A Perfect Weekend

Whew...its been a while! I am over two weeks since I last posted and now this post is almost a week late. This one has taken me all week to get done, so excuse any typos, I couldn't take it any more and had to publish it. I promise I will try to do better! :) We have been nonstop the past few weeks with our latest excursion being in Paris for the holiday weekend. And before you get too jealous, I am talking about Paris Tennessee. You can still get a little jealous because it was an awesome weekend. We drove up late Thursday night arriving around midnight to Ashley's dad's house that was ready for the weekend.

The festivities began on Friday with a bang...literally! Morning came early for everyone and when I say early I mean 5am. We woke up to breakfast and play time and made our way to the pool around noon. We swam and snacked the afternoon away. I for once got to lay by the pool as I had plenty of helpers with Lucy. I got to lay around so much, that I didn't take a single picture of the swimmers! After the pool, we went back to Ashley's dad to get ready for the Paris Country Club BBQ and fireworks. When we arrived we made our way straight to the food and enjoyed dinner and then spent the rest of the late afternoon socializing with friends and family.

Ashley, Uncle Jimmy and Ashley's dad, John David

Aunt Nancy and Thea Steph

Me and Ash

Jessica (Ashley's sister) and her boyfriend, Kenny

While we had our time, the kids were having theres. They had a kid carnival set up and Landon and his cousins had a blast!

Jordyn

Landon and his cousin, Jackson

Landon

The fireworks aka "Thunder Over Paris" was supposed to start at dark, so we rounded up the kiddos and waited...

and waited...

The wait was well worth it.

The pictures don't do them justice, but these were the BEST fireworks ever! I don't think the fireworks themselves were all that better, but all the lights were out, it was super dark outside and they were shooting them about 50 yeards away, so they were falling right over us. Do you want to know who enjoyed them more than anyone????

LUCY! She loved them and wasn't afraid one bit. In fact, when I tired to pick her up she would scream for me to put her back down. So funny! She was in this position the whole time.

Saturday came and was just as jampacked as Friday. The morning and early afternoon were spent recovering from the "festivities" the night before. I didn't mention, but after the fireworks, the CC hosted an adult only pool party that lasted well into the night errrr morning. Those pictures will not be posted on. Anyway, I would say around 2 on Saturday afternoon everyone had recovered. So we went to tour John David's (Ashely's dad) lumberyard. He has manufactured hardwood floors and moulding for years and has just added a pellet mill. So we all went for the tour...very interesting. (With the new Energy Bill about to pass in the Senate this may be the "new thing" as its considered to be green. Here's a link to learn more about it if your interested.) Anyhow, after the tour we went to get ready for that nights festivities which started with a birthday party for Jude!

Jude, the birthday boy

PaPau (sp?) and Gigi - proud grandparents

After the birthday party, we made our way to the Neese Family BBQ hosted by our own Billy Bob. Unfortunately it poured right when the BBQ was starting and I made my way inside with Lucy. I didn't get many pictures but I did manage to sneak a few of the kids playing in the rain.

Oh, and right before the rain started, I got this one...my favorite picture of the weekend!

Sunday was spent sleeping in and then packing up. We made a run to the store to get the fixins for burgers and we had a lunchtime cookout before everyone had to make their way home. We also got a few pics in front of the flag.

Ash, John David and Lucy

John David and Sue aka The Grandchildren Worshippers

The Cousins - Jordyn, Jude, Jackson, Landon, and Lucy

I absoluetly LOVE the 4th of July. Its my favorite holiday right after Christmas. There is something about it that makes me giddy. Whether it be the parties, festivities, family, middle of the summer heat and fireworks or perhaps I get to relive my childhood watching my children live theres. Whatever it is, I love the holiday and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend!

Hope you all enjoyed a great 4th of July!!

Hot Fun in the Summertime

We have had a fun jam packed summer so far. If we're not on vacation, we're at the pool, and if we're not at the pool, we're at the movie theatrr, library zoo, and if we're not there we bring a freind over to play with. Meet "P"! He is a doll and he and Landon always have the best time. We had him over for the day were we went swimming, had a picnic, and then played at the park until dark. These boys played and played hard. They were all over the place going and doing anything that they could. They even joined a game of frisbee with some college kids. Anyhow, I couldn't help but enjoy these two having so much fun with not a care in the world...ahhhhh.

And Miss Lucy got in a swing for the first time and loved everything about it...literally!!! We could not keep her from sucking on the darn thing and when her drool turned a orangy rusty color, we decided that was enough :)

Taste a Little of the Summer

I have just discovered Alabama Farmers Market recently and I have nothing but great things to say about it. First of all, all of the produce above cost me only $19.50! Secondly, they are open all day every day! Thirdly, it makes me feel good supporting our local farmers. And most of all, I have had more fun cooking with all my fresh fruits and veggies this week. Anyhow, here is the link to their website with times, directions, etc. And here are a few recipes that I have cooked up this week...

.

.

Chicken Delight

Take 1 chicken breast and season with Janes Crazy Mixed Up Salt. Place chicken on a peice of aluminum foil. Next, cut up fresh squash and zucchini and put on top of chicken. Pour marina Sauce on top and sprinkle a generous amount of mozerella and paremsian cheese. Wrap it all up in the foil and bake 30-45 min on 350. So easy and way to good! This recipe is courtesy of Darby, one of my favorite bloggers.

.

.

Cheesy Tomatoe

Take 1 large garden tomatoe and hollow out a small crater in the middle. Mix cream cheese with blue cheese and fill tomatoe with mixture. Bake 10-20 min on 350 or until cheese has melted...yummy!

.

.

Peach Chutney

Melt 1Tb butter in small skillet and saute 1/2 c finely chopped onion for 2-3 min or until tender. Add 1 1/2 cup chopped fresh peaches, 3TB brown sugar, 2TB balsamic vinegar and 1/2 tsp Jamaican jerk seasoning and cook about 3 more minutes until the mixture is thoroughly heated. I served this with a peppered pork tenderloin and it was soooo good. Next time, I think I will try it with fish!

.

.

What have you been cooking up this summer? Do tell, I always need new recipes!

Back to the Island

Which island you ask? Dauphin Island of course. I grew up on this island every summer. I love everything about this place and the older I get the more meaning it all has to me. My sister, Tiffany, couldn't have said it any better. See her blog about the Island here. Are you crying yet? OK, well I will go ahead and recap the weekend. My moms 60th birthday and Mothers day coincided this year, so my sisters and I decided to give her a week at the beach.

Every day was pretty much the same and went like this... After breakfast, my mom would have Vacation Bible School with the kids

where a bible passage was read

followed by a craft and a snack.

All the kids loved this. Next we would pack up and head to the beach for swimming and playing all day long.

At some point we would come in to eat...

And every day would end with kids crashing. (It was a 5 bedroom house for 4 couples plus my Paw-Paw and 8 children and a baby.) Kids slept everywhere!

Landon was in the water every second of every day so I really don't have a lot of pictures of him. And his little face was scalded the first day from the sun...shame on me for not reapplying sunscreen. When I say scalded it was first scarlett and then a purplish, and when it started to peel he looked like a burn victim...it was awful. He saw his face in the mirror and said "they should be ashamed of themselves" referring to Ash and I. And we were/are ashamed!

Lucy was a hit with all her cousins...

and this sweet face could pretty much sum up everyones feelings for the week...

Everything about the week was perfect and just as I remembered growing up maybe even a little better as I watch my own children creating their own memories on this beloved island!