the only ride Brad went on. He was crying hysterically by the end. Not a good idea.

And the Winner is...

not me. And that is totally ok. It was a pretty nerve racking week thinking about the competition. I kept telling myself I was never going to put myself through this kind of thing again! I LOVE to cook/bake/create but this was taking a little of the joy out of it for me. We were in this big tent with a bunch of hay bales for chairs. There was an emcee (Bo Jaxon from the radio station.) He was asking us questions and keeping the banter going. I was nervous before it started but once things got going I was ok. We had an hour to complete our dishes and Mary completed hers in like 30 minutes and it took me about 40. I was really paranoid about burning the bread so I toasted it on really low heat and kept checking it tons. I knew I was in a little bit of trouble with the judges when they had to ask for napkins. Last time at the hotel they had napkins at the table so I didn't even think to provide them. I probably got docked points on presentation but oh well. I did my best and had some fun in the process. It was a great opportunity to talk to my kids about doing our best and then accepting the outcome. We don't win everything and that is ok! My awesome cheering section. I definitely had the most fans!

Just cooking away!

Anna and Carly before the show. I don't know if I will enter next year, not that I would get this far, but it is still up for debate.

Fathers and Sons

Mac and McKay had another smashing success at Fathers and Sons. I tried to get McKay to take Brad but that would be fun for... ummm... no one. Next year though, he is going! This year they slept in a tent instead of the van so it was much more official. Love, love, love this cute little boy. His smile will just melt your heart! Mac and some of his new BFFs.

Lots more fun memories of Fathers and Sons to come. McKay said they were going to pick up some food on the way up there. I let the girls pick where we were going to eat that night too. So we ended up seeing each other at McDonald's! Quite unexpected. Ahhh, the places you end up when the kids are picking!

First Grade Art Show

Anna had a great art show at school. The best part, according to Anna, was the ice cream at the end. Anna with her teacher Mrs. Huntting.

Her desk with her artwork. (Side note: Anna won a pencil grip from her teacher for having the straightest name plate at the end of the year. No big surprise for our very neat girl!)

Rachel being interviewed

Click Here to see a Video of Rachel being interviewed.

I have no words

This is definitely going to rank up there with one of the craziest things I have ever done. I was looking through the paper the other day and noticed a little blurb that if you entered the California Strawberry Festival recipe contest you got a free ticket to the festival. Every year we talk about going to the festival (it is only 15 mins from our house) but our Saturdays fill up so fast we never end up going. I thought if I had a free ticket (they are $12) we would end up going. So I entered a recipe (had to be an original) and waited for my free ticket to come. Well... Sunday night a lady called me and told me I had been selected as a finalist and could I come Tuesday to the Marriott in Oxnard for a mini Iron Chef preparing my recipe?! Hello?!? Wasn't expecting that phone call. I said sure and immediately began freaking out. I had only made my recipe once and I liked it but the kids told me I definitely wouldn't win. McKay told me to just have fun and chalk it up to experience. So today I arrived at the hotel 30 minutes before the contest is supposed to start (we had one hour to prepare our non-baked dishes.) I was the last contestant (there were four others - sorry for all of the parenthesis - I can't write, just cook) to arrive and my first thought was 'I am so out of my league.' I was intimidated just by the titles of others recipes. One guy has won over $75,000 in recipe contests and one lady enters 10-15 contests a month! Everyone was super nice though and I thought what the heck - here goes nothing! My recipe was Strawberry Bruschetta with Lemon Cream. Pretty simple. Here is my little station at the kitchen. I didn't take many pictures but here are a few of my dish.

I have always hated the mint that grows rampantly in our yard but this morning I was loving it!

We also got judged on presentation so Lorraine saved me with the flowers and red fabric. The pitcher is a wedding gift I had never used but is now my favorite wedding gift ever!

So the end of this story is...

I AM A FINALIST! I will participate in a live cook-off at the California Strawberry Festival with one other contestant next Saturday in front of hundreds of people. AHHHH! Like I said this is one of the craziest things I have ever done. I am nervous and excited. I feel so lucky and honored my recipe was chosen. We will see what happens. Stay tuned...

oh ya... the winner gets a CRUISE! I am trying not to think about that.

Just in case you are curious, here is the recipe: (try not to be too shocked it is in the finals) :)

Strawberry Bruschetta with Lemon Cream

1 baguette
3-4 T butter, softened
3-4 T white sugar
2 C diced strawberries
1 ½ t balsamic vinegar
2 t honey
½ c whipped cream cheese
1 t. lemon zest

1. Slice baguette in ½ to ¾ inch slices. Butter one side.
2. Toast bread in a frying pan over medium heat until golden brown. Sprinkle with sugar.
3. Combine whipped cream cheese and lemon zest. Spread about 1 t over each slice of toasted bread.
4. Combine strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and honey. Spoon about 1 T over bread with lemon cream.
5. ENJOY!

Ragnar Relay 2010

I don't even know where to begin! This was one of the most fun/amazing/incredible experiences of my life. I participated in a relay race from Ventura to Dana Point. That is 200.4 miles! Each member of our team ran three legs of the race. Each leg was about 3 to 10 miles long. My legs were 5.3 miles from Moorpark to Simi Valley, 7 miles from the Santa Monica Peir to Manhattan Beach, and 6.1 miles in Huntington Beach. Our team started at 6:30 am on Friday morning and we didn't finish until 8:00 pm Saturday night. We were supposed to get some sleep in there but I am sleep challenged so I didn't sleep a wink. We pulled our sleeping bags out on the Santa Monica pier (there were lots of others 'sleeping' there as well.) Some members of my team actually slept but I just kept thinking "I am on the Santa Monica Peir in a sleeping bag trying to sleep." Ya, I never slept. Plus I was the next runner so I was getting anxious about my next run at 2 am! Our team captain's awesome son came and rode his bike with me so I wouldn't be alone with all the bums on Venice Beach. I gotta admit that during the race I was thinking in my mind "never will I do this again!" But after the race I was thinking "bring it on for next year!" The running was fun but the BEST part was driving in the van with 5 other awesome ladies and having a great time.

Our team was the Dust Bunnies. I never ran in my bunny ears but I did run with the bunny tail - it made me faster.

A middle of the night exchange at Redondo Beach.

Here is my running my last leg (notice my bunny tail.) The last four miles were pretty rough - they were down a canal in Huntington. BORING! Plus I was pooped. But it was a huge rush finishing all of my runs.

Our awesome team Captain Debbie. She was sooo much fun and ran the longest leg in our van: 8.8 almost at the end.

Celebrating by the surfer statue.

We debated cheating (not running all of our legs) but we didn't! WE DID IT!!!! We were one of the last teams to finish but we finished! Honestly! A good chunk of teams didn't finish so we were pretty proud of ourselves. Our goal next year is to finish in the light.

I was a little sore on Sunday but not too bad. I am so glad I did it. I will definitely remember this forever. Thanks gals!