sunday walks

 So I said that we had been going out on walks lately.  Here are a few pictures from our most recent one:

Oh how I love my boys in their shades!!

Josh just about fell asleep in his carrier this time out so it's good to know that he can do that.  That will sure come in handy when we are out and about this summer. 

in the kitchen: chocolate chip banana bread

Now I'm being serious when I say that this is the best banana bread in existence!  Of course, I may be a little biased because it's my moms recipe, but seriously it's always been a favorite of mine.  Perfect texture, perfect flavor, perfectly moist, everything!  And I've tried quite a few banana breads in my day.

I also have very fond memories of my mom making this banana bread especially when I needed it most.  After days of only being able to eat pudding and popsicles from getting my wisdom teeth out when I was 14, my mom literally saved my life when she made this.  It was mushy enough to get in my mouth so I could actually eat some "normal" food and the fact that it's full of chocolate chips that always helps in the goodness factor! Best enjoyed with spread on a warm slice right from the oven. Enjoy!

chocolate chip banana bread

3 ripe bananas
1 1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup oil (You can also do 1/3 c. oil and 1/3 c. applesauce, for healthier version)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs

Mash bananas, blend all ingredients until smooth, then add:

2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts (I used choc chips instead and usually a little more than a cup)
1 1/4 tsp soda
 1 tsp vanilla

Mix until well blended.

You can either make this recipe in one bread loaf pan, two bread loaf pans, or 24 muffin cups.  Either grease and flour your pans, use muffin cups of you can use this fancy Pam "Baking" Spray.

 It's specifically made for baking and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  Everything I bake comes out of every pan no issue. 

The cooking time is as follows for each:

Bread loaf pans: 325 degrees, 30-35 minutes or until center is set, check carefully
Muffin tins:  325 degrees, 20-25 minutes or until center is set, check carefully
 
Take out of pans when finished baking and let cool on cooling racks.

Strawberry Popsicle

The best face ever for the first time trying a strawberry popsicle...

Belly Laughs

I love this boy and seeing him find random things to make him belly laugh. I keep watching it over and over again because it is too cute!

Credits?

This is what happens every time the Grey's Anatomy credits come on.  Either I'm watching too much of it because of Netflix or this kids just loves black-and-white-flashing-musical-screens.  Either way it's too funny!!

craft corner: pillowcase ribbon boards

So our sheet set had been wearing out and so I bought some new ones and needed something to do with all of the fabric from the old ones.  The pillowcases were in the best conditions and I had two pieces of plywood (exactly the same size) lying around so I thought what better to do with it than make some ribbon boards to decorate up our room a bit.  Since it's the only part of the house that isn't really decorated I need to find something so it could feel "home-y" like the rest of the house.

Materials used:

plywood
2 queen size pillowcases
batting
ribbon
tacks
staple-gun

Cut pillowcases along seams so that you end up with one piece of rectangular fabric.  Cut batting to cover plywood.  I double layered my batting to have a little bit more cushion look to them.  Staple fabric and batting around plywood.  Arrange ribbon how you would like it and staple. Hammer tacks where the ribbons cross.  And voila! A cheap way to add some decor to our bedroom.

Bedhead

We've been letting Joshie's hair grow out for a little while and in turn we have received some awesome bedhead:

Add to following:

I've always hated that I could never see when my other friend's private blogs were updated.  They aren't in your news feed and so I forget to check them... is that bad?  Anyways, well my friend recently took their blog private and she also created another blog so that her friends would know when her private blog was updated.  (hopefully that makes sense).  Thanks Lauren for the good idea. I stole it, hope you don't mind.

Well if you are a person like me and need reminders to know when the blog was last updated, add this blog to your "following" so you can keep updated on mine:

http://jakeandchelseehappenings.blogspot.com/

Looking for the "Boogey"-man?

You can find him here:

look at that big boogey plastered to his forehead :)  hahaha

Not just for lovers...

In the many years of childhood and growing up, I have realized that valentine's day is not just for those couples in love, but it is a day to show your love for all people.  I have fond memories of waking up on Valentine's day morning while growing up and having a little treat followed by a sweet note from my mom telling me how much she loves me.  And now a few years later, I came to that same realization yesterday. 

