The Weitzman's

I had a great last minute Thanksgiving surprise, in that Randi and her family were in town, and we got to meet up with them for brunch on Friday. As she explained to Maya, we met in 10th grade when she transfered to Taft from Arizona and didnt know anyone.  I introduced myself, and we became instant friends. We have been best friends ever since.  She lives in Sacramento with her husband Dan, son Max, 7 and daughter Matilda, 3, and the last time we saw eachother was at my baby shower! It was great for us to be together, and finally meet eachothers daughters.  We met at Urth Cafe, and the baristas make GORGEOUS designs on your drinks.  So gorgeous that we both took pictures of them! They were cranes.  How someone can make a crane out of foam on top of tea, I will never know, but its beautiful.   The drink was a green tea latte Ive been hearing raves about, and we were not disappointed.  Randi went back and got a second one to go when we were done, it was that good!

First night of Hanukkah

Happy Thanksiving

Here was today's lunch menu: Crock pot Tofurky stuffed with stuffing, gravy, roasted brussel sprouts with apple cider reduction, chunky cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pudding with pecan crunchies.
It was awesome.  The tofurky and gravy i purchased, and made everything else so it wasnt too overwhelming and I didnt spend all day in the kitchen. I loved heating the tofurky in the crock pot.  Genius! And so easy! They included a recipe for a cranberry/onion baste to warm it up in, which was delish!  It was also nice having a big lunch instead of dinner this time, I think Im going to keep up that tradition.

Produce adventures

At the market the other day, Maya asked me what that spiky thing was.  I picked it up and said I wasnt sure.  She asked if we could take it home and "explore it" (thanks Dora).  I loved the idea, so we did.  Its called a horned melon.  Its orange and has sharp spikes on the outside.  When we cut into it, the seedy flesh was a gorgeous green.  The flavor is mild, like an apple or cucumber, but its not sweet or sour.  Its like nothing we have ever tasted.  It was quite interesting.  I was so proud of her curiosity and willingness to try something new.

LALALALLALAAAAA

Pedja decided he wanted to learn how to play guitar a few weeks ago, so he took one I had in the basement, and went up to the local guitar store to have them re-string it.  Turns out they have free lessons on Saturdays for beginners. He's been going, and actually is quite good after just a few weeks.  Maya decided she wants to play too.  She strums and makes up songs and sings. Its awesome.

Fashion Island

Every now and then we meet up with Auntie Bridgit and cousin Charlotte to hang out.  This time we met at gorgeous fashion island in Newport Beach.  They have a gigantic tree already set up (its not even thanksgiving yet!) and there were kids climbing all over these "gifts"

Play date with Lennan and Isla

I hadn't seen my friend Jade in over a year, so we made a plan for her to bring her girls Lennan (the ladybug) and Isla (in the dolly stroller) over to play with Maya.  It was kind of a disaster. Maya had the tantrum of all tantrums, and ended up in her room with Luka most of the time, while the girls played in the den.  It was crazy.  Im not sure what the heck was wrong, but she screamed and cried for a LONG time.  I know you cant tell from these cute pictures.

Surprise! Maya's sick again!

I ended up taking Maya back to the doctor yesterday.  Friday Pedja called me to come home asap as Maya wasnt feeling well and he thought had a fever.  He was right.  She was a mess, she was congested and her fever got up to 102. Saturday she had a low fever and was still congested. Sunday no fever but this cold was still hanging around. Monday her snot turned yellow which had never happened before, and Tuesday it was even darker yellow and very thick. I thought maybe she had a sinus infection, and wanted her ears checked again.  The dr. said it was a virus, and needed to run its course of up to 2 weeks.  Her ears, chest, and throat were all clear.  As long as those stayed that way and her fever didnt come back, we had to let it ride. Sigh.  Preschool is for the birds!!

Color me mine

I took Maya to the paint store to get some birthday gifts out of the way. She could stay there for hours.

LOVE

Luka really doesnt like his picture taken, so thats why hes rarely on here, but I got lucky on Halloween

Halloween 2013

This was the first year Maya really "got" Halloween.  She was so excited to go trick or treating and dress up.  In our neighborhood families decorate their homes and its a great place to walk around.  Pedja decided to wear my mermaid costume to work for the annual contest.  We went to visit him, and I must say he looked better in it than I did.  Sadly he won second place this year.  He was disappointed after taking home first place as a pirate last year.  At night he was a pirate, and Maya and I were mermaids.  She was Ariel, but the wig freaked her out, so I wore it.  I got stopped by every little girl while we were out, it was very sweet.  They were so happy to see a big Ariel.  Luka never got it together as far as a costume went, so he stayed home this year.  Maya doesnt eat candy and the usual halloween crap, so I traded her for a big bowl of treats she likes once she got home.  I did let her keep a lollipop and she had it a few days later and LOVED it.  She gave all her candy to Luka and her dad, and what they didnt eat I donated to a local dentists office, who paid $1 per pound, and ships it all out in care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Spork Foods

A couple of weeks ago, Grama came for a sleepover (as Maya likes to say), and we got out for a bit to take a vegan cooking class at Spork Foods in West Hollywood.  We met my moms good friend and her daughter there, and had a fantastic, filling, amazing meal.  The Spork classes are not hands on, and I didnt think I would like it, but let me tell you, after 5 minutes, I loved it.  I got the day off! The class was Jewish Deli which means they made Latkes with sour cream, chopped salad, tempeh reubens and for dessert chocolate babka.  I inhaled my yummu food so fast, I didnt get a photo, but I did take a breath long enough to snap the chocolate babka.  It was so rich and delicious.  I was too full from lunch to eat more than 2 bites, so I brought it home for Pedja as a thank you for watching Maya so we could go out.  I also bought their cookbook while I was there.  The pudding with crunchy topping from a different post is from that book.

The Little Chef

 Maya loves being hands on in the kitchen with me, and I couldn't be happier.  Above she made some Key Lime pie, below she made chocolate almond butter mousse with a crunchy topping, and on the bottom, she made us dinner! We bought the crust, and she got to build pizzas for us. Everything is gluten free and vegan.  She didnt like either of the desserts, but thats not really the point for her.  Of course she loved the pizza and so did I.  Mine had cheese, meatless meatballs, capers and artichoke hearts.

Happy Hanukkah!

I know i said I wasnt feeling too festive in my previous post, but I wanted to get in the spirit just a bit for Hanukkah.  Maya and I put this little blue and silver diddy together yesterday.  Now I'm done for the year.

Im back!

Just so you know, this lapse in posts wasn't my normal slacker self.  My computer has been in the repair shop for quite sometime.  And before that I was in denial and didnt take it in for about a week after it stopped working.
I cant believe Hanukkah starts tonight, and Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Where has the year gone? Luka has this whole week off of school,  which he's thrilled about, and Maya and I have Thursday and Friday off. Pedja's working like crazy as usual.  I'm not in such a festive mood this year, but I will be crock-potting a tofurky tomorrow.  I'm going to cook for Thanksgiving for the 4 of us, but nothing major.