Fall Farm Fun

Fall is here, fall is here!  Its my favorite time of the year...cool air, crisp apples and fun at the farms!  Two weekends ago, Andrew and Dylan were off to their first Webelos camp out.  Logan and I held down the fort and trekked to one of our favorite local farms to take in the slides and fresh cider!



2 point pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting

What part of that post title is not to like?  2 points?  Cupcakes?  Cream cheese frosting?  What if I said the cupcakes take exactly only two ingredients to make.  I'm serious.  Two.  Ingredients.

Now that fall is officially here, I've been starting to get my bake on, and make a double batch of perfect banana bread yesterday.  But fall is  never complete without an assortment of pumpkin baked goods.  When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I had to try it.

The verdict?  Moist, fall-ish, and delish!  And rumor has it, the cupcakes are 2 Weight Watchers points (without the frosting).  A 1/2 cup serving of pumpkin has 5 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, and only 4 grams of sugar. And only 40 calories for a whole 1/2 cup! 0.5 grams of fat, no cholesterol. The list goes on and on.

So what do I need to do, you say?  Buy a box of yellow cake mix, and a 15 oz. can of pumpkin:

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Get out your electric mixer, and line a cupcake pan with liners.  I didn't find this recipe made 24 cupcakes, but rather 15 or so ample, fluffy ones.

 

Next, mix the cake mix with the pumpkin. Don't add another single thing.  Whip it together at a nice quick speed to really fluff it up.

 

 

Once its all mixed together and fluffy, spoon it into the muffin liners, 2/3 full.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.  These do not take as long to bake as cupcakes with eggs/oil in them since the batter is much thicker to begin.

 

Once they've cooled, you can sprinkle with powder sugar for more of a breakfast muffin, or frost with cream cheese frosting for dessert (store bought or home made*).  Heck, you could even smooth the batter into a loaf pan and make it into bread.  Or try mini-muffins.

 

 

These taste like cake with a pumpkin flavor to them - not overwhelming in your face pumpkin.  Its sometime hard to stay focused on eating healthy in the fall what will all the thousands of pounds of candy laying around, and the cider doughnuts and the pumpkin spiced lattes and, and, and... 

 

So at least this is one treat you can make for your family that you don't have to feel guilty eating.

 

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.               

this, that and the other

So it seems the bloggie keeps falling to the bottom of the list each week and I'm not keeping up very well.  So many balls, so little time. The thing is, there's no such thing as a quick blog post.  Its just impossible to keep up with it all between volunteering, working, exercising, parenting, running a household, a flooding basement, yada, yada. But I do love to be able to post photos here, and be able to talk about what's going on in our little circus.

So, it might not be as frequent but when I do post I promise to try and make it nice and meaty.

Last weekend, we enjoyed a glorious kid-free weekend vineyard celebration for a dear friend's 40th birthday celebration.   We drove about an hour west of here, and visited Valerie Hill Vineyard for an afternoon picnic.  Perfect weather, nice music, great company.   And then it was onto the gorgeous Inn at Vaucluse Spring nearby for a few rounds of bocce and a fancy pants dinner celebration.  Exceptional day/evening!

The birthday girl..

And our other dear friends from Jersey Baby...

 

Ahhh, nothing like spending hours and hours of uninterrupted time with some of your besties!

 

School continues to go very well for the boys, one month in.  I'm proud of how well they've adjusted to the fall routine and all the homework that keeps building.  We had a few challenging days, but I made a homework chart and a prize basket.  Logan has a special prize basket at school and he gets to choose little trinkets on good days when he gets work done, and keeps his hands to himself.  I figured if this could motivate him at school, it would motivate him at home to get homework done. So far, so good!   Here is the chartand he has to earn a sticker in each column each day to then be able to choose a prize from the prize basket.  It might seem like 1st grade homework would take five minutes, but its spelling, math and reading every day after already being at school for 7 hours and being exhausted.  It takes some junk to keep him motivated!

 

 

 

He does get extra help at school with handwriting (OT) and speech therapy, and he also is able to leave the class with the assistant teacher for testing and other times of the day when being in a smaller group helps him focus better. He also has a special "break pass" he can raise when he feels he needs a break from doing work, and the assistant teacher gives him time to read a book, or play an iPad for a few minutes until he's ready to re-join. I already have a nice dialogue going with his teachers, and feel so fortunate his teachers seem to 'get' him and are willing to do so many extra things to make his days successful. Here is a chart Logan brought home today that shows what a great week he had...

