Fun Update

Our visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach this week gave us the chance to feed some tropical birds. You get this cup filled with white nectar and you go into the habitat where the birds can fly around, uninhibited by cages (well, except for the big cage that everyone goes into). You extend your arm and hold the cup in your hand and the birds just start flying towards you and climbing on your arms and eating the nectar. It was a little crazy to have these birds flying around your head and flapping their wings, but it was fun. I was surprised at how they would just perch on your hand and eat. Of course Hannah didn't want to hold the food, but she had fun watching. The aquarium was really busy with lots of school field trips, but we did see some sharks, sting rays, sea otters, seals, and sea lions. We saw some of the "shows" which are not like the kind you would sea at SeaWorld. Instead, it's basically trainers throwing a few fish to the animals. Not as entertaining, but still interesting.

Tired kids

Cinderella's Castle

This is the first time Hannah would get this close to one of the characters without me

Bee Happy!

Police and Fire Station Open House

This past weekend our local fire and police station had an open house for families and we decided to go and check it out. There were all sorts of activities, tours, and booths. We saw a S.W.A.T. team demonstration and also a demonstration where the firemen used "the jaws of life" to pry open a van. I picked up a free 72-hour kit, and Ryan got a hot dog. Hannah also got to do lots of fun things......

Driving the fire truck
Beep! Beep! Where's the fire?

Driving a police car

Riding a motorcycle

Driving the police truck

Spending some time in a jail cell......

Happy Hannah

I think that this picture really captures Hannah's personality!

Cream Puffs

I made these cream puffs the other night and they were so good! I got the recipe from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Instead of just a normal pate a choux recipe, you cut out a disk of tart dough and put it on top before you bake it- you end up with a crackly and crispy top that is delicious!

Oatmeal Millet Cookies

These cookies are really good. I especially like the crunch from the millet.

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground ginger
Pinch cinnamon
1/3 cup hulled millet

In bowl, cream butter with sugar; beat in egg. Mix together oats, flour, baking powder and soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon; stir into creamed mixture. Mix in raisins and millet. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets; flatten slightly using floured fork. Bake in 325°F (160°C) convection oven or 350°F (180°C) conventional oven until golden, 10 or 11 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Having Fun

Ryan finally had a chance to go to Disneyland with us this past week. We had fun riding all of Hannah's favorite rides and managed to avoid a lot of the crowds. We got there right when the gates were opening and stayed until after dinner. Always wanting to get our money's worth, I wanted to stay until after the parade, but Ryan thought that 12+ hours of Disney fun was "borderline psychotic" so we left after a fun-filled dinner at The Rainforest Cafe.