Baking Friday

The P Family and us did a kid swap; their 2 younger daughters are the same age is Isa and Nana. So-So and Isa had a sleepover at the P House and Olivia and Nana were here. I love kid swaps. These girls are super sweet so it makes it easy to swap.

So-So and Isa had practice with Coach Daddy last night and since it was so rainy they got to use the middle school's gym (Daddy's Co-Coach is a teacher at the middle school nearby). They put on their tennis shoes and scrimmaged against the daddies of the team! The kids and the daddies had the best time! I love how they have formed this bond already - this is their first year of playing all together! Isa adores each and every one of her new soccer buddies. We've had play dates with most of them (there's 14 girls) and all of them are sweet girls.

Speaking of rain...there was thunder and lightening last night along side of the heavy rain - Nana and Olivia were a bit scared. They played board games until about 11pm (it's a sleepover, you can stay up late!). When we got them settled the thunder was starting to get super loud. I (personally) LOVE it - I was ready to curl up and read. But, I can see why they wouldn't. We sat with them and told them to try to sleep. They did. Success!

This morning, they have not stopped talking about how they survived the thunder storm. What troopers. I made my kids' favorite (and my favorite because it's amazingly easy to make) Apple Cinnamon Muffins; I totally recommend stashing these in your pantry (you can get them at Whole Foods - they have the best selection or PCC). They are moist and cupcake like - the kids totally dig them. In fact, I made 12 at 9:30am and they're gone at 11am. Granted I have 6 kids here but still!

I saw this post on one of my favorite food blogs and decided to make Vegan Pumpkin (Pecan instead of Walnut) Bread. I wanted to make Jen's (a gal Husband and I went to HS with) Honey Walnut Pumpkin Bread from her blog but didn't have eggs so it must've been destined for me to make Joy the Baker's. I WILL make yours, Jen. Soon. As soon as I get eggs (and more pumpkin puree).

I didn't have to use a mix with an electric mixer just a heavy hand and a spatula to fold the ingredients in. I gotta tell ya, it smelled so yummy mixing together all the spices and pumpkin with the sugars.

Olivia and Nana

I subbed walnuts for pecans because A. I like pecans better. and B. I didn't have walnuts.

Finished product.

Ellie and Sophie rode their bikes over with their Momma for a play date with Nana and Olivia; they all play on the Purple Flames soccer team together. Super fun! They played in the play house aka used to be potential "man cave" and now they're watching Tinkerbell. I was surprised they wanted to watch a movie but it's Friday + no school = whatever they want to do is okay with me! They are playing super together and Nana's a happy girl to be surrounded by her good buddies.