Archive for September, 2010

Smith Family Photos

Doug has a new photo site, which you can access down on the right navigation. Check it out! (And look soon for A&O photos soon!)

For a rainy day

The day, which got off to a very soggy start, is ending with dramatic thunderstorms.

Despite a pledge to do more on the storm front this summer, an extremely busy work schedule kept me at my desk today.

How’s the weather where you are?

Ava Fix

Those little dimples near the corner of Ava’s mouth are among my most favorite things in this world. So sweet, yet so mischievous. Just like Ava herself.

Hot off the grill

Ava and I made these barbecue cupcakes for Bryan’s company party this weekend. I used the Martha Stewart one-bowl chocolate cupcake recipe (which is so easy Ava can literally do the whole thing herself). You can find information on the rest of the idea here–hurry, though, summer’s about over!

I couldn’t find orange sanding sugar, but a drop of gel food coloring turned my yellow sprinkles into fire-like crystals. I suppose this is a well-known trick, but I was really excited to find this worked.

Liv, our resident taste-tester, approved.

Olivia Fix

Sunday is “pants optional” day.

Picked a peck of peppers

…then stuffed them with ground beef, tomatoes and garlic…

…and stuck them in the freezer.

We haven’t had a real abundance of anything from the garden this year, so no canned tomatoes or the like, but at least we have a few dishes of stuffed peppers to look forward to in the coming weeks!

Parting shots

A rare family photo in which both of my children are smiling…I can’t remember what I threatened them with, but it worked!

“Wind from the west, fish bite best”

My mom said this out loud on Monday morning, shortly after Bryan and Grampa headed down to a nearby inlet. She was right!

Of course, the direction of the wind didn’t seem to cause Bryan too much trouble the day before…

Gramma’s Olivia Fix

Or maybe it’s Olivia’s Gramma fix—the other day, Olivia heard a little boy crying in the grocery store. Her response? “He just needs his grandma.” Indeed.

A morning on the lake

We took advantage of the relatively calm water Sunday morning by spending a couple of hours in the boat.

Lifejacket – check. Paci – check. Two lovies ( “my lovie” and “my another lovie”) – check and check.

I bet you thought Bryan used a bigger rig to catch that catfish. You have to go with what works, though!

We were met with a gorgeous sunrise and cool temperatures.

I think Dave had the only two fish of the morning. This one spent a bit of time in the livewell to entertain the girls, but went back in the lake before we went home. Olivia noted that he had to go see his mommy.

Ava drove us back to the dock, just in time to meet Gramma and Grampa Great.

Thanks to Mom for sharing the photos from her camera. More tomorrow!