time...

Aren't they cute?!
We are fortunate enough to live in a community on Mountain Island Lake and blessed to have a boat to enjoy going out on the lake as often as possible. Our family really enjoys being on the lake and swimming, eating, drinking, and just relaxing. Taking friends out is extra special fun. Both my little ones really love the water...so it is great!
It is so hard to believe just how fast they are growing and how time just seems to fly by. I took my boy this week to have ear tubes placed due to his recurring ear infections (Ava had the same thing). While he was in for the procedure I waited in the waiting room holding his stuffed bear, Across from where I was sitting there was an elderly lady (probably late 70s) and her son and daughter (both probably in their 50s). Yes, I heard a little of their conversation, so I was able to figure out that they were brother and sister taking care of their mother.
I started to think.....whoa...if I get to live as old as this lady, my son and daughter might have to take me to the doctor. Then I got teary.....because I started to think how it seems like yesterday when they were newborns. I know how valuable each and everyday is with my children and family...it really takes a conscious effort to try to remember to live for each day and be grateful for each day...live in the moment. I know these things...but working so hard to live by those words. I am probably like so many people and just get bogged down in trying to get the day to day things done and make plans for the next day and the next day. hmmmm...I just need to slow down, stop worrying about all the things I need to do or should do and savor this time as much as I can.
I'll try!

mmmm...summer fruits & veggies :)

Oh the joy of summertime fruits and veggies...
I always have fun deciding just how I am going to use the wonderful food we grow and those foods given to us by family and friends. Our friends, Joel and Sarah, gave us some enormous zucchini from their garden. I really don't think I have ever seen a zucchini in person quite as big :)

My cutting board is not small....really this was a huge zuke....so I made some fried zucchini fritters..yummy!

Then found a recipe for chocolate chip zucchini muffins. They turned out great! I was even able to get my super picky five year old girl to eat them up. They freeze great and can be popped in the microwave for one minute. love them!
I took my children to a local farm....and just as we pulled in, a truck with several farm workers and loads of fresh blackberries was being unloaded. These berries were beautiful. Of course I came home with quite a bit of berries.....
I laid some out on a cookie sheet to freeze individually before I freeze them in bags. And yes....
that is a Sam Adams blackberry beer. I just had to indulge while I made the below picture...
BlackberryClafoutis. This was yummy, despite my really poor attempt at taking a picture.
I got the idea from a blog I follow (let me warn you her site is wonderful).... please click here and you will see her oh so lovely pics of her clafoutis. ((I enjoy saying the word, clafouti......I am a little crazy, you know!))

We do not get much sunlight in our back yard...but we really wanted tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. So we just planted them in our front yard :)
OH....the fruits of our labor. Well actually Rob's since he is the one that has been watering and taking care of the plants. I am just too busy with the kids, LOL!

hmmmm....tomato sandwiches...

I love summer!

farewell crib..... forest/trees same thing...

Well my little boy has decided the crib just isn't for him.
Just a few nights ago, Beck was not feeling well due to his reoccurring double ear infection (going to see about tubes this week) and has been sleeping with me...mommy. On this night he was upset/frustrated and had started to push on me. Rob went to put him in his crib so he could have a cry then I was going to get him. Well, Rob put him in his crib and Beck basically took a run for the rail and catapulted and did a complete flip out of the crib. Poor guy. I consoled him and he slept with me in my bed. The next night he did not have any more fever from his ears, so we tried to put him to sleep in his crib. Normally he goes to sleep very easily. We read to him, rock him briefly, then lay him down and he puts himself to sleep quietly. Rob put him down and left the room while I was across the hall reading to Ava. I started to hear Beck cry, but did not go to him immediately because I knew he would probably just cry for a few and then go to sleep ((he had slept the previous three nights with me)). After awhile he was still crying...then Rob opened Ava's door with Beck in his arms. He had gotten out of his crib. Well he got one more night with mommy.
The next day we bid farewell to crib and hello to big boy bed,

Going to have to add some decoration to the wall now that the crib is gone and the bed is so low.
It was sad to see the crib go because it is the last time I plan on using it :(

Ava decides to help Beck get comfortable with his bed.
Priceless.
Beck has now slept in his new bed for four nights (although the transition time to bed is longer. I have to get on the floor with my head resting on his bed and rub his back until he is good and asleep...hopefully this time will become shorter). He also has taken one nap in his bed.
Not bad for less than a week with the new bed.

OK....now for a cute tidbit on why I just love little people and the things they say.
Rob, Ava, Beck, and I all went to Greensboro to visit friends. Our friends have a cute little cat named Forest. Forest happens to have his very own room. Ava has been to our friends house before and has met the cat and knows about Forest and his room. Before we get to their house I asked her if she remembered the cat's name and she did not. So I told her..."Forest".
So we get to our friends house and I hear her talking to the cat. She is calling the cat something, but it is not Forest.
I say, "Honey, what are you calling the cat?"
Ava replies "Trees"
I tell her the cat is name is Forest.
Ava says..."same thing" (mind you she says this with a touch of attitude)
hmmm ...Forest, Trees....same thing. (we all enjoyed a laugh and called the cat Trees the rest of the night.

Aren't kids great?

all for jerk...

Has anyone ever really bought a whole chicken and cut it into pieces? hmmm.
Ok. I do consider myself a bit of a foodie. I love everything to do with food and about food.
So since it is the holiday weekend and we are going to be grilling up some grilled jerk chicken....I purchased whole chickens and cut them into the pieces myself. YEP...breasts, thighs, legs, and wings. I have always seen various food show host/hostesses performing this task but never have attempted myself. Well....my thoughts: not too bad or difficult, but quite messy and slightly icky. Once I was done I felt the need to sanitize everything in the kitchen area, including washing my hands in scalding water only to then spray them with my "greener version" of hand sanitizer spray (clean well). I was proud of myself :) I know have a bag of cutup chicken marinating in my frig in a wonderful jerk marinade (provided by my brother-in-law)...and the chicken was cheaper to buy this way...which always makes me happy. Can't wait to eat!
I actually bought some plantains at the farmer's market to make with the jerk chicken! yumm!
will post pics with the resulting jerk chicken soon!