Flowers and Butterflies 90th Birthday Cake

Arizona in the Summer

Yes I tend to get a little salty and bitter when the Arizona summer temperatures creep up to the + 110's.

But when those beautiful, loud monsoon storms hit in August, there is nothing like it anywhere else in the US.

My son was actually inside playing on the computer, and I demanded that he put on his suit and get outside and enjoy the storm.

He gave me the " Ahh Mom" bit, but I would have none of it.

He was going to play in the rain and that was that.  I am such a mean mom!

It's these sweet moments that make the summer's bearable.  It's these sweet moments that make motherhood so fun!

Hawaii Trip 2011

In April we went to Hawaii with 3 other couples.  The first day we hit the shrimp truck.  Mmmm good.  Garlic breath the rest of the day!

I think we signed the truck somewhere!

Posing in front of the Hawaii temple.

We took a quad tour through a ranch where several movies were filmed.  So pretty!!

Shane left his helmet on due to his fear of falling rocks.

The girls and I reenacted the Jurassic Park scene where they jump behind the fallen log.  Apparently I was the only one who heard them say "jump"!

Jeff was shaking it at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

It was a fun evening and great entertainment!

Yummy treats and shopping with Meredith!

Jeff and I snuck away and took a helicopter tour of the island.  Soooo scary!!!!!!

I loved it, but I was so scared!  Jeff had them take the doors off the helicopter.   Good thing I was in the middle!  

Bummer I didn't get a picture of the beach house!  It was beautiful and right on the ocean.   

Our last night we had a nice dinner at the Turtle Bay Resort!  Good food, good friends, wonderful night!

Can't wait to go back again!  Kauai next time I think!

Making the Cut

I had a friend ask the other day why I took her blog link off my blog.  I felt terrible that she thought she didn't make the cut. (As if being linked on my blog is something to be desired)  

The truth is, when I redid my blog a while back, I just never took the time to finish adding all my blog links.  I still had them where I had access, just to lazy to finish putting them in on my sidbar.

Well, as you can see, I have changed things up a bit, and added as many of my friends and family links as I can think of.  I was checking on you even if you weren't listed.

But I will say, if you drop off the face of the planet in the blogging world (Eldon), you might just get cut after all!

Little cute cakes

Here are three cakes my cousin Alice requested for three retirees at her children's school.  I thought they were simple and very cute!  

Super Size Me

Nathan is a funny little man.  He spent the whole day last Saturday with his dad.  They were at the mall food court and split up because they both wanted different things.  Jeff gave Nate a $20 stood him in line.  Nate told his dad he wasn't that hungry, so off he went to his line.  I think Nathan loved that he got to buy his own food.  He ordered a calzone, 2 breadsticks, and an extra large drink - HA!

He didn't eat even half of it, and we typically order the kids water.  It looked good though!

Gluten, Dairy, Sugar Free Blueberry Muffins

I couldn't resist playing around with this recipe some more.  I took out the gluten, dairy, and sugar, and it turned out pretty good.  Pretty dang good.  They are kinda chewy because I used so many oats.  I like it that way, but you could use less of the pulverized oats and more gluten free flour if you want. 
 I ate 3.  In a row.  Ugh.

Gluten, Dairy, Sugar Free Blueberry Muffins

*1/2 cup gluten free flour

• *1 cup pulverized gluten free oats.  (Put oats in a blender until smooth like flour)
• *1/4 plus 1/8 cup Truvia ( I didn't have an 1/8 cup so I just eyeballed half of the 1/4 cup.  Truvia is expensive, but you only use a little.  If you use another stevia powder check the sweetness.  It should be equivalent to 3/4 cup sugar)
• *1/4 cup gluten free oat bran
• *1/4 cup regular gluten free oats
• *1/4 cup ground flax seed 
• *1 teaspoon baking powder
• *1 teaspoon baking soda
• *1/2 teaspoon salt 
• *1 generous cup blueberries
• *1/2 generous cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• *1 banana, mashed
• *1 cup almond milk
• *1 egg
• *1 tablespoon expeller pressed canola oil or regular oil
• *1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan, or line with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the  flour, oat flour, truvia or stevia, oat bran,  oats, ground flax, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed banana, almond milk, egg, oil and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix just until blended. Gently stir in the blueberries and walnuts.   Pour  into muffin cups, filling all the way to the top.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly touched. (Mine cooked for 20 minutes)