Cream Cheese Banana Muffins



Cream Cheese Banana Muffins.
www.beyondthecammies.com 

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 8 oz package of cream cheese

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup mashed bananas

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer until creamy. Add sugar and eggs until blended. Add flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir in bananas. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. ( I made 2 pans of mini muffins and 3 larger muffins.)

Adapted from www.myrecipes.com

 

Big Boy!

Graycen is 22 lbs and 31". I say he will be over 6' someday. He charmed the doctors and was so brave with his shots. We enjoyed a stroller ride and some playtime outside today. He does not care for the grass!

Couch to 5k Day 2

It is Friday! 29 and some change until I see my hubby! So excited to get on the scale and I have lost more weight. My baby is now one. Since birth I have lost 37lbs. My body is not the same. Things are wider and droopier but I am starting to feel like myself. I feel like I plateaued for awhile and then became unmotivated to workout. I've been trying to eat better and found my motivation again. Day 2 of couch to 5k. Girls are more secure and pants are tighter. Wish me luck. I'd like to walk a 5k with some light jogging in may and hope to run a 5k in June. Thank for the comments and support. Right now I look silly and need to get my grove. Once I get going I am sure it would be fun to have partners. Until then I will keep up with my G and his stroller.

Our Sweet Boy

Our sweet boy is 1! He has been a blessing to our family and I finally feel complete. I can't imagine how boring our lives were without him. He has been worth the 360 nights of limited sleep. I can't wait to see what this year brings. Love you monkey pants!

Couch to 5k

I have never been a runner, but always wanted to try. I was talking with some friends and they suggested Couch to 5k. I found a fantastic app on my iPhone called Ease Into 5k. It's amazing! It tells me when to walk and run and I can play Pandora through it. A few lessons learned:
* My girls need much more support. Invest in a better bra.
* Don't eat before.
* Wear better fitting underwear. They will fall down!
* Wear running shorts or pants made for running. Over poor fitting underwear, they will also fall down.

Welcome Army Wife 101 Readers!

I was so honored to be asked to write for a large military spouse blog, Army Wife 101! This girl tells it like it is. Thank you to all of the readers that jumped on over to check me out! I can't wait to get to know you all better! For my readers, you can see the post here!

Exciting News Part 2!

Well, it seems that my prayers and the use of my visualization board have worked! I got my acceptance letter from the University of Southern California yesterday! I will be starting in May and will be studying Family and Children Social work with a focus on military and veterans! The awesome part of this program is that it is a virtual program with the exception of field experience! I can go to USC from the comfort of my own home!  I am so excited! With the help of my husband's post 9/11 GI Bill this dream will come true! I can't wait for you to go on this journey with me!

Exciting stuff!

Well, I opened my world to Twitter. I am excited by the new connections I am making with other Marine wives around the country. The hardest part about being a reservist family, is not having the constant connections. I have some great friends on this journey, but it just isn't the same as being active duty and having so many people going through the same thing so close by.

On another note, I was asked to be a guest blogger for a large military spouse blog. I am excited to expand my readers and see what develops. Check one on my visualization board. Expanding my blog! I have 15 new followers on Twitter in the past few days, and see lots of new readers on my blog. I am so thankful for all of you who come and read my posts daily. At times I feel like I am writing to myself and that is OK, but it is so exciting to know that there are real readers out there! Don't be shy on leaving comments. I love to get them! Stay tuned for links to my blog posts and I will say more once things get rolling!

Feeling Connected

I had my meltdown on the phone with AJ tonight. I feel like I am becoming "disconnected" from him. I can't wait to text him in the morning or finally get to talk to him in the evening. The hardest part of this deployment is having him in the states, but so far away. He is trying his best to be the best leader he can be and stay focused for his Marines, but at times I feel like he is withdrawing from me. Not intentional and I don't think he realizes he is doing it. I found myself getting upset with him tonight as I wait by my phone for his call to find out he was watching TV in his room. Why didn't he call me? It turned into me getting emotional, and him not understanding me. We had lots of silence, because truthfully I was just angry and emotional. I just miss so much the casual talk throughout our day. I want to know everything that goes on in his day, exciting or not. I want to share everything with him, and quickly find myself keeping things to myself. I know this is just part of the roller coaster. We are all frustrated and ready to get this deployment overseas going. But instead we just wait. Wait for answers and wait to get it going so we can be reunited. I hate the fact he is missing out on so much. Our little guy will only be little for so long. I got to spend a lot of time just talking about nothing and catching up. I needed that so bad. I told him at the end of our conversation that I just needed it. I needed to feel connected with him. He replied by telling me not to be psycho any more. =) He will never get me.=)

My Heart Breaks... Karilyn Bales

I watched the interview of Karilyn Bales this morning. I just can't imagine what she is going through. My heart continues to hurt for her and her family. Praying no matter what the truth is, she has strength to carry on. This quote really stuck with me. We all tend to forget. "They are first and foremost humans. They are trained to be warriors to protect our freedoms." -Karilyn Bales

Stop Growing Up!

