I know every parents thinks their child says the funniest things, but they really do!
Austyn-ism: (just waking up in the morning) Ahhh my back is so tired from sleeping on it all night!
Rylee-ism: I'm scared of beatles, but I'm not scared of tigers! They don't make me shiver!!
Rys First Day!
The First Day of School!
This year Austyn gets to go to a new school! We are trying a different program which is run by both teachers and parents! The opportunities for her exceed that of a traditional classroom, and I feel she will flourish with all of her new found knowledge and experiences!
... and she gets to ride the bus, which is always exciting for a second grader!
So independent! Walked right in and got down to business!
Nice work kiddo you are amazing!
Labor Day Funfest!
We always try to cram as much as possible into Labor Day weekend! It started with Ellensburg rodeo, then an old country concert at the Snoqualmie Casino, and finally a great day of recouping at the cabin and on the lake in Kachess. Of course I didn't have kids! SO of course I didn't take pics!(: Bummer! Anywho here is one of me and my girls before a night of broncs, bulls and county swing!
The Grant County Demo Derby and Fair!
There is just something about a fair that is irresistible for kids! Maybe, just maybe it is the animals, carnival rides, cotton candy and hand made curly fries and corn dogs! I'm just not sure!
Don't ask me why they want to make funny faces all the time, but here we are watching Uncle Josh at the demo! They loved the crashes as you can imagine and their favorite car was one painted like Lightning McQueen! Super funny if you ask me!
First ride was the Ferris Wheel to break them in slowly! From there it went extreme!
Ry went all by herself on the ride like the stratosphere! Crazy girl! Loved it so much she went twice! She met the height requirement for all the rides this year so she was super excited!
Austyn on the sky trampoline! They strap you into bungees and then you jump on a trampoline! Wonder who thought that one up!(:
Ride'em Cowgirls!
We finally got her some reins and then she was gone! I couldn't keep up! She has riding in her blood and she stuck like glue, even after Tucker got a good scare! Amazing I say!
Ry is in training too and loves to trot! It cracks me up because it has to rattle her little brain pretty good!
My little outdoor project that turned huge!
Shane and I finally agreed on an outdoor space so the work began. Then it grew, bloomed, then blossomed to finally achieved its full potential! Now I'm excited to sit on it when the sealant dries!
The WAVE SPLASH!!
Haha! That sounded enormous but really it is tiny, but BIG on fun! The girls just go round and round and round!
Finally we got some good weather! Summer has just begun and now we are going back to school in a couple of weeks! What is that!?!
Glamorous!
Some may think I don't have a husband because he is always working! So just to prove it here is a picture of my sexy construction tanned hubby! Hee hee
Jonda and Staci were taking pics at one of my friends weddings, so she snapped a couple of Shane and me! We never get pics when we are all glammed up so we took advantage of the opportunity!
Just me and my girls!
I decided we needed a little mother-daughter time, so we packed up and headed for the lake! We got three whole days of beach, bikes, and babe time! Hee hee! Oh and nothing but s'mores and hot dogs by munchkin request! What else do you need when you camp?!
Our little campsite!
Fantastic Banana Bread...
...that's also good for you but shhhh don't tell anyone!!!
I love breads, but it is so hard to find varieties that taste good and are healthy for you. So I made up my own!!! If you are like my family you can eat through a whole loaf in one sitting! But if you are like me, you like variety and to give bread to neighbors, teachers, friends, parents, etc. as gifts, and of course the presentation is very important! Therefore I make mini loafs to freeze or give away! As for presentation, first wrap loaves in strips of parchment paper then tie them up with cute strips of material. Most mini loaf pans come with lids, so put on the lid and VIOLA! Gift! Heehee!
Tips:
- Don't be scared of using ingredients you have never used before! Example stevia.
- Take ripe bananas, peel them, place in a Ziploc and throw them in the freezer for later!
- All ovens are different so watch your baking!
- Always bake something twice if it doesn't turn out the first time!
- Ask questions! I love them!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 5 mini loaf pans with cooking spray.
Ingredients:
- 1 c whole wheat white flour. I use this for everything to replace normal white flour. Great carbs your body can use and protein protein protein!
- 1 c whole wheat pastry flour. It's lighter so it makes the bread less dense.
- 2/3 c old fashioned rolled oats. Not one minute!
- 1 tsp baking soda.
- 2 tsp baking powder.
- 2 tsp cinnamon.
- 1/2 c brown sugar
- 1/2 c stevia Stevia in the Raw granuals brand. Stevia is a natural sugar like honey or 100% pure maple syrup which is more easily metabolized by the body, plus it's zero calories!!!
You may substitute stevia with sugar.
- 2 eggs + 1 egg white
- 3/4 c apple sauce
- 1/2 c yogurt any kind. I use plain nonfat greek, this helps increase the protein levels in your bread. Also it is amazing with a splash of real vanilla, maple syrup and fresh fruit for breakfast! Try it I dare you!:)
- 3 tbsp melted butter.
- 3 ripe bananas
- 4 tbsp 100% pure maple syrup. Check the label don't use fake syrup! Again it is a natural sugar so your body metabolizes it easier, rather than storing it as fat!
- 2 tsp of real vanilla.
