Vacation With Three Boys

Simon took this picture of me.  He was so much fun on vacation.  He no longer needs swim diapers or a stroller.  He's one of the big boys now.  He doesn't even really need his floaties, but mama still made him wear them occasionally.  He loved the beach, and would spend almost an hour making things in the sand all by himself.  He loved to help me take pictures, too (see picture of me with my tongue out!!).












Isaac has officially become a young man.  He enjoyed the freedom of being older...going up to the hotel room by himself while the rest of us were swimming, staying up a little later than the other two, reading for hours in the car.  I love that he was thoughtful on this trip, offering to take his brothers to the room so Daddy and I could read by the pool, not asking for every trinket we passed by.  He found out that he loves crab legs, so he and I ordered them together every chance we got.


















Ezra was always ready to throw the football or the baseball every time the car stopped or he stepped out onto the beach.  He also began a love affair with ESPN.  We don't get channels at home, so this mama realized that if we did, this house full of boys would have the TV on ESPN most of the time!!  I see channels in our future! ;)  I loved on this trip that Ezra was always ready for a party and made everything we did so much fun.

Fourth of July Menu

I'm hosting a little family Fourth of July shindig this year.  I can't remember ever hosting on the fourth of July before.  I'm super excited!  Uncle Kerry and Aunt Mary are in from Oklahoma, Uncle Mickey and Aunt Kathie are driving up route 1 to join us, and of course our family and my mama will be here.  If you are related to us, consider this your invitation to join us...I'm not even kidding...come on...do it!!!!

Here's our menu:

Hawaiian Pork Chops
We used to have these at Steve and Jan Spencer's house when I was a little girl, and now here I am being the grown-up and making them!!!

Buttermilk Chicken Legs
We just tried these for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and Ezra said (with chicken hanging off of his face), "Could we have these EVERY night for supper?!?"

Source: cleverlyinspired.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Calypso Beans and Rice
We had this fabulous side dish for the first time at a Fourth of July shindig at my 2nd cousin's wife's brother's house a few years ago.  Don't even try to figure that out....in my family we are super close to our 2nd cousin's wife's brother's uncle's aunt and we never see our uncle...we're just weird that way!!!

Pioneer Woman's Fresh Corn Casserole
I've never made this, but EVERYTHING the Pioneer Woman makes is delicious!!!

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

My Aunt Kathie's Salad
I love it when Aunt Kathie makes salad...it's always yummy!!
(I don't have a picture of the salad, but here's one of Aunt Kathie...she's the redhead in the middle...my aunt Mary is on the right, and my mama is on the left)

Homemade Peach Pie with Ice Cream
Again, no picture of the pie (I have never worked that far ahead!), but here's the rolling pin I will use to roll out the crust...

The Pioneer Woman's Fourth of July Cake
I'm pretty sure this is sinful, but we WILL enjoy every minute of it!

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

So, this is our Fourth of July menu...what's on your menu this year??