Family Adventures

God Parents are the Best

2011-05-11T18:09:00.000-06:00

Spring Fun!

2011-04-24T17:57:00.000-06:00

Emma's Song

2011-03-12T14:42:00.001-06:00

Sort of...
Of course all the buttons on the computer are more fascinating ...
Can't expect much she isn't even one!

Dreaming of Summer

2011-02-19T14:44:00.000-06:00

It's sunny here in Michigan. So sunny in fact, you have to head to the beach. Be sure to park with the sun pouring in and turn up the heat...close your eyes and relax at the beach. Or if you are Aiden and Eli hit the sand for a couple hours of fun!

Conversations

2011-02-04T16:59:00.000-06:00

Eli: Mama, I need a cereal box for school.

Aiden: Why?

Eli: We are making a diorama.

Aiden: What's that?

Eli: It's like a habitat or something.

**********************************************

Aiden: Mama, when will Eli color all the white in his picture?

Mama: When he feels like it.

Aiden: Well, real people color all the white!

Snow Day Fun

2011-02-02T12:22:00.000-06:00

Too pooped to party

2011-01-25T18:27:00.000-06:00

Who knew eating was so much work...

i pad fun

2011-01-18T16:29:00.000-06:00

It's so simple everyone can play!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-12T15:55:00.001-06:00

Make a free ecard

A First...

2010-11-20T20:44:00.000-06:00

I know this picture doesn't look like much, but it is HUGE!! Aiden is so excited to be leaving to visit family for the holidays he made a list of everything he and his brother should bring. He did this independently. My little guy who hates to write and spell and try anything that seems new or hard is growing up!

Here is a translation

Aiden                             Eli
giraffe                            cat
leapster                          pin wheel
pants                              leepster
shirt                               pants
socks                             shirt
underwear                     socks
ipad                               underwear
                                      slippers
                                      ipad
                                      Ook and Gluck
                                      juice (with a circle means Aiden too)
                                      snacks

Back Seat Conversations

2010-11-20T12:39:00.000-06:00

Aiden: What's a grave yard? (as we drive past a cemetary)
Mommy: What do you think?
Eli: It's where you go to dig to get things in a museum.
Mommy: Usually people don't dig up the dead people once they are in the cemetary. It is disrespectful to disturb dead people.
Eli: That's silly mommy. You can dig there. You can't disturb dead people. They are already dead!

A Fun Halloween Weekend

2010-10-31T13:39:00.000-06:00

We made it through Soccer Season!

2010-10-25T06:35:00.001-06:00

Season 1 under our belts...ughhhhhh Practice 2 nights a week is a lot!

Emma's Talking

2010-10-24T16:52:00.001-06:00

Fall Leaves

2010-10-16T16:16:00.002-06:00

Top: Emma October 2010

Bottom: Aiden October 2004

Who can resist a baby in leaves?

Apple Picking Fun!!

2010-10-09T17:22:00.001-06:00

3 kids...1 adult...and acres and acres of apples. We were out for over an hour but only managed to come home with a dozen apples.

This is not MY child...

2010-10-09T04:53:00.000-06:00

Eli (yelling at Aiden's soccer game): Kick him in the head!

Mommy: To the car NOW!

Eli: I just want Aiden to get the ball...

**********************************************************************

Eli: Can I play the game where I bash the baby chicks pull their feathers off and kill them?

Mommy: WHAT??????

Daddy: He wants to play the cooking game on the Wii with Ratatouille. You use a spoon to hit the chicken before they end up in the pot.

Mommy: Maybe we should be vegetarians..

Fun fall pics

2010-10-04T13:55:00.000-06:00

Aiden's adventures with Soccer

2010-09-21T16:14:00.001-06:00

Between somersaults on the field and rolling on the ground, I think he is actually learning a few skills.

Emma is 4 months old!!

2010-09-21T16:04:00.000-06:00

My how fast time flies...

Conversations With A 4-Year-Old

2010-09-16T03:54:00.000-06:00

Eli: Mommy, it's a good thing our lips aren't sticky.
Mommy: Why?
Eli: Because we would talk like this mmm mmmm mmmm mmmmm

****************************************************************************

Eli: Look Mommy those cows are praying!
Mommy: What?
Eli: Those cows are in a circle praying.
Mommy: What are they praying about?
Eli: They are talking to God about God's love.

Great Great Grandma Towsend

2010-09-07T18:08:00.000-06:00

Grandma Jodie decided at the last minute on her 10th birthday that she wanted a doll. For a while she had been saying she was too big for dolls, but at the last minute that was what she wanted. Her Grandmother made these beautiful clothes by hand for her special day.

