Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana "Ice Cream"

I have been wanting to get on and blog again for awhile, but it seems I rarely have a computer, internet access, and camera all at the same time. If I keep waiting for that to happen it may be quite sometime before I write again. I love pictures...but unfortunately I am not a mom that takes constant pictures. My kids will be well documented thanks to their many aunts and uncles. I call my sister Caroline my personal photographer. Most of the really good photos I've posted are her work...the other ones are just uploaded from my phone. Someday...when kids, diapers, and housework don't take up most of my time and energy I hope to enjoy taking and editing photos!

I wanted to share an amazing healthy summer dessert! (I can't write this without admitting I am at Panera eating a brownie. There is a time and season for every activity under heaven, right?!) All you need to make this ice cream like dessert is cocoa powder, peanut butter, and bananas.

 My sister-in-law gave me this idea so I came up with my own measurements. You can play with if you like more or less of one of the flavors. This is what I did!

2 bananas, sliced and frozen

2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

3 Tbsp natural peanut butter

You just stick it in the blender until it is smooth and creamy and viola! You have a healthy chocolate peanut butter and banana ice cream! If you like it a little sweeter use RIPENED bananas or for a mellower flavor use bananas that are just ripe.

I hope you enjoy this little treat as much as I do!

Zucchini Season!

And the invasion of the zucchini has begun!! I'm so excited! It's always fun when my shopping cart doesn't need to be filled with veggies because my garden is filling my fridge instead. But anyone who has harvested zucchini knows that they seem to multiply! It really can be a challenge to keep up with it, but it's adventure at the same time. I never knew that you could do more with zucchini than fry it up or make bread with it. But over the last few summers I've found some yuuummy ways to use it!

Some people would probably be appalled at the some of the things Elia eats. But it's such a good feeling knowing that your child is getting good nutritious food...even if it sounds strange. Last summer I shredded up zucchini and yellow squash and would put it in her oatmeal. With the cinnamon in it she didn't even notice! I've shredded it up in chili and again...extra nutrition and you couldn't even tell! It hides well in scrambled eggs too! I found a recipe for zucchini cobbler and it tasted like apple. Who knew?! This week's menu includes Veggie Lasagna, Zucchini Pancakes, (with a dab of sour cream or Greek yogurt they're just amazing!) and last but not least, Zucchini Bread!

I decided to include some photos as well as the recipe of my zucchini bread recipe. I'll add in my adaptions for a healthy version too! 

Sour Cream Zucchini Bread

3 c. flour (I use whole wheat)

3 eggs

2 c. sugar (I cut it in half and use only 1 c.)

1 c. oil (I do 1/2 c. oil and 1/2 c. applesause)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. sour cream (I've used plain yogurt instead)

2 c. grated zucchini

1 c. nuts or raisins (optional)

Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Beat the eggs and add all of the ingredients  to the flour. Pour into the loaf pans  and bake at 350 for 1 hour. (You can do them in muffin tins and cut back the bake time to 18 minutes.)

Shredding the zucchini

the batter

in the oven

ready to eat!

Enjoy!

little growing man!

My little buddy is growing so fast! He's in the 95th percentile for his height and 50th for his weight! He just loves to eat! Right now he prefers his solids to his bottle...he still drinks his milk but he scarfs down his "real man food"!

Don't you love the mischievous look in his eyes! 

Little Man eating his beets!

                                                              Love you little Zekester!

Good Bye Baby Tummy!

It has been five months since I had Zeke and I am ready for my "bread-dough tummy" to be gone! I've lost the weight I needed to but any of you who have had babies probably can picture the loose flabby skin! So I was complaining about it to Charles...and he challenged me to start working out. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! I really have never like to work out...running, push ups, pull ups, you name it...NOT ME!!! I call it torture! I like to take walks...and of course I'm active with my kids, but that's about the extent of my work out. 

