Cozette Grace...

Age: 2 years, 5months

Favorites:

Movie: Tangled

Color: Blue

Words: Too many to list, but not in full sentences and in her own language.

Animal: Ayla (horse)

Loves to dance, jump, and find trouble

Hates to be buckled, tucked, dressed or held unless it's her idea!

I love you sweet Cozy!

Aaaahhh...& Mmmmm...

He's home! Daniel is home and I am happy! It was a long week, but we all made it. I had lots of help and I'm so thankful. It was just no fun doing all this work without my R&R time with my amazing husband.

I was experimenting in the kitchen and gave some cookies a little fall boost with pumpkin and allspice.

I took the oatmeal cookie recipe from the top of the quick oats box and then made the following adjustments:

1 c. butter

1/2 c. raw honey

1/2 c. brown sugar

1c. Turbinado sugar (great white sugar substitute)

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. pumpkin

1/2 tsp allspice

2 c. flour

1tsp baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 c. oats

1 bag butterscotch chips

My goal for all this cooking is to provide healthier snacks for the kids, and although I was able to substitute almost all the ingredients to organics and unbleached products, the butterscotch chips remained tainted. 2nd ingredient in, was Hydrogenated soybean oils:(. The only thing I can find to sub. butterscotch chips is to make them myself. Not sure if I'm up to that and not sure of the ingredients would actually result in them tasting the same.

So, they were delish and provided a Fallish twist on a family favorite!

We are carving pumpkins tonight and in Sunday evening tradition, eating breakfast for dinner. I found an amazing homemade pancake recipe. If you've noticed most baking mixes are filled with lots of fake ingredients. So in my quest for better eating, I have developed this yummy substitution for my usual Bisquick pancakes. It actually took about the same amount of time to whip up, and we liked them better!

1 1/2 c. unbleached whole wheat organic flour

3 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp sea salt

1 Tbl. raw sugar, turbanado sugar or raw honey

1 1/4 c. Almond milk or regular milk

1 egg

3 Tbl. butter melted

In a large bowl sift in flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.

Happy Fall

Happy Baking

It's the little things

Don't you wonder how we survived our lives before motherhood?

Each day I look into their precious eyes and laughing smiles and wonder how I survived a day without them. Sometimes, when my day looks like a Johnson & Johnson's or Fisher Price commercial.. I wonder, how my heart beat, as it was so very small, without these adorable babies to love. I know I write a lot of sarcasm about mother hood, but I'm serious when I say how much I adore being a mom. There are days I am glad there are toys strung all over the floor, and loud laughter, and even middle of the night feedings.

....I am also a believer in the truth and the fun of motherhood. And those, can be those little things that creep up on you and then WHAM, knock you to the floor!

The moments you never saw coming and wonder what's coming next! I remember taking an hour to get ready. By myself. Not finding my best lipstick on my two year old.Not wondering where my brush was. Not sneaking around to paint my nails. And now, I mostly hope I look and smell ok as I rush out the door to gymnastics, grocery store, church.. I used to complain that I couldn't find a bathing suit to fit. Now, I just want a chance to wear one! Float on a raft. Keep my hair dry...
It's the little things in miniature..my motherhood reality...

last week, for instance, I picked poo off the rug with my bare hands, thinking it was chocolate. Note to self: ALWAYS USE A PAPER TOWEL WHEN CLEANING THE FLOOR

My sweet Cozette, who is learning language and conversation at a rapid pace, has been rubbing my belly and talking to a baby in there. And to make me feel even better, Noah told me that from the way I was standing it looked like I had a baby in my tummy. Unknown to them, that would be a medical miracle, and yet I don't know that that would stop their sweet assurances. Their is NO baby in my tummy.

I am also learning something new as my little boys grow to be big little boys...they like girls and don't know why. So they just act like maniacs and totally lose their heads. My sweet Jacqueline, helped my boys totally lose it. I don't blame them, but man they can't stop themselves from flexing, climbing trees, doing handstands, giggling maniacly..Oh..my..what's to come?

...And don't you love, bedtime? Need I say more? I didn't think so.

So in any case, enjoy motherhood and be sure to remember the little things.
Because our little things, are growing up so very fast!

Waving a white flag over here

WE HATE SLEEP!

Its' the title of the song that they sing to me...

It goes like this:

I want to dance in my bed, I want to sing in my bed.