Mix small portions of dry into wet beating the whole time until completely combined. Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake for 30 min! Allow loaves to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely. Once cooled return to pans and give away or freeze. I rarely am able to let it cool before I take my perfectly healthy bread and smother it in butter!:) Enjoy!
-Kid, friend, and husband approved. He doesn't know he eats that healthy!:)
Amazingly unpredictable weather!
It started out with sun and 80 degree weather! The girls played dress up then thought it would be a great idea to run through the sprinkler! Gotta love that childish spontaneity! ;)
Daddy's story time!
Fourth of July at the Sanders!
The girls got their kiddie packs and had a blast! They were even wanting the "more exciting ones"! We may have to move up to the cakes next year! Those are my favorite too!
Austyn wanted to take charge of the camera so I let her! This one amused me because you can see her in my glasses! Heehee!
Jon and Amy throw a mean party! They have food, insane foreworks, volleyball and the POOL! The kids love it, but the water wasn't quite warm enough for the adults this year!
Austyn wouldn't go off the CRAZY slide, that has a six foot drop into the pool at the end, so she opted for the flippers and snorkle!
Here it is! It has a crazy bump at the end that throws you into the air! Fun but I wasn't ready for it yet until the weather is warmer!
Thanks Jon and Amy! You are the best!
Granola... mmm mmm delish!
I love to eat greek yogurt with blueberries drizzled in honey or maple syrup, then topped with homemade granola. It is packed full of great energy and will help you power through until lunch!
Homemade granola is full of yummy and natural ingredients that are great for your body and health. Unlike store bought alternatives it is less processed therefore your body is able to use and metabolize its goodness.
Ingredients:
-8 c of Old Fashioned Oats
-1 c sliced raw almonds
-1 c dried cranberries
-1 c Honey
-1 c 100% pure maple syrup
-1 c evoo (extra virgin olive oil)
-1/2 c water
-2 tbls 100% pure vanilla
-1 tbls fine ground sea salt
To Make:
Set oven to 350 degrees. Place dry oats in a large mixing bowl, and set aside the almonds and cranberries. In a large pot over medium heat bring all other ingredients to a boil stirring constantly. The liquid will double in size as it boils so it is very important to use a large pot and stir constantly so it doesn't boil over. Remove from heat and pour over the oats. Stir with a wooden spoon until completely coated and the oats have absorbed most of the moisture. Spray a large rimmed cookie sheet with cooking spray then spread the oats eavenly in a thin layer. It may take two batches depending on the size of your cookie sheet or oven. The granola cooks from the bottom so you will not notice a lot of browning on the top, that is why it is important to watch it closely so it does't burn. Place in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and using a large cookie spatula turn the granola without much breaking, return to oven and bake another 10-15 minutes. Add the almonds and flip one more time again baking it for 5-10 minutes. Stir in cranberries, place on two sheets of wax paper and allow to cool completely before transfering into an air tight container. Enjoy!
Back on the Farm
The last couple of weeks have been spent on the farm getting much needed play time! Fist we broke in the waterslide...
Yum Yum!
I don't know about you, but cupcakes are my little piece of heaven! They are so fun because you can get really creative if you want to! I made these on Thursday for a friend having a going away party. She wanted something girly and wild! Nothing says girly like ruffle frosting with glitter and I thought the hot pink and zebra print were definitely wild!
What I am really excited about are the stay bright cupcake liners! They are foil lined so they don't soak into your cupcake and lose their cute design! Yay finally!;)
Field Day!
The kiddos always look forward to their "fun day"! Of course Rylee got to join in all the fun! Here are the girls making their final lap to finish up all of the days activities!
Favorite BBQ side!
A friend recently brought a boxed pasta salad to one of our BBQs and everyone loved it! As you all know I like my homemades, so I made this one from scratch with healthier options included! I have now made it for BBQs and it is friend and BBQ tested and approved! Please feel free to alter and add ingredients to fit your taste!
For a medium salad, 4-6 people, I used:
-1/2 box of mini shells, I used Barilla rich in fiber-white, which has whole grains and 6 gm of dietary fiber.
-3/4 cup of coarse shredded carrots. I shredded mine but I believe you can buy them shredded.
-3/4 frozen peas
-3/4 cup mayo, olive oil
-1 pkg of Uncle Dan's classic salad dressing mix
-1/3- 1/2 c bacon bits depending on how much you like bacon. I made my own again, but you can buy them as well.
grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half.
-Lawry's Chile and Garlic Seasoning Blend to taste. This gives it the smoky taste.
In a med- lrg pot, cook shells according to box until almost done. Then add your carrots and peas bring to a boil for another minute. Meanwhile cut 6-10 pieces of bacon, depending on thickness I used 8 thick cut pieces, into slivers and cook over med-low heat until crisp. Drain on a paper towel until ready to serve pasta. Mix mayo and Uncle Dan's in a small bowl. Once pasta is done place in a colander and rinse with cold water to cool. Drain well place an a large bowl for mixing. At this point you can add some of the bacon drippings for flavor and to keep the shells from becoming sticky, or add a couple tblsp of olive oil. Add the dressing and season with Lawry's to taste. I wait until right before I serve the salad to add the tomatoes and bacon bits to keep them crisp.
There is it! If you make it ahead of time add a little more mayo to moisten it up, or ranch if you have it on hand, right before serving. Enjoy!
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