Wading Pool Fun

Foodie Friday: Non-Dessert

I gave up dessert for the month of July. Not to necessarily lose weight, but to curb my increasingly problematic cravings for sugar. You see, I wasn't just eating dessert after dinner. Cookies and ice cream were also making their way into my mouth after lunch. And in the afternoon. And after breakfast. Yes, it was bad. So I gave up all dessert for July in the hopes of taking away my sugar cravings. (Except my birthday weekend, during which I consumed 9 donuts). So far I can honestly say it hasn't been that bad. I'm really not craving dessert like I thought I would. But now that the end is in sight, I'm definitely looking forward to August 1st and trying this recipe for Maple Bacon Ice Cream. Speaking of ice cream, I made a non-dessert version of it last night. I've wanted to try this technique for a while, and figured now was the perfect opportunity. We'll call it Banana Non-Ice Cream.

Step 1: Chop up and freeze 2 bananas.

Step 2: Place in blender or food processor. Blend 1 minute.Step 3: Scrape down sides. Blend 1 more minute until smooth.Step 4: Either serve and enjoy, or mix in other ingredients. I added 1 tsp of peanut butter and a drizzle of maple syrup. Mine was a little thick so I added 1 Tbsp almond milk.To be honest, it was quite banana-ish. I don't know why I was expecting it to taste like something else. My tastebuds were not satisfied so I snacked on some chips. Until a certain toddler stole them.....Let me know if you try this "ice cream"!

Hugs

Ryan has learned some really cute tricks lately, including how to give a hug! He can be selective about who he will hug, so don't be offended if he doesn't hug you the next time he sees you. you see him. Another cute thing he can do now is sing. He has a little doggy piano and whenever I play the notes, I sing "lalala" along with the tune. And now Ryan has started doing it, especially when I turn the radio on. I love it! Of course his version of singing "lalala" is very monotone and off-key, but it is the sweetest singing I've ever heard.
This is what Ryan and I look like when we blog. (He's watching VeggieTales on the computer)

Bumps and Bruises

Ryan doesn't just love to walk, he loves to run! Pair that with his 15-month-old clumsiness, and you gets lots of falls and accidents. Just this weekend he fell into a doorframe and immediately got a big goose egg lump on his forehead. It looks a lot better today. But then this morning he opened the door to our entertainment center and slammed the corner under his eye. I guess this comes with the territory of having a toddler who is constantly on the move. Seriously, this little boy never stops! Do kids his age ever just sit down and play quietly? Ryan will not let me hold him on my lap for even a second of cuddling. There is too much to do and see!

My Little Mess

God has been speaking to me lately through music. There are a few songs I keep hearing on the radio that seem to be repeating the same theme. Actually, more like drilling a message in to my head. One of these songs is Francesca Battistelli's "This Is The Stuff". She sings about the "stuff" that God uses in our lives to teach us lessons. Often times it is the frustrating and difficult things in life that God is using to tell us something. It is kind of a difficult concept to wrap our heads around....that God uses our struggles to bless us. My favorite line of the song is "In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed". For me, my current "little mess" is Ryan's sleep struggles. It is driving me crazy that I can't make him sleep. But in the middle of my frustrations, when I'm feeling helpless and Ryan is screaming, I tell myself that God is teaching me patience. He is showing me how to lean on Him and develop the fruits of the spirit in my mothering. And lucky for me my "little mess" is pretty cute.

Green and Bold

Two recent green additions to our house. What do you think?

Monterey Vacation

Warning: TONS of pictures ahead! We left for my birthday trip to Monterey on Saturday morning.We finally arrived in Monterey early afternoon and ate lunch at Koko's Cafe, a little hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean place. I got a lamb and beef gyro and it was delicious!

After lunch we checked in to the hotel....And prompty went over to the aquarium.
After that we stuffed ourselves silly at Bubba Gump's. Yum! The next morning we took Ryan to Dennis the Menace Playground in Monterey.
And then headed over to the beach! It was Ryan's first time seeing the ocean. The loud waves scared him, but he loved the sand!

After the beach we headed home, stopping along the way at a few fruit stands, as well as the Gilroy Outlets. We were sad that our trip was over so soon!

I can't wait for our next family vacation!