Living with a singleton

The boys are at a birthday party so Ky and I baked cookies. WOW! Check out my kitchen! Sink empty. Counters clean.  The last batch was in the oven and all the dishes were already done! The things you can accomplish with just 1 child! 

( I probably shouldn't post this with such amazement, because my kitchen always looks like this, right?)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Blueberry pancakes that Jo made for breakfast. Flowers and chocolates and gifts. It's a good day. 

Party at tutoring. No homework today!

Brea JV boys soccer takes 1st in league

Scott's high school team placed first in league! Super fun. This was the final game of the season between Brea and ElDorado. Whoever won the game got first place. Scott's/the boys' club team was invited to watch and we all expected a tight game but Brea was ahead 4-0 at the half! They won 4-1. It was a great game, but a little anti-climactic as the final game for first place because it was so lopsided.

Scott had a great season overall and enjoyed the opportunity. 

Pizza and game night

Make your own pizza night!

We're copycatting our friends' who invited us over 3 weeks ago to share in their weekly tradition. Now it has become ours. Here's the yummy recipe! It's super fast because it's no rise dough! Yay!

A quick hike before the rain

We did a little local history today by visiting the Olinda museum and trail right here in town.

The museum was closed but we won't mind going back. The trail was fun. Longer than I expected - almost 2 miles.

Here's Sy emptying his shoes 1/2 way up. 

As we made our way back to the car, it started to rain. Perfect timing. 

Earthquake!

Today we had 6-7 earthquakes every couple minutes for over an hour! In fact, they're still going!

After much observation, investigation, and experimentation, we found there were 4 trucks out on the main road CREATING the earthquakes ON PURPOSE. 

Turns out the Linda 2D Seismic Survey is doing an experiment of their own. They shake the earth in these giant trucks and collect data from some receivers they put in the ground earlier. When they're done, they'll dig up the receivers, analyze the data, and have a better understanding of fault zones and natural resources in the area.

Several guys were on hand to answer questions of passers-by. One gentleman even helped our elderly neighbor cross the street. (She had a matching vest.)

Fun for them... A little scary for us!

Kik wanted his own photo memory. 

fruit trees and lemony lemon brownies

We are blessed over and over again by this place we call home.

In the back corner of the complex, there is a community garden (which we can replant in march) 

(Although there are a few lingering cherry tomatoes from the last planting.)

and an abundance of fruit trees! Navel orange,

mandarin orange, lemon, loquat, and some I have not identified yet.

The lemon tree branches are bending quite a bit with their load of lemons.  So yesterday, I sent the kids down for lemons and we made a lemon bread with a sweet glaze. It was interesting.

Today, we grabbed more lemons and made lemon lemony brownies and lemonade!

I have found that our apartment managers and groundsmen are the perfect people for our family to share 9x13s of dessert with. They appreciate the treats and I don't eat half the pan by myself!

This treat was special to them too, because it was made with our "home-grown" fruit.