From scratch: granola

So here is my first "from scratch" recipe post

I got the original recipe from the 100 days of real food blog HERE (this blog helped me a lot in our adventure to change our diet). I have simplified the recipe for our family as Mac has a tree nut allergy and I like the simple taste of just cinnamon. Hubs has added peanut butter when he has made it a few times, which is also really good. So I am sharing how I make it and if you want the full version with all the nuts and seeds and other spices then go to the link above.

We love ours as cereal with milk for breakfast and if I have some blue berries or strawberries I will put that on it. YUM!! Our kids love it! We will also just eat it dry for snacks. Although a bit messy that way. I don't make it very often, maybe every couple of weeks, because we go through a double batch in about 3 days. Yes, we love it that much. 

Granola

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups oats (we like to use quick oats)

2 tsp of ground cinnamon

6 Tbs butter

1/2 cup of honey

2 tsp of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchament paper (we use our SILPAT).

2. Mix the dry oats and cinnamon (and any other nuts, seeds or spices that you want) in a large mixing bowl.

3. Heat butter and honey together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once butter is melted, stir in vanilla.

4. Pour hot liquid over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.

5. Spread granola mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer and bake for 60 to 75 minutes. (I like it at 60 minutes because I don't like it super crunchy). 

6. The granola will become crisp as it cools. You can store it in an air tight container at room temperature for up to two weeks***. 

***A little side note about making food from scratch is that it goes bad faster than food you would buy pre-made because there are no preservatives in it to keep it from going bad. 

from scratch!

I have talked a few times on here about changing our diet about a year ago but I don't remember if I have ever talked about what kind of change we made or not. The change came after a lot of research and praying and then realizing it was the change we needed to help with a few things in our family in regards to health. The diet change we made was to reduce the amount of processed food we ate.

I won't go into the reasons why processed food but it has been pretty life changing and will be a permanent life change for our family. We aren't extreme and just try to eat this way as much as possible. There are times when we will eat fast food although that is few and far between because I have never really like fast food ever and we don't like to spend our money there if we can help it. Our kids stay with grandparents and friends every once in awhile and I don't expect them to feed my kids this way. But at home we eat this way about 75 to 80 percent. To do this we make a lot of food from scratch and where once I was a lazy baker and cook I have started to really enjoy making things from scratch and finding  new healthy recipes to make for dinner. It is so satisfying sitting down to eat with my family and looking at our table and knowing what they are eating is healthy and will benefit them forever.

We are far from perfect at it and there are a few things that I know we shouldn't use and I just can't bring myself to change it out. But this whole process has been a slow one and we take this little by little. But with every new recipe I find it easier and easier.

The whole point of this post though is to share some recipes we use that have helped our transition into eating this way. A few of the actual recipes I won't share on here because they are not mine to share publicly, but if it looks good and you want to try it, please email me and I would love to give you the recipe. Also, since I realized that my list of all the recipes I want to share is a long one I will be just sharing one or two at a time over the next couple of weeks. I am so excited about this!!

To start off here is the list of the recipes I plan on sharing with you (although not in this order)...

-granola
-honey whole wheat bread
-muffins (blueberry and apple cinnamon)
-english muffin bread
-veggie stuffed peppers
-energy protein balls (cookie balls)
-pizza crust
-zucchini fries
-chicken taquitos
-homemade chicken nuggets
-graham crackers
-pancakes
-brownies
-taco seasoning
-baked cauliflower and broccoli
-green smoothies

splash...

we had a short rain shower sandwiched between some beautiful sunshine. oak has been dying to use her umbrella and jump in the puddles. cute skirt and all she jumped to her hearts content in the pouring down rain. puddle jumping is part of what childhood is made of. 

happenings...

--Hubs has been working A LOT! But that is to be expected for tax season, so we are pushing through. He has been leaving by 5:30 am every morning and has been trying to get home by 6pm. But he has had alot of evening meetings for church and other things so we still aren't seeing him that much in the evening. Thankfully he is pretty good at quality time with us when he is home. The kids are really hating waking up and not getting to see their daddy before he goes. It is really sad to see their reaction in the morning when they ask if daddy has left already.

