When we planned our adventure to Australia, there were a few things that we didn’t want to miss!  We set aside the Great Barrier Reef & the Sydney Opera House for next time when the kids are older, but we promised ourselves that we would see a kangaroo and a koala in the wild!  Well, on a hike in Angourie Yaraygir National Park, we saw one!  A big daddy of a kangaroo!  And he came towards us on his way out of the park!  The kids were so excited, and my husband happened to catch him on film!!!  We thought we might see one because first my youngest saw this!

Yes, that is kangaroo poop!

And then we saw these in the sand!

Yes, those are kangaroo footprints in the sand!

So when we saw 2 little guys at the side of the beach, we were pretty pleased with ourselves!

But this big daddy took the cake for fabulous!  Click here to see a funny video and make sure to turn on your volume so you can hear my kids’ ooohs and aaaws!!

Just a little sigh and a quiet sob for the loss of one of favorite SSCs ever!  The Beco 4th Generation was easy to use, fabulously stylish, and quick on & off!  Just wanted to say, Beco 4G, we still miss you, but we are enjoying your new friend, the Beco Butterfly II!

The Beco Butterfly has so many wonderful details that make this SSC  the top of the line!  Removable hood for shade or to prevent noggin sagging with a sleepy baby!  Removable infant insert for wearing baby straight from the womb!  Integrated insert for easy peasy back carries and transferring baby to another wearer!  Comfortable Y panel absorbs the baby soup inevitably created by wearing a baby in warm weather!  Handy dandy stay put strap for wrapping up the Beco into a neat bundle.  And of course,  the sensational prints and organic styles have made the Butterfly a big hit with me!

Taking the time out of my busy schedule to bake hand-made goodies is part of my week!  It’s repetitive, relaxing, and rejuvenating!  Kneading, mixing, creating, shaping..  it’s a creative outlet for a busy mom with no very much time to spare!  Plus, then my kids & I get to eat my creations, so really, it fulfills all my passions: art, food, and love!

Baking with the kids is always a bit more challenging than without them, but at least I can restrain the baby’s sticky fingers from getting too involved!  I like to limit his interaction with my dough to eating it once it’s cooked!  Heeheee!  And how do I keep such a busy “helpful” little fella out of my task?  By slinging him on my back in our beloved Beco, of course!  From his perch on my back, Baby #5 can see everything, smell everything, just not TOUCH everything!  He knows that when the oven timer dings, he is about to be given a treat and he expectantly signs MORE and waits patiently for his yummy baked good to cool!

Easy as pie to make (little baking humor there!) are my favorite pretzels!!!  After discovering a simple pretzel recipe, I made a few amendments, and developed a treat version also, perfect for Valentine’s Day!  Remember, this recipe doesn’t make traditional Bavarian pretzels, but kid friendly, delicious doughy pretzels that you can make in batches for special occasions, school parties, and just for your own family’s enjoyment!

PAXpretzels – will make 8 large or 10-12 small

1 teaspoon instant yeast

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 tbsp cinnamon (less or more depending on your love for cinnamon)

1 cup warm milk (1 minute zapped in the microwave)

2 1/2 – 3 cups all-purpose flour (add more if the dough is still wet)

Preheat to 425 degrees & set a pot of water to boil.

Combine & mix the first 4 ingredients.

Start adding in 2 cups of flour, and add more slowly while stirring (beware the white poof if you add the flour too quickly!)

You’re looking for your dough to go from a thick batter to a bread like dough that you can hand knead.

Spread a handful of flour on your clean (no children’s tongues have licked it, please!) surface, and hand knead your dough for 5-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth & satiny.

Cut the dough into even pieces and roll into short snakes.  Let the dough relax for 10 minutes, and stretch the snakes longer.  Shape into pretzels, roll into cinnamon roll shapes, or pinch the middle and curl the sides around into hearts.

Boil each pretzel for 5 seconds and place on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle each PAXpretzel with a cinnamon sugar blend.

Bake for 8-15 minutes depending on the size of the pretzel! Eat as soon as you can without burning your tongue!

All done, mama!

Aren’t they BEE-You-T-FULL???

A yummy heart just for my little love!

Top 10 Reasons To Babywear!

#1- Everyone needs a hobby!

#2- Because baby’s face looks so cute out of the carrier like that!

#3- So you can single handedly take 3 children under the age of 2 to the zoo! 2 in the double stroller and 1 on your back!

#4- Because it BUGS your mother-in-law that you have become “one of those” crunchy mamas!!!

#5- It gives you something to dream about & shop for!

#6- How else can you fit in all the newborn snuggles necessary each & every day!

#7- When your daily to-do list looks like mine (feed 4 children, brush 4 sets of teeth, homeschool 4 children, prepare lunch, feed 4 children, etc…) your hands had better be free with baby outa the way!

#8- Truly, just because it’s just adorable!

#9- My mom wore me, and look how happy I am!

#10- To give baby the best view of the world - your smiling face!

Now THAT is a peaceful baby!