Randomness

This morning I made my third round of carrot/zucchini/pineapple whole wheat muffins... A recipe I found and altered a bit so that Noah would be getting more veggies in his diet. The first batch was such a hit that I have made it my goal to keep them on hand all the time. Noah will have two for breakfast with a sippy of milk, and even with the sugar/oil that is in them, I feel secure that he is eating something ultimately good for him.

If your kiddos need more veggies, give them a try! They taste like carrot cake, kind of, but more "muffin-y", if that makes any sense. (The whole wheat flour helps it to taste less like dessert and more like breakfast.)

Carrot Zucchini Pineapple Whole Wheat Muffins

3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar (granulated)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups shredded carrots
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 8 oz. can drained crushed pineapple
3 cups flour (I use 2 C. wheat, 1 C. white)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla together in one bowl. Stir in the fruit and veggies. In a separate bowl, mix up the remaining dry ingredients. Add the dry mix to the wet mix. Bake at 350 degrees for--
25-30 mins for muffins
45-60 mins for bread pans

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In other news, I am working frantically on my upcoming "REAL" website for my photography. It is really cool to see it coming together, but I'm not gonna lie, it is also really OVERWHELMING. Putting this site out there means I'm doing this FOR REAL. People will think I am a legitimate, skilled professional. And while I do have the skills.... well.... in so many ways, I still feel like a little fish in a big pond. So much more to learn. So much already learned in just the last two years. Ah, well... strange journey. Exciting future. REAL websites coming up.

In honor of the website opening next week, (that's right-- I said NEXT WEEK.... EEP!!) I give you this little gem-- one of my favorites from last year of, well... okay, it's MY son. But I have NO issues putting him in my online portfolio. After all, I sharpened and honed a lot of my skills on him throughout his short life, bless his patient little heart. Of course he gets a few spots in the portfolio!!

{3 month photos}

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Last random for the moment--

Next week, Beckie comes back from Iraq for a visit, and I CANNNNOT wait. I miss that girl! If you weren't reading this last year, I blogged about her ditching me for the money-making opportunities of Iraq here.... And at the time, it felt like a year would be an eternity. And yet-- here we are, with only three months left of her stay, and a mid-year visit to tide me over! We are going to play with Noah at the zoo, the mall, St. Charles, the park, pretty much everywhere, so she can get in her "Noah fix" while she's here. You bet there'll be photos!

I love my family... LOVE my sisters and my brother. Love my parents. Love Joe's incredible parents and siblings.... I haven't mentioned that on here recently enough, and thinking about the joy I get from visits, trips, photos, and good ol' fun family time makes me so happy, because they are such a big part of the richness of my life.

Anyhoo... enough random rambling for now... I'm going to guiltlessly, unabashedly, decadently go lie down for a wee little nap whilst my sweet baby naps. Because I can. Because I should. And because when the next few kids come along, I may never gt this chance again.

Toodles!