Kite Day

Yesterday was kite day at Alayna's school. Paul surprised her before school with a new Disney Princess kite. She said it was a really fun morning and wanted to fly her kite again.

She had enough patience to wait until Paul came home.

She came home from school with 2 kites, and said Cavell could use the one that she had made in art class. We were very impressed with how well her paper kite flew (I was helping Cavell).

It wasn't the perfect kite flying breeze, but it was the perfect evening together.

Is anyone else now singing "Let's Go Fly a Kite!" to themselves? I am.

Birthday Girl!

Oh my, she is 6!!

In the morning she received some little gifts and cards from us. A little Rainbow Dash pony, Tinkerbell socks, and a flower headband (the one in the picture). In the afternoon she collected the mail and opened her cards from her grandmas and grandpas. This included money that she plans to use to purchase a doctor's kit.

Alayna and Cavell talked about her cake all day. There was much excitement for the cool whip frosting. We added a little strawberry juice with the milk.

We used Bette Hagman's gluten free lemon cake recipe, but subbed all lemon juice and lemon-lime soda with strawberry nectar, and the vanilla with strawberry extract. Simple strawberry preserves for the filling, and 6 strawberries on top. Very yummy. Paul, Cavell and I each had a little more. Alayna's piece was so BIG she couldn't finish hers.

We surprised her with a few more gifts after the cake. Her "real" presents.

The Princess and the Frog movie from Mama and the big Rainbow Dash from Cavell. Look at the joy and excitement in her face over these gifts. Only to be completely trumped by her Papa's gift a moment later.

"EEP!!!"

My little girl has her on mp3 player. We loaded it up with Playhouse Disney, Disney Princesses, old school songs from Disney movies, Disney songs in Spanish, Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lavato, Jonas Brothers, and Taylor Swift. She loves it.

Her birthday celebration continues throughout this Spring Break week. Each day she is having a playdate with a different friend. She is very excited to have strawberry shortcake for snack, using the leftover frosting and a super yummy gluten free pound cake.

36 Weeks

I don't know why, but I feel that 36 weeks is a good time to show some more pictures of the pregnancy progression. So here they are.


Only 2-4 weeks to go. I'm hoping 2. Paul probably wants something closer to the 4 range.

I'm feeling really good. I still go to the gym. But, I can't run or even walk on the treadmill and my baby belly is starting to get in the way of riding the bike. Oh well, I still lift some mean weights.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2

I suppose it's only fair to post a pic of Cavell in his green as well.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I thought we would share a quick post of Alayna and her hairdo for this fun day.


Too bad the gold glitter didn't work this morning.

Snow

I tried to get some shots of the snow we had today.

Can you see the flakes?

I guess it's harder to see than I thought. They were actually rather large, but wet.

Here you can see the total accumulation at our house.

After picking Alayna up from school we did see some houses with real accumulation on their roofs. Perhaps enough to make a snowball or two.

Since snow is a rarity in this part of Texas, Paul reported some of the reactions from his co-workers. There was the usual race to the windows to stare in wonder at the falling flakes. There was lots of panic and attempts to leave work early based on fears of icy death roads or being stranded at work. Salt was actually spread on the sidewalks to melt the snow. The temperature never got below 36 degrees.

Conversation at the Breakfast Table

Cavell: Knock, knock.
Alayna: Who's there?
Cavell: Banana.
Alayna: Banana, who?
Cavell: Banana goes to Grape's house!

Both: HAHAHAHAHAHA

Cavell: Your turn!
Alayna: Knock, knock.
Cavell: Who's there?
Alayna: Banana.
Cavell: Banana, who?
Alayna: Banana goes to Grape's house!

Both: HAHAHAHAHAHA

Alayna: Your turn!

and repeat (ad nauseam). This is a joke that Alayna learned from her friend, Alex. We have taught Cavell another that he really enjoys.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Chooch.
Chooch, who?
Choochoo, you sound like a train!

But, he always goes back to Grape's house. I just tested this. I did the train joke, we laughed, he said it was his turn, did the train joke, we laughed, he said it was my turn. Train joke again, we laugh, his turn, train joke. I'm thinking I should get the recorder so you can all hear, but he says it's my turn. I start the train joke. "No. My turn!" and we move on to Grape's house. Since I couldn't get a sound recording, I took a picture instead.

