Banana Crumb Deliciousness!

My friend Sheleis made & shared these muffins with me back in the Fall.  They were so yummy!  I get tired of banana bread, even when we try and jazz it up with chocolate chips.  I was staring at spotted bananas yesterday and they either needed to be tossed, or turned into something, so something it was.  This is by far my favorite banana muffin recipe.  Tried, and true(and easy I might add.)  Wanted to share it.  Enjoy!

Banana Crumb Muffins~

Ingredients
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• TOPPING:
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cold butter
Directions
In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Combine bananas, sugar, egg and butter; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Combine the first three topping ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

We've been cooped up!

I took these pictures awhile back, and just came across them.  Man, I love these boys so much, I especially love the look on their faces while they look at each other.  Leo is so lucky to have such a sweet, loving big brother(and Sissy,) to walk through life with.  Leo looks for them all of the time, he is so happy when he sees Nolan or Liv walk into the room, when they hold him, play with him, read to him, you name it, he just LOVES them. 

On a side note, we've had a L-O-N-G week.  Poor Nolan had a cold that seemed to linger, and then get worse.  The long of the short, my mothers intuition told me to get him into the Pediatrician.  That I did, and as our pediatrician was looking into his right ear he said that Nolan had an ear infection in the right ear, then moved to the left and told me the same thing, and then, even worse, he said "he has walking pneumonia."  I couldn't believe it!  I felt so bad for him, he has never had either, been on antibiotics, nor been this sick =(.  Fast forward...the antibiotics kicked in by Friday, and I could tell Nolan was finally feeling better, no more ear pain, or coughing.  I have noticed a pattern with Nolan's colds, and they usually move to the chest quickly.  I could go on and on about what the Doctor and I discussed, mainly it is this~Kiddos with Allergies(Nolan has severe peanut, and tree nut,)  and/or are asthmatic(which is the next thing he will be tested for because we are pretty sure he has it =(, ) tend to have issues with their airway/breathing when they get sick.  As if the peanut/tree nut allergy isn't enough for me to worry about.  It could be worse, and other than these things, Nolan is a super healthy kiddo.  I am a worrier though, so this news wasn't something I wanted to hear.  Nonetheless, Nolan is almost back to 100% of his silly self, and is so ready to get back to school this week, to see his friends, and to play soccer!  As for me, I am so happy he's got a sparkle back in his eye, and a spring in his step.  I HATE when my kids are sick, it breaks my heart!!

Little Bud during his L-O-N-G week of sickness.

N-Y-E!

I think pretty much everything about our 2 week holiday break was low key.  So it was only fitting that we stayed home for New Year's Eve. 

Shane and I used to make homemade veggie pizzas and calazones on the weekends all the time when we were in college, and first married.  There is nothing like homemade crust, dough, anything homemade pastry is so good!  So we decided to start the tradition again with the kids.  We made homemade calzones on NYE and it was so much fun, and delish.  The kids had just about every topping to choose from and they both went with cheese...shocking, such a Hennessy thing.  I stuffed STUFFED mine with all of my favorite veggies, and Shane's=pepperoni, mushroom, olives, and veggies.  They didn't look the prettiest(I am still playing around with the dough recipe,)  but they tasted DIVINE.  They were a good size too.  Later we bowled, and danced using the wii, and then the kiddos hit the sack. 

Shane and I were talking about how much fun NYE will be when the kids are a wee bit older. To have family and friends over and play games, cards, to actually stay up past midnight and ring in the new year. We could have a giant sleepover, it would be a blast!  For now, we keep things simple, and quiet around here and I'm okay with that =) It's the chapter of life we are in, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Christmas Everything

There were just not enough hours in the last 2 weeks, as a kid it felt like Christmas break was F-O-R-E-V-E-R, but not as an adult. I wish we still had another week.  I've missed the heck out of Shane, and Liv too.  Over break my Noodle was my sidekick, my little mama, helping me so much.  It's the end of the week, and back to reality, and the 3 ring circus of L-i-f-e.

Here's what we've up to the last handful of weeks.  We celebrated bIrThDaY's with friends/family.  Liv had her Christmas program and Nolan's followed a few days later.  Both were so cute, always get emotional when they are up on stage singing.  We spent Christmas at home, relaxing.  Celebrated Christmas with Shane's side of the family a few days after Christmas.  The kids thought Christmas lasted for days and days ;)  Gam makes an Enchilada dinner each year, and uses a recipe that was Shane's Dads favorite, so it's special to Shawna, Shane, & Dianne.  One of the best gifts she gave Shane this year was home videos. She transferred tons of VHS videos onto DVDs for him! We have been enjoying watching videos.  Some of his closest childhood friends are in the videos, and they start when he was around 11 years old. A priceless gift indeed. He was such a cutie pie! We have laughed and laughed watching them, especially at the clothes, and hairstyles!

