So this is Christmas....and what have you done?

3 days until Christmas!  It's been a good week....but I'd be lying if I didn't say that some of the days have gone on a little long...  However--take heart! Yesterday was the winter solstice which means it's all going to get brighter from here on out! 

So, a few quotes and pictures of what has been going on here lately:

Let's start with the quotes:
ME to my friend Kara (who was at the Y where I should've been this morning):  "Please don't ever let my kids talk me out of going to the Y...it's like Armageddon around here."

ME to my children this morning: "Who wants to be in charge of getting my Diet Cokes for me today?" (I especially wanted thy youngest child who was still raising the roof long past 10:00 and up around 6:00 this morning to volunteer for this one.)

ME: "Will you all please just act like human beings?!?"
WILL:  "I don't want to be a human being!"

WILL: "Can I have a Christmas cookie?"
ME:  "We don't have any."
WILL:  "You better start cooking then."

JOHN: "This is the best day!"
MADDY: "We love doing fun stuff like this!"

OK, then, it's all worthwhile!  Here's a few pictures that showcase/reiterate some of the quotes above as well as some other happenings from the week:

Maddy made stations this morning. Here's the Dance Floor.  Next picture (which I apologize for its' sideways nature) is the Craft Center:

My favorite Cooky Book to use during the holidays.  My mom used this one growing up and I got a copy a few years ago.  I think Will is going to be glad to see this one out....

O.M.GOSH.  :)  My brother texted me this picture yesterday of what's going on in KY at my mom's house.  Save some for me!!!

These days, my "alarm clock" usually consists of a text from a child telling me they are ready for breakfast....sometimes accompanied by a photo of a seriously bedheaded child.

RAINY.  We'd rather have a little snow...but nonetheless, this just makes me glad I took them to the zoo yesterday when it wasn't rainy and that I chose today as our day to finally use a Bounce U groupon that's getting ready to expire.  3:00 can't get here soon enough...

Oh mercy, I don't know.  Stuff just happens around here and there's no explanation.

Shrinky Dinks!  We're having a very retro Christmas....

Christmas Week: a mini pictorial

Merry Christmas!  We are T-6 days until the sleigh lands here and school is OUT.  Which means, I'll probably be interrupted writing this post about 7.4 times in the next 5 minutes.  "Mom--can I download this app?"  "Mom-can you pour the milk?" "Mom-he took my TINKERTOYS!"

This brings me to picture #1 which we will entitle "Tinker Toys:  a blessing and a curse." 

The tinkertoys were a $2 garage sale mistake investment this fall and they have given us MORE than $2 worth of enjoyment.  However....when two or more children are feeling tinkerlationally creative, there quickly becomes a shortage of orange rods or yellow wheels or blue spokes.  And that, my friends, is a recipe for a Christmas disaster.  Tinkertoys quickly become Tinkerweapons/Tinkerwhips/Tinkerguns. I quickly go from Mrs. Claus to The Grinch in about 3 seconds as I navigate my way through that obstacle.  (Can I also say that when you are done playing with the Tinkertoys, the clean up is MASSIVE.  The box clearly states with pride:  "over 200 pieces!" and let me tell you--you've never seen so many hiding spots for these plastic pieces. 

(pause: if I were writing this post in REAL TIME, you would've already witnessed my referree whistle coming out for one Tinker Toy dispute and just now, child 2 walked/stomped whilst weeping as she left the Tinkertoy zone headed to her room.)

One last bit about picture #1:  notice the "Kid Tree" in the background.  I did it this year!  I finally let them have their own tree to make as ugly as they wanted decorate this year. Please notice it in the back corner...hey, somebody turn the lights on!

Perfect Segue to Picture #2:  "The Tree of Inner Peace". 

In an earlier post, I referenced the fact that I've been parenting a baby or toddler for over 10 years now which has really cramped my Christmas decorating style.  Hazards everywhere!  Plus....they just destroy anything nice that we have (can I get an AMEN!?!?) so I just haven't bothered to put much out.  This year, my "baby" is four and I was feeling ambitious which made me EXCITED to decorate with nice things and have my very own tree which we all now refer to as "mom's tree ot inner peace."  I. LOVE. IT. I know you're supposed to love people, not things, but let's just agree to make an exception on this one.  I LOVE MY TREE OF INNER PEACE.  It is decorated with brand new ornaments that I picked out that make me extremely happy.  It is in the downstairs/kitchen work area to which I am chained to much of the day, so it's the perfect spot to have a little extra inner peace coming at you, if you know what I mean.  Nobody is allowed to touch it. Nobody is allowed to add to or take away from it--just like the Bible. Nobody can take away my inner peace when that thing is lit!  My husband has decided that we shall have a tree of inner peace up YEAR ROUND.  So, when you come visit me in April and the tree is still shining, you'll know what's up.

