Moments 03.2018 JoyFoodSunshine

Welcome to “Moments” on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of every month I share a short recap of what’s been happening in our home—family updates, favorite recipes, and little life moments. Here’s what March 2018 looked like for us.

Recipe favorites this month

These are a few standout recipes I enjoyed in March, recommended for easy springtime meals and treats.

Zucchini Matcha Oatmeal — a fresh twist for spring zucchini season.

One-Pot Taco Pasta — simple, flavorful comfort food for busy nights.

Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies — chewy, satisfying, and butter-free.

Blueberry Pie with a Purple Berry Crust — a beautiful seasonal dessert.

Raspberry Lemon Bars — bright, tart, and perfect for spring.

New recipe videos

We created a few recipe videos in March—short, easy-to-follow how-tos you can use in the kitchen.

Dairy-Free Matcha Ice Cream — a creamy, dairy-free frozen treat.

No-Bake Easter Nests — fun, kid-friendly no-bake treats for spring.

Life with my tribe

March brought small transitions that feel huge to a mama’s heart. Here’s a rundown of what each kid is up to.

Mara Hope

Mara continues to be our sweet little goofball. She has a funny habit: the moment I pick her up she arches her back and throws her hands over her head like it’s the funniest thing ever. A kiss or a tickle and she giggles back upright—pure joy.

Finger foods

She’s graduated to finger foods and is doing great with bananas, Cheerios, soft cheese, sweet potatoes, and even tiny sandwiches. We’ve started offering small bites of family meals and, thankfully, she manages them well without choking. The phase of putting everything on the floor into her mouth has kept me on my toes—I find stickers, paper, and toy bits more often than I’d like.

Weaning

Mara is fully weaned now, and the change has been emotional for me. Letting go of nursing was harder than I expected—the first night I put her to bed without nursing, I needed a good long cry. I’ll share more about the experience in a future post.

Naomi is potty trained!

We’re down to just one child in diapers—hooray! Each of our kids potty trained differently: Bethany self-started early, Gabe transitioned quickly at three, and Naomi fell somewhere in between. She knew when she needed to go but resisted at first because she didn’t want to be alone in the bathroom. Once we committed to training, she took to underwear and has been doing well, with most accidents happening at home so far.

Gabe finished his reading book!

Gabe is reading! We used The Reading Lesson to begin, and he’s now enjoying early readers about nature and animals. He’s picking up more words every day, and I’m introducing slightly more challenging books. If you know any great early-reader series geared toward boys, I’d love recommendations.

Gabe also loves dressing up—he frequently wears bowties, even with casual outfits, and looked adorable for an Easter egg hunt at the park.

Bethany

Bethany lost her second front tooth this month and is growing up so fast. To help her feel more mature, we’ve given her extra responsibilities and privileges. After discussing options, we moved her into the basement bedroom so she could have her own space. She loves staying up a little later for special one-on-one time with Mom and Dad, including Bible reading and snuggles. It’s bittersweet watching her grow, but we’re enjoying this new stage.

Family bowling for the first time

We took the kids bowling for the first time and had a blast. Mara napped on me, which made my bowling hilariously cautious so I wouldn’t wake her. Bethany surprised us by learning to bowl one-handed and was proudly competitive. Gabe and Naomi needed some help getting the ball down the lane, which made the whole outing even more fun. It was a joyful family day outdoors after a long winter of being cooped up.

Things I’m loving right now

Removable potty seat option

For parents in potty-training mode, a toilet seat insert that fits the regular toilet has been a lifesaver. It’s cleaner than a standalone potty and easy to use and sanitize—perfect for our bathroom routine.

Cozy sweater

I found a sweater I love so much I bought it in multiple colors. It’s comfortable, flattering, and quickly became a wardrobe staple for cool spring days.

OPI Nail Envy

After a gel manicure removal left my nails weak, Nail Envy helped strengthen them and allowed damaged nails to grow out. It’s been the most effective nail treatment I’ve tried.

Pottery

I’ve been collecting handmade pottery and absolutely love shooting with these pieces. I even signed up for a “Mug of the Month” club to replace our old mugs with hand-thrown pottery—small things that make everyday moments feel special.

A favorite song

There’s one song I’ve replayed all month—simple comfort and a soundtrack to our daily routine.

Recipes I made on repeat

These are our go-to meals and treats from March—easy, kid-friendly, and reliably good.

No-Knead Bread

An old favorite that’s simple to make and great alongside soups or salads.

Black Bean Brownies

A must-make for chocolate cravings with added fiber and protein.

Gluten-Free Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese

I tried chickpea-based pasta for this recipe and enjoyed its nutrition-forward profile. With sauce it worked well, and it’s a great option to vary pasta choices.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies live up to the name—classic, buttery, and forever loved by our family.

That’s a wrap

That’s all for March—thanks for reading along! I’d love to hear a highlight from your month and what you’re looking forward to in April.

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