Brent's (Age 4) First Penalty on the Ice

Spring Break

B painting his airplane at a ceramics place

Claire painting a Dog treat container

B at the park

B going down a slide at the city museum

Brent and Claire climbing at the city museum

The kids at Suson Park
B and Nile all geared up

Nile and B in the locker room gearing up for stick and puck

We went to St. Louis for spring break to visit the family. Nile also had a hockey tournament there and his team ended up winning the tournament. They had to play a team of girls and were a little thrown off by the dancing during a break to Sir-Mix-A-Lot. It was pretty hilarious. We went bowling with the Maddox Family one day and the kids loved that. The are becoming better each time we take them. Scott had a great game too until the last few frames but he still won. We were able to see Sophia and Drew in their little ice show. The kids had a fun time playing with all the cousins. We went to a fun park one day because the zoo was shut down for St. Patty's Day. Also Scott and Nile got enjoy going to the Blues hockey game.

We took B to stick and puck to see how he would do with all his gear and he did great. He is going to start spring hockey this next week. He is pretty adorable out there on the ice with all his gear on.

We also went to the city museum which was tons of fun. We all went down the 10 story slide. B was a little nervous but then wanted to do it again but we said next time because you have to walk up the 10 stories to go down. The kids had fun exploring the caves and climbing on the outside tunnels.

I talked my dad into running about 9 miles with me one morning to help get ready for my half marathon tomorrow, Rock the Parkway in KC. He did great. I took him out of his comfort zone.

Crunchy Carmel Apple Pie

Here is my recipe for the winning pie:

1 recipe Pastry for Single-Crust Pie

1/2 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

6 cups thinly sliced, peeled cooking apples

1 recipe crumb toppinng

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup carmel ice cream topping

Prepare pastry for single crust pie. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle. Transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim, crimp edge as desired. (Sometimes I cheat and use a pillsbury ready made crust)

In a large mixing bowl stir together sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add apple slices and gently toss till coated. Transfer apple mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate. Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture.

To prevent over browning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes more or till top is golden. Remove from oven, sprinkle pie with pecans then drizzle with carmel topping. Cool on wire rake.

Crumb Topping:

Stir together 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/2 cup butter till topping mixture resembles coarse crumbles.

Pastry for Single Crust Pie:

In a bowl stir together 1 1/4 cups flour and 1/4 tsp. salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup shortening till pieces are pea-size. Using 4-5 Tablespoons cold water total, sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of water at a time over flour mixture, tossing with a fork until all of the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball.