Friday, February 27, 2015
jump around
Yesterday we had our first Defy Gravity experience. {They have a great weekday deal from 9-12 where one parent can jump for free} Neither one of us has jumped on a trampoline in quite awhile, it was sickening how exhausted Mike and I were after jumping for a little bit!
Kensi did the typical two year old thing. Talked about wanting to go all the way up until we were actually standing on the trampoline. Then she didn't want anyone around her to jump. She had several moments of freak outs and tantrums...even a timeout, but it could have been worse. She finally came around and really started enjoying the fun of jumping into a foam pit, which let us just prepare you for....is nearly impossible to move in and even more impossible to get out of. We felt so ridiculous trying to lift our legs and 'swim' to the edge as we found a rope to help drag our bodies out.
I think the best part was watching her trying to fling her body up the ramp and sliding all the way back down. She did this over and over again. That and taking way too many slow-mo videos. It was so much fun playing together, we were rolling in toddler laughs!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
paint
When we picked everything out for our house in te design studio we paid for the option to choose our own color for the interior of the house. We were so excited to not have yellow or tan walls, but once we moved in we quickly learned the builder only used a flat paint in the entire house which was not good for bathrooms and little toddler hands. I personally very much dislike flat paint for these reasons specifically because it shows every scuff, water splash and fingerprint. It's also nearly impossible to clean. We knew we would have to repaint everything, but decided to wait until after our one year walk-through where our builder provides a contractor to fix and nail pops, drywall seams and cracks from the house settling. We just had all this done last week and with our schedule getting a little turned upside down I need something to keep me busy when the kiddos are not.
First things first....the bathrooms! I've mentioned before that when we chose our upgrades, we kept everything basic except mainly structural things. So in our bathrooms we have a shower/tub insert and it doesn't go all the way to the ceiling. This can be a problem especially if any water hits the wall and it's flat paint. The water just absorbs into the drywall and if it's not well ventilated it can cause mold. Which no one wants to deal with! So instead we're using a satin finish on the bathroom walls. {the rest of the house will be done in an eggshell finish}.
I really do love the color we chose {functional gray by sherwin williams} but the sun hits the front of our house and all our windows are on the back causing it to feel a little darker. Besides from lightning it up in some rooms, we also want to add a little color in others. {I will not be afraid, I will not be afraid....of color}.
Throughout the house I have my paint samples taped everywhere. Kensi thinks it's funny and likes to add her own. Wishful thinking baby girl.
In the midst of trying to choose paint colors, I still have to entertain the nuggets. I'm so grateful for the moments where Kensi feels brave enough to entertain Finn all on her own. Whether it be with the iPad or her version of singing which consists on one single note being held as long as her breath allows or until Finn rolls over her and ends up kicking her the face.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
This was my mom's go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies when we were growing up. She found the recipe in our local paper well before I was born. Since then she's adopted a few different cookie recipes, but these are still my favorite. I love the oatmeal; it makes the cookie hearty and gives it so much texture. The original recipe encourages to add candy pieces, but we've never done so. To make them a little more colorful and fun you can swap some of the chocolate chips for M&M's.
Kensi and I were due for a baking date. So when asked if she wanted to do so muffins or cookies she jumped on the cookie wagon. I may have persuaded her a bit by talking about all the yummy chocolate chips and the fact that she could eat a few while we made the cookies.
I cut the recipe in half because a full recipe makes 112 cookies. Yes, 112 regular sized cookies. We would often put them in a ziplock bag and toss them in the freezer and grab one or two for an afternoon snack. Mike, Kensi and I love the giant coffee shop sized cookies and make our own using an ice cream scoop. They are the best thing on earth on a cold winter day...or a rainy day, sunny day, windy day, hot day, cool day, warm day....really just any day. There's no magical kind of day you need to make these, just go make them and they'll make your {insert type of day} day magically delightful.
Also, there's a lot a sugar. It's a cookie. Get over it. Just don't eat them all.
Newspaper Cookies:
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
Makes 56 regular sized cookies or 20 large cookies, that is if you don't eat the dough
1/2 lb Unsalted Butter {2 sticks}, softened
1 cup White Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2-1/2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
2 cups Flour
1/4 cup Wheat Germ (optional)
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baling Powder
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees {F}. Cream butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla.
Using a food processor or grinder, grind the oatmeal until it's a powder. I like to leave mine slightly piecey for a little more texture.
In a separate bowl combine ground oatmeal, flour, wheat germ, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Slowly, add the dry ingredients into the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix until well combined. Then add in the chocolate chips.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and choose your cookie scoop size. Place cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart. These cookies spread quite a bit. If making large sized cookies and using an ice cream scoop, don't put more than 5 on a large cookie sheet.
Bake regular sized cookies for 8 minutes. If making larger cookies, bake 12-14 minutes or until slightly golden on outside edges.
These are incredibly awesome if you're a milk dunker like me. They. Are. So. Good. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
play time
For months and months Kensi had asked for a play kitchen and we made over the IKEA one for her for Christmas. She loves this thing! She's constantly baking up sweet treats and coffee, but not just any coffee....Starbucks coffee. Oh and with a cake pop too. In our post about this cute little kitchen makeover I mentioned my sister and BIL made her the perfect apron. She's finally taking a liking to wearing it and most days I find her running her own Starbucks shop.
It makes me so happy to see her happy. And I'm even more excited that she loves to pretend play. I think having a play kitchen is a total must for any playroom especially for this age.
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