Grandparents are everywhere!! M is having a blast. My parents came back to visit for a quick trip this weekend. I can’t believe it’s been over a month since they were here last! Time’s a flyin’.
Grammie Buzz liked holding him in his marshmallow peep blanket at breakfast! [Next thing I know she’ll be feeding him peeps for breakfast!!]
Meanwhile, I worked on oatmeal!
Mom requested “oatmeal with a lot of toppings.” Whipped pear oatmeal (just a chopped pear added in the beginning and stirred around) with Autumn Spice Granola, pumpkin butter and Barney Butter.
Poor little pumpkin! This onesie was handmade by a local artisan and a gift from our neighbors.
After breakfast and baths, we all went on a long walk
About 3 miles in the gorgeous fall weather. M liked his stroller the whole time!
Cville is having peak tree beauty right now!
When we returned it was already time for lunch, and instead of going out we decided to use up all of the leftovers in our fridge.
Matt made me this salad – greens, hummus, bread cubes, Apple Scrapple, leftover tofu + eggplant
We hung out at home for the afternoon, playing with the baby and things before we headed over to our neighborhood association’s fall picnic!
Box of Great Harvest sweets in tow
While there we nibbled on some snacks – cheese + crackers – and met some neighbors.
We planned a simple dinner because we knew we had snacks before and desserts after!
No Bull Burgers topped with arugula and condiments
On Rosemary Garlic Buns!
And those delicious canned green beans. So easy to serve!
For dessert mom brought an angel food cake for my birthday!!! [I am turning THIRTY on Friday, 10/26!]
Baby blue on the inside to commemorate such a fun 29th year. Also Duke’s football win over Carolina (yeehaw!) Lots of whipped cream on top!
Happy early birthday song
Karen came over with her friend Mary and brought an apple pie, so our group dug into both. It was a sweet night.
Allie@LiveLaughEat says
That FACE!!! Awwww. GO DUUUUUUUKE!!!! Did you watch the game?! Holy moly.
Jeri says
A fellow scorpio!?! Yay!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Happy Early Birthday! I just turned 32 this past weekend. The carrot onesie brings back lots of memories – my son came home from the hospital wearing the same one.
Jordan says
Happy birthday! You look great in the walk photos!
Mazen looks uncomfortable there…poor little guy. Does he not like the camera? (I could see the flash bothering little eyes…) Still a cutie, though.
KathEats says
No flash… He doesn’t like putting on clothes. He’s been sooooo much happier this weekend though! 6 week miracle?
Jordan says
Lol, a nudist in training? 😉 Glad to hear he’s happier!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
Growing up I always asked for angel food cake for my birthdays! I hope you have a great one!
Jeri says
Oh I forgot to add. Only a 1.6 pound loss this month. I think it was the beer. LOL! Got to get back to walking daily even if for 30 minutes. Time management has been hard this school semester. But I will get back on track. I promise
KathEats says
🙂
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
That’s quite a face little man is sporting with the locally grown apparel! 🙂
I’m on a major pie kick, that apple pie wouldn’t have stood a chance with me. Cute angel food cake!
Kelsey says
Angel food cake is such a yummy dessert! I love it topped with strawberries!
M is looking so big already! Amazing how fast he’s growing. Lucky little guy to have so many loving grandparents!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
I can only imagine how much love y’all experienced this weekend! And Mazen is so stinkin’ adorable!!!
deva by definition says
I love the happy face and the peeps blanket – that’s so adorable! the angel food cake looks divine – love the blue and the fluffy whipped cream.
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
Happy almost birthday! That cake looks amazing! Haha the perfect cake to icing ratio in my opinion!
Ashley @ LibertyBelles says
That cake looks amazing! And Maze is just getting cuter by the day!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Looks like such a fun weekend! Angel food cake is my favorite and a definitely for my birthday! Since I can’t do whipped cream, I top it with seven minute icing…YUM!
Dj says
Hey Kath, love seeing all the updates of M! I will be ready to pop here soon too and have our very own little one (Henry). Love getting all the great info you have, please keep it up! Also happy birthday. My thirty’s have been my favorite so far, pretty sure you’ll have a blast with yours… “Cheers!”
Ashlee says
I love that shirt! Yellow is your color!
Why haven’t I ever thought to make pear oats? I’ve tried every other fruit…Must try that this week!
Alison says
Grandparent Explosion! Love it. We haven’t stopped having grandparent explosions for 7 months! I looked around this weekend and thought, “How weird…we didn’t see a single gradparent all weekend!” (they are 2 hours away…but that usually doesn’t stop them….nor do we mind!) Also, I always forget we share a birthday until this time every year…Happy Birthday week to us!! I have the golden 26th on the 26th this year! Hope you have something fun planned. It is my first as a family of 3 too!
Carly @ Snack Therapy says
Although that cake looks delicious, I’m drooling over the canned green beans! I always forget how tasty they are.
Sandi says
Onesies are the best 🙂
And girl, you are looking great!