Photo #3: The ever-watchful Gingerbread man.

I'm sure you have heard of "Elf on the Shelf" by now.  It is an epidemic (yes it is--I said it: an epidemic!) that is sweeping elementary schools and causing consternation within my home because I refuse to participate. Basically--you buy this kit that includes an Elf and a book.  Elfie keeps a watchful eye on the behaviors and misbehaviors of the home's children and reports to the North Pole each night to tell Santa who's been naughty or nice.  Each day the elf "moves" to a new spot and often causes a mess himself that the kids all get a big kick out of.  It's all fine and innocent enough except I have enough going on in my life during the holidays without having to create a mess in the name of an Elf that will honestly creep the kids out.  (Personally, I never liked that whole "He sees you when you're sleeping" gig... I remember waking up on Christmas night when I was a child, having to go to the bathroom WEALLY WEALLY bad...but being so afraid that I might see Santa during his annual stop at our home that I just "held it" all night!) But I digress....  SO--after much pleading and begging (because we are apparently the ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE AN ELF!!!MOM!!! FOR REAL!!!) my daughter has just made her own little "elf" game in the form of a construction paper Gingerbread man.  She moves it to a new spot each day and threatens her little brother with the wrath of all things horribly un-Christmassy when he misbehaves....all because of the ever-watchful eye of the Gingerbread man.

Photo #4:  Save the best for last!!!
I just had the best surprise!  My brother and his family were traveling from ATL to KY today to bring home a friend from the Ukraine for a few weeks and I got a call that they were passing through Nashville and WOULD I LIKE TO MEET THEM FOR LUNCH!!! Would I?!?  You bet!!!  So I just got the best Christmas week 2011 surprise ever--a bonus visit with my sweet brother, sister-in-law, 5 nieces and nephews and their new friend Sveta!  When we pulled up to Zaxby's (because that's just how fancy we get when feeding 10 children and 3 adults) and all the cousins poured out of the restaurant (narrowly avoiding a drive-thru demise!) to pour our the hugs and high fives, I honestly got tears in my eyes.  In the famous and oft-spoken words of my big sister:  I just love my family.

Sonic Boy

I love Sonic.  But not the food...just the drinks.  But not all the drinks...just the Large or Route 44 Diet Coke with Vanilla, easy ice. (mediums and smalls don't taste the same--I mean it...for real.)

If I am driving anywhere near the vicinity of a Sonic before 10:00 am (99 cent large drinks!) or between 2-4 pm (Happy Hour! 1/2 price drinks!), my van has a magnetic draw to the drive-in.  Some of my friends say I have a "Sonic Sense"--like Spiderman's Spidey-Sense that tingles.....well, I have a Sonic Sense that lets me know when a Sonic is nearby even if it's in a city I've never been to before.  You should totally road trip with me--gotta see it to believe it!

Anyhow, apparently Sonic Sense is genetically passed down because my 4 year old Will has expressed similar characteristics/traits and I couldn't be more proud. UNTIL....

Recently we were driving on I-65 toward Costco when he was in TEARS over not going to Sonic. (It was after 10am/before 2pm....otherwise known as "Sonic-is-dead-to-me" time.)  His life was in SHAMBLES....all he wanted was a POWERADE SLUSHIE!!!!!  PLEASE!!!!  (insert tears....crying....moaning....you get the idea...)  Well, we happened to be passing the backside of a Sonic on the otherside of the highway. 

After that much emotional wear & tear and in a moment of potentially bad parenting (probably my first such moment of the week...), I said, "Fine!!!  Unbuckle your seat belt. Climb up front. Open the side van door. Jump out of the moving vehicle. Roll down the hill. Climb that highway fence. and JUST. GO. TO. SONIC."

He stopped crying immediately and said, "MOM! don't be ridiculous!!!  I don't even have any money or coupons."

