This is Texas

Austin, actually.

My sweet husband let me go see my littlest sister (aka #3) for my birthday.  He stayed home with the four kiddos, multiple baseball/softball games, worked the snack shack.  I mean, this was no small present.  And he conquered it all!

So, here is a recap of the trip.

We did some shopping on South Congress.

The view of the city from the top of the hill.

 Tried on boots at Allen's Boots.  Hello, price tag.

But, I could go footloose in those red babies, I tell ya'!

Food trucks!!!

They all have cute names like Coat and Thai.

 But the best, the most awesome, long awaited meal happened right here at

Franklin Barbecue.

Cue the old school country music.

They open at 11 and close when they sell out.  We got there about 12 and were handed the "last man standing" sign.  Meaning the last man they would guarantee food! 

It was quite a wait, but just look at this...

It was beautiful and tasted Ah-mazin'!

California ain't got nothin' like it.

And this is my sister.

Isn't she presh?!

After that it was time to chill at Barton Springs.

It stays 70 degrees year round (about the same temp as the Woodleaf pool--difference being it is fondu-melting-pot hot outside and you actually want to go swimming in that cold water)

You know they do things bigger in Texas.  #3 decided she would go big by jumping off a perfectly good building.

372 feet up.  She climbed over a rooftop rail and repelled.  For charity.

She's so brave.  Sometimes big sisters have to look up to their younger sisters.

 I also have to hand it to her.

She ROCKED the mural game.

I have a lot to learn.

Dinner at sunset overlooking Lake Travis

And a super moon.

Icing on the cake for a super visit with my little sis!

Doodle 4 Google

Abby entered this year's Doodle 4 Google contest!

The theme was "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..."

True to Abby-form, she chose the topic of the current book series she is reading.  It's all about Arthur and the knights of the round table and quests and rescuing fair maidens.

There were over 114,000 entries from every state grades K-12.  She didn't make it to the finals this time, but I think her artwork is just as fabulous as those that did (if not better! ;)

You can go HERE to see the finalists and vote for your favorite.

Happy Birthday to me!

For my birthday, I requested to have my kiddos take a picture with me.

Smiling.

No mean faces.

 Or tongues sticking out.

Or garish bared fangs because I said "show your teeth".

Just their naturally beautiful smiling faces.

Now this is a gift I will treasure!

Of course, their personalities really show in all the other pictures, so I guess I'll treasure those, too.  And use them as leverage during their teenage years.  Oh, joy!

Egg Drop Soup?

This actually happened a few weeks ago (evidence--joe's cornrows).  The whole school was involved in an egg drop competition.  You know, the kind where you get to pack up a raw egg and throw it off the roof and see if it survives.  Yep.  That's the one.

The kids anxiously watch as it is launched and lands.

Oh yeah.  And Dylan came as Batman.

It's unpacked and...it's GOOD!

The Mouse House (pre-school) was ecstatic.

Old basketball + styrofoam peanuts was Joe's contraption.

The egg survived the fall from the roof.

But NOT the fall from hand to table.

Abby and her friend went with tissue box + tissues + plastic baggie parachute.

Totally cracked up.

Most interesting egg vehicle prize goes to Mrs. Citron.  She put her egg inside a grapefruit.  The grapefruit ended up a little more juicy than it started but the egg was perfectly fine.

(**note: there were no official votes counted or casted for this prize.  i just decided.)

Fun with physics.

Thanks, Yuba Feather!

What's growing?

Our new greenhouse works!

If you haven't gotten a glimpse yet of our marvelous greenhouse made from recycled windows, click here!

 (from top to bottom)

beets and lettuce

mint and basil

Trek's bean plant and strawberries

more strawberries and cucumbers

(also growing in the greenhouse but not shown)

oregano, lavender, cilantro, rosemary, Thai basil

cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, Cherokee purple tomatoes,

green peppers, jalapeno peppers,

yellow squash, zucchini, spaghetti squash

Due to our late frost date (last year it was May 31st), we have only two things in the outside beds.  Spinach and peas.  They are coming along nicely and if the weather continues to be as nice as it has we may get to transplant before June this year!!! 

Watching these tiny seedlings pop up is super exciting but it is even more exciting that the greenhouse is being used by several others in our neighborhood.  The different squashes have come from three different people.  Since a single squash plant can produce a plethora of produce we are going to share it between ourselves.  So, instead of force feeding zucchini to my children every day for the next year, we will have a lovely variety of fresh squashes.  And tomatoes.  And herbs. 

Now that's community, y'all! 

Ojai

This is Ojai Valley.

This place is amazing.

You'd never guess that LA was just a few miles down the road.

Farms and orchards flourish.

All kinds of natural spaces to explore.

Rocks to jump in the river

with friends.

Nature to observe.

Sasquatch huts to discover.

And good books to be found at this adorable outdoor bookstore.

Love it!

It is so exciting to see the kiddos diving in, searching for those favorites that just must come home or discovering something that holds a new adventure for them.

This is what we added to our library...

2 Harry Potter books

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

a Little Monster book by Mercer Mayer

On Good Land by Michael Ableman

Have you read any good books lately?

I made cheese!

I cut the cheese, too.

Not in the sense that would set my boys rolling with laughter, but literally.

The recipe I used was from this beautiful cookbook that my hubby gave me for Christmas.  Homemade by Yvette Von Boven.  Also available in Dutch. :)  She illustrates recipes.  She is a recipe illustrator!  I will find my niche yet.  See more of her work here.

 Garlic, green onion, lemon salt and pepper cheese (above).

Dill and lemon salt (below).

Wanna come over for a taste test?

1/2 gallon of milk and 1/2 gallon of buttermilk gave me about a pound of cheese and 2/3 gallon of whey.  I read that I can use the leftover whey when baking bread (check) and mixing with your smoothies (check) for an added protein boost.  My kids think they are so special getting smoothies all the time.  They have no idea how sneaky I am!  maniacal laugh.  maniacal laugh.