Got Zucchini?

Need something to do with all that zucchini from your garden this year? I am usually a super healthy baker, but if you are feeling like me about the abundance of zucchini, I have just the solution:

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Combine and set aside.

3 eggs
1 cup sugar (a little less)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 tsp pure vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 oz melted unsweetened baking chocolate (2 blocks or if you don't have baking chocolate: 6 TB baking cocoa melted with 1 TB plain shortening)
2 cups zucchini

Combine and add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour into greased and floured baking pans (regular or mini.) Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 40-50 minutes. Delicious!

I am not sure where I found the recipe, but I have modified it to my liking anyway. Hope you enjoy your zucchini now! ;)

ScEnTsy!

I always love what Scentsy releases, but this month's Warmer and Scent of the Month have really impressed me. Both items came just yesterday and my whole family loves them! Tangerine Tango fragrance is unbeatable! When I saw the Surf's Up warmer I just knew my boys would love it. Not only is it super cool, but the surf boards are embossed making its quality impressive. It looks great in my boys' room and enhances the 'new look' they are going for!

If you haven't heard of Scentsy, you can check it out HERE!

Everything this month is 10% off and my website also includes the Discontinued List as we are getting ready for the new fall catalog.

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter that includes specials and sales, please leave me your email address!

Aelizia'a Baby Blessing

This is my brother, Beege. He is awesome! He and Laralei just had their first baby girl, Aelizia Laralei Jensen, last month and she was blessed surrounded by family last week. She is a beautiful little baby and we are so excited to welcome her! Here are some pics from the family dinner we had that day.

Grandma and Grandpa Church, Dad and Mom Jensen, Brian with Laralei and Aelizia (or Tink) Jensen.

Cousins Nia, Justis, and Avery enjoying some dessert.

Cousins Natalie (Steen and Katie's little girl) and Aelizia snuggling on the floor.


Katie with darling long, tall Natalie!


Zack and Maxwell become buds real fast! This look must be a 10-year-old thing.

Ryan and Daniel being such good boys downstairs!

Princess cousins Megan, Nia, Avery, and Madi! They could not get enough fun together!

Andi, Steen, Tommy, Peter, and Katie chatting in the cool WA breeze.

The guys stuffed full before dessert!

Madi and Alex enjoying dinner on the deck.

Peter and Alexis on the deck after dinner.

Matthew and Emily enjoying Mom's awesome lasagna! It was a beautiful day outside made even better by the gathering of family to welcome such a sweet little girl into the family. We love you, little Tink, and we are so excited to have you with us!

Visiting the Yorks!

Each summer we take a trip to WA to visit friends and family. It is always a highlight of the summer! Here is my nephew, Lyncoln. He has tons of energy and makes the perfect Home Alone face...he looks just like Macaulay Culkin!

My brother, Brad, is quite the aspiring photographer and is getting really great at it! He sure has grown up a lot!

Here is my brother, Mike, pushing his son, Lyncoln, around their new home in Washougal, WA.

Avery and cousin Renae posing in the wading pool. It was 109 degrees that day! It was a record high for the Vancouver area. We were happy to be a part of it!

Thank you, Grandpa York and Bandaid Grandma, for the fun BBQ, Christmas in July, and bandaids! We love you and can't wait to see you again!

Avery Turns Five!

Our baby is now a big girl! Avery turned five on August 3rd while we were visiting family in WA. Zachary got up super early to make her cinnamon rolls for her birthday breakfast. I was very impressed with his thoughtfulness and Avery LOVED the fruits of his early morning labor.

Avery got her ears pierced! She was amazingly brave as the girl at Claire's did one ear at a time. Avery barely flinched! She chose some darling little studs (the same that cousin Nia chose when she got her ears pierced on her 5th birthday) that sparkle just right!

We found a Lego store at the Washington Town Square in OR. We didn't even know those existed! Owen and Justis were in heaven after all that time in the earring store.

Avery loves sour gummy worms so her cake was surrounded by them. She had such a great day! Here she is with Justis, Nia, and Owen.

I can't believe my baby is five! I took time in the morning before all the hustle and bustle of the day started to snuggle her in bed and tell her all about the day she was born. I can still feel the softness of her cheeks and the smell of her long, fluffy dark hair. Happy birthday, Princess, you sure are a good girl!

Princess Party

Avery has been invited to the neighborhood Princess Party! There are two amazing young women in our neighborhood who put fun things on for the kids in the area each summer. She has been looking forward to this for weeks! She isn't Cinderella or Snow White, but I like the Poodle Princess look!

Corn Kids

Today we are going to Grandma Morgan's for dinner- one of our favorite things to do! Grandma had us pick up six dozen ears of corn yesterday at the farmer's market for today's dinner...Uncle Kevin is coming and he will probably eat at least half of that (I kid, I kid!) The kids wanted to get the corn ready for Grandma so they had a corn shucking party in the backyard. As you can see from the photos, they got a little creative as they neared the 50th ear of corn. Have I ever mentioned how much I love having a little girl? ;)