Monday, July 30, 2012

Birthday boy

Because you only turn one (and seven simultaneously) once........



I went and found the biggest freaking birthday bone I could.

This bone used to be in the leg of a stegosaurus, I believe.



The expiration date said 12/15.  We took bets to see how long we think it will last.  The mister says next year.  I say October.



Happy Birthday Buehrle Bradford and to many many more!!


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Puddles!!!





As most everyone remembers, here in the midwest we were recently plagued with a week of unbearable hell where you couldn't even go outside without feeling like you were melting away.  (I seriously moved far away from the south so I wouldn't have to deal with htis kind of heat.  You walk outside and it feels like you are walking through a vat of creamy potato soup.)  FINALLY we got some relief in the form of a massive downpour.  

As you can tell from this picture the baby and the puppy were so happy to be free from the house and run run run run run through the puddles!!!!!!!!!  


Summer Nights Are So Magical!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Dairy Free Strawberry Ice Cream

There are two things that have been very consistent with our summer.

1.  No matter how many times a day I wash Clara's face dirt streaks will find their way back within 5 minutes.
2.  Everyday Clara will ask for cake.



Since the kid obviously has inherited my love for cake I feel it is necessary for me to continue on for my search of the absolute best dairy free "ice cream".

Strawberry Dairy & Sugar free "Ice Cream" 


  •  Frozen Bananas 
  • Strawberries
  • Splash of Almond Milk
*I used 1 1/2 bananas and 3 large strawberries which made about 2-3 cups of "ice cream"

  1. Put frozen bananas and splash of milk into your food processor.  Blend for about 3 minutes until they become very creamy  and airy.  
  2. Add strawberries and blend one more minute.
That's it!


Even the Mister, who absolutely despises bananas gobbled this up!  It ended up tasting like a really thick frozen custard that is ridiculously healthy for you.


Happy Friday!


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Is Summer a Vacation?

Summer has been keeping us mighty busy.  The Mister always triples his workload in the summer which means the baby and I have lots of time to go swing and swim and play play play play play and it gives me time to make all sorts of new and delicious treats!!

Instead of photo-bombing you with all the fun I will specifically stick to the fourth of July, (since it is still July.)

Last year, I remember exactly where I was and how I was feeling on the fourth of July weekend.  Instead of enjoying the holiday with my family and watching Clara experience fireworks for the first time I was in the hospital, sitting by the Misters side closely monitoring the machines he was hooked up to and doing the best I could to help his pain management.  Due to the way he received his injuries and strict hospital regulations I wasn't allowed to speak to any of our friends or family at all.  When he did sleep for short bursts I watched the fireworks from his hospital window.  (He was going in and out every ten minutes or so.)  I started thinking with those three days I had by myself.  I have always been a back up plan b, c, d, e, and f kind of girl.  If something were to go wrong in life it would be okay because I had all those other plans to fall into.  For the first time ever I realized that I didn't have a backup plan.  What was I going to do if he didn't make it?  Where would the girls and I live?  Where would I work?  Raising one girl alone was hard enough, how in the world was I going to raise two?  The whole experience made me realize how incredibly foolish I had been the past four years that we had been together.  No matter how happy you are with your life you absolutely never in a million years know when life is going to throw you a curveball.

Since we both missed out on Clara's first Fourth we were very excited to celebrate with her this summer.  On July 3d we packed up the car, headed to the burbs and enjoyed an evening together under the stars starting with a good ol' fashion picnic.
























Then the band started....And what's a party without a little dancing?





Clara clapped and cheered at the end of each song (cutest thing EVER!)



We played around with glowsticks........



Until it was time for the big event....


And she laughed like a mad woman the entire time.

I think it was the most magical night of her life as to date.