Yummy!

I had some bananas that needed to be used up and I was wanting something other than the typical banana nut bread. I had bookmarked a recipe to try and finally got around to it last night! It was terrific! If you are looking for a tasty way to use your ripe bananas, this it!

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake
(I found the recipe here.)



Ingredients:

* 2 ½ cups cake flour
* ¾ tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana (about 2 large)
* 1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
* ¾ cup buttermilk
* 1 ½ sticks butter (unsalted)
* 1 cup sugar
* 3 eggs
* ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips, plus ¼ cup for garnish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

Sift the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk together the banana, vanilla, and buttermilk in a medium bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until well mixed.

Add the dry ingredients and banana mixture to the butter mixture in three alternating stages (dry, wet, dry), ending with the dry. Fold in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter between the pans and bake for about 25 minutes*, or until springy in the center. Allow cakes to cool in pans for about 10 minutes. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen cake, then invert to release cake. Cool completely on wire racks. Spread icing between the layers, and on the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, if desired.

Peanut Butter-Cream Cheese Icing

* ½ cup creamy peanut butter
* 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar
* ½ tsp vanilla extract

Cream the peanut butter and the cream cheese in a mixer with the paddle attachment, scraping the sides once or twice, until light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar gradually. When completely incorporated, add the vanilla.

*Since my kitchen is still mostly packed up, I didn't use 8-inch round cake pans. I used a 9x13 and baked it for 30 minutes.

Father's Day....

Yesterday was Logan's end of season t-ball party. I was talking to another mom there who has 3 boys. I said, "Boys are so much fun". She told me that she loves having boys. I totally agree. I told her that I was very much a daddy's girl and I love having a couple of momma's boys!

Daddy's girl, indeed. I have so many memories from my childhood with my dad. Let's see. How about the time we were driving around Nanny and Pa's farm late one night because I couldn't sleep. I saw my first porcupine! Then there is the time in 3rd grade (or so) that I got sick at school. My dad picked me up and took me to the store to get a 7-Up. He still had some work to do, so I rode around with him while he finished it up. One task he had to complete was putting the star on the Christmas tree at the courthouse in town. Lucky me! I got to take a ride up in the bucket with him to help put the star on! I remember going hunting with him and his truck broke down in the middle of nowhere. We walked to the nearest sub-station and called Nanny and Pa to pick us up. Along the way, we saw a skunk and I was afraid one was going to run out and spray me...LOL! Oh and the cookies. Let's not forget the cookies. He certainly made his fair share of cookies.....all without the help of a fancy mixer! He would always let us help, too. He would put the flour, salt, and baking soda in a container and let me shake it up. I remember that one time he gave it to me to shake and the lid wasn't on good. When I shook it, the lid flew off and the flour coated the kitchen.

I have so many memories. My dad was always there. He did all the birthdays, all the Brownies and Girl Scout events, all the school events.... I remember when I met my husband my dad was having a bit of a hard time with it. We went out to dinner, just the two of us, to talk about it. He finally admitted that I was his baby and it was hard to believe that I was growing up. He came to visit when Lucas was born and kept Logan while I was at the hospital. He carried on the cookie tradition and had Logan in the kitchen helping him out.

Logan took a look to see if he could fill Pa-Bob's boots!

Grown up or not, I'm still a daddy's girl. I always will be. I love you, Dad!

Intimidating....

Before I get to the story I wanted to share, I wanted to give an update on my knee. I went to my doctor yesterday and the x-rays were normal. She prescribed me an anti-inflammatory/pain med and gave me a referral slip to a specialist to use only if my knee doesn't improve. It is beginning to hurt more to walk than it did at first, but still isn't too bad. So, now we wait and see.

Last night I was sitting on the couch watching tv and hubby was in the basement hanging some laundry to dry (I hang a lot of my clothes to keep them looking new longer). I kept hearing this strange noise and I thought it was a kid outside. It was nearing midnight and after I heard it a few times, I paused my show to listen more closely. I determined it was a cat and returned to watching my show.

However, the cat didn't stop and I began to worry that it was either stuck somewhere or being attacked. I decided that I was going to grab a flashlight and go take a look at what was going on. I searched around and couldn't find my flashlight, so I decided to use one of the boys'.

I'm sure it was very intimidating to see a grown woman carrying this flashlight (and no, mine isn't one of the recalled ones)....

I'm sure it was especially intimidating when I turned it on and it roared at them!! Haha!!

So, I head out with my nifty flashlight and found 2 cats. They just looked at me like I was crazy as I pointed the light at them. One of them went under a car and the other followed and they began to meow loudly again. I told them to knock it off and I didn't hear them the rest of the night. After coming back in and thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that the awful sound I was hearing was not a cat in pain, but a cat in heat. Why, oh why, does that meow have to sound so bad??

I feel like an idiot!!

Today I headed out for some me time. I haven't lost any more weight, yet somehow my clothes are falling off of me. I just can't bring myself to spend much, so I went to the thrift store on Friday. I didn't get to look long and had both boys with me. So, today I headed there again without the boys. I looked at my leisure, had some nice chats with other women shopping, and found some great deals. I got 8 shirts for about $45....all name brand, nice shirts. Three of them are Lands End polo shirts (my favorite type of shirt). I also found a bed safety rail so that I can move Lucas into a twin bed (brand new, never used) for $3. I found an ant colony unused for $4, and some other fun things. Sounds like the ideal night, right?

