Need Sleep!!!!

Salsa Blunder

ok...I made salsa again. It isn't good at all! I used a purple onion instead of a white onion. I won't do that again. I also roasted the veggies more this time - to get more char. It made everything too sweet..like it carmalized.

Girl Scout Slumber Party

Parent-Teacher-Conference Time

All I have to say... pheww...
I can report that both kids are doing ok.
We have opportunities with both. Riley's teacher wants us to work more on reading with her(which is what we already knew).
Letter grades start in fourth grade. First graders get numbers(1-4) on their report cards. One means emerging and four means proficient. Last year, Rileys report cards were mostly ones. This report card had twos and threes. She's more involved and able to pay attention this year.


Liam's teacher wants us to 'encourage' him to do more than the required. He's getting everything done that's required..he could put more into it though(especially with his writing). He's actually scoring high on tests and getting work done in class. He got one 'B'(in writing) and the rest A's.
He's a very smart kid.

World Without End

I'm such a picky reader. If something doesnt catch my attention with in a few pages..I'm bored and can't go on reading. I really love when I find a book that I really like..A book, to me, is having a story to be apart of for a while and I'm always sad when it's over. That's why I like super long books and series books.
Today on my lunch break I sat down and I finished reading the book World Without End by Ken Follett. You might remember I read book 1 (Pillars of the Earth)) last year. This is a book that I really enjoyed . It's so entertaining for me to read about another time and place - how hard it was to just survive and work and be. I like how Follett writes these women so strong, independent(as much as their time allows). I also love how long the book is - 1014 pages. I'm always sad when I finish a book that I enjoy...I read this one on my breaks and lunches-so It took a while to finish.

So now I've picked up Robinson Crusoe again (I read 2 chapters before and stopped--but I'm at an interesting part so I'm sure I'll read it through this time

Kiddie Land Service Project

Today I, along with fellow co-workers, volunteered a day of painting and 'beautifying' Merced's Kiddie Land. Some of our staff went over earlier in the week to do repairs to the roof. Today was for painting and planting flowers and adding mulch to the boarders. We also installed new lights and decorative lanterns.

Cake Decorating

I made more cake! I'm having fun being creative. My oldest and youngest sisters had their birthdays this week and Mom made a lovely dinner for everyone. I made the cake(s). It gave me the chance to try a new recipe for chocolate frosting...that Will says I must make for every one of his future cakes.
I made chocolate cake, french marange buttercream frosting, chocolate(ganache) frosting, fondant.
It was all so yummy! Rachel, Becky, Mom and myself are huge scrabble players so I did a scrabble cake and had enough batter left over for a 6" round pan. I decorated the 6" cake with chocolate frosting and a cute butterfly made of fondant.