Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas

These chocolate covered frozen bananas have become one of our favorite treats and they are so easy to make. You just peel them, cut them in half, stick a popsicle stick in them, pop them in the freezer for 15 minutes, make the chocolate dipping sauce by putting 2 cups of chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and heat for 30 seconds/stir/30 seconds/stir, dip your bananas in chocolate, roll them in coconut,nuts,or sprinkles, then put them back in the freezer for 30 minutes. Tada! They are done and are so yummy!
The perfect after school snack... or anytime snack.

First Day of School

My kids are growing up! I have a second grader and a fourth grader this year. In fact, this will be Jace's  last year of elementary school and the last year that he and Brooke will be in the same school together until two years into high school. Crazy!! Elementary school goes up until fourth grade. Middle school is fifth and sixth grade. Junior high is seventh and eighth grade. High school is ninth through 12th grade.

Brooke was very excited to find out that she and Kate would be in the same class for the second year in a row. She has Mrs. Daniels and we have heard that she will need to be careful about not being too chatty because Mrs. Daniels is pretty strict. Wish us luck because that is a difficult task. My Brookie is a free spirit and a lover of talking and being loud.

Jace has Mrs. McVey. We have heard wonderful things about her and are hopeful for a great year. I know all too well how much of an effect a good teacher has on a school year. And a year is a long time!

They woke up bright an early to be to the bus stop on time.  Ty wanted to walk them down too.  He cried for 10min after they both got on the bus and drove away without him.  He misses them while they are at school. 

The second day of school.

Brookie's Bake Shoppe Birthday Party

For the longest time all Brooke wanted for her seventh birthday was to do a big birthday party with all her friends at Build a Bear Workshop. After looking into it and finding out that the cost would be several hundred dollars to host such a party I tried planting other ideas in her head. Brookies Bake Shoppe Birthday party theme stuck! It was adorable and so fun! She helped me decorate our kitchen into her bakeshop with pink crepe paper, yellow napkins with white polka dots, a lace tablecloth, and hanging tissue paper balls. We did cute designs on cupcakes for the centerpiece of the table. For the party she and all her friends got to decorate a pair of cupcake high heels. They all had a blast and the cupcake stilettos turned out beautiful. Each girl got to take their pair home in a bakers box with a bow on top. After they finished decorating their cupcakes they all wanted to take turns holding baby Jenni. She was great entertainment for them. Brooke had a fabulous time and got lots of fun new presents.

My 7yr old Brookie bean!

I love that she is my tom boy and my girly girl all rolled into one.