We re-arranged our living room again. This is our third time shuffling things around this year, hopefully this time is a winner.

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We decided to do things different this year. No big parties.

We started birthday eve with Dad and Daughter going on a ‘treats’ shopping spree. Jasmine picked out several variates of candies, pringles, takis chips, and chocolate icecream.

On the big day, she opened presents from grandparents. Then sister Destiny came over, and we all went to the movies to watch Maleficent with popcorn, soda and candy. We had some tacos before hand.

At home, the girls decorated the cake with frosting and garnished with gummy bears and butterflies. Then the girls lounged in the living room watching movies such as the Tinkerbell’s The Pirate Fairy.

We think this was a good start for Jasmine’s second decade.

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We are doing the summer reading program at the library. Here is a cute photo of Jasmine perusing the stacks for a juicy title to read.

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Our book club decided to have a themed gathering – a Harry Potter Party. Emily made broomsticks, meat pies and butterbeer. Other people brought roast bird, gillyweed salad and voldemort eggs.

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This summer I was craving chicken and slippery dumplings.

After an internet search for local restaurants only turned up the biscuit style of dumplings I decided to make it myself. I searched the internet for a recipe with not much success.

Many years ago my grandpa taught me how to make this dish. I searched my computer for the chance I had written it down. Yep there it was in a file named recipes.doc – I’m such a good record keeper.

I’ve made this dish several times this summer. Emily decided to take some video on one such occasion.

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