June in Review, Part Two.

Okay, Mommy, here are the rest of the June highlights, plus the sidebar "Diva" pictures updated at your gentle suggestion.  I love you, Mom.  Thanks for reading my blog!  

And now, 

in no particular order, 

I present to you....

The Rest of June!

Bronwen loves her feet and legs.  Here she is doing her "Jane Fondas" after a nursing session.

The girl in the striped turquoise pants is none other than Jillson Patricia, who discovered a new passion this summer:  tae kwon do.  The YMCA offered this amazing week-long camp.  It was such a success for Jillson that we signed her up for regular tae kwon do lessons for the school year.  More on this later, but suffice to say, she has found a niche.

After a week of ATA camp, Jillson was thrilled to receive permission to "break board."  And break board she did!

A random sighting of the pumpkin fairy baby.  I have no idea which sister put the wings on her (though I have my suspicions) or how long they were on her, but she clearly didn't feel impeded by them.

Monkey toes in action.  When I say this baby likes to use her feet for things, I am not exaggerating.  Here, she is using both feet and one hand to manipulate the keys.  I love her.

Then there's this problem.  Zephie has been sighing and groaning extra loud as if to say "not THIS phase again!" since we've been putting the dishes on the counter.

All dressed up to pick up the Gutsy Dad after he returned from a 7-week business trip.

Family portrait, reunion-style.

Super Dad with all the girls so Mommy can go to choir practice.  (Madelyn's dress was mine.) 

Hilton Head weekend.

Just another night of bedtime routines...  I love everything about this photo.

Madelyn, too, found a niche this summer: gymnastics!  She did a weeklong gymnastics camp and had a blast.  She is signed up for lessons this fall.  Happy Maddie.

A pictures of "the girls" from the ball.  These are some of the most resilient, inspiring, and hilarious women I know. So honored to be among them.

The morning after the ball, we hit the road for Maine or Bust 2012.  Here are the girls, three across.

And here are the other girls.  They were so excited, wiggling around in the back of the car doing the "We made the cut! We made the cut!" dance.

A final favorite from the ball.

Oh yes, Jillson also did a week of ballet camp with her besties.

Family portrait without the Gutsy Dad.  Please note, however, my friend's husband making a creepy face through the window.  Love it!  (Their daughter also appears in the photo--in a totally non-creepy way.)

Be back soon with July, and then I'll finally be able to talk about the NOW.  (There is a reason I swear I will never do catch-up posts.  Feels sort of rushed and weird talking about previous months.)

Love to all,

The GM

June in Review, part one.

We spoke briefly (ha ha ha ha) about May a few posts ago, so here goes June. This is the post in which I continue to pretend it's summer, because in fact it actually IS still summer, even though the kids are back in school.  I adore summer.  I also adore Savannah.  But it really messes with my inner-seasonal-time-calendar-thing that school does not start in the Fall here.  Anyhoo.

Back to June and all its fun and in no particular order.  (I will not be talking about the more difficult aspects of June.  With due respect, that's a topic for another post.)

In June, Bronwen turned 9 months.  Behold the one tooth.

June was bookended by special events.  At the end of the month, the Gutsy Dad and I got all dressed up and went to a beautiful ball in downtown Savannah.  We had a total blast; it was a gorgeous night; we were ready for a grown-up night out and we got one.  

At the beginning of the month, a wonderful local non-profit put on an amazing event for wives of people who do what my husband does.

Letter-writing practice:

Audition for crime-scene chalked-out corpse role (from the ongoing Where Maddie Sleeps series):

I heart Box Mania:

That's it for tonight, but don't you worry.  There's plenty more where this total randomness is coming from.  Just you wait!

Cocktail of the Month: White Wine Peach Sangria

It's been a while since we've talked booze.  Well, let me clarify that.  It's been a while since we've talked booze on the blog.  It's a pretty regular topic of discussion in our household, especially in the summer. 

So.  I've got the perfect summer punch for you.  This is a riff off of a DELICIOUS white wine sangria that my beautiful friend Alicia made as the "appetizer" drink for my Baby #3 shower back in Kansas.  I could not fully enjoy it back then of course, being great with child, so I was pretty excited to remember it this summer.

Made a double batch of this for a pool party last week, and it was a hit.  Made a single batch of it for me and the Gutsy Dad the following night--also a hit.  Though, honestly, one batch is quite a lot of alcohol for just two people.  I'm wondering if you could store leftovers in the fridge and enjoy it the next day...

White Wine Peach Sangria Punch

one bottle white wine (750ml), I like to use cheap Pinot Grigio

one can of Fresca

12 oz vanilla vodka

12 oz peach nectar

frozen peaches

frozen raspberries

Assembly is easy.  Get out a big pitcher or bowl.  Pour in the bottle of wine.  Pour in the can of Fresca. Fill the Fresca can with vanilla vodka and dump it in.  Fill the Fresca can with peach nectar and dump it in.  (My peach nectar came in a larger bottle.  If you can find it in 12 oz cans, then you're all set.)  Add in the frozen fruits -- they help kick start the cooling of the punch.  Use as much or as little as you like when it comes to the fruits.  I had one bag of each that lasted for the three aforementioned batches of this recipe.  I think it is always nice to have a lot of yummy fruit in there, but this is also because I love to eat the drunken fruit.  Keep the pitcher chilled until ready to serve.  Fill glasses with ice, pour, and enjoy.

Of course you can use fresh fruit.  But that's pretty labor intensive for a summer drink, don't you think?

You recall how my man loves his girly drinks?  This one is no exception.

P.S. The wine glass in the first two pictures is from Curly Girl Designs.  I love love LOVE the things she designs.  I have four of her cards clipped to drawers in my creative space.  When Jillson saw my wine glass she said "you have that card upstairs!"  I'm always amazed at the details kids pick up.  The artwork on my wine glass is this one.  But I also love this one.