Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

I've been making a double batch of these muffins EVERY WEEK for the last month.
They have no refined sugar, flour, or egg. The original recipe called for an egg but I just substitute the egg with a "flax egg" (1 T flax meal + 3 T water).

These are packed with whole food ingredients that are so very good for you.

We love these as a compliment to our breakfast or as a quick little snack. Enjoy!  

        

Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins              

1 1/4 c rolled oats
1 c applesauce
1/3 c almond butter
1 egg or flax egg
3-4 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
About 1/2-1/3 c fresh blueberries

(We've also added things like shredded coconut, chia seeds, and raisins. The recipe is very adaptable!)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 min.

LEGOLAND

This week, we capped off our Spring Break by making a trip to Legoland!

Waiting in line for our first roller coaster of the day.

 Zach the ambulance driver.

 Trains with daddy.

 Duplo Carousel (notice the big kid in the back). 😄

Another child who just wants to be little again. 😆

Fire Patrol.

 Can you see our little fireman, putting out the fire?

Boat ride with dad.

HELP!!

 Soaking wet after a water ride.

 Splash zone play area.

 He had such a blast shooting people with water as they came by.

Oh, the laughter and joy!

The kids with Chewy.

 The girls enjoyed an entire area devoted to Star Wars scenes.

Sigh... You know you're old when you start spinning and need to sit down after a few kiddie rides. 😂

Hanging out with King Tut while everyone else is having fun.

 Mount Rushmore.

 Forget Ninjago, Zach has a real ninja sister. 😄 

My sweet boy!

We typically wouldn't spend the money to go to an amusement park (it's astronomical for a family these days!) but thankfully, LEGOLAND offers a homeschooling discount. This allowed for us to go at a fraction of the cost and BONUS: they gave us 5 free tickets to use next time! Can't beat that!

 Spring Break is officially over but that's OK. 

We only have 5 weeks left before another school year comes to a close.

Bring on summer!

Easter 2018

 Zach couldn't get enough of these Resurrection Eggs.

He carefully opened each egg as I read the story behind each symbol.  

I introduced them the week before Easter and he wanted to do them several times a day.

Like the Nativity, this will be something he looks forward to each year.

There's no denying that Resurrection Sunday is my favorite day of the year. Why? Because it is the GREATEST day in all of history. Without the resurrection of Christ, our hope is lost. It's as simple as that. But because Jesus rose from grave, (just like He said He would in Matthew 28:6), we too, are alive in Christ and have victory over death. Hallelujah!   

 The one word that changed EVERYTHING.

He is Risen! 

 Our three little peeps. 🐤🐤🐤

After church, the kids changed and we had our Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

 Each kid has their own color or kind of eggs. Believe me, it makes it easier to keep track of.

Zach's eggs are hidden low to the ground but the girls' are more eye level or up high.

His eggs were filled with jelly beans and a few mini trains.

 Happy boy!

Later, the kids had fun dyeing some eggs.

 We used the fake eggs as they were about the same price (less than $2/dozen at Walmart).

We didn't have to boil them or waste them. We typically don't eat our dyed eggs so this was the best option for us (and little toddler hands). And the girls enjoyed decorating theirs.

It was a sweet and simple day, celebrating our Risen Savior with my little family.

Happy Easter!

TWELVE

 And just like that, the girls turned TWELVE!!

 Where has the time gone?

 How did they get so big and who keeps feeding them?? 😄

Very funny, girls!

 Little brothers are so helpful when it comes to opening presents.

 Sweet gifts from family and friends.

 Zach's face. 😝

 We celebrated with a party at our park!

 The little kid's table.

 Zach's favorite pup, Riley boy.

 The girls requested Miss Jill's coconut cake because let's face it, her coconut cake is the bomb!

 Jill baked not one but TWO cakes! Plus another sheet cake. She's the best!

 All their favorite people... Cousins, friends, and neighborhood playmates.

 Letting the littles blow out their candles.

Sweet friends, enjoying the afternoon shade.

It was a gorgeous day at the park!

In the past, the girls have had some fun "themed" birthday parties (i.e. princess, swim, butterfly, rock climbing, etc.). However, this year, because I was still recovering from surgery, we decided to keep it simple.

They said all they really wanted was to hang out and play at the park with their friends.

Easy peasy!

We gathered after church on Sunday and had beautiful day, celebrating our ALMOST TEENAGERS!

If you don't know Faith and Grace, here are some facts about them...

Faith (born 2 minutes before Grace) is more of a tomboy, although she likes girlie things, too. 

She is ambitious and highly capable of any task you put in front of her. She is responsible, quick, and enjoys a challenge. She loves people, new adventures, reading books, creating art, and learning about new things.

Grace is our girlie girl. She's still in love with all things pink. She's our idealist dreamer. She's content, joyful, and conscientious. She has a big heart for others and loves her people with loyalty and passion.

She keeps short accounts. She's always humble and the first to apologize.

She's loves getting lost in a book as well as her own daydreams.   

Our girls are different and unique and yet, compliment each other so well.

They're so blessed to have each other! 

We're honored to be their parents and can't wait to see what God has planned for their future.

We love you so much, girls!