It's Summer Time a.k.a. Ice Cream Time

We have a little ice cream stand in town. It's staffed with young teens with their hair in pony tails or coiffed into shaggy skater cuts. Basically, it is the quintessential neighborhood hang out for both young and old on hot summer days.

So when the temps start soaring, tons of families and their kids flock to the little barn-esque shop to cool down with snowballs topped with marshmellow or soft serve covered with your choice of sprinkles—chocolate or multi-colored.

It's one of those places that when you go, you always run into someone you know. And since you're all indulging in a little decadence, you needn't feel guilty about eating a large vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles. After all, if questions are raised, you'd have to comment on their cold duck snowball with a good full half cup of marshmallow topping. And frankly, that's not very neighborly now is it?

It's moments like these that I hope my kids remember. Those quiet summer evenings right before the sun goes down when your biggest concern is making sure you lick the ice cream before it drips on your fingers.

Café Hon

Here's a pic of Jonah Boy at one of our favorite restaurants Café Hon. It's where kitsch meets yummy food. Whether it's the comfort of meatloaf and apple pie or the allure of pink flamingos and big hair, Café Hon is a fun and fresh place to hit with the kids.

Ellie loves the meatloaf, I order the crab soup and BLT, Dave the chicken salad and Jonah gets the chicken strips. Of course it's all rounded out with a yummy helping of peach pie. Mmmmmm.....

No wonder we keep going back!

Two of our Favorite Things

The new EBK capes* (shown in the Bolt design) and Dan Zanes videos. It's a match made in Heaven. And doesn't Jonah totally own that pink number?



*Two new capes designed for girls debut at Ellie Bellie Kids soon!

The Tour de Living Room

I know. Can you believe we let them do this?

Sunglass Shopping

I think this picture speaks for itself...

Tuesday Morning

Camping

This weekend Dave and I are trying to head up to NYC for some work/play. When planning this trip (which I'm still knee deep in the process with only 5 days to go), I needed to figure out what to do with the kids. "I want to go camping" one says and then the other chimed in, "I wan oo go camin to Mo-mmy!" Ah, there's the answer. Yes, camping with good old Memaw and Pepaw.

Of course, this isn't any old style of camping, it is luxury camping. Well, I guess if you consider RVing luxury camping. In fairness it does have full working indoor plumbing as well as a lovely shower, large tv, DVD player, satellite tv stations, internet connection, a/c and best of all smores!

So while my kids are in heaven (playing by the lake, fishing, walking through the woods, playing at the playground and roasting marshmallows) Dave and I will do our best to have a little fun of our own. I'm thinking it's going to be hard to beat the kids in the fun department on this one though. They LOVE (can I say that loud enough?) camping. Here are a couple pics of the kids from their June weekend camping trip.

Ellie and the Fireworks

Well the big fourth of July fireworks were rained out. But being the stalwarts our community members are they wouldn't let it stop the festivities—just reschedule it a bit. So last Saturday, Dave and Ellie went to view the big spectacle. Jonah was too pooped so he and I hung out at home but thanks to the modern world of technology I got to hear some of the highlights.

Check out this audio clip to hear Ellie's commentary on the big display. Oh and here's her call on the grand finale. You can tell she kinda petered out at the end.

Happy Birthday America

Yesterday as we were driving through town, Ellie noticed the banners that were up for the 4th of July.

Me: Yes, it's our country's birthday tomorrow.
Ellie: Our country?
Me: Yes, remember we live in the United States of America? And a long time ago, people came to America and wanted to make it their own country—a place for us to live. Do you remember last year's 4th of July?
Ellie: Oh yeah. (pause) Hey America! (then breaks out in a whisper with her hands cupped around her mouth for effect) That's you Mommy. You pretend you're America.
Me: Oh yes, yes. Ahem. Yes, Ellie?
Ellie: It's your birthday tomorrow. And we'll have fireworks and eat ice cream.
Me: (still in character) Oh yeah? That sounds great!
Ellie: Yeah it is (then giggles with a sense of self-satisfaction).

Happy 4th Everyone!

The Cooper Clan

In celebration of the upcoming movie debut of the Simpsons (I can't tell you how many countless Sundays I spent with Dave and his brother listening to them giggle like school boys while they watched the tv show) we give you the Cooper Family. Well at least what we would look like if Matt Groening had his way with us. Oh and yes, I'm totally rocking the green pants there.