I did something yesterday that left me leaping for joy!!! Not literally, but I was definately excited about my creation in the kitchen! It is going to save me money, and offer a healthy snack and breakfast option for on-the-go mornings.
My oldest little handsome likes to eat the Enjoy Life granola bars. I buy them for him on occasion, because sometimes we just need some allergy friendly "grab and go" foods (which is hard to find). However, at $4 for five bars, I try to limit my purchases.
Then comes my cooking yesterday. I have been cooking like a mad woman this week! We just got back late Sunday night from a much needed fun-in-the-sun vacation, and the garden yielded bag fulls of zucchini and squash. So I'm sure you can guess what we've been eating this week! Now, these bars do not have zucchini or squash in them, but they were the one thing I've made all week that didn't!! We've had apple and zucchini muffins, chocolate zucchini brownie cake, summer soup, homemade pizza with zucchini and squash toppings. I think I just needed a cooking adventure that didn't include my garden veggies!
Keblinger
6/28/2012
6/04/2012
Well, my husband received his father's day gift a little early this year. Our oldest little handsome and I picked out one of his gifts together while relaxing and reading before bed. (We kind of have a cute little habit of reading magazine before bed now, in addition to his books, and I love it! The chef-in-training loves looking at recipes, and offers his expertise on how we could make it 'safe' for our cooking.) One day last week, he spotted this book in a circular from Lifeway Christian Bookstore.
My husband really enjoys being outdoors, fishing and hunting, and I knew that this would be a book he would read.
After a trip to Lifeway to pick it up, my son could not wait to give it to his daddy! No, we could not wait until next weekend, or even next week! We had to give it right then! In his excitement, our oldest quickly wrote out "Happy Father's Day" on his own little homemade card, and we all presented Daddy with his gift. I also got him a nice 'summery' button down from Lands End Canvas to add with the book. (He can always use a new shirt!)
He loved it!!--book, shirt, and the handmade spellings from our little handsome. Hugs and kisses were also given out with a "Thanks for being a great father" just to top it all off. :)
He was able to read the first story today while waiting for me at an appointment. And he filled me in on all the details...with excitement in his voice. From his reaction, I think my son did a great job picking out a book for his dad! (If you are in need of a book for your outdoors man father, check this one out! He sure seems to like what he's read thus far, and....it's on sale this week at Lifeway for $5.99.)
I will still try to do a little something special for him on Father's Day!
5/25/2012
Bird eggs and Mother's Day
Had this post I was going to do for Mother's day, but the time just got away from me. Sorry it's a little late. ;)
Two springs in a row, our house has been a home to mother birds and their eggs. Last year, purple martins built two nest under our deck.
The boys had a blast looking at the eggs every morning, and then loved looking at the tiny baby birds after they hatched.
Two springs in a row, our house has been a home to mother birds and their eggs. Last year, purple martins built two nest under our deck.
They would run to the deck first thing in the morning to check up on them!
5/24/2012
Fudge Cream
Fudge pops bring back a wonderful memory of a childhood treat. It wasn't something we had all the time, but when we did, I loved it! As to this day, I still love chocolate! And so do my little handsome boys! And we love to cook and bake all kinds of wonderful treats together. So fudge pops was on my list of things to fix!
As the name implies, fudge pops are meant to be eaten like a Popsicle. However, I have no Popsicle molds. I know, don't judge..how could a mom of little ones not have Popsicle molds?!? Well, to be honest, I did have some, but they got lost somewhere in our packing and moving a couple years ago. But did that stop us! No, sirree! We made fudge cream...poured into a loaf pan to resemble a carton of ice cream. And it did not disappoint. I actually like it better because it doesn't drip everywhere while the little handsomes are eating.
I found a recipe for fudge pops and decided to make it allergy friendly for us. This is a super easy way to fix some creamy chocolate fudge-y ice cream for a hot summer day. That's exactly why I had to fix more for our Memorial Day weekend. The last time I saw the weather, they were predicting record heat in the 90s, with heat index 100-105 degrees. That's hot, and this is sure to be a cool treat for my boys and their cousin that is visiting.