Christmas: A Season of Thanks & other randomness

Things I'm thankful for this Christmas season:
1.  Chocolate covered Christmas treats
2.  Cookie Swaps
3.  Cranberry Margaritas at the new Vanderbilt Chuy's
AND....
4.  Spanx


In other news:
I want off the merry-go-round!!  The last week of school before Christmas break is NUTS.  Every. single. year. If you have school-aged children, I'm sure your schedule looks a little something like this:
Monday 9am-1pm:  2nd grade field trip to Traveller's Rest Plantation
Monday 8:00-9:30 pm:  Middle School Band Concert
Tuesday 9:15 am:  2nd grade Christmas program
Tuesday 12:00 pm:  Women's Ministry Planning Meeting
Wednesday: NOTHING.  Don't call me--I'm not answering the cell tomorrow.
Thursday 10:00 am:  preschool Christmas program; middle school teacher's luncheon
Friday 8:30-11:30:  2nd grade holiday party; 5th grade party--send chocolate covered pretzels; don't forget teacher and bus driver gifts.

Add to these "special events" (which--let's face it....when they're all crammed into the same week, the special-ness seems to fade...): the normal carpooling, Sunday School teaching, laundrying, cooking, parenting/wifeing/familying/neighborlynessing duties and I can only say that I want off the merry-go-round! 

I will get my chance to get off this merry go round in just a few days....school gets out at 11:30 on Friday and they are mine-all-mine for the next 19 days.  YOWZA. 

At that point, I will begin subjecting my children to bad jokes 24-7...  For instance, this morning John came downstairs wearing a red shirt and khaki pants.  (You know--the Target employee uniform).  Every time somebody wears that combination....well, I. cannot. resist. asking. them:  "what time does your shift start?"  "Sir, can you help me locate the batteries and lightbulbs?" "Do you happen to carry vacuum cleaner bags for an upright Dirt Devil?" Or some other random Target-stock-related question.  This is perhaps the most overused "joke" in my repertoire...it only gets an eye roll these days.  I tried SO HARD to not make the "joke" this morning, but well...."Excuse me, can you help me locate the anti-diarrheal medications??"  (You may be wondering just exactly who IS the middle schooler in my house after reading this last paragraph.)

And on that note....Merry Christmas!

A Ninja for Christmas

See if you can spot the Christmas Ninja....

Doorbusting on what shall forever now be called "Red Thursday"

I, like so many of you, I imagine, was completely appalled by the fact that so many stores were open ON Thanksgiving Day this year.  Initially, some stores announced that they would open at midnight and I thought that was crazy....but then that seemed sane & smart compared to the announcement by Old Navy, Big Lots, K-Mart, and a few others that they would actually be open all day on Thanksgiving Day.

I thought it was completely un-American!  How could they?!? Think of the workers!  They don't get to be with their families on Thanksgiving Day!  OH, THE NERVE!!!

So, you can imagine my surprise when I found myself in a car with 4 others on our way to Big Lots and K-Mart at 7:00 on Thanksgiving Night. 

I know what you're thinking--"oh there must've been an emergency and somebody got sick and you needed Sprite and Saltines."  Nope.  "Well, then--peer pressure got the best of you, Ellen. The others weren't standing for the same values that you were and you succumbed to their evil plan to make people work on Thanksgiving Day." 

Um, I don't know how to say this, but....it was actually my idea.  I just wanted to get out of the house.  We'd been looking at the circulars all day & mapping out a Black Friday plan. Couple that with my serious Kohl's-Black-Friday-prices-online-Thursday SCORE (A $250 pre-lit Christmas tree for $65...plus KOHL'S CASH!!!) and I just caught Black Friday Fever and couldn't possibly wait a few more hours to get it going.

So, around 6:30 on Thanksgiving Night, myself along with 4 female family members loaded into the car and headed out.  We're not completely heartless, though--all 5 of us did have an internal struggle about the shopping.

Note the time on the clock...it's 6:38PM

Here are a few of the quotes from the trip to our first stop:  BIG LOTS (oh, do we have class!!!)

"My heart is saying no...but my wallet is saying yes."

"We are actually being pro American -- it's for the good of our country to stimulate the economy on the most American holiday!"

"We aren't doing anything wrong...we're just walking thru the doors that have been opened for us."

