Berry Cobbler

So, last summer I was on the hunt for a really good berry cobbler recipe and after several tries think I found my favorite on allrecipes.com and made some changes to it. It's versatile because you can use any kind of berries and/or fruits that you want or have on hand. I made it a couple weeks ago with blueberries and raspberries and today I made it with blueberries, marion berries and cherries. Yum!

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar coconut palm sugar*, divided
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Optional Ingredients: 1/4-1/2 cup oats, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons cold butter
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch arrowroot powder*
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 4 cups berries, fruit or combo of both, rinsed and drained.
• The kinds of fruits you could use are: blackberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, etc. Just make sure everything is close to the same size and small enough to cook through.

*I've replaced white and brown sugar with coconut palm sugar in most of my recipes AND coffee. 

*I've also been using arrowroot powder as an alternative thickener in place of cornstarch or flour. You may need to adjust the amount you use in other recipes, such as gravy, because it isn't exactly the same but the 2 T in this recipe works great.

Walking!

Emberly is walking now! She's been taking steps here and there for awhile now but about a week ago she started walking without holding onto things and just took off. Yesterday we went to the mall and got her a new pair of shoes that she can walk in and wear outside while she's playing. I can't believe I have 2 mobile kids now! :)

Backyardigans

So, one of the things I wanted as a result of working at home was getting the back yard in a good place where a) the kids can play outside and me not have to worry about them getting hurt or into something they're not supposed to, b) a place where we can all relax, c) be outside as much as possible and d) I didn't want to be cooped up inside all summer long. There are quite a few projects on our list as I mentioned in an earlier post and we're tackling them one at a time. 

#1) The first was to create a new space for our garden. Last year when we first put in our raised bed our dogs got into it and ate some of the plants before we had a chance to enjoy the fruits of our labor. So I had the great idea to use the old dog kennel to wrap around garden so we could keep the dogs out and create a cute, little garden area. We got a great deal on a new dog kennel at Costco and moved the old one over the raised beds. We've planted several kinds of tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, zucchini, leeks, arugula, kale, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, parsley, basil, rosemary and chives. We also have raspberries and blueberries planted in pots in the front yard. 

Emberly's 1 Year List

My little redhead is 1...it's still so crazy to remember the story that unfolded right before she was brought into this world. Such a fun birth story and so grateful for her and what she's brought to our family! 

We still have to take her into the Dr for her 1-year checkup so I'll have to post her stats later but here are a few things that I'd like to write down about Em. 

LIKES and LOVES: 

• To watch her brother's every move, she adores him!
• Play with Caden, even when he's in timeout and I have to keep her away from him
• Dancing and rocking out (shaking her head up and down and side to side and bouncing around) when certain songs come on the radio
• Bananas...Yes, yes, I know, she IS my kid and she does like bananas!
• To walk around the room holding onto things...she's taken a few steps on her own here and there, but no walking yet. It seems like it won't be long because I can tell she's getting brave and taking steps on her own or standing in one place for a while without holding onto something. 
• Playing with Legos...also, she most always has a small toy in her mouth, whether it's a plastic spoon, a Lego gas hose from Cars, a Lego fish from the safari or anything else that fits in her mouth
• Playing with her bouncer toy
• Playing with the tupperware lids, plastic silverware, fridge magnets and anything else she can get her hands on in the kitchen
• When Daddy comes home from work! 
• Food - string cheese, yogurt, fruit, baby food in the squeeze pouches (fruit and veggie mixes), toast or toasted bagels, quesadillas, plain cheeseburgers, bacon, spaghetti, raw tomatoes (who knew?)
• Being outside, especially when the wind is blowing in her face
• Playing with and talking to the dogs
• Climbing up into Caden's little chair (and she's getting better at getting down by herself so she doesn't need help all the time)
• Also, this one isn't really hers but mine...she looks awesome in purple and turquoise, those are definitely her colors! 

DISLIKES and HATES:

...yes, I know, hate is a very strong word but there are definitely some things that she does. NOT. like. at. all!

