Just call me Becca Stewart

I have some things going on right now in my life that are very emotionally taxing. So, in order to help keep my mind off things, I have turned to baking. Yes, I have always LOVED to bake, cookies and cakes mostly. But now, I am baking everything I can. I have become quite the Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray.
We had some bananas that were getting too ripe. So I announced to Mike yesterday that while he was at school tonight I was going to make banana bread.

"You know how to make banana bread?"

"Yeah, it isn't that hard!"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Probably because then he would always want me to make that kind of stuff. Maybe because I like to feel like I am the modern bride who can cook dinner but isn't little miss crafts, cooking and such.
So after posting on facebook that I was thinking of making banana bread, my friend Jennette (who was like a second mom to me through high school) sent me a new banana bread recipe to try. It has peanut butter and chocolate chips in it. MIKE LOVES IT!
So I thought I would share the recipe with all of you:

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

3 eggs
2 c sugar
1/2 c oil
1/2 c peanut butter
2 large bananas
1 TB vanilla
3 c flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 TB cinnamon

1 1/2 c chocolate chips

Beat eggs until light and foamy. Add sugar, oil, peanut butter, bananas and vanilla.
Mix well. Add flour sifted together with salt, baking soda, baking powder and
cinnamon. Mix. Add in Chocolate chips. Pour into 2 greased and lightly floured loaf pans. Bake at 325 for about 1 hour.

I actually found that I had to bake it for more like 1 hr and 15 minutes and then it still was a little too soft (the top sunk a little) but it was very good! (According to Mike. I honestly am not a peanut butter person but he really wanted me to try this recipe.)

I have also made a devils food cake. I have been doing all sorts of crafty things around the house. I have been cleaning like crazy too. Last night I came up with some cool Chicken Nacho concoction. At least it is keeping my mind busy!

More 4th of July Pictures

My sister Cathi just brought me a cd of the pictures her and my niece Danielle took during the 4th of July weekend. They took them, I had a little fun in photoshop with them. But, they should get all the credit for capturing such great photos.

The above shot was taken by Danielle (to my knowledge). All I really did was a little cropping and for fun played with the saturation. These are 2 of my cousins kids. The girl in front is the daughter of Liz, and the girl behind is Liz's brother's (Mike I think) girl.

The shot above was a good shot, but the subject was not that great. Cathi, Danielle, Gregg and Mike and I camped at Massacre Rocks (NEVER AGAIN!) that night. I was walking the trails in the morning taking photos when Danielle spied me, called my name and snapped a picture. All I did was crop this one.

My sister Cathi is who I believe took this picture at Massacre Rocks. I just cropped it and played with the color a little. Was probably better in color but I don't know.

Normally, I wouldn't play around with these photos, but I have led a pretty boring life since Sienna went home and don't have any photos of my own to play with.

Way In Advance But Looking for Suggestions

Mike and I are planning on returning South this winter. Most likely to Texas! YAY! Since our friends in Texas will probably be moving next summer, this will also most likely be our last visit. At least for a while. So I have a list of things I want to do and want suggestions if anybody else knows what we should not miss. They live in San Antonio. We did go last year and we have been to River Walk, La Valitta, Alamo, Six Flags, Zoo, and Sunken Gardens. I do hope to go to the Riverwalk again and the Tower of the Americas. Here are some new things I want to do and am looking for other suggestions. (We also hope to head over to Galveston for a few days)

Natural Bridge Caverns

Moody Gardens (in Galveston)

Institute of Texan Cultures (I love these types of places)

The Missions

I am very open to anything but really enjoy taking in the architecture and culture of an area. If we don't make it to Texas, we still hope to make it down to the south, but of course, we are hoping it is Texas since we really miss the Bolanders.

The Final Crossing

Mike and I took his niece, Sienna, with my sisters- Joyce, Carma, and Amanda- and my parents, to the Three Island Crossing in Glenn's Ferry. It is the 24th and final crossing as the volunteers are getting to old and the crossing is pretty dangerous. We felt very blessed to be able to go. We have been wanting to go for a few years but have always ended up being out of town during the crossing.

They started across the Snake River at the top of the mountain and came down.

The first part was on the Sandbars so it looked deep but it really wasn't.

When it got to the deep part the people in the wagon would stand in the middle to help keep it steady. Then they tied ropes around the wagon for the people on horses to help keep it from tipping. Eventually even the driver of the wagon got inside. Sienna was amazed at the horses swimming and the wagon floating.

WooHoo! They made it! There were no problems with the crossing this year!

Carma snapped a shot of the rest of us sitting in our seats right at the bank of the river by where they came out.

Got to love camera remotes. Here is one of the entire group in front of the Snake River.

Afterward, we went over and Sienna got to play in the wagons, pet the horses and we looked around. We were stopped by a reporter who asked us questions about what we thought about the crossing. It was a lot of fun and I am glad we made it. Even though it was pretty cool out and the bugs were awful. (This is a weird cold front, Friday's high temp was 59.)

Unfortunately, our time with Sienna is coming to an end. We have to take her home tomorrow. We have really enjoyed having her these last 2 weeks. From making a belt, coloring, going to Yellowstone and Mike and her Wrestling while I edit, and post, photos it has been a lot of fun!

Yellowstone and Henry's Fork of the Snake River

This week, Mike and I took his mom and his niece Sienna to Yellowstone. Neither of them had been before so it was fun to take them through the park. We left Thursday at 4 am in the morning. We made a stop at my sister Joyce's house to drop off our stuff and then we headed to Yellowstone. The first day we did the more touristy things, like Old Faithful and the Lower and Upper Falls.

(Sorry if the pics aren't that great. I used the small point & shoot and then it got a little wet on the raft and I had to do a lot of work to recover the pictures from it. Only a few are from my SLR camera)



Sienna & Kathe at Old Faithful



While driving, we stopped at Yellowstone Lake and walked on the Sandbar that goes out in the lake.








Day 2 (Friday) We drove up to Mammoth hoping to see bears. (No such luck)
Then we went to Tower and then to Artist Point.



Artist Point



Sienna & Mike at Artist Point

Then Saturday Morning we went with Joyce and rented a raft to take on Henry's Fork of the Snake River. It was a lot of fun, even though I missed covering my back with sunscreen and got a BAD sunburn.



Above: Joyce & Sienna
Below: Me with Sienna






Mike and Sienna in the raft


All the women in the raft. Mike was DROWNING in a sea of estrogen. LOL

Sienna in the raft

After we finished the river we went back, ate lunch, packed up and headed home. All in all it was a great time and we are looking forward to having Sienna here for another week.

5 Things to Be Happy About in August

I am really enjoying making these lists. I even have to hold back from doing them more often than once a month. I may have to start throwing them in here and there. Here is my "official" list for August.

1. Family Time (even if vacationing together can be a little stressful)
2. Fudge Ice Cream Bars....yummy
3. Summer school being done...a true month break!
4. The Fair...what is better than cotton candy, rides, and a free concert.
5. Being able to float the Boise River without it being too cold.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! We sure have enjoyed it this year. Even though Mike has had school I think this is one of the best summers we have had in a while, mostly because he is free Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember to keep cool and drink plenty of H2O!