HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYAN!!!

Laramie

This last weekend we went down to Laramie to visit with my sister, Carissa, and her husband Quintin. On Friday after we got there Bryan, Q, and Dad went down to Denver to watch a Nuggets game. Who by the way beat the Cavaliers 99-97(Go Nuggets)! While the kids and I stayed down in Laramie with Carissa and had tons of fun...one thing that wasnt as much fun was that Hannah, Hayden and I went and got our H1N1 shot with Carissa but afterwards....

we enjoyed not one but...
two ice cream cones...
we also swam in Carissa's big bath tub...

...

...

and walked on the ceiling...

flew around in blankets...

played hide and seek...

found Q.

and last but not least played Wii.

Thanks Carissa and Q for the wonderful weekend!!!

Chunky Monkey Pancakes

I have always loved to bake. I remember as a little girl helping my Mom make cookies and then as I got older doing it myself. Since then I have progressed from cookies to pies and some other goodies in between. I did, however, have a huge dislike for cooking especially after Bryan and I got married. I think some of that dislike atributed to the fact that I was pregnant and everything made me sick. Luckily in the past year or so I have shed that dislike for cooking and have grown to love it. I especially like to find new recipes by looking through cookbooks or searching the internet. I found a recipe for Chunky Monkey Pancakes and decided to try them out on the kids first since Bryan isnt open to to many new things.
They loved them and I love them which means the recipe is a keeper. The real test will be to see if Bryan likes them, of course without the nuts.

Chunky Monkey Pancakes

Combine together in a large bowl:

1 C. flour

2 Tsp. baking powder

1 Tsp. baking soda

1/4 Tsp. salt

In a seperate bowl whisk together:

3/4 C. milk

3T. butter, melted

2 eggs

1 T. sugar

1 Tsp. vanilla

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in hte wet,

careful not to over mix the batter.

Gently fold in:

1 large banana, diced

1/2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 C. nuts, chopped

*You can also leave the nuts out and they are still good*