Twins 1st Birthday!

I can't believe that a year has already gone by since the twins were born! They are growing so fast! Here's a quick update: They both love to dance...everytime music comes on, or any kind of beat...they both start doing a little jig...it's the cutest! They also both love to eat!! They would probably eat all day long if I let them! They will eat just about anything too. Their favorites are bananas and apricots....as soon as they see them, they start hooting like monkeys.


Evie loves to make all different noises that she can using her tongue and she loves to point at everything as if to ask what it is or tell us about it. She likes to use her bib to play peek-a-boo while she eats, so cute! She's getting good at cruising along the furniture and she has recently started to stand unassisted....she gets really proud of herself when she does this. I'm sure it won't be long til she starts walking....she has just really mastered crawling and she knows that she is fast. She's very adventurous and doesn't seem to mind at all to get far away from me. (scary)


James loves to sing...he goes 'la la la' when he hears music or hears me sing. He has the cutest look on his face when he does it....as if he is singing a very heartfelt dramatic song, it's adorable! He loves to see new faces (as long as I'm holding him) and he loves to flirt and play peek-a-boo with these faces...shyly smiling and then turning to nuzzle me. James has more seperation anxiety...he likes to be near me and doesn't crawl too far away when we are not at home. He's also alot more easily content to just be in one place and take everything in. He loves the little walker we have (walking pushing it like a cart) he gets so excited and laughs the whole time while walking! You can tell he feels like a big boy!


Well, here are some pictures of yesterday's birthday celebration (their actual birthday is today, the 21st) I realized that I didn't take any pictures of the guest's, so I'll name them here: Grandma and Grandpa Burke, Grandma and Grandpa Jensen, The Judson's and The Mendoza's - little Sierra Mendoza (Isaac's best friend) shares a birthday with the twins.Before you think James is smaller than Evie....he looks small here because the high chair he is sitting in has a really high tray (or low seat) and it's weird...it can't be adjusted. They completely devoured the cake that I made them the second that I put them on their tray, so I didn't get a chance to take a picture of them eating their first bite!
They enjoyed unwraping their presents....then tearing the paper into bits! Isaac helped with that too! :-)

Yummy Recipe I wanted to Share

I've been having fun learning about nutrition and being adventurous with Isaac's diet....a much better attitude I've chosen to have than feel burdened or stressed. So, with the experiences of his new diet and having to cook everything he eats from scratch, I've discovered an interest and creative talent that I only wondered before if I had. I'm an adventurous and creative chef! A good one too! :-) Here's a recipe that I got from a book and then ran with it, I call it:

Janeen's Versatile Pancakes, Bread and Buns! (ok, more of a practical name than creative, but the pancakes themselves are creative, nutritious and delicious!) Note: All ingredients are approx. I don't actually measure.

Ingredients:

1 cup ground almonds (grind into a meal or flour using food processor or blender, but I just got mine already ground from Trader Joe's in the nut section called "Almond Meal")
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 tblsp. honey
1 mashed banana (the riper the better!)
1 tblsp. grated fresh ginger

Mash up the ripe banana (or puree in blender) add eggs and whisk. Mix together all the rest of the ingredients. Heat oil in pan or skillet and pour on the batter using the whisk to spread out for a round shape. The pancake will be darker than your standard pancake and cooks a little faster. It might need to flip before you think it's ready, just take edge and flip carefully...if some batter from top runs off, jut use the spatula to push it back to the edge of the pancake to keep it's shape. It won't look perfect, but the shape is the importance...and who cares, it's delicious!

TIP: Use a bit of oil in the pan before every pancake you cook...otherwise it's a bit dry and 'spongey'.

It may sound hard, but it's actually really easy. Like I said, I don't measure...I just toss in what looks right...I think I did measure the almond meal, but that was it. Also, what I did if you want to have it on hand for a quick batch......I took all the dry ingredients and put it into sandwich baggies for single batches and put them in the fridge...it will keep for several months and then all I have to do is grab a baggie and add all of the wet ingredients and the batter is done! I do the whole batch at one time and put what is left in a zip-lock bag, it will keep for a few days to a week....but, it's usually eaten before then. :-)

These pancakes are versatile in two ways....first, what you add to the batter is practically an endless possibility! I've done instead of the banana, grated zucchini or grated carrot...or put it all together! The ginger is optional (I just really like it). You could use applesauce instead of a banana, or whatever! Also, they are versatile because they are more than just breakfast pancakes, I've used them as bread slices for a sandwich or even hamburger buns! I made meat loaf and then used the left-overs for a sandwich using this bread, and I about passed out..it was so delicious! A little mayo, mustard and cheese! Yum! You could even make these with garlic and spices, just get crazy and creative!
I haven't tried this yet, but I bet you could even spread the batter thin on a low heat and make tortillas!

