Cherry Walnut Banana Bread Bars

I make this recipe all the time so I thought it was time to share it with the world. I love it because its a nice treat that is really healthy, no oil, no sugar, no white flour and salt is optional.

6 ripe bananas smashed
4 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 C of unsweeted applesauce
4 C whole whear flour (I like to use coarsly ground it gives it a nutty texture)
1 1/2 t Baking powder
1 1/2 t Baking soda
1 t salt (optional)
1 C Dried Cherries (or I use raisins or any other dried fruit on hand)
1 C chopped nuts (I usually use walnuts)

Grease a 9" x13" dish pre-hear oven at 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together pour into pan bake for 50 mins. Let it cool completely before eating (this is espeacially important because the whole wheat flour will soften around the edges as it cools)

Funny Luke Quote of the Day

Sara " Luke you have to put your underwear on."
Luke "Why mom!"
Sara "Because if you don't you might get an ouchie."
Luke throws himself to the ground folds his arms and says "Mom you just broke my life."



Sara "Luke where is you your happy face?"
Luke (with a very grumpy face) "Someone stole it."
Sara "Who stole your happy face?"
Luke thoughtfully says "the wind"

Garden Box

Bella being totally silly and trying to ride her bike around the box

Do you ever just feel so blest? I have been feeling that way lately, I have been thinking to myself that Heavenly Father is really in tune with my family and our needs. James and I have really been wanting to do a garden this year, we eat so much fresh produce that if we got things growing well it would come in really useful. The only thing is neither of us has any experience with this and we didn't want to invest a lot of money doing it in case we didn't grow anything. Anyways I decided that I wanted to do a raised bed because I heard they are easier to care for and to keep weeds out of. I didn't however want to spend money on the wood to make one. Well one day after visiting teaching I was walking home and saw men loading up these large pieces of wood into the back of a truck, so I decided to stop and ask them what they were going to do with them and they were just going to take them to the dump! so of course I asked if I could have them. They were so nice they even brought them over and help unload them into the back yard. Then last week my friend Kathryn called and said she had some extra dirt and wanted to know if we wanted it. Hello so awesome! Now all we have to do is till up the ground underneath, throw the new dirt in and plant some seeds.

Fort Worth Zoo

This was a few weeks ago but I am catching up. Good times at the zoo. The kids favorite part was a bird atrium where they had a ton of parakeets and other small births flying around. It was so funny to watch them chase the birds. Bella ran around the whole time saying "I want the burdee"

You know you are in Texas

You know you are in Texas when you are leaving the state park and there is a sign that says...

Luke's New Bike

So we have been promising Luke a new Bike for a couple months. He really wanted one that would go fast so he can go for bike rides with us. We were at the local thift store and found this one. He loves it! He still falls over every once in a while but he is a tough kid and just gets up and goes agian. I can't believe my baby actually has a big boy bike!

Easter Egg Hunt

Afterwards we went to get Pizza and the kids pretended to play in the arcade. We decided its better to let them think that they were playing.

A city near by held their Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday and the kids had a blast. We met up with our friends Kathryn and Colt and their 2 boys. They had a bounce house that the kids of course loved! The kids maxed out to the point where the eggs were overflowing. On the car ride home they opened them all and Luke stuck the stickers all over the car window. I couldn't help but laugh when I opened the door to an egg covered, candy smeared face.

Funny Quote of the Day

Sara "Luke go to time out for pushing your sister"

Luke "I'm busy"

Sara "Wheres your happy face Luke"

Luke "Someone stole it"

John and Becky's Wedding Ut trip

We went to Utah on March 10th - the 23rd. Our main reason for going out there was for James brother John and his sweet wife Becky's wedding the were married at the Salt Lake Temple and it was an awesome day! We are so happy for them!

My sister Michelle is getting married in Oct so she was able to fly out from Ohio and we were able to pick out our bridesmaid dresses with all but one of her bridesmaids present.

Its always fun in Utah because there is so much family fun around. We stayed at James sister Heather's house and the kids just love playing with their cousins. The day after we got back to Texas (its about a 20 hour drive each way) Luke asked if he could get and the car and go back (I am pretty sure its because he wanted to see his cousins not just that he wanted to watch shows)

We when up to my sister Heather's house in Heber where she pretty much has a farm. Luke officially fell off a pony for the first time but he was a brave boy and got back on it later. We helped her collect her eggs from the chicken coop and feed the baby sheep. She had tons of new baby chicks and brand new puppys. Just like a week old (sooo cute) to say the least we were sad to leave!

