Homemade granola bars

Granola Breakfast Bars

3 1/2 cups oats (quick or regular), toasted

1 cup nuts

1 cup raisins

2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup packed bown sugar

1/3 cup honey, corn syrup or molasses

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Toast oats by spreading on a cookie sheet or large baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 mimutes until lightly browned. This gives the oats a nutty flavor and helps the mixture stick together better. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Press into well-greased 15x10 inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars when cool.

Variations: Substitute chocolate chips for raisins. Add 1/2 cup coconut. Substitute 1/2 cup sunflower seeds for the nuts.

** I left out the raisins, used sliced almonds for the nuts, then melted some chocolate chips and drizzled over the top. I think I'll try putting mini M&M's in them sometime... think the kids would like that. Very tasty, and MUCH cheaper than store bought! :)

Isn't it beautiful? It looks like glitter, fairy dust, something magical - This was our last snow. I hope and pray that it really IS our last snow for this year. We are pretty weary of sliding down the steep hill and donning the huge coats, boots, hats, etc. You know its been bad when it warms up to 40 degrees and the kids are clamoring to go outside and play! ;) It has been a beautiful, but very long winter. VERY long.

I don't even mind the mud at this point. Its flooding today, can you imagine how much snow we would have had if this rainstorm had been snow? Yikes! We may not have gotten off the hill till April!

S0, with the lull of the "After Christmas" season about over, the change of seasons has brought some changes here as well. My littlest boy is growing so fast - he's six months old now! (and in 12 month clothes!) :) Bailey has ended a wonderful season of Upward basketball. He was much improved this year, we are very proud of him!

The girls have kept busy pretending to be princesses, and all kinds of wonderful imaginary things. Oh to have the uncomplicated mind of a 4 year old! What a joy! Selah, (getting ready to be three) is at such a FUN age! Love that silly girl!

I hope everyone is enjoying this transition into spring as much as we are... Can't wait to start the garden this year! I'll leave you with a picture of the full moon we had last week... Hope to catch a few minutes to blog again soon!

Up next...

The muddy season! Yep, Christmas is over, along with all the plays, parties, dinners, and hoop-la. Next year, I have requested to have Christmas in July, so we can actually GET to all these wonderful events. :) Sliding down our long steep driveway is NOT one of my favorite things. That aside, December was a beautiful month. The kids had a great Christmas! And so did we. I so enjoy the excitement my children have during this season. At a few points, they even SHARED some of their new toys! Gasp!

But, the season is over and for now, if it isn't snowing, there is MUD. Everywhere. Sweeping twice a day doesn't even keep it out of the house. Oh well, its a sign of spring coming, (eventually), so I can deal with that. :)

Once again, this year, my goal is to Simplify. (Didn't I just post about that? Surely it hasn't been a whole year since LAST January's post about Simplifying??!!) It was a rough (but fast!) year with Micah's pregnancy. Can hardly believe my little man is almost 5 months old now... He is such a joy. The happiest little baby, EVER. :) We are so blessed!

So now that the Holidays are over, kids are back to school, the house is a little quieter, at least on Tuesday's and Thursday's, this mama is getting busy. :) Can't wait to see what this year brings! I know I'm not on here very much, (another goal for the year) But I do so enjoy all of your sweet posts and hearing (reading) about other ladies lives! Happy New Year! :)

Long time, no blog....

Well, here it is two days after Thanksgiving and it's been another LONG time! :) Will I ever have time to keep up with my blog like I'd like to? Probably. In about 20 more years. But for now I am cherishing every moment I can with my precious family and little ones. In the past month we've had school plays, funerals, sings, dinners, mission meetings, you know, all the things that keep a pastors wife busy! (what ELSE would I do with my time?!?) Today was suppose to be an enjoyable day at home, putting up Christmas decorations, enjoying each others company, but the stomach bug decided to share the holidays with us. So, its just a dark, lazy day, spent with blankets and buckets.... Wouldn't trade this glamorous life for the world! Will post pics soon of all the latest happenings! Love you all!

Why I haven't posted in a while.... :)

So, again, It has been a good while since my last post! SO much has happened in the last few months! My oldest son turned NINE! Where did the years go?! Seems like we just brought him home! He is such a big boy now... he got a Red Ryder BB gun for his birthday, (Just like Ralphie's!) and you would have thought we gave him the moon! He just started third grade and is doing so well! He's had a little trouble getting use to the homework load, but it amazes me how much he's learned and just how smart he is! He's so creative and imaginative, he's such a blessing to me!

So, on to the second reason I haven't posted in a bit - Baby Micah was born on August 11!! He weighed 7 lbs and was 19 inches long. I had such a hard pregnancy with him, the last couple of months were really rough. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and polyhydramnios, which is an excess amount of amniotic fluid. It can cause particularly strong braxton-hicks contractions, and it's pretty much the most uncomfortable I have ever been! But as always, it was so worth it! He is the most precious little baby - so sweet and cuddly! He looks so much like Bailey did when he was born! It's been fun having another newborn in the house! The girls are just crazy over him, he is going to be a VERY loved little boy! Seeing as how this is probably our last one, I am trying to enjoy every waking minute with him!

Psalm 127 King James Version 1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Summertime!

SUMMERTIME is in full swing! It has FLOWN by! It's been such a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the joys of the season! Making memories... some of the most precious memories of my childhood are from summertimes 25 years ago.

GOD blesses us in so many ways during the summer season! Today HE is sending much needed rain for our dry, thirsty gardens.

Spending time with friends and family always comes with summer activities ~ holidays, cookouts, etc. We still have cookouts at my grandparents house with my dad's side of the family, even though my grandparents have passed away. Sometimes, tradition is a wonderful thing! This past July 4th, we had fun doing old fashioned pictures..... :) What a crew! Yes, I am the hugely pregnant one on the end under the window!

New beginnings, fresh blooms, results of labor in the garden, skinned knees, lightening bugs, chiggers, trips to the pond, fresh vegetables and berries ~ these are the things that summer brings to mind for me.

Here is my littlest darling, fishing in the same pond that I fished in when I was little, the same one that my Dad fished in when he was young.... the same place my cousins and I would all pile on the back of the tractor and trailer and ride to, holding on for dear life and dodging briers all the way.

There is nothing more precious than MEMORIES. We are creating a bushel of them this wonderful and blessed summer!

Photo shoot with the girls :)

Customize your own free digital scrapbooking design