What's On My Happy List?

4th of July!

Got in the patriotic spirit with fruit this year! 

After the parade yesterday I dipped strawberries in white candy coating and added blue sugar and red, white and blue sprinkles... great way to cover strawberries that are still edible but starting to look a bit ripe. 
I love strawberries but they sure go bad fast!  

fruit inspired here

I used the nice, big good ones up at Scofield this weekend where we made the American flag out of strawberries, bananas and blueberries on skewer sticks...I whipped up the easiest and tastiest fruit dip recipe there is... Phillie strawberry cream cheese and marshmallow whip...mix them together to taste and there you have it. {easy peasy}. That or we like to dip the fruit in chocolate hazelnut spread. My oh my...some of us just had fruit and dip for dinner! 

I found the cutest Fourth of July book for a steal at a local book store. I love children's books and know a few others who do too. Gave a copy to my sister and a friend back East to add to her Summer Book Club for her girls.  

Nothing more American than a freshly baked apple pie but knowing that wouldn't get eaten around here I made my family's favorite...ice-cream pie! This is chocolate cookie crumble ice-cream in a ready made crust. I read the book to the girls while they ate their pie before heading off to see the fireworks. 

Here is a really easy Fourth of July craft for ya all. A candy firecracker!  I made one to send off with my friend's  Fourth of July "good mail". You take an empty paper towel roll, fill with red, white and blue salt water taffy...wrap with blue tissue paper..tie ends with tulle and I used a free Happy 4th of July download from

it is what it is.

Speaking of firecrackers...

We went up to Scofield to see the firework show off the island.  Cool!

Fun hanging out on the dock and in the lake..

Emma went out in the kayak... 

Brie had fun playing in the water...

The water is the highest its been in 15 years! 

Right up to our property. 

Kate hated the life jacket.

We got back into town to enjoy our hometown celebration...

Parade watching...sort of.

Someones not in a good mood...

non parade goer Dad was more than delighted to escape to McDonalds with Kate...

Other than Kyleigh, none of my girls are parade goers, especially Emma who couldn't wait to get out of there. 

We always leave early. 

I'm not even sure why we keep going year after year. 

{forced family fun?} LOL

                                        
                              
 Other than its fun hanging with extended family...

Look at my niece's red cowboy boots! SO cute... 

We had to fore go the afternoon picnic at the park because of the rainstorm...so we took our KFC {a 4th of July must} to Grandma and Grandpa's....

Then I took Kyleigh, Emma and Hannah to see the new movie....Monte Carlo.

A bunch on my side of the family met at the park in the evening to visit and watch the fireworks...one of my favorite nights of the year!

proof that Kate drags her blanket everywhere...

Poor B. Olivia was not feeling well today...darn

                      
Let Freedom always ring. 
Hope you had a Happy Fourth!