--I fell going down our front step the other morning. I just wasn't paying attention and missed the step as I was going down. I ended up catching myself with our square wooden post and then slid down that and landed on my left knee. I scraped and bruised my arm in three spots from the three corners of the post and my knee got skinned pretty good through my jeans and ended up bruising too. It hurt really bad, and then I felt really bad for all the times I tell my kids to "walk it off" or "your tough!" because I can tell you I wanted to cry and someone telling me that would have made me mad. Thankfully I didn't get hurt worse.

--I love Valentine's decorations but totally dropped the ball and didn't get anything out this year. It makes me kind of sad. Better luck next year. We did however make some cute Valentine's. And we did have a fun little fancy dinner with candles and glass goblets. This kids loved it!

--I finally ordered some essential oils from doTerra. I have wanted to do that for about a year. I have heard so many people talking about how much they love using them. And we have been wanting to find alternative methods for treating us and our kids when we are sick or hurt. I am really excited about it!! They should be here any day.

--I had a really bad bout with my acid reflux recently. It has been a few months since it has been this bad. I was even taking something to prevent it and it still came on full force. It is so painful and leaves me pretty useless because it hurts to even move or touch my stomach. I am hoping some of the essential oils will help with it better.

--The kids got to go to my in-laws house for their annual grandkid valentine party. They do this so the parents can all go on a date together. It ended up being us and just one of his sister's for our date. But it was really fun. We ate dinner at Chapala's, ate dessert at The Sweet Life and then went and watched The Hobbit at the movie theater. The kids loved every second playing at grandma's and getting to do their fishing party game where they get all their fun prizes and treats. Neither of the kids had naps and we didn't get back until 10:30pm. Mac was great and Oak had done great and was in melt down mode when we were about to leave because she was so tired.

--So I had been struggling with Mac staying in his room for quiet time. He would come out alot and ask if quiet time was over. Then all of a sudden I had the great idea to use a kitchen timer for his quiet time. It has worked wonders. The first week I would tell him if he came out for anything but going to the bathroom that I would add time to his timer. He did that a couple of times and he has now gone a couple of weeks without me having to add time. And sometimes he will even crawl up in his bed and take a nap. Love it!

--Along the same lines of what I just talked about with Mac...we were having problems with him coming and waking us up early every morning. So I had remembered an idea that I had heard before with an alarm clock. Mac knows his numbers so I had him pick out a new clock, at the store, for his room and we told him if he woke up before the first number said 7 then he needs to stay in his room and play until he sees the number 7. It took a little bit of training him. But he now just does it on his own without us having to remind him about it much. We aren't super strict about it and if we are already awake we will let him come and get in our bed and snuggle, but if we are needing just a bit more sleep then it works wonders to tell him to go and play until it says 7. And he happily does.

--Hubs and I have been working out most nights to the Insanity workout program. We love it, but it is HARD! The first of January I started working out three days a week to a Jillian Micheals workout DVD, then we decided to get Insanity and a couple of weeks ago we started working out together. I love having someone to work out with. I also love working out. I am excited to get in better shape and to lose a little weight (I have gained almost 10 lbs in the last year) and to hopefully get a boost for when I start running in a few months. I took a week off on accident since we had some late nights with other activities and then I was sick for two days then it was the weekend. But we are back to it.

--My brother Chris was in town a couple of weeks ago for business. It was so great to see him, since it had been two and half years since we saw him last. After he had left I realized that in the last year that I was able to see every single one of my siblings. That is crazy, since the six of us live in four different states. We are trying to put together a reunion in Utah this summer to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I can't wait for us all to be together at once. It has been almost eight years since that has happened.

