My Favorite Pick-Me-Up Snack

My favorite summer time snack is an apple. I love Gala, Braeburn, and Sonya apples the best right now. I'm sure that if I stopped by a farmer's market that I could find a new favorite. My kids love apples too. I can rarely eat an apple to myself because the kids come over for their bites. And what can beat an apple with fresh homemade peanut butter. Apples with peanut butter remind me of those delicious peanut caramel apples I would get at the fair as a kid. Homemade peanut butter is one of the easiest things to make in the kitchen. I was really happy when my husband told me that my peanut butter is better than any store bought peanut butter.

Homemade Peanut Butter

2 1/2 cups of unsalted peanuts
4 tablespoons of peanut oil. You can use whatever type of oil you have on hand.
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
salt to taste

Directions
Place peanuts into a food processor. Turn on and let run until the peanuts are well ground. I leave mine with a little crunch. Pour in the oil. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl and replace the lid. You will probably have to do that step several times With the food processor still on add the honey and brown sugar. Season with salt according to your taste.  Store the peanut butter in an airtight jar in the fridge.

One apple and about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter is a great pick-me-up snack; especially between meals when I'm hungry.It gives me just the amount of energy I need.

Happy Summer! :-)

Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

I've learned that I love to dabble in the kitchen when I have time. I'm a little obsessed with photography so photographing food is fun. I've been trying cook mostly fresh foods this summer, but I know that when school starts back it will be a challenge. Well, I searched high and low for a good veggie burger. I don't like the frozen ones that taste bland and heavy, and are filled with unnecessary  ingredients. I found a veggie burger recipe using sweet potatoes! I changed it up a bit and it turned out fabulous. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers
makes 7-8 large patties

2 cans cannellini white beans, drained
1 large sweet potato, baked/peeled/mashed (about 2 cups)
1 tbsp of hummus or tahini
2 tsp honey
1 tsp of mequite seasoning or any kind of "burger" seasoning you have
1 tsp of cumin
1 tsp of black pepper
1/4 cup wheat flour

salt to taste if needed

plentiful bread crumbs or Panko crumbs
oil for pan- you can use whatever kind you prefer

Directions:

1. Bake or cook sweet potato in microwave. Peel, place in large mixing bowl.
2. Add drained beans to mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to combine beans and potato together.
3. Add all te oter ingredients and blend until tey are mixed together well.
4. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a pan over high heat.
5. Form a patty from mixture and coat in breadcrumbs. Then drop the patty in the pan. Repeat until the pan is filled. Cook until browned on both sides.
6. Transfer cooked patties to paper towel. Cool for a few minutes.
7. Serve on a toasted English muffin.  I added Vegenaise®, fresh spinach, tomato slices, onions, and avocado. It was simply delicious...well 'simply' is probably not the best word to use because there are so many flavors going on with this sandwich.

This recipe is adapted from Healthy Happy Life.
You can bake this too. Bake at 375 until golden brown. I think you will need to flip it.

First bite! :-)

Honestly I didn't need or want anything else to go with this veggie burger. No sides. It was filling by itself.

Reasons I'm Blessed Beyond Measure

 

Quite Possibly One of the Cutest Pics Ever....

❤❤❤

Father's Day 2012

We love this time of year, minus the heat. It's a time of playing and just spending time together as a family. I couldn't ask for anything better or more fulfilling. Here are some pictures from Father's Day. It was a great Day. We also went to Tim's parents house but I couldn't get any pictures there because my indoor flash on my camera is broken. Great, great day!!

Happy Happy Father's Day!

She's not holding up the peace sign. She's saying "I'm 2 years old".

Jack with his Nana

Annabel

Jack playing with sticks

Grandad and Daddy cleaning Jackson's knees. He fell and got 2 booboos. This is nothing new-that kid is all scraped up. 

Joe and Summer pausing so I can snap a picture.

MG and Jackson love playing in the garden and getting dirty.

Makayla adores her Granny (actually her Great Granny) and I think the opposite is just as true.

Here's Granny getting a little sugar from Jack. She's holding the flower he brought her from the garden.

MG playing with Dakota

Happy Father's Day to my Dad! You've taught me the right things in life, and I love you so much for it!