• Having her diaper changed and being on her back...such a battle!
• Not a fan of cooked veggies UNLESS they're in baby food form...I've tried small pieces of broccoli, peas, carrots, green beans and sweet potatoes cooked all different ways and with different seasonings on them but she still just gums them around in her mouth and eventually takes them out and throws them on the floor.
• Doesn't like it when you make fun of her or tease her because it hurts her feelings
• When you tell her "No" and pick her up to move her away from something she shouldn't be into
• Doesn't like going to sleep. She cries before nap time even though she's rubbing her eyes like crazy and tells you she's tired.
• Getting into her car seat...yes, another battle!

PeRsOnAlItY TrAiTs: 

• Sensitive and takes a little bit of extra snuggle time to calm down once she gets worked up, upset or hurt
• Strong-willed and gets mad when you don't let her do something she wants to do
• Sweetheart and likes to give kisses and lots of smiles
• A little hesitant with certain people and takes time warming up to people...I think she finally might be OK with Grandpa and Uncle Eric
• Starting to communicate with us. When we ask her questions she'll answer "yes" or "no" with a nod or shake of her head. It's really cute! I just wish she would try and say the words instead....oh well, that will come in time. 
• Shy and tilts her head to the side when people talk to her sometimes

I'm excited to see what this next year brings and how much Emberly and Caden will grow and change. 

 

Caden's 3 Year Old List

As a 3 year old, he loves a lot of different things, here are some of his faves:

• Super Heroes, mainly the Avengers and Captain America
• Transformers "in disguise" as he always says :)
• Playing with his Lego Duplos (especially to make airplanes, shooters and houses/garbage dumps/buildings)
• Playing outside in the dirt with his cars, trucks and kid-sized water can, shovels and rakes
• Helping Mama water the flowers, fruit trees and vegetables in our garden
• Protesting at both nap time and bed time...Caden says, "I don't want to go to bed", Mommy asks, "Are you tired?", Caden says, "Yes," and then I say, "Well, that's why we go to bed" 
• Telling Emberly to say "yes" or "no" when I ask her a question and he thinks he knows the answer :) 
• Singing and dancing along to the songs, "Glad You Came" and "Somebody That I Used to Know"
• Talking to people on the phone, especially Nana 
• Going on bike rides with Daddy and Emberly

As a 3 year old, he knows and does a lot of things, here are a few:

• Can still say most of his "A, B, C's"...some of the ones in the middle get a little run together
• Can count from 1-20...again some in the middle get skipped, I think it's mainly 13, 14 and 15 
• Knows ALL of the colors
• Asks the question "Why?" about a million times a day
• Knows how to push Mommy's buttons and test the water
• Is potty trained - which is huge! He still wears diapers for naps and at night but almost always wake up with a dry diaper. It's like the 1 time I didn't put one on he wet the bed, of course!
• Learning how to ride his little red tricycle

As a 3 year old, he definitely has his own personality, here are some of his personality traits: 

• Very, very social and always saying "Hi" to people, especially girls and kids...he has a filter though and doesn't to talk everyone but he says "I like those worker girls at Costco" (his words, not mine) Oh boy! :)
• Smart and always surprises me with what he knows
• Helpful and likes to help when I ask for help UNLESS it involves picking up Legos
• Silly and loves to make others laugh
• He is impatient, which is something we're working on, it's hard for me to teach patience though when I'm not very patient either and I'm afraid he gets that from me. Sorry kid!  
• Imaginative and is always making up stories with his planes, Lego people, Transformers, and Super Heroes

 

April, May and June: 3 months of catching up

This post is long overdue and I need to get it all written down before I start forgetting all that's been going on. Here's what the Pierce's have been up to the last few months...

In April we...

