Perfect Blueberry Muffins

To me, this is the blueberry muffin recipe to end all blueberry muffin recipes. The ingredients are easy, (and besides the blueberries) I almost always have them on hand. The batter is delicious and thick. Once the muffins bake, they're moist and flavorful. And the crunchy sugar on top makes them restaurant quality without being overly sweet.

Here's what you need:

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk (I use 2% or whole)

2 cups blueberries

raw turbinado sugar 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, vanilla, and milk. 

Add the flour mixture just until combined, and then gently stir in the blueberries. Pour the batter into your muffin tin. (I find that the recipe makes a few more than 12.)

Sprinkle each muffin with about a teaspoon of raw turbinado sugar.

Put in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

And repeat as often as desired ;)

It's a GIRL!!

We went in for our 21-week ultrasound a few weeks ago, and we were as nervous and excited as anyone could ever be! We decided not to find out the gender in the office. I knew I would be very emotional either way, and I wanted to be able to process it privately. The baby's feet were crossed, so we weren't sure if the tech was getting a good look. But she wrote down the sex and put it in an envelope for us to open later. The baby looked very healthy and normal, praise God! All three boys were with us to see the baby on the screen, which was a neat experience for them.

So, we made it as far as our favorite park across the street from the doctor's office, and we opened up the envelope! Inside was a photo of the baby, and it said "It's a girl!" We were thrilled! The boys were elated too, as a girl was their guess/wish all along.

Stephen and I were shocked for several days, and part of me wanted to go back to the office and make them double check. But now, I'm trusting that it really is a girl, and I'm getting so excited!

Having three boys has been amazing, and we are so happy that now we get to experience having a daughter as well. It really is an answer to prayer.

This pregnancy so far has been exactly like my first three, dispelling any old wives' tales of feeling more sick with baby girls, or carrying higher, or craving more sweets. I am so grateful for this little life inside me. . .  this baby girl who is already such a gift to us.

 

My cousin Lindsay and her husband Chris sent us these flowers soon after we found out, which was so sweet! Lindsay and Chris have three boys and a girl, too. :)

Looking forward to May!

xo.

August is two!

At the beginning of January, we celebrated August turning TWO years-old!! How can that be?? His birthday comes so soon after Christmas and New Year's, which makes it a hard time for us to plan a party, but we settled on a Little Blue Truck theme, and I think it turned out pretty cute :)

We had a chocolate cake with raspberry filling and whipped cream frosting, and also baked ham and cheese sandwiches, plenty of chips, meringues, and devil's food donuts.

Our fam of five.

 

When his cousins came over, August was so excited to show them the party table, especially pointing at the cake. As always, all the kids played hard and had a great time!

It's never easy to get a photo with a two-year-old!

It was a really fun party, and we ended it by popping a giant "what's the gender of the baby?" black balloon. Pink confetti everywhere!

The next day was his actual birthday, which we spent at church and out to lunch with friends. Then back at home, we played with his new PJ Masks figurines and sang happy birthday again with some leftover cake!

 

 August is such a joy! He thrives off of the energy of his brothers, and he loves making us laugh. When he gives me his squinty-eyed smile, with the dimples that make me melt, I would buy him anything he wants in the world. He is all boy - loves cars, trains, puppies, throwing balls, playing drums or piano, and he has just entered that word-explosion phase, which is so fun to watch. Love you to the moon and back, baby boy! May you grow in wisdom and stature and love for Jesus!

xo.

Wrapping up 2018

We had such a full December, and I'm ending the month feeling very happy about all that we were able to fit in to our Christmas season. We've left up our tree and decor to enjoy for just a while longer. I don't want to rush to put away all the twinkling lights and the greenery, though I am ready to organize and put away all the new toys that came into our house! :)  Here are our December highlights:

Snowman Peeps in homemade hot chocolate . . . a tasty way to start the Christmas season!

At the beginning of the month, Home Depot had a project to build Santa's sleigh and reindeer, which the boys loved.

We went to President Benjamin Harrison's home for the first time. It's a 10,000 sq ft mansion that was beautifully decorated for Christmas. They even had actors reenacting Harrison and his wife Caroline on Christmas Day 1888.

When big brother gets a new winter coat, everyone has to try it on :)

We went to the Santa Lucia Fest and had a great time! The boys met Jultomten, ate Pepparkakor cookies, and listened to Christmas songs sung in Swedish.

Steve's university threw a Christmas party, complete with real reindeer to pet!

After dinner, the line to see Santa went down, and the boys gave him their wishlists!

Matching Christmas jammies, 2018 edition! I love this photo!

 My friend Lindsay and I went to a Christmas tea at her church, and it was a lovely morning.

 

August is always trying to steal my drinks and food!

We haven't had any significant snow yet this year, but August is ready with his Lightning McQueen boots!

The library has a program where kids can read to therapy dogs. Nolan and Ephraim loved doing this!

Not many other kids showed up, so they read to their dogs for nearly an hour!

I made Dala horse gingerbread cookies, and August became pretty obsessed with eating the "neigh neigh" cookies. :)

We also built a gingerbread A-frame cabin from Trader Joe's. It turned out really cute, and August was intent on eating it.

It's always a great feeling when the Christmas cards are done and mailed out!

 

Our Christmas photo - thanks to Phil for taking it for us!

  

Ephraim's always offering to open his afternoon snack shop for his ever-hungry mama.

The Friday before Christmas, we headed to Pennsylvania to celebrate with our families, and we were there for over a week.

I won this book from my friend Heidi's Instagram, and it is the cutest Christmas book! The illustrations are beautiful.

Mormor and Papa Don took us to Mary Poppins Returns, and August sat completely still throughout the entire thing - a Christmas miracle!

Nolan and Ephraim have been singing the songs nonstop since we saw the movie!

We had lunch with our friends, the Yohes. Carol made a completely kid-friendly meal of dinosaur chicken nuggets, pizza tater-tot casserole, fries, strawberries, and ice cream sundaes :)

The boys share a full size bed at Mormor's house, and every night, I would find them in these adorable cuddling positions!

It was too funny!

On Christmas Eve, Steve and I sat in the same spot we got engaged 10 years before :)

August REALLY wanted to hold his own candle at the Christmas Eve service. He did not want me holding it at all, which meant he screamed through half of Silent Night, and I was left with this sweet photo :)

We had a Christmas Eve dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, rice pudding, and French Silk pie.

 I snapped this photo of the four brothers and their dad playing a game and never looking more alike.

Relaxing after the big rush of gift-opening.

The whole Zimm gang!

 Traditional Christmas Day lunch with cousins!

All of the activity of Christmas week was really tiring for this little guy!

 

 While we were in PA, I reached the 20 week mark of my pregnancy! I can't believe we're over halfway to meeting this little baby, and I wonder who he or she is going to be!

Grandma made brownies to celebrate August's birthday a little early at their house. He loved being sung to!

I finished my 2018 goal to read the Bible in a year! I wrote a quick post about books here.

 

 These were my "Top Nine" most-liked photos of the year. Looking back, we had such a great year. The two biggest things were buying our first home and finding out about baby four!

Here's to a fresh start in 2019!!!