Hiking at Del Valle with Sophia

Kit getting ready to meet Sophia for a hike at Del Valle park in Livermore. Drove by Mom & Ed's old house. Kit and Sophia are always happy to see each other. We start our hike up to the ridge. Tuk found some nice flowers. Kit shows us the view of the lake. A little snack. And a sip of water. The two girls have such fun together. They are both becoming very good hikers. Breno entertains us with a story. It started out as a lovely day. The clouds kept coming in and it became cold and windy. Kit points out some of the birds. Tuk helps Kit up the next hill. Kit and Sophia enjoyed hiking backwards. Almost at the top of the ridge. We made it to the top! Breno and Sophia made it! What a nice spot for a picnic. Here is the view from our picnic spot. We saw many cows and a group of eight deer. Hiking back down to the car just as it starts drizzling. We had a great time hiking with Sophia.

Bouncing and Biking

I took a bike ride while Tuk and Kit went to the bounce house with Arryan, Bryan and Sophia. Rode the levee trails to Alviso and out into the bay.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I drew a heart and Kit traced it using different colors.

Hiking with Sophia

We met Sophia and Breno at Henry Coe park on Saturday.

Kit and Sophia miss seeing each other. They are both good hikers.

Taking a little rest at a bench with a nice view.

Checking the trail signs.

They love to chat and laugh together.

Kit: I have two dogs. Do you know their names?
Sophia: No
Kit: Brownie and Chinda.

Sophia: I have three cats. Do you know their names?
Kit: Brownie, Casie and I forgot the other one.

Kit & Sophia crack up laughing.
Guess you had to be there.


And it is nice to enjoy a snack while hiking.

They had such a nice time together.

The weather was perfect.

Suddenly we came upon a nice spot for lunch so we just stopped and ate in the road.

Afterwards the girls rolled in the grass.

And they stopped at the bench again on the way back.

It is nice to have someone to share snacks with.

After several hours of hiking, Kit's legs were getting tired.

Kit and Sophia are very good hikers. We hope to go hiking together again next Saturday.

Chili

Tonight we made our own version of Debbie's famous chili.

1 can low salt diced tomatoes
1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes with garlic
1 can low salt pinto bean, rinsed & drained
1 pound ground beef
1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 beef bouillon cube in 1 cup of hot water
Black pepper, chili powder, oregano & salt to taste

Bring tomatoes and beans to simmer in a large pot. Meanwhile saute bell pepper and onion. Add to the pot. Brown beef. Add to the pot. Add beef broth and seasonings to taste.

Happy Birthday Terry!

Thai Temple, Bread & Super Bowl

We started out Superbowl Sunday at the Thai temple. Kit enjoyed the bbq pork with sticky rice.

Oh no, now Daddy wants to bake and make the kitchen all dirty again!

I have not made bread in years.

We used molassas as the sugar and replaced some of the wheat with oats. Yum!

Kit enjoyed watching the dough rise.

She played with a piece of dough.

It was soft and warm, not sticky.

Although she enjoyed making it, Kit refused to taste the bread rolls.

Recipe from the Tassajara Bread Book.

Swim Goggles

Kit swims every Friday. She is now in the big kids class yet no one else signed up for her timeslot so she effectively has a private lesson.

She loves her swim goggles. She can open her eyes underwater now.

Groundhog Day

Kit enjoyed learning about groundhog day. We talked about it at home then she learned more at school.

Where we live, a groundhog would not have seen his or her shadow, indicating an early spring.