"We are so so opposed to this--like 100% opposed to this. But the employees will be there whether we show up tonight or not. So we may as well go and make it worth their while.  We'll even wish them a 'Happy Thanksgiving!' "

"I'm going to really weigh my decisions about what to buy...not going to buy things willy nilly." 


Who can resist the siren call from The Big Lots WALL OF EXTREME VALUES!!!

Everything was just peachy at Big Lots and we had gotten over our guilt until we were checking out at the very end.  My sister-in-law asked the cashier if she had a good day and if she got to spend anytime with her family....  Her answer?  NOPE. They were going to have to celebrate another day because she had to work.  The manager then came over to get involved and add to the conversation.  AND I QUOTE:  "If more people would've stayed home today, we probably wouldn't have to be open next year on Thanksgiving." 

Boy, did she know how to knock the wind out of our proverbial sails!  We felt like Thanksgiving had just become RED THURSDAY....the minute we handed over the green to pay for our wares, we had blood on our hands.

YOWZA!  Did we ever feel bad!  We felt so bad that I made this terribly scary face on our way into K-Mart.  (What?  You didn't think we actually went home after the Big Lots manager made us feel guilty, did you?!?)

K-mart was a hive of activity--lots of workers and everybody seemed just thrilled to have people stop by.  There were plenty of people out shopping and it made us feel a little less-dirty for breaking tradition and not waiting until Friday to celebrate Black Friday.  All in all, it was a good experience and we shopped until we dropped....or until they kicked us out at 9:00 to prepare for the REAL Black Friday...

To my partners in crime:  'Til next year, girls--it was a blast & I can't say that I learned my lesson or that I'd never do it again... 


Thanksgiving: what it all boils down to...

First things first....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!   We had all the typical crafts make their way home to us this year from the three schools....  We've got hand-print traced turkeys, cone shaped teepees, pilgrim & Indian stickers on a landscape...and so much more.  (Feels like I'm perpetually drowning in arts & crafts over here, people!)  Anyway, Maddy brought her main project home from school this week and it was too good to keep to myself!     

Introducing...."My Thankful Pouch."  Included are a series of cards that state what she is thankful for.  We have the expected "I am thankful for my family...I am thankful for my home..." type of sentiments, but I snapped a few pics of the standout cards.  Feel free to use these as inspiration for when you come up short during your family's feast/time of thankfulness.  And never, ever forget this most important profound thought:  "WITHOUT THE SUN & EARTH, WE COULD NOT LIVE."

I need clothing to live.  I like my new shoes.

I am thankful for me.  Without Sun & Earth We could not live.

Plants give us food and oxygen.  I love my cosins [cousins].

I have freedom.  Freedom is when you can say things that you want to say.  We need electricity to see.

60 seconds with a four year old

This was our conversation at a single red stoplight the other morning on my way to the Y:

"Mama. Mom. Mom? Do you know what's in your head? It's a brain. Mama. Do you know what's inside Lightning McQueen's car? Nothing. Mama. Do you know how I say Amen?  I say it like this: AMEN.  Mama? Do you know how babies say Amen?  They say it like this:  amen. Mama? Do you remember when I was two? I used to be two. Do you remember when I was two? How did I say Amen when I was two? Mama? Did you know there is a Lightning McQueen toy that has eyes that move? Mama. Did you know that I'm going to be five at my next birthday? Mama. Do you want to play Zhu Zhu pets with me today? Mama. Can you turn up the radio? Mama. Do you know how much I love you? So much."

:)

Apparently, when he's not busy talking, he's also a photojournalist, documenting his days on my ipod touch.  Here is a small sampling of his latest photographic works....There wasn't enough bandwidth to post all the pictures on my camera roll here. 

Check your local cable listings before you clean your house

This is the part of my blog in which I become overwhelmed with the state of my house.

I had planned to start decorating for Christmas yesterday and I got my kids all pumped up for the momentous occasion:

Moi:  "Who wants to decorate for Christmas today?!?!?!?!" 

Offspring:  "MEEEE!!!!" "Me Me Me Me!"  "I wanna decorate for Christmas!  I can't wait!" "Score!"

Moi:  "OK then...here's what we need to do:  YOU, there, boy--take out the trash.  Daughter: pick up all your coats! [editorial note--she has jackets aplenty so it really IS an overwhelming task]  Puzzle boy:  PUT THE PUZZLES AWAY. ALL OF THEM."

