Western Rail Trail

On Saturday, we drove up to Western Maryland and biked 10 miles on a rail trail. We allowed Madison to ride on her own bike this time instead of riding on the tandem and she made it the whole way....way to go Madison!

This was a beautiful rail trail! Wish it was closer so we could do it more often.

Do ya think he likes strawberries?

I took the kids strawberry picking yesterday. The kids were so excited all day they were trying to do their schoolwork fast so we could go! Guess that's one way to motivate them to get their schoolwork done :) We met up with some friends when we got there and the kids had so much fun trying to see who could find the biggest strawberry! With so many helpers it took no time to fill a box full of delicious strawberries! And I bet you can guess what we made when we got home :) strawberry shortcake! I love fresh strawberries! now I need to go back and pick more for strawberry jelly.....

My cup overfloweth....I have been so blessed!

downtown during the 400th year anniversary of KJV

Nathanael was so excited to help this guy. This is a Gutenburg Press....

swallowtail butterfly

Has there ever been a time that your child has been smarter then you? Well, my son Nathanael really knows his bugs and animals. He enjoys reading anything to do with facts about animals and insects. He knows names of things I have never heard of. And this was one time he knew more then me. We were playing outside and I called the kids over to see this butterfly. I just casually said "look at this monarch" . Nathanael then says "mom, this is not a monarch but a swallowtail butterfly. What? A swallowtail butterfly...never even heard of it! Wow, I so need to learn my stuff before I open my mouth again and try to teach my kids, especially Nathanael :) He is too smart!

I was never been a huge fan of pretzels, soft or hard. But that all changed when I tasted a soft cinnamon and sugar pretzel dipped in cream cheese icing! Man are those awesome! TONS of calories I'm sure but it sure is worth it :) the other day I was craving a soft pretzel so I decided to try to make them. Being my first time they were OK. Next time I am going to get my friend over here that makes pretzels all the time to help me out. I do want to try to perfect it so I can make them here and there for a snack. The kids love them too so even though they weren't the best they were eaten. And I used whole wheat flour so I could tell myself these were healthier then the ones in the mall :)

yea, this little guy is keeping mommy busy, as if I wasn't busy in the first place! but I love it when he is doing something and he turns to smile at me, with those beautiful brown eyes like if to say "I'm too cute to say no too"

yes, it was hot enough to pull out the hose and make a wading pool out of their old sandbox :)

very talented boy...can sit and raise his feet off the ground :)

I think he has the "Lay" toes...he is going to be a "pincher" :)

Last week we took one day off from doing "schoolwork" and did Home Ec all day :) I think I enjoy that more then "schoolwork" :) I let the kids pick one recipe they wanted to help mommy with. Thankfully I had made "healthy" smoothies since the recipes we were making were not so healthy and there were a lot of taste testing going on that morning :)
I can't remember everything I put in this smoothie but it had strawberry, pineapple, almond milk, spinach and some wheat germ and I'm sure some other fruit....like I have said before I just use any fruit I have, frozen or fresh.

This was the coffee cake nathanael helped me with. It was good but I prefer a sour cream coffee cake with blueberries :)

Madison helped make homemade brownies. Now these were good: go to Allrecipes and they are called Chewy Brownies. I just left out the nuts and I did change some stuff after reading the reviews. They were great with icecream and chocolate syrup!

Now these were the bomb! Yea Sarah you got me saying it now :) we have made these homemade granola bars many times to take with us to parks. Here is the recipe for these:

Easy Cereal Bars:

1 cup honey

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup Oats (I use quick oats)

4 cups puff cereal (rice Krispies)

2 cups of whatever you want to add in (raisins, chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts)

You first melt the honey and peanut butter on low on stove or in microwave. Add in cereal and oats. mix. Toss in add ins. Finish mixing and dump in 13 by 9 Pan and spread. Chill in refrig for 30 min or more.