We enjoyed our family time so much over the last couple of weeks, especially not having a schedule and just letting the day flow. We played lots of games, worked on puzzles, colored, played the wii(our family Christmas gift,) stayed in our pj's til noon =), read books, ENJOYED the simple things in life. My only complaint, no snow, and our winters in the Pacific Northwest don't feel the same without it.  Can't believe we're in 2012, the holidays came and went too fast this year!  *OK I know there are loads of pictures, some of my favorites since November.  A bit of a random collaboration from this winter.

I LOVE my family!

Life is SwEeT!

Christmas tree farm.

No snow this year =(

Liv is losing all of her teeth.

Leo hanging his 1st ornament.

Night of Olivia's Christmas program.

2nd Grade Cuties!

Kennadi, Liv, & Ali

So ya these boys were the only ones out of the entire preschool class to keep their faces covered during the song, they love to be silly!

Jingle Bell Fun~so cute!

These two little goofballs, Rocky & Nolan

Liv's gift to us.  She made this cute sock snowman at school.

Kites, this is perfect.  Thank you Santa, we will use these at the beach this summer!

Santa brought Leo a Glow Worm

Sleepy eyes on Christmas morning~My baby's 1st Christmas!

Nolan's favorite gift from Santa, his GI Joe Jet.  I'm sure his Papa Jerry is smiling down at him.

Shane had this same toy 30 years ago!

Nolan is really into transformers right now

Leo is looking at his food supplier ;)

He really loves just hanging out in the Bjorn

I didn't have my camera.  Gam tried to take this something obviously went wrong with her camera, bummer! 

Reflections~

As 2011 came to a close I reflected back on a wonderful year full of family, friends, LIFE in general.  My favorite new life of 2011 was Leo of course =)  Hands down the BEST part of my 2011 was LEO, everything about him!  I am forever grateful to have gotten pregnant with him,  that he lived inside of me for 10 months, something that is the most incredible gift a mother is given.  I LOVE BEING PREGNANT(through the good & bad days!)  I have realized I would do it over and over again...  And the BEST moment of all, July 28th when I brought him into this world, when my doctor laid him on my chest, and I wrapped him in my arms!  I say this all of the time, but he is truly one of the sweetest things I have ever known, I would have 5 more if they were like him...well maybe not 5 ;) 

Just a handful of hours before I met my Leo!

While there was so much JoY in 2011, there was also sadness. One of the hardest chapters of 2011 for me was when my friend, one of the most incredible souls I've ever known, was taken way too early. The absence of Michael in my life has made me very sad. I miss my dear friend so much! There truly aren't many days since he's passed(last memorial day,) that I don't think of him. I miss his laugh, his hugs, our talks, my hair appointments with him, eating salad and carrot cake at Mizuna, sharing our new favorite music(both junkies,) just him, he was such an AWESOME SOUL!!! 

As I write I also think of a friend, a mother, who is losing her only child.  Her 11 year old son has had the fight of his life, battling cancer for 7 years, and sadly is losing, his days are numbered.  DARN YOU CANCER, especially when it comes to a child, I will never understand this!  As a mom, I cannot even imagine, it is truly a mothers worst nightmare, just unimaginable, and I CANNOT fathom.  It has consumed me for weeks now.  I want to take it away for her, I(along with hundreds,) have prayed for a miracle, and each day am realizing it's just not going to happen and I wish I could understand why not!?  Even though I am not Brandon's mother, I carry this with Jo Lynn and pray that the holy spirit has filled Brandon, as well as her, and will take away this unimaginable pain.  It is one of the saddest situations I have ever heard of!  There are just no words.  Life is too short and these situations always make me think a little harder!  To appreciate everything I have, not to take life/people granted, to live peacefully,  to be GRATEFUL, and trust our loving God every day!  Now I realize it is not always that easy, and I fail at these things miserably at times.  As I write the Serenity Prayer pops into my mind, so I guess it's a good time to share it since it's on my heart.
The Serenity Prayer~

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen. 
--Reinhold Niebuhr

ChEeRs to an incredible 2012!  May you have health, happiness, love and joy!