Intorducing

When we were in Utah we went to visit my sister, Heather, who breeds Golden Retrievers. She generously offered us one of her puppies and to say the least we could not resist this adorable little face. So in way of announcement we would like you to introduce you to Oscar (Oz or Ozzy) Chop Chop Mortensen (the Chop Chop is what my nieces and nephews called him in Heber so we thought it was appropriate to leave it as part of his name). He was born Dec 23, 2009 and is just as sweet and smart as Golden Retrievers are rumored to be. He is already training well, his only two vices are he likes to nibble a little to rough and has not been house broken. He is definitely already a member of the family and the kids absolutely adore him!

Funny Luke Quote

Luke: "Mom why is your tummy squishy like my bottom?"

I had no response to this I just started laughing.

Funny Quote of the Day

James " Luke you have a cute bottom".

Luke (in a calm voice) "Stop looking at it" as he slowly walks away.

Baby Elephant

How Cool is this. James found it and I just had to share it.

Funny Quote of the Day

We went for a jog this morning and their are a lot of dogs in our neighborhood.

Luke: "Mom those dogs are burping!"
Sara: a little confused I responded, "do you mean barking"
Luke: With a little giggle " Yeah barking!"

Another one from a couple months ago.

We were going out and Luke really wanted to go to the library (so he could feed his addiction to Thomas the Train DVDs). I said first we were going to the park. Luke's response was "Mom if we go to the park I will be really upset at you".

Merry Christmas

We did something new this year, and that was to go to Maggiano's (the best italian food I've ever had) for Christmas eve. We had enought leftovers to last us the entire weekend and I didn't have to cook a thing. So yummy! The bishop and his family did have us over for Christmas dinner so we did have the traditional stuff but it was nice not to have to worry about all the bells and whistles. We also had a special surprise Christmas eve. It started snowing and Luke insisted in going out and playing in it even though it was dark. I couldn't say no to the kid seeing as it was Christmas eve.

The kids got to open up their Christmas eve present which was pajamas. I was worried they would be disappointed but they seemed content just to be able to rip something open.

I guess Luke and Bella were good kids this year because Santa hooked them up.

Christmas morning and our little snow bunny wanted to go play. We had a good 4inches. It was our first white Christmas that me James have had since we got married.

Luke conducting his new trian set.

For the past couple months Bella's favorite thing to do it color. After she finished opening her presents she went straight to this table. We have to hide our writing utesil because if anything is within her reach she will find it and color on any piece of paper she can get her hads on (including books, magazines, trash, and important documents).

Happy Second Birthday Baby Girl ( Under the Sea Style )

Bella turned two and the lucky girl got 2 birthday parties. A small one with the fam on her actual birthday and big party the following Sat. Below is her receiving a present from her Grandma Betty. She was so excitedDolls, Dolls and more Dolls. That night she even forfeited her Baby Horsey (which she has had attached to her hip since birth) so that she could sleep with all of her dolls.





I asked Bella in early Dec what type of party she wanted to have and I was actually slightly shocked when she responded that she wanted a Mermaid party (I was totally obsessed with Mermaids when I was a child). I have a few things that my mom had saved from my childhood that help with the decor.

We had bubbles, a lagune filled with stuffed animals. I dressed the kids up for fun, making Bella an Ariel tutu dress and when I asked Luke what he wanted to dress up like for the party (thinking he would say something like a shark or octopus) he said "I want to be prince Eric". What party would be complete without friends. This is baby Eli with his dad Jake.

The kids played pin the tail on the Mermaid and won prizes ( I let the little ones cheat with no blind fold)

Tyson showing us his skills

Good try buddy!

I made my first pinata. Unfortunately I made it super tough and ended up having to crack it open with the brute strength of my foot.

Go Craig!

This pic is funny cause it looks like Flounder is trying to get away.

Thanksgiving and Sea World

We went down to San Antonio to spend Thanksgiving with James brother Joe, his wife Lisa and their 3 children. It was a ton of fun with fun people and good food. Thanks so much for having us guys. We ended up going to Sea World two of the days we were there. Good times. Me petting the dolphin and Bella giggling historically (she has a thing for animals)

Yeah that's a shark

Luke sat on Santa's lap 3X this year. Every time he told Santa that he wanted" 2 trains Gordon and James". Once at the library he even waited in line by himself because Bella (and mommy) were to impatient too, he marched right up sat on his lap, told him what he wanted, jumped down and walked away. People were looking around going "wheres his mom?"