Oh goodness!

(Warning: Very random post... very stream of consciousness)

I woke up pretty early this morning.  I always get up a few minutes before Chris so I can gently wake him.  I like the idea of him not having to get up to a screaming alarm clock while I snooze away!  That man works so hard.  While he showers I putter around the house, helping him gather what he needs to start his day and packing his lunch.  Lily (when with us) is usually sound asleep during this morning ritual... peaceful and snug in her bed until her Daddy is ready and goes to wake her gently and carries her all sleepy eyed and in her PJs with wild bed head to the living room for a quick couch snuggle.  It is early and it is simple, but it is one of my favorite times of day.

After everyone is up and off to school I begin my day.  I shower and all those usual things, but then I try to start my mornings slow.  I usually start a load of laundry or empty the dishwasher and then sit down for a quiet moment.  I have been making an effort to spend time in the mornings in the Word and in prayer and then Chris and I share a prayer via email.  This morning was particularly peaceful.  The sun was streaming in the windows, inviting me outside to see the bright sun rays dancing off glittery dew on the grass!

It was goodness all around me and I wish I could have bottled it up!

The potted basil plant that drove me crazy all summer trying to flower, has been let go.  And today the flowers weren't irritating, they were beautiful in the bright sun and the smell of basil filled the air around the back door.

While outside I picked some tomatoes.  This is a picture of one of Lily's favorite lunches!  :-)  That girl LOVES tomatoes.  Another one of my favorite things to do is to pack Chris' and Lily's lunches.  I get simple pleasure from cutting sandwiches into shapes and writing notes on napkins.  Little things to make lunch time a little more special in the middle of a busy day make all the difference.

  (Remember, I warned you this was random)

This is my favorite drink now, thanks to my Mom discovering it!  Now that I'm pregnant, I am not consuming caffeine.  It doesn't bother me terribly, but I do miss variety and I miss tea.  I am not an instant tea fan, but we found that Crystal Light makes a decaffeinated lemon tea (above) that is wonderfully bright and refreshing.  I love it!

Speaking of pregnant.  Our busy baby girl is out of control, kicking and flipping and rolling around all day long.  I can now watch my belly and see her move, lol.  I have had more requests for belly pictures.  I did another self-timer picture this morning... this is me... tomorrow I'll be 24 weeks, officially 6 months, wow.  It's going by so fast!

I usually try to do some baking each week so we have something a little special on hand.  This is big for me, because I'm not big on baking... much more of a "home cook."  I'm not great about measuring things exactly, so when baking I have to focus more and don't have as much freedom to tweak recipes to our liking.  Today, no tweaking was needed.  What I am about to share with you is pure goodness... as in "oh my goodness" kind of good!

I decided to try a new recipe.  It's a Pioneer Woman recipes for French Breakfast Puffs.  You can click here for the recipe.

I adapted a little by using a mini muffin pan instead of standard.

They look like plain muffins here, but still good enough to eat.  But the magic comes when you toss them in butter and then roll them in...

...cinnamon sugar.

Oh my goodness!

They literally melt in your mouth.  The inside is so light and fluffy and the outside is sugary and delicious.  They taste like french toast and cinnamon sugar doughnuts, but they are perfect little muffin "puffs."

I had to eat a couple for breakfast.  I put some back for this weekend.  And here comes the best part.  According to the recipe, they freeze and reheat wonderfully.  So... away half the batch goes into the freezer for a cold day when we need a "special" breakfast.

I strongly encourage you to treat yourself to these yummy treats!