The 2011 Zolman Pumpkin Bake-Off

We didn’t plan any big special meal for today but I did have a recipe for some pumpkin cinnamon rolls I wanted to try. And Toban wanted to make his Mom’s pumpkin bars. So we decided to have a pumpkin bake-off! Luckily our grocery store was open today (and as busy as any day).

Vada was the official judge and she took turns helping both of us. Toban’s pumpkin bars took an early lead as his were complete and in the oven while I still had a pile of rising dough. My pumpkin cinnamon rolls made a comeback though when Vada saw the frosting going on.

We plated them side by side and let Vada try both. Which one is your favorite?

The winner is Toban with his Mom’s pumpkin bars!

Vada was a gracious judge when Toban called his Mom to share the results. Vada told her G-Ma that “Dada won…” And that “Mama won”. And “Vada won”. And “Jamie won.”

We’re thankful.

5’3″

Vada had her 2 year doctor’s appointment this morning. She’s healthy and growing on target for the 15th percentile. Based on the height generator charts Vada will be 5’3″ tall as an adult… plus or minus a couple of inches. After she got her shots she wanted to go back and play with the toys in the lobby.

Madame Edamame

Now her mouth is cleaned up but she is giving a super blank look. I’m not feeling the love for the edamame.

She definitely responds to a request to smile but this is a bit of a grimace.

I asked her to point at the edamame which she did but now you can’t see her face.

Pointing at the edamame with head up – check. Now let’s work on the smile.

Perfect!

Driving to Ry-ry’s

Banana nut chocolate cake

Vada has been really fascinated with a Dora the Explorer story about making a banana nut chocolate cake. So on Saturday we made a banana nut chocolate birthday cake for Vada. Her favorite part was sprinkling the nuts on the layers. She doesn’t care much for sweets (she even spit out a chocolate chip) but I thought the cake was yummy.

Noodles! Edamame!

For Vada’s birthday on Friday we went to her current favorite restaurant, Fuji’s Grill & Sushi. Vada loves the Japanese noodles and the edamame. She also loves the two dipping sauces ( ginger and mustard). This is a place where you sit around the grill and the chef flips his cooking tools, lights food on fire, and tells corny jokes. Vada usually wants him to hurry it up and pass out the dipping sauces and finish cooking the noodles.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a local pumpkin patch yesterday with Grandma and Grandpa. The place had farm animals, pony rides, giant slides, hay bale mazes and more. Unfortunately it was raining – real rain, not just Portland drizzle. So we quickly looked at the animals (the pigs were Vada’s favorite) and then Grandpa helped Vada quickly find a pumpkin we could easily carry.

Window

Vada’s classroom at daycare has a window to the main hallway. The kids love to wave good morning and good bye to their friends and parents at the window.

Happy