Happy Father's Day to Tim! You're an awesome daddy to the kids! (and an amazing husband)

Father's Day Prayer Lord, please bless our fathers,
these men who mean so much to us,
who are greatly responsible
for who we are and who we are becoming.
Bless them for having the courage
to do what's necessary to keep us out of trouble,
for making us do the right thing,
for helping us build our character,
even when it makes us angry;
and bless them for pushing us to do our best,
even when they just want to love us.
Bless our fathers for being our protectors,
for leading us through stormy times to safety,
for making us believe that everything will be all right
and for making it so.
Bless our fathers for quietly making a living
to provide for those they love most,
for giving us food, clothing, shelter
and other necessary and not so necessary material things,
for unselfishly investing time and money in us
that they could have spent on themselves.
Bless our fathers, Lord,
for saving some energy for fun,
for leading us on adventures
to explore the outer reaches of ourselves,
for making us laugh,
for being our playmates and our friends.
Bless them for being our secure foundation, our rock,
for holding on tight to us...until it's time to let us go.
Lord, bless these men we look up to,
our role models, our heroes,
our fathers.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. (By Joanna Fuchs) 

Baked Spinach and Rice Parmesan

• 12 ounces frozen spinach,
• 4  servings of cooked white or brown rice
• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese  + I usually add just ¼ cup more to get the perfect creamy texture but you don’t have to
• 1/2 cup finely shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnishing on top
• 2 eggs beaten ( I use Ener-G Egg Replacer)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt or to your liking
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper or to your liking
• ¼ tsp of nutmeg (you can omit this if you like but I enjoy the flavor)
• 2 tablespoons of flaxseed (omit if you wish)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a pot cook spinach on your stove top. Drain all excess water and place back in pot.
3. Add cottage cheese, Parmesan, eggs or egg replacer, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
4. Spray or butter a small baking pan. Pour in mixture.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes.
6. Let it sit for a few minutes. I transfer mine to a presentable bowl or plate, stir, and place on the table with the other food.
7. Serve warm, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4

This makes an excellent side dish accompaniment to chicken, fish, pork, or steak.

Or, like me, you can eat as a main dish. Served with green tea! :-)

 

Best Friends

p.s. Thanks to Aunt Summer for their adorable 4th of July outfits! :-)

Makayla's Almost 3

      

Well I know I need to write a 3 year update on Miss Makayla. Yes that’s right she will be 3 years old in less than 3 weeks. That is so hard to believe. Makayla is a little ray of sunshine in our lives; she keeps us smiling, laughing, and on our toes. She is a sweet and compassionate, but can be a little stinker too. She acts shy around people she doesn’t know very well or if she’s in a new place…but don’t let that fool ya- this kid is full of life and quite rambunctious. She has proved to be an excellent big sister as well. We are very proud of this sweet girl!

Favorite Foods

Cheese toast

Hummus

Chips and salsa

Oranges

Green beans

Chicken

Cheeseburger

Bananas

Yogurt

Blueberries

Cereal

Milk

Tacos

Cheese quesadillas

Hotdog 

Pickles

Baked beans

Black beans

Makayla has become a picky eat- I have no idea where she got that from. ;-) More often than not she doesn’t eat a lot of meats. We offer it to her but it’s often left on her plate. Therefore we recently started giving her a daily vitamin. I was a lot like that as a child, and still as an adult.

Growing

Weight 38 lbs

Height about 38 inches

Favorite Things to Do

Tea Parties

Coloring

Playdoh

Kicking ball outside

Helping mommy in the kitchen

Riding her bicycle

Cooking in her play kitchen

Building castles with her Mega Bloks

Slides

Going to church

Dancing

Singing

Jumping on her bed (not mommy’s favorite)

Learning

She can count 1-20 now.

She can count 1-10 in Spanish

She has recently learned the Spanish words for blue, green, and red

We are working on very simple addition concepts. She has learned 1 + 1 = 2 and

1 + 2 = 3 by using fingers and/or blocks.

Jackson’s 15/16 months

Growing, Growing! 

Weight 25 lbs 4 oz      55%

Height 31.5 in             50%

Favorite Foods

Oh my goodness there are too many to name. Jackson is a wonderful eater; he basically eats anything put on his plate but these are some of his favorites. And yes he can use a spoon pretty good these days!