And now Grandma is sharing them with Emma!

Emma plays dress up

2010-08-28T08:09:00.000-06:00

Look, Emma's a pirate!

Look, Emma's from Star Wars!

Who knew...All you need to dress up is a headband and some crazy brothers!

The Hives are Gone!

2010-08-28T06:54:00.000-06:00

I'm packing away the oatmeal and the benadryl! The hives are on their way out. Hopefully to never return. Poor Aiden has been itching for almost a week. The doctor said it was an allergic reaction to something (isn't that helpful?), and we just have to wait it out.

Conversations with a 4-year-old

2010-08-28T06:40:00.002-06:00

Eli: Mama, what's a predator of a deer?
Mommy: Think about it. What do you think?
Eli: A car?
Mommy: Huh?
Eli: Cars kill deer.
Mommy: Well, I guess. What else?
Eli: A truck.
Mommy: What's something that kills a deer to eat it?
Eli: A hunter?
Mommy: We sure are urban kids. We will work on this one.

Emma 11 weeks

2010-08-07T07:47:00.000-06:00

Ae are enjoying every minute with Emma. She is doing very well. Still a very easy going baby. Loves her brothers and musical toys. A fantastic sleeper. Who could ask for more?

Wonderfully Wet Wednesdays at the Park

2010-08-04T17:33:00.000-06:00

Today we decided to check out Pier Cove. The only direction to the boys: Do not get wet...

On a windy cool day like this who would want to get wet...

My boys of course...

With the water temperature in the 70's who could resist??

Concert at the Park

2010-07-22T11:31:00.001-06:00

Wednesday Night Concerts at Wicks Park. Everyone had a good time listening to Funktion. Someone likes to boogie!

Wonderful Wednesdays in the park

2010-07-21T09:35:00.000-06:00

Wolters Woods Park

Every Monday Matters

2010-07-20T09:17:00.000-06:00

How can we show God’s amazing love in simple ways? How can we teach our children about serving others? With young children, especially preschoolers, this can be challenging. So every Monday, we have decided to rise to the challenge and Make Monday Matter and find a way to show God’s love in our community.

Once, someone asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told this story. "Once upon a time, a man got mugged. They beat him up, took his money, and left him bleeding. A little while later, a preacher walked by, but didn't stop to help. Then a judge walked by, but didn't stop to help. Finally, I no good nobody walked by. That one stopped, did some quick first aid, took him to the hospital, and left some money to pay the bill. Then, this no-good nobody even checked back later to make sure the man was ok." Which of these three was a neighbor to the man? Today, we're going to be good neighbors by giving away cold lemonade on a hot day because real neighbors find a way to help.

Emma's Baptism

2010-07-20T04:54:00.001-06:00

Someone is a good sport

2010-07-14T11:39:00.001-06:00

Disclaimer...Rebel Fighters are not allowed to land inside a pacifier!

Play Time

2010-07-10T08:31:00.000-06:00

How quickly their interests change...
From complete occupation with ceiling fans and bouncy seats to video games
It goes way to fast!

Pockets!

2010-07-08T13:42:00.001-06:00

Boys swim trunks have pockets! Someone should have told me. Girls swim suits do not have pockets. Why would someone need pockets in a garment that is meant to get wet? Everything in the pocket would get wet. I now know their purpose...to fill up with pebbles from the beach. My bathroom, bath tub, washing machine, dryer, and laundry room are covered in pebbles. I had no idea how butt cheeks could hold so many rocks. I didn't have my revelation until I pulled the trunks out of the dryer and couldn't figure out why they were so heavy. After trying to wring out the water, I discovered half a pocket still full of pebbles.

We now have a new rule in our house...All pockets must be empty BEFORE leaving the beach.

Someone found a tasty summer treat

2010-06-30T12:47:00.000-06:00

Wonderful Wednesdays in the park

2010-06-30T12:44:00.000-06:00

Hoogland Park
Zeeland, MI

A fun park right off the highway with bigger equipment so the older kids still have fun!

Look who is 6 weeks old!

2010-06-28T15:57:00.000-06:00

More Fun at Oval Beach

2010-06-27T18:53:00.001-06:00

Next time we will bring swimsuits...

What have we been up to?

2010-06-25T16:01:00.001-06:00

Emma's Roadtrip

2010-06-25T08:12:00.000-06:00

Every Monday Matters

2010-06-22T13:14:00.000-06:00

It's hard for us to know what God is like, since we can't see our touch him. The Bible gives us word pictures that help us understand. In one of those word pictures, the Bible says God is light. We know light. It makes us happy. It helps us see others and the world and ourselves. It helps us find our way. Today, we're going to make sun-catchers to share with our friends. That way, whenever they look at it, they will see the beautiful light and know a little more about God.

