PJW got K a cow to be a companion to C's Piggy. But based on this picture I'm not sure she's loving cow as much as C loves Piggy.

I picked up some of those frozen "flavor-ice" ice pops at the store the other day thinking they would be a fun treat for Chaney..not only does she love them but UB, Dad and Mom have enjoyed them too! (a lot of after dinner, "What color do you want? What flavor is green? Didn't you have red yesterday; was it cherry or strawberry?") Which made me wonder why do we stop eating the yummy things we used to love? How good are animal crackers, peanut butter on soft bread, grilled cheese?? Another benefit of having kids...

Below is what Granny calls the "best banana bread recipe ever". She says shes tried "at least a hundred recipes". Im not sure about the numbers, but she does have a big birthday coming up so it might be accurate. (C, and by proximity Nellie too, has eaten about a loaf already this weekend!)

BEST BANANA BREAD EVER!

Oven 350

1/2 stick (4-5 tblsp) butter - softened
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
Cream together

1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1/4 tsp powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together and stir into creamed mixture with wooden spoon - Don't use mixer

2-3 RIPE bananas (I often use those I have frozen that were going bad before I could use) Smash - get as creamy as possible so no banana chunks (I use fork)- Stir into above mixture

Makes 2 small loaves or 1 large - 30 min for small - 50 min for large
Freezes Super! Wrap in plastic and then in foil if freeze.

Here is an recent picture of Keaton. She's doing much better with her eating and turning into a fat and happy baby. (or we are just getting used to her constant spitting up and its not so stressfull anymore!) She is sleeping usually till 5:00ish and then chugging a bottle and passing out again, except for last night when she was up at 1:30...And unfortunately for Patrick,before we went to bed last night he was trying to be helpful and offered to get her when she woke up. Because he had to work this morning I made him a deal that if she got up before 2:00, which she hadn't done in a couple of weeks, he could get her...otherwise I would get her. I think it was exactly 1:38 when she woke up-ha!

Its been a while since my last post, we have been a bit crazy here! I have officially left Sonnenschein and have been focused on signing up a few clients to keep me busy while I spend most of my time with the girls. We have also had a house full of sickies. Patrick and Chaney have been fighting colds over the last week and Keaton now seems to be coming down with one herself. I have somehow managed to avoid the bug. Its refreshing for me, after 18 months of pregnancy, to be the healthy one in the family that is taking care of everyone else.

Even with all the chaos, Patrick and I were able to get away to Kansas City last weekend. We had a great time, mostly catching up on sleep, eating some good meals and have a few drinks. However, The good times were interrupted with a call from Uncle Blake letting us know the AC was broken. Ug, oh well....

While we where gone Chaney stayed Friday night with yia-yia and poppy and Saturday with pa pa and Annette. Keaton stayed with Granny in her new place off the park. (very handy) The picture below is of Chaney and her acorns. She loves her acorns. She has acorns and pa pa Werner's and walnuts at Grandpa Luna's. Grandpa Luna is convinced she is going to grow up to own a chain of Walnut Bowl stores in Lebanon. I wonder if there's money in walnut bowls?

I also wanted to post this picture I snapped of C and Dad "napping" while in Pontiac...

We have had a busy few days! Last week we all loaded up and set out on our first trip as a family of four to Southwest Missouri. Our first stop was at Granny's house in Springfield where Granny B and Grandpa came over to visit and meet Keaton. Unfortunately Chaney was in a bit of a "mood" and we visited just for a bit before we thought we better get back on the road and head to Pontiac. And while I would have loved to show off Miss Keaton to the Ozark County crew, she stayed behind with Granny and Granny B. (We are still working through some reflux issues and thought the trip would be a bit much for her. Turns out it was a good call, Granny didn't get much sleep over the next 48 hours!)

In Pontiac Chaney and I attended a shower for baby Lola and then sunscreened up for C's first trip on the lake. I was a bit worried about the boat ride, wondering if she would be scared of the sound or annoyed with her life-jacket. I should have known better; she did great! She loved the ride as she sat with Dad and waved "hiiiii" to the water as we cruised down Bull Shoals. We tied up with some Pontiac friends and floated with everyone for a while. Chaney even sat on the swim platform on one boat and "jumped" to dad in the water. She also loved Grandpa's old water squirting hand trick and had her first 30 second swim lesson from Laurie, a collegiate swimmer in her day...we have always ignored the fact it was at Oklahoma State.

Thanks to "Aunt" Jabet and "Uncle" Matt for taking us out!

The weekend wrapped up with Granny in a U-haul and a caravan back to St. Louis! The boys got her all moved in to her new place just off the Park Sunday night...shew, long day!

Here are some pictures from the big weekend taken with Aunt Jabet's cool water camera...looks like I'm going to have to get one for future trips!


Ready to go!


Lunchtime...grilled cheese and chips from Jackies!


"Jumping" off the boat with Dad.


Some floating time....