End-of-summer treats!

We still have over a month of farmers markets to look forward to, so I won't grieve the end of summer produce yet!  But I've been having fun trying some new recipes with summer fruits and veggies.  I'll include a link to an amazingly yummy berry crisp recipe that I found on allrecipes.com (the link is here) and a great zucchini bread, which I make into muffins because they're the perfect snack size for the kids.  I also found the bread recipe on allrecipes.com (the link is here), can you tell what website is one of my favorites? :)  With the zucchini bread I make my normal substitutions, exchanging the oil for applesauce, adding an extra 1/2-1 cup of zucchini and using whole wheat pastry flour instead of white flour.
My other recent "trick" for getting extra nutrition for the kids is smoothies.  They love them and they have no idea how much I'm packing into them (how long do you think I can keep it from them?)  I always do a yogurt and banana base for the texture and sweetness and then I usually add in kale and chia seed (which you can find at Trader Joe's and is an excellent source of omega 3s) and/or flax meal.  Then I add whatever else we have -- peaches, berries, etc.  It's the first thing the kids get when they wake up and now they race out of their rooms asking for their "juicey" ... So cute!  To be honest I'm not usually brave enough to try them (ugh!) but as long as they'll drink them, I'll make them :)  The other day Scott was doing the morning routine and didn't realize that Amelia has come to expect her "juicey" very first thing in the morning.  She threw a full on tantrum because he was blending it up and getting it ready.  Apparently the service wasn't quite fast enough.  Ha!

Two kids + One new tricycle = Trouble!

Scott came home from work yesterday with an amazing hand-me-down tricycle from one of his co-workers.  The lessons in sharing continue ...

... and continue some more

She won ... this round at least!

Things change in 19 months, huh?

Feeling a bit nostalgic tonight after watching my kids RACING around the zoo today like BIG kids :)  I'm trying to get organized about our pictures and start some sort of album for each of the kids (definitely not that organized yet!) but having fun scrolling through iphoto from the last 18 months.  Can you believe Luke in the rock-and-play ... Then and now?

In the second one I'm holding my breath and hoping he doesn't break Marisa's brand new rock-and-play :)  But it survived!  Oh babies, I'm more thankful than you know that you're healthy and growing and thriving ... but if we could just slow this growing up process down a touch it would be easier on my heart ...
Love,
Mommy

Perspective

Today I cared for a babe that is the same age as my babes ... and it made me heartsick.  He should be playing peek-a-boo and playing in his kiddy pool ... but he's not.  And his mama should be thinking about a Halloween costume and play dates ... but she's not.  Today made me ask God, "Why?!" too many times and made me both so thankful to kiss my kids tonight and so aware of their vulnerability.  Today made me pray hard and love harder.  Today represents what I appreciate about and what a dread about my work: perspective.

Random fun!

Here's a few random pictures over the last several weeks ...

Chalk!  We now find their artwork ALL over the yard, outside of the house, etc. :)

Four cousins picking (and eating!) blueberries!

A visit from Kelly!  We miss you!!

Spaghetti?  A very favorite meal around here ... to eat and to wear.

Yum!

I've never seen her sign "more" so many times in one meal. 

Reading books with Miss Martha to avoid the heat of the day -- it's been HOT!

I had to include this one that Michelle emailed me because Marisa looks so sweet and cuddled in and Amelia's cheesy grin makes me laugh every time!

Oh Amelia Jane, I love you so much.

Life feels so full and so sweet right now ... Not that there aren't a few moments every day where I want to throw a mini-tantrum myself (STOP pulling your sister's hair!  And STOP biting your brother!) but the kids are so much fun and I feel like we've gotten to live this summer through their eyes -- trips to the zoo, berry picking (Now a family favorite -- the kids just love it!  The benefit is that we've gone enough to have a freezer full of berries for the winter :)), tons of time in the yard with chalk and sprinklers ... This summer we've finally "arrived" (I feel like that's how parents speak about sleeping-through-the-night) in a spot where the kids sleep all night every night unless they're sick which I am so very thankful for.  I am a better mom, nurse, wife ... person! when I can sleep!
The kids both often choose to sign for what they want (more, milk, food, etc) but they're also starting to use words more often which is really neat.  It's no wonder that every parents thinks their kid is a genius :)  It really is amazing to watch them make connections between their environment and language.   They've also starting rough-housing with us and each other more.  I called my mom from work the other day to check on the kids and I could hear them both laughing in the background.  My mom says, "Well, umm, right now Luke is sitting on top of Amelia tickling her but she seems to be okay!"  She is going to be one tough girl!
Here's to fully enjoying the last month-ish of summer before the rain comes back!  We'll be outside as much as possible -- and not complain about the 102 weather this week because we're going to be spending the next nine months inside.  Bring on the sun!!

Hungry?

Luke and Amelia have taken a big interest in feeding themselves, us and each other.  This little video makes me happy for two reasons -- first, it's so stinking cute to see your kids laughing together (and feeding each other!) and second, it means that Amelia has her appetite back after a week-long stomach bug.  After 5 days we ended up at the doctor because the pediatric nurse in me was getting worried about dehydration -- after a few doses of Zofran she really turned the corner ... I love that drug!