Look who is 1 month old!

2010-06-19T07:51:00.000-06:00

3 days

4 weeks

Oh how fast you grow!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-19T07:20:00.000-06:00

To the best Daddy...

Every Monday Matters

2010-06-09T05:09:00.001-06:00

From the very oldest of days, people would climb mountains. Not only to see what they could see, but to be closer to God. Today, we had a clean up project on our very own Mountain. 282 steps up the side of a sand dune results in beautiful views of the town of Saugatuck, the Kalamazoo river, and Lake Michigan. For our lesson, we learned that God wants people, no matter who they are to worship in spirit and truth.

Never too young

2010-06-02T16:13:00.000-06:00

One is never to young to start learning about cars, trucks, trains and airplanes...

Look what I walked in on...

Every Monday Matters

2010-05-31T17:53:00.000-06:00

Today, we organized a bottle water give-away during our local Memorial Day parade. We began our day with a short scripture lesson focusing on to serve others is to serve God. Matthew 25: 34-40.

Today was very hot and humid and there were many people who were appreciative of a cold bottle of water. The kids did a fantastic job showing God's love. Thank you to all the adults who helped make this day possible by donating water as well as their time to assist the kids.

Mama's Girl

2010-05-27T16:54:00.000-06:00

Emma loves the shower! She almost feel asleep. A girl after my own heart.

Nice and warm and snug after her shower...

Wonderful Wednesdays...

2010-05-26T13:20:00.000-06:00

at the park in downtown Saugatuck. Look who made her first appearance...

Every Monday Matters

2010-05-25T16:30:00.000-06:00

Today we went to Grace of Douglas, a local nursing home, and read stories to the residents as our way of showing God's love. Our afternoon began with a discussion about differences and acceptance. Everyone brought a familiar book and we spent some time sharing books we enjoyed with others.

This was a very challenging experience for our young crew. Even though it was a little scary to be in a new situation surrounded by people and medical equiptment they were unfamiliar with, they were still able to show God's love!

Way to go guys!

Every Monday Matters

2010-05-25T16:15:00.000-06:00

Today we gave new life to an old butterfly garden. Everyone worked hard removing brush and weeds and planting new flowers so the butterflies will have a place to stop and rest.

Our project began with a scripture reading from second Corinthians 5:17. We then talked with some master gardeners about the importance of the flowers and how weeds and brush prevent the flowers from growing. We learned about the plants that butterflies like and were even able to plant some new plants. Thank you everyone for all your help!!

Look who is 1 week old today!

2010-05-25T13:18:00.002-06:00

Big Brothers

2010-05-21T17:49:00.001-06:00

The job of a big brother is never done...

Introducing

2010-05-20T19:54:00.000-06:00

Emmalin Marie

7 lbs, 2 oz 19 inches long.

Welcome to the world!!!

Every Monday Matters

2010-05-10T16:47:00.002-06:00

Today, we let the kids choose an activity. They were given the phrase "how can we show God's love to moms." They decided that moms do a lot of cooking so a practical way to show God's love would be to make dinner for some lovely families in the community.

Our project began with a the story of Jesus feeding five thousand from John 6: 1-15. We talked about the boy who had only a couple of fish and how no one knew how to feed so many people with so little food. But, if we share what we have, even if it is just a little, God can make big things happen.

We were able to work together to create a delicious taco dinner for several families in our community. Thank you everyone for all your help!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T14:44:00.002-06:00

Gluten-free Dairy -free Mother's Day Cinnamon Roll Surprise

2010-05-08T08:17:00.000-06:00

Sunday morning brunch just isn't the same without a sweet gooey treat. Something that you can sink your teeth into, close your eyes, and smile (everything is good in the world just for the moment). We have tried several varieties of cinnamon rolls on various special occasions through out the year and have decided this is the winner hands down. No longer do we have to choke down the expensive store bought frozen rolls and smile just because you feel obligated to because you know how much they cost. This easy quick recipe takes 30 min from start to finish and is worth every minute!

Ingredients:
2 TB butter (Earth Balance Buttery Sticks)
1/4 c. sugar
1/3-1/2 c. warm dairy free milk (start with 1/3 then add more if needed)
1 egg
1/4 c. oil
1 tsp g/f vanilla
1 TB instant yeast
1/2 c. sorghum flour
1 c. corn starch
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 tsp xantham gum
2 tsp g/f baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Filling:
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Glaze:
3/4 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla rice milk (or add a couple drops of vanilla to any dairy free milk)

Using a mixer beat the butter until fluffy. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs, oil and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to the wet mixture. Slowly add dairy free milk until dough consistency is achieved. Beat on high for 2-3 minutes.

