pumpkin love.

I am in love with the fall. I love everything about the changing of the leaves, cooler mornings and evenings, fall decorations, and of course pumpkin flavored everything.

We have been enjoying the Pumpkin Pancakes from Practical Paleo at least once a week. Seriously N & S gobble about 6-7 a piece! Granted, since they are Paleo the texture is much thinner than a normal pancake and I make them silver dollar sized…but still they can’t get enough of them! Plus, since there is a little maple syrup in them we don’t put anything other than a sprinkling of cinnamon on top and I love that they aren’t loaded with syrup while they eat them. Either way, they are a hit and every time I am hoping to have leftovers to make little sandwiches with I am left empty handed and telling myself I should double the recipe. Make these for breakfast the first chance you get! They are a huge hit in our house and I know they will be in yours too! Find the recipe here.

Yesterday we made Paleo Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies and will make these again I am sure. They were a huge hit. I found the original recipe from Pinterest but modified it and was very happy with the results.

Paleo Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe adapted from FitSugar

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup olive oil ( The original recipe called for butter but I was out – I would try coconut oil next time)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1  1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 dark chocolate bar, chopped ( I used an 85% cacao)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, maple syrup, pumpkin and vanilla until smooth.

3. In a small bowl mix all the dry ingredients.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; stirring to avoid clumps.

5. Stir in your chocolate chunks.

6. Scoop out your cookies and place on parchment lined cookie sheets – I used a 1 tablespoon scoop.

7.  Bake for 15-20 minutes (Set the timer for 15 – they brown quickly!)

8. Enjoy!

And the last part of my pumpkin obsession this fall has been making homemade pumpkin coffee creamer that I even paleofied (is that a word? if not, it should be.) I will admit it is most definitely not the most true-to-Paleo item out there but it is way better than dumping a bunch of artificial sugar loaded fake cream in your coffee. This is made out of real food items – cream, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree. Yum! Again, another recipe that I found on Pinterest and I modified to make it fit my lifestyle. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

Recipe adapted from Next to Heaven

• 2 cups organic heavy whipping cream
• 4-5 tablespoons organic pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

 1. Whisk cream, pumpkin, syrup, spices over medium heat.

2.  When it gets steamy remove from heat and add in the vanilla.

3. Use a strainer to transfer the cream into a jar (I used a mason jar).

4. Let it cool down and chill it the refrigerator.

5. Enjoy in your coffee the next morning!

What is your favorite pumpkin recipe? Happy Fall, friends!

email to s.

I have email accounts for both girls that we use to send pictures, funny stories, quotes, or just a quick note to them. Someday we will share the emails with them and hopefully they will have a full email account with emails loaded with memories and stories as they grow. Today was no exception and I had to share what I just emailed to my dear S.

Dear S.,
Today I was thoroughly loving my morning yoga class at the gym. We were right into the flow of some harder poses when I saw the daycare employee step into the dark, quiet room. I think every Mom cringes when they see the employees step into a class; wondering who they are there for and hoping it’s not them because it means that their child has a diaper situation that needs to be addressed. We made eye contact and she nodded so I quietly made my way out of the yoga studio to grab my tennis shoes and make my way to the daycare where I leaned the gravity of the situation.
Apparently today you had a MASSIVE blow out poopy diaper, went down the slide followed by a few other kids and created a ginormous mess. Oh boy. I wasn’t quite sure what to do – apologize, help clean the slide, help clean other kids, or run out in embarrassment.
It was all over your legs, outside of your diaper, back of your dress and who knows where else. We went to the car to change your diaper and all I could do was laugh at the situation and laugh that of course I had no extra clothes to put you in. Quickly realizing that our gym time was coming to an end we headed inside so I could quietly sneak into yoga and reclaim my unused yoga mat and water. I mouthed thank you to my teacher who smiled and bowed her head and in turn mouthed “namaste.” Not entirely sure I was leaving in the state of peace and relaxation that I normally am but I had to smile and make the best of our morning. Since we were leaving the gym early this meant more time to run errands at Target and pick up a new dress for you to wear home. Always gotta look for that silver lining.

Namaste, Stella.

I love you (but am excited for the day you are potty trained).

Mommy

twins.

Don’t worry, I’m not having twins! But one of our heifers had twins yesterday morning and we took the girls down to see the twins and all the other little babies that have been born recently.

A smokey sky was our backdrop on our ride down to the field. Praying and hoping these fires are soon contained and we can go back to our normal blue skies. I can’t even imagine what it must be like for those living where the fires are burning. 

