More Pets

Our pet population has grown considerably over the past few months!

Dot and Gill

We also have 13 snails, 1 crab, a worm, 2 starfish, and we believe the clownfish have laid eggs! Wow! Our little aquarium is taking off! 

Since it's the 27th, I couldn't put up a post without a picture of our little boy who is 20 months old today... 

Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Bars

Awhile back King Soopers was having a great deal on blueberries so I snatched up several 18 oz. containers... several as in 10, I believe. We ate some; I froze 2 quart size bags worth; I made blueberry muffins; and I also made these bars! They were really terrific. I liked the added texture of the oatmeal they called for. Here's the recipe:

Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Bars
**from the Cake Mix Doctor 

Ingredients: 
1 pkg. plain yellow cake mix
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, melted
1 c. old-fashioned oatmeal
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
2 lg. eggs
1 t. ground cinnamon
2 c. fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained
1/2 c. granulated sugar

To Make: 
Preheat the oven to 350*. Set aside an ungreased 9x13" baking pan. Place the cake mix, melted butter, oatmeal, brown sugar, eggs, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. The mixture will be thick. Reserve 1 1/2 cups for the topping. Transfer the remaining crust mixture to the pan. Using your fingertips, press the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan so that it reaches all sides. For the filling, place the blueberries and granulated sugar in a small bowl and stir to combine. Pour the blueberries onto the crust, and spread with a spoon so that the berries are evenly distributed. Pinch off pieces of the reserved crust mixture and scatter them over the filling. Place the pan in the oven. Bake the cake until it is light brown and bubbling, 40-45 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool, 30 minutes. Cut the cake into 24 bars.
**Store these bars, covered in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week (We did this. They were good cold.). Or freeze them, wrapped in aluminum foil, for up to 6 months. Thaw the bars overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

To life... full of fresh, summer blueberries!

MMM: Simply a Quote

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
~ Unknown 

Last September...

"Maybe When the Kids are Older..."

I started writing this poem as a way to keep perspective when the house always feels chaotic and I'm feeling guilty about being behind on my daily "chores." But as I wrote, I realized that, honestly and truly, I am going to miss this phase of life so much when it is over. All the "complaints" and difficulties that come with these baby and toddler years are really not so bad. I read somewhere this past week that there is never truly a "smooth-sailing" time in your life. And I realized, it must be true. I have always told myself, "Well when this happens" or "When we finally settle here" or so on that things will be "easier," but I don't think that's true. What we have now is our normal, it might not stay that way for long, but right now this is our life and instead of pining away the time I should be celebrating because time never stops, it's always moving forward, and one day, I'll miss this:

"Maybe When the Kids are Older..." 

the dishes will be done at the end of the day

the books and the toys will be all put away 

the middle of the night crying will stop

my main piece of clothing won't be a nursing top. 

I could go to the bathroom all by myself

all the breakables won't have to be on the top shelf 

I could go for a walk without causing a fuss

I could come back inside without tears and a muss. 

When we eat they just might cut up their own food

and clean their own mess up, wouldn't that be good? 

I won't read "The Ear Book" six times a day

I'll understand all the words that they say! 

But, oh, those things most surely can wait! 

We can go to bed early & sleep in till eight! 

That doesn't mean we're asleep the whole time
but the rocking and snuggles are sometimes sublime. 

When you reach for my hand with a smile on your face

you're saying, "Mommy, I want to take you some place!" 

Sometimes I hesitate, I have something to do

but I can't waste this time, you're going to be 2!

The dishes, the laundry, they don't HAVE to be done

we can dance, read, and snuggle, make memories of fun. 

The kids will grow up, and the house might stay clean

but today, little one, let's play and let's dream! 

To life... full of the day-by-day living! 

The Dog Days of Summer

We made it to the Loveland Spray Park one more time! Zeke, of course, had a blast! Check out a few pictures and even a short video!