Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy 4th from last year!

Such a momentous holiday and so LOUD!

Recycled the beach photo below from a 2009 summer vacay at Hilton Head.

I need a beach visit soon!

We love to celebrate the 4th of July though it's become

a lot tamer than when the boys were young!

During those noisy years, it seemed like we were

constantly running to the fireworks stands for 

more, more and more supplies!  

Most years we head to the pool for fun

4th activities!  I have been know to think about doing the

biggest splash contest or noodle races, but I generally chicken out!

One year, someone (not saying who) had me try out

for the karaoke contest.  I came in dead last --  but hey,
at least I didn't get booted

out of the contest!

It was after that I realized I'm better at lip synch

than karaoke! 
In other words, don't sing out loud!
I got the message!

Hope you all have loads of fun!

Stay safe!

Happy 4th!

Flashback 4th!

Isn't it fun to do a flashback post sometimes? 

Yes, I agree --

especially since I seem to have a bit of blogger's block.

The heat and humidity has gone to my head, made my hair frizzy,

I can't think straight

and have been having huge heat-related headaches,
so let's just take a little trip down memory lane, shall we!!

July 4, 2007 --
Maddy and our neighbor, Sarah,figuring out sparklers!

July, 2008

 

July 4, 2009 -
Mini-golfing -- always fun!

2010- Fun in Chicago with Amy and Grace!


July 4, 2011
Getting ready to blow some stuff up!





Happy 4th!!

 Stay Safe!

Flashback 4th & Recipe

Posting a little early for the 4th and this is going to be 2 -- 2 posts in one! Flashing back to the 4th of July, 2007 with Miss Maddy and the neighbor! Such sweet girls --we are so lucky to have so many kids in our neighborhood!



And here's a great easy-peasy recipe. If you know me, you know it has to be easy! It was printed recently in Family Circle, so you may have already seen it and tried it. Yummy!!



Turkey Waldorf Salad [ makes 6 servings; prep time - 10 minutes; refrigerate - 1 hour]

3/4 cup low-fat ranch salad dressing
3 tablespoon cider vinegar (I used Apple Cider and it was delish)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 bag (16 oz) cole slaw mix
1 bag (10 oz) shredded carrots
1 package of precooked turkey pieces (or just turkey slices - you can cut up yourself)
1 Fuji apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
3/4 cup chopped walnuts


In small bowl, stir together ranch dressing, vinegar, sugar and black pepper - set aside.


Combine cole slaw mix, carrots, turkey, apple and walnuts in large bowl. Drizzle salad dressing over top and toss well to combine. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before service.

Per serving: 268 calories; 14 g fat (2 g. sat.); 15 g. protein; 24 g. carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 615 mg. sodium; 38 mg cholesterol.


Enjoy!!

Flashback Friday -- The Birthday Edition

Maddy will be 7 in a couple weeks, so I thought it would be fun to look back at some of her earlier birthdays. Here she is turning 3 -- as you can see!

Flashback Friday - Halloween

2007 -- Leopard Princess!

2006 -- The year of Cinderella

Waving to her loyal subjects!

2005 --The year of the princess/ballerina!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Flashback Friday!

Flashing back this week to the first few months home with Maddy. Isn't she just about one of the cutest babies ever -- not biased at all, am I!! She's only about 16 -17 months old in this picture and had only been home about 2 months. There had been so many changes in her short little life. I think she still looks a bit scared and shell-shocked in this photo. What a brave baby girl she was --meeting a new family, coming to a new place, being sick on the way home (such long flights!), having to adjust to different food, smells, time changes -- oy! It would be enough to make me run for cover! When we met her, we discovered she had developed a distinctive coping mechanism of blocking things out when it was too noisy, too many people around, when people got too close to her, or everything was just too much for her to handle. There could be chaos going on all around her (like the red couch photos), but she could totally block it out and remain calm and detached from the noise and confusion. It about breaks my heart that she had to figure out how to cope at such a young age. I know that I can't do anything about her first 14 months of life, but I will make certain she knows she is loved and cherished every single day. She was an incredibly sweet baby and now is such a loving little girl. We have been so blessed!

Flashback Friday!

Yes, it's true. I'm a big copycat! Kate at Livin LaVida Lia started up a Flashback Friday so that we can see glimpses of the adorable Lia when she was just a little bitty girl. So, I'm following her great idea. Maddy is nearly 7 now. Here are a couple glimpses of her in her younger days.



She was just about 2 in the photo above. If you're wondering, she's holding and wearing (or trying to wear) a black beret that Mr. Tennis used to wear in the winter sometimes -- stylin, eh!!


And she wasn't yet 3 when this photo was taken, but she already loved carting stuffed animals around. Some things never change -- she still carts stuffed animals everywhere! This photo was in the CCAI calendar the next year -- a calendar girl at only 3 years old!