today's treat

I have made these yummy granola bars a few times now and they are so-o good! I have a slight {or not so slight} addiction to homemade granola. I shared this recipe before, but these news ones don't have the brown sugar or corn syrup so I feel a little bit better about myself when I eat half the pan!

{you can click on the link to get the original recipe, but here's how I make them}

Quinoa granola bars
 
Ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup honey
• 2/3 cup peanut butter

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.  Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment for easy removal of the bars.
In a medium skillet melt the butter over medium heat and add the oats.  Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally until the oats start to turn golden brown.  Transfer the oats to a medium mixing bowl.  Add the quinoa, flaxseed, chia seeds, cinnamon

 In a small saucepan add the honey and peanut butter and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil.  Pour the syrup over the oats and using a spatula make sure that all the ingredients are evenly coated.  Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake the bars for 25 to 30 minutes until the bars are golden brown.  Let them cool completely {or, if you're like me, burn your fingers and mouth because you can't wait} and ENJOY!

trey & claire

I love this photo, and those two little people so, so much.

It would have been nice if Trey was looking at the camera too, but he was watching birds out the window, so that kind of makes me like it even more. I wonder what they are thinking about, and what they dream about when they are sleeping. I love spending my days {and sometimes nights} with them. They are just so perfect and sweet, and I want to call them my darlings and sweethearts and everything else that is wonderful. It is truly amazing how much a heart can love.

happy friday.

waking up to, "momma?"
warm weather.
milk drunk baby smiles.
little stacks and line-ups of everything. everywhere.
pumpkin muffins.
letters in the mail.
baby legs.

growing up

I feel like my baby Trey is a full out little boy!

He opens the fridge and get's himself a snack.
He cleans up his room by himself.
He can undress himself.
He talks all day long.
He loves to help me change, swaddle, rock {and everything else} Claire. He's always the first one by her side holding her hands when she starts to cry.
And
He loves to go to Nursery now!

He had a hard time the first couple months, and it broke my heart to know he was missing us. But he's really warmed up to the whole thing, and even though it's only a couple hours, it feels like it's a really long time to be away from him! I am so excited to go and get him after church, and it just warms my heart to see him sitting there happily reading a book or playing with the other children. I just can't believe my little baby is "out" on his own! His nursery teachers are so wonderful, one of them was telling me how she thought it was so cute that Trey loves to clean everything up, {hmmm...wonder where he gets that from?} and it really hit me that what he does, hears, and learns at home is what he will do and say when he is away from home.

I try hard everyday to make our home a place that is filled with love and kindness, where our children see patience, and have fun. Where they never doubt that they are the most important thing in our lives. I know it's an important job. So, for now, I'm glad we are only separated for those 2 little hours.