Lay out a piece of plastic wrap (approx 15 inches) and spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 1 TB sugar. Lay the dough on this and cover with another piece of plastic wrap (approx 15 inches) also sprayed with cooking spray. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough (approximately a 13 inches).

Lift the top piece of plastic wrap off and sprinkle the filling on the dough. Gently lift one edge of the plastic wrap so the dough begins to roll. Once it is started, the dough will roll on it's own with a gentle lift of the plastic wrap.

Spray a sharp knife with cooking spray to prevent sticking and cut the roll into 8 pieces and carefully place them in a glass pie dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cook at 375 for 20 minutes.

Combine the glaze ingredients and drizzle over rolls before serving.

**I would have added a picture, but they were gone before I could get my camera.

Wonderful Wednesdays...

2010-05-05T17:44:00.001-06:00

At the parade!

Special Edition: Make May Day Matter

2010-05-01T13:15:00.001-06:00

How can we show God’s amazing love in simple ways? How can we teach our children about serving others? With young children, especially preschoolers, this can be challenging. So this May Day, we have decided to rise to the challenge and Make May Day Matter.

Just as Jesus willingly and freely served others, we served those in our community by showing God's love in a simple May basket give away. A BIG thank you to everyone who helped assemble baskets, donated flowers, and helped with the give away.

Wonderful Wednesdays

2010-04-28T14:53:00.001-06:00

Another Wonderful Wednesday at the Park. Today we stayed close to home, and checked out Berry Field in downtown Douglas. Although this is a small park, the fast slide can provide hours of entertainment.

Important Anoucement

2010-04-28T11:50:00.001-06:00

Wonderful Wednesdays has been preempted by the following anoucement:

Eli has learned to ride a two wheeler!

Stay tuned for your regularly scheduled blog post...

Gluten-free Dairy-free Thin Mint Cookies

2010-04-27T06:52:00.001-06:00

It's Girl Scout Cookie time again. Every where you look you see boxes of glutenated goodness just calling out to you. Eat me, eat me... Well, I am sure it isn't that bad for most people, but I sure do love frozen thin mint cookies, and would always look forward to stashing a few boxes away in the freezer to enjoy.

Your world just isn't complete if you have never tried these tasty, unhealthy snacks. So, although this recipe is not a perfect substitute for chocolate peppermint bliss, it does come pretty close. Especially if frozen to give it an added crunch.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter ( I use Earth Balance buttery sticks)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (g/f)
1 cup cocoa powder
1 egg white
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups gluten free flour mixture (the mix I use can be found here)
1 lb semi sweet chocolate (g/f)
1 tsp peppermint extract

Preheat oven to 350 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream butter for at least 2 min until light and fluffy, add powdered sugar and cream again for 2 min or light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla, cocoa powder, egg white, salt, and mix well. Slowly add in the flour and mix until combined. Do not over mix.

Place the batter on a floured work surface and form into a ball. Place in a plastic bag and squish until 1 inch thick. Place in freezer for 20 min to chill.

Remove the dough and roll it out approximately 1/16 thick (not to thin or it will crumble). I rolled the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Using a small circle cookie cutter (approx 1 1/2 inches) or other circular object (small cup, small vase, etc...) cut out the cookies and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 min then completely cool on a wire rack.

Slowly melt the chocolate and whisk in the peppermint extract. Add only a few drops at a time and taste as you go to achieve the right mixture. Lower the cookies one at a time int the chocolate and turn with a fork. Gently place on parchment covered cookie sheet and place cookies in freezer to set.

Every Monday Matters

2010-04-27T06:22:00.000-06:00

Today we headed off to Oval beach for a clean-up project. We discussed the creation story and how God created the world out of chaos and created something beautiful. However, we need to take care of God's beautiful creations and not let them return to a state of chaos. We talked about showing God's love today by picking up trash along the beach. We had our best turn out yet! Thank you everyone for all your hard work.

Gluten-free Dairy-free Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

2010-04-22T04:57:00.002-06:00

Every once in awhile I get a craving for Chinese food. So many of the restaurants use gluten in the breading or sauce, that it make sit very difficult to run out and pick up something tasty. So, the other day, I searched the internet for a recipe that would work.

