Recipe: Sweet Potato Pancakes

These are so easy and so yummy!  I have made pumpkin pancakes that were just as delicious, but not quite as simple.  This recipe was given to me by my sweet neighbor.  Thanks for sharing, D!

Sweet Potato Pancakes

1 cup Pancake Mix
1 cup water
1/2 cup sweet potato puree
cinnamon to taste (I used a tsp. or more.  I didn't really measure)

Mix together and pour batter on to a griddle or hot skillet.  Cook just like you would any pancakes.

Hope you enjoy them.  Sorry, I don't have a picture.

Love of Reading

We are a family who likes to read.  I love that my boys have a love of books/reading.  Nathan blows through chapter books in about 2 days, sometimes less.  Ryan reads away and enjoys a variety of books.  He has been reading for a couple of years and he's only 6.  I can't wait to see how they both blossom in their love for reading.

Their school held a Family Reading Night.  We arrived to find a list of games broken down by grades and location.  We decided to start outside with the P.E. coaches.  I thought it was neat they had them involved too.  The first game the kids had to attempt to shoot a basketball into the hoop.  If they scored a basket, they chose a colored sentence strip from a stack.  Then the next child in line took a shot.  Once all the strips had been chosen, they had to put them in order to make a story.  The two older boys got busy grabbing and putting them in order.  Little Ryan starting reading them. He found something that wasn't right and moved it to make sense!  That's my boy! 

For the 2nd P.E. reading game, one of the coaches tossed a ball to them (according to their grade level). For Nathan, the ball had labels with different words they had learned this year.  Wherever his thumb landed, he read the word and had to give the definition.  The labels had Math, Science, Language, etc. words.  I was impressed!  Nathan did a great job!  Metaphor was his first word and he nailed it.

Ryan's labels were alphabet letters.  Where ever his thumb landed, he was to tell the letter and give the sound that it made.  Coach was quite impressed he knew them all without skipping a beat and even knew 2 sounds for C.  Way to go, Ryan!

Inside the gym each grade level had tables with at least 2 games for the kids to play.  Parents were also given copies of the games so we can play them at home. 

Then onto the computer lab to play games on, well... computers, of course.  Ryan headed straight for the iPad.  I am amazed more and more all you can do on those! Yes, now we all want one of those too.I was given a list of educational reading games for them to play at home. 

Last we ended in the library for the book fair.  They each bought a new book.  Which they began reading as soon as we got in the car. 

 We had a great time and learned along the way.  I love it when kids learn and don't even realize it because they are having so much fun.  It's a win/win situation!  Now, I think I'll go read something.

Endurance

Anyone remember the Presidential Fitness Awards in school?  I do!  Not necessarily with fond memories though.  The testing always made me nervous.  Test anxiety... even in P.E.  Sheesh! 

Anyway,  a few weeks ago Nathan brought home his fitness scores/goals for P.E.  He always looks forward to P.E. but has really locked in on running.  The mile run was his favorite.  His best was 10:30 and he was happy with that.  He just wanted to do better.  Yeah, he's competitive like that.  To receive the PFA you have to beat 9:30.  His goal was to do even better and try for 9:00.  I was proud of him of setting a goal to work towards.

For a few weeks, he's been talking about what he needed to eat the morning of the endurance race.  What he wore, was just as important.  He really listened to what the coaches had to say about pacing themselves to run the mile too. 

For breakfast I made sweet potato pancakes, farm fresh scrambled eggs and a yummy vitamin packed smoothie.  We all enjoyed the delicious start to our day, running a mile or not!   

I was so excited to pick the boys up from school.  I am proud to report that Nathan beat his record of 10:30:00.  He even beat his goal of  9:00  Ya'll, he shaved off  2 mins. and 24 secs from his orginial time.  He came in 3rd out of 45 kids with a time of, wait for it...... 8:06!  Reached his goal, made the PFA, but most importantly he did his best!  So very proud him!  He's considering running cross-country/track team in the future. 

And of course he has a little shadow who wants to be just like his big brother. 

Artistic Ability

Crafty?  Yes!  Artistic?  Not so much.  So, I thought.  That's until Saturday night when a few of us girls got together for a painting party.  Girl's Night Out! 

Six of us met up at a local spot to try our hand at painting on canvas.  I was really excited.  I'd been wanting to try it for quite some time.  We had to decide on one painting before we arrived.  I have to say... I was pretty impressed that we all found one we agreed on. 

I am a perfectionist and told myself ahead of time that whatever the outcome was... it would be okay! I wanted to enjoy the night, not stress over it.  I am proud to report, that I did a pretty good job.  The finishing touches made me nervous, but with a little help.... I am quite proud of the final outcome. 

We all had a great time and walked about with beautiful handmade painting to remember the night by!

AAHH...Mazing!

I wish I hadn't waited so long to use my giftcard to the spa.  I mean, I am one to savor things, but really??  Even I know how ridiculous it was to hang on to this one for umm, yeah... a long while.  Ok, you want to know how ridiculously long?  Uh, like 3 yrs., well, no... only 2 1/2!  ONLY!  Ha!

Anyway, so I finally decided (yes, I am indecisive) on the service I wanted.  It's not an every day occurance to get a treat at the spa. But oh, how I wish it were.  Ok, I'd settle for once a month!  Really, I would!  So, I had planned on getting a massage,  but I wanted to wait to use it for the most beneficial time.  You know, really stressed or lousy feeling.  Well, I had plenty of those days in the past 2 1/2 yrs. and I still didn't schedule a massage. 

Finally last week, I decided to try something totally new.  I am so glad I did.  For one, I found a coupon for $10 off a service I'd never tried before.  That did it!  I called and asked about a few different facials they offered.  After finding one that offered a hand, foot and scalp massage along with the customized facial.  I scheduled the 85 mins. of pure bliss!

Seriously, I had NO idea it would be as theraputic and aaahhh..mazing as it was!  The entire experience was incredible.  There was just one problem, it made me want to do it again. And again. And again.  I could become quite accustomed to the pampering. 

It's not like me to take time out for me.  I feel guilty when I do.  But I am learning to work on that.  This sure helped jumpstart me wanting to take time for me.  Having a giftcard helped too! 

My skin felt incredible.  Let me rephrase that.  My whole body felt incredible.  It was like a massage and facial all in one, really.  I didn't know that I could be so relaxed.  I have NEVER been that relaxed in my life!  Now are you seeing why I want to go back, tomorrow... um, I mean ..... next month?!

For those who KNOW me, you'll never believe what I did when I left.  I had to run some errands before picking the boys up from school. So naturally, I planned ahead and took my make-up with me.  I mean, really... to go out in public without my make-up on.  Uh. NO!  Right???  But.... I did!  I really did!  And ya know what?  I didn't care.  My skin felt so fabulous that I didn't want to put ANYTHING on it.  I didn't even want to be outside with all the impurities in the air.  I know.... a little overboard in my thinking.  But, that's what I was thinking.  So, I ran my errands without a stitch of make-up.  I still can't believe I did it.  No make-up the entire day!  

Want to know what else made the day so amazing?  My sweet Bible Study leader called that morning and said she was bringing us dinner.  So.... I didn't even have to cook!  I got to spend the afternoon/evening relaxing with my boys!  

I think I was spoiled, and I sure did enjoy every. single. minute!

Grace

This is one of my favorite songs!  I could listen to it over and over.  It brings tears to my eyes.  Every. Single. Time.  God's grace... I am so blessed!