--It has been almost a year since I decided we needed to change how we ate. And just today I realized how far we have truly come, especially with our kids. Mac told me he was hungry and I asked him what he wanted and he asked for a sliced apple. It made me so happy that our hard work has paid off. He is the pickiest eater and it has been a struggle with him. He still doesn't like veggies much, especially cooked ones, but he has gotten to the point that he will at least try new foods and will also take at least one bite of everything on his plate without much of a fuss. HUGE improvement for him!

--Two weeks ago I deactivated my Facebook account. I have loved not being attached to it so much that I am seriously thinking about completely deleting my account all together. I have gone back and forth on doing this for a long time, because I didn't want to take away that opportunity that maybe we would find our next baby through FB. But, I just decided it was what I needed to do and I feel good about it knowing that Heavenly Father will make a way for us to find each other.

--For adoption news, it will officially be nine months, this Sunday, since we were approved. And we have not had one single contact. I have alot of thoughts and feelings about this, but I haven't been able to put it into words to post about it. As the year mark approaches we are trying to figure out exactly what we want, need and can do to add another little one to our family. It is hard and burdensome to navigate this part of our life and to not have complete control over it. Ugh! Leaving the pity party now, sorry...

Happy Birthday...

Girls trip to San Fran in 2002

When I told Mac this morning that it was Aunt Brookie's birthday today, he said, "I hope she enjoys her birthday in heaven." And I hope she does too, but I sure wish we were celebrating it with her here with us. I hate that she was TAKEN from us and I miss her fiercely. Nine years is way too long.

I am so grateful for eternal families and the asurity that we will see her again.

Miss and love you Brooke!

Happy 28th Birthday!

Happy Thanksgiving...I mean Valentine's Day!!!

(Mac keeps calling Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving. Not sure why he can't keep it straight, silly boy!)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I love my three cute Valentines.

 I wish Daddy was home when we took these so he could have been in them. 

We have special plans to do a fancy dinner with all four of us tonight. I am excited!

Daddy and I will get our Valentine's date on Saturday while Grandma and Grandpa W do their annual grandkid Valentine party.

And I wish I would have taken a picture of the cute V-day card the kids handed out to their friends. They were adorable. But here are the links to where I got the ideas from. "I dig you!" shovels for Oak and the Superhero suckers for Mac.

Mac I love you!!

I love your crazy red hair.

I love the silly faces you make when you are being goofy.

I love to hear your real laugh and giggle when you are doing something so funny you can hardly stand it.

I love the moments you purposely say sweet things to me, daddy or your sister.

I love that you know how to have fun and you are teaching mommy how to not be so uptight. Thank you!

I love your love for all things action figures, super heroes, Star Wars and anything else that is all boy.

I love that you are a dirt magnet (most of the time).

I love that you love Shel Silverstein poems so much.

I love listening to your sincere prayers.

And I just LOVE YOU!!

Oak I love you!!

I love your spunk and zest for all things fun, wild and crazy.

I love that you love your family so much and you are always saying "I love we are a forever family!"

I love how you get so upset in the morning if daddy has already left for work and you didn't get to see him.

I love your giggles.

I love that you love to dance to any and all music and I so love to watch you dance because you can really boogie. You don't hold back anything.

I love your curly hair and how sometime you get one little curl at the nape of your neck and I can't help but want to pull on it to make it "boing".

I love how in some light your hair looks red.

I love how friendly you are to the people you know and how you can talk non stop to them.

I love when you use big words or phrases that are just way too much for a two year old. I live for that!

And I LOVE YOU!!

And to my Hubs:

I love when you don't shave for a day or two and you have a scruffy face, swoon!

I love how hard you work because you love us so much.

I love that you have never ever said anything mean or rude and have never put me down.

I love that you love fishing so much and wish you got to do it more.

I love that you LOVE your family so much. Not only our little family, but your parents and your siblings.

I love that you are truly humble.

I love how smart you are and that you can pretty much solve any problem.

I love that you kiss me every morning before you get out of bed.

I love that you hold me every single night so that I can fall asleep. (yes he really does!)

I can't help but loving being with you, I feel empty and like something is missing when we are not together.

I love that you are so devoted to me in every way.

