rain rain go away...

sweet spring

And it seems that while Winter never wanted to end, teasing us with warm days late in the season and then immediately followed by snow or blustery winds, Spring has sprung. Sometimes it feels as if it happens overnight when you know it does not. Like most things, it takes time.

We seem to go from one day of bare, brown lonely looking branches, shriveled bushes and downcast plants to tiny little buds emerging, varying shades of green seeping its way into the light and finally, finally everything is in bloom. Colors firework there way into our paths. The grass takes on the green lush hue of Spring, bees are beginning to buzz again while butterflies flit about.

Gardeners are out in full force, birds are looking for spaces to occupy their nests and soon thereafter, their eggs. Ladybugs are spied and butterflies chased. Tis the season, the sweet season of Spring!

Ice Cream Truck Smiles!

It has begun. Nearing dinner or bedtime and you hear the tune. The kids hear the tune before you even hear it which is amazing because when I call them from one room over, they say they didn't hear me calling them. But no, the tune goes through the neighborhood and they hear it calling to them. They immediately start doing some odd ice cream dance luring the tune closer to our street. Then you see it. The big white truck, painted ice cream cones on the side and the colorful display of sweet offerings. I couldn't resist tonight. They all endured a 5 mile walk this morning a special cause and they were pretty good sports about it. Especially after they found out it was 5 miles and not a 5k like we initially thought. Good weather, better company and a very worthwhile fundraiser. So, they deserved this ice cream treat.

And honestly, Mario seeing the ice cream truck up close and personal, asking the driver about the music and just so excited about all the options, made it worth it for me too. 

Roasted Chickpeas

I've been on a decent health kick for awhile now. Trying to eat more veggies, less sugars and adding more fiber, protein and just all around good vitamins to my day. Now that doesn't mean I still don't indulge from time to time in my ultimate favorite - CHOCOLATE! But I feel with all the extra doses of healthy I'm getting it's ok to splurge from time to time. 

I love chickpeas! Who doesn't? If you like hummus and I would gather most do, you then love chickpeas since that's the big ingredient. I've attempted making my own hummus in the past and not too happy with the result but that's not stopping me from trying out other chickpea recipes. 

Behold - Roasted Chickpeas! Easy, easy, easy! I made this first batch with just a few staple pantry items and I can't wait to try out other ingredients in the near future. I also used dried chickpeas because I had that on hand and just had to add the overnight soaking step to be able to roast them the next afternoon. 

Ingredients: 

Chickpeas - 1 can rinsed, drained and plotted dry with a cloth OR 1/4 bag dried chickpeas soaked overnight, drained and plotted dry

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic salt

Directions: 

Set oven to 450 degrees.  Place chickpeas in a resealable plastic bag, add olive oil and both salts to the bag. Shake well so evenly coated. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (for easy cleanup) and roll out your chickpeas. They don't want to be piled on top of one another but they can be touching. Chickpeas need loving too. Allow to cook for 20 minutes. You'll want to check them every 6-8 minutes to shake them around a bit to get evenly roasted. After the 20 minutes, try one and see if it's to your liking. If you like them crunchier, give them another 5 minutes. 

I placed them in a glass bowl and left them on the counter all morning and just grab a couple here and there. But you can store them in a container if you're going to eat them within the next few days. 

Easy and simple. That's how healthy snacking should be!

My little girls

I know it may seem rare these days to get the girls on the blog, what with them being in school all day, activities in the evening and then busy weekends, but it's happened. Yay. I tend to snap more pictures up on my phone of the girls and it's a bad habit, I know. One I will work on. But here they are in their glory on the morning of Grandparent's Day at their school and dressed in non-uniform clothes. They clean up nice.

Everyone says it, but it's crazy when I take a moment to sit back and really watch them. Watch them read, watch them do their homework, watch them play with their brother. They ask "why are you staring at me?" and then because I don't want to spook them say "I love you when..." complete the sentence with whatever it is I'm observing. It's of course true, I do love them. But if I am completely honest with them and tell them that I love everything about them in that moment, that it's going too fast, soon they'll be out of the house, they won't need me anymore, etc. etc. etc. I fear if I tell them all of that it will end in big, ugly tears.

I just can't believe how fast they are growing. And it's right in front of my eyes. It's not like I live on another planet, we share the same household, I see them ALL the time, but here it is proof that it's going so fast. They were just born yesterday, right?

layers

sweet sentiments

They bring me flowers all the time. Sometimes there are weeds in the bunch but I don't want them to think I don't appreciate it, so I never point that out. Little hands pluck at the little blooms and with smiles on their little faces, bring them to me. Even after they've wilted, I can see their beauty and the happiness they brought to my little loves.

A morning at Linvilla

Spring has finally SPRUNG! Or has it, we'll see. The weather has been moody and so we take what we get, when we get it. And today we got it and we went with it. To Linvilla Orchards, a favorite little outdoor spot not too far from home.

We saw the animals, we bought fresh, local honey and we played at the park. I savor mornings like this out with my little man. Time is passing by all too quickly and these are the little moments I hold onto.