Empower Your Child to Excel in Reading

  

Nothing can be more disheartening as a parent than watching your child struggle with reading in school. The frustration can feel overwhelming for both of you, but it doesn't have to be this way. With the right approach, you can support your child in overcoming reading challenges while also igniting a passion for literature that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Create a Reading Routine  

Establishing a daily reading routine is crucial. Designate a specific time for reading each day—whether it's after dinner or right before bed—transforming it into a cherished ritual. This consistency not only underscores the importance of reading but also fosters a loving environment they will look forward to.

Choose Engaging Materials  

Captivate your child's attention by selecting books that pique their interest. Whether they are drawn to exciting adventures, intriguing mysteries, or fascinating non-fiction, finding the right material can spark motivation. Don't overlook the power of graphic novels and age-appropriate magazines, which can be equally compelling for reluctant readers.

Read Together  

Making reading a shared experience can strengthen your bond while modeling fluent reading. Alternate who reads aloud and engage in conversations about the story. Ask open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and deepen comprehension, turning reading into an interactive experience.

Utilize Technology  

Leverage the abundance of educational apps and websites designed to facilitate reading practice. Many of these platforms present an interactive learning experience filled with engaging games and quizzes, turning reading into a fun adventure.

Set Achievable Goals 

Establishing clear, attainable goals helps foster a sense of achievement. Work together to set targets, such as completing a certain number of books each month or mastering key sight words. Celebrate these milestones to boost their confidence and motivation.

Encourage a Reading Environment 

Design a cozy reading nook that invites your child to explore books regularly. Ensure they have access to various reading materials in a distraction-free space. A comfy chair, good lighting, and a curated book selection can transform this corner into their personal reading haven.

 Partner with Teachers   

Stay connected with your child’s educators to gain insights into their reading progress. Open communication can reveal specific areas where your child may need support, and teachers often have valuable resources to share that can aid in your child’s reading journey.

 Be Patient and Positive   

Above all, practice patience. Celebrate every small achievement on your child’s reading journey and cultivate a positive outlook. Your encouraging attitude can make a world of difference, allowing them to build their skills at their own pace while enjoying the process.

 Sometimes Extra Help is Needed 

If you think your child is still not grasping the fundamentals, don't lose hope. There are proven programs that can be worked on from home. For one such program, click here.

In summary, with dedication and the right strategies and resources, you can empower your child to overcome reading challenges and develop a lifelong love for books. Together, you can transform reading from a source of stress into a delightful and rewarding adventure. Happy reading!  

Strawberry Nice Cream Recipe (No Bananas!)

Are you looking for a healthier vegan alternative to ice cream that does not require bananas?

My son has ADHD and Tic Disorder. Lately, I have been very conscious of the ingredients in the foods he eats. The addition of dyes and ingredients that can trigger both of my son's conditions seem to be in everything that is marketed towards kids. With very few suitable alternatives, I have taken up the task of making his snacks from scratch at home. This way I can control what is put in his snacks and what is not. Here is one of my son's favorite recipes.

My Strawberry Nice Cream

 1 1/2 Cups Frozen Strawberries

1 Cup Soy Milk 

2 to 3 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Freeze for at least an hour before serving.

Lesson Learned From An Eleven Year Old

My son came into my bedroom saying that he had a bad dream and wanted to sleep with me. He cuddled up to my arm in the bed. After about 20 mins of the stuffy nose, I asked him if he was feeling ok and why his nose was stuffed up. "I don't know"' he said. Five more minutes passed and he was still pretty stuffed up so I asked what his bad dream was about. At first, he didn't want to tell me. Then, he let it spill out with tears flowing.

He said, "I was dreaming we were at the beach and I found a toy Gatlin gun and there was a strange person there. This person told me that there was a house for rent that was close to his friends for only $200 a month. So we packed up our stuff and left the house we are in but when we got to the new one it was $2 Million instead. So we were homeless and it was all my fault."