We enjoyed a little today!
As the name implies, fudge pops are meant to be eaten like a Popsicle. However, I have no Popsicle molds. I know, don't judge..how could a mom of little ones not have Popsicle molds?!? Well, to be honest, I did have some, but they got lost somewhere in our packing and moving a couple years ago. But did that stop us! No, sirree! We made fudge cream...poured into a loaf pan to resemble a carton of ice cream. And it did not disappoint. I actually like it better because it doesn't drip everywhere while the little handsomes are eating.
I found a recipe for fudge pops and decided to make it allergy friendly for us. This is a super easy way to fix some creamy chocolate fudge-y ice cream for a hot summer day. That's exactly why I had to fix more for our Memorial Day weekend. The last time I saw the weather, they were predicting record heat in the 90s, with heat index 100-105 degrees. That's hot, and this is sure to be a cool treat for my boys and their cousin that is visiting.
We enjoyed a little today!
4/18/2012
Night time routine
Our nighttime routine has always been the same: washing up/pjs, teeth, read, pray, and rock (while singing!!).
The rocking part is the cuddle time I have with them before bed; not rocking them to sleep, just holding and loving on them. Now that there are no longer the sides of the crib to keep the baby in, both of our little guys like to extend the nighttime routine. Yes, some nights it can get a little late, and everyone is tired and starting to get a bit cranky. But then there are other nights, you would love for it to last forever, just holding and loving on the most precious gifts ever given!
I have always love the singing part, partly because I just love to sing, and then too, because it seems soothing to my little ones! My oldest is beyond the years you would normally think of rocking, but he was my cuddle bug!! I could hold him every time he slept, and as he got older and accustomed to our little habit, it continued for quite some time. There is even the occasional night he comes to me, climbs in my lap, and wants me to sing to him. Just melts a momma's heart! And then there's my baby, who really isn't a baby anymore. He has to have his singing at just the right volume for his cuddle time. "Not too loud" he says with a snarled nose. So I sing softer, right. To which he says "louder" as he nods his head. Ahhh, I love those boys!
But as I sang and rocked to both last night, I thought about the songs that each loved to hear, and how special the songs have become to us. I don't wanna forget these!! So, here's a list of the most memorable songs we sang, and still sing today (and you have to remember that children like familiar things, so often times, it the same songs over and over!...thus the reason for feeling they've become so special)
These are just the naptime/bedtime songs, because sometimes we just sing all day around here! :)
My oldest:
There were and are many others that we sing too, but these are the favorites that have been sang countless times.
(sighing and smiling) It makes my heart smile to think about these precious moments we have spent together!
-Cindy
.JPG) |
| this is an older picture, but still captures the fun in our little routine |
I have always love the singing part, partly because I just love to sing, and then too, because it seems soothing to my little ones! My oldest is beyond the years you would normally think of rocking, but he was my cuddle bug!! I could hold him every time he slept, and as he got older and accustomed to our little habit, it continued for quite some time. There is even the occasional night he comes to me, climbs in my lap, and wants me to sing to him. Just melts a momma's heart! And then there's my baby, who really isn't a baby anymore. He has to have his singing at just the right volume for his cuddle time. "Not too loud" he says with a snarled nose. So I sing softer, right. To which he says "louder" as he nods his head. Ahhh, I love those boys!