I love how you know that I love getting our family pictures taken so much so you try your hardest to go along with it and bring your best attitude even though it is the last thing you want to be doing.

I love how you are great at letting me get a break now and then.

I love how we like to watch Gold Rush together!

And love that we have been working out almost every night together, you are the best.

And I just LOVE YOU...truly, madly, deeply.

I could eat him up!

A few things I don't want to forget...

He loves to find random junk/garbage and say he needs it for his "collection". It is really cute!

He also loves containers of any sort to carry his favorite toys in for the day. He gets really excited when he finds a new container.

He also loves action figures a lot and he likes to make "set ups" with them. He spends most of his play time doing this. 

funnies

Mac: "I can be a book writer (illustrator). See, I figured out how to make it look like two ghosts are bumping into each other." Smarty pants!

Oak had said something cute...
Mommy: you are just so adorable!
Oak: just don't call me cute!

Oak has her special bear that she has to have to suck her thumb. She has to hold the ear of the bear with her thumb sucking hand while she sucks her thumb. We only let her have it in her bed for sleeping. When I went to get her out of bed one morning and I asked her if she wanted to get up. In talking about sucking her thumb with her bear, She says, " I have just a little more left, I need to get this one part." and then she went back to sucking her thumb.

Mac: I can't wait to have kids!
Me: really? How come?
Mac: because I can do fun things with them..... But there is one thing I don't want to talk about until I am seven or six.
Me: what is that?
Mac: getting married!

Oak has become Mac's second mom...After Mac burped at dinner one night, "Mac, no burping at the dinner table."...and then after Mac handed me something and I said thank you, "Mac you need to say you're welcome." She is quite the firecracker!

Mac explaining to Oak why she couldn't go on the bumper cars at the mall: "I am five, you are two...five is like five dollars and two is like two nickels...do you get it?...(oak doesn't say anything)...fine, I will explain it to you later!"

Mommy (to both Oak and Mac): When this show is over we are getting dressed.
Oak (to Mac): No crying or whining okay?

Mac was really upset one day because I wouldn't let him make and give out birthday invitations for his 6th birthday party in 11 months. Silly boy, love him!

Mac: Mom, I had a dream about what you and daddy do.
Mom: What would that be?
Mac: You were kissing...it was HORRIBLE!

Oak 2.5

Oak's stats:

38 lbs (97th %tile)

3'2.5" (38.5 inches) (95th %tile)

Can I just say how much I love this girl?! Oh my, she drives me crazy in so many different ways, good and bad. But I wouldn't change a thing about her. I pretty much could kiss her cheeks all day. And her smile pretty much kills me on the spot. 

AND she will be two and a half tomorrow! Seriously, why is time going by so fast?! She won't be a toddler much longer, she will be closer to three than two and she will start preschool in the fall. In two short months she will be the same age McCoy was when she was born...what?!?! (I sure hope she gets to be a big sister soon, because she will totally rock at it!)

Oak at two and a half is quite the firecracker.

--It is her mission in life to do exactly the opposite of what she should or shouldn't do.

--She makes it very hard to get out the door to anywhere and I have to give myself extra time for chasing her around, putting her coat on three times and/or a temper tantrum about leaving just so I can get some place on time.

--She is obsessed with "bad" words. Hear's every "S-word" in every movie or show, and tells us when someone says something they shouldn't. (We are talking about little kid "bad" words here).

--She loves the movie Tangled and she has to watch it while Mac is at Preschool. She has a bit of a crush on Eugene (she never calls him Flynn Ryder).

--She also quotes movies constantly and repeatedly retells her favorite and not favorite parts of the latest movie we have seen.

--She is obsessed with peoples emotions and body language. She is constantly asking why someone says something, or makes a certain sound or face when they do something. We can hardly get through a book without her interrupting asking why someone's face looks like it does. 

--She HAS to run and give her brother a hug after he is done with Taekwondo. He really hates that she does that.

--She hates waking up in the morning and finding out daddy has already left for work.

