South Carolina Vaca

The past three days have been great. I love this place. On Tuesday March 27th we took a plane to Newark. That was our layover. Then we took another plane to south Carolina. It is really warm here, they have palm trees and stuff, it kind of has a Mexico feeling to it! So that was day1. On our second day here we went to Folly Beach that is walking distance from our place, we found a dead bird. The beach is nice soft sand, lots of shells, warm(ish) water, and a super long and cool pier. When we went walking on it someone caught a dog fish. It looks like a mini, baby shark. Then we all took showers in this cool little out door shower. For dinner we walked into town and ate at this restaurant called Planet Follywood. It was OK I guess, I've had better. Then we went to a cute little candy store. After we got home we played Pass The Ace. Our pot in the middle was three dollars. Mom won. Of course. Now for day2, which is today. We went to Isle Of Palms about a half hour away. We ate lunch there at this out door restaurant called Coconut Joe's. After on the beach we collected shells and there were a ton of dead jelly fish that had washed up on shore. Next we went to Yobe Frozen Yogurt. It is so cool there.       
                                                                                                  -Devyn

This is the topping bar they have 2 of these at Yobe Frozen Yogurt.

The 2 little boxes on top are the flavors of frozen yogurt. There are 3 nozzles, 1 is 1 flavor the other is another flavor and the middle combines the 2 flavors which is pretty cool.

Yobe has a cool out door seating area.

This is the lighting in the Yobe place. Cool right!

This is where we ate lunch





Note: The date on my camera needs to be updated just saying.



 I wonder to where ever the wind will take our vacation?

Corbin-South Carolina: MY SEA SHELL ADVENTURE AND YOGURT MEAL

I love looking for sea shells.  I think sea shells are really pretty and beautiful.  I really like the color patterns on the sea shells.  My favorite kinds of shells are sand dollar,conch shell,clam,blood ark shell,umbonium,.  I was looking for sea shells and I saw a jelly fish!  There were quite a few.  I love finding a million shells and taking a million home.


I walked into the yogurt place and I liked it already.  I had vanilla and chocolate flavor.  For toppings I had gummy worms,cookies,gummy bears,caramel.  I ate it out side.  It was really good.

Fun rainy day craft: Name Monsters

On Monday I had art at school and when I was finished my project my art teacher taught me a really fun and cool craft to do. They are called "Name Monsters." Here are the steps to making one.
Step 1: fold a piece of paper any size of color the hot do way
Step 2: make sure that the crease is on the bottom, and write your name in cursive. Make sure that the ends of the letters are touching the crease at the bottom.
Step 3: Trace your name with a sharpie or permanent marker of your color choice.
Step 4: Flip over and hold up to a window. Make sure that the first letter of your name is on the far right side of the folded paper.
Step 5: Trace you name so that it is backwards.
Step 6: Take it off the window and trace your name with a sharpie.
Step 7: Open the paper and decorate it into your own unique monster

By: Devyn

Step: 1

Step: 2

Step: 3

Step: 4

Step: 5

Step: 6

Step: 7

corbins video

this week I made a video of my star wars heroes deck of playing cards

The Green Smoothie Taste Test

I am making Green Smoothies with Landon's preschool in a couple of weeks. Sort of a good way to combine health, learning, and a little St. Patrick's Day celebrating. The problem. With twelve- 4 year olds, you are bound to get some pickiness. I wanted a way to be sure I brought along a winning recipe. 

Enter:

The Green Smoothie Taste Test. 

Green smoothies make an appearance in this house quite a bit. Unfortunately, we all have different ideas about what makes a good green smoothie. I like mine banana based and creamy, the kids like a more citrus-y punch to their smoothie. 

My solution:

1. Make two different Green Smoothies for the crew (without them seeing the ingredients)
2. Pour in marked cups labeled "1" and "2"
3. Have them try each 
4. Have them vote (but in top secret)
5. Use the smoothie recipe that got the most votes (amazing science, I know)

Here are all of the ingredients that I used for both smoothies. Note: cups and marker in the back for top secret labeling. That way there could be no green-smoothie-bias.

Let the games begin:

He goes left.

He goes right.

She goes center.

Casting her vote. No peeking.

I always joke that Landon will eat or drink pretty much anything short of a hub cap.

This is the one.

Unsure.

Still unsure.

Our super top secret voting box.

Winner revealed:

Smoothie recipe #1! 

Here is the recipe that I will be blasting out at Tiny Toes on March 16th. 

It's super vibrant green too, just in time for St. Patrick's Day.

Super Basic Green Smoothie 

(for those that fear spinach)

• 4 cups organic spinach
• 1 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 banana
• 2 cups frozen peaches (or frozen pineapple)

Blend until smooth. This makes about 2 large glasses.

"Just Because" Cake: A tradition is born

So I try to bake for the kids at least one day a week. I love the thought of picking them up from school and them coming home to a yummy smelling kitchen. Not sure this means a thing to them, but this is about the one old fashioned ideal I have and think is important. Of course, I usually put my healthy spin on my baked goods whether it be muffins, pie, or cookies. Except for yesterday...
Yesterday I was staring at the cupboard, and being the risk taker that I am, I pulled out the Duncan Hines box. Yes, a store-bought cake mix. I knew that they would freak that I made a cake, and for no reason. I prepared myself for the, "What? Whose birthday is it?" and "Why did you make a cake?"

They didn't disappoint. I told Landon not to say anything when we picked Devyn and Corbin up from school, but of course:
Landon: "Can I just tell them about the cake?"
Devyn: "What? a cake? Why? Whose birthday is it?"
Me: "Just Because."

Every once in a while the "Just Because" cake will make a visit. Today was the first time.

Fancy title, I know.

Devyn's favorite: Pink Pancakes

Another pancake day favorite. 

Pink Pancakes. 

This is one that I originally found in the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook, Deceptively Delicious. I made some changes of course, I can never just leave a recipe alone. By request, (thanks Bree!), I am posting our version of the Pink Pancake. 

Here is my version: 

• 1 1/2 cup water

• 1 cup vanilla yogurt

• 1/2 cup beet puree (I just buy a couple of cans of beets, puree in the food processor, and freeze pre-portioned bags so that they are ready to go when the "pink pancake" request is made)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups pancake mix (I use a boxed, whole wheat mix from the grocery store)
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• non-stick cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons canola oil (or coconut oil)
• powdered sugar (optional)

1. In a blender or food processor, combine water, yogurt, beet puree, vanilla, and cinnamon.
2. Pour blended mixture into a medium size bowl. Add pancake mix and applesauce. Stir to combine, but do not overmix. It will be a bit lumpy.
3. Spray your pan, set temp to medium. Use your oil to coat your pan. Pour out your batter and cook until a few bubbles form. Flip. 
4. Dusting of powdered sugar always scores extra brownie points with the family. Enjoy!

The end result is fantastic