Summer Memories

  

What are my two favorite people doing you may ask??  They are living out one of my favorite summer memories!  The other night Mike was cleaning off the back porch from our night of grilling & eating outside and came in calling for Anne Marie to get her flip-flops on and come out with him.  She went running...... I heard him say - "there are tons of fire-flies out in the yard and I've got your bug catcher!"  I, of course, grabbed my flipflops & camera.

Proud of her little friend she caught.  It was just last year that she soooooo wanted to catch them, but I think it scared her a little.  She never could seem to get one...she always would say "I just couldn't" -- even if it was right in front of her.  But my girl is growing up & loosing some of those inhibitions.  She was happy to catch as many as she could that night. 

We kept them in the bug catcher until it was time for bed & we set them free to return to their families.  I have such memories of catching fireflies when I was a child.  I would come to spend time with my Nanny in the summer (we did not live around here -- and did NOT have fireflies!)  It was a true sign of summer for me.  We would catch them & put them in mason jars w/ holes poked in the lids.  Then in the middle of the night my Nanny or Aunts would come in our rooms (where we kept our new friends) and set them free.  It makes my heart happy to be able to create these memories w/ my girly!!

Woods & Lakes & Snakes OH MY!!

Last weekend we headed out for another long-weekend trip.  This time we headed to a state-park with our "BFF's" the "H" family!  We live about 4hrs from each other, but try to make sure that each summer we plan a few family get-togethers.  This summer our 1st plan was to rent a cabin at the park and spend a relaxing weekend with each other.  The girls were THRILLED to see each other again!

There were smore's to be made --- and make them we did (both nights!)  YUMMY!  The girls had a blast roasting (burning) the marshmellows....and the adults were pretty happy about it too!!

We all played a little ladder-golf.  (This was a new game to us - kinda fun!) 

We spent most of the day @ the lake on Saturday - the girls had a ton of fun -- it was quite hot, but the water was cool, and even the adults had to get in every once in a while just to cool off.

We went for evening walks - and the girls just had to have walking sticks.... the daddy's delivered. 

We had a GREAT time (MINUS the HUGE snake that we had to deal with at the cabin -- but I won't bore you with those details...all I'll say is that Mr. H had to do some crazy things to get that snake out of our cabin & who knew that snakes could climb trees???  Not me!!!  AND ... I got ZERO sleep the last night we were there as I let Anne Marie sleep w/ me in a twin bed & maybe I might have felt a need to sleep with the light on!!)  But other than the visit from "our little big friend" we really did enjoy our weekend!!  Can't wait to see you all again H family!

Wordless (Summer Fun) Wednesday

New Fruit Picking Fun!

Last weekend we headed to the strawberry patch to see if there might be any strawberries left for picking.  We were thinking that we might get enough for some fresh strawberry ice-cream.  Well, when we got there, it was the last weekend for picking & the berries were VERY small , so we decided we'd just skip it.  Until a lady came beside us & asked the girl behind the counter if the cherries were ready yet.  When the girl said yes, we knew what we were going to do --- have cherry ice-cream instead!!  So we picked & picked (and boy the trees were full -- we could have picked more!)  Then took our box full home for some fresh-made cherry-ice-cream.  (I even made 5 jars of cherry-jam.)

Anne Marie was begging to help -- so I got out my apron (because the little device that I use to pit the cherries can squirt juice everywhere & you do NOT want that juice on your clothes)  So, we both got out our aprons (and her cute little chef hat) and started to pit.....

I think she had the most fun doing this... 

We then blended the cherries until we got a smooth puree.....

Then we strained it to get the skins out of the puree....

Mixed the ice-cream mix to put in the ice-cream-maker....

Then enjoyed YUMMY cherry ice-cream!!!  We'll have to add this to our strawberry, blackberry & raspberry picking tradition each summer!!  You gotta love summer time!!