Offspring: "Ummm....errrr, actually, we aren't all that interested in decorating for Christmas.  In fact, if cleaning is involved as a precursor to decorating we'd just rather not celebrate Christmas this year..."

So, we didn't. Instead, I accidentally fell asleep.  I like to say it happened on accident, but if I'm going to be completely honest, I may or may not have employed the use of ear plugs and room darkening shades....so "intentional napping" might be a more accurate description of what went on, but it makes me feel better when I think of leaving my equally exhausted husband on an unexpected solo parenting journey for the entire afternoon. So there.  I accidentally took a very long winter's nap. With ear plugs.

All that to say, we didn't decorate for Christmas, but in light of the fact that I got a mid-day phone call from hubs who had invited some friends over to watch the Vandy/UT game at 6pm, I made the kids pick up the WRECK of a bonus room....by bribing them with cookie dough.  Oh yes I did.  Now, I know what you're thinking:  "bribe your kids?  for cleaning up THEIR mess?  How dare you!"  Don't judge, people...don't judge... you do what you gotta do sometimes when the impromptu football viewing party is less than 1 hour away from commencing at your home.

What's REALLY funny about all of this is that my husband did not happen to check what channel this game was on.  We have a pretty hefty cable channel load, but apparently not as hefty as required for watching this particular game.  VU/UT was on ESPNU and ESPN 3D.

Good news:  we have ESPN3D! 
Bad news:  We don't have a 3D TV
Bad news:  we don't have ESPNU...
Good news:  our best next door neighbors do!
Bad news:  they don't give one rip about VU or UT 
Good news:  they are good enough friends to let a party of 12 crash in their bonus room.  (We owe you big time K & V!)

All that last minute scurrying and cleaning occurred just so we could fix a plate of food and walk next door to the neighbors house.

That said:  Less than 24 hours ago, my house was clean...picked up...organized, even!  Because we entertained last night (lets use the term "entertained" loosely...it involved bags of salad, frozen pizza and pre-mixed cookies that require an egg & a cup of oil). Therefore, I had a lovely, clean, picked up, organized home as I'm prone to when we "entertain" (again--use the term very, very loosely).

We then spent the entire evening next door, followed by a morning at church.  Do the math and realize that we have now been in our house for about 4 hours of actual usage time and it is a WRECK. 

3 puzzles + 2 types of Legos + Pretzel and triscuit crumbs + Little People (the Fisher Price toys AND actual little people)  + Hot Wheels = ONE BIG HOT MESS

What football season means to me

Going to his very first football game--he was so excited!

My fabulous family--all 5 of us kids are UK grads!

Krispy Kreme FOOTBALL donuts!

Coloring to pass the time during a VERY long football game

scalping tickets! We got 19 tickets total for $120...pretty sweet deal!

smooching when your team scores or makes a great play (this couple was VERY supportive of Vanderbilt in this department)

Swinging on a handicap swing with your cousin

enjoying a coke & a donut with your favorite #1 cousin

A House Divided: the Cats vs. the Commodores

This weekend is big.  HUGE.  Massive.  It's positively monumental for our household.  It is the weekend when the powerhouse football team from the University of Kentucky (my alma mater!) comes to Nashville to challenge another powerhouse in college football:  the Vanderbilt Commodores (Michael's alma mater!). 

Now, let's just stop for a minute.  If you know even the slightest bit about college football, you'll quickly realize what a ridiculous string of sentences that first paragraph holds.  Neither team has EVER been described as a powerhouse when it comes to football (not in my lifetime, anyways).  However, we are going to act like it's a big deal...complete with a tailgate attended by my fellow favorite UK grads (my ENTIRE family...no really--my entire family) and a few local friends. 

Let me be absolutely clear about something:  there are only about two reasons that I've ever gone to a football game.  One is to impress a guy.  Well, guess what:  I already got the guy.  I'm married now so that excuse ended when I got married 3 weeks after college graduation 13 years ago.  The other reason is to TAILGATE.  If you provide the food, I will go.

So, that's what we will do!  Tomorrow morning, a caravan of huge UK fans (about 11 of my family members) will make their way down I-65 to join us in a little pre-game munchfest followed by a quick scurry around Vanderbilt's campus to buy tickets from a scalper.  We'll go into the game where I will most likely be reading a magazine or a cookbook and chasing Will around the bleachers.  There may or may not be some first downs, touch downs, flags on the play, field goals, facemasking, penalties, and quarterback sacking....but I'll never know.

