Marvin Wilford Wallin

Amelia's 1st Year

Crazy Fun

Here's a fun little project. I had never tie dyed until recently and now I think I might be addicted! 

 BEFORE

AFTER 

P.S. Look OVER HERE for a little project my sisters and I will be continually working on. If you have something you'd like us to include sent us a note.

Maple Syrup and Waffles

Around here we are total Maple Syrup snobs. We haven't bought a bottle of Aunt Jemimah in at least 8 years after discovering "real" maple syrup. Trader Joe's got us hooked with their real, honest to goodness Grade B Maple syrup. Then we moved away from TJs :(

So, we started buying Maple Syrup from Costco. It's Grade A. Not the same. Grade B is dark and thick and rustic. So, we turned to amazon.com or an occasional Trader Joe's import when we can get it. I think we are stock piled enough to last us until the Salt Lake City grand opening.

Now, I'm not ignorant to the fact that maple syrup is EXPENSIVE. I have a couple of ideas to help alleviate some of the extra financial burden that this may cause.

1. Buy a small, olive oil bottle (small because they tip over easily and you need to store it in your fridge.) The spout helps just a small amount drizzle out and doesn't leave a mess or waste dripped down the bottle. Even the smallest waffle-eaters can handle the drizzle. (P.S. I got this idea from Pinterest. Someone recommended coffee syrups in olive oil bottles. It's revolutionized breakfast time at our house.)

2. Use Grade A for baking and for the kids. Hoard Grade B as an adult-only condiment!

3. Bake the maple syrup into the waffles and convince your kids that it's already in there.

Here's our favorite waffle recipe and don't forget about these delightful Whole Wheat Oat Buttermilk Pancakes.

Maple Bran Waffles

adapted from the Joy of Cooking

Preheat a waffle iron. Whisk together in a large bowl.

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup coarse wheat bran or wheat germ

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Whisk together in another bowl.

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey)

1/2 cup butter, melted*

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Combine with a few swift strokes of the whisk.

*I often reduce this or sub with coconut oil. However the butter, makes them really tasty.

Relax and Create

Since I'm getting ready for a weekend getaway with my family, I am feeling like I'm drowning in laundry, packing, cleaning, etc. (I'll feel like this again when we get home.) So what am I doing? Wasting time on the computer.... Actually one of my favorite sayings goes something like this....

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

How could I not enough looking at this yummy little face?

How do you prepare for a vacation? Do you spend a few days getting ready? Are you last minute? Do you leave your house clean? Do you swear that you are not going on vacation again because it's so painful getting packed/unpacked?

summer night at the lake

The weather couldn't have been more perfect for our first outing to the lake this summer...

We ate yummy snacks....these.

We played in the sand.

The baby ate a lot of sand.

We went paddle boarding (and fell in love!)

Just like all of you, we have been busy, busy, busy during this past month.

We've been playing soccer.

We've been growing.

 

We've been pirates.

 

We've been learning to wave bye-bye.

 

We've been pedaling our wares. (Let us know if you are in need of a duct tape wallet, we are currently taking orders.)

 

We've been playing new sports.

 

We've been silly.

 

We've been building fairy/ninja houses.

 

We've been crossing our fingers that these hives are not food allergies!

Curls

This little cutie pie really loves curly hair.