I can not say that I found one that met all the food criteria, but I can say that I was inspired to create a dish that the entire family approved of:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
To Cover Chicken:

1 large egg white
1 tablespoon tapioca starch
1/4 teaspoon salt

Sauce:

3 tablespoons gluten-free tamari sauce
A dash of salt (I use the low sodium tamari, but get complaints from the non GF individuals that it requires more flavor)
1 tablespoon water

Vegetables:

1 pound broccoli (steamed)
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar, or to taste

Thickener:

1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water

Other:

Garlic powder-season to taste
Oil for frying chicken

Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken breasts so they are approximately 1/2 inch thick then cut into cubes. Cover the chicken with the egg, tapioca starch and salt mixture and set aside in refrigerator for 30 min.

Steam Broccoli

Fry chicken in a thin coating of oil until outside is white. Discard most of the oil (leave a little to prevent sticking) and add broccoli and sugar. Add tamari, dash of salt and 1 TB water. Stir until combined. Add garlic and season to taste. Add cornstarch/ water mixture and stir on low until mixture begins to thicken. Serve over your favorite rice.

Wonderful Wednesdays

2010-04-21T13:30:00.001-06:00

Today was a beautiful day. We decided to explore Kollen Park near Lake Macatawa in Holland. Although it was a little cool with the breezes off the lake, everyone had a great time.

Every Monday Matters

2010-04-20T06:26:00.003-06:00

How can we show God’s amazing love in simple ways?

How can we teach our children about serving others?

With young children, especially preschoolers, this can be challenging. So every Monday, we have decided to rise to the challenge and Make Monday Matter and find a way to show God’s love in our community.

Today our group met at church. Pastor Rob told us a story about a time when Jesus served others by washing their feet. We talked about how this wasn't a fun job or an easy job, but it was a way to show God's love to others.

We then talked about serving others. Preschoolers have a self centered view of the world. So, we capitalized on that today. They see candy as a special treat. Something they get every once in a while and something of value. So, we decided to give this away. Today we went downtown and gave away blow pops.

Before we left we talked about different things we could say to people when we offer the blow pops, and how to react if someone says yes or no.

We learned that at first it was scary to talk to strangers, but as we went along we even enjoyed telling people to have a good day if they did not want a blow pop. This was our simple way of showing God's love.

Wonderful Wednesdays

2010-04-15T04:15:00.001-06:00

What to do, what to do on a bight sunny 80 degree day....Go to the park of course!

Or have a water gun fight with Uncle Keegan!!

Every Monday Matters

2010-04-12T15:30:00.001-06:00

How can our family make a difference in our community? How can we teach our children about doing things for others? With young children, especially preschoolers, this can be challenging. So every Monday, we have decided to rise to the challenge and Make Monday Matter

Hurray for the red, white, and blue...Today, our Sunday school group meet at our house to make cards for church members currently serving in the military to thank them for their time and dedication to our country. They are prayed for daily and loved eternally.

Today was our biggest turn out yet. Thank you everyone for a wonderful afternoon of service and fellowship.

We're Going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo!

2010-04-09T17:31:00.003-06:00

It's been awhile since we have been to the zoo, but to celebrate the last day of spring break we headed out to Grand Rapids to the John Ball Zoo. Although this zoo is small, the kids found lots of interesting animals. They were able to touch a star fish and pet a snake, and had awesome views of chimpanzees and lions.

Guess who came for a visit...

2010-04-07T17:21:00.000-06:00

Actually quite a few people have been by recently for a visit...Laura and Kelsey, Gramps, and Lynn, Grandma Jodie, and even Uncle Kevin. We have gone shopping in the cute shops downtown, eatten some wonderful chocolate candy, discussed yard work, attended an Easter parade, gone on an Easter egg hunt...and much much more...

Grandma Jodie was the only one through to get a photo...

Thank you everyone for coming to visit!

Wonderful Wednesdays

2010-04-07T17:17:00.000-06:00

~~Wonderful Wednesdays~~ Wet and Wacky Wednesdays at the Bowling alley...

Well, it has been raining here for a couple days and the boys are in desperate need of some type of spring break fun. The park is obviously out for today, so we went bowling with friends instead. A Wonderfully wacky Wednesday for sure!

Every Monday Matters

2010-04-05T15:39:00.002-06:00

How can our family make a difference in our community? How can we teach our children about doing things for others? What are some simple ways to show God's love? With young children, especially preschoolers, this can be challenging. So every Monday, we have decided to rise to the challenge and Make Monday Matter.

Today we went to the Grace of Douglas, a local nursing home. With the spring-like weather, we wanted to bring something bright and cheery to give away. So, we made some bright spring flowers using coffee filters, pipe cleaners, markers, and a squirt bottle. A fun and easy task for young children. Directions can be found here. We added a leaf to the flower that contained the name of our church as well as the phrase "This is our simple way of showing God's love." The boys enjoyed greeting the residents and sharing their flowers.