The sad thing about cows and twins is that sometimes the mama will ignore one of the twins and leave it to fend for itself while raising only one. I don’t really know why and I’m not sure I asked hubby last night.  I’ve seen it happen multiple times in my few years of being around calving season; we’ve tried to bottle feed a few, have sold a few, or been lucky to pass one off to another mama who’d lost her calf. Every time it makes me sad for the little baby calf and trying to understand how a mama could leave her baby all alone.

And that’s what we saw last night:  Mama and one of her twins much farther away from the other little baby who was laying all alone in the field.

So, we knew we had to make some decisions on what to do with the twin. Hubby doubted she’d eaten all day and we knew we either had to bottle feed her, find someone else that would, or nature would determine her fate. So we loaded her into the Ranger at the girls’ feet and headed for home. I wasn’t super thrilled about bottle feeding again, I’ll be honest. The smell of the milk replacement makes me want to gag and I don’t do so well with cow poo…but I was trying to be the country girl my husband needed me to be.

Fate intervened on our short drive back down the road home as our neighbor was out playing with her dogs.  When she saw the little calf,  already had all the supplies and had bottled fed one of our calves last year, little Mini Moo Too (as she was later named) found a new home before she could even ask her husband.  After the calf was safely moved to their horse trailer we waved good bye as her husband was walking out to see what all the commotion was about.

Very glad little Mini Moo Too found a good home and secretly very glad I don’t have to do all the bottles.

preschool.

Let the cliches begin, “I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by.” “Where did the time go?” ” Seems like just yesterday she was a baby.” And on and on. But, dang it, they are all so true. And next year (or the year after, we haven’t decided yet) I know I’ll be saying these all over again when she starts Kindergarten.

I really can’t  believe how fast it has gone by. It seems like just yesterday I was holding this tiny, little dark eyed girl who I was so in love with from the minute they placed her in my arms.  She taught me about what it meant to be a Mom and how you could love someone so much from the second you met them. I had images of my Mom holding me as an infant and just like that, I.Got.It.

Where the heck did the time go? I mean if she’s almost four that means I am (gulp) four years older than when I had her, putting me almost over the big 3-0. Plus, I honestly don’t feel that much older. Yes, I have found my first few gray hairs (I blame our second child for those) and am shopping more and more for the anti-aging lotions but I don’t want to admit I look older yet. Is this how it will always be?

And, it really does seem like just yesterday she was a baby. I can remember so clearly our days at home when she was and infant and I was on maternity leave; we’d sit on the couch and she’d sleep in my arms as I read or enjoyed the guilty pleasures I had recorded on my DVR.  I can remember finding out I was pregnant again when she was only 10 months old and totally and completely freaking out and then feeling  guilty that she’d have to share our attention with a sibling. I remember her coming to meet her little sister and being so overwhelmed with love and fear that I didn’t know what to do.  And then there was just yesterday; shopping and lunch, just N. and me,  I sat and looked across the table at her and realized how big she has gotten and how ready she is for this next step and I couldn’t have been more proud. If I do anything right in my life it will be to raise two girls who are ready to take on this big world and do it with grace, confidence and respect.

So here we are: August 13, 2012 and she is starting preschool. Probably because we’ve watched Finding Nemo one to many times but as she raced down the hallway yelling, “First day of school! First day of School! First day of School!” I felt like Marlin, Nemo’s overprotective Dad, and wanted to hold onto her a little big longer. After breakfast and  plenty of pictures inside and outside in her special new first day of school outfit we were headed to school.

As we got to her little yellow school she walked to the door with such confidence, that I hope never leaves her, and opened it up without any hesitation. Since we had already found her cubby she took off her backpack (loaded with only a single folder – it was more an accessory than anything) and put it inside. Before I knew it she had already disappeared off to the dress-up/play kitchen section and she was fully engaged while I chatted with her teacher and got ready to make my departure.  After a big hug and kiss I was on my way out the door, as I was walking out her teacher said, “Good job, Mom. She’s ready; you did your job.”

Tears. Smiles. Happy. Proud.

So my dear N., I am so proud of you today and so excited for your new school adventure. I hope you are always this excited for school and that you will always have the same curiosity. Keep asking the many, many questions about what things are and how they work, be a friend and helpful to others, and leave things just a little better than the way you found them. You will move mountains!

rite of passage.

