Milkshake

The latest after school snack around here...milkshakes!

1 part vanilla soy ice cream

1 part almond chocolate milk

blend

top with whipped cream & sprinklesThe kids love them and I feel good about serving them.
YUMM!

1 week ago today...Valentines Day

Saturday, February 14th...Valentine's Day

So much love in our lives right now, so much to be thankful for, so much to celebrate.
So much surprise at the wonderful roses Adrian sent to me on Friday...thanks sweetie!
So much fun baking cupcakes for Owen's class.

So much fun licking the beaters.

So many sprinkles.
I had this great idea to do mini valentines books for the kids for Valentines day. And like so many ideas...the idea was wonderful, the execution not so wonderful. The books are not yet done, but the photo shoot turned out great. We went to my friend Leslie's house and she took some great shots of me and the kids...here are my favourites:



I especially like this one she shot of me. Every photo of me looks the same, I have a "pose" that I learned and have perfected over the years...the head tilts slightly to the right, the neck sticks out to minimize any double-chins, the smile shows just enough teeth, the eyes are big and wide...I love they way I look in those photos...but this one is just different and that makes it great. Thanks Les for taking such wonderful pics and getting me out of my comfort zone.

Making muffins

Tuesday night we baked muffins. We spent Family Day Monday at our friend's home in Uxbridge and they had just baked the most wonderful muffins that the kids gobbled up. I have a recipe I have used over the years that used to be a hit...but for some reason it has fallen out of favour. Seeing them much on these muffins so happily got me in the baking mood again. Off to the grocery store to get the needed ingredients on the way home and we baked the yummiest muffins...thanks for the recipe Jarka. Even the batter was yummy as Isabelle proved here by licking every inch of the beaters:

Sneaky Healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins
4 mashed bananas (the riper the better) (you can also substitute 4 eggs, but bananas are better)
1 can pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie filling (the pie filling has sugar adds a bit more sweetness and a little extra spice)
1 box Silken soft tofu
3/4 cup Blue Agave liquid sweetner (found in health food aisle or speciality health stores) (you could also use 1 1/2 cups of sugar...I was going for a healthier version here)
-cream in large bowl-
3 1/2 cups flour (I used Whole Spelt Flour)
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
pinch cloves
1 cup chooclate chips
-sift together and add to wet-stir or mix-
Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes
Makes 24 muffins or 18 regular and 12 minis.

pizza anyone???

I always thought that having Owen first prepared us for anything...he was a busy baby, he climbed a lot, he walked before he was a year old, he climbed out of his crib before he was two...but he never prepared us for this...Hurricane Isabelle. She may look like a dainty sweet little girl...but then you put a pizza in front of her and you get:



And our busy boy? Clean as a whistle:

He ate a...

We struggle with fruit and veggies in our house. I know that many others do too. I feel like a bad mama sometimes for not pushing it more. I feel like a pushover sometimes for letting my 4 year old dictate what he will and will not eat. Today, I feel like a triumphant mama...he ate a green bean last night.

Owen had his annual physical with our beloved pediatrician Dr. Moss yesterday and one of the things we talked about was the lack of vegetables in Owen's diet. Owen proudly declared to Dr. Moss "I don't wike veg-e-ta-bles" (with that many syllables and a huge grin on his face) Dr. Moss then asked me to come in on another day without Owen to meet with the nutritionist...bad mama feelings coming on.

I feel like I have tried everything, bribery, rewards (are they the same thing?), loss of privilges, nutrition "talks"...and none of it worked. I am determined not to turn into the kind of mama who will force feed a child, so holding him down and putting the sweet potato into his mouth was not going to fly...and really where would that get us...he would be mad and still not liking vegetables. And frankly, the eat it for dinner or have nothing does not really work for me either...I then get a kid who will not eat (cause he really does not care about food - how is he my child?!) and then is cranky and unbearable.

So last night, on the heels of the doctor's visit, we talked about how important eating healty is. And I said we were having a new rule in our house. NEW VEGGIE RULE: I will make 3 veggies every night and you have to choose 2. I know how important choice and control is to Owen (and probably most people) and I felt that this would be the best option for all. I did not think about what I would do if he refused and thankfully we did not have to cross that road last night. (note to self - think of consequence in case this honeymoon period ends)

I made chicken (his fave), potatoes (his fave), corn on the cob (his fave...do you see the trend here?), sweet potato and green beans. Owen had to choose from corn, sweet potato and beans. He choose corn and sweet potato. I cut a piece of sweet potato the size of a kernel of corn and put it on his plate - he touched it to his lips and then put it back - "I don't like it" (but he felt like he had tried it so it was OK). "No way" I said "it has to be eaten. That means you have to chew it and swallow and it has to go into your belly" "HUMPH! OK, I will try the green bean" (with disgust in his voice) So I cut a tiny piece of green bean and he tried it and said "Hey, this is good. I like it" He then proceeded to eat a whole one. Then he and I had a contest to see who could eat one quicker...and he won!

Well...we called Nana and Papa...Grandma...Nana...Daddy...we celebrated and danced and did high-5s. He was so proud and so was I...baby steps...it all starts with baby steps.

He ate a green bean.

morning coffee.

I never thought that I would be writing a post about coffee. I have never been a coffee drinker. Always loved the smell, but never liked the taste...until now.

A die hard Diet Coke drinker I have never been fond of hot beverages and have always preferred to get my daily caffiene from a can. However all that has changed now...at work there is a fancy shmancy new machine that does all sorts of fancy coffee. I have been experimenting and have come up with my fave! Low fat hot chocolate 1/2 package, cappuccino, french vanilla coffee = heaven at 8:30am.

I know some of you will still say that I am not a coffee drinker, and I suppose in the true sense of the word I am not. Whatever I am though, coffee drinker or wannabe...I sure am enjoying this steaming hot cup of goodness.

~enjoy your day~