1st riding lesson

       

Spring Down Equestrian Center

Portola Valley, CA

i signed ivy up for a mommy & me horse riding lesson

and we had the best time!

it's a little series that goes tuesday mornings in october

that i found online.

and it's a whole other world out there! 

so beautiful.

right around the corner.

she was so excited when we got out of the car

and were walking around a real barn with real horses.

she wanted to pet each one.

then she was fitted for a helmet and boots (too cute)

i got some too (not as cute) and we were set!

there were 4 or 5 other boys and girls.

her instructor was so nice and her horse's name is Oreo.

i didn't know what to expect but it was a real lesson- 

lots of instructions and she really had to concentrate.

kinda hard i thought but it was good for her :)

then they colored horse pictures. 

not sure how long she'll stay interested, but fun for now! 

chocolate caramel cookies

ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

pinch of salt

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 sticks of butter, room temp

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

rolo candies, unwrapped

sanding sugar, for dipping

directions

preheat oven to 375.

mix together butter and sugars.

add in eggs and vanilla and mix.

combine dry ingredients in a bowl, then mix with wet ingredients.

form some dough around a rolo and make into a little ball, about golfball size, making sure the candy is covered. 

press one side into the sugar, and place on baking sheet.

bake about 8-10 minutes.

you could also leave out the rolos and put something else inside, or just dip in sprinkles like ivy prefers. 

yum!

enjoy!

(i made these for a neighbor whose car i may or may not have hit in my own driveway. darn the luck!)

half moon bay/carmel

last sunday (sunday before? these weeks are flying) we drove last minute to half moon bay. the kids played on the beach and we had a fun dinner looking out on the ocean at sam's chowder house. yum. it was super short and we got home a little past their bedtime, but it was nice getting out. 

yesterday we took a little road trip (hour 1/2) to carmel. 

kevin & ivy have been wanting to visit the aquarium 

and i've been wanting to stay in a little cottage :)  

the weather was absolutely perfect and the ocean was gorgeous.

carmel is charming as can be.  

saturday we visited the aquarium (favorite was the seahorses this time) 

and then we found our cottage in downtown carmel. 

ivy loved pretending like it was her little house. 

"this is my very own cottage with my very own bed!

 look mom.. it has a little toaster! mom look.. this room is darling! 

oh, come on in! 

eli has his own room too?? look buddy! here's your room!

we need some food in our fridge! and what's that fridge called on top? 

oh yeah, a freezer... dad, we need some ice in our little freezer!

bye cottage! thanks for keeping us safe." 

etc. etc.   cute. 

we stopped in cottage of sweets (i got a coconut haystack and the kids got gummy worms)

 and walked down to the beach.

sooo pretty! 

then today we had breakfast, went to the park and

drove the famous 17-mile drive through pebble beach.

again, it was a short little trip but so nice to get out.

and i have to compliment my kids on their amazing travel behavior.

it seems like we're on a plane all the time, but never travel by car and i was

seriously impressed. 

AND they slept til 8.

well done, kiddos.

let's do it again soon! :)