The Wilkes Team

One thing I really like about having a big family is all the fun things we can do together. Doing things together helps make good relationships. Our brothers, sisters, and parents should be our best friends.

A little while ago while Mommy and Daddy were out on a date, we decided to have an ice cream contest. Everyone had to make something with ice cream and all types of yummy stuff like chocolate chips, ice cream cones, marshmallows, nuts, craisins, marshmallow cream, and other things. We had to build quickly so our ice cream would not melt.

Then, starting with Markie and going all the way up to Joshua, each one picked their favorite ice cream creation. The part I liked best was eating the ice cream .

8 Comments » | posted in Family News, Sunny-Side Up

Being apart of the Wilkes team calls for excitment, laughter, adventures, and team work!!! And this last Thursday was no exception . Dad and the boys are helping to put on a camp out for their Alert Cadet Squad this weekend. To complete the final preparations Dad decided to go down a day earlier and camp out.  Everyone went along to help set up.

From Thursday on, the forecast called for rain. Yet, Thursday was beautiful, clear skies and a delightful breeze. We were so successful working around the property that afternoon and praising the Lord that it was not raining, that no one thought to set the tent up right away. 

About half way throught dinner ( which was around 8:00pm ) we looked up and to our astonishment huge dark clouds were rolling our way! I wish I had a picture of it. It looked like a massive wave rolling towards us!!! We JUMPED to our feet and yelled “the TENT!!” “We don’t have it set up yet and the rain is almost here!! HURRY EVERYBODY!!!!”

Everyone pitched in, and we began to set the tent. While some were setting the tent others were putting all the camping gear under cover so it would not get wet, as well as putting dinner away. We kept looking up and that BIG wave was coming closer! Suddenly the wind began to pick up! Now do you know how hard it is to set a tent in real gusty wind? It is near impossible, but with Dad’s wisdom and guidance we began to see progress.

THEN it happened! The huge wave was upon us! It started raining. We still did not have the rain fly up so all the camping gear that was in the tent began to get wet, as well as all of US!! We began working even fast which just encouraged the rain to fall even faster . By this time we just started laughing, we couldn’t belive what we had gotten ourselves into!

We finally got everything in order by 10:00 pm that evening.  We learned a valuble lesson that night to not take sunny weather for granted  But good work Wilkes team! It was a blessing to see everyone work with such enthusiasm in such extreme circumstances! It was definantly a night we all will not forget!

11 Comments » | posted in Family News, Outdoor Adventures, Sunny-Side Up

Ladies and gentlemen, we have an official anouncement to make! Though it cannot be traced back to an official date of origination, February 23rd hosts a number of special yearly traditions. Perhaps some of these not so well known yearly holidays were begun by eager farmers who were in great need of selling their crops (ie. National Potato Day or National Carrot Day ) or maybe by those with too much time on their hands (…….no comment please ). Nevertheless, February 23rd stands as official ‘Banana Bread Day.’

Our local weatherman, who we call up almost daily to hear his recorded daily forecast, informed us of today’s holiday early this morning. So in the spirit of good family fun and memory making, our favorite cook, Mom, baked up another one of her famous batches of banana bread (in the form of delectable, quaint muffins). So, with that said, my 4 favorite cooks would like to share one of their favorite recipies for Banana Bread! We’re sure you will enjoy!

Sunrise Banana Muffins (taken from one of Mom’s favorite cook books, the “No-Guesswork Cooking.”)

1. 3 Medium bananas (1 3/4 C. mashed)
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2. 2 Eggs
3. 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
4. 1/3 Cups Oil
5. 1/2 cup of honey (we actually did without on this today)
6. 2 Tbsp Buttermilk (this actually equals 1oz!)
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7. 2 cups whole wheat flour
8. 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
9. 1/2 tsp Salt
10. 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
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11. 1/4 cup Pecans (for those who prefer a more crunchy and nutty taste)

Now, Add all the wet ingredients (section 2) to your mashed bananas. In a seperate bowl combine the dry ingredients and then add to liquid mixture. Mix with a spoon until smooth. If using nuts, fold them into the batter at this time. Then divide the batter into greased muffin pans and bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Fun, A-peal-ing Banana Tid Bits:

Did you know that the banana is actually the world’s largest herb, and is a member of the lily family? (Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow…)

For some timely advice on storing bananas, please visit our favorite family blog site, www.staddonfamily.com and go to the Banana Post!

May you enjoy many more fun Banana Bread Days!

Scrumptously Yours, The Wilkes Team cooks……and their eager supporters! “…every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

 For more exciting information and pictures of the banana plant, go to Dole5ADay.

6 Comments » | posted in Recipes, Sunny-Side Up