He is Risen

2010-04-04T16:46:00.001-06:00

Easter fun

Quote of the Day

Eli: Do you think the Easter Bunny stole this toy from Liam to give it to me?
Mommy: I don't think the Easter bunny steals things.
Eli: It depends on the kind of Easter bunny he is.

Spring Yard Clean Up

2010-04-02T15:03:00.001-06:00

May Last until Fall...
But the boys are trying hard to conquer the huge amount of leaves!

Easy Gluten-free Dairy-free Strawberry Shortcake

2010-04-02T14:29:00.001-06:00

As the warm weather is here, so is our craving for sweet summer treats. Living in Michigan, this is only a taste of summer and we probably have another snow storm on the way, so we have to capitalize on the warm weather while we can.

At the grocery store the other day there was a special on strawberries. A box for 1 dollar. Totally awesome for some little munchkins in my house that think strawberries are their own food group. So I piled them up. We froze some, ate a ton, and then I had a craving for strawberry shortcake. But at the same time I was incredibly lazy and didn't want to put in a lot of effort to cook something. So this is what we did:

Preheat over to 375 and grease 12 muffin tins

Ingredients:
1/2/ cup butter (We use Earth Balance Buttery Sticks)
1 cup powdered Sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp gluten free vanilla
1 cup corn starch
1 1/4 tsp gluten free baking powder

Cream butter and sugar in a mixer. Add eggs and vanilla one at a time and beat till fluffy (I added all the eggs at once and just beat it for awhile it never got fluffy). Slowly add corn starch and baking powder and mix until combined. Fill tins 1/2 full and bake 15 min. Remove from pan immediately to cool. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Best remark: Daddy-"This doesn't even taste gluten-free"

Now that has to be good!

Another day...Another Beach

2010-04-01T14:57:00.000-06:00

We are loving Michigan! Today we went to check out Oval beach. A very short walk from the parking lot to the lake. Sunny, warm and 74 degrees!

Wonderful Wednesdays

2010-03-31T13:06:00.000-06:00

Today we decided to check ut Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Little did I know it would be a 2.5 mile hike!
But who can complain with 2 hours to play at the beach in March!

Gluten-free Dairy Free Snickerdoodles

2010-03-29T18:46:00.000-06:00

I am always on the hunt for new recipes. I find myself making the same thing over and over out of habit. It's easy, I know the kids will like it, and I get lazy. Well, this past weekend, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and the boys and I made some new cookies.

I have been secretly lurking on the Gluten Free Homemakers blog for some time now, with my mouth watering with some of her recipes. So, this weekend, we tried the Snickerdoodle cookies. I am a huge fan of chocolate, so this cookie does not rank at the top, but it was a light moist sweet treat that I will for sure make again.

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened(I use Earth Balance Buttery Sticks-dairy and gluten free and in my opinion are great for baking)
3/4 c. sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. white rice flour
1/2 c. potato starch
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum

In a separate dish combine:

2 Tb. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Cream the butter and sugar in the mixer. Add egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Combine the dry ingredients and add to mixing bowl and combine until moist. Then beat on medium for 30 sec. The dough will be very sticky. Use a spoon and form small balls and roll in the cinnamon and sugar. Place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Every Monday Matters

2010-03-29T18:30:00.001-06:00

How can our family make a difference in our community? How can we teach our children about doing things for others? What are some simple ways to show God's love? With young children, especially preschoolers, this can be challenging. So every Monday, we have decided to rise to the challenge and Make Monday Matter.

Today we did some yard work at church. With Easter Sunday right around the corner, we thought it would be a simple way to show God's love by raking and getting rid of the old brush and leaves from the front of the church so it would be warm and welcoming Sunday morning. A big thank you to everyone who helped!

Aidenisms

2010-03-27T16:28:00.003-06:00

Aiden: Mommy?
Mommy: Yes Aiden?
Aiden: I can't sleep.
Mommy: Why?
Aiden: Eli is snoring louder than a monster growling.

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Aiden playing at the downtown park with some older kids playing on an old cannon
Aiden: This cannon is real.
Older boy: No it isn't.
Aiden: Yes it is! I've seen it. It is from like the 1950's.

Every Monday Matters

2010-03-22T16:42:00.000-06:00

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Sandwich Bread

2010-03-22T07:31:00.001-06:00

I am not a fan of gluten free bread. I miss the melt in your mouth texture of white bread. The airy, chewy feeling that makes you go ahhhh. Not that white bread is healthy or anything...It's just what I miss. So knowing that nothing quite compares to real bread, there are occasional times when I crave a piece of toast or a yummy grilled sandwich...so here is the best recipe we have found so far....