 

Logan also saw his sleep doctor this week. We've been continuing to monitor his ferritin levels, which I've talked about here, here, and here.  All summer we visited several specialists, including a hematologist and a geneticist at Children's National Medical Center to try and help us determine why, despite being on iron supplements, his ferritin continues to be so low. No one has been able to find any reason, and we continue to hear him toss and turn every night.  Poor guy.  We've had four blood draws since May and his ferritin is very slowly rising, so it just might take a while to get to the ideal 80 - 120 range the doctor says will stop his PLMD.  His ferritin was 19, then 21, then 24, then 32 and now most recently this week, 34.  So we're heading in the right direction, at least. I feel so strongly his restless sleep is closely related to the behavioral and attention issues he has. As he gets older, some things have improved with maturity and yet, I still feel we have a ways to go.

 

He's my little monkey man, with a smile that lights up a whole room.

 

 

Dylan is just having a stellar year so far, and his teacher is outstanding as well.  The big project of 4th grade is the Virginia Fair.  The kids study the complete history of Virginia all year, and it all culminates in a big performance during American Education Week in November.  Each child has chosen a topic (Dylan's topic is either Thomas Jefferson, or a blacksmith or silversmith..we'll find out next week), and they have to dress the part for the big performance.  Its quite the affair at our school, and by the time its all over he'll be able to tell us everything we wanted to know about Virginia.  I'm secretly hoping he lands the Thomas Jefferson topic, since we bought a dandy George Washington costume for the 3rd grade Wax Museum last spring.  It would be perfect!

 

He's been enjoying his new Scout troop as a Webelo, with several of this buddies from school.  I wish I had a photo of how handsome he looks in his uniform. Next time. What I do know is that he and Andrew and leaving for their first Scout camping trip in two hours, for the next two days.  They'll spend tomorrow doing archery, first aid, shooting bb guns, skits, fire building, cooking, and doing all the stuff boys love.

 

His other love right now, a video game called Minecraft.  He got way into it over the summer and its one of those things where you build your own universe, so its never-ending.  Its not violent.  But its totally capable of sucking the hours out of young boys' days all over America.

 

 



 

 

 



settling in..

We're on week 2 of school.  Today Logan came home with a very sweet note from his teacher, saying today was his best day yet.  He even earned a brand new pack of Magic Markers.   I talked with his teacher yesterday just to touch base, and we're going to work together to find ways to keep him motivated this year and keep it a positive experience.

This was in his backpack from the first day of school.   Dylan, being in 4th grade now, doesn't come home with many sweet hand print poems anymore.  More like hundreds of math worksheets and social studies maps.  So I know I need to treasure these little poems and handprints, they don't come home for very long.

Its very busy as we settle into the fall groove.  Dylan is at his first Webelos meeting of the year as I write this.  Logan is back in taekwondo twice a week.  And I'm busy working on my new venture with my business partner.  Here is our website, if you'd like to check it out.  Very exciting!

http://www.loudounclearmarketing.com/

Are you good at math?

Logan received his first love note on the second day of school.  Priceless.

Dear Logan,

I love you and I think you're my best friend.  Are you good at math?

Emily

Happy New Year!

This past Monday, a whole new year began.  I always feel like the beginning of school is truly the start of a New Year, not January 1st.   Its a whole new routine, lots of new things starting at once, and tons of schedule changes. 

Its the beginning of for the first time in 10 years, having 7 hours of house to myself.  Wow, has that been a wonderful, wonderful thing.  I've started exercising again, volunteering at school, meeting with my business partner to plan our pursuit of new clients, meeting friends for lunch, going on day dates with Andrew, reading, and the usual errands/cooking/cleaning and managing of our family social calendar.  Its a glorious 7 hours of quiet time to think, relax, and get sh*t done around this joint.  Calling doctors back and having uninterrupted conversations, cleaning out some closets, planting flowers...  the type of stuff that just can't get done during summer months with two kids in the house 24/7.

The boys get home at 2:45 daily and then I switch to mom-mode.  Homework, after school activities, play dates and such.   Between taekwondo (Logan) and Webelos (Dylan), we have plenty on our calendar right now and I'm glad I didn't sign the boys up for any other fall sports.  Logan wants to join the track/running program after school twice a week so we may add that in.  If he does it, there will be a 5K fun run in early December to end the season and I plan to participate with him (!!).

