For You, Pops

Have you seen Cake Pops?
Everything is more fun on a stick, but seriously, what could be better than cake on a stick?!

I decided that Father's Day would be an ideal time to try these out.
And I learned a few things.

#1
Don't add too much frosting.  Otherwise it ends up tasting more like cookie dough (which is not necessarily a bad thing, just different) than cake.

#2
The entire cake ball needs to be covered in the candy coating.  If it's not, the cake pops must stay frozen because the balls will fall of the sticks.

#3
It takes quite a white to roll and coat 70 cake pops.  Even with little hands trying to help by eating it all.

Even though there were a few issues, these are still fun (especially for kids!) and they do taste really yummy!

Phopper

Today is my brother's birthday.
He's 29!
That's so weird.
My brother can't be 29 -- he's still that annoying 10 year old who plays Nintendo and listens to Kris Kross.
Does anyone else think of their siblings like that?

My brother is an artist.
He paints (and sells) amazing things.
I am immensely jealous of his talents.

{Like his work and want to buy something?  Contact me and I'll put you in contact with him!}

This may be my favorite . . .

Happy Birthday, Phopper!  We love you!

Mini Harvest, Birds, and a Cob

The other day we had a mini harvest. The carrots we planted are dwarf carrots, and the package said now was the time to pull them out.
Ezren has done this before and was pretty excited to do it again -- we didn't get to last year because the squirrels came and ate all of the carrots.
Perfect little bitesize sweet carrots!

We've also been harvesting blueberries as they ripen. 
At least once a day, we go out and pick the juicy blue ones.
If we wait too long, the birds will come along.
In fact, the birds have eaten half of them already!
We installed a scarecrow (though I'm not sure who it's scaring besides Zelda), tied up hanging shiny ribbons, and have a fake owl who hangs out guarding the blueberries.
And still, the birds come and laugh at us while eating our blueberries.

Our corn has been doing well this year!
Because our garden is so small (thank you giant trees blocking all the sun!), we don't have much room for corn.
But it's fun to grow, and wow, do I love homegrown corn on the cob!
So does Ezren -- fresh and raw of the stalk!

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let me share a little something -- I love the internet.
I love that when I have a few overly ripe bananas sitting on my counter and a hankering for something sweet in cookie form, I can go to my trusty (and probably way out of date) computer, do a Google search, and *boom* find a plethora of delicious recipes.
Most of which are contained within fascinating blogs.

Combining two of my most favorite things -- bananas and chocolate.
These are soft, chewy, and absolutely delightful!
I made these last weekend, and they only lasted a few days.
A request has also been placed for these most delicious of treats to be made again . . . and soon.
Make them.
You won't be disappointed.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
adapted from Recipe Girl

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large mashed ripe bananas

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

•Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
•Line baking sheets with parchment paper (or silpat), or spray with nonstick spray.
•Whisk together flours, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
•In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars with an electric hand mixer; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy.
•Reduce speed to low and add egg & vanilla; mix until combined.
•Mix in banana.
•Add flour mixture; mix just until combined.
•Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
•Drop dough by heaping Tablespoonful onto prepared baking sheets (or use a cookie scoop), spacing about 2 inches apart.
•Bake cookies until golden brown and just set, 12 to 13 minutes.
•Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely.
•Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Scenes

One afternoon last week was a very good afternoon.
No fighting or shouting from me for the kids to get something done.
I love how as the school year is winding down -- next Wed is the kids last day of their respective grades -- the teachers assign less homework.
That means Olivia has plenty of time to hang out and read.

And Isaac can do the extra math assignments his teacher gives.
Belive it or not, he loves them!
He gets so excited when Math Stars come home.
Each extra eight problem worksheet is supposed to supplement for a month, but Isaac finishes one of those a day -- in addition to his normal homework.
This year, he's completed the Math Stars through second grade.
Makes this math mom so proud!

Really, I'm just glad they both get to spend time doing what they enjoy.
And it doesn't hurt when it's quiet and peaceful!

TV Junkie

Cow loves watching Mythbusters. 

Really though, Cow loves sitting down to any good show in the evenings.

Particularly ones with explosions.

He's such a boy.

Bubbles

My dad and step-mom came for a visit last week. It's so awesome when family comes to town.
It's especially nice because we live so far away -- they drove here all the way from Kansas!
OK, technically, it's Missouri, but really, Missouri is just part of KS.  Ha!

Of course, as all grandparents do, they came bearing gifts.
Bubbles.  Giant lightsaber-esque tubes of bubbles.
I made the kids wait until evening to go outside and play with them.
Even though my dad thought it would be a great idea to do them inside.
{Gee, thanks, Dad.  I'll remember that when we come visit!}

We're so glad they came to visit and wish the visit could have been longer!

Graduation

And so it is . . . Ezren has completed preschool. My last baby has completed preschool.
I am no longer the mom to a preschool child.
And for two more years, all of the kids will be in the same school.
Where has the time gone?!