**Warning this bread is best straight out of the bread machine or toasted or grilled. **

1 1/8 cup garbanzo bean flour
1 cup corn starch
1 cup +1 TB tapioca flour
3 1/2 tsp xanthum gum
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 TB brown sugar
1/4 tsp creme of tartar
3 eggs lightly beaten
1 1/8 cup warm water
3 TB vegetable oil
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

We use a bread machine, but it can be mixed in a mixer with a paddle and set aside to rise 45-60 min covered in plastic wrap and then baked at 375 for 35-40 min

Bread Machine
combine dry ingredients (except yeast) and set aside). Combine wet ingredients and add to bread pan. Spoon on dry ingredients and make a little hole in the top for the yeast. Place pan in bread machine and use the whole wheat bread setting (This allows for 2 kneadings) and medium crust. Check to make sure the internal temperature is 205-210 when done (if not add more time). Place the bread on a wire rack to cool.

What to do??

2010-03-19T17:44:00.001-06:00

What to do while your brother is at school...

Turn yourself PINK of course!!

St. Patrick's Day 2010

2010-03-18T14:16:00.002-06:00

A Mischievous leprechaun, green pancakes, a sunny day, rocks, and a huge lake...what could be better!

Every Monday Matters

2010-03-15T14:02:00.001-06:00

A huge Thank You to Michelle at VS Flowers and Treasures for her help with the carnations and making Every Monday Matter!

http://www.douglasmichigan.com/vsflowers.html

Is it Spring?

2010-03-11T08:30:00.001-06:00

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Mini Apple Muffins

2010-03-09T14:16:00.001-06:00

It has been my experience that good things come in small packages. This in my opinion also refers to gluten free breads. We have struggled to find recipes that we not too dry, too hard, too heavy, too gritty...and the list goes on and on.

I tried this recipe with traditional size muffin tins and found too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing, so I would highly suggested the mini muffin version, but you can try it for yourself if you must.

Mix:
1 cup shredded apple
1 cup sugar (or 2/3 cup agave)
1 1/2 cup gluten free flour mix **
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp gluten free baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 egg (or 1 1/2 tsp Egg Replacer +2 TB water)*mix first then add
1/4 tsp finely shredded orange or lemon peel
2 TB applesauce (if using agave use 1 TB applesauce)

Mix ingredients together and bake at 350 for 20 min
(bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes if using agave)

For baking I use the following gluten free flour mixture and store in an air tight container:
2 cups white rice flour
2 cups potato starch
2 cups cornstarch
1 cup corn flour
1 cup tapioca flour
8 tsp xanthan gum

gluten free flour recipe adapted from Nearly Normal Cooking for Gluten-Free Eating

Or you can order the flour premixed from Jules Shepard

Week 1

2010-03-08T17:21:00.001-06:00

This week, after talking with the boys, we decided to bake cookies and make Thank you letters for all the people that work at the church to thank them for all their hard work. The boys had fun and the staff really appreciated it.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Cake

2010-03-06T14:14:00.001-06:00

Our gluten-free son celebrated his 4th birthday recently . We used our favorite chocolate cake recipe for the base, but wanted to make it extra special. We had some plain vanilla frosting in the pantry, but that was it. Not keen on another trip into town, I whipped up some chocolate hot fudge our whole family could eat. Just being honest here, NOTHING is a perfect replacement for real hot fudge, but this recipe worked well. It didn’t have that nasty aftertaste that so much gluten free food has, and it tasted chocolaty. For an added bonus, I used soy strawberry yogurt in the cake (to make it dairy free as well) and added crushed strawberries to the hot fudge topping. Eli LOVED it.

One of my favorite comedy bits of all time is Bill Cosby’s “Chocolate Cake for Breakfast”. Here’s a link in case you haven’t heard it.

Now that you’re smiling, I have good news. After many experiments and some truly awful failures we have discovered a gluten-free, dairy-free box mix that actually tastes like chocolate cake! No more heavy-dense cakes that taste like wood. No more flat, grainy cakes whose only redeeming quality is that they taste vaguely chocolaty. In the words of the great Cosby, “You want chocolate cake? Chocolate cake coming up!”

Start with Decadent Chocolate Cake mix from Gluten-Free Pantry. As of this printing, you can buy it on Vitacost for $3.48, which is cheaper than Gluten-Free Pantry’s own site, and cheaper than Amazon. Link Here

The recipe calls for softened, unsalted butter and buttermilk. Obviously that’s out for our family, but the directions say, “For lactose free version: Replace butter with oil and use water in place of buttermilk.” Don’t you believe it! Trust me, we know from (unpleasant) experience.

