Alden Playing in his Bumbo

Daddy and Alden stayed home this morning while Mommy went to the hairdresser to do girl stuff. We stayed in our jammies and smoked stogies and drank scotch... or maybe it was more like we read some stories, played in the Jumperoo and in the Bumbo and Daddy played on the computer. Hard to recall... but we were definitely in our jammies. Anyway, this clip was after Alden had a little nap and was being Daddy's happy little camper, playing away with the dangling birdies and ladybugs on his Baby Einstein mat.

Hope you like it.

- Chris

One More Holiday Clip - Alden "Singing"

Since we (I) finally got Christmas Part II up, here's the last little clip from the holidays that we wanted to share with everyone: Alden "singing" along with Frank Sinatra to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on Christmas day, 2007.

- Chris

Christmas Part II (Finally!)

So for the second half of Christmas Day, we packed Alden into the Jeep Liberty and headed down to Lacey, WA, to spend the evening with Alden's Great Grandparents, Gene and Vi Mackey, as well as Alden's Grandma and Grandpa Schreiber and Auntie Bill. The white Christmas that everyone had hoped to view Christmas morning was delivered during our drive down, but luckily (given the driving ability of people around here in inclement weather) the drive was without incident. After we arrived Alden charmed everyone in his usual manner, with cooing and looking cute (particularly in his little Santa hat). We all enjoyed the roast Great Grandma and Great Grandpa had prepared, as well as a couple glasses of wine and some conversation around the fireplace - well, except Alden - he enjoyed his milk and making randomly punctuated exclamations, as well as putting his toys (and anything else he could get his hands on) into his mouth. Alden was a lucky little guy - two Christmas celebrations, and getting to spend time with lots of adoring family on his first Christmas.

Here are the pics and video clips - hope you enjoy them.

- Chris

A Great Weekend in January.

It was a perfectly lovely day this past Sunday. It was bright and sunny and warm! (I was told when we moved here that we HAVE to take advantage of the days like this in the Wintertime) We wanted to get outside and enjoy the sun since it had been a long and dreary week and I swear that I hadn't seen the sun in days... We took a walk around our neighborhood, exploring the area with Alden. I have included some videos of the day.

- Ginny

Healthy Cranberry Oat Brownies

Ugh - need to catch up on the photos. We have part two of Christmas to put up...

Until then though, I have another healthy recipe - cranberry oat brownies.

Cranberry Oat Brownies


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rolled oats, ground into a powder in a food processor
1 cup whole wheat flour
5 scoops chocolate protein powder (I recommend Metabolic Drive Complete )
1 cup granulated Splenda
1/3 cup dried cranberries
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/3 cup plain, no-sugar-added organic applesauce
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp macadamia nut oil (or Canola oil if you don't have it)

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl, mixing briefly. Add the yogurt, applesauce, and oil to a food processor, and mix on low.

Add the protein powder into this mixture, while blending, one scoop at a time, until thoroughly blended.

Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients, add the honey, and stir together until everything is mixed well.

Pour the dough into a 8X12 inch cooking dish, and bake at 350-degrees F for 10-12 minutes (don't cook it too long or it will lose its chewy texture and moisture).

Makes 8 brownies.

- Chris

Alden turning over

Alden is getting so big so fast! He turned over from his back to his tummy on Friday, January 11th, and now he is doing it all of the time. It is a milestone that the textbooks said would happen around this time....however once he is on his tummy he can't seem to get off of it. He ends up on his tummy in his crib and then he cries and cries. We hope he gets used to sleeping on his tummy soon because I am tired of going into his room five times during the night and turning him back over onto his back.

:)

- Ginny