Today was a big day to me. We had new bedroom furniture delivered and just like that we moved the last two hand-me-down-newly-married-leftover-from-college dressers that we had. As I looked around our house I saw the kitchen table that was our first married purchase together, then the couch and chair that replaced my Grandma’s old couches, then the t.v. stand and bookshelves that replaced the awful old t.v. stand, and so on. I know it’s all just stuff and stuff isn’t what matters,  but all this “stuff” has been the start of our life together and holds such memories.  There’s our table where we have all of our meals as a family, growing from a family of two to four. There’s our couches where we have cuddled and watched movies, napped with sleeping infants, and occasionally slept the night on. And there’s our t.v. stand that has been filled with books and pictures of our travels and family.  All of  this “stuff” holds memories for me, furniture or not.

Today was  big day to me; I sorta feel even more like a grown up (not quite, but sorta).

chocolate chip zucchini muffins.

We have more zucchini then we know what to do with and we are all getting tired of cooking it on the BBQ; so I  searched Pinterest for a few paleo friendly zucchini bread options.  We tried one Sunday morning and it came out way too soggy (probably because there were like 6 eggs in it!) So this morning we tried another recipe and modified it a bit by adding less banana and adding in chocolate chips (gluten free and dairy free of course). And success!! We came up with the yummiest chocolate chip zucchini muffins!

My two little helpers stood and helped while we made these – from putting the muffin liners in the pan to dumping in whatever measuring cup I handed them they stood at the counter and were involved in the whole process. I love that. I love that they love helping me cook and I love that they love food and will eat almost anything I put in front of them. And these muffins are chock full of good stuff for them so while it feels like a treat they are getting good vitamins and minerals from the zucchini, good fat from the coconut oil and almond butter, and just the right amount of sweet from the chocolate chips. Heck, its a perfect snack for me too!

Helping Mom cook in heels & a tutu…isn’t that what everybody does?

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

Recipe adapted from: Hip2Save

Makes: 12 muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 C shredded zucchini
• 1 banana, smashed
• 4 eggs, whisked
• 1/4 C coconut oil, melted
• 1/3 C honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 C almond butter
• 1/2 C coconut flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 C. chocolate chips (gluten & dairy free – We used Chocolate Dream found at Raleys)

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line/grease your muffin pan.

2. Mix the first 7 ingredients together.

3. In another bowl mix the remaining ingredients together.

4. Combine wet and dry ingredients then stir in chocolate chips.

5. Mix together and spoon into muffin pan.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Checking with a toothpick that they are done.

7. Enjoy!

What a way to start our Tuesday morning! Up next to try with our zucchini are Zucchini Fritters and Stuffed Sausage Boats both from Wellness Mama. What’s your favorite way to cook zucchini?

road trip.

I just got back from a little road trip with my two favorite girls.  It’s become tradition at least once a year to make the trek down to Morro Bay to visit my younger brother and the girls’  fun Uncle Jason. We broke the trip up by staying a night in San Jose with an old college roommate and playing around at the San Jose Discovery Museum (fun!!) on our way down and then came home staying a night at my brother and sister in laws. This allowed for 3-4 hour chunks in the car at max and kept us all from going a little stir crazy. While this plan was still not fool proof and my dear S. had a few tough moments when her precious blanket would fall where Mom couldn’t reach it and could not understand why I wouldn’t pull over immediately to get her blanket. This was so frustrating for Mom & S. but somehow we survived!

It was so great catching up with an old friend and letting the girls explore the museum in San Jose. We still can’t believe we’ve been out of college almost 10 years! How did that happen?

Our time in Morro Bay was relaxing and filled with as much beach time as I could squeeze in. Since my brother had to work during the day we’d do our own thing and explore on our own and then meet up with him late afternoon for dinner.

The first full day we spend the morning walking in Cambria and then playing on the beach in Cayucos.  Then we headed to the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles when he got off work and had our fill of crazy huge corn-dogs, cold Coors Light, and enjoyed people watching and taking the girls on a few rides.

Jason was able to take a half day Thursday and we picked up him from work in San Luis Obispo, had lunch at the airport and the girls loved watching all the airplanes and helicopters taking off and landing, then spent the rest of the afternoon at Avila Beach. Sun, sand, and more sand….what else could you want from a picture perfect afternoon at the beach?

While it was great to leave it was so great to get home and see my hubby. The girls couldn’t get out of the car fast enough and have been cuddled up with him non-stop since we’ve been home.

Good to leave but great to come home.