I don't want to sleep in my bed

I want to scream in my bed, I want to yell in my bed.

We HATE SLEEP..

I am picturing an anthem type hard rock rhythm and small diapered children with messy hair jumping on lots of beds in the middle of the jungle.

Now that we are on the same page and picturing the fiasco..

Let me summarize the chorus, it would go something like this:

We only dirty our diapers at nap time.

We only have major "poo"ccidents in our beds at night.

We don't need no pajamas!

We don't need no mamas!

Are you hearing it too? I think I'm onto something.

This has been a hardcore, messy house, late night, no sleep, dancing on the tables, jumping on the sofa, did anyone bathe today?, find food for yourself, mess of a week.

Hint: Daniel's out of the country for a week. (Skype is not cutting it)

*Thank you to all who have ventured in to help me tame the natives, your names have been engraved on my wall of heroes.

Although, I think it might be covered in glittery stickers and permanent marker, glued to the ceiling somewhere.:)

A special treat for my little monsters!

It is here! My favorite cereals are here. No matter how healthy we are trying to eat, I cannot diss a yearly favorite..

It's that time of year!

A special treat for my little monsters

Smoothie face!
Recipe for a great smoothie:

In your blender:

handful of fresh spinach

2 Tbl. of flax seed

1 or 2 cups of frozen berries (mixed)

at least 1 Tbl. of honey

1/2 cup of orange juice

1/2 cup vanilla almond milk or yougurt

I will give you three guesses!

And who does this remind you of?

Remarkable isn't it?

There is a picture like this out there of the grown up version..I jut can't find it

It's really uncanny

It was time...
Long overdo

For a new do...and now we have

Daniel Zimmermann the 2nd

Mr. Noah Daniel Zimmermann

Carmelized onions..

The kids eating candy in Jerome
Something totally new for me...enjoying an onion. Normally onions are on my "No thank you" list, but last night a new flavor opened up my taste buds to caramelized onions. Ok, so my new recipe first and then you can try this tasty delight in your own home. Expect some burning of the eyes, but totally worth it!

First you need:

4 chicken breast

2lbs red potatoes

1 large red onion

flat leafed parsley

Parmesan or mozzarella

balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

olive oil

Fresh Spinach

Easy easy, cover your chicken in a simple Italian salad dressing, garlic salt and pepper. Throw it on the grill. cut up your potatoes into cubes and boil them until tender, then drain water and add parsley (cut up), butter and parm or mozzarella (depending on how cheesy you want them). Set them aside to keep warm. Warm up 1 tbs. olive oil and 1 tbls. butter and add your sliced red onion and 3 tbls balsamic vinegar. Cook those babies until they are almost burned or they say, caramelized about 15 minutes and then at the end add 1/4 c. water and scrape the black into them.

Put the chicken on a bed of spinach and layer it with the onions and add the side of potatoes! So my love of caramelized onions begins...

Hello Autumn, Hello Fall, Hello fair weathered friend!

Adios, Summer!

I can't believe it is October. We celebrated with none other than a trip to Jerome, AZ. I did not realize Halloween was their thing. Until, we walked along the quaint streets in which windows boasted many a freaky things. I'm not a big fan of creepy. So in Jerome's defense, I am not the best judge. Our visit was, a Creepy Cute kind of adventure. I believe they stopped reproducing in small towns, Daniel and I could of had our own window display called, "YES WE KNOW WE HAVE FIVE KIDS!" "AND WE LIKE IT (most everyday)!"... Geesh, don't those people watch DHC channel? We don't have anything on Kate and Michelle. Anyhow, we had a wonderful time exploring the history and enjoyed lots of candy and winding roads through the forest, a creek and some In and Out Burger goodness!

I celebrated October with a Pumpkin Latte, my Cozy Cabin Candle and, one of soon to be many, large orange pumpkins on my porch. I will then begin my movie marathon, "must see for fall" list which includes;

You've Got Mail

Sleepless in Seattle

When Harry Met Sally

And when you've had enough of Meg Ryan,

Serendipity

Baking has also ensued, some homemade granola bars, apple muffins and my fave Fall candy!

With all this baking I have been experimenting with sweeteners. Trying to cut down refined sugars in our diet, I am using only raw honey to sweeten them. The Candy Corn in this picture however is as refined as it gets:)

Oh how she's grown..

Quinn Ryin Zimmermann

5months old