Parker

Parker

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Clean Muffins

 Usually for breakfast we have pancakes, waffles, eggs, toast, french toast, oatmeal, greek yogurt, smoothies and I was trying hard to find a decent recipe for a muffin.  I found these and Craig calls them gourmet...haha.  They are super yummy and a healthy version to a muffin.  
I do modify it a bit: I use 1% milk although I do LOVE coconut milk and bet that would taste yummy too; no flaxseed; the whole egg; no oil-I substitute additional applesauce; instead of cranberries (i can't find any without sugar) I use raisins, a few TJ choc chips and do put the raisins in-oh and a sprinkle of chopped nuts-usually walnuts  Yummers!!!! Also you could add a mashed banana for more fruity flavor.


1 cup dry old fashioned oatmeal flakes
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup skim milk, soy milk, almond milk or rice (your choice)
2 egg whites, beaten
2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp of canola oil
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup raisins


1. Preheat oven to 350* F. Prepare muffin tin by lining with paper or silicone liners or cooking spray.
2. Combine Oatmeal, applesauce, milk, eggs, flax and and oil in medium bowl. In another medium bowl, combine dry ingredients, including dried fruit. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour wet ingredients into it. Stir until all ingredients are just combined.
3. Using a small ladle, fill cup 2/3 full. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Serve and enjoy.

TIP - try unsweetened applesauce on top instead of butter to add sweet moistness to it.

Makes 12 muffins




Monday, April 15, 2013



Here's a fun video of Jaycee.  I'm sorry it's sideways...and the lips got off somehow.  Just thought it would be fun to record her at different ages. 


Too Long

It's been a while since I've blogged and I need to be better.  I promised I wouldn't slack off...and I have.  It's been CRAZY around here lately.  From young women things (meetings, mutual, visits, meetings, oh and meetings) Paparazzi  (parties, ordering, inventory, accounting of the business) dieting & exercising, Craig's calling, and then add in everything else-doctor appointments, friend hang outs, library days, cleaning days, shopping-pretty much I've come to the conclusion that life will never be slow & dull. 

Craig had an 8 day work trip from April 1-9.  It was him & Jeff (they work in the OR office) Gary (**K VP) & Kevin (lead over engineers).  Craig planned nearly the whole thing including the client meetings, hotels, etc so it was lot on his shoulders.  It was mostly a marketing trip to meet & potentially get work out here in the Pacific NorthWest.  They flew into Boise.  Met with Idaho Power (that is where Allison now works-she started the OR office) they've gotten 2 huge jobs from them recently.  Drove down to Twin Falls area for job site visit @ Shashone Falls, over to Pocatello, up to Butte, MT, over to Missoula, MT, across to just outside of Coeur d'Alene, ID, then into Spokane, finally finishing up in Seattle & Tacoma.  They put lots of miles and Craig said it was great visits with clients.  He also learned that Spokane is absolutely gorgeous!  Hmmm...a future place to live??  At least a spot on the list if we ever did have to move again.  Also Craig learned that these guys like their fancy food & lots of it.  He was so sick of eating out by the time he got home.  It was a great reunion and was SOOO glad he was home.  We missed him so much!  They're now working on one job from Idaho Power in Shashone Falls along with Craig trying to get a job site report from up north past Seattle.  Now they won that big job about 1 1/2 hours outside of Baker City, OR in Idaho.  It's a huge job and is going to take them most likely 11 days to do it.  I'll be dropping him off and going to Utah!  Yay!!!  I told him I'm not going to stay home that long alone.  Especially cuz that's 11 working days.  They most likely wont work on Sunday or Saturday.  Right now they think end of July-August time frame.  It's exciting that they are busy and things are going well so far out here in OR. 

Young womens is awesome and I'm feeling better about the calling.  It's a lot to handle and I thank Craig for being so patient & supportive as I have lots of things to do & go to.  At the end of July we will have 16 girls---just in Mia Maids!  10 of them are active.  And I have the BEST advisor in there and we've become such good friends.  I know Heavenly Father was looking out for me when our Pres had the inspiration to call her.  I'm really starting to get to know the girls and their fun personalities. 

Paparazzi is always busy.  I didn't know that when I signed up in July that it would ever slow down.  I'm thankful for that most days.  Some days I want to stop because it gets a little overwheming-but I love the product, parties, money and fun of it all too much to stop.  Which in July when we come I'm bringing my stuff so we can party!  I'll do a good promo too!