I have the sweetest little boy in the world. I comforted him and told him that neither I or his father would ever let us be in that situation. I also told him that by no means are any of the bills or tough times his fault. Apparently, I should not discuss the budget out loud around him anymore because he worries about it more than he should and more than I realized.

After letting it all out, reassurances that we would not be homeless and that it was only a bad dream, and cuddling with me for a while, he fell asleep.

No, things are not that bad financially but kids pick up on things and what we look on as a minor hardship, they can see as catastrophic. When mom and/or dad get upset, even at each other, in front of the children, the child may perceive it to be their fault. Of course, it isn't their fault, but parents, I include myself in this, should never forget to explain that it is by no means the fault of the children when things get tight or don't go as we planned.

Lesson learned!

On This Christmas Holiday...

On this Christmas holiday:

 -Love.

-Be giving.

-Be humble.

-Be grateful.

-Love one another.

-Please, be safe in your travels.

-Spend time with family and friends.

-Remember the reason for the season.

-Remember those less fortunate than you.

-Remember our military personnel that cannot come home for Christmas.

-Remember Christmas's past with loved ones that are no longer with us.

-Look into the eyes of a child on Christmas morning and remember your childhood.

-Love.

Everything should begin and end with love. Merry Christmas!!

Back To School, Don't Pass That School Bus!!!

Time flies when you are raising kids. I don't think, for parents, there has ever been a more true statement. My son just turned ten years old yesterday and I can't believe how much it feels like just yesterday we were at the hospital celebrating his arrival. 

Through all the sleepless nights, early mornings, diapers, bottles, tummy aches, and school mornings one thing is certain. Kids grow like wildfire and it can't be stopped. I have two amazing  twenty something daughters and an equally amazing ten year old little boy. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

This school season and every school season, please remember to stop for school buses dropping off children. Don't pass them. When you are in the opposite lane, watch for the stop sign on the side of the bus and stop! It is the law! Save the life of a child and pass on the message.

Coffee Chat: Scarves!! The one accessory that I won't be without.

To me, there are few things more comfy feeling than a scarf around my neck. Weird, I know. But during the cooler months when the house feels drafty and the wind outside is howling, you will often see me snuggling up in one of my favorites. Even in the house, though they are meant to be accessories, I enjoy the fact that my neck and upper back are covered and the cool air can't get to them. Being cold is not even remotely enjoyable for me. Call me a wimp, but it seems to take forever for me to get warm again after catching a chill. The last three days, though it hasn't been really cold but still breezy, they have come in handy. Recently I acquired a small collection from my daughter, when she moved, that I was more than happy to add to my own collection.

This beautiful green scarf is a gift from my oldest daughter for Mother's Day. Stunning!!

I have scarves for every season.

Hey look, it is me not catching a chill!

Love the vibrant colors!

Of course, there are other advantages to wearing a scarf other than warmth. They can cover or make up for a low cut blouse or shirt, a stain or flaw on a shirt, or a blemish on the skin of your neck. Also, a nice scarf can be worn over the hair to keep it in place during a windy day.We all know how that can go, don't we girls?  Yes, they are a beautiful accessory for color and style.  Scarves are the one accessory that I need in my wardrobe!

Nearly Empty Nesting

This is what we prepare them for, right? We raise our children to be responsible and productive adults so that they can make their own way in the world. Why is it so hard to let go?

How did they grow up so fast?

My daughters recently moved into an apartment together just thirty miles from home. Yes, they have moved out before. One moved to a different state for four years and the other into an apartment on her own. But years after they moved out, they came back. For the past five years, my oldest daughter has been living with me. The youngest lived with my ex-husband who was generous enough to take her in. She was seven blocks away so it was like having them both at home.

Now they are gone again. 

