Phone Pictures

Picture Of The Day

Dan didn't think the last pictures really looked like Nelson. This one does!

Easy Pleasin' Oat Bars

I've told a few people I would pass on this recipe, so I decided I would just post it here instead! These are healthy, but still taste good! Since I've been breastfeeding Nelson, I've had a crazy appetite and these have come in handy!

"Easy Pleasin' Oat Bars" From Vive Le Vegan by Dreena Burton

2 cups ground oats**
1 cup quick oats
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup fruit sweetener or other thick honey alternative (I used honey)
1/4 cup vanilla or plain non-dairy milk (any milk will do)
1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp canola oil

**ground oats are just quick oats or regular oats, ground up in the food processor. You can substitute 1/2 cup or more of the ground oats with 1/2 cup or more of the hemp seed nuts.

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, stirring until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled 8 x 8 or 8 x 12 baking dish and press it down until evenly distributed. Using a sharp knife, cut to mark out the bars before you bake them to make it easier to fully cut and remove the bars once baked. Bake for 19 - 21 minutes, then remove and let cool in pan. Once cool, use a sharp knife to fully but the bars, then remove with a spatula.

I added chopped dried cherries, apricots and crystallized ginger, toasted almond slices, ground almonds, and sunflower seeds just to give it a little more of a kick and some more protein. The next time I make it I am also going to add pumpkin seeds and some chopped cashews! The last time I made it, I doubled the recipe and froze half.

Growing Up

Nelson, getting dotted on by Amya and her friend, Saylor.

The charmer!

Girls, Girls, Girls

I love thse girls!

"Polly Put The Kettle On..."

"...we'll all take tea."

Amya and I have started a new routine (inspired by my friend who is doing the same thing with her kids). Every day after lunch and before nap, we have tea time!

A few things that made me giggle...Amya told me that when princesses drink tea, they put their baby finger up! (note the picture above right) When I asked her if she was having fun, she responded, "Yes, my dear." Where does she get this stuff?

While we drink our tea, we talk about the day so far...what she liked, what she didn't like. She asks me questions like, "What makes you happy, mom?"

When I told her that flowering trees make me happy, she hopped down off her chair, picked a bud and brought it back to me. These are things I never want to forget (and have to replay in my mind a few hours later when she is sassing me!)

Happy Belated Birthday Big Brother!

Hope it was super cool, just like you!

Funny Amya

Take Your Kid To Work Day!

Amya gets to be a junior engineer today! Dan's work is sponsoring a take your child to work day. Amya geared herself up with markers, paper, stickers, her princess book, fruit bars and her magic wand....oh yeah, and her woodland fairy hat!

Nelson is at work with me today...we decided to take the day off and have some fun! Free Starbucks coffee (because it's Earth Day) here we come!

Happy Belated Birthday, Grandma Chris!

We're happy you had a great birthday yesterday! We miss you!

What's With The Baldies?!

Amya

Nelson

Violet

They are first cousins!! Yet, the top of their heads couldn't look anymore different!

The Kid

Babes

I went to a baby shower this weekend and found out that our community had a spike of baby boys in February! After this picture was taken, one more 7 week old boy showed up! Makes me wonder if these boys will grow up to be friends. One a side note, the shower was for our friends Tracy and Tyler, who are expecting a girl...so she has her pick of little guys to hang out with!

The cutie in the middle slept the entire time! (Nels is on the right...he woke up right away and looked around the whole evening, with eyes open just a tad bit wider than needed, as always!)

My cute guys!

Community Easter

We went to the park last weekend to see the Easter Bunny! How do you like our Northwest weather? Amya was VERY excited to see the Bunny. He gave her some candy and a pink bunny, but Amya didn't want to leave. She just kind of hung out right next to him for a while (and made it into another family's group picture because she wouldn't leave). I tried to coax her away but apparently she was waiting for the bunny to shake her hand! It was very cute!

This is Amya's expression when she is really excited about something, but slightly embarrassed. So, she tries to cover up her smile. (Taylor anyone?)

After the bunny, we headed off the to coffee shop with a couple other families for some warm beverages.

The Hunt!

On Sunday, we went to Cathrine's Creek for a little hike, only to find that the Easter Bunny had been there before us!!

Amya had a blast looking for eggs (and if truth be told, so did her parents!)!

Fun pictures on a bridge

(my speakers aren't working right now, so I have no idea what we are saying on this video!)

...Easter...

(the Easter Bunny brought Amya this woodland fairy costume!)

Oh No She Didn't!

Carol: "Amya, you're growing up too fast! Can you just slow down a little?"

Amya: "Mom! I want to get big like you and Daddy! I want to get my own boobs so I can feed Nelson with my milk!"

Carol: "Nice. I'll be sure to tell your brother that in 15 years so he can throw up in his mouth."

Fat Boy!

I've taken to calling Nelson, "Fat Boy" lately because, well, just look at him! Amya has picked up on it and I've over heard heard her saying, "Hey little fat brother!"

Easter Eggs!

(This is new)

These are the two that we liked the best!