PB Pie

Source: littlebittybakes.com via Tara on Pinterest

You really can't go wrong with pb. This was delightfully easy, light, and yum.

Umm, No

Source: blogs.babble.com via Tara on Pinterest

Don't even try this. Hard. Weird texture. Took forever in microwave. Just don't.

Taco Bar

Source: mychocolatetherapy.blogspot.com via Tara on Pinterest

Easiest tacos ever! Juicy and tasty. 

Stay Golden

The best thing about the Olympics (other than the fact that they get my emotions ripe for the pickin', and I weep every time they cut to a parent in the stands) is last night while we were watching diving. Charley started counting to three and would then break out into her somersault. Hadley, not to be upstaged, climbed onto the couch to perform her front rolls. She proclaimed, "Mama, look at my Olympics!"

My Happy Camper

One of my favorite things about parenting is being able to give my kids opportunities and experiences that I either wanted to have or think they will enjoy. Mason is getting all kinds of that love this summer. He's been to lacrosse camp in GA, a mission trip to Myrtle Beach, and Camp Lurecrest. I was most excited for him to go to Camp Lurecrest. It sounds so fun. I want to go to family camp there. From the talent show to the camp wide noodle war to the zip line to the night swims, he had a great time. I know he had a good time at them all because he's willing and excited to do all of them again next year. I guess I better start an Entertain Mason All Summer Camp Fund. Happy to do it.

Grilled Cheese Italiano

Source: marthastewart.com via Tara on Pinterest

Followed recipe all the way...for a change. Used a jarred, high quality marinara. Hearty app.

Frozen Mimosas

Source: pbpickles.com via Tara on Pinterest

Truth: I did not make my own sorbet, but I did use an all natural/all fruit variety. Two flavors: blood orange and raspberry. So, one not really a frozen mimosa, but still delightfully delicious.

Power Balls

Source: gimmesomeoven.com via Tara on Pinterest

Made these sans coconut. Replace that measurement with half oatmeal, half flax seed. This was in addition to the what the recipe called for. Super delicious. Felt guility eating them for breakfast. Didn't stop me though. Fed them to girls for dessert. No complaints. I decided to call them Power Balls. :)

Kitchen sink cocktail

1 cup Malibu 16 oz frozen fruit, mixed-strawberries, peaches, pineapple, mango 1 cup ice 1/2 cup Cake vodka

Trifecta Pie

Yum! This one is a keeper. I know because my mom said so.


Peanut-Butter-Banana Icebox Pie

The North Country

Well, we're back. The whole fam went to Carthage, NY for a few days. Here's the skinny.

Kairos

• roasting marshmallows and making smores (despite HC almost catching Cousin Veronica's face on fire)
• reading in the sun without having to jump in and rinse off every few minuts (low 80's)
• catching up with the cousins, in-laws, sister-in-laws, and more
• listening to HC comment on all the people she observed at the airport (the girl with pink hair was a HIT)
• sunsets while in air after storms-GORGEOUS (a red sky I've nver seen before)
• salt potatoes (if I can sell these bad boys in the South, I'll be rich like woah)
• pineapple upside down cake cocktails with sisters-in-law
• amazing views for a few windy, sunny, and warm runs (green cornfields, pastures, dirt road)
• the horse "biting" Charley's hand while she fed him apples
• HC gettng her picture made with the silo with her name on it
• dancing at wedding (even with no AC, still a cool time)
• Mason being a true delight 97% of the time (was great with girls)
• eating Grandma Kay's chicken recipe with the Hadley crew

Chronos

• TSA confiscating Mason's two LAX sticks and throwing those bad boys right in the trash
• being last people on the plane (paging the Ashcraft family) and getting The Look from all other passengers
• containing CB on plane (her yelling AVERY to John and AL from the front of the plane to the back was annoying but cute)
• passing a kidney stone (I think) felt like labor pains/contractions, running some tests to see what's up
• two hour delay on way home (although we made the best of it the Game Room at the 'Cuse airport)
• wrestling kids to sleep at night and nap while outside of their routine
• convincing TSA to let me on the plane once I realized my license was not in my wallet (oops)
• a few meltdowns on plane (HC didn't like her seat, CB wanted more M&Ms, Mama wanted peace/sleep)
• seeing a fox on while running (seriously, I'm scared of most things furry)

Quotes

HC

• on flying: "This is exciting. I'm so exciting."
• on "Rumor Has It": "What does rumor have? Is rumor a boy or a girl?
• on camping after two days: "I'm done with this camping. I'm ready to go home."

