soccer days // life with boys

It's hard to know how to introduce your kids to sports, especially team sports. You never know how they will respond, if they'll jump right in or run kicking and screaming off the field. Back in the spring, Anselmo was hired to help coach some kids for the county soccer league. It was perfect timing to expose Dawson to the game.

 Here's what went down.

First pep talk by the coaches.

Showing off his moves.

The boy has got some skills.

And a temper...

"Are you kidding me? That was not a foul! Unbelievable!"

He charges the coach.

 "Hey man. Go easy on your dad. It's his first day."

"Come on, Dad. Put me back in. Look, I can even hold the ball over my head. You need me out there."

Ok. Let's see what you got. 

He's a natural.

All kidding aside, we had some great moments. And, the coach is awesome. He is so great with the kids, not to mention incredibly cute! And Dawson, he would run laps AROUND the field if we let him. He doesn't care much for what is going on ON the field. I captured the first 10 minutes he was out there and then we were negotiating staying at the park or packing our things up to go home. We sat the next few practices out, but eventually made it back...and he surprisingly loved it. So maybe we'll try it again, hopefully sooner than later.

 And then there's this little one.

He's happy just being there cheering on his dad and brother.
Me included.

my first "mini" wedding at berry college // wedding photography

Where has the time gone? Oh yeah...between being a wife and mom, spending almost 2 months at the beach with the ministry we work with, and putting about 3000 miles on the car, it's been hard to keep track of life...especially documenting it on my blog. 

I have to do a little back tracking. I'll start with the wedding I photographed in April.
But not just any wedding. A kindergarten wedding.

Yes. A kindergarten wedding.

Every year the Berry College Elementary School Kindergarten class puts on their very own wedding. During the year the kids learn about how different countries celebrate marital unions around the world. At the end of the year it culminates in their reenacting a wedding ceremony. Each child has his own special role to play. The best part is that they exchange vows to be friends forever "through thick and thin". It is the sweetest thing ever complete with bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen all chosen by drawing names out of a hat. After the ceremony, they rush down to the reception. This year  they had a circus theme: popcorn, clown noses, cotton candy, cake, and decorations galore. All of this in the span of about 2 1/2 hours. It was hard work, but I had so much fun and am so thankful to have been asked to capture this special occasion.

Looking through his mom and dad's wedding album.

What little girl doesn't love playing dress up?

Already admiring each others' shoes...

wearing her mother's veil

trying to stay warm before heading down the isle.

now you may HUG your friend.

on to the reception.

I'm pretty sure they had a blast and will never forget this experience.
Neither will I.

apple cinnamon oat muffins

 I've been wanting to share and document this recipe for some time.

It has to be one of the easiest muffin recipes ever.

And, I think it's gluten free.*

*I have read the only way you can be for sure is if the oats 

are labeled "gluten free" and packaged in a factory that does not

process wheat products. So, I may be missing the boat with my GV oats.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm still learning.)

Apple Cinnamon Oat Muffins.

We have these AT LEAST once a week.

They only take about 5 minutes to prepare.

Here are the ingredients:

oat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, stevia (honey or sugar if you prefer),

unsweetened applesauce, extra light olive oil, eggs, vanilla extract

& chocolate chips.

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Grind your oats into flour.

You can use a food processor

or a coffee grinder.

I love my coffee grinder, which I have in fact never used to grind coffee.
 It was my $2 thrift store find. I use it to make oat flour, almond flour, rice flour, etc.

Mix oat flour with the remaining dry ingredients.

Then add your wet ingredients one at a time.

Here's what the muffin batter looks like.

Now for my favorite part.

Add a handful of chocolate chips.

Just enough to get a few in each muffin.

Spoon batter into muffin tin.

I can usually get nine muffins out of one recipe.

Pop them in the oven

and

20 minutes later...

Dawson loves these.

I have made them as mini muffins, too.

They are great for snacks and taking on the road.

A yummy breakfast.

Goodness right there on a plate.

(Special shout out to my husband for the deer sausage he made himself.)

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups oat flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 tsp/package stevia (or a couple Tbsp of honey or sugar)

2 eggs beaten

1/2 cup extra light olive oil (i've used EVOO, too)

3/4 - 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease muffin tin for 8-9 muffins. 

Mix dry ingredients well. Add wet ingredients to dry mixture. Mix all ingredients until well blended. Fold in handful of chocolate chips (or whatever you like). Spoon into muffin tin. Bake at 350°F for approx. 20 minutes. Mini muffins take about 8 minutes.

Enjoy!

I'd love to hear how these turn our for you if you make them. What changes would you make? 

banana fana

ok.

so, yes, i feel like i've fallen off the face of the blog world.

i have full intentions of catching up.

really, i do.

but until then, 

here are some shots of the sweetest baby 

and his first bites of banana.

i think he liked the spoon more than the banana.

later gator.