Our New Cousin/Nephew

New baby Cousin/Newphew "JJ" (as we now call him) was 3 weeks old this past week, and my sister & her husband wanted to have baby/family pictures taken.  I told her I'd be happy to do it, since the subject matter was TOO cute & I'd have TOO much fun.  I know I"m not a professional, but at least the "cost" (free) was right -- and I thought they turned out quite cute.  This new little bundle of joy that has just joined our family is so sweet that I just had to share some of my favorite pictures of the day......

Mike laughed at me when he saw the basket, pillows & blankets laying around -- but I thought it turned out quite cute!!  (Baby JJ was not too happy about being 1/2 clothed & in a basket -- see final picture for a "real moment" , but I quite enjoyed these shots!!)

Baby J in his daddy's hands....so sweet!!

My sister, her husband, my niece (BIG sis) and baby "JJ"

Big sis & baby brother

I saw this idea online, so I had to duplicate it -- I don't know that we got it right, but I think it turned out cute anyway!!!  (and of course my sister just had her nails done, so it was worth a shot!! Haaa!)

Our "real" moment....this was what he thought of me most of the time.  I'm sure he was tired of me sticking my camera in his face so much & taking 1/2 of his clothes off....but you know there is just something about this picture I love....harsh-truth & all.... it'll be one to laugh about with him one day!!

I now know what I want for Christmas -- a new lense for my camera & a really nice editing sofware for my computer .... oh this could get fun!!

Weekend Getaway!!

Our Memorial Day weekend we were invited to spend the weekend at our friends beach house.  Well, how could you turn that offer down??  So, we packed our bags and off we went for a LONG 4 day weekend for fun in the sun & fellowship with friends!  It was BEAUTIFUL weather -- the water was a little cold, but as usual that did not stop anyone from getting it in (other than me & my friend...we were happy to watch from our beach chairs -- or maybe with just our feet in the water) But either way it was a beautiful way to spend our holiday weekend.

There was friendships to nuture & sun to be soaked up.....

There was sea-life to find........ 

There was water to be played in......

Skimmy-boards to be ridden......

Sea-shells & sea-glass to be found.....

Castles to be created......

Pyramids to be formed.....

Waves to be jumped......

Goggles to be worn.......

Boogie-boards to be floated on....



And holes to be dug....

(and for the record the ONLY kids that were allowed to dig this were the two big kids , and the Little's were only in it for a 10sec. picture & EVERY bit of sand was put back in it before we left the beach that day, so no one would hurt themselves!!)

Thank you "G" family for a WONDERFUL weekend.  We loved spending time with you all!!!

Final School Program

Ok -- so I'm back-tracking a little here.  Right before school ended Anne Marie had her end-of-the-year school program.  There was a little bit of singing, a little bit of dancing, a little art-show and a whole lot of fun.  Both sets of grandparents were able to come see her program and we were so excited as this is her last year of pre-school & we wanted to make it a "big deal" for her.  She wanted to get all dressed up (imagine that, my girl would wear a dress/skirt every single day of her life if she could!)  She picked out her pink & green twirly dress (note later pictures...) and her flower pink shoes.

They sang, danced & preformed for the audience.  Unlike last year, she actually participated -- in EVERY song!!  It was so cute to see them on stage. 

Then, it was time to move into another room for the art-show..........



 This is her "snow-person" -- she was told to make a snow-man, but it could be a girl, man, woman, animal -- anything she wanted it to be.  Imagine when my girly-girl asked for it to be a lady, with a hat (with a feather mind you), high-healed shoes, and jewelry (bracelet & ear-rings).

 Then she was given a blank kite & told to decorate it.  Imagine when she chose lady-bug stickers (another shocker) and glitter dots w/ dotted ribbon.  She's very particular about having everything be very symmetrical - she wanted the same number of stickers & dots on each side of the kite.  Too funny!

 Her hand-print crab.

Her "leaf person".

Her clay dinosaurs. 

Showing off her twirling skills in her "twirly dress" -- I told you there was a reason she picked it out!

Anne Marie & her teachers.  LOVE THEM!

Then, after the show we (along with both sets of grandparents) headed out to get ice-cream!  What a special treat -- I'm sad that our pre-school years are ending... I only hope that one day there will be another little one running around to enjoy it with all over again!!!