Planning the next move

For her birthday Maisie received a very nice chess, checkers & Chinese checkers set from my parents and this past week she had plenty of time to play as my poor little Maisie Miao Miao hurt her back last Friday/Saturday and has been kept home in the afternoons, away from her favorite place and activity, the gym and gymnastics.

On Fridays at gymnastics practice when there isn’t a meet that weekend, if the girls have their skills on an apparatus they are then allowed to practice Level 4 skills while the coaches work a bit more with the girls who need some extra help.  Last Friday all the girls did well and had their necessary skills so the coach worked with them on the trampoline on back handsprings.  Maisie already has her Level 4 round-off back handspring and she has it connected gorgeously so while the coach was helping all the other girls learn the back handspring she allowed Maisie to go and practice, still within her sights, but on her own.  Since Maisie didn’t have to wait for a turn and was on her own she was able to do her skill over and over and over, probably doing well over 50 round-off back handsprings until she decided she was tired and sat down to watch the other girls. 

Saturday morning she was tired but wanted to attend her TOPs practice and share her birthday with them and then she had her pottery painting birthday party followed that night by, because she begged to go, four more hours at the gym for Parent’s Night Out where she was running around playing on all the equipment and doing even more back handsprings.  When we picked her up Saturday night she complained that her back was tired but after seven hours at the gym that day and all her festivities, I wasn’t surprised.  Overnight though she awoke several times crying that her back was hurting so I gave her some meds and we iced it.

Sunday we went out for DIm Sum but it was an overall quiet day at home and by choice Maisie really laid low which is very unusual behavior for her.  Monday was her science party at school and though she did okay, her teacher said that she complained of her back hurting and even had difficulty lifting her backpack, needing help.  So before we took her out for her birthday dinner I took her to the doctor to have her back checked out.  The doctor said that Maisie had pulled a muscle in her lower back just to the left of her spine, sending her back into spasm and that she needed regular doses of Motrin to reduce the swelling, heat, massage and most importantly she needed to allow the muscle to rest thus no gymnastics until at least Thursday and then, only if she was feeling better. 

By Thursday Maisie was just itching to get back to the gym and since each day her back had improved I took her but asked her coaches to keep a good eye on her and if there was any pain to have her stop and I would pick her up.  She did okay at practice yesterday and again today but when I watched her today I could see that she definitely was not 100%.  She has a meet tomorrow morning and tonight I’m still debating as to whether I’m going to have her compete.  I guess I’m waiting to see how she does overnight and how she feels tomorrow morning.  This is the final meet before State Meet and thankfully she got her necessary scores to attend State at her first two meets of the season so if she doesn’t compete it won’t hurt her and it’s only the experience that she’d be missing out on.  So tonight I’m the one planning the next move…

Tonight I am featuring this recipe again because I can’t keep from eating these Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies as they’re beyond delicious.  I have found that 20 seconds in the microwave makes the caramel all ooey-gooey delicious and they make my home smell like Autumn.  Seriously you must give these a try.  Simple to make and delicious, just click on the picture for all the details.

Other recent recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw & Happy 6th Birthday Maisie Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Enjoy!

Freedom Fest ~ 9.0 Club

I am so behind in blogging and have many pictures that I want to get posted but I am oh-so knackered tonight so it’s going to be a quickie with a picture I found on my iPhone. 

Maisie in front of the 9.0 Club Board at her gym showing her scores of 9.0 or better on 3 events at the Freedom Fest Meet where Maisie Rocked the Wilderness coming in first all around!  Yay Maisie!!

In other exciting news I joined yet another new cooking group, The Improv Cooking Challenge.  Today was the group’s inaugural monthly challenge where we were asked to make any recipe of our choosing as long as it included apples and caramel.  I made some absolutely fabulous Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies for my entry and I highly, very highly recommend that you make them too as they are off.the.charts delicious!  Just click on the picture to be taken to the recipe details.  And on that note I’m off to snuggle in bed next to my Maisie Miao Miao…goodnight.

Other recent recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw and Happy 6th Birthday Maisie Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Enjoy!

Birthday bash finale

Maisie has had quite the sixth birthday as far as parties.  Friday was her cupcake party with her USA Level 3 gymnastics team followed the next morning with another cupcake party with her TOPs team.  A few hours after the TOPs party was her pottery painting party with a few girlfriends. 

Then Sunday morning Maisie requested that we go out to celebrate with Dim Sum where she enjoyed her favorites, shark fin dumplings and shrimp & scallion dumplings.

After Dim Sum Maisie played at home with make-up and press-on nails which she received from Briana for her birthday.  Just before dinnertime Steve, Anne, K & A came over to help us eat more of the zebra cake so Maisie had fun playing with her friends and opening more presents.

Monday at school Maisie celebrated her birthday with her 2nd grade class as well as the 4th grade class whom she had invited along to join the party.  I had a very special science party planned and it turned out to be great fun.

Shane the Brain from Big Thinkers led a very fun science party and birthday girl Maisie was his special helper.

Shane the Brain did magic by turning water into a gel solid, teaching the children about sodium polyacrylate, a water absorbing polymer. 

He then teased Maisie by telling her she was holding a diaper…ewwwww, or maybe just the crystals that are inside of a diaper.

They learned that acetone can get in between the components of the polymer allowing it to become a lump of goo as the air escapes.

Classmate “E” and Maisie got “super-human” strength with the help of the acetone and were able to easily pull a plastic cup apart.

Maisie pretending to shoot electricity from her fingers towards Shane the Brain.

When it came down to actual sparks, electricity and zapping noise Maisie chose to sit close to me and allowed her classmate “B” the opportunity to be the helper.

