My healthy breakfast bars that people actually eat.

The title pretty much says it all. I made healthy breakfast bars and people actually ate them, which is a first. Jimmy liked them so much he requested I make them again, which is also a first. I changed up the recipe by using whole wheat flour and adding a couple tablespoons of ground flax seed. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. I think I'm going to try it again with other fruit. I also think if you click on the title it will take you to the recipe, but I'm not sure I did it right.

My assistant who really was happy despite this photo.

The blackberries we bought at the farmers market that were rather tart and really weren't that unripe and red. Don't know why the photo makes them look that way.

Climbing up Crowders Mountain

Last weekend the weather was pretty cool for July. It almost felt like fall, and since the weather was so nice, we took the girls hiking up Crowders Mountain. We didn't actually expect to make it up the mountain, just walk as far as they could, rest and then turn around and walk back. Surprisingly, Lucy walked almost to the very top and back by herself. She only asked to be carry when we were almost back to the car. It is now back to close to 100 degrees, so I doubt we will be hiking anytime soon, but we will have to go again when fall really does arrive.

The Girl With the Flower Tattoo

Last week while browsing Value Village, I found a really cool toy that was a magnetic calendar on one side and a dry erase board on the other. Lilly is always making "calendars" for me to hang up, so I thought she would enjoy having a real calendar to make. Mom gave her a dry erase maker to use on the back side of it, but warned her to keep it away for Lucy. Well, since she if five and five year olds aren't exactly known for their responsibility, not only did she not keep it away from Lucy, she sat and watched Lucy color all over herself with it. And then, because Lucy couldn't reach her back, Lilly helped out by giving her a flower "tattoo" on her back. If anyone is curious, it takes a while to get dry erase markers off of skin. This photo was taken after several baths. And from now on, I hold onto the marker and she only gets it when Lucy is asleep.

Georgia goes on an adventure.

Georgia has turned from a skin and bones puppy to a rather pudgy 50 lb dog that hates to exercise. To keep her from going into the overweight category, we decided to drag her along for a walk on the trail in Kings Mtn. Hannah went with me and we went up the "Cardio Hill". It was a pretty nice walk even with two kids, a stroller, and an out of shape dog. Georgia, who very rarely leaves the yard, was a little overwhelmed with all the sights and smells. She could barely walk because she kept getting distracted and wanting to stop and smell things. We took frequent breaks. At the top of the hill she collapsed and, after a rest, we literally had to drag her back up and make her start walking down the hill. I tried to jog with her, but it didn't work since she would start running but then come to a full stop to smell something. I didn't bring any water for her because I knew they had a dog water fountain there. Sadly, Georgia was terrified of the water fountain and wouldn't go near it. I ended up pouring water from a water bottle into a cup holder so she could have something to drink. Bless her heart, she does have a great fear of water. All in all I think she had a good time and enjoyed her little adventure.

"What is this adventure thing you speak of? Will there be food? I need my second breakfast."

"There is so much to smell and see! I get so distracted I can hardly walk!"

"Must rest in the shade."

"Yeah, we made it to the top of the hill! My people are sitting down so perhaps they came to their senses and won't force me to walk anymore."

"What do you you mean I have to walk down the hill? I shall stay right here thank you very much."