I’m getting dressed today when Brook walks into my bathroom and asks what we are going to do today…
Me: “We are going to go and buy new bedding for you bedroom.”
Brook: “No thank you, it doesn’t sound like fun.”
Me: “But, it’s for your bedroom…we will have fun.”
Brook: (Rolls her eyes while saying this) “Shopping is boring Mom.”
Spoken like a true four year old!
There is a Newman tradition that I believe started with Travis when he was a baby…I might have to get my facts straight on that one. Oh and since I just put all of his baby pictures on disk…you’ve got it…here is a baby picture of my hubby!
Travis When He Was a Baby
So…yes, he was an amazingly cute baby and you can see his red hair already! And also, my children look exactly like him…I know this and now you do too!
Back to my story…
I believe Grandpa Newman started a tradition of giving the baby their first taste of ice cream. He was delighted to see the faces of the babies as they discover the wonderful new flavor and texture of this famous desert. What started with Travis continues into the next generation! Brook was given her first taste of ice cream on Thanksgiving of 2005. It was her first turkey day and the first day she learned ice cream is good.
Brook at 4 Months Trying Ice Cream for the First Time
So fast forward to this past Thanksgiving. The tradition has continued and Grandpa Jay gave Blake his very first bite of ice cream.
Blake Having His First Bite of Ice Cream
Both kids liked this tradition, although I think both of them were a little wierded out by the coldness of the dessert. The fact that both of them tried ice cream for the first time on Thanksgiving is completely coincidental. It’s just that this is a family event and since all the family likes to witness this tradition, Thanksgiving seems the appropriate time. We were also able to get a picture of four generations of Newman boys…this is a great shot!
Four Generations of Newman Men
Grandpa Newman couldn’t resist giving Blake a few bites of ice cream also…
I’m not going to wish life away, but I must admit that one day, when it’s Travis’s turn to give the ice cream to the grandchildren, I’ll fondly look back and remember when my babies had their turn…
Gotta love traditions 
Inevitably there are banana’s in everyone’s house that reach an expiration date before they are eaten. And if you aren’t making banana pancakes, you are going to probably want to throw them into bread. I know for a fact that I am not recreating the wheel on this one, but it was a fun morning project that Brook and I could do together. The greatest part about baking with your child is there are so many parts of the process that you can include them in. All the measuring, pouring, mixing, etc., is very child friendly. It’s much more child friendly to bake something with them, then have them help with main dishes. Although, she is practicing her knife skills, she is still just a little too young for the stove and she can only chop “soft” foods…so, for now Brook and I are bakers together. Here is our creation…
Easy to Make Banana Bread...
Easy Banana Bread
1 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
2 – In a medium-mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix with a fork to incorporate ingredients and set aside.
3 – In another mixing bowl, cream the brown sugar and butter. Cream for about 3 minutes. Then slowly add the eggs into the mixture and continue to beat. Finally, add the mashed banana and vanilla and mix to combine.
4 – Slowly beat in the flour into the wet mixture…only adding 1/3 of the mixture at a time. Beat until incorporated, add second part of flour mixture, beat until incorporated, beat in remaining flour. Fold in Walnuts and then pour batter into the loaf pan.
5 – Bake in the preheated oven for 60 – 70 minutes or until a toothpick is clean when inserted in the center of the loaf. Let the bread cool for about 10 minutes, then invert it and let it cool the rest of the way.
As always, make some cooking memories with your kids and…
Happy Eating!
Taking a Bite Out Of Fresh Buttered Banana Bread...
Brook's Halloween Art.
Okay, I know I am bragging, but she drew this all on her own! I asked her if it was a picture of her with her Jack o’Lantern and she told me that it wasn’t her, but it was a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch with a scarecrow protecting it.
I totally see it!
This year we chose to try to get out of the heat of Phoenix and go up North to a Pumpkin Farm. I found a couple in Chino Valley which is near Prescott and while it was cooler, it was still not very “Autumn” like. We were going to go to Freeman Farms, which actually is a pumpkin farm, but they were no longer letting you go out into the pumpkin field to pick your own pumpkin and that was the only draw to that farm in my opinion. So, instead we went to the Windmill Farm Pumpkin Festival and we had a blast! They are actually a nursery and event facility, but they do a really nice job transforming their property to a Harvest Festival.
Brook in the Pumpkin Area of Windmill Farms
They had an area where you could buy food and sit and listen to some live music and toss some horseshoes…
The Live Music and Windmill Farms
Brook and Travis Playing Horseshoes
Blake had fun discovering what pumpkins were and understanding the texture of hay…
Blake in the Pumpkin Patch
We tried to get a good family photo in the pumpkin patch, but with two kids, it’s kind of hard…
The Newman's Picking Pumpkins
They had a hay ride, a “train ride” and pony rides…Notice Brook and her cowgirl hat…I tell you she has gone Country
Brook on the "Train" Ride
People Getting Off the Hayride
Brook Riding the Pony
All in all it was a great family day and a great first pumpkin patch experience for Blake. I will admit that the Midwest is a much better place for the Harvest Festivals, but this one was great and it was very rustic, country, cowboy Arizona like.
It was worth the drive and I can see us trying to go even further up North next year…maybe Flagstaff?
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Blake and I at the Pumpkin Festival
