Ashland

Every summer, I count the days until our family gets to head to the Midwest to see my grandparents. Our first stop this year was my birthplace and my father's "homestead". Here are a couple of fun things we encountered...

Ethan was a champ on the 9 (should be 7.5 - but ya know- we have three kids) hour drive. A new leapster game and a dvd player is all it took...

We headed over to Brookside Park -

a park I played on with my siblings when I was little... they all loved it.

Ethan on the merry - go round. Recently some of my local friends were talking about how we can not think of ONE of these in our area... they have all been removed for safety (aka lawsuit) reasons.

Original slide at the park- even Granny tried it out.

Okay - this is sort of a random picture. Last summer I did a whole post about it, but I could not let it go without mentioning it to you... this is a genuine Amish buggy in traffic in front of us. Seeing them is surreal and beautiful. If you have never been o Amish country - GO! Along with their great character- they also have great cheeses, meats, ice cream, and pies.

In Ashland, this perfect little quaint Midwestern city, the home prices have plummeted. Here is a historic house on the most prominent street in Ashland - and can you see what the for sale sign says... that's right 89,000 - for five bedrooms. If you are looking for a house- look no further.

John requested that we stop at one of my (and certainly my dad's) favorite spots in Ohio. The A&W Root beer Stand. Great coneys, chicken sandwiches and of course root beer floats- and look what else is now on the menu!

The original 1950's building.

Ethan (squinting in the sun) and my paternal grandparents.



Every summer, in Ashland, the weekend of the 4th, they have a hot air balloon festival. It is actually pretty cool - and the balloons look so beautiful in mass. Here are a couple of pics from my grandparents back yard.

The Lake

The best beach pics...

Here are some of my favorite beach pics... wish I was there now...

Beach

Some more pics of our fun trip... the balcony was a big hit...

...so were the hush puppies

yum! ( i think the twins ate more butter than hush puppy)

thanks grandma and grandaddy

The Beach

Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately- I have no good excuse - just doing other stuff instead!


A few weeks ago we were blessed to enjoy a long weekend at the beach with John's parents. All five of us had a great time. Here are a couple of shots of the kiddos at the shore... hope you enjoy. (More to come soon).

Headed down to the water.

Liv surveys the scene. She was the last one to explore the actual ocean - but ended up loving it.

Sand does not taste good.



Isaac likes the ocean immediately- however after getting knocked down - he decided he had enough and did not go back in the whole time we were there.

I feel the earth move under my feet...

Y'all come back now - ya hear?

A Baby Shower

Is it weird to post about a friend's baby shower?? What about if you helped throw it? What is you are so excited about the coming baby that you praise God for the child all the time?? I have debated about this post- because I am not sure if it is a little creepy... you will have to decide. But, I am so thrilled for my friend Amy I am going to take the chance. I hope she will forgive me any creepiness...

Welcome Baby Ellie... short for Eliana... due in Just 6 weeks. Eliana means "God has answered". See Amy (good friend) thought she could not have kids. She thought this for 9 years - medicine and evidence told her so... prayer and an acting God changed this. Can't wait to meet you baby girl. You are a longing fulfilled.

All good showers have good punch... this was Kim's creation a good friend of mine and the main hostess. I have a similar recipe that makes a ton and is always a big hit - you can make it with any kind of jello to change the flavor...

Red Party Punch

Ingredients:

3 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin mix
9 cups boiling water
4 cups sugar
9 cups water
2 (46 fluid ounce) cans pineapple juice
2 cups lemon juice
4 (2 liter) bottles ginger ale

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the strawberry gelatin mix and 9 cups of boiling water. Set aside. In a large pot, bring the remaining 9 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Pour the sugar water into the gelatin water, then stir in the pineapple juice and lemon juice, mixing well. Pour into four 1-gallon size resealable freezer bags, or pretty Bundt pans to freeze.
2. To make punch, place one of the frozen portions into a punch bowl, and pour 1 bottle of ginger ale over.

Time: 20 minutes Prep, plus freezing time. Yield: Four batches


There are not many things in the world of cooking I do really well - but this recipe always pulls a lot of compliments. It is actually pampered chef - but since I do all the chopping when I make it - I will claim it. Seriously it is ridiculously good! Try it this summer...

Apple Berry Salsa

Ingredients:
2 Granny Smith Apples- peeled & diced
1 pint strawberries, diced
2 kiwi, peeled & diced

1 small orange
2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons apple jelly

Directions:
1.Place peeled, cored and chopped apples, peeled and diced kiwi, and hulled and diced strawberries in a medium bowl.
2. Zest orange and add about 1-teaspoon zest.
3. Squeeze half of the orange juice into the mixture.
4. Add brown sugar and apple jelly.
5. Mix gently and refrigerate until use.
6. Serve with baked cinnamon chips.

Time: 15-30 Minutes Yield: 3 cups



Baked Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients:
10 (7 inch) flour tortillas
Water
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Lightly spray tortillas with water
3. Sprinkle tortillas with cinnamon and sugar mixture
4. Using a pizza cutter, slice the tortillas into 8 wedges each
5. Arrange wedges on a greased baking sheet in a single layer
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are golden brown and crisp
7. Cool completely before eating

Time: 20 minutes Yield: 80 chips


Good friends to play games and provide presents.

Cute diaper wreath made by my friend Anna.

Okay - and here is something I am really proud of - I made this hairbow holder and painted it "all by myself". I made one for Livy too- anywho - have a baby girl and I will make you one.

Livy's gift to Ellie, her favorite baby doll.
If you are wondering who the adorable youngster in the photo with Amy is - it's my friend Kim's daughter. She is very close to Amy and the most energetic and encouraging little thing ever.

Okay, so you might be wondering why I gave her a gift wrapped in Christmas paper... Did I run out of baby wrap? Does not really seem like me...

And, I didn't...

My favorite gift we gave Amy was a Jesse Tree Set.

Never heard of it - check it out here...

http://christianity.about.com/od/christmas/qt/jessetreeadvent.htm

and here is the book we use to go with our set of ornaments...

http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Jesse-Tree-Devotions-Christmas/dp/0687009081

You hang an ornament each night on a separate little tree and read your kids a story about the coming of the Christ child. It's awesome- but you can't buy it (the set, not the book, obviously you can buy that). I made this set for Amy with a group of about 20 other women. Anyway...

This is one of the best ideas we ever started doing with our kids. Every Christmas celebration should include one. Amy made several sets for friends over the years- but soon she will have her own daughter to bless and teach.

I threw in a tacky Christmas (blinking) bib for Ellie and a sleeper.

There's the set in the cute box - sorry I did not get a close up.

The Shindiggers. Love these ladies like sisters.

Shannon, Ida, Anna, Amy. Monica, Karen, Kim and Meredith.