Outdoor Adventure

Last week was our long awaited camping trip. We spent five days and four nights in the great outdoors and B loved every minute of it. We camped at Lupine campground which allowed for easy access to Bass Lake. Two days were spent playing in the sand and water of the lake and two days at nearby Yosemite. The first day at Yosemite we went to Glacier point which offered an incredible view of the valley below and then visited the Pioneer museum with an extensive collection of historic log cabins. B and his friend noticed a river running along side the Pioneer area and of course had to strip down to their undies and take a swim. The next day we went down into the valley to visit the visitors center, various museums, the Native American village, and ended the day with a dip in the waters at the base of Yosemite Falls. It's hard to believe I have lived in California my whole life and never been to Yosemite! After seeing all the beauty and adventure it has to offer I am going to make it a goal to try and go at least once a year. I have more pics posted on my Facebook, here is a link, which hopefully will work, to the photo album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028568&id=1132744890&l=e19514fce8

My laptop has been repaired and I am back online!! Summer is rolling right along and B and I have been enjoying the great outdoors and trying to keep cool with daily visits to the local pools, lakes, and rivers. Yesterday we drove up to Silver Lake and met up with friends to go swimming and kayaking. It was so beautiful and I am kicking myself for not bringing my camera ( I was afraid of it getting wet). B liked to paddle the kayak but he often steered us into large rocks and then left it up to me to back us out and get moving again. We were out on the lake for 6 hours and I stupidly did not do a reapply of sunscreen to my back during this time and so my back is burned beyond belief. I am in a lot of pain and will be sleeping on my stomach for the next few days.

Good-bye Kindergarten

B had his last day of Kindergarten yesterday. I teared up because it seems like it went by so fast and it is hard watching B grow up but he was so excited and ready for summer to begin. After school got out we went and celebrated with friends from his class at Bounceville, a big warehouse full of bounce houses and slides.

Early this week B had his class field trip to the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town.

Pre-Easter Festivities

Today we hit up two local egg hunts and finally got around to dying our eggs. B was a mad scientist dying and then redying his eggs in order to "invent new colors". He was also obsessed with wanting to eat the eggs. He never would eat eggs when he was little and I haven't had eggs in the house for several years so I have no idea where this is coming from but sure enough he ate one. He also made plans for me to make him deviled eggs and an egg sandwich tomorrow(?).

Jog-a-thon

B had a jog-a-thon yesterday at school. The night before he layed out "his best running shoes" and a bottle of water all while repeating, "I can't wait for the jog-a-thon" what seemed like a million times. They didn't let the Kindergartners run for very long so B was disappointed he only got 6 laps in and not his planned 30. Of course his favorite part was the lemonade and popsicle all the kids got after their jog.

In Bloom

Spring is in the air here in Volcano and nothing commemorates the upcoming season change better than the opening day at Daffodil Hill . After walking through fields of flowers, posing for a few pictures, and checking out the animal residents B had a blast running and rolling down some grassy hills.

All That Jazz

Today Sutter Creek held a Mardi Gras festival on Main St. All along the street there were bands playing, Louisiana style food being cooked, and people wearing and selling masks and beads. The buildings were decorated with large masks made by local high school art students which B enjoyed spotting and counting. It was a good time other than the heartburn I am now suffering from due to the spicy food.

Snow Day

Woke up today to find several inches of snow had dropped overnight. All the schools closed so B had his first official snow day. We lost electricity for most of the morning but thankfully it was back on by afternoon and not one of the two or three day outages we usually experience. It was a beautiful, clear day despite everything being covered in snow. The snow started back up again this evening and is supposed to be falling all night. Luckily it is the weekend because it looks like we will be house bound for a few days.

Coconut Pancakes

I made these for dinner tonight and topped off with some Earth Balance and warmed maple syrup they were delicious. I didn't have coconut flour but the coconut milk provided plenty of flavor on its own. I also completley forgot to add the tablespoon of oil but it didn't seem to make a difference.

Coconut Pancakes

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup coconut flour or all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup light coconut milk

1/4 cup soymilk

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 1/2 teaspoon egg replacer + 2 tablespoons warm water

Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet (including the egg replacer) in another and then whisk together. Cook on heated griddle or skillet.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah

Yesterday I went zip lining with my sister and her friend. It was so much fun we went a second time and are now qualified to attempt the super hero position next time we go.
http://www.caverntours.com/MC_zip_line.htm