--She can give quite the stink faces when she is mad.

--She is quite good at pouting and does the whole arm folded and head hanging, whimpering thing. Very dramatic.

--She is a great eater, except when she wants to act like her brother and pretend to be picky.
--He favorite food is veggies, she even downed some brussel sprouts the other night and asked for more. But her favorite veggie would be cauliflower and broccoli is a close second.

--We just took the side of her crib off and she seems to be doing great. 

--When she is put to bed, she has to have all her favorite stuffed animals surrounding her, her two favorite blankies on top of her, her bear of course and her dream light going and you have to sing her favorite song (for the week) which is currently "I am like a star". Sometimes she asks for us to blow the spookies out of her room if she is a bit scared.

--She doesn't move much when she sleeps and usually still has her blankies on top of her in the morning.

--She goes to bed at 8pm and will wake up between 6:30 and 7:30. She takes one nap but I think she is gradually growing out of that. A couple of times a week she won't fall asleep at all after I have put her down for a nap. Not excited about that.

--She talks in full sentences and can completely communicate exactly what she wants to. She actually talks alot like a 3 to 4 year old does.

--She wears size 4T shirts and dresses. And is still okay in size 3T pants but is starting to grow out of some of those, but 4T pants are too big still.

--Her hair is curly but thin, so I have to comb it out often so it doesn't look so scraggly.  She is great about sitting and letting me do her hair. It  has red highlights so in some light it looks pretty red.

--She is fully potty trained day and night and has been since October  She is really good at telling us when she needs to go, so I don't have to be asking her all the time. She still needs a bit of help in the bathroom, but we are working on her being a bit more independent with that.

--She likes to put on her own clothes by herself most of the time.
--She asks everyday if she can wear her "Go Beaver" shirt, which is obviously her favorite.

--She loves her baby dolls and takes really great care of them. She loves to wrap them up and feed them and is always patting their heads and backs.

--She also loves real babies and when she sees one she goes crazy excited.

--She loves dogs just as much and also gets crazy excited when she sees one.

--She is getting better at not stealing food, but she still has a problem with mooching food from others.

--She loves to help with housework and anything that I don't really want her help with. But when it comes to helping by doing what I ask her to, like clean her room or take stuff to her room, she refuses.

--She is so fun and funny and when she isn't throwing a fit she is laughing or trying to make someone else laugh.

--She can say prayers completely on her own and mimics most of her brothers prayers. Her and Mac always fight over who GETS to say the prayer.

--She can tell you the month of her birthday when you ask her and will hold her two fingers and say two when asked how old she is.

--She never stops moving, and is just a busy busy girl.

--She is constantly telling us she loves us and that we are her favorite or her best friend, or just the best in the whole world.

--She has a love/hate relationship with nursery at church. She talks about it non stop and can't wait to go, but then once it is time to go, gets scared, then gets talked into it and is usually fine while in there. She also is the escape artist and escapes a few times every week. The door handles are such that they can't put the safety things on them. She loves her two nursery leaders and always says hi to them at church.

--She loves to shake the Bishops hand. One week he didn't come by and shake our hand like he usually does and Oak noticed and asked why. So I took her up to the stand right before church started so she could shake his hand. The bishop loved that and thanked me for bringing her up.

Can you tell she has quite the personality? I could go on and on about her.

She is so amazing and we love her to bits.
I can not believe she is two and a half!

Saturday adventures...

Daddy is starting to work Saturdays now, since tax season is beginning to get busy. So we have to find extra adventures for Saturdays. Today the weather cleared up for us to head outside. It was still cold, but we had fun riding bikes, driving a remote control car, playing in the rocks and dirt, going on a walk, watching diggers and jumping in the water and getting wet. And a little bit of pouting on the way back home.

I am loving that my kids will humor me and let me take a picture of them together. 

P.S. My posts will probably become more frequent since I am loving taking pictures with my new camera and I feel like I can actually show them on here. I love taking great pictures of my family!

me and the boy...

love, love, love him.