- Celebrated Caden's 3rd birthday. I'm not really sure how we got to this point and I became the mother of a 3 year old, but, alas, the day arrived. His birthday party was a lot of fun. Michael put together a puppet show for the kids, which was funny! We had Alfredo the chef and hard hat Harry, the construction worker, along with a little puppy. Caden enjoyed having all his friends and family over and talked about it for days afterward and wanted to have ANOTHER party so everyone could come over again. That kid is such a social butterfly, it cracks me up! He's very much into super heroes and legos right now, so we had an Avengers themed party and I made him a red lego cake. It was my first time making a cake with fondant so it wasn't perfect but I liked the challenge and will make more in the future to perfect my skills :) With so many things going on that day we forgot to take pictures....I know, awful parents, but I did manage to get this picture on my phone of him blowing out his candles on his cake. Such a fun day! We love you Caden and are so blessed to have you in our lives. I love how your smile lights up any room and you melt my heart when you tell me you love me and like me! 

Here is the 1 picture I have from his special day! 

 - Sent my brother Andrew off at the train station in Portland so he could start his biking and rafting adventure through Canada and Alaska. 

Here are some pictures of the "mountain man" and his fat bike (4-inch wide tires!) at the train station. 

 

- Went to Bend and stayed at the 7th Mtn Resort with my Mom (Nana) while she was at a conference. It was fun and allowed us to do lots of fun Bend things while being so close and Michael FINALLY got to go to Deschutes Brewery! We'd never gone before because it was always super packed! 

- Had a visit from Erin, Kate and Will. This was such a fun treat because it was our first time meeting Will, who is only a few weeks older than Emberly. My Grandma also spent the weekend with us and we all hung out in Seaside and played on the beach, went swimming, had slumber parties with Kate, and Caden and Emberly got lots of play time in with their cousins. It's times like that when I wish we all lived closer to each other! 

 

 

In May we...

- Went to Nashville for 6 days because Michael had a work conference there. Our friend Carolyn (who lives in TX now) met us there and stayed with us most of the time. It was so fun going shopping and hanging out with her since we don't get to see her very much AND it gave me and the kids and extra person to have with us when Michael was busy with the conference. It was our first trip to Tennessee and I really liked it and would like to go back some day. We went to Hard Rock Cafe, the Nashville Zoo, lots of shopping at the Opry Mills Mall, ate at The Aquarium and Rainforest Cafe at the Mall, drove around Nashville (literally!), saw the Parthenon at night (that thing is HUGE!) and had lots of hangout time at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. 

 Here's a picture from the zoo.

- Got a new dog kennel and built a garden with the old one.

In June we...

- Ripped out our backyard and replanted grass which is in the process of growing back in. We're also in the process of getting a section marked off to lay down concrete and extend our patio. I told Michael that I really want the backyard to be a place where the kids and I can hang out and enjoy this summer. Sooo we're in the process of doing just that! More pictures to come on this later.

- Welcomed a new pizza place to town and have enjoyed their pizza and salad bar on more than 1 occasion so far! :) 

- Celebrated Emberly's 1st birthday. My little redhead is 1 year old, craziness! We had a nice dinner and cookies on her actual birthday and then had a BBQ party and cupcakes with Michael's family a few days later. 

Yummy cupcake! Boy, oh boy, look at that red hair too!

 

 Playing with Em's new Super Market Lego Duplos. 

Whew! That was a lot of stuff....I'm hoping I can blog more this summer, that is, IF Emberly will let me! She has good nap days and bad nap days. 

Now it's time to get dinner going, enjoy an Arnold Palmer and all the summer has to offer!

It's official!

It's official, I am now a full-time, stay-at-home mama! The last few months have been difficult for me trying to juggle my time and energy between working part-time and being at home with the kiddos. After much prayer and conversations, Michael and I decided to go forward with this decision. I'm excited to be home more and get involved in new things but sad to be leaving behind something that I've been apart of for the last 8 1/2 years.. It's really hard to believe that I have worked there for that long...I started working there a month after Michael and I got married and I graduated from college 3 months after, so really, it's been a large part of my adult life and this is a HUGE step BUT it's good and I'm looking forward to spending more time with Caden and Emberly...people keep telling me that if I'm going to be at home that now's the best time to do it while both of the kids are still young. I mean, who w`ouldn't want to stay home with these cuties?!?!