A Couple of First's and a Refreshing Salad Recipe

Oh, we've been having a HEAT wave here in California lately.  With temperatures reaching 90 degrees, we've {actually Paige} has hit a couple of firsts....I think she thrives in the heat or something.

Milestone number one happened before swim team practice one day when big brother, Bryce, talked her into jumping off the diving board for the first time ever.  I'm not sure if I'm more excited about her jumping or the fact that she listened and trusted her brother......he's the responsible of the two, he never intentionally does anything wrong {but if he does, he ends up telling me}.  He's just that type of kid.

Paige is not.

Here's for hoping she'll continue to listen to her older brother throughout their teen years.....

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Rubber Boots Required

Second week in to Christmas vacation....no snow trip, no Disneyland trip, nothing out of the ordinary except for the fact that there's no school....but why leave home when we have cousins coming over to hang out at the ranch "playground" with?

In above pic, cows are lined up and patiently waiting for their turn in the milking parlor.

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Sights of Milking Time

Spending an afternoon at the calf barn brings many sights, sounds, smells and experiences.

At around 3 p.m., our second string of milk cows make thier way past the calf barn to the milking parlor.  They know the route well and look forward to their eight minute turn at the milking machine. 

During their turn, they enjoy a little snack of grain.....it's all good.....relief of udder pressure, a little snack, then turned back out to their corral where they will enjoy some dinner and more leisure time.  We've been enjoying a mild summer thus far and the cows really seem to enjoy it.  The cooler the temperature is, the better it is for them.  The more comfortable the dairy cow is, the more milk she will produce. 

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Better Than *** Cake!

When scanning through the dessert section of the North Bay Dairy Women Cookbook to find a cake recipe for Paige to enter in the Marin County Fair, I came across one that sounded really delicious....and then I looked at the name......Better Than Sex Cake.

She doesn't need to know the name of the cake to bake or enter it.  In fact, a dessert name isn't even required when entering.  

Perfect.

As we're assembling the ingredients....

"Mama, what's the name of this cake?" asks Paige.

Really!?!

Think fast, think fast, think fast.

It's called Better Than......um....Disneyland Cake!

"Well that's stupid....NO cake is better than Disneyland."

I'm not sure it's better than either of those titles, but I do know it's really, really good.

Moving on..........

Here's what you need to do to try it out for yourself....

Mix 1 box of yellow cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, sour cream, eggs, oil and water; beat well.  {Full recipe below}

Stir in chocolate chips and pour into a bundt pan, sprayed with non-stick spray.  Bake at 350 for 65 minutes.

The judges must have like it at the fair.  Today I picked up Paige's reward of $6 and her first place ribbon.  Bryce received a reward and first place ribbon for his Darn Good Chocolate Cake as well.

What would you fill in the blank with?


Better Than { fill in the blank} Cake

Ingredients:
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix {small}
8 oz sour cream
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 - 10 package of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Mix cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, eggs, oil and water and beat well.  Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand.  Pour into a greased bundt pan and bake at 350 for 65 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes and remove from pan.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I love to hear from you! Have a fantastic day!
 
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Farm Chicks

Summer time.  The best time of the year as far as my kids are concerned.  Warm weather, cousins at the ranch, feeding calves, getting dirty and bonding in many ways.

Paige finds herself with the strong urge to visit her calf, Brina at the calf barn multiple times per day.

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Workin' the American Graffiti Car Show

Every May, the kids don their 4-H attire and head over to the American Graffiti Car Show, held in downtown Petaluma, to sell popcorn to benefit their 4-H club. This is always a fun event to volunteer for.  This year it was Paige and I while Bryce played in his last baseball game of the season.  

Paige and I headed out early, knowing the parking situation was going to be an issue.  We lucked out and found a space right away and had some extra time before our shift began at the popcorn booth.

There are at least 450 cars entered in this car show.  If you're a muscle head, hot rod lover, this would be the car show for you.

After Paige found her two favorite vehicles and insisted on pictures, we headed over to the popcorn booth for our shift.

Pink......

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WW: Five Year Old Attitude

Wordless Wednesday I have some five year old attitude.

I can go into many stories from just this one day, but I'll only subject you to one.

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Piercing a Five Year Old

When I first got my ears pierced, I was eight years old.  My Mom brought me down to Linch Jewelry in downtown Petaluma where I chose from either gold ball earrings or gold ball earrings....yes, the only choice.

Fast forward to many years later.

I always had in the back of my mind that when Paige asked to have her ears pierced, whatever her age, I would be okay with it.  When she decided she was ready, I would take her.

That age is/was "5 and 3/4".

The choice of earring selection has completely expanded from many years ago.  Somewhere around 40 to choose from.....I thought this was gonna take ALL afternoon.

After scanning her choices, my decisive 5 year old knew exactly what she wanted when she spotted the classic diamond {cz}.  My Katy Perry wannabe first asked for the biggest, blingy diamond that caught her eye but I had to nix that idea and scale it down to a smaller version.......can't have a 5 year old running around with 1/2  carat cz's in each ear.

After deciding, things got quiet......REAL quiet.  She was nervous.  But like her mama, she sat there, quietly waiting and ready for whatever was coming her way.

Thankfully, unlike many years ago, two people with sanitized, gloved hands pierced both of her ears at the very same time.

She only had to make this face once.

Phew!

Paige is very proud of her accomplishment.

She came straight home and changed into her 'biggest girl' outfit she could dig out of her closet.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I love to hear from you! Have a fantastic day!
 
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Opening Day

Our early spring downpours have subsided a day or two, just long enough that Paige was finally able to play her first Tee Ball game a few nights ago.  Opening Day ceremonies have been postponed three times now and will not happen until half-way through the season.

Being the only girl on her team...and maybe even the entire league, I was a little apprehensive about how Paige would feel not having any other girls playing with her or even on an opposing team.

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Express Yourself

Self Expression through dress is something my five year old has no problem with.   Her personality shines through.  It’s entertaining to see what she comes up with when she steps out of her room every morning dressed and ready for school……sometimes a pleasant surprise and at other times I stifle the cringe that comes over my body when I see what she’s chosen to wear for the day.

I don’t hold her back.

Today it was pleasant.  The budding Fashionista came out sporting black tights with white shorts over them, a sparkly black top, bright blue gloves, a headband and her rain boots……her wordless statement for the day.

I think I see the makings of a trend-setting Fashion Blogger in the future.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I love to hear from you! Have a fantastic day!

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Father Daughter Dance

Even though these photos were taken on Friday night at the Portuguese Holy Ghost Queen's Crowning, today, on Father's Day,  much of our time will be spent doing a lot of this....

Father daughter dance.....in the very same dance hall, but with 700 more people in attendance.

Probably a lot of this..........

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