I decided that I would take my hubby's advice and give it a try...he mentioned "A date to the YMCA to work out"! Hahahahahaha sorry....not my idea of a date, maybe someday! Because he enjoys working out I decided that he should feel my pain and give up something he loves: sugar in his coffee...He's such a good sport...he hasn't whined once about his coffee. He just stuck a cinnamon stick in it and was as happy as could be. But I'm a bit of a whiner still. We work out for 10 minutes together each night (this will be day 3) and it's not my idea of fun...but Charles does it with me so that makes it better. I'm teaching him to count faster. Haha. If you count to 30 quickly, it's still 30 seconds, right?

So...baby tummy goodbye! I am hoping that it will only take a week of working out and then I'll be done. We shall see. I am told it should be a consistent, long term thing. We shall see! :) 

37 weeks with Elia...can't find a good one with Zeke

Parenting...what works for me!

I know that every mom has their own parenting style. I think it's really important to find what style works for you and your family and go from there!
I am the kinda mom that needs schedule, routine, as well as sleep and some alone time. I have found the controversial  "On Becoming Baby Wise" (by Gary Ezzo) to be a very helpful guide. For those that are not familiar with the book, it helps you to teach your baby a routine...with the goal of your baby sleeping through the night between 6 and 8 weeks old. It's an "eat-wake-sleep" cycle that teaches your baby how to fall asleep on his or her own. It really does work! Both of my kids sleep 12 hours through the night and I know it is directly related to the routine that they learned as newborns.
Zeke has just moved to a 4 hour schedule, which is wonderful because that means both of the kids are down for naps at the same time!  A little bit of alone-quiet-breather time is just amazing! So at this point, Zeke's day looks like this:

8:00 Wake up, eat, play
10:00 Nap
12:00 Wake up, eat, play
2:00 Nap
4:00 Wake up, eat, play
6:00 Catnap for about an hour
8:00 Eat and down for the night

Of course there is room for flexibility...sometimes his morning or afternoon naps are shortened due to the day's activities...but I really enjoy having a semi predictable day! I can plan activities or play dates for the happy time of day...and now that both Zeke and Elia's naps are around the same time I feel like my days have gained an hour or two!

Elia as at about 2 weeks

Zeke at 1 day old

Road Trip!!

We drove up to Buffalo, New York this last week and ended up taking a last minute detour to Niagara Falls. 

We told Elia that we were going to a park to see water falls...funny girl...she was clearly disappointed and kept asking for the water fountain, swings, and slide. Haha

I love the mist that comes up from the gushing falls!

It makes me think of the verse that says "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me." (Ps. 42:7)

When my family visited Niagara Falls thirteen years ago one my siblings made the comment the Niagara Falls are nothing compared the waterfalls at Stony Glen. Although I love my "camp falls" it was awesome to see the powerful Niagara Falls again!! 

And it was fun to have my kids share the experience! I did find a water fountain for Elia :). Hopefully we will be able to make the trip again when she can understand and enjoy the beauty of the falls!

Notice my little Alfalfa hairstyle haha

My Girl

I love my little girl! She brings so much joy and laughter to my life. She'll come up with the funniest sayings... I really should keep a little book so I don't forget the funny things. She has recently realized that my name is Brittany...since I babysit other kids she hears the little ones calling me "Miss Brittany". The other day she came running down our hallway calling "Miss Brittany! Miss Brittany!" And Saturday I was giving her and her buddy Niko some directions...what was the response? Elia: "Yes Brittany! "Niko: "Yes Mom!". Kids are just great! :) 

Elia has also been a refinement tool in my life. It's funny. You think you are a patient and kind person and then you get married! And some of those rough edges are sanded down and then you have kids! Wow! Talk about lessons in patience! I remember telling my sister that I was going to ask God to teach me patience when I had more time...when I realized what I had said we both started laughing. I guess NOW is the time to learn!

And recently I have noticed that God is using Elia to tune me in to his voice and his presence. When Elia wakes up in the morning I like to ask her about her dreams. This last month she had multiple dreams of "heaven and 'Papa Joe'". We have been praying for Elia's 'Papa Joe" for about almost a year. He had been battling cancer of the esophagus and passed away this weekend. It was like God had already told her that he was going to be in a safe place. This Sunday as we were getting ready for church Elia told  me that "Jesus was coming!"...It totally set my heart to expect a powerful encounter with the presence of God....and it was awesome! 

I'll love you forever baby girl!

I