I have to say, the first week of school went exceptionally smoothly.  No one had a melt down, the boys love their teachers and have plenty of friends on the bus, in their classes, at lunch and at recess.   Homework has been very minimal so far. I'm sure once that hits full force I'll be breaking out the wine.  But so far, so good!

Here are my handsome boys the morning of the first day of school - August 27th 2012, Dylan age 9 1/2 and Logan age 6.

brand new year

The boys went to our school open house today and met their teachers for 1st and 4th grade.  Amazing to me, we have kids this "old".  Having them both in school full day this year will be a whole new world... getting everyone on the bus by 7:25 am and having a full 7 hours with no kids.  I can't even imagine what that's going to feel like. 

I have big plans .... exercise, marketing work, housework, volunteering at school, various appointments, errands, meeting friends for lunch.  I'm sure the 7 hours will go by more quickly than I realize.

The first couple of weeks, as we all ease back into the daily grind will be an adjustment, but I think we're all ready for the structured routine fall brings. Did I mention 7 hours of peaceful, kid-free time?  Five days a week? 

Come 2:45 pm each day, I'll be switching back to 'mom' mode for homework (Dylan's teacher joked today and told him has 'only' has two hours of homework a night in 4th grade, ha!), and extracurricular activity mode.   Logan will continue to do taekwondo two evenings a week, and Dylan will continue with Scouts.  I think later in the fall we might add after school golf for Logan, and then basketball in the winter.    I may need an ice coffee everyday around 2:30 to get me thru the busy evenings.

Logan will be enjoying recess on the 'big kids' playground this year, and going to school all day means adding lots of specials like art, P.E. three times a week, music twice a week, library time and of course, eating lunch at school.  He will have most subjects in his 'homeroom' and then switch out for two hours each morning for Language Arts with another phenomenal teacher, Mrs. M.  I know he's going to be exhausted the first few weeks, which is why we didn't heavy up on new fall sports for him.  We need to ease into it all...

Dylan already knows at least half of the kids in his class, and its a very nice group of boys and girls.  I'm so excited he has these kids in his class, and in 4th grade they switch out for social studies and sometimes for reading.  His favorite subject is science. And one of his very best friends, Nathanial, is in his class this year and is such a nice boy.  I'm thrilled they're together.  He'll be joining a new Scout troop this year, along with his two best friends Nathanial and Jack.  And they all know several of the boys in the troop who are also in 4th grade at their school.  Lots of fun fall scouting activities to anticipate including a camping weekend in late September.

I'm so excited for all a new school year brings - all the boys will learn, friends, school events, the change of the seasons....  Its going to be a great year!

Logan, 1st grade, Mrs. D and Ms. H

 

Dylan, 4th grade, Ms. D

 

 

Take me out to the ballgame...

Sometimes a Groupon comes to your inbox you simply can't refuse.  This was the case a couple of weeks ago, when a great half price ticket deal showed up from The Nationals.  We haven't been to a game in years, and this year they're doing really well!  We decided to buy tickets with our friends A, S, I and A and head on down last night.  After sitting in some hellacious traffic, we were rewarded with a great game, lots of fun and well, not a win, but it was close!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bff's

Yesterday Dylan was invited for a day on one of his best friends' parents boats.  Its so great to see him enjoy his friendships so  much, and be invited to do such fun things.  Later in the day, the mom sent me these photos, they're like two peas in a pod.  And then later, the boys came back to our house for a sleepover and videogame marathon-a-rama.  The boys have another birthday sleepover to attend on  Friday night.  His social life is busier than mine!

Yes, they are wearing the same shirt!

Aren't they quite the pair?

beachy bums

We've been back from the beach for weeks now, and I'm just now getting around to posting photos.  Argh, where is the summer going??   I just can't seem to find the time to do much posting, and I'm so ready to be back to the 'routine of normalness' whatever that is these days...  Anyhoooo, these are a few of my favorite pics from our week in Kitty Hawks, Outer Banks North Caroline from the week of July 22 - July 29th.

Fiesta Pizza - Ole!

I am constantly on the search for recipes I can make that my boys will eat, too. It just makes no sense to spend the money, time and energy it takes to make food we can’t all four chow down on. I refuse to make my children a separate meal, whenever humanly possible. Therefore, this recipe is a perfect solution, combining two of their favorite foods: pizza and tacos. I leave their half more plain, and add lots of fresh toppings to our half. Its adapted from Pillsbury, and can be a main meal or an appetizer.

