The FLU

The flu has hit our house...first Jacob now Sam. Who is next? This one is not pretty. It starts off with "my belly doesn't feel good" and ends with vomit spewed all over you and the floor. And when they aren't vomiting they are having foul smelling, watery poops. But at least it doesn't last more than 24 hours and there has been a day break in between. So will it be Keith or me who will be next?

Squiggles

Today the boys rode Squiggles, the horse, with Auntie Lindsey. The boys were so excited. Sam dressed up in his cowboy outfit which consists of chaps, a vest and cowboy boots...only we forgot the cowboy boots. Jacob chose to wear his favorite hockey jersey that Grandpa Randy bought him at Disneyland. The boys helped Lin by brushing down the horse, picking its hooves, and learning how to put a saddle on. As Jacob was brushing the horse he said "the horse is stinky." This made us all laugh. They each took turns riding the horse and loving it. They even got to do a trot. Jacob looked right at home in the saddle with a big grin on his face. Much to my surprise Sam even did the trot and had a great time. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. Thank you Auntie Lindsey!

We had a great time!

The day started out beautiful with sunny weather and temps in the 70s. I registered my pie and found a great place on the display table and got it ready to present. All of the contestants (there were 10 total) waited around for about 45 minutes till the 8 judges appeared. Everyone was watching closely as each presentation was looked at, smelled and tasted. When the judges were finished they handed in their clipboards...no one could tell if they were going to win. This was at 10:30 am. We still had 3 hours to go to find out who had won. My parents went with me for moral support as Keith and the boys went to San Jose to see an Entlebucher show. (An Entlebucher is a dog and Keith's dad is thinking about getting one.) The Elk Grove pumpkin festival was in full swing so we wandered around getting free stuff for the kids of course. At 1:20 we made our way back over to the stage and found a seat and waited for them to announce the winner. Third place went to a pumpkin pound cake with pumpkin orange whip cream. Second place went to a pumpkin tiramisu and first place went to a pumpkin coconut cheesecake. Congrats to those that won. Alas it wasn't me but I still feel honored that my recipe was chosen out of 30 recipes to be one of the 10 finalists. Maybe next time. If anyone wants the recipe let me know and I will post it. It is a very simple fresh pumpkin pie recipe.

Baby got lost!

We were driving over to my parent's house today and the weather was perfect for having the windows down. The kids love having the windows down. But then I hear Jacob say "I dropped baby!" I immediately know that this is a bad sign for baby is Jacob's beloved. I ask him where he dropped it and he said, "out the window". I got this sinking feeling right in my gut and all I could think about is how is he going to go to sleep tonight? He was crying a little bit but the car was silent otherwise...it was like Sam and Jacob knew that baby was gone forever. We turned the car around and drove back to where I thought he had dropped it and I looked all over the road and didn't see it. I made another U-turn to sweep the area because I am a mom with a HERO complex and have to save her children's babies from fire, water and floods or in this case a toss out the window. I couldn't believe my eyes...there was baby laying on the side of the road where I could easily get it. I pulled the car into a u-store it lot, told the kids I'd be right back, locked the car and trotted back down the sidewalk to retrieve the lonely baby. I brought it back triumphantly and was an instant savior. Baby was a little dirty but the instant Jacob saw it he was hugging it for dear life. It is safe to say nothing will ever be going out of Jacob's window again. Sam said to me as I got back into the car "I was worried that you had been killed." Now where does a 4 year old pick up such stuff?

pumpkin mania

Tomorrow is the contest and my pumpkin pie will be judged along with many other tasty pumpkin desserts! I really should be baking right now but have decided to take a much needed break from all the gooey mess that comes with scooping seeds out of a pumpkin. Yes, my fingernails are stained orange and my kitchen looks like Halloween came early but the pies will be scrumptious. Plus when my boys get up from their nap they can help me clean up - that's what kids are for, right? Then there is Kate, our boxer pup, who sits patiently by my side hoping for anything to fall her way. Wish me well. I must return to my kitchen now. I will let you all know how it goes.