Muffin Tin Wonders

I was inspired by the recent issue of Everyday Food. 

They had a section on non-muffin uses for muffin cups.

I'm not sure why I liked it so much...but why not?

Here is the line up:

Bacon-Egg-Toast Cups

My toast got a bit crunchy, but they were good. Despite the appearance the yolk is not runny.

 The kids struggled a little, but it was our first muffin tin wonder.

Maybe if they were sprinkled with some cheese...

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas 

(aka Pizza Muffins)

 

These were delicious! A perfect serving size for the kids.

They don't use sauce, just pieces of tomato...mmm!!!

Perhaps next time I'll roll the dough a little thinner to fit more toppings in.

 Sugared Tortilla Fruit Cup Thingys

These were very yummy. I lightly sprayed tortillas with olive oil, sprinkled on a bit of sugar (both sides) and pressed into muffin cups. Bake, fill with yogurt and top with berries! The kids loved them, but they were pretty messy (maybe if I would have offered spoons...). 

I bet with out the sugar they would made great mini ensalada bowls!

Three Years Ago...Feels Like Yesterday

I just found these and thought I'd share them, considering the last post.

Cousins: Inseperable

Abigail's FAVORITE cousin was here to visit! They talked, swam, squabbled, and had fun.

Intertubing on the lake...

(Oh, please hold on tight!!!!!)

Elijah and Daddy's turn!

The big cousins swam...

...while those not as fond of the water bounced. (Auntie Laura couldn't resist joining in!)

Abigail was sad to say goodbye...but I'm sure the next time they are together, it will be as if no time has passed.

Aint It Great To Be 28!

Yesterday was the day. The grumpies threatened to invade a few times...but they were held at bay. I enjoyed a morning bubble bath while my mom and Abigail made the cake...and the boys leaned over and played with the bubbles. Thank you Lord for the blessing of my children. Abigail went through quite a bit to make my day special. Here are some highlights:

Birthday Hair

Birthday Manicure...

...and Pedicure

Birthday Cards 

Birthday Cake

Birthday Dinner

Birthday Dress

Made by Abigail and Grammy - I love it!

Shoes

Being a mom of several pairs of feet, we have more than several pairs of shoes around our house. This is a picture of the shoe basket in our laundry room. This is where the shoes should be. Somehow they have this habit of jumping out of the basket when my back is turned. But if I stop to ponder on these many sets of shoes, I realize how thankful I am for them. Well, for the precious little toes that they represent. Tennis shoes for running fast and peddling faster. Sandals for skipping through the sprinkler. 'Handsome' shoes and pretty sparkly shoes. Rain boots. God bless the rain boots. The shoe for any occasion- specializing in puddle stomping and garden working, a real workhorse of a shoe. Even a two year old can put these on by them self. These shoes are telling stories of life, reminding me to listen carefully and to thank God for these evidences of life.

A challenge for you:
The next time you trip over a stray shoe, pray over the little foot that belongs in it. If the shoes you are picking up after are mens size, pray for the large responsibility that rests on those feet. When you are folding laundry and find socks with out their mates, thank God for the blessing of loved ones to fold laundry for.




My perspective of these shoes has been challenged through a book I'm reading. The Bathtub is Overflowing but I feel Drained: How to defeat Mommy stress by Lysa TerKeurst. A great book that I would recommend to every Mommy.

Hair today, gone tommorrow

Well, Samuel did get his pig tails cut off. He looks much older and his head isn't quite so round looking. Poor little guy has been sick almost consistently for the past two months now. As you can see from the picture he is not quite himself yet.

To continue with the trend, Abigail decided she wanted to cut her hair to her shoulders. Like Lucy in Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. (Her latest craze) She briefly considered changing her name. I tried to discourage her - 'we won't be able to tell you and Grammy's dog apart!'

Being a girl of action she has finally completed her flower garden in the middle of the front yard. There was a dead patch (it didn't even have dead grass in it) and she wanted to beautify it. She created the border weeks ago, but we finally got flowers in it.

And lastly on our list of exciting happenings... the have had their first experience of the 'ice cream truck'. I have to give you a brief history.
Living in Tacoma, we hear/see the ice cream truck a lot. Not wanting to give a reason for any whining or begging, I was very adamant about always calling it the 'music truck'. "Yeah! There goes the music truck!" Well sometime around when Abigail was 4 1/2 she turned to me and exclaimed "mom, did you know they have ice cream in those trucks?"  REALLY?!? Well, this summer I told them if we ever were out when the ice cream truck went by, and it was a good time, and we had money, we could get ice cream. It has taken us 2 months to catch the ice cream truck. Truly. His usual time to come by it 8pm. Nice huh? But, if we happen to be in the yard and hear him approaching, the kids would book it to the front yard in time to see him speed past. But finally, yesterday, though it was raining, we happened to be near enough to the front yard and Abigail flagged him down. It was only 4:30 too! Sweet victory.

I Need Your Opinion

Because my most loyal readers are related to my husband...what is you opinion of Chris with facial hair?

This one doesn't really look like him...I think it is because of the shower curtain. 

 

And boy! Elijah has the same really big eyes as his daddy! (with a bit more dirt and raspberry juice)