I haven't become much better in the picture-taking department lately...at all. I will post what I have, but it isn't much. My goal is always to be better with that. It seems, lately especially, that things are constantly busy and chaotic! I'm going to make this a quick post, but will hopefully be back tomorrow with a Mother's Day post and pictures! If you are reading, I really appreciate comments. They sort of keep me motivated to write more often! I really want to make this a habit again, as it has been soooo abandoned for the past several months. Also, if you could scroll down to read my Team in Training post, I'd appreciate that too. I guess I'm being bossy tonight! :)

Colin came to eat lunch with me at work one day recently. I was laughing so hard because he brought a container of mini Oreos and decided to put one on each kid's desk. They were pleasantly surprised when they returned from lunch (I never pass out sweets)!

I don't remember what they were watching, but this is a rare occasion! It seems these two have a love/hate relationship. When they are getting along, it is WONDERFUL. But lots of times their main goal is to get under the other's skin! 

I think this was Erin's first visit to the pizza place in Venice that Colin loves. Big girl! She enjoyed eating some shredded cheese from the salad. 

Brief break in running back and forth from water fountain for some love for sister!

Grace enjoying her orange ice cream in Venice.

Jack looooves sticks! He is always on the lookout for a good stick. Grace was in Venice spending time with Grandma, so I took Jack and Erin jogging. We took a break to play in the park along the way.

Grace all dressed up in her new clothes during her sleepover with Grandma. We missed her. This was her first time away, but I'm always happy when the kids get the opportunity for some one-on-one, since it doesn't really happen here. Grace really enjoyed her time there, and I don't believe she got home sick at all. They went out to dinner and lunch, to the beach, to the pool, and played at the condo. She got lots of love and attention from Grandma, Great Grandma, and Great Aunt Janet.

Grace and Great Aunt Janet out to lunch

Happy girl loves her food!

Mike brought Grace home from Venice, and decided, on a whim, to take Jack for a sleepover.  That night I loaded up the girls after bath and jammies, to go for a run. Erin fell asleep immediately, and Grace enjoyed the ride. 

Blue-eyed girl!

Time with Uncle Mike at the Tavares Splash Pad 

I think this was also taken at the Tavares Park with Uncle Mike. Jack loved his time there too! He's asked to go to Uncle Mike's quite a bit since he's been back home.

Happy girl, despite a fever 

I had assumed E was running a fever due to teething for the past few days. Today was day 4 and she also developed congestion, so I took her to the doctor, who put her on antibiotics for tonsilitis. Poor baby girl! She's already feeling better though! She's full of mamamama and dadadada. She can repeat boo and bye-bye too!

She was not a happy camper in the doctor's office this morning. I was super thankful that Colin met me from work to sit with the big kids so I could run her in. She was crying the whole time, feeling miserable. 

I want to share three things that I've tried and loved from Pinterest. I pin dozens of things daily, but it's hard to tell what is good and what isn't without trying it out. I've made several things that I wasn't terribly impressed with the outcome, but these three things, I have LOVED! The two muffin recipes have really helped satisfy my need for sweets, since I gave up all cookies, candy, cake, donuts, ice cream, etc. And the taco seasoning is great because it has significantly less sodium than the store bought taco seasoning packets. Usually I wake up puffy and swollen the morning after we eat tacos for dinner, but I haven't either time we used this.

Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

    1 1/4 cups Bananas
    2/3 cup Honey
    3 tbsp Light And Fit Yogurt
    3 tbsp Naturally Sweetened Apple Sauce
    2 large Egg White
    1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
    1 serving
    2 tbsp Whole Wheat Flour
    3/4 cup Oats (Quaker)
    1/2 tsp All Purpose Baking Soda
    1/2 tsp Salt
    1/2 tsp Cinnamon, Ground, 1 Tsp
    1/4 cup Semi-sweet Mini Morsels

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 12 cup muffin pan with cooking spray.

2. Mix first 6 ingredients (wet) together in a medium bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together remaining dry ingredients (except for chocolate chips); add dry ingredients to wet and mix just until blended together (don’t over-mix).

4. Pour batter into prepared muffin tins. Sprinkle top of each batter cup with the mini chocolate chips. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pan and then remove muffins to a rack to cool completely.

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Homemade Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

• 1 part chili powder
• 1 part ground cumin
• 1 part garlic powder
• 1 part onion powder
• 1/4 – 1/2 part crushed red pepper

Directions

1. Mix all the spices together and store in an airtight container. I store mine in the freezer!
2. Use sparingly. Or liberally!

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Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins
Yield: about 18 muffins
Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 tbsp. applesauce
¾ cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed banana (about 3 bananas)
6 tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.  Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir together with a fork to blend.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce, brown sugar, eggs, banana, peanut butter and buttermilk until smooth.  Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated and fully blended.  Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups.  Bake 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.