Ezren's school had a little ceremony on Friday to celebrate the children moving on to Kindergarten.
While everyone else had these to take photos and videos . . .

. . . we had this ancient thing.

Perhaps we should upgrade someday . . .  Right, someday.

They said the Pledge of Allegiance . . .

and did the Chicken Dance (customary at every graduation ceremony, I presume) . . .

and received their "diplomas".

At the end the teachers mentioned that these kids would be the Class of 2023.
Dear goodness, how old will I be then?!
It doesn't seem so far off though, does it?

The teachers set up a nice little reception with juice boxes and cake.

Ezren ate only the frosting and said he was full.

Of couse, when we got home, he wanted a snack.

The very last thing Ez did before we left was hug his best girl, Allison.

He has been "in love" (Olivia's words) with her since the very beginning of preschool Fall 2008.

In fact, the teachers said that they had to force them to play with other kids because Ez and Allison would only play with each other if given the choice.

Ez will start Kindergarten in the middle of July.
He's already started counting down the days until he gets to go to the big school with Olivia and Isaac.
Oh my!

Some pictures of the garden from the weekend . . .

Zelda was barking at the cucumber . . .

Vanilla Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Filling

Last week Olivia (and the rest of her class) took the EOGs.
End Of Grade standardized tests for the state of North Carolina.
You know, to ensure that the teachers are teaching.
{I could go on, but that's not what this post is about.}

They put a lot of pressure on these kids -- forcing having them practice tests over and over and over again for months.
Poor Olivia was a little stressed out about it.
Her teacher is amazing and had all the parents send in notes for their child to read before the test to alleviate some of that stress.

On Friday, the last day of the tests, I thought Olivia could use a sweet surprise.
I found these little beauties at Joy of Baking and had to make them (slightly altered, of course).

They were light, delicious, and so fun to look at!
This was my first try at homemade whipped cream, and I can now say with certainty, Cool Whip will no longer be brought into my house.
Homemade is the way to go.
I colored the whipped cream with Wiltons gel food coloring and then piped it into the hole and around the top of mini Bundts with a star tip.
The whipped cream was thick enough that it didn't fall through the hole when you picked it up, so you could just suck it all out if you wanted to (which the kids thought was so super cool!).
Yummmmm!

Vanilla Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Filling

Ingredients
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
2/3 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup almond milk

Whipped Cream
1 pint whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
•Preheat oven to 350*F and spray muffin pans (or use cupcake liners).
•Beat applesauce, yogurt, and sugar.
•Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each addition.
•Beat in vanilla and lemon juice.
•In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
•Add the flour and milk, in three additions, alternating:  flour, milk, flour.
•Fill the muffin pans/cups.
•Bake for 17-19 minutes.
•Makes 12 mini Bundts and 3 butterflies

Whipped Cream
•Beat all of the ingredients together until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).

Reread

After much persuading from Olivia, I reread Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (book #7). 
She said, "Mom!  You have to read it again before the movie comes out!"
And it was just as awesome as the first time.
It's been two years since I read it, so I had forgotten many of the small details (of course I remembered the ending).
I couldn't put it down -- again.
I cried a lot -- again.
Two years ago, I locked myself in my closet and stayed there for almost an entire day just to finish the book in peace.
It was easier this time because the kids were older, so I just made them leave me alone until it was finished.

It is beyond satisfactory to read a book that is so enjoyable!
I cannot wait until November when movie #7 comes out!

Just Keep Swimming . . .

We went swimming this past Saturday for the first time this season.
And it was less enjoyable than expected.
Certainly, it wasn't the kids' faults.
It was mine.
I have expectations of swimming that are never met.
See, I swam competitively since I was eight.
Before you get all excited, thinking perhaps this is the blog of an Olympic hopeful, let me say, no.
I was not that good.
I wasn't really very good at all.
Lots of people beat me at every meet.
But I loved it. 
The comradery with my swimmates.  The feel of the water (even that one summer when it was really cold for the entire season).  Flying through the water, flipping, spinning, twirling.  Floating.

I want to empart this on my kids.
To show them how swimming is one of the most joyous, invigorating, spiritual things . . . to me.

But it doesn't ever turn out like that.
The boys refuse to put their faces in.
And they won't let me take them out to the deep end -- which is only 5 feet -- even if I'm holding them.
Olivia can swim and seems to really enjoy it, but she won't listen to me. 
Even for just a minute.  To show her one thing.  Or play with her.
It's frustrating.

And Chad doesn't like swimming.  At all.
But he still gets in and plays with the kids.  {that's a great thing, too}
With three kids though (and two who cannot swim), I feel like I have to be the lifegaurd. 
I don't get to go experience the water in a way that I long to.
So selfish, isn't it?
Yep.
I'm going to have to change my attitude.
This season we will hopefully be able to visit the pool more often.
And maybe the boys will get more comfortable with it.
If I show how fun it is, they'll hopefully like it too.

{Sigh}
This being a grown up thing is kinda tough sometimes.