Here we go again...

Back, back to the west coast. 

 Back to our home.  

Back to our friends and family.  

But first we must traverse this country.

Here are some packing photos, from yesterday.

Fourth of July

The essence of youth on the fourth of July 

Best laid plans

So, we didn't make it to D.C. last week due to hurricane weather and power outages.  Now, today, Alex is not feeling well and refusing to get out of bed.  So once again no D.C. adventures for me.  So I've been planning out our route home.

 

View Larger Map

Thursday's in D.C.

 

 Now that the count down until our departure of the East Coast has begun, I'm feeling the crunch.   The things that we have left undone... well need to be done.  So, I've instituted Thursday's in the city. Every Thursday from now until we leave I'm going to take off from studying and go explore something in D.C., here is what we did this week!

Long Island

Alex and I spent several very enjoyable days at his cousin's house on Long Island.

 

We relaxed in the shade and enjoyed the green.

 

Admired a quaint chicken coop.

 

While there we've had the best pizza we tasted on this coast and experienced our very first Italian Ice.  

On our last day I ate a whole lobster!

Cajun Fettuccine Alfredo

George Washington's Mount Vernon

On Saturday (the last day of the in-laws visit) we started out going back to D.C. to explore some more, but it was too crowed.  Then we drove to Arlington, VA to see the cemetery, but the GPS lead us to a military base.  So, we drove to Mount Vernon.

 

D.C. Day

On the third day of the in-laws visit we rode the metro into D.C. 

Gettysburg Part Two: The Auto Tour

After leaving the visitors center we climbed back into the car armed with a map and we drove around visiting key historical sights.

Gettysburg Part One: Visitor's Center

My wonderful in-laws came for my graduation.  So, we've been doing a little touristing that Alex and I haven't had the opportunity to see thus far.  Alex was pleased to find out that a key historical sight was just over an hours drive from our home in Maryland.  Here are some of the highlights from our trip to Gettysburg, PA.

Graduation

Well my friends I'm officially a Montessori teacher.  

Here are some photos from the diploma ceremony yesterday.  

Hanging out before the ceremony



Getting seated



Listening intently to the speakers.

Diploma in hand

Alex and I after it was all said and done!

Sugar cookies

A plate full of cookies
I've been wanting sugar cookies for several days now.  But most of the recipes that I find require eggs.  So today we are making egg-less sugar cookies.  The weather was bad so I decided to stay home instead of going to the speaker tonight.  Though I did study today from 8:30 am to about 2:00 pm and I worked out so that means I deserve cookies right?  Right!

Sugar cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar 
• 1 cup unsalted butter ( 2 sticks)
• 1/4 cup whole milk (we no longer drink skim or fat free)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 & 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 

Directions:

• Cream together sugar and butter
• Add remaining ingredients and combine
• Refrigerate for two to three hours 
• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Roll out 
• Use cookie cutters 
• Bake for 8 minutes 

Yesimir Kik Wot

The other day Alex and I had this wonderful Ethiopian spicy red lentil stew for dinner.  We were so taken with it that we decided to find a recipe to try and make it ourselves.  I'm hopping it makes enough for us to eat for several days.  I'm going to be a busy girl.

New Yogurt Cake!

Tomorrow, is my last day of practice teaching.  It has been a long hard ride, but the end of this year of Montessori training is in sight.  Today has been a good day.  We were able to get a special dispensation from the California DMV to have our car smogged when we return in July and Alex was able to get a YEAR extension for renewing his driver's licence.  I was worried that I would have to drive all the 3,000 miles home to Cali in July, but now I do not have to.  Happy Day!

More Wheat Bread

Another day, another Wheat Bread recipe.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

There are very few things that make me deliriously happy.  Fresh baked bread with honey on top is one of them.  After a long week of practice teaching, after dealing with another snafu with the California DMV regarding my vehicle, after learning I'll probably have to drive the entire 3,000 miles home in July, after another air bead sprung a leak, and missing my kitty it was time to treat myself.

Pizza

Today was hard.  Today required no working out, no healthy food and a bit of cream soda.

But, I wanted to make something new, something from scratch, and I really wanted pizza.

Why not combine them all and make...

Fabulous Friday Links

It's been a hard few weeks.  Spring break was no break.  And the past two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster of stress and tears.  Now that I know I have passed BOTH of my written exams one would think that the stress levels would go down.  Nope.  The world is going crazy and my own little piece of it is full of studying for Oral exams that are still a month away.  Next week I will spend another two weeks with children.  That should calm my nerves a smidge.  On to happier (hopefully) things.  On Wednesday Alex and I are going to see Jillian Michaels live and I'm so excited!

1. Rhubarb Almond Breakfast Cake.  Need I say more?
2. Joy made some killer French bread pizza's this week that remind me of my childhood.  I think I need to make THESE soon! 
3. Maybe I should have made THESE for my school birthday celebration.  
4. THIS might be a good idea for my lunches this week.  
5. I want to pick some of THESE up, I'm always loosing the scrunchie bands.
6. Did you know that April is child abuse prevention month?  Neither did I.  GET INFORMED.
7. Free online science books HERE.  
8. The Power of Talking to your Baby.
9. 10 Things to Stop Saying to Your Kids.  

Wordless Wednesday

More D.C. photos

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