Homemade Whole Wheat Waffles

I have a new addiction with these whole wheat waffles and think I could probably eat these every day. They are super easy, freeze well and reheat beautifully in a toaster for quick those quick breakfast needs.

Whole Wheat Waffles

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 TBSP sugar (I use organic)
1 TBSP baking powder
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. milk (We aren't huge milk drinkers so I use 1/2 milk and 1/2 water)
1/2 c. oil (can also use half that oil and half applesauce)
1 tsp vanilla

I usually triple this recipe. That may seem like a lot, but then I freeze them in fours in zip lock baggies and they can be popped right in the toaster while they are frozen.

The kids eat them with maple syrup and strawberries, but I usually add some of my favorite chocolate protein powder on top. Something about the syrup, chocolate & strawberries over these waffles makes it the main thing I am thinking about as I complete my morning workout.

A Fair Like No Other (cotinued..)

Click here to see Fair Fun #10-#6

5) Discovering the beautifully decorated doll houses in the Cultural Building.

4) Spending over an hour with Megan and Lucy in the 4-H projects as they planned their projects for the next 7+ years. ;-)

3) Megan's tattoo collection spanning both of her arms and Lucy holding firm on the fact that she "doesn't really care for tattoos."

2) The kids obsession with spotting many of the themed cows spread throughout the fair. Favorites included "Dairy Potter" and the Greek Goddess of Dairy1) Seeing baby piglets being born. Incredible timing and total fascination by the kids.

A Fair Like No Other

The 2011 Iowa State Fair has been completed by the Weis family and oh how we love, love, LOVE it! This fair will go down in the books as probably the last time we will be able to do everything everyone wants to do in just one day.

I love how the kids are forming memories and having agendas of what they want to do and see. Add this to the "spur of the minute" and "right place at the right time" sites and adventures and it comes down to the basic fact that we just need more time there!

In addition to all of our previous favorites here is why we loved the 2011 Iowa State Fair...

10) Max competing in the Big Wheel Races and the preciousness of not even caring his big wheel was pink and he won a 7th place ribbon (out of 8).

9) The Extreme Canines Stunt Dog Show and the fact that there are some very high hopes now placed on Duke. We also loved how all their dogs were rescued from the pound AND the majority of them were cattle dogs. Just like Duke!

8) The kids having their own complete control over what State Fair treat to get (Lucy: Rootbeer Float, Megan: Giant Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich, Max (Cotton Candy) and then all preferring each other's & eating that.

7) Proud participants of the Cookie Decorating Contest and basketball shoot out. They loved winning the giant yellow ribbons.

6) All three kids sitting in the passenger seat of a fire engine for 20 minutes just watching a much older fair goer "drive" it.


Click here for Fair Fun #5-#1

Iowa State Fair: Here We Come!

For the past week, I have been chomping at the bit to get to the Iowa State Fair. We just love it! Of course, we have our yearly must do list that is added to each year. Even though we have our favorites, there is something always new to see. This year is no different and of course I have done my research.

This year we are going on a week day and that seems to offer a different variety of kid activities then the weekend. We will be hitting the cookie decorating contest at Elwell's, milking a cow & seeing a dog show at the Kids Zone. Since we just got our puppy this summer, I know that will be a big hit (it also may spark some interest in dog training...)

This year, we plan on spending more time in the 4-H building since Megan started 4-H this year and will be taking projects next year. They have really fun working exhibits there during certain hours and the kids love making the variety of crafts.

Of course, we must try to uphold our runner up status with the Family Grape Stomp at Grandfather's Barn. If you ask Lucy what her most memorable moment of last year was, she will proudly tell you about the big red ribbon from that.
One thing for sure, we will probably be skipping the deep fried butter on a stick and hitting up the dozens of other yummy treats instead.

Nicknames Like No Other...

Since getting Duke "The Diggiest Dog" the kids have been on a campaign to give him a new nickname every day. Some days they are adoring and sweet, other days highlight the frustration of having a puppy. They have been carefully recording the nicknames on a piece of paper on the fridge. In case you were wondering, this is Duke's full name...

Duke Diggey Chewbocka Rambuncti Sniffie Piddly Pants Responsibility Pup Dress Destroyer Dirty Dog Brother Detector Shoe Stealer Hot Dog Carpet Chewer Puppy Pants Mr. Explorer Book Chewer Hanger Lover Puppy Preschool Star!

The Big Summer To-Do 2011

I love starting out the summer with a list. Its not your normal "laundry list" of things that you have to clean, repair or buy. Instead its a fun list of things that you want to accomplish over the summer. Of course, this has to be done with input from the kids. After all, it is their summer too. After a school year of running here, there and everywhere we all deserve a change of plan. We all crave the opportunity to do a variety of things and be on a different time frame.

Last year when the kids and I created the list, I was amazed at home very few of their things were the "big ticket" items. That included trips to amusement parks, water parks and day long trips.

Instead their items included many simple, creative things that involved us being near home. I guess the kids had their fill of being out and about too.

So here it is...

The Big Summer To Do

Waterfight
Star Gazing
Camping
Fishing
Sand Castle Building
Canoes
Swim
Creek Walking
Pioneer day
Climb Trees
Horseback Riding
Crafts
Pick Berries
Make Sun Tea
Bowling

Now with one week of summer left, how are we doing?!

A Family of 6, Please...

Oh yes we did! This summer we decided to add to the Weis clan with an addition. A four legged addition that is. Dave has been asking for years for a dog and soon the kids were on board. Everyone was ready for a pup except Mommy. Well, maybe deep down I was more ready then I thought. After all I had been driving them weekly to Furry Friends Animal Rescue League for 6 months to volunteer. They had been getting plenty of dog walking, kibble feeding & poop scooping practice and they were still on fire to get their very own.

On Father's Day (and Max's 4th birthday) we told the kids that we were just going to go look at a few puppies. Okay, I admit that "looking" also meant we stopped at Petco on the way and bought a kennel, collar, leash and food....just in case. Well...lesson learned. You don't go to an animal rescue place and leave empty handed. Meet "Norwood" a black lab/heeler mix 8 weeks old. He wiggled his way into our hearts within moments of meeting. Max immediately renamed him "Duke the Diggiest Dog" after a favorite Dr. Seuss book. The name stuck and so has he. :-)read more here