Like I said we have made these a lot and have tried several different add ins. I do put in wheat germ or flax seed just for added fiber :) So next time you go to a park this is a great snack for the kids and it is filling.

his army crawl he started doing beginning of the month...

he's coming after my camera.....

guess he didn't want mommy taking pictures :)

uh oh someone is mobile now and is going to my plants.....

yea you buddy!

as you can see that plant has seen better days. Believe it or not that plant was tall but in the last 3 years too many kids have played with it so it has not had a chance to stay tall...time for another one and someplace where little hands can't pull leaves off :)

The highlight of our trip downtown first of the month was seeing the cherry blossom trees. It was so crowded so we just drove around and took pictures from the van. But at least I saw them in bloom! They are so beautiful I would love to plant one in my yard one day!

April 1...National Building Museum

Last month Brett took off 2 days for my birthday. The first day Brett and I went to Chesapeake's Beach Resort and enjoyed a very nice, QUIET evening together :) On Friday we came home and picked up the kiddos and took them to a new museum we had not been to yet. It was our first and I'm sure our last visit there....it is called the National Building Museum and it said that it was one of the best museums in DC for kids but I sure don't know about that. There are 3 floors but most of the rooms were empty. Really the only part the kids enjoyed was on the third floor during the month of March they had Lego's. But of course you had to pay to go in that room and I paid for us to go in anticipating a huge room and a lot of neat things built with legoes...well...I was disappointed...a small room with several Lego structures but nothing like I had anticipated. There was a small room for the kid to play with Lego's and so I told them we would stay and play a LONG time since I paid to get in that room :) The kids didn't mind since they love to play with Lego's. Even Thaddaues was trying to play or should I say "taste" each Lego he could put his fingers on :) The one thing I did enjoy about this building was looking at the sculpturing on the outside of the building. Very detail work! Well now at least I can say I went to the National Building Museum :)

getting frugal with house products

This past month Brett and I have gone back to REALLY sticking to our budget. (we really want to put save money to buy a second vehicle). Some months we are good then other months, well we are bad and and splurge way too much. Yes I may still use coupons but money is being wasted by being lazy and doing what is "convenient". I am too lazy to get up and fix my hubby's breakfast and he has to do fast food or I don't plan our meals so its easier to go out to eat or I buy stuff that is more "convenient" and waste more money than if I made it myself. So back to planning meals and sticking to it, getting up and making brett's lunches and even found ways to "make" my own baby food, kids smoothies (instead of going for shakes), freezer pops, laundry detergent, household cleaning supplies, and even air freshners. I know I might be going overboard but again when you look at how much you spend on laundry soap and cleaning supplies its crazy especially when you use it as much as I do. Thought I would pass along some of the recipes I have found so if you are feeling frugal and want to try some :) Spray for house instead of frebreeze: 12 drops eucalyptus oil 10 drops lavendar oil 14 drops orange oil 1/2 cup distilled water Pour distilled water into spray bottle(dark glass one if possible) add essential oils shake gently but thoroughly before using vegatable and fruit spray: for hard skinned fruit and veggies: fill spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water then spray the solution onto yor fruits and veggies; rub it in and rinse for soft skinned: fill bowl with equal parts white vinegar and water then soak your fruits or veggies in solution for minute or two then rinse spray for cleaning toys or bathroom counters, toilets: 1/4 cup bleach 2 1/4 cup water make sure you mark the bottle :) Kitchen cleaner: Empty spray bottle white distilled vinegar antibacterial dish detergent fill bottle with vinegar and then spray on counter and let set for minute then clean off with towel or fill bottle with 3 drops of dish detergent and fill rest with water. shake bottle then spray surface and wipe clean Floors: Add 1 cup vinegar with 1 gallon of water and mop away :) and so you see there are a lot of "homemade" cleaners...I found some window recipes using Dawn dishwashing soap (my sister has used that and has said it works great). Next time you go to store pick up empty spray bottles, dawn soap, and white vinegar and you can make almost any kind of cleaner and it is a lot less expensive then buying the $3 or $4 bottles of the name brand cleaner which in most cases are toxic anyway! so in what ways do you try to save money?