Obviously, I am happy that I had a part in raising two beautiful well adjusted young women. Indeed, I am the proud mom. It was very hard to let go even though they are in their twenties. Part of me wants to keep them close forever and keep them as safe as possible. But the other part says that it is time for them to spread their wings and fly the way they were meant to. That and wouldn't it be nice to not have to share a room with my nine year old son for a change. Yes, I do still have a nine year old son to keep me company and now can devote more attention to his needs. They are all my babies and we as parents spend so much time protecting them. We forget that eventually they leave the nest and try the the things they have learned from us. They will make mistakes and learn from them as they always have.

Though they are only thirty miles away, I will be a mom that worries after them forever. I can't help it! So for now, I will enjoy the freedom of having a girly bedroom instead of a toy infested nine year old boys play room. And, I will watch from afar as the two oldest take the steps to make lives for themselves away from the shelter of mom. I miss them already! :(

Top 5 Ways I Use Youtube

I personally love YouTube! Yes, you read that right. Can't tell you how many times I have used it for information from How-To's to just general entertainment. It is actually an extremely useful tool when used correctly. Here are the Top 5 Ways I Use YouTube.

1. Motivation There are times that I can have a huge problem with getting motivated to do things like clean the house or get things organized. There are so many videos on YouTube of people cleaning and their organizing ideas it will make your head spin. If you watch a few, it will get you in the mood to clean. It's like going to your best friends' house and seeing how clean theirs is. That usually makes me want to step it up. These videos, however, will show you how to clean and organize everything from your refrigerator to your garage to your car. 
   
2. Recipes Oh how I love recipes! On YouTube you can watch professional chefs and grandma cooking in her kitchen. Their are a wide range of recipes for food of almost any kind. There are also recipes for homemade products such as facial scrubs, hair products, dish soap, laundry soap, cleaning products, and even makeup. You need to know how to make it? Look it up on YouTube.
   
3. Movies, Music, Fitness There are movies of every genre on YouTube. Look it up and chances are that you will find it there. Some are pay, some are not. It all depends on what you want to watch. Plenty of documentaries in a variety of subjects are there too. If you want to see a music video, listen to a song, or see a performance of a song or event, chances are that some kind soul has uploaded it on YouTube. There are also multiple fitness programs as well. Tired of your usual workout? Give it a look! 
   
4. Reviews One of the most handy videos that you will find on YouTube are the reviews of products. Makeup, drinks, movies, books, cars, and other products' review videos are all over.  All you have to do is type in what you want to know about and the word review afterwards and there will be multiple choices. 
   
5. Education I love this aspect of YouTube. If you have a thirst for education, like me, this is the place to go. Books, lectures, and demonstrations are all over YouTube. Just type in what you are interested in learning about and chances are it is there. You can catch the news on YouTube also. Check it out, you could become one of the most educated people you know. 
   

Give YouTube a look!

My Top 5 Things I Wouldn't Want To Be Without

I recently watched a video or two on YouTube with the subject heading of Five Things I couldn't Live Without. I'm not into designer bags or trendy fashion accessories but there are somethings in my life that I would never want to be without. Here they are!

1. A Great Friend and Family Support System I love my family and friends and without them I would be nothing. No we don't always get along and sometimes we even hurt each other but we know someone always has our back.
2. An Automobile Yeah, this is something we take for granted at times but when we don't have one, we feel trapped and isolated. Mine is a 98 Dodge Caravan. It is a rust bucket and is about to turnover 200,000 miles but it still starts every morning.
3. A Roof Over My Head and Food In Our Bellies Another of the things we take for granted, but there are too many people without these luxuries. During this time of year, I speak of Winter, I have a warm place to lay my head and shelter for my children. We have food. Yes' I complain about the rent and the price of food, but it is truly a small price to pay.
4. My Babies Okay, I'm getting sappy, I know. My kids are my life and without them I would be lost. It is a lot of work raising kids but I, like many of you, wouldn't trade it for anything. They are 100% worth every effort.
5. My Faith In God Faith has gotten me through the most horrible times in my life. Without God in my life things would have fallen apart long ago. This is one thing that my mother gave me at a very young age and to this day I thank her. It is what made her a strong woman and He continues to do the same for me. 

