Sunflower, the rat

Elle's school has lots of pets including two bearded dragons (Bruno and Skinny) and Sunflower (the rat).   At some point, Sunflower will come and spend the week-end with us!

Blueberry Pie Oreos!

These cookies rate highly!

Our Last Swim

Elle and I had our last swim about a week ago.  Here's an earlier pic of Elle and her friend mid-air!   Good-bye swimming season!

Back to School Time!

Here's a pic of us shoe shopping a few months back.  Obviously, we scored!

Elle with Treat!

Happy Elle scores a mini Vanilla Bean Frappaccino!

The Plott Hound!

I stumbled across a new hound I hadn't encountered before.  A Plott Hound.  Somewhat larger than a beagle the Plott Hound kind of looks like a tiger!

Barb's Famous Pumpkin Cake

October seems like a good month to share the famous, and until now secret, recipe for Barb's famous pumpkin cake.  This is the same cake we are always greeted with each year with our arrival in Michigan.  The cake, which is huge, lasts about 2 days - mainly due to Rick and I continuing to sneak pieces throughout the day and late into the night.

One year, during the great pumpkin shortage, we were in serous trouble because you couldn't buy a can of pumpkin.  Once the shortage was resolved we began keeping a small stash of canned pumpkin "just in case".

Without further ado, the recipe:

2 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup canned pumpkin

4 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 t easpoonsbaking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 12x18 inch pan.  Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside.

2.  In a large bowl combine sugar and oil.  Blend in vanilla and pumpkin, then beat in eggs one at a time.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Spread batter into prepared 12 x 18 inch pan.

3.  Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool.

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

2 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup oleo

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons milk

A "Michigan" Plate from North Carolina!

Don't see these every day.  Go Blue!

Paying Respect During a Flag Retirement Ceremony

Jack and his pack retired a couple of heavily worn American flags at their campfire.

Barenaked Ladies w/ Howard Jones

This one was one of the best from the show we went to earlier in the summer.

Giddyup!

Elle rides Granny's sock-horse up the stairs!

Popcorn Sales Time!

Jack getting in his popcorn selling shifts for scouts.  He remains a great sales-kid!

Leaping Lizards!

Flying Over San Francisco!

A nice view of the city coming flying South towards San Jose.  Angel Island and the new bridge are left-center.

Scout Camp!

Jack and I went to camp last week-end and got to spend the night out in the wilderness a few miles from  Placerville.

Elle named student of the month!

Elle was named one of the very first Star Student's of the month!  Her teachers are taking her to lunch next week!  Super proud of this good girl!

Elle Eats the Ingredients!

Elle's Curious Bunny Dance

Already Getting Ready for Halloween !!

We'll have a bat girl and a Star Wars Kylo Ren this year!

Jack Tumbles

Here is a video of Jack doing his tumbling routine:



To celebrate the Olympics they had all the kids do something and then awarded them a medal!

Always Exciting to Dine with Uncle Duck

Dinner with Uncle Duck! 

The Big Chair!

Jack and Elle enjoy sitting in the "Big Chair" at the California State Fair.

Double Leap!

Here the double leap!

Eating at "The Dog"

Elle and Grandpa enjoy Dog n Suds!

Three kinds of bananas

At work they offer up 3 kinds of bananas.  Green, perfect and brown. One is more popular than the others...

Jack Documents Tales from His 93 Year Old Uncle Duck's Life

Mackinaw Bridge!

Here we are crossing the Mackinaw Bridge - one of the longest at ~5 miles.

Cannonball!

Jack tries a "Cannonball" while Elle looks on!   Note the Crepe Myrtle tree in full bloom.

The Wacky Dash

We completed the Wacky Dash obstacle featuring mud pits, bounce obstacles and many other challenges.  Generally, it was hard for me to keep up with these two!

Jack Turns 9!

Jack and his friends were treated to waffles and bacon at his birthday sleepover!

Try Everything - Zootopia!

Here's another track from Elle's pre-school graduation!  It is from the movie Zootopia which is one of the kids favorites.

Fun at the Fair

More pictures coming but here's a short video we did at the Geico booth at the fair!

http://www.geicokaraoke.com/458259/jKFVyhO32f8?

Lost Sunset Snap

I ran across this cool sunset on my camera.  I took it back in October...

Sleeping Jack

Elle Tries Aerial Yoga!

Super Hero!

And her accomplice "Pinky" the bear.

California Love

Notice Elle posing in the background in her dance outfit!

Happy Fourth of July from a Few Aspiring Patriots!

Best of Tahoe Pics

Here are the pics from the "real" camera from our recent Tahoe hike.

 And we're off!

Jack trying to recreate a famous photo I took of Ranger.

Lots of snow melt so the creeks were fast and cold.

My favorite pic.  Eagle like looks clear enough to drink.

Another good one of Jack.  And a duck!

Jack was all about finding snow.   And we did!

Sitting on the Corner!

We'll regularly take a family walk around the block to get the mail.  On the final stretch Jack and Elle usually run ahead of us and then perch on the corner and wait for us.  It is a pretty busy corner and they always draw smiles from passers by!

Exploring the Hills of Folsom

We went on a hike the other day in the hills around our house.

More Tahoe

There was still lots of snow and lots of snow melt....

Birds Don't Just Fly, They Fall Down and Get Up

Here Elle's class sings at their Pre-K graduation!

Little Sisters Complicate Jack's Life

Elle in Rainbow Dash PJs

Elle found her Rainbow Dash pony PJs and had to sleep in them the other night!

Down the Ditch

The kids and I went hiking and found our way down a drainage ditch in the hills close to our house.  Look closely to see the further down the ditch!

Father's Day 2016 - Elle Starts Swimming

Elle hit a big milestone in the pool today.  She started swimming!  Here's a quick series of videos:

 

 She also jumps!

 

 And Jack flies! And Elle jumps some more.

Doughnuts with Dad!

I got a jump start on Father's Day with a Doughnuts with Dad celebration at Elle's school!   

The Owl and The Crow

Rick installed his bobble-headed owl designed to scare birds away in Florida.  Sadly, it attracted a big black crow that sits above it and persistently squawks - trying in vain to scare the owl away.