Fiesta Pizza – Ole!

What you need:

1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey… you could even use ground chicken
1 envelope (reduced sodium) taco seasoning mix***
2 (8 oz.) cans reduced fat crescent rolls
1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
2 cups low fat shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend

***I don’t like the flavor of store bought taco seasoning, blech.  Instead, I brown my meat and add in some store bought salsa.  Way lower in sodium, tastes much more fresh and doesn’t have that fake/salty Mexican yuck flavor.   Or, you can make your own taco seasoning by mixing together: 1 part chili powder, 1 part ground cumin, 1 part garlic powder, 1 part onion powder, ½ part crush red pepper.

Optional toppings to put on top right before you serve: Diced avocado, black olives, chopped green onions, sour cream, salsa, chopped lettuce.  The beauty is, you can have the “kid half” with none of these toppings, and the “adult half” with all of them.

What to do:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Brown ground meat into crumbles, add ¾ cup salsa (or store bought taco seasoning packet) and drain.   (You could even do this in the morning, or earlier in the day, refrigerate and use to top pizza later when you’re ready to assemble it all and bake.  I love meals like this, you can do some of the prep early.)

Unroll crescent rolls into rectangles. Place in ungreased 11 1/2 inch x 16 1/2 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.

Press dough over the bottom and up sides to form crust. Bake at 375 oven for 11 to 13 minutes or just until golden brown.

Microwave beans in a microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes (or until warmed through),giving them a stir.

Spread beans over warm crust creating a thin layer.

Top with cooked meat mixture, sprinkle with cheese followed by tomatoes, black olives and green onion.

Return to oven for 3-6 more minutes until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Makes 12 main dish servings or can be cut into smaller pieces and served as an appetizer.

winding down...

Swim team is coming to a close, after two great months.  Always a little sad when it wraps up.  We've had such a good time again!

Dylan won his heat for back stroke at the meet yesterday morning.   One more meet next Saturday and then we're off to our beach vacation!

Greek Shrimp Tortellini Salad

I hate cooking in the summer.  I've done very little cooking since school let out.  We've been living off of sandwiches, rotisserie chickens, pizza and Thai carry-out, guacamole and a few rounds of grilled steaks and chicken.  I just don't want to be planning meals, shopping for food, and in the hot kitchen.  In the winter, when there is nothing better to do, bring it on.  I'll bake, crock pot, try new recipes and create casseroles.

Right now, just give me some fresh summer produce, fruit smoothies and maybe some Jersey Mike's.  Yesterday morning, I started craving a nice, cold pasta salad.  Something that would make a lot and keep for a few days for us to nibble on during hot afternoons, and before the rush to swim meets. I remembered a Greek shrimp tortellini salad my stepmom makes, and tweaked it just a little (I love artichokes and hate olives, for example).

YUM.  Now we have a huge bowl of cold zesty pasta goodness in the fridge to eat off of for a few days, and its really super easy and delicious.

Greek Shrimp Tortellini Salad

What you need:
1 bag frozen cheese and spinach tortellini (or you can use the Barilla dry tortellini in the pasta aisle)
1 jar roasted red peppers (diced up)
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 can artichoke heart quarters
1 1/2 - 2 lbs of frozen, completely shelled and deveined, pre-cooked shrimp
1/2 jar zesty banana pepper rings, finely chopped
1 12 oz. container of feta cheese crumbles
1 bottle zesty Italian salad dressing.  I am partial to Kraft Roasted Red Pepper, but you could use Greek dressing, Zesty Italian, or any other kind you like.

What to do:
Bring large stockpot of water to boiling, add tortellini.  Cook desired time (8 or so minutes until its floating on top) and then add the cooked frozen shrimp at the very end just to thaw it.   Drain in collander, and then dump into large bowl.  Add all other ingredients and stir well until mixed together.   Refrigerate for a few hours and let flavors mingle.   Even better the next day.  Great for a party, too.  You can easily double and add other kinds of pastas to make it go further.   The other great thing is, you can customize this so many different ways.  Don't like shrimp?  Go meatless, or use grilled chopped chicken.  Add olives if you like them.  You could even use gluten-free pasta, I'm sure it would still be tasty.