The Toy Box Years: What's Cookin' Wednesday - Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Summer Vacation officially arrived at the Toy Box Household on Tuesday, June 3rd at exactly 12pm. The girls were so excited to be on break and are excitedly talking about all the fun stuff we have planned on our Summer Activities Calendar.

Yesterday (Wednesday) brought us "What's Cookin' Wednesday".

I decided that we were going to make frozen chocolate banana bites. The girls couldn't WAIT to get started!

First up.....we each cut up 3 large bananas, put them on wax paper and put skewers in them. (I love how Nani is helping Nudgie put her hair up!) I then put them into the freezer to flash freeze so that they would be a little easier to handle the chocolate dipping process.

Then we got our toppings ready. We used 4 different toppings -- cookies & cream, rainbow sprinkles, chopped nuts, and crushed Fruit Loops.

Our chocolate dip was 2 cups of milk chocolate chips, 2 cup of marshmallows and a splash of evaporated milk. Stir until creamy over medium heat.....careful to not let it scorch.