Daddy's Girl (The Story of a Playhouse)

Avery is definitely a daddy's girl. She thinks the sun rises and sets on her dad, and Erik would literally do anything for his girl. So when Avery asked Erik to build her a playhouse, there was no doubt in my mind that she was going to get one. However, Erik doesn't do things small or mediocre. Erik goes all out, especially when it comes to Avery. So she isn't just getting a playhouse...Erik is building her a fortress. A 40 square foot house complete with a deck, a rock wall, a slide, and vinyl windows. Here are some photos of Erik building the 4' deck...the walls will go up next.

 

 

 

 

The plan is for the playhouse to be done by June 9th (Avery's birthday). I'm sure he'll get it done with time to spare...Erik is halfway through the walls already, and the windows should arrive on Tuesday. Oh, and I just wanted to share this picture of Erik and Avery at the Memorial Day ceremony in Portland. I really love these two. 

Brownies with Peanut Butter (and Applesauce)

After I successfully made banana bread using applesauce as a substitute for butter, I decided to try it with brownies. I usually make brownies from scratch because it's so easy and I always have the ingredients on hand. This time I just substituted applesauce for butter (then to counter the substitution I added a swirl of peanut butter and dark chocolate chips on top). They were AMAZING. No difference in taste or texture...they were really moist and really rich. Now, if only I could find a good substitute for sugar...

 

Brownies with Peanut Butter (and Applesauce)

1/2 cup applesauce

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons peanut butter (optional)

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with non stick cooking spray. In large bowl mix applesauce, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pan. Heat peanut butter in microwave for a few seconds until you can drizzle it over the batter. Swirl in with a spoon, sprinkle with chocolate chips, and bake for 30 - 35 minutes (I bake mine for 25 minutes so they're really gooey).

P.S. If you're gluten-free, you should try these chocolate cookies.

4,474

In January 2003 my husband deployed to Kuwait and then Iraq for 13 months. 4,474 soldiers died during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and I am thankful every single day that Erik came home to me when so many didn't come home at all.

To those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, may you be forever honored.

A Rapunzel Dress...In Case It Rains

Along the Columbia River, not far from our house, there are acres of land that belong to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This land also backs up to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, so it's beautifully untouched, for the most part. There are occasional barns and outbuildings, and some great bike and horse trails that lead up to it, but otherwise it belongs to the birds and animals. 

Yesterday, Avery and I spent the late afternoon strolling along the trails, looking out over the Columbia River, and watching for birds (we saw a crane and an eagle). She even packed a backpack for our adventure...it included 83 cents, dress-up heels, one doll, a pretend baby bottle, and her Rapunzel dress-up dress "in case it rains" (her words, not mine). She was certainly ready for our adventure.

 

  

 

  

 

 

Blueberry Banana Oat Bread with Applesauce

I had some bananas in my freezer just waiting to be made into banana bread, but I wanted to try something different this time. I decided to add oats and blueberries to a regular banana bread recipe, then I substituted applesauce for butter. I've been substituting applesauce for oil in most of my baking, so I figured this was the perfect time to test it as a substitute for butter. It turned out really well, and adding the blueberries was the best part. For breakfast this morning I toasted a slice of this bread and added a little yogurt butter. So yummy, and so good for you!

Blueberry Banana Oat Bread with Applesauce

1/2 cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup applesauce

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 cup mashed bananas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, dredge blueberries in 2 tablespoons of flour. Gently stir blueberries together with oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a large bowl mix applesauce, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, and beat well. Stir in mashed bananas. Add blueberry mixture to applesauce mixture, and stir until moistened. Spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the loaf. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.

Soccer is Over (but the Market is Open)

Avery's last soccer game was on Saturday. It was a little bittersweet because she didn't want soccer to be over. But they did get trophies and mini-cupcakes with the team mascot on them (The Bananas), so all was well with the three and four-year-olds.

 

  

 

 

 

 

After the game my mom and I took Avery out to lunch and then to Farmer's Market. I bought Avery a little sterling silver ring, my mom bought her a blue balloon dog, and the three of us walked around enjoying the market. 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got home I wanted to take a picture of my mom with Avery in her soccer uniform. By the time I went to get Avery out of the car she had taken off her uniform and shimmied into my jacket. You have to watch her like a hawk.

 

But the pictures were still cute.

A Little Garden Update

 

  

 

  

 

From top to bottom: Peppers, Snap Peas, Spinach, Strawberries, Corn, Carrots, Tomatoes and Green Beans. And Erik saving our garden from the frost last week...

All is well except for one row of corn and one row of snap peas that haven't come up. I don't know if the culprit is the frost or the dog, but we have three rows of peas that are doing great, and five rows of corn that have come up just fine. We might try to replant those two rows this weekend, although it's a little late for the peas. We'll see!