Summer recipes

For as long as I can remember, we've had a garden. Summer was always full of ripe tomatoes and cucumbers and other fresh fruits and veggies. This year, James even has his own tomato plant: he helped plant it and now can eat all the tomatoes he wants (this is really so he won't pick ours and eat them)!

So in honor of my home-grown tomato garden, here are some yummy recipes:

Corn Salad (great for grilling parties)
3 cans shoepeg corn (don't drain)
1 green bell pepper
2 medium tomatoes
1 large cucumber (or 3 pickling cucumbers), seeded
1 small sweet onion
1 tbsp mayo

chop the veggies so they are about the same size as the corn. mix in a bowl with the corn and juice, add mayo, stir, chill, then serve.

Macaroni Salad (my granny's recipe)
8 oz macaroni, cooked according to package
6 eggs, boiled and sliced
1 head romaine lettuce
1 large or 2 medium tomatoes
6-8 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 small sweet onion, diced
1 large or 3 pickling cucumbers, seeded and diced
mayo
salt

after cooking the macaroni, let cool, then add enough mayo to coat it well, and salt to taste. let stand in fridge while you chop and dice the other veggies. add lettuce, tomato, carrots, onion, and cucumber to the macaroni (you may add more mayo if you think it needs it...you want a thin layer on everything else). fold in the sliced egg. chill and serve!

Black Bean Salad (can be served on chips like salsa, on tacos, or as a side salad)
2 cans black beans, drained
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 red onion, diced
2 cans shoepeg corn, drained
1 handful of cilantro, chopped
1 to 2 tbsp olive oil
lime juice (just a squeeze, to taste)
salt and pepper, to taste

in a medium saucepan over med-lo heat, combine ingredients. Let simmer for about 10 minutes. serve immediately, or place in fridge. can be eaten warm or cold.

Try them out this summer. Even if you don't have homegrown, you can always check your local roadside stand or farmer's market for fresh veggies. YUM!

Beach Bums (or, actually, living like Kings)

I love the beach. I love everything about it. I love the smell. I love the sand (call me crazy). I love the water and the sun. I love it during the day and late into the night. We grew up going to Pawley's Island for three weeks every summer in what was known as an "Arrogantly Shabby" vacation- no air conditioning, no tv, no pool. We showered under the house in an outdoor wooden shower and went to sleep with the breeze coming through the windows. Most people would call that roughing it, but I miss those days. We would stay on the beach all day long. We would come in, eat dinner, shower, and go back out. We would read dozens of books and play cards. But mostly, we learned to enjoy each other and the beach.
Our vacations now are much different. Last week, we enjoyed the high class living at the Beach Club in Gulf Shores on the 16th floor of a high rise condo. We froze in the air conditioning, we had beach chairs and umbrellas set up for us before we even had breakfast, and we watched movies at night. But I still enjoyed myself. Vacation is vacation, right?
The best part of the week was watching James experience the new, fun beach things. And watching my mom, dad, husband, and sister witness it was fun too!!!
So here is a short recap of our Beach Adventure:
cool breeze, hot sun, perfect weather, yummy coffee, independant toddler, outdoor breakfast, warm sand, good books, beach walks, late night swims, mid-day naps, fresh seafood, family game-night, ben and jerry's ice cream, crab hunts... can I go back right now??!?

The cheesy preg shot.

James, Lizzie, and Nana

James and Grandpa: just chillin'

Big Swimmer

James loved to jump down the sand hill...check out the concentration on his face!

so handsome

Family of 4!

I'm playing the pregnancy card on this one...

I know, I know!! I haven't updated this blog in FOREVER. And it's all because I'm pregnant...you know...tired, sick, etc. So while I can, I'm playing that card, cause its the only excuse I have.
And I'm going to try to be a better blogger.

Birthday Boy!

For James' second birthday, I had big plans for the two of us. We were going to eat lunch at Chic-Fil-A, followed by a trip to Target so he could pick out a toy. I even considered trying a movie (kiddo-type, you know). So we got dressed, got in the car, and the car wouldn't start! And looking back, I guess now we got to do what James wanted to do on his birthday, not what mommy wanted to do! Lesson learned...

swimming in the pool...the water was FREEZING!

eating lunch outside

taking a nap...this was mommy's favorite part!

yogurt and granola for a snack! yummy

dinnertime

and an elmo cupcake, of course!

and last but not least: big boys don't use paci's!

So maybe not the day I had planned, but the perfect birthday nonetheless. At least through the eyes of a toddler and his mommy.

Beach, Lulu's, and Airplanes

We had the opportunity to spend the last weekend in February at the beach at Gulf Shores. The weather was beautiful (72 degrees) and James could hardly stand the excitement. He wanted Daddy to build sandcastles (so he could destroy them); he drove his little yellow truck around and buried his Little People and threw sand everywhere. He was WILD!

We went to Lulu's for dinner, and our server was this beautiful girl named Anna. And James was in LOVE. He was acting so shy and coy; he was pulling on his sweatshirt and looking down at his feet! But when she would walk away, he would call "Anna! Anna!" It was sweet. Finally he really started flirting-giggling and talking...the whole bit. She finally brought him a little cup with whipped cream and a cherry from the bar. He loved it.

On Saturday, we drove to Pensacola and spent some time at the National Naval Aviation Museum. James loves airplanes, and was amazed the moment we stepped out of the car. We started looking around, and noticed that some of the airplanes' cockpits were open. Daddy asked a tourguide if we could sit in them. "Well, we figure if the Germans and Japanese couldn't hurt them, you can't either!" he said. So James had a great time sitting in the planes, and pretending to fly them. I hope we can make it back this summer, and take Grandpa with us.

Beware of Bed Head

When you go to bed at night,

Please beware of the fright

that may greet you in the morning light.

Its not the boogie with eyes of red,

Its not the monster under the bed,

Its right there: on top of your head!

Beware of BEDHEAD!!!

Whether your hair is blonde or brown or black

Or Curly or straight, it don't mean jack

When the monster comes to attack!!!

He'll take any hair and make it dance

pointing up to the sky and over to France

If you're a child, you haven't a chance!!

Beware of BEDHEAD!!

Utterly Smitten

I'm addicted.
Addict. Latin: addictus, past participle of addicere to favor. To devote or surrender to something habitually or obsessively.
Yes, I'm addicted. To his smell, his little smile, his adorable voice, and his soft skin. I breathe him in when he comes near, trying hard not to forget when he walks away. Its a combination of milk and honey with a touch of baby. I hold his hand whenever he lets me and ask for more kisses than he will give. I memorize his face, his voice, his walk, because I know it will change in a week.
Then, when he goes to bed, I miss him. Brandon thinks I'm crazy. I didn't miss him like this when I worked. Why? Absence is supposed to make us fonder. But could it be that the more I have of him, the more I want?
He amazes me:
He repeats everything I say.
He strings words into sentences.
He remembers names.
He knows his colors.
He loves books.
He loves his daddy.
He plays and explores.
He follows me around.
He holds my hand.
He gives me kisses..."love you".
He wants me to pick him up..."up. pleeeease."
How can I resist?
So my addiction remains.