To replace the butter, we use Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks(whipped). We haven’t found a cheap spot to buy this online yet, but our local health food store carries it.

To replace the buttermilk, we use soy yogurt. I know it sounds weird, just trust me, it’s a thousand times better than water. We use vanilla flavored Silk Live Soy Yogurt, vanilla flavored. The packaging doesn’t specifically say gluten free, but their website says, “There is no wheat, wheat gluten, rye, oats, barley or malt in Silk soymilk, Silk Live! soy yogurt or Silk Creamer.” It does have natural vanilla, which some people worry about, but our gluten free munchkin has never had a problem with it.
That’s it! Two simple replacements and you too will have children singing your praises, “Mom is great! Gives us the chocolate cake!”

Snowman

2010-02-27T16:54:00.000-06:00

Take that you snowman....

and that.....

and that!!

Happy Birthday Eli

2010-02-24T09:47:00.001-06:00

If it looks familiar, Eli decided on the same theme as last year.

Check out the cake from last year here.

Winter Scrapbooking

2010-02-24T08:37:00.000-06:00

Profound thoughts of a 4 year old

2010-02-24T07:49:00.000-06:00

Mommy: Eli go to the bathroom before bed.
Eli: No. I don't have to.
Mommy: Are you sure.
Eli: I will go potty when I am sleeping.
Mommy: That is what I am trying to avoid.

***Hidden meaning...Eli is allowed out of bed to go to the bathroom at night. He wasn't ready to go to bed, so he knew he had a free get out of bed pass if he waited for awhile.***

Something to try

2010-02-14T15:21:00.002-06:00

I am trying to create a new layout/ background for the blog. Here are some sites I am considering. Check out our Sensory Processing blog for my first attempt.

Here are some interesting links:

Customize your blogger page-Nicole Young Designs

A Day in the Life-Creating Your Own blog background

You tube video on creating a background

Basic Instructions:
(Anything that is in this font is information I have found on other websites.)

1. Create the background in Photoshop. The size I use is 1700 x 1320 pixels at 72 resolution (I've tried other sizes and have messed it all up. I know there is a techical way to figure out the right size - but I made mine too big, rather than too small. A lot of the sides, top and bottom of my background don't show up on my computer because my monitor is smaller, but more shows up on our bigger monitor I have at work). I design it like a scrapbook page using the kits and elements I have purchased in the past. Make sure that you leave the center section light enough that your text will show up, and wide enough that you'll be able to see the text.
2. I save my project as a jpeg file and upload it to www.photobucket.com Make sure that you choose the 1 megabyte size for uploading for it to be big enough. Otherwise photobucket will condense your background and it will be too small.
3. Then follow the instructions online in this link for changing the background. (I did it the first time and basically I just go back and change the code each month with the link I have uploaded to photobucket when I change the background....I hope that makes sense). This involves copying and pasting the direct link from photobucket. Make sure you save what you've done on your blogger site.
4. I'm including what you'll see in the previous link:

Once your background uploads, you'll find it down with your other images, and you need to copy the option 'direct link', see below:

With your image copied, you'll need to follow these specific instructions as to how to apply it to your blog:

Log in to your blog.

Next go to 'customize' then 'layout' then 'pick a new template' then choose a minima template.

Then click on 'edit HTML' You'll see a crazy code with a bunch of funny signs, scroll to where you see this:

body {
background:$bgcolor;
margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: center;

Change that part of the code to say this:

body {background:$bgcolor;background-image:url(direct link);background-position: center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;

margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: center;

Now, use the direct link from your photobucket image and insert it between the parentheses.

Then Click SAVE!

Happy Valentie's Day

2010-02-14T06:51:00.003-06:00

experiment with a template

2010-02-04T19:58:00.002-06:00

Weekend Fun

2010-01-31T07:58:00.002-06:00

A Day of Scrapbooking

2010-01-17T12:53:00.005-06:00

Although our trip to DC was back in June, we got together this weekend to work on a couple scrapbook pages.

Guessing Game...

2010-01-16T06:52:00.002-06:00

Can you guess what Eli is talking about? Leave a comment...

Eli: I like it mommy. It feels like a gorilla is tickling me!

Eli-isms

2010-01-10T18:22:00.005-06:00

Eli: I want to be a giraffe when I grow up. You can be a penguin mommy and Aiden can be a lion when he is grown up.

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Eli: Do you smell something?
Mommy: No.
Eli: The Packers stink!

This should not be coming out of a three year-olds mouth. Especially if he is the son of Packer fans.

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Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T09:54:00.005-06:00

Can you think of a better way to welcome 2010 than as a pirate??