Got Bananas......

I don't know why I buy bananas at Costco.  There are always so many left over, and once they go the slightest bit brown, no one will eat them!  It's a good thing I have a great Banana Bread Recipe...thanks to Martha Stewart!  I made Banana Bread, Banana Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake and Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.  The best thing about this recipe is that it freezes amazingly!  I put half of the bread and cake in freezer bags for a later time.

Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (I use 3-4 bananas)
• 1/2 cup sour cream (I use light sour cream....I think this is the secret ingredient!)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

*Cream butter and sugar together.  Add eggs.  Mix in the remaining dry ingredients.  Add sour cream and bananas.  Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.  

Missing Tooth!

The tooth is truly missing....not sure if he swallowed it.  Considering how often he has been wiggling this thing, I am shocked he did not notice it when it fell out.  I hate how one tooth missing can make them go from looking like a "little kid" to "big kid"!  My baby will be toothless in no time!

So the entire year flew by......

Well, blogging is obviously not my cup of tea!  I am almost embarassed I have one up and running.  I have decided to change my blog a little bit.  I am going to combine my love for writing, cooking and managing this crazy family, as well as our midwest adventure!  Hopefully, it will inspire me to write more often.

September flew by!

So, I know I am slacking a bit on keeping you all updated on our adventures here in Indy!  I will give you September in a nutshell!  Started out with a trip to Chicago...so much fun with the kids and I definitely ate my way through that city!  I couldn't pass up Chicago style pizza, hot dogs and Al's beef sandwiches!  We hit up Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, American Girl for an afternoon tea....Mav was less than excited, and a Cubs game....Ava was bored out of her mind!  It's so exciting to be only 2 1/2 hours away from a city like Chicago, and I can't wait until our next trip to the Windy City, possibly sans kiddos!

The Fessler's came to visit with their youngest of three boys!  It was a wonderful visit and made me miss them even more.  The boys, Matt and Mike, drove to Wisconsin for the Beaver game....long drive for little excitement!!  Jen and I got massages and just hung out!

Next, my mom came for a 9-day visit!  I loved having her here.  We relaxed, shopped, decorated my house, ate out and went to a Colts game!  I miss her a ton, but it was so nice to spend such quality time with each other!

I love having visitors....it makes me feel like I am on vacation because we get to do all sorts of fun things....so make sure to come visit us in Indy!!!!

Kids are great, Matt and I are doing well and we are enjoying life in our new city!  I still miss Portland and the comforts of home!  However, the mid-west pleasantly surprises me more and more everyday!

Pre-Kindergarten Begins!

So, as I am beginning this blog can I just say my house is so QUIET!  Seriously, both kids are at school and I have 5 hours and 45 minutes to myself!  However, my little man was not as stoked for school as I was for my alone time!  It started off with a bribe of 10 minutes of bike riding after the bus left with Ava and before he needed to get in the car.  I did get him in his class, and after last year I was on my toes when it came to his "pump fake" where he takes off running out the other door instead of his class door!  I managed to get him in the class....carrying him!  I helped him put his lunch in his cubby, which he proceeded to put back in his backpack, according to him he was not staying.  Then a familiar face showed up, thank goodness I met this great mom on Parent Night and she had just moved here to, and it turned out the kids are in the same class!  We had a playdate last week, which helped so much.  He sat down next to his friend, got started on his morning work, gave me a smile for the camera and a kiss good-bye!  I do miss the kiddos, but I think I will be able to make do until 2:45pm!

Breakfast pic!  At this point, he is still a little excited!

The bike ride bribe at 8:20am!

Sweet Angels!

The Boys!

I am not staying here!

This face breaks my heart!

I can leave now!  Looks like he just may enjoy it after all!

T.G.I.F.

Getting back into a routine is hard!  Especially, when it is 90+ degrees out and still light out at 9:00pm.  We have made it through week one with only a few hang-ups.

For starters, the kids and I were in an accident.  We were headed to Ava's soccer practice and the cars were slowing down and apparently the young pizza delivery driver didn't do the same because she slammed into the back of us.  It was a little scary, but we are all okay!  Thank the lord for watching over us during this time.  It is such a scary feeling being hit when your kids are in the car.  I immediately jumped out and got in the backseat with them checking them over.  Ava was screaming, but just because it scared her.  On the plus side, the paramedics were cute and we got to sit in an ambulance and check it out while we were waiting and they were taking our vitals!  Yes, when you live in a small town in Indiana there will be 2 police cars, including the sheriff, a firetruck and ambulance for a minor fender bender!  We are all fine, so that's all that really matters.  I, also, highly recommend Volvos!  Her car was totaled and had to be towed away, mine looks like it has been in a minor accident.....cheers to the safest vehicle!

Ava chose not to go to dance this week.  She said she didn't want to do it anymore, not because she doesn't love dance but she hates wearing leotards.  Instead of spending all my time trying to talk her into it, because I hate to see her give it up, I thought about my over packed schedule and said it's your choice honey, but you must do something.  She chose soccer and piano, so we'll see!

That's about it here in Hoosier Country!!  I need to take more pics, but for now an update will have to do!  Ava is still enjoying school and Mav starts Monday.  We went to his Open House last night, and I love his preschool!  I think it will be a great school year for both kids!

School and soccer have started!

The first day of school was yesterday, and it was a success!  Ava got off the bus and proclaimed that "this is the best school ever"!  She also made me promise she would not be going to a new school next year....poor girl!

However, yesterday was not the first day of school for Maverick.  He was so bored all day, but I was enjoying the quiet neighborhood!  I signed him up for a different preschool, which will be full day on M,W and F!  I am so excited to have a little extra time to get stuff done around here.  He starts next Monday.

It was Maverick's first day of soccer practice....which helped get him through the day of boredom!  He was so excited and was such a little stud out there.  Ava complained that she had to sit at his practice....now she was bored!  Maverick was just thrilled that Ava had to sit and watch him practice, this kid has been carting around Ava and attending her activities since birth.

Overall, it was a successful start to a CRAZY week.  soccer practices, dance and school meetings for both kiddos......my head is spinning.  This is in addition to the constant parade of contractors coming in and out of my house.  Ahhhhhhh!