Ping Pongery with Mookies

Pineapple Sleepover Party

We had some friends over for the first time in months. Weather was great, and they were able to stay in the pool pretty late.

Seafood Dinner

When she was very young, we'd walk to the local aquarium Cabrillo Marine (since we could). And many times after spending the afternoon there, my preschooler would request fish for dinner. She said the smell at the aquarium made her hungry. So her love of seafood goes way back.... All that to say my kitchen smells like a restaurant. The kid's making fried calamari for dinner this evening. 

Patio Redo

Our very own Toy Story

A year or two ago I was cleaning and found Sally and wondered aloud where on earth was Jack. I was told we had given him away and I was inconsolable. But they were wrong, thankfully. He was here all the time.

Reunited with Sally at last

Jack in action

Other world chips

When we went to Star Wars Land, Kat was delighted by a snack at Ronto Roasters - "alien" meat jerky in a bag with these awesome brown-other-worldly-crispy things unlike she had ever tasted before in her life.

When she told me she wished she could have these things again, I actually had to think about what she could be referring to. So now we have pork rinds in our house. A snack that we have never had here before.

122/79

My blood pressure reading this morning is the lowest it's been in forever. Must be all the sleeping in, and the kayak rides...

Terrible picture of a frog

Frog in a hidey hole

Kayak for Mother's Day

In addition to making an incredible lasagna dinner, Randy also got me a kayak which I've been wanting for awhile now. Today was chilly but nice so it was our first time testing it out.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe for Jennifer

I found this recipe in an old Southern Cooking cookbook we purchased at a thrift store in LA.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
2 TB of half & half or milk (you may need to sprinkle a bit more if dough is too dry, but start with 2TB)
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups of all purpose flour (I use Wegmans white whole wheat flour which has more fiber which is why I tend to need a few more sprinkles of milk)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

1 cup of dark chocolate chips (I use ghiardelli 70%, but the chips are huge so I use about 1/2-3/4 cup)

Preheat oven to 375 (I use 375 on the convect setting)
In mixer, combine together butter, sugar, egg, milk, vanilla. In another bowl, stir flour, salt, and baking soda until mixed, and then add to wet ingredients.

If dry, add sprinkle in another 1/2 tsp of milk. When it all looks like cookie dough, mix in the chocolate chips.

Use a small ice cream scoop or two tablespoons to place 12 scoops on cookie baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until brown. Cool completely.

Siblings