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
I turned 30 last year. It wasn’t too bad – 31 was worse for me. 🙂
I’ve always thought babies get cuter with age – more facial expressions and personality. Maze is getting cuter every day. I’m jelaous of your fall colors – ours are all over with now after the windy weekend weather. Boo!
Jess @ JessieBear What Will You Wear says
hahaha someone was not happy in that onesie! Too cute though. Also, I love that plaid shirt. I feel like not many people can pull off the color yellow, but it looks great on you.
Jennifer says
Yes, what is it about canned green beans. They are so good and such a nice change from fresh once in a while.
It looks like the grandparents were just eating Mazen up. 🙂 It’s nice to have the extra help, too. I’m sure they will make a point to come around even more.
The yellow shirt you wore looks really nice. It’s a great color on you.
Our trees are changing so fast up here in PA. One day the tree has green leaves and then overnight they are red and then gone. Amazing and beautiful!
love Cher @ Weddicted says
I love that plaid shirt!
Kristen says
I love that Carolina blue cake! Did you parents bring it up? Love to get one to take to UNC tailgates!
KathEats says
Yeah my mom madeit!
Katrina says
hi kath!
why did you have to wear name tags to the picnic?
also, do you want mazen to go to duke?! that would be so cool!
— best, kat
KathEats says
To learn each others’names! It’s a big neighborhood.
He can go to college wherever he wants!
Laurie says
Start saving now!!!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Wow your comment box is really wide today! Maybe my screen is having a hiccup though. Will refresh in a second…
The cake looks awesome! all that fluffy frosting…I want to dig in, asap 🙂
And love all the grandparents and that Mazen has all this lovin!
Lauren says
I am sure M loved all of the extra attention this weekend. 🙂 He is getting cuter every day.
Cara @ I Don't Believe in Diets says
Happy Birthday!! It looks like such a beautiful day. Mazen even looks adorable when he is angry. love it!
Andrea says
Looks like a wonderful day! I wish we had a neighborhood association. Sounds nice 🙂
Cake question!: Since your mom brought that cake over, how did she cover it without messing up the whipped cream frosting? Or did she wait to frost it until after she uncovered it and it was ready to be eaten?
KathEats says
We whipped the cream and spread it on right before serving
Andrea says
Sounds delicious! And hey, I have one more question (sorry!), but I was wanted to make some baked oatmeal like you did the other day but don’t have enough rolled oats. Do you think quick oats would work?
KathEats says
yes!
Andrea says
Awesome, I will try it out 🙂
the 3volution of j3nn says
Yellow is a great color on you! I think bright colors really complement you. Two desserts and two sets of grandparents, that’s how you kick off a birthday week!! The baby blue angel food cake is so sweet. 🙂
Annette @FitnessPerks says
Fun that the inside is blue!!
Katie says
That yellow shirt looks so pretty on you!
Carrie @ The Cook's Palette says
Love, love, love the “locally grown” onesie! So clever. Also loving all that whipped cream on the cake! Enjoy your birthday week!
Verenique B says
you have some of the best oatmeal bfast and best meals overall on here! where do you come up with all the amazing meal ideas?? i want you to become my personal meal planner!! 😉
so i have started making overnight oats for bfast!! mm amazing!! i am trying to get creative, my creations seem so plain compared to yours though 😉 now in the am when i take my overnight oats out i like to heat it up for almost 2 mints, does that hurt the yogurt in the oats at all??
KathEats says
I think they are fine if you like the texture after the heating
Verenique B says
ok, well cold is good but with this cold weather now i prefer to heat them up 🙂 im very cold naturedf so anyway i can get warm 🙂
Michelle (Peachy Palate) says
Happy Early Birthday! That is an epic looking cake! Do you have anything planned for your big day??
KathEats says
Yes! A fun lunch out and dinner too we think… Possibly solo
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Time away from family when your growing a cutie is tough—- they change so fast that if they don’t see them every other day, the little one is different already! My parents & sister are feeling that right now- so hard to be away. But, it makes the time with them super sweet!
What a great 29th year you’ve had!!! 🙂
Ellen @ Wannabe Health Nut says
What a fun day and night! Maze looks adorable, even when he’s screaming his head off. Love that onesie. And yellow is definitely your color!
Fran@BCDC says
How exciting to have your folks visit again!
Carolyn says
Mazen definitely looks more like you in that first photo!
Jenica says
Happy early birthday! And how fun that you get to have an early cake too. double birthday cakes = double the fun.
Deirdre @ Oh Well Whatever.com says
What a lucky little guy to have so much grandparent love! My parents are gone and husbands parents don’t visit even though his Mom is just one state away…
Few questions for you if you have the time: A) what kind of modifications did you make doing Body Pump classes thru your pregnancy? Would you lie down on your back on the step bench and do presses with the bar? I am guessing being on your back for that short period of time doesn’t matter much. B) Where did you buy good maternity workout clothes?