The girls are so fun.  I love my girls!!!!  We recently had their checkups....
Hadley was for her 15 month.  She weighed in at a whopping 19lb 4 oz...4%!!!!  The dr didn't seem too concerned though because she's right where she's been the whole time and has gained a pound since her last visit.  Her height is 29.5" in the 16%  and head at 45.3 in the 29%.  So we've got a little petite one on our hands for now.  She has 11 teeth right now.  She says many words and my favorite is probably when she says "na'night"  Some of her favorites: nanas...loves those!  veggie sticks (from TJ); eggs; tomatoes...loves those; grapes; chocolate milk (she hasn't drinken much until we discovered Nesquick-no sugar added-now she loves her milk); frozen yogurt; her purple key-key & her scentsy lamb (has to have these to sleep and pretty much all day); LOVES playing with Jaycee!!! loves her puppies & now is not scared of Izzy; loves playing outside and especially on slides.  Generally she is a happy baby-spunky monkey-but happy.  At the dr she was checking her ears and found out she had a double ear infection.  I felt so bad.  She had a cold and cut a molar so I assumed that was why she was grumpy but after about 4 days of the antibiotics she was her happy normal self.  Hadi has to drink whole milk until she turns 2.  Also is supposed to be rear-facing car seat----ya right!  She now can feed herself and actually hates when we try to feed her.  She lets us know when she wants something and is starting to communicate.  Also she can follow directions.  Example: I'll tell her to go find Jaycee and give her a hug.  She'll do it now.  She does the cutest 'roar" sound of a lion.  She really is so fun to have and I love watching her and Jaycee together.  It's my favorite.
 Hadi fell asleep playing in her sled
 Playing at the park by our house


 Jaycee also had her 4 year check up.  We started with her blood pressure which was great and then an eye test.  It was cute because they asked her different shapes and on the shape of a + she would say arrow.  She read so good and has 20/20 vision.  Then they did her weight.  She weighed in at 39 lb. 4 oz.  I was a little irritated because they made her take her shoes off but had her poofy vest, all clothes on & headband.  So I felt it wasn't the most accurate.  She is in the 78% which is good I feel.  After she turned 2 she's always been in the 90%.  Then her height was 3' 3.75" at the 47%.  I guess now at her age they start doing the BMI.  Hers was at 92% so the doctor felt she needed to tell me to make sure she is active & eating healthy.  I was proud to tell her that we are eating VERY healthy now and realized her TV needs to be limited to only 2 hours a day.  I think that can help.  Also with portions.  That girl can out eat Craig and I any day.  So we try to make sure she's eating not too much and if wants more food to have a fruit or veggie.  I feel bad that she's only 4 and already being told by doctors that her BMI is too high.  I'm so glad we changed our eating lifestyle and know it will benefit even the girls as they get older.  I was a little bothered that the dr seemed soooo concerned about Jaycee's weight but then Hadi who is only in the 4% she says is just fine.  That didn't make sense to me.  Jaycee hates milk and I told her from now on has to drink one cup a day.  Not for calories but I worry for her calcium.  Good thing Craig was a genius to figure out Nesquick.  Jaycee is VERY smart for her age.  We got her a little alphabet thing that hangs in her room.  She knows every letter and sound and even can read simple words.  We are working right now on 'AT" and words like cat, hat, pat, sat.  It's fun to see her brain work as she figures out the word.  I'm going to be starting preschool with her in September so that'll be fun.  Jaycee loves to play with her dogs.  She now is into barbies (thanks to my $20 find on her barbie house); she could watch movies & shows all day; she plays with her babies; She loves, loves being outside playing; And anything crafty!!!  Right now Jaycee is earning money for Lagoon.  She has a chore of feeding Milly every morning.  Then she is a helper with laundry, dishes & other things I ask.  I've been giving her $1/week to help her have some $$$ to spend there.  She's soooo excited for our trip.   Jaycee for the most part is kind to her sissy but there are days they pester each other.  She does love Hadi though and wants mommy to have another baby---not yet!!!  We love Jaycee and feel so lucky for her in our family.

 She was so excited to pick all the flowers up at the lake


Craig and I are happy as ever!  I feel so lucky to have him in my life.  We're excited to be coming up on 6 years and MANY more to come.  He has been so supportive with me on SO many different things.  Last May when we moved to now I have officially lost 33 pounds and I give so many thanks to him.  He hasn't really worked out a ton with me but has I changed our eating & the foods I buy he always seems excited about the new recipes.  We both know it's best for our family in the long run.  We are a little nervous for family to come this year and hopefully they won't mind our new foods.  We both feel so much better and it's amazing the difference.  I've officially have lost all my baby weight and now working on my wedding pounds.  Hopefully Craig will be patient with me for the next months.  I really want to get more off before #3-which might be our last-comes along. 

Here is a little video of Jaycee.  It got cut off at the end because my battery died.  I'll make a new one again.  I thought it would be fun to see her learn and to have as a memory of the things she liked.  Sorry about the nose picking.