My Silly Boys

Me and my boys

Noah and Luke on a jungle expedition-
(yes we're planning on mowing tonight)

Luke likes to streak in the back yard
When I came out he had taken off his shorts and diaper to play in the sandbox

Noah, the thinker, examining a blade of grass

"I'm this way!"

Luke sporting a bare bottom and Noah's snow boots

Noah and the Tamarack

Baby Shower

We had a baby shower this weekend for Jess and Caleb. About 20 family members came out and enjoyed and evening of visiting, games, and food. Jess got a lot of great stuff and a good time was had by all.

This was the Name the Chocolate game. We melted different types of chocolate into diapers and they had to guess what kind it was by examining/smelling the diapers.

Here are the chocolate diapers.
From L-R: Reese' Pieces, Oh Henry, EatMore, AfterEight

Here is Caleb. He was such a good boy, sleeping through the entire shower while he was passed from one set of arms to another.

Here's Jess opening the High Chair that we got her

Here's luke playing inside Oma's ottoman with the Tinker Toys

Rhubarb Muffins

Here's a funny little story about Rhubarb Muffins. We have had this patch of rhubarb in our back yard that we have never really wanted. It was quite big when we moved into our house 7 years ago, but we started to just mow over it because we didn't know what to do with it. But this year I found a recipe for rhubarb muffins and decided we should try to revive the patch. So after several years of being mowed over, the rhubarb is allowed to grow again. But the only thing is that it's kind of tiny.

So one morning I decided there must be enough by now for one batch of muffins. I went and picked it almost clean. And brought my tiny stalks inside. Cut them up, and I only got 1/2 cup of diced rhubarb. I still made the muffins, and they turned out quite well. But I didn't taste any rhubarb, which was a good thing for Nathan.

Here's the recipe for those of you out there with a real rhubarb patch. It's from the Simply in Season Cookbook from Ten Thousand Villages. (I highly recommend this cookbook, it's really good. Another current favorite recipe is the sugared asparagus recipe.)

Here is my pile of rhubarb
the thickest stalk was about the size of a drinking straw-but not that long

Rhubarb Muffins
1 -1/2 cups flour (may use all whole wheat)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine thoroughly

1 cup buttermilk, or plain yogurt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 egg (beaten)
2 teaspoons vanilla
In a separate bowl, mix well. Stir in dry ingredients until just moistened.

1 1/2 cups diced rhubarb
1/2 cup nuts (toasted and chopped; optional)
Stir in. Fill greased muffin tins two-thirds full.

1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon flour
Combine and sprinkle on top of batter. Bake in preheated oven at 375F until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, 20 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

Enjoy!