best oatmeal ever.

we love oatmeal. 

remember our favorite oatmeal raisin cookie oatmeal?

well. it got a summer makeover.

peaches and cream oatmeal:

bob's red mill gluten free oats

cover with water, about an inch above.

add vanilla. salt. cinnamon.

and stevia.

cook.

add fresh sliced peaches.

make sure you smell them 

at the store to get the best ones.

cover with cold rice milk.

and a good bit of good maple syrup.

best oatmeal ever.

one day we ate it for all three meals.

smoothie smoothers.

banana smoothie smoothers are our go to for an upset tummy.

banana. rice milk. grated ginger. ice. and a bit of agave.

perfect for nervous tummies. tummy bugs. and growing bellies.

goodbye 2011.

2011 was an awesome year.

we had 365 days of laughing. crying. and love.

in january we celebrated our home's first birthday.

made an art wall. and silhouettes.

february we celebrated a dairy free valentines.

received mail from yoda. 

and figured out how to be the best wife ever.

march brought beach days. 

our chicken's first eggs. 

and the making of the best little picture book for kiddos.

then we went on the best trip ever.

fell in love with the the farm. the land. and the lambs.

april was spent on the porch. or at the beach. and in the sun.

in may we spent breakfast. lunch. and dinner. with mickey mouse.

and trent rode thunder mountain!

my fave family video yet.

june meant summer. 

the most wonderful time of year!

swimming lessons. lila's little girl room makeover. and a super cute craft.

july brought the best fourth birthday. 

a MUD RACE!

and the making of our family rules.

august filled up with playground reviews.

water days. and a very important birthday girl.

we made the best toy ever. out of a red wagon.

we finished out the summer,

reviewing the rest of the area parks.

and having lots of dance parties. and family dates.

we had our back to school feast.

and went back to school.

and then trent became a tornado.

then our dear abbey came over to take pictures of our everyday.

tea party pictures. story time pictures. playtime pictures.

october took us to the pumpkin patch.

many more days of me starring at my babies while they sleep.

and luke and leia went to school.

we put a spin on halloween with reverse trick-or-treating.

then tom and I went on our honeymoon.

hosted a bridal blessing.

and celebrated my most favorite day ever.

and trent sand this awesome remix.

december was perfection.

we made snow globes. 

a star wars christmas shirt. 

and had a gingerbread contest.

we took the kids glide skating too!

and then lost most of our friends when we wrote about 

the santa situation.

yes, 365 days of true burket style fun.

we couldn't feel more blessed about 2011.

and are excited to see what God has planned for 2012.

cookie party.

our gigi invited us and over for a cookie party.

the cookies were made. and ready for decorating when we arrived.

the tables were filled with (dairy free) confections to cover the cookies.

everyone had different techniques and skills.

some enjoyed eating more than sprinkling.

nothing went to waste.

no cookie. sprinkle. or crumb, was left behind.

lila did make one cookie.

a touch of frosting and just a bit of green sprinkles.

my kind of girl.

then we were off to take the normal looking cookies to the neighbors.

a joyful night spreading sprinkles and love to those nearby.

and then the sugar kicked in.

white christmas.

christmas celebrating is in full swing.

and our fave family advent activity is christmas movie + popcorn.

newmans own organic plain popcorn. and a bit of melted "butter".

into the butter we add one packet of stevia and a bit of garlic powder.

drizzle butter over popcorn and sprinkle with salt.

enjoyed best in jammies. on the couch. with the crew.

and every blanket, pillow, and stuffed animal.

our fave christmas movies:

a muppet family christmas. elf. elmo's christmas countdown.

the grinch. the wonderpets save the nutcracker. prep and landing.

charlie brown. the santa clause. home alone. 

the holiday. love actually. and christmas vacation.

no tricks. just treats.

the day is finally here.

we couldn't be more excited.

our pumpkin shirts are made.

halloween hats crafted.

cool weather here.

pumpkin muffins baked ruined. it's now tradition.

we are ready for halloween night.

this year we are starting a new tradition.

reverse trick or treating

we packaged up (store bought) baked goodies.

homemade muffins just didn't happen. see above.

and packets of mulled cider.

and we will be taking the kids around our hood

to pass out treats to the neighbors.

a much sweeter take on trick-or-treating.

then when we return there will be some surprise goodies for the babes.

(wax lips. pumpkin pop rocks. and mom's birthday cake.)

perfect for kids with allergies and training those little hearts.

happy halloweenie ya'll.

dairy free guide to halloween.

ever since trent's sad thanksgiving

I have loosened up on my ban of sugar. coloring. and artificial food rules.

well just for a few days a year.

we fill our mason jars with tangerine jelly belly's.

sour gummy pumpkins.

and candy corn. that's a vegetable right?

I can give you a whole post on why we love these.

and always have them on hand. no holiday needed.

Divvies has chocolate ghost.

for the kids class parties, I make up a box with 

orange or otherwise festive treats.

carrots and hummus.

cantaloupe (skipping this year)

ants on a log, with candy corn and raisins.

and babycakes pumpkin muffins.

we sip hooker tea fall classic.

yes it's decaf. 

or my new love, pear cider.

and for the pre trick or treating fuel up it's

white chicken chili. with roasted butternut squash and arugula salad.

for a very special treat, Udi's bakery makes cinnamon rolls.

perfect for a saturday morning pre-playground treat.

note: as a teacher, I would never recommend you give your child these before school.

and you're welcome teachers of america.

here's to a happy dairy free halloweenie!