As you can see our tabletop is full of gifts, cards, and sweets and not all from my sweet lover boy! But from our neighbors, family, friends, and even some of my dance students.  That just goes to show me again how blessed I am to be here at this time, to have an amazing husband by my side, a wonderful son to take care of and to be surrounded by so many supportive and loving people.  Thanks for all of you who made my Valentine's Day spectacular!

gettin' prepared

We have lots of outdoor things that we plan on doing in the next few months (through summer).   We will be heading to Hawaii and hope to get some hikes in there, we will also be hiking a bunch this summer during our 5 1/2 weeks off.  So to get josh a little bit more ready for it and to get him used to his back pack we are starting to take him on walks... here is our most recent trip out:

on the move

Joshie has recently started his army crawling around the house.  He hasn't explored too much (yet) but here is where is has found himself:

New page

Because I enjoy baking/cooking and I would love to share all of my recipes with you, I've added a new page to my blog with a link to the recipes that I post.   So to find recipes I've posted previously click on the link "recipes in the kitchen" to your left. Enjoy!

in the kitchen: chocolate chip swirl cupcakes

I adapted the recipe from this website: Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Swirl Cake  But I wanted to make cupcakes so here is how I changed it.

I sprayed muffin tins with Pam "Baking" Spray. It's not the plain cooking spray, it is the specifically made for baking with flour in it. It does wonders in getting everything out of pans.

I filled the cups (18) about half-way with the plain white batter and then put a spoonful of chocolate batter in. I swirled them around and then baked at 325 for 16-17 minutes, with toothpick test. I let them cool in the pans for a couple minutes and then took them out to finish cooling on the cooling rack.

After they were mostly cooled, I dipped the bottoms in powdered sugar. I then frosted the tops with the vanilla frosting, threw a little mini chocolate chips on and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

TIP: Be sure to follow the mixing directions on the cake mix box. Mixing for the amount of time really does make a huge difference. That is what makes them fluffy and fall apart. Enjoy!!!

Bouncin' with my Shades

Because of the many outdoor adventures we have planned this upcoming summer and as well as Hawaii in less than 5 WEEKS, we decided it would be a good idea for Josh to get a pair of shades.  We are surprised that he let us put them on and he continued wearing them.

Best Voicemail ever!!

So I received this voice mail yesterday and couldn't get over how funny it was.  Apparently the lady that Mason met, didn't want him to call her so she gave him my number.  Enjoy!

chasing shadows and the army crawler

Today Josh really enjoyed playing with his shadow.  I thought it was awesome.  I also got a short bit of army crawling before the camera died.  So, yes... It's official.  He's moving and I'm in trouble!!!

Answers

Earlier today, I had one of those moments where I felt inadequate and asked myself "are my efforts even making a difference?"  I didn't feel like a good mom being impatient and frustrated with my son.  I felt un-supportive and selfish towards my husband, focusing too much on the things that I want to do instead of what I can be doing to help him and my family.  I questioned my self-worth. 

After all of these "me" moments, I prayed.  I prayed to be more patient, to be a better mom and find ways to be better for Joshua, to be a better more helpful wife.  After praying and telling Josh how much I loved him I did feel better, but I find it's amazing how God answers prayers.   Within an hour I was browsing through my friends blogs, passing time and catching up.  As I came to one of my friends blog, I read that she was feeling the same way at the exact same time I was.  And because her blog post was such an answer to my prayers, hopefully in some way I can help anyone out there who is feeling like I was. 

On her blog, she shared this excellent poem:

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit...

Success is failure turned inside out.

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit.

Its when things seem worst that you must not quit.

-Author unknown

 

This and her suggestion to read this book gave me that boost that I needed to feel good about what I'm doing to get me through my days.  I'm going to read the book as it sounds like something that will help as well. 

Yes my days are hard and long, but I have started to realize more that I can do it.  I can make it through.  If I rely on my Savior and his Atonement, I can get through this.  Even if I'm not perfect, I can become perfected through Him.  My efforts are worth it and I'm doing better than I think I am. I can be a good mom and a good wife and make time for myself.  I can get through it and enjoy it along the way.  At times it will be hard, but I won't quit!!