blessings

Yesterday we found out that Brett may not have a job come Monday morning if the government shuts down. And if and when they go back, would they get paid for the days they miss they do not know either. But instead of worrying about the uncertaintity, we are going to trust in the Lord to provide and rest assure He will take care of us just like he promises to. Today in my devotions I read about the widow in 1Kings that only had enough meal and oil to make a cake for her and her son and then they would die. Elijah comes along and ask her to make him a cake first. I'm sure it was a big step of faith for her to make Elijah's cake first. But she did and the Lord blessed her. Her barrell and cruse may not have been kept full, but they NEVER ran out. Oh what a blessing and encouragement that was to me today! To know if we are faithful to give to the Lord FIRST, even when we don't know when our next pay check is, the Lord will bless us and will make sure we do not go hungry.It would be so easy to keep the portion of our last pay check that is supposed to go for tithes and faith promise and put it in savings "just in case". But after reading this story and being reminded that we have to give to the Lord FIRST before he will bless us, I dont' think we will be holding back from giving to the Lord since we want to be a part of His blessing on our lives. Our desires may not alway be met but our NEEDS will be! Spurgeon once said, " God never yet forsook in need, the soul that trusted in Him indeed!" I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord will provide!

A game that was introduced to us a few years ago by my sister, Ashley. We had so much fun playing with our family that Christmas that we had to buy it for ourselves. And since then we have played it with many of our friends. It is so much fun to see if the friends playing with us are thinking the same way as their spouses :) So next time you need a new game, look for this one!

On Friday we celebrated Cailyn's 3rd birthday. Wow it seems like last year she turned 1! this little girl if full of life! She keeps us all very busy but I love her so much! She loves her mama and she is always there to help me with whatever I am doing...laundry, cleaning, washing dishes, even when I sit on couch she is there right beside me, and with a book for me to read :)

She got a new bike for her birthday!

Shannon, do you recognize the T-shirt :) I love purple on her! Thank you so much. She wore this on Friday and even slept in it and then of course all day Saturday she had it on! Just washed it so its ready to be worn again :)

The cupcakes I made for her birthday were homemade and the recipe was given to me by my sister Ashley. They were so awesome! I think the peanut butter icing was what was so good. You could make a regular chocolate cupcake or from scratch like I did but you gotta use this recipe for the icing :

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 1/2 c powdered sugar

1/4 milk

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream butter and peanut butter. Add 1/2 powdered sugar and mix well. Blend in milk and vanilla. Add remaining powdered sugar and blend until smooth.

I have some icing left over since it does make a lot so I am going to use it to ice some brownies this week!

I have started craving smoothies during the morning instead of my coffee. (I ran out of creamer about 2 weeks ago or so and I haven't bought it since...guess that is one way to not drink coffee :) ) I have found so many recipes for all kinds of smoothies. I am always trying a new one with new fruits or juices in it. Today's smoothie was Hawaniian fruit smoothie and it was so delicious! Brettw as home this morning so he was able to try it though he thought there was too much greens in it....but said he didn't taste it once he drank it .... that just proves that you don't watch Heather make her smoothies so you won't know what's in it....as long as they taste good that's all that counts :) Here is the recipe I will past on: Hawaiian Fruits and Greens Smoothie 1/2 cup almond milk( you could try to substitute for regular milk but I usually have almond milk so I used it) 1 frozen banana(I just used one that was in the refrig) 1/2 cup fresh pineapple or pineapple juice handful of spinach or greens :) 1/8 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1/2 fresh or frozen strawberries 1/4 cup fresh or frozen mango Combine ingredients in blender and ENJOY!

One of our favorite breakfast or snack food are donuts. We love any kind; white covered, chocolate covered, bite size, big one, fresh ones from a farm near us, or just homemade! Just give my kids and me of course, donuts and we are happy :)