wordless Wednesday...

it's exhausting...

...earning straight A's and raking in the awards and medals at the year-end awards ceremony, including finding out she was top academic student in her entire class. (And Emily, with her GPA of 91.82% and high honors, didn't do too shabby either.) Me? Incredibly proud of my girls? Yeah, you could say that! Now, where is that darn sun?!? We're ready for summer!

let the routine begin...

Yesterday the girls headed back to school... Emily to grade 8 and Julianna to grade 6. It was a partial day (don't you just love those?) so today was the OFFICIAL start, at least in my books. We're all looking forward to a really great year.

While they slaved over new classes and such, I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a great group of ladies (I'll post all about it in a day or two), one of whom gave me this huge folder of quilting books and mags!

Thanks so much Rhonda! Guess what I'll be doing this afternoon?

I'll give you a hint... my mocha's already made...

just one shot...

...is all I got.

Julianna's sports day was today. Through the years, I've been there for all of them. Sat through the three legged races, the balance-the-egg-on-the-spoon, and the ever popular tug of wars. But not today. As I dropped her off this morning she informed me that she didn't want me there. Apparently she "doesn't like people watching her". Um, excuse me? I'm not "people"!

~sigh~

One of us is growing up, and I don't think that it's me.

Oh yeah, and then there was the announcement that the girls want to have a pool party next week when school lets out.

With the boys.

Oy.

German Pancakes

My. Oh. My.

What a run-around morning it has been. So far, I've been at Emily's school three times!

For a few days now, Emily has been waking up with an upset stomach. This happened before her band trip in May as well. We're sure it has something to do with anxiety or excitement, because when we're on the way to school, she's fine. Well, once we got to school today, she was not fine. Luckily there was a bathroom close by. After she was sick, she felt a lot better and decided to stay. Her body seems to work that way... get sick one time (or in this case three times!) and it's all over and done with. So I left to run some errands, with cell phone close at hand. She stayed for her science test, but then called me during recess to come get her. She slept for over an hour and it really helped. And that brings me to the title of this post... German Pancakes.

Today at Emily's school, the grade six's are putting on an international country fair. The kids are in small groups and have made posters and displays to represent countries from all around the world. The multi purpose room is packed! It's very well done and they've put a lot of effort into it.

The kids have also each brought a food sample representing their country. Emily's was... German Pancakes. Don't worry, her partners handled all the food - we didn't want her getting too close! Since I've never made German Pancakes before, we had them for dinner last night... sort of a practice run. They were really easy and really yummy! I made a fresh batch and we brought them warm for the fair.

German Pancakes

3 eggs

1 3/4 c milk

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 c flour

Preheat a frying pan and add a drop or two of cooking oil.

Whisk eggs in large bowl. Add milk. Slowly add flour and salt, whisking in between additions. (You don't want lumpy batter.)

Pour by scant 1/2 c into frying pan, rotating pan to coat the bottom and keep pancake nice and thin. I added a drop of oil to the pan after every other pancake. Makes about 8-10 pancakes.

I make one at a time, layering on a plate as I go. Serve rolled up with brown sugar, syrup, or fruit inside... kind of like a crepe. We had fresh strawberries with dinner, and the girls are serving them with brown sugar at the fair today.

quick post from a proud momma

I just left Julianna at her big track meet. This picture is of her and her pals after the 800m... Julianna came in fourth.

Just before I left, she ran the 100m and took first! Me, proud? Not much!

Here's Emily and her friend Maddie... they're back safe, sound, and sunburnt from their band trip to Victoria. We saw Em marching in the Victoria Day parade yesterday for a fleeting moment, just a mere three hours after we sat down to watch for her. Me, proud? Not much!

And now, I need to get cracking. Lots of sewing on bibs, quilts, and Java Jackets to do in the next week as I have a table out at the Yarrow Days event on June 6th. Me, busy? Not much!

And just to let you know... Deeda seems to be on the mend. She's still having troubles with her oxygen levels, but the antibiotics for her chest seem to be calming things down for her. Thank you for your prayers! She was tickled to hear that there was a network of women across the continent praying for her. Me, thankful? Not much!

