An Evening with the Charming "Mr. O"

Sunday evening we went to Chris' parent's house (like usual) for dinner. This week his brother's wife "M" was visiting from Utah with their new baby boy "O." I had to snap some pics of the kids with their newest cousin.

What a doll! He is such a good-natured baby (he must have calm, happy parents)! I was so blessed to sit and hold him for a little while. It makes me feel so close to Heaven being around a newborn. "Mr. O" made me so excited for our newest little one to arrive!

Try These: Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

These were delightful! I've been looking for a good whole wheat banana bread recipe, and finally decided to make up my own!

I made muffins because they're fun for the kids.

Stephanie's Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

2 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin cups, or line with paper liners.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla and bananas. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; Fold into the banana mixture until moistened. Spoon batter into muffin cups until completely filled.

Bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when pressed lightly. Cool before removing from the muffin tins.

Yield: 18 muffins

They disappeared quickly...try them!

Thank You.

To whomever left these gorgeous flowers on my doorstep...

Thank you!

You made my week (and you saw what kind of week it was!)

Love these colors

Big Cat also appreciated them. He was curled up next to them when I got home.

And if, by chance you're not someone who reads this blog...I'll figure out a way to say ,"Thank you!"

Hope you all enjoy their beauty as much as I did!

"What a Week I'm Having"

The title quote is one my family quoted often while I was growing up. Do you know what movie it's from? (no one from my family may answer)

These are some of the various activities that went on in the Zahlmann Household this week:

Payton has given up on clothing (and so has her mother)...

...and ran around like this most of the week

I canned these

I killed this

I ate this. for lunch. every. day. (on a huge bean and tomato kick)

More of Payton's cute bum (no, the diaper was not full, she just sticks her hand down there and pulls the diaper down - you can imagine how fun that is when the diaper IS full)

Snuggles from Daddy

Avonleigh ate pizza for 3 meals (in a row)

Peanut got "the bug"

Avonleigh feeling better from "the bug" and ready to say family prayer.

That pretty much sums up the last few days.

Well, except that Buddy caught "the bug" this morning (no pics yet).

This weeks stats:

Meals made, then wasted: 8

Butt cream applied (diarrhea): 5

Noses wipes: 78324500000

Sheets changed: 4

Days in jammies (or nothing at all): 3

Doses of Tylenol: 36800085657

Children on antibiotics: 1

A Tuesday Afternoon Reading

This was glorious. Mr. Zahlmann (say it with authority) ;o)

asked the kids to read to him.

When I peaked around the kitchen corner, this is what I found:

I love this picture because:

a) It's a candid shot and no one noticed me except Chooch

b) My awesome (and ever-growing) laundry pile

c) Mr. Zahlmann is asleep on the couch

d) All of the above

I love Choochie looking at Peanut. I can just hear her saying, "You're my hero."

Little clones

Dinner is cooking, we have a table (and buckets and boxes and...) FULL of tomatoes

What did you do with your tuesday afternoon?

Friday Night Aftermath

"Are you talking to me, Mother?"

"What's that you say, you'd like the remote?" *giggle*

"Uh oh, she got to 2, I guess she's serious!"

Good morning, Peanut!

Wake Up, Dude!

"Mom, I don't feel so good..."

Everyone was pretty bushed from our late night of family fun! Poor Chooch woke up with a sore throat and an ear ache (bad parents, bad!).

Friday Fun Night Part TWO: Flashlight Tag

Do you remember the good 'ol days of staying out late and playing a wholesome game of flashlight tag?

We decided to indulge our children in that joy.

Chooch - so excited to be the seeker!

Buddy's turn..."Ready-or-not-here-I-come!"

"Psssssstt! Mom, did you see me hiding?? They couldn't even find me!"

The view in the dark

Peanut definitely had the best hiding places

Note: It was PITCH BLACK, but my flash provided the light as I was snapping pictures and throwing off the seeker (who was supposed to be the only one with a light).

Friday Fun Night Part ONE: It's Good to Have a Daddy

This is the story of a Daddy and his kids...

Once upon a time the littlest princess said, "Up, Dada!"

And up she went.

The next little princess said, "Me too!"

And up she went. She did not enjoy it as much as her sister.

Then the oldest princess said, "I want to fly too!"

And she struck a "Spidergirl" pose.

And then the prince said, "Can you do it to me too?"

And the strong Daddy could.

The little prince also went for a "Spiderman" pose.

Then, down came the prince (on the couch).

It's good to have a Daddy.

The End.

Can I Get a Bowl Full of Cute with a Side of Applesauce?

Love, love, LOVE this face!

Things are gettin' messy around here...

Nothin' like an applesauce bath in the middle of the day

"Ok Mom, I'm done!"

Anyone wanna mop my kitchen floor?

When Pens Attack

Actually, this is what happens when mommy decides not watch her EVERY move.

Once again, seeing that "Mother of the Year" Award within my grasp...

The Cook is FIRED!

This is what happens when the cook (aka Mom) is not paying attention because she's hurrying to get dinner on the table. I was informed that I'm fired (much like the tortillas).

I turned on the front burner (instead of the back that had my pan on it), and had absentmindedly put my package of tortillas on it.

Yummy - gotta love the smell of burning plastic

Nice burner marks on the tortillas

Viola! Egg burritos! It doesn't look terribly appetizing, but don't judge to quickly. There is sliced cheese on the bottom (I like the processed stuff - it melts better - health schmealth), scrambled eggs and red and green taco sauce. We grew up on these as kids. Incidentally, if you never had these growing up - you were deprived. ;o)

PS - this is her "my tortilla is too crispy face!"

Enjoying the Lord's Bounty

My Mother-in-law made the comment about enjoying the Lord's bounty as we were in the midst of canning like 100 quarts of applesauce, apple pie filling and relish! It was wonderful!

We've also been up to our eyeballs in tomatoes! This is only a small sampling of my boxes and buckets as I emptied them (they are full again now and waiting to be canned).

"Thank you, Lord, for this bounty!"

One of many bowls filled with yellow pear tomatoes

A few of my tomato jars - and more buckets to be emptied!


Finally getting down to the bottom...oh wait, there's 20 tomato bushes outside waiting to be picked.

This box was full...did I say "was?" IS, this box IS full. now.