Today the girls spent some time with Zak’s mom Kath while he and I ventured off to a couple of open houses to peruse homes for sale. It’s likely that we’re going to blow our suburban pop stand and move closer to the crunchy granola homeschooling action in the city – closer to Zak’s office too.

When we were reunited this afternoon we took a big family walk through the fields and woods behind Kath’s house. Miss Maxine rode in the Baby Hawk Mai Tei and I almost forgot that she always falls asleep in this carrier. Today was no exception.

While Zak and I were on the house hunting prowl this afternoon the girls were busy with Kath whipping up dinner and dessert for everyone tonight!

Finally, the kids are cooking for me. That’s what this kid raising thing is all about I tell ya.

With Kath they put together a delicious vegetarian lasagna filled with carrots, zucchini and mushrooms. I never make vegetarian lasagna with a white sauce and Kath’s version is always a welcome treat!

For dessert we enjoyed homemade carrot cake with a child assisted cream cheese frosting. Ava and Maxine both eagerly informed me they licked the beaters after they helped make frosting. The beaters don’t fall far from the mixer. Or however that saying goes.

Served with some PUMPKIN ice cream from a local custard shop. A.Mazingly pumpkiny, who doesn’t love pumpkin flavored anything this time of year?

Tonight when we regaled our house touring adventures I mentioned one house had a mud room that I really liked – at which point Ava gasped and bugged her eyes as she exclaimed “a MUD room?? I want to live there!”

Not what you’re thinking kid, but I totally agree! I want to live in a house with a mud room too!

• Thanksgiving is Officially Over
• Pastry Drills
• Like a School Girl

Pineapple, I have someone I’d like you meet. This is my new friend, Breville.

Now that my mom has gotten into juicing she’s become my juice muse. She’s turning me on to all sorts of juice books and has inspired me to think outside the romaine bag.

I bought a pineapple a few days ago with intent to ring it out in the juicer. Today was the day my conifer seed shaped fruit had a juice date with some carrots, an apple and ginger.

And to think as a kid pineapple was my mortal enemy. I use to play dodge ball with the pineapple in fruit cocktail, aiming instead for peaches, pears and cherries. Now it’s the star of the show.

I selected my running ensemble with care, to match my juice. Donning an orange shirt to celebrate the wonder of carrots in vegetable juice.

A crisp, cool 5 some odd miles and 40 some odd minutes later I was home to put together some fruit cereal.

Two diced bananas, two diced dates tossed in flax with some hand crushed walnuts. Topped post-photo shoot with some unsweetened vanilla hemp milk.

One of the best features of fruit cereal? It doesn’t get soggy. Not like regular cereal anyway. It is of course soft and mushy given it’s made of FRUIT after all, but nuts aren’t losing their crunch while you get up four times to fetch more yogurt, toast, dropped spoons and extra napkins for your dining companions.

Orange you glad it’s Sunday? Me too.

• Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
• Warm Fruit Cereal
• Scary Spoon