Camping at Plaskett Creek

We did it! We got away! Only for the night but still we got away.

We went to Plaskett Creek, my favorite campsites, up Highway 1.

Kira immediately met another little girl from Fresno and they were two peas in a pod the whole time.

It was nice because she included Enzo too in they games

It was nice to not have cell phone reception and not have anyone call me!!

 Sunday we drove up and set up camp.

 I took countless pictures, just because

 We walked around the camp and went to a trail by the bluff.

Love those kids! 

 We had hot dogs and gluten free buns. Gluten free graham crackers and s'mores.

 

Even though it was only one night, it was still fun and relaxing

Halloween 2010

 Mermaid, Cat Burglar and the Vampire

Jesse and Woody

 Yes, this was last years costume and I never got pictures,

thankfully they barely fit

 Mermaid and vampire

I was so excited how her skirt came out, 

I did not have a pattern.

 His cape was so easy and the perfect length

My little mermaid

They are already planning on what they want to be next year. I think we should do Princess Leia and Darth Vader. Who knows.

Pumpkin Raisin Cookies

I subscribe to way to many other blogs in my Google reader and my email. Every once in a while a real gem comes through and today I hit the jackpot! Kitchen Stewardship always has great posts about healthy food and healthy living and today was no different. She wrote about pumpkin cookies. Now I am not a huge pumpkin fan. I think since my brother's favorite dessert was pumpkin pie and for his birthday (Christmas Eve) we would always have pumpkin pie instead of cake, I guess I just got burnt out on all the extra pumpkin pie and such. Don't get me wrong I love the pumpkin ravioli's from my last job but because they were savory not sweet. Something about the texture or maybe too much spice or something I just turned me off. But I know the kids like pumpkin and so after it finally getting a little cold here on the Central Coast, around 75 degrees, I thought I would actually turn on my big oven for the first time since February.
I made banana bread muffins and these little beauties

Yummy yum is all I can say but my mouth is full with one so I probably should not say anything. :)
Anyways here is how I made them

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies
2 cups Earth Balance Butter
1 1/2 c turbinado sugar
16 oz. can pumpkin
2 Tb Cornstarch and 4 Tb warm water mixture (2 eggs substitute)
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups Gluten free flour mix
1 1/2 tsp Xanthan gum
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
2 cups raisins

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add pumpkin, cornstarch mixture and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients except raisins. Add to pumpkin mixture; mix well and fold in raisins.

On a greased baking sheet drop teaspoonfuls about two inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

*I initially baked them for 12-15 minutes but mine were not done all the way. So I adjusted to 15-20 minutes. I like them a little crispy on the bottom. Fool around with the time and find texture you like.
Enjoy!




Thank you Kitchen Stewardship again for such a great recipe!

Bonjour Butterflies

Okay I am really going to get all of our vacation pictures up I promise.

I have a check up appointment on Friday with my OB/GYN and

we are going to talk about getting a second opinion.

But for now enjoy these pictures!

Here are the butterflies we saw at the Science center

Enzo is standing next to a little butterfly on the right

Close-up of his butterfly

They look like eyes

One just like this was on Kira's head but flew away before I could get a picture

Seattle Day 2

Enzo discovered all of the Legos at my aunt's house

Seattle Center

Okay, Stike a Pose!

Space Needle

Gorgeous Day in Seattle

We head over to The Pacific Science Center

Circus Circus

Enzo the Lion Tamer and a clown

Enzo the lion and now I am the lion tamer

A garden maze

Control panel for the Dinosaur

The electronic dinosaur

Dinosaur footprint

I remember coming here and sitting this capsule as a kid

Inside the cockpit

There was a whole insect exhibit, Enzo is riding the caterpillar like a horse, Giddy Up!

Butterfly Exhibit

I have about fifteen butterfly pictures and will post in a different post

Kira finds the one computer in the whole science center, of course!

A huge tree ring

Enzo, Cousin Cadence, and Kira

The power of water, the guns shot at pinwheels.

It is crazy to me how inconsiderate people are,

the guy in the red shirt was on that gun with his son for about ten minutes.

There was a line of kids and he was oblivious to the fact.

Common Courtesy is not so Common any more!

Huge granite ball

A water wheel, it took three of them to get it going

Well deserved snack with Cousin Shayli

A fabulous Salmon dinner with the whole family

Sheri(my new SIL), Terah(my sister's daughter), Papa Andy(my step dad),

Bethany(my cousin), Jenny(my SIL), Jacob(my brother)

Jenny, Jacob, Mimi(my mom in the red), Jebraun(my sister standing), Aunt B(in the black), Josh(my cousin's husband), Eric(my husband), Kelli(my SIL) Christian(my borther, back of his head, sorry)

The girl's table!

Cousin Jessica, Cousin Maile and Kira

Jessica is Jacob's daughter

Maile is Christian's daughter