Peachy Keen

Every summer I get the bug to make freezer jam.  It's easy & fun, and nothing tastes better on an english muffin than jam you canned yourself.  Ava was in charge of choosing a flavor and initially she decided on strawberry-blueberry.  When we walked into the grocery store there were gorgeous, fragrant peaches begging us to buy them, so she changed her mind.  I am still intrigued by the strawberry-blueberry combo . . . maybe we can tackle that next week!  I peeled and pitted the peaches, Ava chopped & diced (with her super-awesome kid-friendly knives) and Sophia helped us stir in the other ingredients and pour into our jars.  The hardest part is waiting 24 hours for the jam to set!  If you want to try freezer jam you can purchase a box of sure-jell pectin.  Instructions, information and tons of recipes (including hot pepper jelly - SO making some this summer) can be found on the insert.

 Mmmmm, they smell delicious!

 Chopping.  She's getting good in the kitchen!

 Dicing! Such a cute helper!

 Stir it up.

Yummmmmy




On another note . . .

We started swimming lessons this week - my sweet babies were so excited & they were such good listeners waiting for instructions!! 

Lake Rats

 We recently spent our annual weekend at the Ozarks with some amazing friends!  We had such a great time!!  We played, went swimming, rode the jet ski, went for a ride on "big mable" behind the boat and, of course, we ate & drank & laughed! We had a delicious dinner at the Jolly Roger.  We arrived and departed by boat and sat outside on a huge deck overlooking the lake and sipped on fruity blended drinks!  We grilled beer can chicken and cooked s'mores over a fire pit. 
  Definitely a bunch of lake rats!

 Ava girl and one of her famous jump poses

 Hanging on BIG MABLE

 Chillin.  I think he likes the lake.

 My pretty girl!

 All our girlies! Mya, Sophia, Aiden & Ava

 Matt & G on the jetski

 Such a cute little dude

Yet another jumping pose.  This girl LOVES to jump!

Pulling up to the Jolly Roger.

Ava & Jim

Heading out on a boat ride!

Matt & Graham riding Big Mable.  What a perfect day!

A BIG thank you to Jim & Michelle.

We are SO blessed to call you our friends!

We love ya!

Eat your vegetables! Carrot-Zucchini Bread

I cannot be the only mother on the planet who has difficulty getting her kids to eat their vegetables!  I am not above hiding veggies in food.  I just had to share this recipe for zucchini/carrot bread that I found on pinterest because my kids gobbled it up - vegetables and all!!  Even Graham (my super-picky kiddo) loved it.  He kept asking for more "bikini bread"!!

Carrot-Zucchini Bread

•  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
• 1/4 cup candied ginger, optional (I omitted this)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canola oil (I used 1/4 cup canola oil and 1/4 cup applesauce)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup coarsely grated carrots
• 1/2 cup coarsely grated zucchini

Preheat oven to 325F.  Grease your loaf pan.  In a large bowl, mix eggs, oil (& applesauce), sugar and vanilla.  Stir in carrots and zucchini.

Mix remaining dry ingredients together and slowly add to large bowl. Stir/fold until just blended. Pour mixture into loaf pan.

  Bake about 1 hour, until firm and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely and enjoy!!  Next time I will double this because it disappeared WAY too fast!



Stay cool without the pool!

 We are always looking for ways to stay cool in the summer! One of our favorite "hot day" outings is the John Anderson Splash Park. It's a nice new park with a dry playground area and a wet splash park area, clean bathrooms and a large picnic shelter. For me, going to the pool is NOT a relaxing experience. I am constantly counting my children and worrying that I will take my eye off of them for one second too long. It's just not easy with one parent and 3 kids under 7. This is why I love the splash park! I can actually glance down at my book without fear of having to save someone from the deep end!!  Here's more info about John Anderson Splash Park!

The crew! 

Bubba loved it!!

 Getting DUMPED on by the dump bucket!

 Silly kiddos!

 See!  This is me RELAXING!!

 Quick snack break

 Sweet Friends - Sophia, Faye & Ava