This is an unconventional Top 5 but these things are what make my life easier and worth living. Take stock of your Top 5 Things That You Would Not Want To Be Without today!

Post Vertigo Mayhem

Anyone that has vertigo knows how difficult it can be to get things done during the time that they have it. Simple things that a person takes for granted become a major chore. Bending over, standing up, turning too fast, laying down, sitting upright, or even blinking, at times, causes the head to spin. Believe me when I tell you, this is no fun. I am currently having mild vertigo which is an improvement from last weekend when I had it so bad that any movement, including blinking, made my head feel like it was on the Silly Silo and nausea to make my stomach churn. It is very unnerving to stand up and immediately fall back down because your balance can't keep up.  

My wonderful boyfriend brought over pizza so that I wouldn't have to cook Saturday night. My son had his snack box which is always full of things like cereal bars, granola bars, peaches, apple sauce, spaghettios, chicken noodle soup, and fruit snacks. That and the pizza kept him fed. Needless to say, other than meals, nothing got done in my house.

The chaos of this scene is enough to cause nausea on its own. But wait! There's more.

Oh yeah, plenty of laundry.

 I always feel like a horrible mommy when I can't do the things that need to be done. It is frustrating. Fortunately, the vertigo has eased up to the point where things can be done if I don't move too quickly and don't bend over a lot.

As you can see, I recovered my kitchen. Yes, the laundry got done. It was a frustratingly slow process but the goal was achieved.  Hopefully, the vertigo will stay away for a while now so that life is easier to deal with and my kitchen can stay this way!

Letting Your Inner Child Out

I often look at my son with a sense of wonder and amazement. His smile, his laugh, and his sense of fun and adventure. He has a natural curiosity for life.

Then I sit and think, whatever happened to those traits in me? Has life really taken that much of a toll on me that I can't find it in myself to live like a child? This gives me a renewed spirit of  how I want to live my life as. I don't want to be able to say that I never had any fun in my life. Yes my idea of fun might be slightly different, at times, than when I was 9 years old. Still, taking the time out to show my child that I enjoy life too gives him hope for the future. 

In the world we live in, day to day life can seem like a total drag. As adults, we see things in ways that a child cannot. Unfortunately, we let ourselves be bogged down by the bad things in the world and we forget to enjoy the good and simple things that it has to offer. We seem to always be in a rush and we drag our children, kicking and screaming, into this lifestyle. We need to remember to show ourselves and our children that no matter how old they are, they can enjoy life. They can stop to smell flowers and enjoy the beauty of nature. They can continue to play as adults and do things that they enjoy. And yes, they can sometimes eat their dessert before the actual meal.

Coffee Chat: Winter Has Arrived!

I wanted to pause this morning, while sipping my coffee, to reflect on the storm that brought the area 8 to 14 inches of snow and then beat a path out of town. Tis the season for the Midwest, and much of the nation, to receive this cool blanket of beauty, fun, cold, and fear.

It is beautiful when all is said and done. The freshly falling snow against a beautiful blue skied morning is an awe inspiring scene. I love seeing the branches of the pine trees heavy with a pillow of sparkling whiteness. Ice cycles gleam in the sunlight.

Children, even a few adults, look with wonder at the snow imagining the creatures they could create in its depths. Sleds come out in full force to the slippery slopes as our rosy cheeked young ones shriek with laughter while gliding at high velocity towards the bottom of the hill. Snowmen and women are popping up all over the country side. Or perhaps the little ones dream lazily out the window of the impending holiday season.

