1, 2 Blast Off

Charlie and Sam had fun making rockets last night at the neighborhood ice cream social. Charlie made a rocket that shot 80 feet into the air! Sam also made a rocket he could throw. The entire way home in the wagon Sam kept saying "1, 2 bast-off". When we got home the boys ran around the backyard giggling and yelling blast off.

Who turned 40?

Charlie worked hard to make multiple cards for his Pa's special day.
I hear multiple times a day about how strong and how tall "my pa" is..."if pa were here he could open this cause he's soooo stwong". Charlie was sure Pa could throw the twigs he was collecting 60 feet in the air to go over a very tall tree in the Peace Gardens. He was able to hit the bottom branches!
We spent the morning relaxing and playing at the Peace Gardens. The boys can't get enough of the fountains.

A Few Favorite Summer Activities

The boys love to swim. We've used our backyard pool a few times a week and try to make it to a lake or pool at the Minneapolis parks every week. I'm so glad the boys enjoy the water.

Eating snack is always fun after a long day of swimming.
We love the new fossil dig at the Minnesota Zoo.
Charlie discovered the joys of making and digging in mud. He can do this for hours. Luckily he loves to swim so he can clean up before he comes inside.

Love this photo

I was just looking through old photos and found this one of Charlie. I just love it so I had to share. This was taken a month before Charlie turned 3.

A Week At the Cabin

We spent 4 days last week at my parent's cabin. Jen and Kate flew in and MY grandma Lilly was there. She met Sam for the first time and they fell in love with each other. It was fun to all be together on my mom's birthday as well.
Kate and Charlie on their way to visit Birthday Nana in the little cabin.
Sam looks great in hot pink! It was cold the first couple of mornings so we needed to borrow some of Kate's warm clothes. If you look closely you can see where Sam knocked out his bottom tooth a couple days before this picture.
Playing in the water was an all day adventure. Everyone loved the pool by the cabin and the lake.

Sam and his Great Grandma Lilly. He enjoyed some cuddle time and wanted to share his stuffed bears with Nana Lilly all week.

Our Favorite Cupcakes

your basic vegan chocolate cupcake
makes 12 cupcakes

ingredients:
1 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder, dutch-processed or regular
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

directions
preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl and set aside for a few minutes to curdle.
in a separate bowl, sift (really – get a sifter; it makes a difference) together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
add the sugar, oil and vanilla extract, and other extract if using, to the soy milk mixture and beat until foamy.
add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches and beat until no large lumps remain (a few tiny ones are ok).
pour into liners, filling three-quarters of the way.
bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
transfer to cooling rack and let cool completely before...

I usullay top the cupcakes with some powder sugar or sprinkles.