P.J.'s in Wonderland

We went hunting for awesome Christmas lights.

Or, as Moira said, we were looking for Wonderland.

We found it!

(Drive up Hilltop off of San Jose Soquel and you may find it, too.)

About the Web - Effective Stuff

About the web - things I've read & find though provoking & helpful.
What do you think?


Affective is Greater than Effective - B. Rooted
"An effective, well-running marriage routine is not a suitable stand in for tender love; 
neither is sound theology a replacement for deep devotion."  Ruth @ GraceLaced


On Effective Compassion
"Genuine love motivated to action is concerned about the consequence of its action."


On Effective Emotions
"Every day I meet men and women who work so hard at “keeping it together” for the eyes of those around them, rather than working at actually healing the inside."

Effective Education - Practical Pages

“Why would you, a qualified school teacher, homeschool your children?”

Eating Sunscreen - Wellness Mama

Effective Sun Exposure & Skin Health

with more interesting links on the subject, also...

Moira eats & wears coconut oil - a protection from UV rays

Cake Talk

Can we talk about cake for just one minute?

For Moira’s birthday I made chocolate cake with salted caramel frosting.

I found the recipe through Pinterest.  Looks amazing, right?

Source: kimberlytaylorimages.com via Erin on Pinterest

Through the process of making it all, I couldn’t wait to finish the final product.

The cake batter was tasty!  And Caramel frosting?  Yes please!

But…  I ended up being rather disappointed.

The cake has potential for me.  But, I found it far too heavy in thick layers.

I baked my cake in 6” pans.  The final cake ends up cool looking – slender & tall.

If I were to make this recipe again, I would most certainly spilt each cake layer in half.

And I think I would make syrup to brush on each layer, too.

This cake recipe seems it may be at its best in a trifle. 

The frosting was sad for me, too.  The flavor of caramel was great.

But, I am reminded with the frosting that I do not like basic powdered sugar buttercream.

I find it gritty & overly sweet.  Some people believe they don’t like frosting.

I think that belief may be the fault of powdered sugar buttercreams.

Before you write off all frosting, please try meringue buttercream.  

(like in this honey & jam post.)

The difference is incredible.

And, if you don’t want to make cake yourself, please try Kari’s Malva Pudding.

Really. 

Kari is a Santa Cruz local with a small business just making amazing malva pudding cakes.

We first tried the cake when she was giving samples at our Nob Hill grocery store. 

We loved her South African accent & her lovely personality.  And we loved her cakes.

The kids kept asking her for more & more (& she was happy to share). 

It was hard to pull them away. 

Gillian exclaimed multiple times, “I just can’t besist that cake!!”  (besist = resist)

The cake is not sold everywhere - yet..  Check out the locations here.

Kari makes a Chocolate cake & a Caramel cake. 

We get one of each & then we split each of them in half

& put half caramel cake & half chocolate cake in a box.

Then throw the boxes in your freezer for when you want an amazing dessert last minute.

We had the lovely pudding cake for our mother’s day treat.

  

A Letter for Moira

Moira Quinn,

Have we really only had three years with you? 

You are such a beautiful, vibrant addition to my life.

You are a gift.

I see joy in you – your bright eyes & your ready laughter.

You are so eager to love others.

I love the way you say “der welcome!” when someone thanks you.

When we praise you for your kindness to another,

your smile beams bright & your shoulders come up to hug your own face.

You run & jump & squeal & sing & you are a delight.

I know you are stubborn, too.

That’s okay.  That means you can stand strong.

If you give all this up to Jesus, He will use you in great ways.

I am blessed to be able to watch you grow.

Your year number four is looking like it will be pretty wonderful.

I love you,

Mom

Moira is Ready to Turn Three

Moira had been anticipating her birthday with the typical pre-birthday excitement.

She has been talking about her hopes for Hello Kitty scones,

Hello Kitty hot chocolate, Hello Kitty cake, Hello Kitty...

Until this weekend…

She has been complaining of her leg hurting lately. 

This is no surprise.  I remember having bad leg cramps as a little kid.

I still have them on occasion.  Gillian gets them often.

I was messaging & stretching her leg that was giving her trouble.

I told her that her body was stretching out & growing up, since she was turning three soon.

I said that she was getting growing cramps.

She started crying a bit. 

That night she cried when I tucked her in & said she didn’t want to be 3.

I asked why not.  She said she didn’t want the cramps to be owie.

I prayed for her, that her legs would feel better soon. 