Make no mistake, the snow is beautiful but also cold and treacherous. Be vigilant in watching for signs of hypothermia in our overenthusiastic youth and even some adults for they may not realize how cold they really are. Watch for slippery surfaces which can be dangerous for everyone. Be careful not to overdo it while shoveling what seems like an endless sidewalk or driveway. Stay away from waterways that may not be completely frozen over. Emergency room visits, while sometimes necessary, are no ones favorite activity. Make sure that before these big snow storms, you have emergency kits in your cars with blankets, water, flares, food, flashlights, and extra pairs of dry clothes. Perhaps throw in a shovel and salt/kitty litter. Always make sure that your phone is charged and that people know where you are traveling. Slow down and drive safely! Also, before the storm begins, make sure you are well stocked on food at home and any necessary medications. Remember to check on the elderly and be generous to the homeless for they are exceptionally vulnerable.

At the end of a cold snowy day, come into the warmth of your home and heat up your body with a cup of Homemade Cocoa and a warm blanket. Enjoy the season and be safe!

When All Seems Lost

We all have days when all seems lost, when we feel lost. The world seems like a cold cruel place sometimes. The most important thing to remember is problems are temporary. This feeling will pass and there are people who love and care even during the roughest times. Life may seem like it is working against you. Sometimes the outcomes we want aren't always the best outcomes for us and there is another plan at work.

Hold on! Don't be afraid to reach out. Don't be afraid to pray or to ask others to pray for you. More often than not, they will. Don't be afraid to cry no matter what gender you are and don't let anyone tell you not to. Crying is a healthy release of emotion.

You can get through this and you are not alone!

www.crisistextline.org 

The American Bison of Fontana Park Near Hazelton, Iowa

If you get the chance to do a little traveling and you want to see some beautiful animals, check out Fontana Park near Hazelton, Iowa. We recently had the opportunity to return to this beautiful park. The Bison are particularly impressive in this park and we had the chance to view these majestic animals up close.

Powerful

Massive

Just looking at them you get the sense of tremendous power and history.

Eating green beans.

I think he sees me.

Shedding his coat.

They speak to each other with a deep low grunt and snorting.

Fontana also has coyotes, foxes, a very large bear, eagles, raccoon, ducks, rabbits, turtles, and many other animals and birds. It is definitely worth the time spent to drive there and it's FREE! .

Mean Mom: Why I took away my son's Electronics

Yes, I did! I took away the electronic tablets. E-Readers and tablets are great tools, this I cannot deny. In the hands of a child, however, they can be a tool that holds them back from true learning. Let me explain.

My son had a Kindle. It was meant to help him learn to read and to help him improve his movement skills. It definitely did help with the movement skills and a little with the reading. The problem is that when he used the it, I found that his attitude changed. He became increasingly agitated with it and also with the people around him. He became withdrawn and the more immersed he became in it the less responsive he was to the outside world. My son stopped learning how to interact with people and even reversed his ability to do that some. Over the summer, as he used it even more and the competition of school was removed, trips to the park and playing with friends or even his own father became battles over whether or not the Kindle would come with. Fortunately, it died but the Nook soon took it's place.  

There really are few things more disturbing to me than a bunch of little kids sitting at the park playing with their electronic devices. They should be running, playing, and having fun interacting with things and other kids. This is very important to their social development. I think my son's social development actually took a step back. Kids would want him to play but he was too busy on that electronic device to care. One of the scary things that I witnessed was that when he actually did play on the playground, it was usually alone because he didn't know how to play with other kids.

  

When I look at the world today and see all of the kids getting into trouble, getting killed, or killing others it is frightening. Social media, certain movies, or videos aren't meant for kids and if left to their own devices the children will flock to them. They will become disengaged from the world and because it is over the computer they will not learn the consequences of their actions until that horrible moment when they exercise what they have learned on the computer into real life. It is important to be there for them to explain the difference between right and wrong. We can't let a computer raise our kids. There isn't a single thing more important that I can think of than raising our kids to be good people.

