Tag Archives: memorial

Gently

May 28, 2012 Amy Leave a comment

This afternoon I searched the garage for some old water balloons and the little do-hickey that goes over the outdoor faucet to make filling them easier. I was fortunate to find both and spent a good 30 minutes perfecting my balloon filling and tying skills and getting ready for summer.

The kids gently tossed the balloons back and forth ~ one thing is for sure….30 minutes filling = 5 minutes to break. NOT a good ratio, but they had fun and that’s all that matters. They then resorted to filling the bucket and tossing that onto each other.

Summer has definitely been teasing us this weekend.

Sleepovers.

Gentle warm breezes.

Grills being lit up.

Sorbet recipes being googled.

Corn being spotted in all the grocery stores.

Fun foods and cool beverages being pinned on The Big P.

Taking in these last few weeks before school is out and I officially have a kindergartner and a second grader…

*****

And today we are sitting still and gentle…thinking about and remembering ALL who have served, are currently serving and will serve our country.

Praying for those who are waiting for their loved ones to return and praising those who did not return.

This day is for YOU.

Happy Memorial Day!

For love of country they accepted death. ~ James A. Garfield

Family, Fun

Fork In The Road

May 27, 2011 Amy Leave a comment

It’s been an emotional week.

Coming off a {party high} with family visiting last weekend and then {celebrating the life} of a dear, dear family friend on Wednesday.

I’ve looked forward to this long Memorial Day weekend with absolutely NO plans. Usually we celebrate Elliott’s birthday, but decided to do it a week early this year.

Although there have been ideas tossed around of what we’re going to do, nothing is set in stone.

We’re at a fork in the road and we can decide which path we’ll take.

{taken about a year ago at Placerita Canyon}

So far we’ve taken the path with silver dollar pancakes for breakfast.

An impromptu trip to our park for lunch where we unexpectedly met up with several other fellow kindergartners.

And an Easy Bake brownie making session before dance class.

We may continue down this path or decide to double back and discover what lies ahead on another path.

Of course, there are a couple more birthday goodies along the way on Sunday.

*****

If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one ~ Dolly Parton

Here’s to the 3-day weekend…may the path you choose leave a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

Family, Fiestas & Fetes, Flip Flops On The Rocks, Food, Fun

Welcome, Summer!

May 31, 2010 Amy

What a weekend…

Today we ventured to the pool. For me, Memorial Day should include some pool or beach time.

It felt great to be out under the cloudless blue, getting some real color for the first time in months. A rainbow of flip flops lining the edge of the pool and at the sides of lounge chairs. The sound of little ones squealing and splashing. Mommies and Daddies getting caught up with their friends while keeping one eye on their little swimmers. Plastic tumblers holding “prohibited” beverages. Orange stained Dorito fingers and towels showing the same. Grilled hot dogs & cheeseburgers, macaroni & potato salads, chips & dips and brownies & cupcakes!

Dive sticks. Boogie boards. Floaties. Goggles. Wet towels piled up on the warm cement. Funny tan lines already emerging and peeling crying kids away from the water promising them another trip to the pool SOON.

Kids that fall asleep on the 3-minute car ride home and still look like this after 2 hours:

And little newly turned 5-year olds that say, “I had SO much fun!”

Now, that’s a good day.

*****

This 3-day weekend was also full of all sorts of summer fare.

On Saturday evening, I made Carolina BBQ Pork again. Along with Down Home Baked Beans. And some Blue Cheese Coleslaw.

I don’t normally get excited about coleslaw, but this stuff is GOOD. Thanks to Hollie for planting the seed by mentioning this to me a few weeks ago!

Note: I only used 1/2 cup mayo as the bag of angel hair cabbage mix was only 10 oz. (and well, because frankly NOTHING should contain 1 cup of mayo). I also used Craisins in place of the grapes and they worked well with the blue. If you need a slaw recipe for your summer, you’ve got to check this one out.

We used some of the BBQ pork and baked beans for some Southern Skillet Nachos on the grill. I layered chips, chopped pork, baked beans and cheese in a cast iron skilled and Jay put it on the grill for about 10 minutes (until the cheese melted).

Traditional deviled eggs were a must this weekend, too.

Jay wanted to do some carne asada this evening…

Time was running out so I just went to Trader Joe’s and picked up some of theirs. It was very lean and super flavorful. We grilled some onions and peppers and made some mini burritos: