Lake Mills: The Beach

Here is a collage of our time at the beach today...

Lake Mills: Town and Country Days

Chris's family has a cottage up in Lake Mills, WI, right on Rock Lake. This weekend was Town and Country Days. They actually had a nice little parade that went on for quite awhile. Matthew also had two americana first today as well: eating a hot dog, and cotton candy!

Watching the parade...


The heart attack on a plate: the slider! (Cooked in lard/grease.) Trying cotton candy...

Baby Fix

Our friends Dan and Emily Houlihan had their second daughter Hannah on June 16th. Yesterday I made a meal for them, and when we brought it over I got to spend some time holding the precious little darling! What a cutie. Matthew and Gracie were cute to watch as well playing together.

Holding Hannah...


Gracie and Matthew taking turns on the bouncy seat reading the Bible, such well trained kids!

Summer Buzz Cut

Matthew got yet another haircut yesterday. Now he is ready for the summer heat with his new short do.


Triple Cookie Monster action!

Minnehaha Falls Video

Here is a short video of our time at the falls...

June GA Trip: Minnehaha Falls

There is a really cool waterfall about a half hour from my parents house. Minnehaha Falls is very picturesque, and a fun place to go. It was a short 1/3 mile hike up a trail from the road to get to the falls. So worth it! The fall is at least 60 feet high. Matthew loved playing in the water even though it was extremely cold water right out of the mountain.


Matthew with both me and my parents in front of the falls...


Having a good 'ol time playing in the water...

June GA Trip: Dining at Lake Burton

On Tuesday evening we all went out to eat at a restaurant on Lake Burton. The view was beautiful, and the weather ideal. On the way we stopped at The Mark of the Potter, to have fun looking at the gorgeous pottery they make there.

Matthew and Papaw viewing the fish, and me with Matthew outside the pottery...


Grammy and Matthew eating sweet potato fries, and the view of the lake...


Matthew with my parents on the docks of the lake...

June GA Trip: Having Fun

Matthew and I had a great quick trip to visit my parents this past week while Chris is still in training in Dallas. Here he is playing outside with one of the many fun toys Grammy and Papaw have:

Having a blast with bubbles!


With Papaw outside, and swinging with Grammy on the porch swing...

Best Ribs Ever!

This is the meal I made for Chris for Father's Day. We all love ribs cooked this way. You start by cooking the ribs in a large crock pot with 2 or 3 cans of beer, for about 5 hours on low. (Watch to make sure they don't over cook or they will fall apart too easily when grilling). Then, you grill the ribs a few minutes on each side basting with your favorite bbq sauce. We love Sweet Baby Rays!
So simple, yet so yummy...

Basting the ribs on the grill...and the plate full of ribs, baked beans, and summer veggie cous cous
salad.

Father's Day

Today was a busy day. No rest for Chris on his final day at home before heading back to training in Dallas tonight. We started the day with church, then home to cook some great ribs on the grill (see next post). When Matthew went down for nap, Chris mowed the entire yard, and cleaned out the gutters! The things you do when you are home for only 48 hours. What an incredible guy to be such a great helper on his second Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to the most amazing husband and daddy anyone could ever ask for! (Happy Father's day to my father, and father-in-law as well!)

Chris and Matthew before church today...

Graduation Party

Yesterday we went to our eldest neice's graduation party from high school. Lauren loves Matthew, and has been the best babysitter! We will miss her this fall when she goes to college. Congratulations again Lauren!

Magic Waters Part 2

Here are some more cute pics from our day at the water park...

Matthew having a ball playing in the water...


Chris and Matthew enjoying the wave pool...
Matthew and his friend Ian...

Magic Waters Part 1

So we finally made it to Magic Waters water park! I purchased season passes for Matthew and myself, and had yet to go this year. We went the day after a major storm, so a few slides and the kiddie area were closed, but had fun none the less. We met our friends Tim and Kristin Schmidt, and there kids Annalise and Ian. Matthew had a not so fun experience on the river ride (as you will see), so he was a little nervous around any splashing water after that. He did love playing in the water. Can't wait to go again now that it is summer!

Matthew having fun... Getting ready to go through the water sprays...


The reason Matthew now dislikes spashing water (good one Daddy!), and surviving the rest of the river ride...

Thai Peanut Turkey Burgers

In my quest to cook a little healthier, I came across this recipe on Cara's Cravings, a food blog I found while surfing a few months ago. They looked so yummy I knew I had to try them. They were really good, but the star of the show (at least for me), was my friend Elaine's sweet potato fries! I couldn't get enough of them. Sometimes the simplest things are the best. The burger recipe serves two, but can easily be doubled. Here are the recipes:

Thai Peanut Turkey Burgers
Slightly Adapted from A Good Appetite

8oz ground turkey
1 medium carrot, shredded
1 large scallion, minced
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp chili garlic sauce
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
freshly ground salt & pepper
1/2 tsp ground ginger

2 tbsp light mayonnaise
handful of cilantro, finely minced
1-2 tsp chili garlic sauce

hamburger buns of your choice (I used a whole wheat bun)
mixed greens

Combine burger ingredients a mixing bowl and combine thoroughly. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Form the turkey mixture into two patties. Cook for about 7-10 minutes per side, until cooked through. Serve on buns with cilantro-chili mayo and greens.


Elaine's Sweet Potato Fries

2 Sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into strips (fry shaped)
Olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large jelly roll pan, drizzle the sweet potato strips with olive oil, and season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Roast them in the oven at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 375, stir the potatoes, and cook for another 15 minutes.

Celebrating at the Rainforest Cafe

On Saturday, Matthew and I drove in to pick up Chris at ORD when he came in from DFW after his first week of training on the 737. Since it was our anniversary the day before, and we were excited to have daddy home after being gone all week, we decided it would be fun to go to Woodfield Mall. We shopped for a bit, then ate at the Rainforest Cafe. Matthew had a blast despite not taking an afternoon nap at all that day. The poor little guy was out by the time we hit the highway on the way home.

Chris with Matthew outside the restaurant, and me showing Mattthew the alligator.


Matthew loved looking at the fish tanks, and ate almost his whole kid-sized pizza!

Anniversary Flowers

Here are the flowers I received from Chris on our anniversary. So sweet of him!

50th Anniversary Party

Here are a few pics from the big 50th anniversary party for Chris's parents last Sunday. I finally downloaded the pictures this evening. A good time was had by all, and the food was great!



The Happy Couple!