Dirty baby, clean baby.

Katelyn is REALLY good at getting dirty. I think she's actually happiest when filthy. It was BEAUTIFUL here today so Katelyn and I went to the park this afternoon. (She's always happy about going to the park.) So Katelyn climbed over the little ledge and I thought she was just playing in the grass. In a 30 second window of time she had found the one patch of mud and had been rubbing her hands through it and stomping her feet. She was filthy before I realized what she was doing. Lovely. I got her relatively cleaned up (enough to put her in the car anyway) and we went home for dinner....Where she got to eat spaghetti. See for yourself... She thinks she's funny...

Oh well...bath time is in the near future.

After the bath it was time for a little movie. Strawberry Shortcake. I was standing in her way while taking this picture. I was being ignored. :)

The day is coming to an end. A clean, happy girl...

Katelyn had her 2-year wellness check-up yesterday. Her doctor said she's doing great...super healthy...developmentally thriving. Right on track. Amazing what a difference a year makes. In the last six months she's grown an inch and gained 2 pounds.

I love my little sweet potato.

Just canning and baking...

I'm really enjoying this summer. Mom and dad are here so we get to play at the lake with them. The weather's been perfect for the garden and the crop out at the farm we're members of (lots of rain and nice sunny, hot days in between). I've been loving time outside...working in the yard, hanging out with Katelyn, spending time playing with the kids at church. I think the sunshine is good for my soul. People have been complaining that it's hot...I'll take this over the cold any day! I've been discovering things that I really enjoy doing...two of which are canning and cooking healthy food.

Last week I made a couple of jars of strawberry jam...with strawberries fresh from the farm. It was SO good. I don't think I'll ever be able to buy jam from the store again...what a difference!! I've learned that the happiest sound when you are canning is the POP the lids make when they vacuum seal themselves. It's like an announcement, "Mission accomplished!"

So this week was the last week for strawberries out at the farm...BOO, HISS. But, it was the first week for rasberries...YEAH. And I got some fresh rhubarb. So tonight I made 2 1/2 jars of strawberry-rasberry-rhubarb jam. I must say that my favorite part of making jam is that there's always more than what fits in the full jars that you seal and save for later in the year when you can't get the berries in season. That 1/2 a jar goes straight into the fridge to be eaten now! :) So we'll see how this jam turns out...yummy, I hope.

I HATE throwing food out. It's so wasteful...I just picture money going down the drain and faces of people who are hungry....

So the old bananas in our house always get turned into something. Of course banana bread is a sure bet...but I wanted to make something a bit healthier. Last time I made banana waffles and froze them so I could pop them in the toaster for Katelyn's breakfasts. Tonight, I found a recipe for Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies at http://www.allrecipes.com/ (a great site if you've never checked it out.)

Here's the recipe:

2-3 ripe bananas

1 c. peanut butter (I used natural peanut butter with no sugar added)

1/4 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. wheat flour
1/4 c. white flour
1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 c. rolled oats

1-2 Tbsp of flax seed (I threw this in for omega 3 fat and added fiber)

Mix it all together and drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for 15-17 minutes.

They are kind of cakey in texture. Almost like the top of a muffin. Really these have so much good stuff in them (fruit, protein, whole grains) they could be a good breakfast option. (I know a couple of these and a cup of coffee will be my breakfast in the morning!)

Okay, the kitchen is clean...time for bed....

She's a super star!

So today is the day after the party and Katelyn will NOT put down this balloon and she insists on wearing these party favor sunglasses around the house. Are you kidding me??? This kid is the coolest kid ever. I've laughed out loud ten times today.

In case you didn't know, Katelyn is quite dramatic. She could be in movies. She's my little super star!!! Just look....

Let's Party!!

My baby is turning 2 on Wednesday! I can't even believe it.

So to celebrate her life we, of course, had to party!!!

Katelyn was surrounded by family and friends...the weather was perfect...the kids were all ready to play...and the backyard was transformed into a toddler wonderland!

Here's my girl eating some cake and ice cream. She ate every single bite of it too. I've asked her several times over the last couple of weeks what kind of cake she wanted. Each time she said, without hesitation, "Yellow cake." So Katelyn had a yellow cake.

Here's Katelyn and her friend N. playing with play dough. Katelyn particularly enjoyed the playdough and the balloons. Before everyone got to the party she was yellling "Yeah, Yeah, Birthday Party!" through the house. There's nothing better than the zealous joy of a child.

Two other friends M. and S. showing us their art skills with the sidewalk chalk.

M. and N. in the "ball pit". (Please note all of the balls outside of the pit.)

Katelyn is really blessed to have wonderful friends. I decided yesterday that five 2 and 3 year-olds together was the perfect amount of kids to have at a birthday party when they're this little. They all did really well together and I think we shouldn't wait for the next birthday before we have play dough and sidewalk chalk in the backyard with our friends...next time we'll add a sprinkler and let them all go crazy!! I'm so glad Katelyn has a June birthday!!