Well, while there, my husband called me several times telling me things we needed for the kitchen remodel. So, I headed to Home Depot when I was done shopping. As I was approaching the shopping cards, I tripped on something and took a nose dive. At first I kind of made an "oops" noise because I realized I stumbled, but I quickly realized it was more than a stumble and I wasn't going to recover. I ended up on the ground completely stretched out face only a few inches from the ground. The impact was so hard that I rocked up and forward onto my hands. It all seemed to go in slow motion. I sat up and looked around and at the same time heard a woman gasp and head towards me. I literally had a "what the h*ll just happened" moment. As I looked around, I was trying to see what tripped me up. All I could see was a rock, which I think I stepped on. I got up and the woman who was heading towards me asked if I was alright. I think once she realized I didn't faint or something, she stopped coming towards me. I assured her I was alright, only I wasn't sure if I was. She asked again and I said I scraped my knees up, but I'm alright. She said something about hurting my pride. I'll admit that I was a bit embarrassed, but more so I was just trying to figure out what happened. I should have headed to my van and said forget it, but I got my cart and headed in to do my shopping.

I got inside and that is when I felt the burning in my knee. I thought I was bleeding and headed to the bathroom. There was no blood, but my knee was a lovely shade of red/purple. My right hand and knee took the brunt of the fall and are scrapped up worse than my left hand/knee. I cleaned myself up and headed out to do my shopping. I finished up and made it out to the van. As I bent my leg to get into the van, I realized that I hurt my knee worse than I thought. I drove home and once I was home, the tears started to flow as I told my husband what happened.

I'll be keeping an eye on it. I'm hoping to be able to hold off on going to the doc until Monday. I just hate to spend $100 to go to the ER. My knee is numb in some places. Not completely numb...I can feel myself touching it, but it feels very weird. It is pretty swollen, too. I'm sure tomorrow it will only be worse. I've taken some Motrin and hoping that helps. My right hand is scraped and has a bruise that showed up almost immediately. I just feel like an idiot. I'm sure I looked like one, too.

It doesn't work.....

Just a few minutes ago, I was sitting on the couch and scooped Lucas up to snuggle him. He laid his head against me and stuck his thumb in his mouth. He sucked it momentarily, pulled it from his mouth, and sat up and looked at me. He said, "It doesn't work, it doesn't work", as he held his little thumb up in front of my face. "What doesn't work?", I asked. "My thumb. It doesn't work. It needs new batteries".


Lucas started sucking his thumb very early on. I remember him sticking his thumb into his pacifier to suck them both. At first he would suck on any finger he managed to get in his mouth, but eventually he figured out how to get his thumb. My husband did not want him sucking his thumb and would pull it from his mouth when ever he saw him doing it. When Lucas was in his bed and I would check on him, there he would be with his little thumb in his mouth. I told my husband he was losing this battle.

(2.5 months old and he has mastered the art!)

At 3, Lucas still sucks his thumb, but I have noticed that he doesn't near as much as he used to. To tell the truth, him sucking his thumb was nice because I never had to worry about keeping up with a pacifier. Of course, taking a pacifier away is a lot easier than taking a thumb away. I'm not worried at this point. I think he is beginning to outgrow it and I think that may be why he told me it doesn't work. My baby is growing up.

Cuteness....

Again I ask, does it get any better?

Sweetness....

Does it get any better than this?

9 years.....

June 4, 2009 marked 9 years that my sweet husband and I have been married. We don't typically do much, but he did bring a card home for me. Logan had stated that he wanted to do something for us, and I told him that perhaps he could make us a cake or something. He didn't want my help with the cake, but I told him I wasn't letting a 6 year old in the kitchen alone....LOL! He told me that I had to pretend I was making it for something else so that it would be a surprise!! So, here is our surprise cake....
I truly can't believe it has been 9 years. When I think back to our wedding day, it doesn't seem that long ago! I can't imagine my life with any other person. I know his grandparents commented a few times that they were sad that we were moving so far away because they really wanted to see him as a daddy. I'm very happy that we were able to go back and visit a few times so that they could see him in action. He is a wonderful father. I love watching him with our boys.....he totally melts, and that makes me melt!!

Tasty treat!

I have a new favorite treat. I can eat a couple of these and it satisfies my sweet tooth. Mighty tasty, too!
These cookies come in 4 flavors at my local store: lemon, chocolate mint, ginger, and almond cinnamon. I've purchased all but the almond cinnamon. I'm sure it is tasty. I must say, I got the chocolate ones because I love chocolate, but it is not my favorite. I love the ginger one the most followed by the lemon.

I think these would look lovely with a slice of strawberry, or blueberries, or even raspberries and I bet it would tasty yummy, too!

I just had to share!! Enjoy!

School's out!!

Yesterday, Logan and I finished up Kindergarten. We would have finished sooner, but I was sick, then Lucas, and now Logan. Perfect way to start the summer, right?

My plans to document the school year didn't go exactly as planned. It was way more time consuming than I imagined. What I can say, is that I am amazed at how far Logan has come! I am also amazed that I taught him how to read. Me!! It wasn't always easy, though. Logan really struggled with blending more than two letters together. I really thought I was going to pull my hair out and questioned if I could really do this. I talked to a great friend (private school teacher turned homeschooling momma), and she assured me that his struggles were normal. Once I backed off, he got it! I realized that the more I pushed, the more he shut down. I could tell the skills were there, but he didn't believe he could do it. Once I stopped putting pressure on him, he got it.

I remember the first night that he read one of his short stories to me at a decent pace (without having to stop and sound everything out). I showed him my excitement and we gave each other a high five. It is a moment I will not forget. He was so excited and I must say I was, too!

I would say that Kindergarten was a success. So much so that I already have my first grade curriculum purchased. Yes...that is right, we are continuing the homeschooling journey! Seeing the light bulb turn on when Logan picks up a new skill is something I don't want to miss out on. I'm not sure where this journey will take us, or how long we will be on it, but I'm excited!

This picture was taken early on and I still love it!