***

It's 3:17 pm and I just got the girls home from school... Julianna got 2 firsts, 1 second, 1 third, and a fourth place ribbon! I'm thinking she had a pretty good day!

on her way...

Well, as I type, Emily is on the ferry and on her way to Victoria for the MEI Middle School Marching Band trip. The group will have their practices in beautiful Beacon Hill Park, perform in front of the Legislature Buildings and in a televised Victoria Day parade, and spend the weekend doing what middle school kids do best... having tons of fun! Here is Emily this morning at the school... very excited! She's wearing her 'Screaming Eagles' uniform.

Last year for Spring Break, Robyn and I took the girls to Victoria... here are a couple pictures from that trip. The lawn in front of the Parliment buildings is where they'll perform. Victoria is B.C.s capital and is such a beautiful city.

Thanks so much for your prayers for my Grandma. Today is a bit of a touchy day... she has admitted that she's weaker today than she was yesterday, and for her to say that, it must be true. She is typically a go-go-go type of person... church, carpet bowling, bingo, piano playing for the other residents, shopping... she rarely slows down. My mom told me that her nurses fear that it is pneumonia. At this point they're waiting for the results of yesterdays x-ray. I will keep you posted.

I'm in the home stretch...

I worked yesterday to catch up on some scrapbooking. I was in Mexico (for the second time) a year ago January with my sister, mom, and aunt. Despite some horrible food poisoning from the resort that hung on for about a month, I got most of the trip scrapbooked into my ongoing 'Mexico album'. I ended up not finishing the pages, I think because things just wouldn't come together at the time. Any scrapbookers out there who can relate? So yesterday was the day, and I got the album finished. Now I'm deciding whether or not to scrap the trip Robyn and I took before Christmas, or to just leave those pictures in the album they're in. I also have another ongoing scrapbooking project... albums for my girls. I surprised them at Christmas a couple of years ago with the books, but haven't had the gumption to update them since then. I did a new spread in Julianna's book yesterday and will add one (or more!) to Emily's today. It feels good to be back in the groove! (If anyone is interested in seeing some pages out of their books, let me know! And if you scrapbook, let me know because I'd love to see some of your pages too!)

And speaking of grooves... I'm nearly finished the binding on my disappearing nine patch quilt, made with the Wildflower Serenade line. I thought the quilting would never end, especially since I ran out of thread half way through! But I'm in the home stretch and am very happy with it.

Emily spent her entire weekend on a project for science and I just have to share it with you. It's a diorama of hydrothermal vents and she made it entirely on her own, from the homemade paper mache to cover the toilet paper rolls, to the mesh and pipe cleaner 'hot water' rising to the surface. I think that for an 11 year old to put some of her allowance towards seashell scrapbooking paper to decorate her homework with, it's pretty awesome. But then again, so is Emily!

So, on my agenda for today:

-scrap a spread for Emily's book

-finish up the quilt binding

-clean my floors (the dust bunnies look like they've had babies!)

-get the girls to track practice and the eye doctor after school

-cook a half decent dinner for a change!

I hope you have a great day with whatever you're doing!

~Kimberly

not just another pretty face...

...but a wonderful member of the choir who sang her little heart out!

Emily's middle school has been presenting "Fiddler on the Roof" and it was her class' turn on stage last night. It was a great production with a lot of very talented kids.


And you'd be so proud of me too... tea staining that second hand blouse to perfection. Hey - I was just glad that I didn't mess it up!

Do you have any idea how long it took us to find THE perfect costume?

look out Cinderella...

Last night Julianna's school presented "The Return of the Glass Slipper" at our local theatre. The grade 4 and 5 kids did a great job, but of course MY daughter was the fairest in the land...

Back to school...

So this morning was the first day back to school for us. The morning felt like any other, except there was a lot more "Hurry up! We have to go!"s flying around.

Emily is now in Middle School, at MEI (Mennonite Educational Institute) and our huge THANKS go out to Robyn's parents for making it possible. She looked a little overwhelmed when I left her, but I know she'll do great. This is the Preschool spread from her scrapbook, and then today's back-to-school shot. She's growing up!

And this is Julianna. Preschool, and now in grade 4 already! I can't believe it! Honestly, when did this happen?

...and since today is my birthday,what I'm really wondering is, where did the time go?

~Kimberly