KathEats says
Here’s a post I did on Body Pump modifications: http://www.babykerf.com/23-weeks-pumping-and-i-dont-mean-my-breasts/
And I just bought a bunch of tank tops at Old Navy and wore my regular shorts. It would have been harder in the winter, I think
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
M looks so comfy in his blanket!! And I love that yellow shirt – you look great.
Shari says
Those trees are just beautiful — such vibrant colors!
Erin says
Mazen looks adorable!! Mama does too! I’m one of those weird people who doesn’t like frosting so that whipped cream is a fantastic idea!
Hillary v says
I noticed you had three butternut squashes on your counter… my method of removing the outside doesn’t work well – how do you get the outside off?
KathEats says
I just use a peeler, and it’s not fun : (
Alyssa says
I nuke the squash in the microwave for about three minutes and then it’s a TON easier to peel without really cooking the inside of the squash at all- works every time!
Hillary v says
Me too! Okay. I thought I was the only one who had trouble using a peeler…
Carolyn says
Wow that macaroni and cheese really lasted a long time! I’m so impressed with the way you are able to stretch your leftovers (and a dollar, I’m sure lol)!! I always get weirded out eating things after 2 or 3 days. lol Happy (almost) birthday!! You cake looks delicious!!
Morgan says
That first photo is absolutely adorable! I thought he was SO cute when he was first born, but he just keeps getting cuter and cuter! Happy early birthday!
robin says
loved the crying picture, those babies can get so mad:)
The Healthy Apple says
Happy almost birthday! You look beautiful and that cake looks amazing! I am so not a cake person but I would totally take a bite of that. So fluffy!!!
Lee says
Sounds like a fun day. Happy early birthday! I really enjoy being in my 30s.
Crystal says
Hi Kath! I’m a longtime reader but have never commented. (I know you get bombarded!) I just wanted to thank you for helping me along in body acceptance journey. I believe in healthy living and that it is a lifestyle and it’s not work when you love yourself and enjoy taking care of your mind and body. So thank you for the daily, monthly, yearly inspiration! It makes more of a difference than I could ever tell you!
KathEats says
Thank you for reading !
Zoe @ loseweightandgainhealth says
I am curious how you prepare the canned green beans. Do you eat them cold or warm them up? If you warm them, how do you warm them?
KathEats says
Warm in the microwave !
lindsay @ Fuel My Famil says
Holy cow I want all that whipped cream on the angel food cake! Birthdays are the best!
Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy says
I love his locally grown onesie (or shirt?). Too cute!
Tami@nutmegnotebook says
What a wonderful weekend! It’s fantastic that the Grandparents can come often to visit. I am right there with you on the green bean addiction. I love green beans, fresh, canned or frozen. I could eat them everyday. Early birthday blessings to you.
Liz says
Happy Birthday early! I turned 30 this year, too (May). I wasn’t totally in love with hitting my 30s, but I’ve adjusted 😉
Nicole says
I LOVE your bright yellow top, so gorgeous! And every time I see Mazen’s little sewn-design onesies it makes me want to get out a sewing machine and go to town on some white onesies! Open an Etsy shop? Oh, gosh, so tempting (yet seems so impossible with a 6-week old!)
Happy Monday! Your eat look fantaaasic, like always. Happy 30th this week!!
Hilary (Four Little Forks) says
Happy early birthday, Kath! That blue cake is great, and looks soooooo good to me right now. I am friends with anything covered in a thick blanket of whipped cream!
Oh my, is it just me or does Mazen suddenly look older this week? And getting cuter by the day 🙂
Sonal says
The oatmeal and cake look soooo good!! Glad you had such a sweet weekend 🙂 Happy early birthday for Friday!
Mom says
I’m glad my cake tasted better than it looks!
I miss Maze but great to see all of you.
Ginny says
We share a birthday! Happy birthday to you! I enjoy reading your blog and sharing your joy in Mazen – he’s adorable!
KathEats says
Yay 10.26!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Happy Early Birthday! 🙂 The cake and pie look yummy!
Anna says
How do you keep your leftovers so fresh in the fridge for so long? I can only keep mine for 3-4 days before they go bad when I cover them in foil or plastic wrap..do you do something different?
KathEats says
In a glass container with lid. 7 days is my cut off (less for meat) and I rarely have anything go bad.
Anna says
Okay, I may have to try that–I hate wasting food!
Emily @ www.main-eats.com says
Happy early birthday-beautiful cake! I grew up with my grandparents living super far away-I love that your little one has already gotten so much time with them!
Cait says
Yay for grandparents!! I’m sure it’s so fun to have them around 🙂
And I love your yellow checkered shirt!
Angel7 says
Fall is my fave season!
Yellow is your color, Kath 🙂
Mary says
Has anyone else tried making the whipped pear oats?? DELICIOUS!!! I used 1/4 cup oats, 1/2 cup skim milk, 1/2 pear, and 1/2 Tbsp flax seed stirred in at the end. With lots of cinnamon. It was so delicious!! Next time I’ll try slicing the pear into smaller pieces so that it melts and incorporates into the oatmeal even better.
KathEats says
: )