Next the children learned a little about the light spectrum first with their rainbow firework glasses a.k.a. holographic diffraction grating glasses.

Then with a black light.

Then came the slime.

All the children got to make a cup of slime to take home.

Seeing what slime feels like.

Ewwwww…Maisie is very much a girly-girl.

Not everyone thought it ewwwww, most thought the slime was good fun!

Next everyone headed outside to watch a rocket launch.

Maisie does not like loud or possible loud noises so for the rocket launch she chose to hang back and was kept company by her classmate “B”.

Classmate “S” was more than happy to shoot off the rocket in Maisie’s place.

The party of course ended with cupcakes.   It was good fun and all the children enjoyed the activities.

To end her birthday Maisie asked to go out to the local sushi/Chinese/hibachi restaurant for dinner so that’s how we ended her day.   I love my beautiful six year old!

Since this weekend has been all about Maisie I’m posting one of her favorite recipes, Nutella No Bake Cookies.  Click on the picture to be taken to the easy-peasy and delicious recipe.

Other recent recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw and Happy 6th Birthday Maisie Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Enjoy!

Birthday girl Maisie~ six years old

No way is my little Maisie Miao Miao six years old.  I know that each year I say the same thing, that it seems like just a short time ago when we saw her cue ball cutie face for the first time and she was just a scared little 14 month old being placed in our arms.  Each year I also say that I can’t believe how grown up and mature she looks.

Maisie’s now a big six year old, a second grader and already almost finished with her second year of competitive gymnastics.  I just want to cry as the time is passing much faster than I’d like and though I love seeing all that she experiences, does, accomplishes and who she’s becoming I wish I could just slow it down and keep her small a little longer.  Maisie is the best daughter I could have ever have asked for.  She’s kind, loveable, feisty, smart, talented, athletic, motivated, independent, self assured, opinionated, demanding, an all around great child and the light of my life.  I look forward to every day with her, experiencing life with her and I look forward to seeing what her future holds…but not too quickly mind you.

Happy Birthday my sweet little Maisie Miao Miao, I love you more and more each and every day.

Here’s my sweet little Maisie on her birthday through the years.

2011~ Maisie 6 years old today.

2010 ~ Maisie 5 years old.

2009 ~ Maisie 4 years old.

2008 ~ Maisie 3 years old.

2007 ~ Maisie 2 years old.

2006 ~ Our second picture of our sweet little Maisie Miao Miao.  Waving to us and waiting for us to come and get her.

2006 ~ Our first picture of our cue ball cutie.  (she’s probably about 7 months old)

Since I don’t have a picture of my sweet Maisie from her first birthday I figured that I’d post a recipe that I posted during that month and my choice was Cioppino…well my easy version of it at least.  Click on the link or the picture to be taken to the recipe.

Other recent recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake, Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw and  Happy 6th Birthday Maisie Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Enjoy!

Pottery Painting Birthday Party

Saturday afternoon after TOPs practice and that little party, Maisie had her pottery painting birthday party with her girlfriends that aren’t on team, TOPs or in school with her. 

It was a small and simple party with just cake, chips & salsa, some little candies.

Maisie asked for a zebra cake with pink Cream Cheese Frosting so that’s exactly what she got.  Who can tell me though, what’s wrong with Maisie’s cake?  No one who attended the party may answer that question. 

Maisie ready for the pottery painting to begin.

Maisie, Briana & Chani.  These three are always such cuties together.

Maya & Maisie.  Maisie was so looking forward to seeing Maya as she hasn’t seen her in months and she misses having her as her classmate now that they’re in different schools.

April & Maisie.  Big hugs to April too, it’s always too long between the times we get together.

The girls choosing their paint colors.

The girls all working on their pieces.

Pottery painting was finished and the girls were ready for some cake.

Happy Birthday my sweet Maisie Miao Miao!

I had tried to make the interior look like zebra stripes too but my layers were too thin so it ended up more marbled looking..  Oh well, lesson learned for next time.  Even though it didn’t look exactly as I had wanted, it was still delicious and everyone enjoyed it.  

The cake was a big hit with everyone but my Cream Cheese Frosting recipe was a huge hit so I’ve posted the recipe over on Cook Lisa Cook.  Just click on the picture below of Maisie’s cake and you’ll be taken to the recipe.

Please check out some of my other recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook including: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies and Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw.

Enjoy!

Celebrating with TOPs

This morning Maisie celebrated her birthday again at the gym but this time with the girls on her TOPs team.  The no-picture cupcakes from yesterday made an appearance again today and just like yesterday there’s no real cupcake picture but just like yesterday, the girls loved them.  They also really liked the pink zebra wrappers that we used for the cupcakes because pink and zebra patterns are hot at the gym…plus they matched Maisie’s leotard today. 

Maisie and her TOPs teammates after practice, ready to enjoy their cupcakes.

I arrived at the gym a little before the end of practice so I got to see Maisie working on her press handstands.  Her record thus far is five in a row without falling or allowing her bottom to touch the ground.

Coach Hardy and her teammates watching.

That’s half of one, now to come back down, not allowing her bottom to touch the ground or have her thighs rest on her arms so to complete one press handstand…then to do it all over again and again.

Coach Hardy watching Maisie hold her handstand.  The girls practice holding their handstands for as long as possible without moving their hands or falling, which would stop their time.  I look at this picture and can’t believe the muscles on my girl.

Maisie’s off to celebrate her birthday this afternoon with her girlfriends who aren’t on either of her gymnastics teams or in school with her, she’s one social little girl.

I promise another new recipe very soon but enjoy this delicious one from the past and perfect for this time of year, Pumpkin Blondies.  You know the drill, click on the picture to be taken to the recipe.

Other recent recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies and Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw.

Enjoy!