Day Trip Saturday

Just outside Priest River is Albeni Falls Dam, ID - we pass it by on our way into Washington frequently but have never stopped there until today. We took a family day trip to the park to play- it was a sunny 42 degrees- we ran around for an hour then headed over to the dam to sight see. It was a gorgeous sight, bright and sunny, clear blue water, some geese about honking- a fun time.

Albeni Falls Info -

 http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/LocksandDams/AlbeniFallsDam.aspx

 Beautiful, fun, family day together.

Healthy 2 ingredient Cookies (plus mix in's)

When my husband and I sit down to meal plan for the week we have our go-to recipes and recipe books on hand but we love to venture online- searching out new recipes to add to our binder at home. When looking for meals, I ran across this goodie for healthy 2 ingredient cookies, plus your choice of mix-in's. I knew I had to try it out! So this morning I did...we mixed in walnuts and chocolate chips- I didn't chop the oats enough so next time I will chop them a bit more to get a better mixture going on. But the taste- don't expect a 'normal' chocolate chip cookie- but these definitely were good and satisfied my sweet tooth! I may try cinnamon-raisin for my next go at these! Yum.

Here's the link to the Burlap Bags recipe for 2-ingredient-cookies-plus-the-mix-ins-of-your-choice

2 ingredients -

Banana's & Oats

My mix in's - Chocolate Chips & Walnuts

 Great taste- but next time I'll chop those oats more! Some didn't even get chopped.

Love new recipes!

Boy Time

One of the things I admire and love most about my husband is how he can fix, build, make...practically anything. A talent shown to him by his father and one we both want to instill in our son as well. Luckily our son LOVES fixing, building and making. He accompanies my husband any time there are things to repair or fix on the car - he loves removing my tires and rotating them, he'll lay underneath a vehicle any time my husband asks. Our son also enjoys learning tasks of providing for our needs...fixing things around the house, or building fires to keep us warm. He also loves cooking- and helps to make dinner nightly...he will make some woman very happy one day :)

So, this last week...he and hubbie fixed the A/C-heater switch in our mini-van. Our son learned soldering and about the wiring and they got it fixed and back in place...and Momma is happy that the switch now just turns on without any jiggling it about to get it to work. Hubbie also showed him how to make kindling for the fire and get the fire started in our wood stove.  The boy lessons didn't end there..they also build golf course ramps out of wood, logs, tubing and cardboard as a part of their cub scout project this week as well. Love my boys.

Can't believe this guy is going to be 10 years old next month!!

Park Day

The sun was shining, the day was warmer...okay 45...but it FELT warm with the sun beating down and hardly any clouds in the sky. What a great opportunity to take our school day to the park. Indoors are great for snow days, sitting by the fire- but if its beautiful outside, that's where you'll find us. A little learning, a lot of discussions, a lot of playing, a lot of laughs....and a lot of fun!

Fresh air, beautiful sunshine and great company, the Lord is good!

Movie Week & Backyard Hiking

We had a slow week this last week...our daughter coming home Monday at midnight from her weekend trip with 4H...then her sleeping till 2pm on Tuesday and back into bed by 6pm. We declared it movie week from school purposely to give her rest time. A little history of Japan, the Declaration of Independence, the Arctic & Antarctica and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea (since we just finished up the book). Yes, it was a relaxing week together. Friday, feeling more energy from the easy week after finishing work for the day we all went to the movies- Penguins of Madagascar for the boys and Hunger Games for the girls..then out to dinner, pit stop at Walmart and home for bed. Yesterday brought laundry and pizza and movie night at home. Today with the sun shining brightly outside we ventured for some backyard hiking. Exploring our 'yard' of 25 acres never gets old. Seeing how magnificently huge the pine tree's are always amazes me. The peace that comes from stopping dead in your tracks in the midst of the forest and just listening. Birds, wind through the tree's, sun light on your face warming- I can think of nothing better than being out in nature with my family.

Sharing a few pictures from our hike today...

 May you and your family be blessed this upcoming week and reflect on the joy of being together and in the nature surrounding you.

Learning & All Dressed Up

A few snapshots of our week...crafting, jelly bean graphing, amazing bridges around the world, kale chip baking...lots of reading- finished 20,000 leagues under the sea and Edward Tulane..now for a new audio book...and most importantly getting our daughter ready for a big weekend. She is leaving for 3 days with 4H'ers from around the state to the Know Your Government conference for 8th and 9th graders. What an amazing opportunity, we are so blessed by this. She gets to travel with her friends and group, meet other kids from around the state who share her interests and love of 4H and learn about the government as well. Saturday eve they dine at a formal sit down dinner...since we won't be with her to take pictures we snapped a few of her in her formal dress today.

We are incredibly excited for her and this experience.

 Linking to 25 of the World's Most Unique Bridges video

 Kale Chips....better than potato chips according to our kids!

Cut out the stem, break apart in small pieces

Drizzle with Olive Oil and your choice of seasoning

We've used Salt, Salt & Pepper, Chili Pepper & Garlic

350 degrees for 10 minutes or until all crisp and edges are slightly brown- Done!

 Graphing, Estimating, Multiplying, Adding, Subtracting, Greater/Less & Equal....

Needless to say our son enjoyed the math today...and Dad enjoyed eating it afterwards!

 Our beautiful girl, 14 yrs

Our beautiful daughter growing up before our eyes into such a wonderful young lady. My heart is so proud.

Saturday

Yesterday our daughter was gone for 4H then to a girl friends for some Valentines chocolate making for the afternoon. Hubbie and our son spent time playing video games together and I had some quiet reading then a bit of work catch up. After picking our daughter up we all took an afternoon-evening drive over to Spokane to venture to the mall, have some dinner and just get out for a bit. It had been raining throughout the day and some fog rolled in but just as the sun was ready to set the clouds opened and colors showed briefly and beautifully. Gorgeous. What a blessing.

Every day we see the Lords beauty surrounding us.

Sled Time

A week or so ago our daughter had a morning meeting for 4H so my husband and I took our son to the 'big' hill at the park in town for sledding. He had been asking to go for quite some time but there just hadn't been enough snow or there was so much snow and ice the parking lot was never cleared or the streets near it to park and go in and play. But he finally got his chance and was ecstatic. He begged for hubbie and I to take turns. I went down with him on the sled a few times then we both obliged and went down on our own once as well! Many laughs and much fun was had. He also decided to try 'penguin' sledding he called it as he slid down the huge hill right on his belly. He said it was fun but the bumps kind of hurt!

Fun sledding time with our son.