Apple Strudel Class

My Grandma, Mary Penin, made the most amazing apple strudel.  Making strudel is an art, and despite having the recipe, Mom and I were never able to quite replicate it.  After searching the internet, I became in contact with Paula Mavec, a 71 year old expert apple strudel maker and cooking class teacher at the Slovenian Cultural Catholic Center in Lemont.  Paula and her daughter Jana gave Mom and me a private lesson at her house on the art of strudel making.  It was a fabulous experience and the best part was that taking a bite of the strudel brought us back to some great memories of Grandma's famous dessert.

After rolling the strudel

The proud students with their finished products

Sophie's first Fourth Birthday

Sophie, like her mother, enjoys celebrating her birthday more than once a year.  Her Southern Illinois family birthday party theme was an "Ariel Swimming Party".  Sophie wanted a rainbow Ariel cake-- fitting for a girl who draws rainbows daily and claims Ariel to be her favorite princess (this week).  Dear Diva Desserts made the hit cake.  Thanks to Grandma Janis and Grandpa for hosting and for all of the family that came to visit the guest of honor for her birthday.  She is one lucky girl!!  Here are some great photos of the party.

Rapunzel braids were a big hit!

Oh yeah... this is what I really wanted!!

Abby loves her Lambie doll

Princess Sophia the first in her Sofia dress

Rainbow cake!!

This little one liked the cake too...

Tastes so good....

A Visit to Grant's Farm

We really enjoyed Grant's Farm as a family day.  Rodger loved using that new camera lens to capture the beauty of the animals.  Valerie and the girls highlights included the carosel, bottle feeding the goats, and drinking the Lime-a-ritas.

 

Petting the Sting Rays

St. Louis at the Chase Park Plaza

Our end of summer trip to St. Louis was a fun weekend that started with a day at the Chase Park Plaza.  Here are some great photos taken with a rented zoom lens of the family having fun in the swimming pool.  Uncle David and Aunt Shelley met us for the day, and the girls had a blast in the pool and the "couch bed".

Abby and her blankie

Girls Swimming

Daddy and his girls

Sophie practicing her cheer moves!

A view of the pool

Smiling faces with Uncle David

Water fun for Abby

Post-vacation rest stop

No trip is complete without a stop for some apple pies at Cranes in Fennville.  Here is Sophie, looking older than three, posing while waiting for her grilled cheese and apple pie a la mode.

Walloon Lake 2013

For the first time, we traveled with Lisa, Ellie and Nora to Boyne City, Michigan to their family lake house on Walloon Lake.  The four girls enjoyed boating, swimming, having "sleepovers", and playing together for a whole week.  All of the girls, including Abby, went tubing for the first time.  Fishing was unsuccessful, but it didn't stop Rodger from trying every day!  We had a wonderful time.  One condo, two families, first summer.... hopefully with more to come!

Rodger and the girls at Walloon Lake

Posing for a pic with Mommy

Family photo for the album

Fun with ketchup in Petosky, Michigan

Riding in the back of the truck to the lake was a highlight for the girls.

First time tubing...