Blueberries

Bananas

Blackberries

Strawberries

Apples and applesauce

Chicken

Goldfish crackers

Veggie sticks

Hummus

Kix cereal

Green beans

Peas

Beans

Chips and salsa

Milk

As you can see Jackson loves fruit! Another favorite which makes mommy so happy is Mexican food. It’s a family favorite and a real special treat anytime we can go out to one of our favorite restaurants.

Recent New Words

Uh-Oh

I love you

Goodnight

Jazzy

No, no, no (this is not mommy’s favorite)

Cracker

Dakota
Thanks you
You're welcome

New Teeth

He is cutting 3 molars right now. 2 bottom and 1 top

Favorite Games and Toys

Jackson likes running, climbing, swinging, and dancing. 

Loves playing with blocks.

He really enjoys playing with trucks, especially the ones that make sounds. He and Makayla like to “cook” in their toy kitchen. This is always fun to watch and be served.

Jackson loves playing in the bathtub. He especially likes splashing the water out of the tub. What a mess! We’re going to get the pool out of our attic this weekend so the kids can enjoy some pool time. Too bad the pool isn’t big enough for me.

Jackson still does not sleep through the night. He wakes up around 11:30 pm and sometimes around 5 am. We’ve tried so many different things but have come to the conclusion that he is just a snuggler and would rather be held while sleeping rather than in his crib alone. He is always full of energy; he keeps us busy that’s for sure. He doesn’t like to sit still for more than a few minutes unless he's tired and wants to fall asleep in my arms. He has the sweetest smile with the cutest dimples. He has a very sweet personality. He gives the best hugs ever; he grabs on, wraps his little arms around my neck, and doesn’t want to let go. I love this kid so much!


Oh and his hair has the most handsome curls ever! :-) 

A Nap Sounds Nice

Okay I barely got any sleep last night (less than the 5 hours I usually get)- Jackson has his first molars coming in and he is miserable-won't eat, won't sleep, just wants to cry and bite everything! Makayla has two 2-year molars coming in & is fussy too. Needless to say my kids have been very whiny. Last week both kids were sick and now they are teething. All this and trying to keep my house clean since it’s on the market is very tiring. I’m feeling just a wee-bit overwhelmed and was hoping to get out of the house today and take Makayla to the science museum - but I didn’t have anyone to watch Jackson so we didn’t go. I really wanted to do something fun and uplifting today…maybe a stroll around the neighborhood will have to do.

I leave this short little post with some scripture….Thank God for his Word that encourages, convicts, and provides perfect comfort during days of frustration, exhaustion, and remembering past heartache that this particular day brings for me.

Psalm 139

 ¹ O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 ² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
 ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.
   
 ⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 ⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 ¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall^[a] on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
 ¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
   
 ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.
   
 ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You.
   
 ¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
         Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 ²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
         Your enemies take Your name in vain.^[c]
 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
         And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
 ²² I hate them with perfect hatred;
         I count them my enemies.
   
 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
 ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.

In memory of Baby Finstad that was due June 4, 2008. * not forgotten by me-not ever. 

Now I’m headed to rock my sweet baby toddler boy to sleep. Makayla just fell asleep on the couch and a nap does indeed sound nice. Snuggles and cuddles with my kids--- the best cuddles in world.

Lovin summer break and praying my kids feel better really soon,
Shawna

Outdoor Fun

God has blessed us with gorgeous weather this weekend; perfect weather for hours of outdoor play! I haven’t been able to make many pictures lately because both of my cameras are “sick” but I managed to get one working for some outdoor shots (the flash is broken and the settings are off so I’m trying to figure all that out).

Makayla loves the big slides and Jackson’s favorite is the swing. I think he could swing all day if we’d let him. Watching my kids have fun and play is the best part of summer! I am so glad I get 2 entire months off working to regroup and to focus more on enjoying every moment. While I was editing the photos (love) I was reminded just how much my kids have grown – I am motivated to find the time to write an update on just how much they’ve grown and learned lately. Hopefully I will post that this week sometime. Until then, I hope you enjoy these pictures; they are little glimpses into my life’s journey as a mom.

Shawna