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Even though my sister is camping, I just mapped it and we are still 300 miles apart! If you haven’t checked out our blog together, 300 miles, where we each post a picture every day, this is a good week to check it out. Despite the intense heat and humidity, swarms of gnats, and lack of laptop, Melissa has figured out a way to get her pics to me straight from the campground.
Grandma visited the Speelman Family Campingpalooza campsite yesterday and reports back through pictures. Of course my favorite pictures were of that cutie-patootie Elle: Elle loving a dog, with a messy face, Elle and her daddy, with her Mom, and Isaac feeding her ice cream. So we know Elle is having fun. Melissa will have to fill us in on how everyone else’s trip was!
I know, I know, when Melissa goes out of town, I fill in with blogs about food. Well I love food! And here’s some more. For a friend’s Fourth of July festivity I needed to make something delicious that did not require turning on the oven. And here is a red white and blue trifle, recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart. It was soooo good! And it was gone in under 20 minutes after sitting it on the table. I highly recommend making one before berry season is over.
My mom will be posting next with after she visits the campsite tomorrow.
Happy Birthday, big sis! Click here for video of Melissa’s birthdays through the years.
While the Speelman family recovers from a bout of post-holiday stomach flu, I thought I would post some of my (Aunt B) pictures of their Christmas day. We have a tradition that all of the kids have to wait at the top of the stairs until everyone is ready on Christmas morning. Owen made his mom a drawing that Grandma had transfered to a plate based on a plate Melissa made as a child. Owen also decorated many of the packages. Elle was not that interested in opening presents, but she did enjoy the boxes. Isaac wowed us by playing Joy to the World on Grandma’s guitar. Grandma gave Truitt a plate made from one of his drawings. And Owen was in pirate heaven (Melissa took this one with my camera, but I liked it).
I’m getting this post up just in the nick of time. Our Fourth festivities were delayed for hours due to rain, but it finally cleared up and we all moved from the kitchen out to the patio for a cook out. Phil is eating a feta and onion stuffed grilled nectarine that my friend Beth brought over. Above him, my friend Terra is pondering the drink that Beth made for the party–strawberries, basil and lemon with vodka and ginger ale. We thought all night and finally named it Free Sunburn, I forget why! And that is Phil’s sister-in-law enjoying one of the four pieces of watermelon she ended up eating. Happy Fourth!
My non-Speelman nephew is enjoying his summer as well. He has his own blog which I stole these pictures from and his mom writes: Ivan absolutely loves to go outside. His favorite thing to do is get in and out of his pool over and over. His new favorite pool toy is a plastic cup that he fills up and dumps out. We have even made a couple trips to my parent’s house this summer to swim in the “big pool.” Ivan loves to be in the water, but he also just loves to run up and down their yard. He has to stop and look at all of the flowers (which are often just bushes) and anything else that may catch his eye. I thought it was pretty cute that he had to drag his towel along with him every where that he went!
My mom went to visit Camp Speelman yesterday, actually she met Melissa and children in nearby Vermilion. They watched the boats on Lake Erie and then walked around a bit. Owen found a pirate flag on a pole that he had to hug and kiss. And for lunch, Owen ordered the peanut butter and pickle hamburger–which is actually on the menu. He might just be the weirdest Speelman yet!
Phil’s sister-in-law made us this delicious dessert Sunday night and I think it would make an easy and delicious Fourth of July treat. She started with an angel food cake (store-bought), and sliced it horizontally into three pieces. Then she layered each piece with whipped cream (this she made), vanilla pudding, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Easier than pie! Everyone should make one this weekend.
My mother has so kindly offered up for public ridicule some vintage images of her famous Polyester Bikini. That’s Melissa in the backyard kiddie pool and that’s me sitting in front of the record collection.
But I think the bottom photo of Melissa and two of her friends–who also had the pleasure of wearing the Polyester Bikini–best displays the swimsuit’s inability to stay in place while enjoying some fun in the sun.
In my mom’s defense, I do love that she sewed us cute clothes when we were little, I just think bathing suits are something best purchased.
