Happy Halloween

OK I know I have been a slacker with the blog. I just haven't felt like anything is newsworthy. We went to Spokane in September and had a really great time visiting our friends and my family.
Maddy has been doing really well with pre-school and all of her activities.
I let Maddy decide what she wanted to be for Halloween and she choose Minnie Mouse. I absolutely LOVE her costume.

I'll admit I was willing to buy the costume because I adore these shoes.

Maddy performing 5 little pumpkins.



She also insisted on posing next to all of our decorations. What a goof!

Pinocchio and Jiminy a story read by Madelyn Wehunt

This is pretty long but funny. Maddy was playing school and it was story time.

It's been awhile

these are a few of my favorite pictures from this summer. I love the one with the mittens- especially since it was 80 outside that day.

Good Morning Bailey!

Maddy's new BFF

We just got back from a great trip to visit our friends in Columbus, OH. We spent a day in Sandusky at Cedar Point. It was so much fun. We love roller coasters and Cedar Point has 17. We rode eight of the 17. Our favorite by far was Top Thrill Dragster. Zero to 120 mph in 4 seconds and 420 feet tall. This was by far the most extreme ride I've ever been on. It was AWESOME!! Maddy rode the Woodstock roller coaster five times and loved it.

Above: Chris and I waiting for the green light. Below: the top of the roller coaster It was high.



All of us at the end of the Woodstock Roller Coaster ride. I was very excited.

We stayed with our friends Chris and Staci and they took great care of us and showed us a great time. They took us to the Columbus Zoo but Maddy was exhausted from Cedar Point and she wasn't so into it. It looked like a cool zoo but I guess now we have to go back to see it.
Maddy at the Zoo.

Chris and Staci at dinner, I've never seen two people so excited for a Mariachi Band. It was hilarious, but we also had 2 pitchers of margaritas by this time too. :o)

We also went to Kings Island which is another amusement park. I had too many margaritas and had a bit of a headache so I hung out with Maddy at the water and kiddie park. We had lots of fun and Nate got to ride some wooden roller coasters (not my favorite- too bumpy, bad juju with a headache).

Nate and Maddy pretending to be surprised/scared at the Scooby-Doo ride


Driving Miss Maddy. Love the crooked hat- she looks like a little old lady.

Chris and Staci have the nicest dog, Bailey, and Maddy LOVED her. It was so cute to see Maddy with a dog almost as big as she was. Every morning it was "Good Morning Bailey!" They also would sing Good Morning Milk bone and Maddy would feed Bailey a milk bone or two.

Good Morning Bailey!



Video of my ride on the roller coaster - turn down the volume if you are at work it's kinda loud

Chicago Botanic Garden

Maddy and I went to the Botanic Garden today and had a blast. Well, I had a blast I am not too sure about Maddy. :) It is the coolest place and we will definitely go back.

YUM!

I made chocolate chocolate chip banana bread this morning. I think I have finally found my new favorite breakfast! You may remember a while back I made all these giant claims about being a foodie. I don't think that was even close to being true. I just can't handle the pressure of being a foodie. :o) Although I still love to cook and try new recipes I think I will stick with the title of family cook for now. On to the recipe from one of my favorite food blogs -The Sisters Cafe.

Double Chocolate Banana Bread

submitted by Melanie

Recipe adapted from Cooking Pleasures

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 1/4 cups mashed bananas (about 3)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa (I prefer dutch process)

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 350. Spray bottom of 8x4 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

2. Beat sugar, eggs, and oil in large bowl at medium speed until combined. Beat in banana and vanilla at low speed. Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda in medium bowl; beat into banana mixture at low speed just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

3 Spoon batter into pan. Bake 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.

Disneyland

We had such a great time in Disneyland with our friends!
Sydney, Samantha and Maddy in the teacups.
Maddy driving the car at the Autopia


The girls in their costumes in front of the castle.

I will add more pictures later but I really need to unpack.