This little guy is in his birthday week. I can't believe it! At times I am wishing time would go faster, then I also remember that my kids are also growing fast. Keegan is almost as tall as me. (I am 5'9.) The teenage mouth has arrived. Brayden turns 9 next week and finally made it out of the 50lb range. He is a spitting image of my Dad. G, well he is going to live withe forever. I can't imagine going through this deployment without him. He has been such a beautiful addition to my family. I definitely think I appreciate being a mom more because I am older, I see how fast my kids grew up, and I spend my days with him. God surely has blessed me. (Even the days I want to pull my hair out.)

Sharing Over The Miles



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I tell all new military spouses to keep a running list of things you want to share with your husband when he is deployed. It never fails, their call catches you completely off guard, and you spend your precious time trying to remember what you needed to tell them. Use this printable to make your own notepad, or have your own printed at a printing company. Keep one by your bed, by your computer, and in your purse! I can't wait to see what you all do with this printable!

Crazy Mornings With Kids!

Morning Chore Chart Printable-
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It could be used as a checklist on a clipboard, or in a frame displayed in the kitchen!

As you all know, when you have kids... mornings are chaotic! When your husband is deployed, they are 10x... ok 100x times harder! I struggle with keeping my boys motivated and moving in the morning. If they can check something off, it makes things so much easier!

My Chore Card Printable

Simply right click the image, and print in any size you would like! If you love it, Pin it!

As my husband is deployed, my older boys have to step up and help around the house. This is not met without whining and complaining. I have been struggling with finding fun ways to get them motivated. I was doing my nightly Pinterest searching, and came across a "chore card". I thought that would be completely exciting for my boys and they can compete. Even better! I have designed a chore chart. It would be great for any child, but I think perfect for the military child. Make it fun by letting them have a reward when they finish a row, or a whole card. I can't wait to hear how the card works for your kiddos!

Amen...

Military Wife Frustrations

I don't usually blog when I am frustrated or mad, but this is my outlet and I shouldn't sugar coat things. I was hurt today when I found out some of our couple friends had plans tonight, and didn't think of extending an invitation to me. This is the hardest part about being a military wife in a nonmilitary town. Our friends don't get it. I guess it bothers me because my mommy tank is low. I could totally use my husband to walk in and take over. I could just use some adult interaction and some mindless activity without someone whining at me or clinging to me. Praying for patience.

Real Love Printable

Semper Fi Printable

Enjoy! Right click to save and print in any size you would like!

Brothers

Everyone always asks me how I like the 12 year age difference between my oldest and youngest. I love it. Now you can see why!

Friends

I just love that they are friends!

Picture From The Week

I was so excited to get into some prepregnancy pants and they were actually big!

Me and my soon to be teenager.

Swinging in the pjs!

Who needs toys when you have cords?

My sweet boy.

Oh. Moma needed a drink!

Missing our Daddy.

Love sgetti!

Sweepy boy.

3/24/2003

I can't believe it has been 9 years since my Charlie Company family has lost 2 outstanding Marines. That day will forever change many lives, but mostly mine. It was a day that I realized what war was and that my husband wasn't just "playing Marine". I realized in a heart beat that my husband could also be taken from me in an instant. AJ was on the mission with these Marines and was one of 2 survivors. I thank God everyday for bringing him home to me and especially this year as we celebrate are almost 1 year old. I know that God has a special plan for my husband, and for him in our lives. Thank you God for not making me a widow at the age of 25 and for the beautiful family you have provided us.

Supportive Wives

I read an article today about military wives rallying behind the accused Army soldier's wife, Kari Bales, in the news lately. The moment I heard of the incident, I feared for his family. I feared for their safety and how their lives would change forever. As military spouses, we always fear are husband not coming home or being severally injured, but never have I thought that my husbands actions in war could turn our world upside down. My heart aches for Kari Bales as she has been enduring a deployment and now struggles to find the truth and live her own personal hell. She will never be able to live the life she once had. I am happy to hear that other military wives are supporting her. That was another fear for her. I pray that God is with her whatever the outcome maybe. This story ran on NBC last night.

MOPS- Mothers of Preschoolers

Graycen and I had our very first MOPS meeting today. I just love when the Lord just speaks to you through other people. I met a girl today, that no kidding we had way to much in common. I felt like I have known her forever! It was nice to have a little me time and to connect with other Moms. It was also nice to pray with some other women and here what their prayer needs were and have them pray for me. I signed up earlier in the year and didn't get in. As I was signing up for next year, they asked me to finish out the year. Just what I needed! If any of my readers live in Central IL, they are now signing up for next year. You can click here, for sign ups.

Laundry Room

I was hard at work yesterday. Although I didn't get everything done, I feel so much better. I sacrificed my last hour for Skype time with the hubby in the middle of the day. I said I'd share some before and after photos! I have plans to change up the shelving, add a hanging rack, and do some painting. I changed up the printable with this cute one I found on Pinterest.

Source: threelittlemonkeysstudio.com via Jen @ on Pinterest

Before....

After.....

Honored

I was so honored to be asked to be a stand in husband for my dear friend. Her husband is also deployed with AJ. I am so proud of her for being a double major, mom of two teenagers, wonderful Marine wife, and friend. She is in the top 25 of her class! We were able to get a bite to eat and a drink after. A great night! It is nights like this I feel so blessed to be on this journey. The people I go through this craziness with, become my family!