That's one thing I've definitely learned is to think outside the box and use all kinds of ingredients and do things that are unconventional to make something delicious! That's the fun of it, knowing you created a new flavor that maybe no-one else has thought of before!
If you are allergic to eggs, the standard egg replacer like gelatin or applesauce I'm sure would apply. Or if you are allergic to almonds and there's a nut that you aren't allergic to, I'm sure you could use that...it would still be yummy. Or of course your standard pancake mix. I just don't do that cause Isaac can't have grains...plus, nuts are really nutritious and hearty.
Another thing that is cool is that this is a great way to 'sneak' nutrition into your kids diet, or your husband for that matter. ;-) These things are so yummy! That's why I had to share. Have fun, and if you come up with a yummy variation...please do share!

The twins at 8 months old. James looks like he thinks he's super cool. ha ha Evie is between fussing and smiling.
Here is Evie doing her yoga plank. :-)
Ha ha, I love this one because it looks like James just smacked the back of Evie's head (he didn't), but it looks funny...I love James' little smile!
Here is handsome Isaac showing the two missing teeth that just fell out.

Isaac loves to play with his brother and sister in the jumper and walkers.
I took these pictures to enlarge and frame. James was being so smiley...isn't this an adorable picture of him!!
And here is my Evie, so happy and clapping. :-D So cute.
Evie kept squinting when it was about to flash. I have yet to get a picture of both of them smiling in it! :-)
I thought this was cute....they interact with each other all the time. They will smile at each other, I haven't gotten a picture of them smiling at each other, but they do it all the time and it's so cute!

The twins had a really bad cold or the flu for like 2 weeks....it was so hard. Especially because I was sick too. Here they are at 7 months old. I had to take a picture of them looking so pitiful...they were leaking from their eyes, nose and mouth almost contantly with green gunk coming from their eyes. Poor little guys!

The Grandparents

Our kids are the luckiest kids, they have 4 sets of Grandparents! Here they are (all but one soon-to-be Grandpa) all in the same room! :-) This was ecspecially amazing because one set lives in London and this was the first time that the kids or even myself got to meet them! They are the ones on the far left of the picture. So, from left to right: Grandma and Grandpa Kojman (Michael's Dad), Grandma and Grandpa Burke, Grandma Jensen (her soon-to-be husband is the one missing from the picture), and known as...Grandma Anitra (my Dad's finance) and Grandpa Jensen. :-) This was really fun getting this picture taken and having everyone all together!
Here is another picture, I'm trying to keep Isaac under control and Evie has lost it...ha ha ha. This visit was in February, but I'm just now getting around to posting it! We had such a great time! I was so thoroughly enjoying getting to know Michael's Dad! It was so fun seeing the other half of my kids gene pool! :-D Menahem (Michael's Dad) he was loving it too, of course....he would look at Isaac's hands and say 'Hey, they are just like mine!' things like that. And, it's true Isaac and James have many of Menahem's physical features. It was fun to see how much Michael is like him as well. :-)

New Years Eve

These are the only photos we took at our New Year's Eve party. Isaac crashed and Sierra found it a perfect opportunity to cuddle him without any protesting from him. :-) So cute. He does give her hugs and kisses hello and goodbye when he is awake though. :-) She says to everyone that she is going to marry Isaac. Isaac has said before...'I'm going to marry Sierra....or Danika....maybe Danika'. ha ha :-) He's so funny. Danika is another little girl that he knows from church.

Yogurt Shack Triple Date

We went out on a triple date with Lisa and Pat and my Dad and Anitra to The Yogurt Shack in Danville. It was a cold night and we went out for frozen yogurt, but it was a lot of fun. :-)
I'm very excited for my Dad.....he and Anitra really hit it off and they quickly fell in love! He is so happy and I'm just thrilled! They are so well suited for each other. It was really fun all of us going out together.