Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Raspberry Muffins

I think if you are going to transition to clean eating, one of the best pieces of advice that I can give is make things in bulk! I love making big batches of muffins and freezing some or keeping them in the fridge for a week of simpler breakfasts that are still nourishing but also super fast! I was making a batch of blueberry flax seed muffins when my kids asked for some chocolate ones. Well, why not? These are a healthy alternative to a sugary cereal and passed with flying colors for my kids taste test wise.

I used: one and a half cups of whole wheat flour. 1/4 cup of raw sugar. 1 tsp of vanilla extract. 1/4 cup of cocoa powder. 1/4 cup of unsweetened choc. chips. 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries. 1 egg. 3/4-1 cup of milk ( I started with 3/4 cups but my mix still seemed to dry, so I added little splashes of milk till it was a smoother consistency). 1 and a half tsp. of baking powder. I am very unceremonious when I make muffins (and also short on time and plentiful in the helper department) so I quickly mixed everything together. If you would like vegan muffins, you could substitute a 1/3 cup or coconut oil for the egg and orange juice in for the milk. I got about 10 muffins from this and baked them at 350 degrees for 22 minutes (cooking times may vary). Once they cooled, I placed them in a container or ziploc bag and we enjoyed them for several days.

And here are my adorable little helpers waiting for them to finish baking

And a mixed tray of blueberry flax seed and chocolate chocolate chip and raspberry hot from the oven! Yummy!

Places to Play in PA: Strasburg Rail Road Museum

Not so long ago we took a trip out to Lancaster County to visit the choo-choo trains for a very special 4 year olds birthday.

Can you believe it? Me neither! But get a load of this-- this is a picture of our kids the last time we went:

It seriously seems like just yesterday! And here's most of the gang now:

They're so beautiful-- such a blessing to be their mommy!

We went on a sunday that happened to be a Day out With Thomas. However, our four year old was terrified of the trains. We had expected this as our previous trip many years ago the same thing had happened. So, after a quick peek at the large moving trains, we headed across the street to the museum. It is a lovely building with beautifully and painstakingly restored trains of all ages and colors-- a real delight!

The second floor of the museum hosts various exhibits and currently they have a lovely photo exhibit of trains as well as some old artifacts. After viewing this room, you head out to a large overpass that lets you enjoy the trains from an aerial view. If you have a stroller, I'd suggest skipping this part as the only way down the overpass is steps. Thankfully, we had the moby wrap and had worn good walking shoes. You will be doing a good deal of strolling and climbing in and out of the trains, so dress accordingly.

Also, even though we are a prominently male family, my daughter and I also tremendously enjoyed the museum as well. Please don't think of this as a place where families of boys should go-- families of all ages and genders will find enjoyment here!

Towards the rear of the museum there are various amounts of hands on activities for the kids to enjoy. Our kids shoveled coal, helped with a train latch, and learned how specialty trains operated.

This is one of my favorite images from the day-- so special the bond between these two brothers. I would suggest visiting the museum on a day when you know the train station will be crowded as it left the museum less crowded. The special time together is always the highlight of any outing-- the extra bonus of seeing so much history was icing on the cake!

If you are wondering how the baby did, well, he did sleep for a good deal of the trip in his wrap and then when it was time to eat, we found an old movie on refrigerator trains that we watched-- very interesting the extra work that went into cooling their food 60-70 years ago!

A favorite train that the family could go in and tour was this vivid modern blue one (and I apologize at my lack of technical terms, but it is what it is :D)

They also enjoyed the classics...

We ended our tour through the museum towards the front. Here they had various mock store fronts, an old station landing, and best of all, a play area with every imaginable toy train ever built.

There is also a huge village made entirely out of legos-- very cool! Also, and I apologize my camera battery died but it will peek your interest, there is a huge train "graveyard" if you will outside of even more trains. Seeing their dilapidated state gives the viewer an even greater appreciation for the restoration and man hours that went into making the other trains inside so beautiful! They also have plans for an additional building and roundtable to be built and restored which should be an exciting addition! On a side note, there are some picnic tables available for picnicking and there is a lovely view from the rear of the museum! For more information, visit their website http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/# Also, while you are out there just a mile down the road there is a lovely old fashioned ice creamery. Its a very sweet ending to a lovely family outing!

5 Months Old

Okay normally when I do the monthly post I get all emotional, but this time 5 months seems like a breeze. And that is because my previous baby as in the little boy who will always be my baby... is turning 4 in two days. I just. want. to. cry.

Here he is with his baby brother. They were both hamming it up until I got the real camera. Ah well.... anyway, I don't want to think about having my baby turn four years old. So, let's talk about my baby turning 5 months old.

Just so you know, he was laughing and smiling like crazy and I thought, "Well I'll be (well, not quite that, but you get the idea) we might actually do his monthly picture onthe right day!" So again, I grab the camera. Nothing. He was NOT in the mood... so I got a quick picture of his cute feet.

It was a tough day apparently.... he couldn't make it pass his slippers! Well, anyway tried to get a few more shots but he was not having hit. Then my friend Tina comes over to pick up some 31 things and he is smiling like a lovesick little boy at her. So, I tried again...

I think his shirt says it all... he is so cute but too clever to let Mommy get a picture of him smiling. Although, it also might refer to how he cleverly has me wrapped around his pudgy little finger. Either way, he is cute-- can't you just hear a little Italian accent here, "Yo mom-mee-- lets eat some rice cereal and pretend its pasta!" Well, that might be an exaggeration, but the expressions this kid makes I'll tell ya!

These were taken a few weeks ago when he was happily eating his hands and I could get a few pictures without him minding.

Yummy hands. I think he is going to be an early teether if the drool is any indication. But, okay, look at these sweet little baby feet?!

They have seen a lot of this little piggy action.

And those cheeks... MMMmmmm. I just want to kiss him all day!

And then apparently, he caught on. He got a little suspicious. Or tired... but ah well, is he not adorable? He is getting so big too! No really, he is in 6-9 month jammies and those are getting a little snug length wise. He is squealing, laughing, follows us with his eyes, loves to stand, started hanging out in the johhny jump up, and just last week he began eating rice. He is growing so fast and is getting loved on every single step of the way! There, that was much better than thinking of my baby turning 4...

but no, I just couldn't help myself. Look at my little baby.... now I need to go and kiss his chubby little cheeks while they're still the cheeks of a three year old...