Peacock Feathers

This is a brag post for me. I finished the shawl I have been knitting.

This is the whole shawl, almost. I couldn't quite get tip to tip, it is 88" wide.

"The Peacock Feathers Shawl is a stylized version of a peacock's tail in full display, from the small feathers at the top of the peacock's back, down to the dramatic sweep of the tail."

Here is the tail feather.

Here are some side feathers.

Golly, pictures just don't do it justice. Probably due to my camera and lack of skills with it. I promise it is divine in real life.

Sweet Hearts

As you may remember, Sunday was Valentine's Day. Alayna wanted a fun heart hairdo. We gave this one a try. Some people could tell it was a heart, and others just thought it made her look like a princess. Mostly, she was very happy with her hairdo.
Alayna had her school Valentine's Day party last Friday. We did a single version of this heart hairdo, with rope braids. When I dropped Alayna off at school on Tuesday (there was no school Monday) I was actually stopped by the Vice Principal to tell me how cute her hair had been and how much everyone loved it. Yes, that put a smile on my face.

Let's throw in a cute picture of Cavell. Paul gave him a haircut, and he is wearing the boots that Paul wore when he was little.

Girl Scout Cookies

We all know now is the season of Girl Scout Cookies, whether you are one of the poor saps that only gets to order your cookies or the lucky duck that gets to open the boxes immediately. I have always loved these cookies. I am the lucky duck that has boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, and even the new Thank U Berry Munch cookies in her pantry already. Confession, some boxes are no longer there. Want to know why I am even more of a lucky duck than you? No one else in my family can eat them, therefore these cookies are ALL MINE!


But one does feel a little sad for the young members of my family that will never be able to try Girl Scout cookies. And imagine the agony Paul must feel having tasted the deliciousness of Girl Scout cookies, but no longer being able to eat them.

Never fear. I was directed to a website with recipes to make your own Girl Scout cookies! We decided to make them gluten free.

First up, Thin Mints (adapted for Gluten Free).

Chocolate Mint Cookie

• Whisk together in a small bowl
  2/3 Cup + 1 Tbs Rice Flour
  2/3 Cup + 1 Tbs Tapioca Starch
  2/3 Cup + 1 Tbs Corn Starch
  1 Tbs Potato Flour
  1 tsp Xanthum Gum
  1/4 Cup Corn Starch
  6 Tbs Cocoa Powder
  1/2 tsp Salt

• Cream together in mixer
  1 Cup Sugar
  1/2 Cup Butter, room temperature

• With the mixer on low, add in the wet ingredients. Mixture will look curdled.
  1/3 Cup Milk
  1/2 tsp Vanilla
  3/4 tsp Peppermint Extract

• Gradually, add in the dry mixture until fully incorporated.
• Shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Slice dough into rounds not more than 1/4 inch thick - if they are too thick, they will not be as crisp - and place on a lined baking sheet. You can put them close together.
• Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges.
• Cool completely on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate.

Chocolate Coating
10-oz Semisweet Chocolate
1/2 Cup Butter

• Melt chocolate and butter in the microwave, stirring every 20-30 seconds, until chocolate is smooth.
• Dip each cookie in melted chocolate, turning to coat, and place on wax paper. Reheat chocolate as needed to keep it smooth and easy to dip into.

• Wait. You want the chocolate to be cooled and firm.
• Eat one.
• Place the rest in the freezer.
• Try not to eat them all in one night.
  

Paul tried to recreate his favourite Girl Scout Cookie in gluten free form as well. Samoas, in bar form. Sadly, his did not work out as well. The shortbread base fell apart. I should say it became a powder with some crumbly chunks. It was also rather tasteless. We did not take pictures.

I did a little internet browsing for gluten free shortbread. On the Joy of Baking site I found this.

Rice flour is used in recipes to give the shortbread a more crumbly and tender texture.
Cornstarch is also used in shortbread recipes to produce a more delicate and fragile cookie.

Since those are two of the gluten free substitutes used, it's no wonder that his cookie base was "more crumbly," "delicate and fragile."

On the other hand, based on a lot of different sites and blogs, I did find what seems to be the accepted GF Shortbread Cookie recipe. But, I don't know if Paul is up for another attempt.