She added, “and don’t let the cramps bite me.”

Thinking about that as I left her room, I realized what she thought was happening.

The next day she was still very sad about her birthday coming so soon. 

She was not looking forward to it.

So, I told her that cramps are when her muscles are worn out.

She did not have crabs in her leg. 

A smile broke out across her face & she started laughing.

Now she is ready to turn three tomorrow.

The end of the year interview is complete.

I am not sure about some of her answers.

She rarely finishes her pizza. 

She would eat 2 eggs, three times a day, if meal planning was up to her.

What is your very favorite food?  Pizza
What game do you like playing the most?  Super Avengers Team

(this game is made up by the kids with the help of Dad.  

Various super heros & avengers & such fight against the evil forces.  

Moira usually has the skills to power up others.  

She holds out her hands & sends bolts of strength through her fingers, to her team mates.) What is the best t.v. show to watch?  Cailou
Who is the coolest person you know?  Grandma & Lizzy
What is the neatest thing you have learned in school?  About birds, like B.B.

(b.b. is our neighbor’s cockatiel – full name – Bird Brain.)
What is something you are super good at?  Playing toys
If you could take a trip anywhere in the whole world, where would you go?  
to feed the ducks
Where is your favorite place to go?  Out to pizza 

(I don't know if we have ever gone to a pizza parlor with Moira...) What is your favorite animal?  Flamingos
What is your favorite color?  Purple & Pink
What would you like to be when you grow up?  Drive Tractors
What is your favorite song right now?  “I love Mommy & Daddy…” 

(singing a song made up at that moment.)
What is the best book you have read lately?  Jesus book
What is your favorite snack food?  Cereal
What food is the yuckiest to you?  Sandwiches  (??)
If you could have one wish, what would it be?  
That I would have a heart to go to dragon land.

(uh.  Dragontales… okay)

What is your favorite memory?  Seeing the Flamingos
(this was with Papa Bill & Auntie Kim at the Escondido wild animal park)

Scout Work

We did some embracing of the camera this morning.

We've been sick.  Kids around here are coughing.

We took a drive this morning to get out of the house 

& allow Kendall a chance to get a car ride snooze.

I got lost on our way to Mission San Juan Bautista, so she got a bit of bonus time.

We walked around a bit to do some scouting.

We plan to have family photos taken here next week.

Shadows are tricky.  

I hope we can do something cool in these arches.

My attempt today did not turn out.

Maybe the photographer will know some magic of how to work it all out.

Now at home I hold sick, sleeping baby because she wakes every time I lay her down.

the other kids don't sleep during their "rest" time.

I currently hear wailing from my drama queen.

Soon I will relieve them of rest duty & maybe make some applesauce "tea" for all.

My friend Stef had mentioned serving her sick kids honey & cinnamon water.

I did a little variation of adding apple cider vinegar to the mix.

Hot water + a shake of cinnamon + a spoon of honey + a big splash vinegar + a pinch of cayenne.

Scott & I like it more than the kids do.  But, they'll drink about 1/2 of a cup.

Hopefully it helps them feel better!

Counting Blessings {happy hollow}

Probably most of you all know about 
Ann Voskamp's journal challenge to folks to keep track of all the gifts they are grateful for.
Well, I started that a long time ago & totally failed to keep it up.


I am not ready to re-commit to doing this for an extended time period.  
I will, however, attempt to count my gifts through November.


(Can you believe we are well into November?!  
I planned to write this post a week ago.  See?  So far, not so good.)


I got to 13 last summer.  So, here we start at 


14.  last minute family holiday at Happy Hollow

15.  Hummingbirds, returning to our backyard.

16.  Having Scott who is happy to share & do life with me. 

17.  Peyton's sense of humor.

 18. Moira's joy.

19.  Gillian's imagination.

20.  Gorgeous November weather. 

21.  Picnics


22.  Kendall's teeth coming through.


23.  Being able to watch Kendall explore & discover.

24.  Brave kids who love a good thrill.


25.  Coconut Curry in the freezer for dinner after a long day.

Super Hero Halloween

You may not have known this.  

But, Captain "Amerin" & Word Girl & are pretty good friends.

this pose was his brilliant idea.  I love it.  He had many others, but I'll spare you.

I love felt.  I used felt for everything for these two costumes.

We invented Bird Girl because I wanted a reason to make this.  

Source: llevoelinvierno.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Super baby passed out candy at our door with me.  She was super.