Westminster Butterfly Pavallion

We took Ella to the Butterfly Pavilion when we were in Denver this past weekend. The pavilion a 7000 square foot green house filled with a variety of different plants and 1200 butterflies. There are probably 50-60 different types of butterflies flitting around. Ella had a blast running around and taking pictures of the flowers, animals, and of course all the butterflies. I probably should not have worn a red hat. The butterflies were attracted to it, and if I stood still long enough one would land on me. Which totally freaked me out. One landed on Kevin's finger...he of course was okay with this. Ella was bummed that one did not land on her. She was determined to get one...she finally did. We spent almost 2 hours walking around, it was a great adventure for a Saturday afternoon. Check out out video!

Westminster Butterfly Pavilion

What to do?????

We had 5 OVER RIPE bananas...banana bread would be the norm, but it seems like I have baking a lot of that lately. So I searched on the Internet and found a banana roll (pumpkin roll or in my family a pumpkin burrito). Ok, I will head to the store and get some cream cheese. The recipe looks easy, and I know it will be yummy. Seriously, anything covered with cream cheese frosting is going to be good. I tell Kevin and he says, "I liked the muffins you made last time." Really...it was just banana bread that I made in a muffin tin. SOOOOOOO guess what I made.

3 dozen banana muffins. Since we will be going to Denver in 3 days, I will have to put them into Ziploc bags and stick them in the freezer.

Yes, Amy...you can send Nate over to steal some while we are gone.

Maybe next time I will make the banana roll cake smothered in cream cheese frosting.

Chef Ella

On Saturday morning, Ella told me she wanted to make dinner. Okay! She looked through some cookbooks and made her menu: blueberry muffins for an appetizer, ravioli for dinner, and a smoothie for dessert. It took a lot for me not to "help"!

Ella started baking right after we got home from lunch. She pulled everything out to make her blueberry muffins in her easy bake oven. She read the directions and set herself up at the kitchen table and got to work.

It was like she had ants in her pants waiting for daddy to get home so she could start making dinner. This is the first time she has boiled water and had to put the ingredients in all by herself. Normally she tells me it is too hot, but not today.

Ta Da! Dinner is served!

Ella's 2nd favorite thing to eat!

Smoothie time! Yes, I let her use a sharp knife. She only tried to cut her finger off once. I think my sharp intake of breath freaked her and Kevin out more than anything!

Dessert is ready...."Mom, I think this tastes as good as Keva Juice!" I wonder what will be on the menu for next week?

34 things

I saw this on another blog and thought it was a great idea. I have actually had this done since my girls' scrapbook weekend, but life has been CHAOTIC!!! This is a list of the 34 things I hope to accomplish in the next year.

1. Make a souffle 2. Eat lobster in San Fransisco 3. Zip line in Hawaii 4. Go Salsa dancing 5. See Toby Keith 6. Canoe the gorge 7. Run the entire Turkey Trot 8. Make tamales 9. Take Ella to her 1st hockey game 10. Go to a Jazz festival/concert 11. Plant a tomato plant 12. Make jam 13. Go to the mission in Tucson 14. Knit a scarf 15. Crochet Ella blanket 16. Power Teaching 17. Have a pillow fight 18. Pay it forward in a fast food line 19. Wax museum in Las Vegas 20. $10,000 in savings 21. Hike Sara's Crack to the water 22. Eat sushi 23. Finish 320 layouts 24. New family picture 25. Do 3 pull-ups 26. Finish cross stitching the Christmas stockings. 27. Finish putting up the baseboards 28. Hang the travel pictures in the bathroom 29. Update blog weekly 30. Finish P90x and repeat 31. Date night once a month 32. New counter tops 33. Hike the Grand Canyon 34. Update birthday calendar

Fingers crossed I will get this done!

Playing Instead of Working!

Monday was a perfect day to be outside and enjoying the wonderful weather here in Lake Havasu. Check out the view in our self portrait. We were amazed at how many boats were out on a Monday, when it isn't even summer yet. I guess we were not the only people not at work.

I love being able to sit outside and soak up the sun while eating yummy food! The Sandbar Grill is a great place with an awesome view of the lake and the food is fattening and good! Jalapenos and Pepper Jack on a juicy burger...perfect beach food!

The sign might have said DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS....but we did not listen (or read). This little guy had a broken beak, so he really NEEDED our help! I have never had a roadrunner get this close before. I was scared he might get my toes.

Can't wait for the next sunny Monday!

Just another Saturday?!?!?!

Today was the Havasu Half Marathon. As I crossed the London Bridge I passed by this bag piper. I told my girlfriend, Patty, that if he was still there on the way back she needed to take a picture of me with him. He was, so at mile 12.5 I ran up to him and got my picture taken with him. He must have thought I was crazy...I did it for Papa. Mom was not there to watch me race because she was with Papa. He might not make it through the weekend, but I ran 13.1 miles thinking of him and how the next time I hear bag pipes it will be "Amazing Grace".

Spring Break Day 2

The Renaissance Fair! Kevin and I have talked about going to for years, but this spring break we finally did it. We got there just before the gates opened (along with about 100 other people). Lords and ladies were walking around greeting people. Then the King and Queen arrived with their entourage...we all had to bow for them. Ella was not sure what was going on at first. I was amazed once we walked through the gates. I thought it was going to be a bunch of tents, but it buildings and stages...a regular village. One of the first buildings we passed was a bakery...I stored that information away for later in the day. Our first stop was to the London Broil juggling act. They were funny as well as talented. Ella was amazed! Afterwards we continued around the village, stopping to check out the shops and buildings. Ella met Mother Goose, practiced shooting a crossbow, and had her picture taken with knight's armor. Our next show was middle eastern music and dancers. Ella told me she wants to learn to belly dance now! She has not stopped bugging me to teacher her how to belly dance since she learned I took classes a few years ago. After lunch (roasted chicken and pork shank...No turkey legs for us) we headed over to the rope climber. Luckily she has not asked if she can hang a rope across the porch! How many 7 year olds have ridden an elephant???? Mine has twice! We attended the afternoon joust...our knight won (he cheated!) Check out the wench's sign!!! The last stop of the day was Ella trying to scale the castle walls! It was a long day, but worth it. Definitely going back next year.