CB

• to Poppa: "I love you."
• on sunsets: "ooowww"

Snicker What?

Source: jaseyscrazydaisy.com via Tara on Pinterest

These were quite good. For my mom to say they are rich, means that they really, really are. I didn't add peanuts, but probably should have. The extra salt would have been a good addition.

Little Things

Things I Love Right Now:

• Charley saying thank you for everything
• Mason finishing the first year of middle school relatively unscathed
• Last Saturday: run, pool, nap, date (steak, cheesecake, Hunger Games!)
• Sunday afternoons at the lake
• A fresh crop of summer magazines
• Charley's hand gestures when she asks a question
• The tiniest bell peppers ever growing in my "garden"
• Hadley and Charley running races on the sidewalk
• Chocolate cake from the deli section at Harris Teeter
• Audio books
• Metal chairs I painted Tiffany blue
• Ponytails
• Pinterest
• My new sweatshirt/verse/motto

Chillin

Source: ohhellologan.com via Tara on Pinterest

I saw these on Pinterest and was reminded of how awesome they are! I made them last summer and will this summer, too! Champagne + Popsicle!

Think Big

Hadley and I were watching Kailan which is a kids show about Asian culture. Hadley said, "We should go to China." I told her that would be fun, but that China is very far away and it cost a lot of money to go there. She replied that she does have a lot of money in her money bank. I love her optimism. I typed this up on my new iPad. Woot woot!

Dance Your Face Off

Did not see this coming. Mason came home from school a few weeks ago with materials to register for classes for 7th grade. Yes, I said 7th grade. We briefly reviewed them (not with painstaking intensity of his first year of middle school: aka-mommy tears and small panic attack). He vaguely mentioned wanting to do something with a dance class. Knowing Mason, I mildly agreed knowing it would be a brief stint in choreography. I was wrong. Not only did my child arrange to stay after school for tryouts and sign up for the dance class next year, but he also made the squad. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one calling it a squad. I blame Bring It On (the musical). As of last week, he is an official member of the guys only Bradley Dance Crew. He's been practicing his moves: in the car, in the kitchen, on the porch, on the couch, in his room, in my room, at restaurants, in parking lots, in the hallway, on the stairs.....he hasn't stopped moving (not that he has ever been very still for very long).

I'm proud of him. I like that he will take risks and do things that not every little (big) dude will do. He's brave and social and resilient. I adore these qualities in him. Shake yo groove thing, Mase.

Chatter Boxes

Today as I listened to Charley babble (Daddy, runned fast!), I remembered how Hadley would go away from us and whisper new words to herself until she knew she had them right. Then we'd hear her say them out loud a day or so later. I'm so happy they are voracious little ones.

Daddy did run fast. He killed a 5K in 20:03. Holla.

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/salads/spicy-pasta-salad-with-smoked-gouda-tomatoes-and-basil/

Must try this: spicy, creamy, and fresh.

Spring Stuff

What's Left of Spring To Do List

• sign Hadley up for dance-in the style of ballet
• paint the interior of my front door
• umm, and the exterior for that matter
• paint my downstairs ivory
• learn to sew-seriously
• plan a weekend to Charleston with my beau
• plant pretty but surprising flowers out front
• convince my new peony to stand up straight
• take girls to zoo or something outdoor/naturish
• celebrate May birthdays of my faves: John, Mom, Caleb
• family photo session
• help Mason get his lax stick fixed so he feels fabulous
• have a girls night

I better get busy.

Slow Cooker Molten Lava Cake

Deliciousness. Warm. Gooey. Sweet. Chocolaty. Goodness.
1 box Devil's Food Chocolate Cake
3 eggs
8 oz sour cream
1 cup water
1 box instant chocolate pudding
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup veggie oil

Mix in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 hours.

Voila.
Top with vanilla ice cream. Just cuz.