But as I sang and rocked to both last night, I thought about the songs that each loved to hear, and how special the songs have become to us. I don't wanna forget these!! So, here's a list of the most memorable songs we sang, and still sing today (and you have to remember that children like familiar things, so often times, it the same songs over and over!...thus the reason for feeling they've become so special)
These are just the naptime/bedtime songs, because sometimes we just sing all day around here! :)
My oldest:
- Jesus Love Me
- Jesus Loves the Little Children
- Somewhere over the Rainbow
- Nana's song (as he calls it. It is a song my mom used to always sing in church, so when I told him that, it just became "Nana's song". But the actual title is Talk to my Father)
- Pa Jody's song (another situation as above...New Kid in Town). This became a favorite during Christmas seasons, and then stuck around for a while)
- Raindrops on Roses (from the Sound of Music)
- I am a Promise (children's song I sang when I was a child, and now sing to my boys. And both love this one)
- Jesus Loves Me
- Jesus Love the Little Children (as you can see, I love these classic children's Bible songs for them!)
- You are so Beautiful
- I am a Promise
- Somewhere over the Rainbow
- Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (which is actually called the Christmas Song, I think??? But you can see this one developed during the Christmas season)
- Deep and Wide
- B-I-B-L-E
There were and are many others that we sing too, but these are the favorites that have been sang countless times.
(sighing and smiling) It makes my heart smile to think about these precious moments we have spent together!
-Cindy
4/16/2012
Chocolate Chip banana cookies
I wanted to have a sweet treat after lunch today. So on the inspiration of a cookie I made a long time ago that used banana as the base, I whipped these up. Very good for a healthy cookie. My oldest said they were the 'best ever' after he reached for his third cookie! (good thing they were small) Ha!
If you know me and my cooking, I put a sprinkle of this, a tad of that, and a dash of this. But these are pretty much spot on to what I think I added. I wanted to write it down so that I can make my measurements more precise and include in it my normal cookie baking.
So here it is. My healthy(ier) chocolate chip banana cookies! (by the way, this is a very small serving. Made about 9 small cookies.)
Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies
1 ripe banana (mashed)
2/3 cups of oats
1/3 cup raisins
1/8 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy life brand to keep them allergy safe for my family)
1 TBSP oil
1-2 Tsp pure maple syrup
sprinkle of cinnamon
pinch of salt
Stir together all ingredients. Scoop in tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min, or until slightly golden brown.
Then enjoy your healthier alternative to a oatmeal chocolate chip cookie!
-Cindy
If you know me and my cooking, I put a sprinkle of this, a tad of that, and a dash of this. But these are pretty much spot on to what I think I added. I wanted to write it down so that I can make my measurements more precise and include in it my normal cookie baking.
So here it is. My healthy(ier) chocolate chip banana cookies! (by the way, this is a very small serving. Made about 9 small cookies.)
Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies
1 ripe banana (mashed)
2/3 cups of oats
1/3 cup raisins
1/8 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy life brand to keep them allergy safe for my family)
1 TBSP oil
1-2 Tsp pure maple syrup
sprinkle of cinnamon
pinch of salt
Stir together all ingredients. Scoop in tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min, or until slightly golden brown.
Then enjoy your healthier alternative to a oatmeal chocolate chip cookie!
-Cindy
2/29/2012
Leap Day
Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (KJV)
Happy Leap Day! Today has been a stormy weather kind of day, tornado warnings and all. I had planned all kinds of leap day fun with my little handsomes, but some of that time was interrupted for time spent in the basement. Not that we still didn't try to find fun things to do! I started working on a baby shower gift. Then we sorted through some warmer season clothes hoping to find some things for the littlest handsome to use for upcoming months. And then of course, we had out the play dough and all kinds of toys.
Our leap day craft still made it into our afternoon! I cut out some shapes and let the boys glue them to their papers into a frog. After faces were drawn, we wrote out this Bible verse. I even joined them for some frog leaping race fun! Haha! Loved every minute of that, even if I looked a little silly.
(please excuse the pic quality, as my camera is currently at my parents)
I think this passage of scripture reminds us that no matter what storms of life may come our way--if we are poor or hungry, weeping or sad, or looked down upon--we are actually rich if we know HIM! So rejoice, and leap for joy!
Have a blessed LEAP day, and remember to rejoice in the Lord always!
-Cindy
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