More of Lauren's photography

Here is a nature shot that Lauren took off Gma Moosh's deck last weekend.

Flashback 1 year ago...

Here is a picture of Ethan from one year ago today!! He looks soooo little!
He used to be obsessed with these Gerber banana cookies.

Teamwork

A flower from my little man

Ethan picked me a flower today & I think that deserves a great big thank you! Ethan, you are such a handsome little man & you are such a gentleman. I love you!! Thank you for being Mommy's good boy!!

Totus Tuus

Today was Lauren's first day of Totus Tuus Catholic Church Camp! She was so excited to go & she is already learning a lot!! You think that kids go to church camp & color pictures all day?? No way!! Topics for today?? The Annunciation, Cardinal Virtues, Theological Virtues and Beatitudes. That is just today. Mass is celebrated daily as well.

Here is a picture of Lauren & her friend after their first day of class!!

We are really proud of you Lauren!!

I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER!!!

Peanut butter day: Part one

Ethan's first taste of peanut butter!!

Today I brought Ethan to the park (by the hospital) to do his first peanut butter food challenge. He loved it!! He actually did really well. We will have to do a second trial, because food reactions do not happen upon first exposure. We started out with small increments, and worked our way up.
1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 2 tsp, 1 Tbsp, and 2Tbsp.
Each with a 15 minute wait time for observation.

He loved it & he is excited for next Saturday when we get to do it all over again!
Tomorrow I will share the video with you... It is pretty funny!!!

Lauren's Photography

Lauren took this adorable picture at Grandma Moosh's last weekend.

She has a pretty good eye for photography!!

Yummy Raspberry Bread!!

Today, I made a loaf of Raspberry bread from scratch, with Berries from my garden!! It was a hit. I will share my recipe with you!!

Ingredients for bread:
1 1/3 cups fresh (or frozen) Raspberries
2 C flour
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
dash salt
1 egg (or egg substitute)
3 Tbsp melted butter (or dairy free margarine)
1C milk (or soy or rice milk)

Ingredients for streusel:
3-4 Tbsp butter (or DF margarine)
2/3 C brown sugar
1/3 C quick oats (I put them in the food processor)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bread pan.
In one bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. Mix. Add egg, melted butter & milk. Mix. Fold in raspberries gently. Pour in bread pan.

In a separate bowl, cut up butter for streusel. Add brown sugar and oats. With a fork or a pastry cutter, incorporate the struesel ingredients. Pour over the bread mixture in the pan.

Bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

More wedding pics...

Me & Brad sharing a very nice slow dance...

Andrea, Lauren & Ethan taking a short break from dancing.

Too Cute Tuesday at the pool!!

Daddy, Lauren & Ethan hangin' at the pool on Sunday morning.
(is he daddy's little boy, or what?)

Ethan is gaining a ton of confidence at the pool... jumping in to Daddy!

My adorable little kiddo's having a blast & warming up in the "hot pool"

Underwaterworld

Andrea is actually hand feeding the Koi!!

A neat picture of the tiny little sea horses. Scott didn't believe me when I told him that male sea horses were the ones who got pregnant & carried the babies...

...till he saw the baby bellies that said "I'm a sea horse daddy"

OK, this looks so real, but it is a picture of a picture at Underwater World!!

MOA with the new Mr. & Mrs.!!

Ethan & his 'An-e-a' cruisin' the Mall of America.

The big day!

Congratulations Andrea & Scott!!

Lauren the Flowergirl

Ethan, the stud muffin

Today is the day. The day for which we have been preparing for months. The day that my BEST friend in the whole world gets married.
Congrats Andrea!! You are the best friend anyone could hope for & you deserve all the happiness in the world!!!

The day before the big day!!

Here we are at the salon getting our nails done!! I realize now that I never took a picture of them!! They were so pretty!!
Smile Lexa!! Her gal gave her a couple of cute flowers that actually matched our bouquets!!
Lauren & Ethan getting change for video games at Andrea & Scott's Rehearsal dinner at Joe Senser's. Guess who happened to be there?? Yeah, Joe Senser!!
Ethan being humorous and cute...
Lauren being adorable & sweet!

Test run!

Here are 2 pictures of Lauren during our "Andrea's wedding hair test run"

Cutie pie + rollers + pink leopard print footie pj's + a pink slumber cap = priceless!!

Scary weather!

Last night, we got a really bad storm. Bad enough that we got the kiddo's into the basement, just in case. We looked out the front window and saw clouds moving from west to east really fast. Then, we looked to the east... and the clouds were moving west, just as quickly! Ahhhhh!!! You could tell that it was a mile or two north of us, but it was quite scary nonetheless.

Too Cute Tuesday!!

Ethan came up to me and said "God on my Poptart, Mommy!"
(pointed to the cross)

Too Cute!!

My brother in law... the cheeseball

There are no words...

Day at the lake

Last night, after the parade, we slipped on our swimsuits & headed out to the lake!!

First picture is Lauren & Ethan hanging out on Bruce & Angie's boat.
Next is Ethan playing on the beach with Devan!

We had a great time, and we were all exhausted when we got back!!

Mankato Days parade!!!

Here is a sweet picture of my 2 brother-in-law's in the Mankato Days parade!!
Brian is Taco Man & Andy is his supreme sidekick,
Pizza Boy!

Driving to Kato!

Tonight, we had to say good-bye to Andrea (she had to go get her fiancee Scott from the airport in preparation for the wedding!!!!)

We also had to hop in the car & make our way down to Mankato for the summer Mankato Days parade that we participate in every year with our friends Angie & Bruce!

Most of the night was spent driving, so here is a picture of the kids as we were going thru a small farming town (it was really smelly!!)

Paul Bunyan Land with Andrea!!

My best friend Andrea is not only getting married next week, but she is getting ready to make a huge move across the country!! I am going to miss her so much!!
She was able to come up to our house & spend a few days with me & the kids!!
Today, we brought the kids to Paul Bunyan Land & we all had a great time!

Lauren & Andrea in the crazy magnetic house!!

Lauren & Ethan riding the train, aren't they cute!!??!!

Ethan Bunyan & his Babe!!

Hermoine hair...

Lauren with her "Hermoine Hair"

The only reason she likes to have a french braid in...

Deals & Steals!

I'd like to share with you the great deal that I got today at Walgreens!!

Angel Soft toilet paper Orig: $7.69 Sale $5.49

5 pc. spatula set (I bake a lot!) Orig: $2.00 Clearance $.50

Swim mask & snorkel (Lauren has been wanting one!!)
Orig: $7.99 Sale $3.99

Hair barrettes (school supplies) 4/$4

HIP eyecolor Orig: $10 Clearance $3.19 - Cpn $2 off = $1.19

Goody Headband Orig: $3.99 -Cpn $1 off + $3.99 rebate = $-1.00

Bic Soleil razor plus 6 refills $14.48 value Sale $8.00 -Cpn $3 off = $5

Starbucks Coffee Ice cream (BTW, YUMMY!!!)
Orig $4.79 on Sale (Buy 1 Get 1) - (2) $2 off Cpn's = $.40 each!!

Orig total = $59.73
Paid only $19.97
That's a 66% savings ($39.76)
Plus, I was printed out 3 coupons worth a total of $7.00!!
Not too shabby!!

more July 4th pics

Lauren, Ethan and Daddy watching the fireworks
(Nice Job, Brainerd!!)

Lauren, visibly excited at the start of the fireworks!!

Ethan, loving his glow stick!!