Yes it is convenient to let them use electronics for parents at times. I know I was able to get a lot more things done because, for the most part, he was quiet and busy. But when a child, or an adult for that matter, sits in front of a device all the time they become withdrawn, antisocial, and they forget that there are other things in life. Important things that will make or break their future. Talking to people, learning to properly communicate what you want or need to others, and learning how to work with others are valuable tools for growing into a responsible adult. Granted, children don't have that insight into the future that we do. It is our responsibility as parents to help them see it.

So yesterday, after I witnessed my son treating his father with an extreme amount of disrespect, because the rule was when his dad came to visit the Nook was turned off, I took it away. I did not do it without explanation. I told him that I believe that has become to distant from the things around him. And I also told him that I believe that he needed to learn how to interact with people and play. That I wanted him to grow up into a respectful caring young man and that I love him enough to know when he needs my help in making sure that happened. 

Since I took it away, he has been more respectful, helpful, playful, and most importantly, HAPPY! This is not to say that he will never use the Nook again. It is only allowed on car trips and only for a few select, Mother approved, games. Absolutely NO INTERNET! It will be in extreme moderation.

He will learn so much more of life now. And, yes it certainly has been a learning experience for me too!

Single Mom Dating at 45!

After dating off and on and some relationship fails, I made the choice to just stop. Having a young son and dating at 45 years old is a whole lot different than dating at 30. The priorities are different. The range of life experience is different. Not wanting to expose my son to a revolving door of men coming into and out of my life, not dating was a whole lot easier of a decision. Alas, it is a lonely life. This is not to say that I didn't go out at all with a man occasionally, but I never really set my heart into actually finding someone. I figured if it was meant to be that I was with someone that he would show up eventually. Fortunately, he did show up and I am now the happiest I have been in way too many years.

Dating requires a person to put themselves on display in hopes that the other person likes what they see and and what they feel when they are around you. As a single mom, when I go out I have to consider so many variables, not just for the sake of the date, but for my safety and the safety of my children and home. Unfortunately, I found that there are lots of guys that wanted nothing more than to hop into bed for a one nighter. Definitely not my scene. Though I admit, the friends with benefits thing was an option but only with someone I knew and trusted. That, however, is a cold way to go because it still leaves you alone at the end of the night, unable to hold someone or express your hopes, dreams, and love to another. Your holidays, vacations, and whatnot will still be alone. It isn't a lifestyle solution for me.

 I was content with being single at least for the duration of the time that my son would live at home. Ten more years of being alone seemed like a small sacrifice. That and it spared me the possibility of being hurt yet another time. But then I wondered if I was doing him an injustice by not letting him see me happy and with someone, other than him, that wanted to hold me and be there for me. And I wondered if I was doing my daughters a disservice by teaching them not to deal with a situation or try things even though it may not have the desired outcome. I don't want to teach them to hide in a bubble because they are afraid of the possibility of getting hurt. So when the opportunity arose, I took the chance. After five years though, it was scary.

 Thanks to a good friend (Thanks Tracey!) who hooked me up with a friend of hers from work, there is someone in my life who is respectful, loving, compassionate, funny, honest, and patient. I don't know how the future will go but it looks very promising and I'm happy. 

 Yes, it is scary and yes, it requires taking a chance. But I am sure glad I did. Now my children can see me happy and having a loving, caring, and respectful relationship! And I have someone to share my life with when the nest is empty.

Buy A Hotel

I remember one time my mother telling me that she wished she could buy a hotel so that each of us kids would have a place to live on our own but still be close to her. I laughed when she said that not knowing the depth of the meaning of her words. Being the fourth of six kids and watching our parents do everything they could to keep us happy and healthy, it seemed like a huge job. I would have thought they would do about anything for a moment's peace. Now, being the mother of two adult children and an eight year old, the struggle of emotions is real as I have watched two of them grow and go their own way.

