Summer Day on the Light Rail

We've had the light rail here in the valley for some time now and I've been meaning to try it out with the kids.

Today, I had to drop by the Dept. of Ed., so we decided to make a day of it.

We hopped on the train in Mesa, headed downtown, and spent the day in the city- walking, cooling off with ice cream, having lunch, and playing at the Children's Museum.

Pleasant Grove, Utah Crit

Bringin' home the bacon!

We Got Punked

While my sister and her husband are off playing Ma and Pa Pioneer on the Trek, my kids were thrilled to have their cousins over for a sleepover.

Sometime during the night, one of these marker bandits decided to exhibit some artistic expression on little soundly sleeping faces.

We haven't tried to wash it off yet.

Crossing my fingers it isn't permanent!

Summer Is Here

The summer activities have begun-

swim lessons, swim team, and diving.

Cal is less than enthusiastic about his lessons.

Elle Graduates...phew

There were more than a few incidents of chitchatting too much, which resulted in a bear being turned.

There was that day she was marched down to the 6th grade classroom to take a "timeout."

There was that time she refused to take her sunglasses off in the classroom during reading time.

Elle has definitely had her moments in kindergarten this year, but Mrs. O was kind enough to let her move onto first grade anyway.

Elle's Moment

Elle had her first ever gymnastics recital on Saturday.

She was adorable and all smiles!

After a year in dance and a year in tumbling, she has decided she will stick with tumbling (yay).

Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, the kids and I visited the cemetery to leave flowers for my mom. We talked about her and all the special times she shared with them.

I am determined to keep her in their memories forever.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, those here on earth and those patiently waiting for us above.

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes

I recently came across this recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook. These are, hands-down, the best buttermilk pancakes I have ever made and I can't stop whipping up a batch every morning!!

You have to give them a try!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3 T. granulated sugar

1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more butter for cooking

3 organic large eggs

Up to 1/2 cup milk, as needed to thin batter

Real Vermont maple syrup, warmed, for serving

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, butter, and eggs together in another bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking just enough to combine (small lumps are okay). Let the batter sit, covered, overnight (I haven't left it overnight, yet but, I bet this makes it even better).

The next morning, heat up your griddle or favorite nonstick pan and slick it with a little butter.
Add enough milk to the batter to thin it to the right consistency -- the thicker the batter, the thicker and heavier your pancakes; the thinner the batter, the more delicate your pancakes -- neither is wrong.

Cook the pancakes on the griddle, flipping them after bubbles appear on the surface of the uncooked side. Let cook 2-3 minutes more, then remove, and eat with lots of warm maple syrup.