What We've Been Eating...

Tuscan Tuna and Bean Sandwiches - I already have a tuna melt recipe everybody loves but I found this recipe because I was looking to use up a can of beans I had opened. I pureed the white beans instead of mashing them and I don't think we would have enjoyed these as much without it (also, left out the olives and watercress). Everyone liked them!



Cheesy Tex-Mex Rice - I made a few changes to the recipe but it's hard to go wrong when the first word in a recipe is "cheesy." Sooo good!




Marshmallow Banana Bread - It was Owen's idea to add marshmallows to our banana bread! They ended up melting into the batter so you couldn't see them but it did taste good!




Best homemade cake ever! - This will probably be the cake we make from now on when birthdays roll around! Super easy and soooo good.




A slice!




Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes for Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day



Soccer Season!

We have internet again so I'll be able to post to the blog! Yay! Owen's soccer season started a few weeks ago and I never got around to posting pictures. All three weeks have been chilly and rainy but Owen doesn't really seem to notice, he's enjoying it just as much as he does when the weather is nice. It's a lot of fun to watch especially since he's moved up an age group and is now one of the younger kids! They all seem to travel in a pack but Owen is pretty good about getting the ball to the goal:) Here he is in action...






Dangerous feats were being performed on the sidelines!



Quinoa Bites

I made this recipe by combining a little of this recipe and a little of this recipe and what I had and what I thought the kids would be willing to eat. I thought these were really good and Pat enjoyed them too but the kids said they did not like them (Owen ate all of his though so can we really trust what he says...?).  

They look like tater tots. They are not anything like tater tots.

Ingredients: (I sort of just threw stuff in so this is my best guess!)

• About 1 cup of cooked quinoa
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 2/3 cup shredded cheese
• 1-2 Tbsp parmesan
• 1/4 cup onion

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Spray mini muffin pan with non-stick spray and put about 1 tablespoon of mixture into each cup.Bake 15 -20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing.

Smiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiile!

An accidental experiment in what happens when Paige tries to hold a pose. (I did not ask her to pose like this...she was copying Owen)

The Napper

Books!

This happens so often that I only recently thought to document it. They don't ask or make any sort of announcement but if we pass books while we're shopping the kids will just sit down and start reading. I think it's awesome so I don't say much and It's only really a problem when someone wants to get through with a cart!

Smile!

I took the kids to get some pictures taken right before Paige's birthday and these were the results! Once the photographer figured out that trying to tickle Paige was only scaring her the smiles came much easier.

History Repeats

I've posted a few times about taking the kids to the history museum (like here, here and here) but as the kids get older and the exhibits change, every visit is different. We tried a planetarium show and both kids were enthralled. Also, Owen now asks questions about stuff that he never would have noticed before and Paige doesn't spend the visit viewing everything from a stroller (although on this specific visit she was trying to view everything from my arms...).  



Very interesting...



We even had time for a tantrum!



...and a snack!




Pat- "Listen! The turkey is talking to me!"




This deer was listening to a boombox and Owen wanted a picture with it.




Posing with a bunny




We saw this car as we were heading home!



Easter!

 Our Easter was filled with lots of sugar which I think we're still recovering from today...but also lots of family which was really fun. The kids found their baskets in the morning and then we went to see our families and have a tasty meal together. The kids hunted for eggs and were rewarded with more candy. I'm pretty sure this might be their new favorite holiday:)

Party Elements

Here are some of the decorations and food that made up Paige's daisy party! I forgot to get a picture of any food besides the desserts but there were a couple things we made that we hadn't served at a party before (Broccoli, Grape, Pasta Salad and Texas Caviar) and they were really good!

I made Paige a daisy birthday banner and Pat and I also assembled some hanging flower ornaments.



Daisy chains!




Desserts!




Ruby and Owen starting on their sticker sheets.




The kid's party favors were: a chocolate-covered Oreo, a bug finger puppet and a kit to grow your own daisies. 



Paige's Party!

 I already mentioned that Paige was sick on her actual birthday but at her party is where we found out something was wrong. She woke up pretty normally and just deteriorated the rest of the day. I don't think she had more fun than the other kids at the party but there were some highlights (cupcake!).

Next post: party decorations and food!



Biggest smile all day! This was in the morning before the party started.



We were all laughing because Paige blew out her candles before we finished singing! I think we were expecting to have to blow them out for her but she was all business about it!




Eating cupcake with a little help from Uncle Alex.



Taboo!

Two!

Paige turned two on Monday! She spent half of her birthday at the doctor's office where we found out she had been suffering from ear infections (and then went back the next day to find out she also had roseola...). We took her to the playground to play before dinner but I'm pretty sure her favorite part of the day was her cupcake. Every time she took a bite she would say "one more!" before she took her next bite. Happy Birthday Paige!   



Paige has been spending a lot of time like this lately




Owen was super excited that Pat came home early




Cupcake!




Paige liked all of her presents and kept shouting excitedly, "open this!"