Having children is a great blessing. Watching them grow, mature, and their personalities shape. I can't tell you how many times my two oldest told me they were never gonna leave home. But I knew that inevitably they would do as so many children have done before, setting out into the world on their own. They have that longing for experiences of life that they can't get under my wing. It isn't easy to let go. So much time as a parent is spent protecting, teaching, and preparing them just to one day hear them say they are ready to strike out on their own. Then, of course, all you want to do is lock them away where they can be kept safe.

You think back over the years as they were growing up and ask yourself, "Did I do enough to prepare them? Did I teach them right?" Fear and doubts creep in about your parenting abilities. But eventually you realise that this is part of the process of growing up and coming of age. They need this experience in life so they will one day be able to pass on their wisdom to their children. This road is one I have been on as well as my mother and her mother before her. Children grow up and move on to experience love, pain, joy, and sarrow because this is what they are supposed to do. They will potentially meet the love of their life. Some will become parents and yes, like my mother and now me, they will want to buy a hotel!

The Most Beautiful Dragon In The World!

I love watching my son's mind at work. What most people would think of as a ripped plastic bag, he finds beauty and purpose in. Cultivating creativity is so easy when you look at it through the eyes of a child. Don't ever force a child to conform to what society thinks art should look like. Stifling what they create in their minds is a horrible mistake. He makes paper into things that have no meaning to the average person but to him it is a whole new world. It flies and so does his imagination.

What does this look like to you?

To me it is the most beautiful dragon in the world! 

The art of a child comes from a place of purity of soul and innocence that seems to be lost later in life. Cherish this time and encourage the ability to use the imagination to it's fullest potential.

Allow them to open their minds to possibilities.

Display it proudly!

Encourage them to explain what they see in their art.  Show your children how beautiful you think their mind is. If they believe that you believe in them, they can reach for their dreams with more confidence and be ready to take on the world!

My Son Says I Make The Best!

My son says I make the best Banana Bread in the whole wide world! Considering his vast amount of experience with food world wide (I'm being sarcastic, of course.) I will certainly take the compliment and run with it! So here is the Best Banana Bread In The Whole Wide World recipe!

BEST BANANA BREAD IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

4 RIPENED OR OVER RIPENED SMASHED BANANAS

2 EGGS

1 3/4 CUPS OF BROWN SUGAR

1/2 CUP MELTED BUTTER

1/4  CUP MILK
1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT

1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA

1 3/4 CUP FLOUR

Cream together bananas, eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix flour and baking soda together thoroughly then add to the creamed banana mixture. Make sure to mix thoroughly so there are no lumps. Pour into a bread pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake till golden brown top cracks slightly or 1 hour and 25 minutes in a preheated 325 degree oven. 

This and a nice hot cup of coffee in the morning, what could be better?

Snack Time! Getting my son to eat more nutritious food.

I have three children who are the lights of my life. My oldest is 25, the middle is 23, and the youngest is 8 years old. 

While the oldest two are old enough to fend for themselves in the kitchen, my son who is the eight year old is not. He has a lot of energy, as most eight year olds do, and burns off food very fast. Don't get me wrong, he eats like a horse. Like any child his age he can be picky about what he eats. I have had to come up with solutions to the fact that he refuses to eat his veggies. Juices infused with vegetables and fruit have been my go to solutions. I have also had to devise a plan for his snacking to make sure that he gets enough to eat without eating just the things that are less nutritious. 

Cereal bars, some cereals, applesauce, granola bars, graham crackers, sunflower seeds, peanuts, dried fruit, and some fruit snacks are usually what I put in the Snack Box. This is a box that he has access to at all times. I refill the box once a week. I use resealable bags so that he can take as much out as he wants, reseal it, then return the bag to the snack box.

Being the sneaky mother that I am, I have also found a way to blend in vegetables with the occasional smoothie or add small chunks of veggies to his other foods so that he barely notices them. Throw in some diced carrots to the mac and cheese or some small pieces of broccoli and he will eat them with little notice.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are usually always available in plain site so he looks at them first and doesn't always head for the snack box.