I somehow ended up with a number of over-ripe bananas on my counter last week, so the children and I made 4 loaves of banana pineapple bread, which I then sliced and packaged for the freezer. I try to have at least one sort of homemade baked goods (muffins, banana bread, healthy cookies, etc.) for Joshua's lunchbox each day, and having things in the freezer is so convenient!

I let Eliyahu mash the bananas with a potato masher (I did have to help at first) and then he continued mashing as I added the rest of the wet ingredients to his bowl.

I got out another bowl for Yehoshua, and he used a whisk as I added dry ingredients to his bowl. Then they both mixed in their bowls while I greased the loaf pans.

I combined the two mixtures, let Yehoshua do the final stirring, and divided the batter into the pans. Baking with two little helpers is never very relaxing, but they both had fun. :)

Then it was clean-up time! Eliyahu absolutely loves helping with the dishes. He will stop doing anything else in order to come help, and he can hear the water running no matter where he is or what he's doing! He cries almost every time when the dishes are all done and I tell him he has to get down.

Yehoshua used to feel the same way about helping with dishes, but then Eliyahu "took" his job from him (Yehoshua tells me this very sadly!). I remind Yehoshua that while Eliyahu is helping with the dishes, it's the perfect time for him to build block towers or set up an animal zoo, since Eliyahu won't come around to disturb him. :) So, he usually plays quietly by himself. Being 9 months pregnant and trying to do dishes with two helpers is just not very easy... I can hardly reach the dish drainer! :)