Silly Heidi - Picture Three

Oh, brother!  What is wrong with this child?

Feel free to post a comment on this! :)

Two Goon's In Rain Boots

One night a few weeks ago, while the best lasagna in the world was cooking, my two little goon's got all hammy for the camera.

I fear that Heidi is influencing Emily to much. 

A skirt and pants?  Rain boots on a clear evening?  Long sleeves in 75 degree weather? 

Look at that sass!  And that stuck out hip!

Oh, my...  Why am I encouraging this behavior?

Two Goons Packing A Box

Oh, here are those two Goons again.

This time they are packing a box.  Maybe they have finally gone through the playroom and filled to box with toys to donate.  Wouldn't that be fantastic!

Yep, fold down the corners so nothing falls out. I will call for a pick up in the morning.

Um.  Why are you dancing around the box?

Wait, what's in that box?  You better open it up and let me see.

No!  You cannot donate Willy!  We are keeping him!!

Shortly after this series of pictures were taken all three kids ran out the back door.  I could hear them conspiring but I did not know what they were discussing.

Then Shawn arrived home and asked the kids what they were up to.

"Daddy, please help us find Pete.  We need to put him in a box."

Oh man.  That poor cat does not stand a chance.  No wonder he hides in the ceiling!

There Is A Child In Here Somewhere

But I don't know where and I don't know which one.

Can you see her?

A 70 Pound Lap Dog - In A Hammock!

Pig fancies himself a lap dog.  He always has and I am sure he always will.

Too bad he is 70 pounds!

One beautiful night early this spring I was enjoying my new hammock when the bulldog wandered over to say hi.

I scratched his head and jokingly said "Oh, big guy, come up here!"

I was certain he would be to afraid of the holey fabric and swinging to even try.

I was wrong.  Completely wrong.

Then next thing I know he is climbing up and ignoring all of my attempts to stop him.

And then this happened.

And this.

Oh man.  I love you but come on!

All right.  You are a handsome dog.  I guess you can stay for a few minutes.

But would you please just do me one favor?  Please stop breathing on me!

What's For Dinner? Banana Bread and Muffins

Well, not really for dinner but yum right?! 

Very rarely do banana's get thrown in the trash at my house.  Mostly because they are eaten as soon as they are no longer green.  But also because if I do happen to spy a brown banana I throw it into the freezer.  I always have a freezer bag with a few bananas in it.  When I have 4 or more I make banana bread.

I guess I haven't made banana bread in awhile because there were eight bananas in the bag.  I just ended up making one loaf and 18 muffins.  The recipe really makes 24 but I only have a 12 cup and a 6 cup pan.  I put the rest of the batter in the loaf.

Here's what you need (taken from this site)
1 1/4 cup(s) Sugar

1/2 cup(s) Butter, Softened
2 large Eggs
1 1/2 cup(s) Mashed Ripe Banana's, 3 to 4 Medium
1/2 cup(s) Buttermilk (quick sub for Buttermilk - put 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in a 1 cup measuring cup.  Then fill the measuring cup with milk to the 1 cup line.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Instant Buttermilk.)
1 teaspoon(s) Vanilla
2 1/2 cup(s) All-Purpose flour
1 teaspoon(s) Baking Soda
1 teaspoon(s) Salt
1 cup(s) Chopped Nuts, If Desired

This is the recipe from the Good Housekeeping Cookbook.  One of my favorite books along with Betty Crockers cookbook.  I know, boring right?  Well, all of the classics are captured in these books!

Directions
1.Heat oven to 350 Degrees
2.Grease bottom only of Loaf Pan
3.Mix Sugar and Butter in large bowl
4.Stir in Eggs until well blended.
5.Add Banana's, Buttermilk and Vanilla.
6.Add Banana's, Buttermilk and Vanilla. Beat until smooth.
7.Stir in Nuts if Desired, If not skip this step.
8.Pour into pan
9.Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10.Cool 5 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan: remove from pan.
11.Cool Completely before slicing

I doubled the recipe to make the muffins as well.  I filled 18 cups (24 works better) about half full. 

Don't mind the muffin cups, please!  I have tons of Winter and Halloween cups and that's all so I am trying to use them up.

Yes, there are only 16 muffins in this picture.  I ate one. I don't know what happened to the other one...

Since I ended up with more batter in my bread pan then the bread pan wanted to hold I was a bit of a wreck as this baked.

First I thought I smelled it burning.  I realized butter was dripping over the sides so I set my bread pan in a cake pan to catch the drips.

Then I worried that the outside would burn and the inside would be raw.  I had all but convinced myself this loaf would be trashed when Jess saved the day!  She wrapped the loaf pan in tinfoil and placed it back in the cake pan and back into the oven.  Doing this trapped the heat in and allowed the middle to cook all the way though and the outside to stay moist.

Finally, after an hour I pulled it out of the oven and inserted the toothpick.  It was still really mushy in the center.  So I popped it back in.  After 10 minutes I checked it again.  Very close but still to mushy.  After 10 more minutes it was done.

And perfect!

It was most evenly baked banana bread I have ever made.  And the muffins we yummy too!

Two Goons In A Hammock

When I was out of town for work a few weeks ago my awesome husband and equally as awesome daughter bought me a new hammock to replace the one that didn't make it through the winter.


It was such a nice surprise to have a hammock that would hold more than a toddler to relax in when I got home.

And these two goons are more than happy to keep me company.