Mud Bath!

 It has been too hot for the boys to enjoy playing outside.  To keep them from bouncing off the walls and Asher pinning Elie with headlocks indoors all day, I let them play in the sprinkler.  Of course they take it to the next level by detaching the sprinkler head to make a pond/mud bath out of our flower beds!

                           

4th of July Pony Ride

In the beginning, Elie was very reluctant to even sit on the pony.  After a little warming up, he was cruising around and loving it all on his own!

I love you Pah-nut!

Just listen to the way he says peanut!  I melt every time!  I started calling him Peanut and he would repeat it back to me.  The way he says "pah-nut" I just can't get enough of!

A Couple of Elie's Obsessions

Elie is very impressed with Buzz Lightyear.  He tries to be just like him by doing stunts such as jumping off couches and stairs.  I will post a clip of that as soon as I can capture that.  But in the meantime, in the above video is Elie saying, "Sep, and beyond!"  (translation: To infinity and beyond!)

 

Another obsession of our little Elie is "dadasaurs" (dinosaurs)! He loves to color dinosaurs, read about them and talk about them!

Mexico

                                                             (above: Elie's new look)
We spent two weeks in June attending the weddings of Becky and Johnny, then Danny and Wendy.  It was a nice time getting together with family that live in all corners of the globe.  The day we left, Asher was very depressed saying he didn't want to leave Mexico because he wanted to be with his cousins, especially Michy! 

I regret not taking more pictures.  Here are a few that I got and I hope to post some from other people soon.

                                 Asher playing in the sand and arranging seashells

                                  It was so humid that my lens got all fogged up!

                                               Elie and cousin Mia

                                                  Mona Lisa sipping on a Margarita

                                                              

The moments are rare...

...when these two act civilized with one another!

Yipee!

Primo Jack

 On my way to Cartagena (for Becky's bachelorette party), I stayed with Naty in Miami for the night and met cousin Jack for the first time.  Those big brown eyes make me want to eat him all up!

                                                       I can't take it!  I'm melting!

Summer!

 Boy, it is tough keeping up with these two little Indians let alone this blog!  That said, here is a quick glimpse of what these boys have been up to this summer...

 Catching raindrops

                                          Digging for earthworms in the backyard

                 Watching caterpillers turn into chrysalis and emerge into butterflies

               Visiting the strawberry patch to eat pick strawberries

                                   Enjoying the free summer air!

Asher's Work

 On his doodle board, Asher phonetically wrote out all of the names of his classmates:  Asher, Silvia, Griffin, Sophia, Connor, Evan, James, Charlie, Neamiah, Ben, Riley

Asher got a birthday invite from his classmate Sophia, but he was unable to attend.  Here is the card he wrote and designed just for her.  Sounds like he has a little crush ;-)  It says: Sophia, Happy birthday to you Sophia.  I am so happy because it's your birthday.  I love you Sophia

Asher and Mommy

Asher's teacher took photos of the kids with their moms for Mother's day.  The kids decorated picture frames to put them in.

Whole Wheat Sweet Potato and Zucchini Bread

2 cups whole wheat flour (I prefer whole wheat pastry flour)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups date puree (see previous post for recipe)
3/4 olive oil
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups grated zucchini
1 1/2 cups grated sweet potato, unpeeled

Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.  Sift first five ingredients into a medium bowl.  Beat dates, oil, eggs and vanilla to blend in large bowl.  Mix in zucchini  and sweet potato.  Add dry ingredients and stir well.

Transfer batter to prepared pan.  Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 20 minutes.  Cool bread in pan on rack 15 minutes.  Cut around bread to loosen.  Turn out onto rack and cool completely.  Freezes well.

Date Puree

 I use date puree as a sugar substitution when I want to make a healthier version of some of my quick breads such as whole wheat carrot cake, whole wheat sweet potato and zucchini bread.  I'll stir it into my kids' oatmeal in place of other sweeteners, add it to smoothies, spread it on peanut butter sandwiches instead of jam or honey.

I make a big batch of this to store in containers in the freezer.  When frozen it is still pliable enough to scoop and spread.

To make it: place your pitted dates and a cinnamon stick (optional) into a sauce pan, filling it with water about 3/4 way up the dates.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes and keep covered.  Let cool (this is so you don't burn yourself while blending).

Remove cinnamon stick if using.  Puree with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor until smooth.

Pour into freezer-proof containers.  This will last about 3 months in the freezer or 1 week in the refrigerator.

Quotes from Elie

Moises was reading a book on the couch when Elie came up to him handing him a book for him to read.  He tries to shut Moises' book and says, "The end!"

When you tell Elie "no" he always asks, "Why?"
If you ask Elie "why" he'll answer, "Cos."

Quotes from Asher...

After I said thank you to Asher, and gave him a hug for drawing me a picture, he got the proudest look on his face.  He asked, "Did I make your feelings better?"



Asher:  Mommy can we have some ice cream?
Me:  We don't have any left.  Should we text Papi to have him bring us some on his way home?
Asher:  Who ate it all?
Me:  I don't know?!  Who do you think ate it all?
Asher:  Papi?
Me:  No, you and I ate it all!
Asher:  (with a smirk on his face) Because we're ice cream monsters!