Owen the Tall

I stare at this boy in amazement every day. I'm sure anyone who reads this ol blog is getting tired of my mentioning it, but I just have to document it, for my own sake.

Did I mention he is 5 months old?

Check out those long arms and legs???

So very thankful for this boy, what gifts and blessings his life and health are!!

St. Joseph's Feast Day

Luke and I love St. Joseph and we have been praying and asking his intercession a lot lately, so needless to say, I wanted to celebrate his feast day in a special way. However, with all our allergy restrictions, I had no idea what this was going to look like. But I was determined.

Behold.....

Chocolate Brownie Mug Cake (gluten free, vegan)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup GF flour
• 1/2 cup beet or palm sugar*
• 4 Tbsp cocoa (natural, unsweetened)
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup coconut milk*
• 4 Tbsp canola oil
• whipped coconut cream to serve (optional)

Instructions

1. Place flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, coconut milk and oil in the jar of a blender and puree until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.
2. Divide the batter between two microwave safe ceramic mugs.
3. Place in microwave and heat on high until the mixture is cooked through, about a 1 minute and 40 seconds to 2 minutes for a 1000 watt microwave. It should still be moist when cooked through, not dry.
4. Let cool for a minute and serve with coconut whipped cream or sorbet.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Cooking time: 2 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2

*I used regular white sugar since that was what I had, and I used almond milk, since again, that's what I had.

Here is the link if you wish to save this small gem (Mug Cake). It was easy, brilliant and oh so good. I also whipped up this frosting to put on top. I only make half the recipe and I omitted the strawberry preserves and added cocoa powder instead to make it chocolate frosting. I was have an intense chocolate craving that day, can't you tell? I've made it with the strawberry jam before though, and that's great too.

I am so thankful for St. Joseph. And for fruitful frantic internet searches entailing - gluten, dairy, egg, nut, and soy free chocolate desserts - that lead you to discover mug cake. 

The day Hailey made breakfast

March 8th was a morning I won't forget. Hailey already had been given a bowl of cereal but she decided she was still hungry. While I was in the shower, she made herself a bowl of oatmeal. Yep. Start to finish, she successfully made herself second breakfast. And there was hardly any evidence. She had gotten the big container of oatmeal out of the cupboard which was up high, measured out her oats with a measuring cup, put the oatmeal away, then added some water, microwaved it, and took it out before it bubbled over, and then she took the milk gallon and poured it into a measuring glass making it easier to carefully pour milk into her bowl. What a smarty pants. She was SO proud of herself. I couldn't believe it. There was such minimal mess too.

She is so capable, it amazes me. And only 3 and half years old. Way to go, Hailey! 

Hailey and Heirloom earrings

Ok, so that's probably an exaggeration. Heirloom implies worth a lot right? But what if it's worth a lot in sentimental value? That factors in too right? Anyway, I've had these earrings laying around forever. 

They are clip on, or rather, you screw them on (totally crazy and cool) and my Grandma gave them to me years ago. They are from one of my great great aunt's jewelry boxes. I have had the intention ever since she gave them to me, (I was seriously probably like 16), of taking them to a jeweler and having them made into actual earrings. They are s pretty and I thought they would be precious stud earrings. 

Well, I'm SO glad I didn't. 

She doesn't like being the center of attention and was being all goofy, self conscious and cute :)

They have found a new owner, and I think Hailey's Great Great Great Aunt would be pleased.

Our princess and a little Irish Lad

I'm a little, no, a lot excited, about this dress I just made for Hailey.

I did not tell her to pose like this. I think it was just mid twirl. 

 I was in JoAnn's and saw the pink fabric on the bolt, already like this...with the top part all ruffled and stretchy, you know what I mean? I immediately thought how easy it would be to whip it into a dress! Seams down the sides, throw on straps and done! Weeeellll......I got home and held it up to Hailey and discovered I didn't get a big enough piece! So it became like a scene out of Cinderella:

"I'll add some sleeves and a ruffle, and something for side panels"

And voila!

The sash really brings it all together. She looks so sweet in it. The simple little summer play dress I had in mind became this adorable girly frock. I told her she can wear it every day if she wants. I meant it to be a play dress since every day she wants to wear a dress. And currently, all she wants to do is hold it and look at it, and save it for church on Sunday, which if you know Hailey, is the highest form of a compliment. It's that special to her.

And this boy....what a love. 

 

Happy belated St. Patrick's Day from Owen!

When you're the best of friends

.....you do everything together.

I love how they wait for each other to do things, ask for the other one, and dislike being apart. It reminds me of my siblings when we were little. You truly are best playmates! Even the quarrelling, and not wanting to share, you learn how to get along and work things out. These two are not capable of working it out themselves most of the time, lots of parental intervention needed still, but they'll get there :)