I'm just here for the party.

Cupcake journal: the ultimate DNA test

I was cleaning up my daughter's room recently and came across something that positively delighted me: her Cupcake Journal. Oh, what's that? You mean you don't have a Cupcake Journal? Well, as you probably suspect, (obviously) it is a little notebook that has a cupcake on the front.

What you might not expect, however, is that it's her own special place to journal about all the cupcakes she has eaten. Yes, really. There were three entries so far and each one chronicled a few details and finer points of the last few cupcakes she has eaten. She even went so far as to rate the cupcakes.

If I ever wanted pure proof that she truly, really, absolutely, 100% is the child that I gave life to and is not the product of a horrible hospital "switched at birth" situation... This would be all the proof that I need. My daughter keeps a chronicle of her cupcakes.  (Genius! I SO wish I'd thought of it first!)

Oh, the best part of all: remember those über healthy banana muffins I made on Sunday? Those made the cut! And if you wanted to know what a kid who loves cupcakes thought of my flax seed/whole wheat flour muffins....well, she rated them "the best!"  Told you they were good....

Rhythm is Gonna Get You

I was just reading a blog post by Boomama as she was traveling through the Miami airport when she expressed how surprised she was that she hadn't run into Gloria Estefan yet. It reminded me of a little situation I handled a few years back with a healthy dose of Gloria.

I had been receiving quite a few prank calls from the same phone number. Sometimes they would just sit there silently; sometimes they would ask for someone. Other times, they'd just laugh. This happened a couple times a day for a few weeks and I was just fed up with it all.  Most of the time I ignored the calls....but after they would call back about 10 times in an hour, I would answer in a moment of weakness and demand that they stop calling.

TO. NO. AVAIL.

SO....something just came over me one day--I picked up the phone and just sang.  At the top of my lungs.  What did I sing?  You guessed it:  "Rhythm is gonna get you." 

"OH EH OH EH....... OH EH OH AAH....."

I sang it--loud.  Proud.  With an little Spanish-y flair, even.

That ended the prank calls that day.....but the next day they called back and I said:

"1-2-3-4 Come on baby say you love me....5-6-7 times...."

Apparently, that song does not have the power to stop a prank caller, so they called back. I pulled out an old trick:

"OH EH OH EH....OH EH OH AAH...."

And that was it....for that day. 

Third time's a charm, I suppose because on Day 3 of my Gloria Estefan Prank Caller Awareness Program (GEPCAP), they called.  I answered.  "OH EH OH EH! Rhythm is gonna get you....."  And they hung up and never called me again.

Some people suggest blocking a phone number to get a prank caller to cease. 

I suggest warming up your vocal chords, picking an artist (feel free to use Gloria's songbook) and serenading your caller.

"I don't want to lose you now.........."

Early bird gets the muffin

5:11 a.m.  That's what time my 4 year old was up this morning.  Dang time change....  I knew this was coming!

Anyhow, as the old saying goes, when life hands you ripe bananas and an extra hour in the day, you make banana muffins!  However...I am trying to lose about 5 pounds before the holidays start, so I had to make these HEALTHY and DELICIOUS and that, my friends, is what they are!  I'll include the recipe below... 

Here's how I spent the first lovely hours of daylight darkness this morning:

I *think* these are ready to be mashed.... ;)

Note the time on the clock:  6:44 AM  I'd already been up for an hour and a half, people!
also....using whole wheat flour and flax seed!  Don't be afraid...your kids will never know....they are incredibly tasty!

Kitchen Tip #243:  use an ice cream scoop to put batter into the muffin pan.  No mess! Perfectly portioned! I'm so excited!!!!

Batch 1 out of the oven by 7:22 AM.  I have a group of eager taste testers at the ready.

YUM.  I made a double batch so we are going to be snacking on these for a while.  They freeze well...put them in a ziplock baggie and pull them out one at a time--defrost in the microwave for about 30 seconds and you have a warm HEALTHY muffin to snack on!

HEALTHY BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup flax seed (milled)

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Combine flour, flax seed, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, stir together the bananas, eggs, brown sugar, applesauce, and vanilla.

Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture--a little at a time.  Stir until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes.

yield:  18 muffins

Source:  K Mickelsen, M Douthit