Easy as pie (jello pie).

I have been making this super easy jello pie for years and it is always a hit.  It's definitely a summer dessert, as it is light and refreshing.  I made it yesterday using lime jello, but you can use any flavor your heart desires (or that you happen to have in your cupboard).

You need three ingredients:

Jello

Cool Whip (I choose light):

And a ready made graham cracker crust (you could make it yourself, but I choose the easy route on this one):

Here is what you do:

STIR 2/3 cup boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. Add whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. 

Pour into pie crust.

And just like that you made a jello pie.

REFRIGERATE at least 4 hours or until firm. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

All in a day...

If you know me, you know it doesn't take much to make me laugh.  I love to laugh, and sometimes it's the littlest things that make me laugh the most.  One night I laughed uncontrollably over the word "ham" (of course I was tired and delirious), non the less, it was funny.   I love puns and silly jokes...  did you hear about the two peanuts that walked in central park?  One was a "salted"!  That one kills me every time.  Plays on words always seem to get my goat and when I saw this shopping today I had to buy it to put on my front door.  It makes me chuckle every time I walk by it.

Today Tyler got his haircut again.  His last mohawk was so popular he decided to get the sides completely shaved this time.  The red is just colored gel that will wash out tonight (fyi).

Tyler also came into the family room today to tell me he had "red" hands and it wouldn't come off.  Apparently he decided to wash a red marker.  Not only are his hands stained red but the bathroom sink, floor, door, and counter are as well.  At least they match his hair.  All in a days work for him.

And how about a quick picture of Juliana, she just came in from riding her scooter.

My kids, my clowns...

The other night while I was busily making dinner I heard clunking coming down the stairs.  Both my kids are super active and it's not unusual to hear clunking or banging coming down the stairs, but this night it seemed different, somehow louder then normal.  Into the kitchen came Juliana and Tyler arm in arm laughing so hard they could barely speak.  Juliana was dressed in one of my sundresses and wearing a pair of my shoes, Tyler was in Steve's Bruins Jersey and very large shoes (which explains the loud clunking).  They were not only dressed in our clothing, but acting out the part as well.  Juliana said in a very girly girl voice that she was going to a NKOTB concert with her BFF Stephanie, while Tyler said he had to go get on a conference call.  They proceeded to walk around the neighborhood as Kimberly and Stephen and had dinner like us as well.  Tyler kept calling Juliana "honey" (Steve's favorite pet name for me).  If there is no other reason to have children (which obviously there are), belly laughs definitely make it all worth it.

Croak...

My kids love looking for frogs.  We have all these tiny little cute frogs hopping around that they like to collect and then set free at the end of the day.  Tyler is especially fond of these creatures.  The other night I heard him squealing with excitement as he had found the biggest and most disgusting (my word) frog he has found in a long time.  I am used to the tiny little frogs, not this monster.

He loved him.

I must admit, seeing Tyler so excited got me excited about this little... I mean big guy.

Tyler did return him to where he found him so he could go back to his family after his photo shoot.  I guess I should be happy he likes frogs and not snakes (gasp)!

The boy can cook...

Tyler loves to help me cook and really wants to be able to cook on his own (supervised of course).  He can make scrabbled eggs completely on his own and is now trying to master pancakes.  I bought him a mix that you just have to add a few ingredients to (he even has his own secret ingredient) as it's easier then starting from scratch.  This morning he made strawberry pancakes, and they were yummy!

And for the record, he does own shirts, he just chooses not to wear them very much.

Say hello to my little friend...

A little something sweet (kid style)...

Summer time snacks are always the best snacks.  I love all the fresh fruits, berries, and of course the melons!  We went shopping this morning for fruits and after dinner Tyler knew exactly what he wanted to make for dessert.  He got out the blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, whipped cream, and the cherries.  He was so proud of his creation, and I must admit... it was super tasty.

Juliana went for a snack we've been making for awhile now.  My friend had told me about it and now it's a staple when we want something quick and sweet.  It's just graham crackers and frosting.  So easy the kids can make it themselves and just the right amount of sweet when your sweet tooth is calling.

Not dead yet...

I am the worst when it comes to growing anything or keeping anything alive in the garden or even in a pot.  I bought some flowers a couple of weeks ago and thanks to Mother Nature they are still alive today.  Not sure how long they will last so I snapped a few quick pictures of them last night.

A day in the woods...

So it wasn't a full day in the woods, but Sunday morning we decided to pack up the kids and dogs for a little hike.  This sounds easy, but with a dog that gets overly excited to leave the house it can present a challenge.  We loaded everyone into the SUV and headed to Chatfield Hollow.  It's a pretty state park with several walking trails.

I only took my little point and shoot camera but got a few cute pictures.  I made them all stop for a quick picture on a little bridge in the woods.  I don't know who was more anxious to keep going, the kids or the dogs.

There's a great little brick wall with a pond behind it, the kids all like walking on the wall.  I shall call this picture, "A boy and his dog".

We tried to get the dogs to get closer to the water but they both hate it.  Here is the look Charlotte gave when we tried to nudge her towards the stream.

Finally, we let the kids wade through the streams and skip rocks.

A moment...

A moment in time frozen for ever.  That's what a photograph is, and what I strive to capture when taking pictures, that one moment that will last forever.  I have taken 10's of thousands of pictures, but every once in awhile there is that one that takes my breath away.  A couple of years ago we were visiting Stephen's Grandmother, my children's Great Grandmother and her husband Lenny.  We went to Falmouth beach, it's five minutes from their house on Cape Cod.  The sun was setting and it was what is known as the golden hour for pictures, and I captured this "moment".  A favorite to be cherished forever.