• Summer Activities: Fun Family Day at Home!

    School’s out and the summer heat is here. We love spending time as a family outside, however, some of that time involves finding cool activities to do during the summer heat.  There is always something fun to do during the girls summer vacation away from school.  Below are some of the fun adventures we did on a recent Saturday together.

    Swimming in the Pool

    Brina and Karlie Swimming in the Pool!

    Eating Ice Cream

    Daddy, Karlie, Brina and Skipper enjoying a bowl of ice cream on the front porch!

    Napping in the Hammock

    Karlie snoozing in the shade on the hammock after a swim in the pool!

    Playing Under the Jungle Gym – Sand Fun

    Brina "cleaning" the sand off the Jungle Gym after swimming in the pool!

    Science Experiments

    Growing Rocks in a Rainbow of Colors! Since one of the girls is into "sharks" I choose a shark background for this experiment.

     

    Brina and Karlie watching the rocks grow! It was an interesting experiment over a couple days!

     

  • Family Recipe: Grandma’s Homemade Ice Cream

    It is the season for Homemade Ice Cream! There is something about spending time with family and friends followed by homemade ice cream.  The fellowship is enjoyable and the food delicious!  I am looking forward to dusting off my ice cream maker, picking up the ingredients and eating the tasty ice cream.  The recipe I am sharing is one that my Grandma Willa has made for years.  We used to make this recipe in the hand cranked ice cream maker, the one you got a work out from before eating the ice cream.  We are spoiled now with electric ice cream makers!

    Homemade Ice Cream Recipe: (makes 1 Gallon)

    • 5 Eggs
    • 1 1/2 Cup Sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
    • (beat together)
    • Add: 2 cans of can milk (or use 2 cups cream and 1 carton 1/2 & 1/2 in place of can milk)
    • Pour mixture in container and fill to the line with whole milk
    • Freeze

    If you want a specific flavor instead of vanilla add it to the cream before freezing.  We have added fresh fruit, crashed up candy bars, cookies, peanut butter, or chocolate syrup to the ice cream (strawberries, peaches, butter finger bars, snickers, oreos and more)!  When you are serving a large crowd I have found it is easier to do vanilla ice cream and offer a variety of toppings – hot fudge, fresh fruit (blueberries, pineapple, strawberries, etc…), crushed candy bars, cookies, caramel, sprinkles and whatever else you want to add.

    Now I just need to find a good “excuse” to make homemade ice cream!  Anyone having a party soon?

    Photo by jeffreyw