Today we take a moment to pause and reflect on the men and women, past and present, that have served our country. "Lest We Forget" is a phrase that stuck with me while visiting Australia during their remembrance day. In honor of all who served. In memory of those soldiers who fell. We will never forget.

I am always on the lookout for healthy snacks that EJ can enjoy. She loves cookies, so what is better than a cookie that is healthy for her? A cookie that is quick, easy and healthy!

I was excited when I came across this Banana Drop recipe in our Vitamix cookbook last night. We made a dozen cookies in under a half an hour and ate them all before we went to bed. EJ liked them so much I made another dozen this morning!

Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas, peeled
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups uncooked rolled oats
1 cup raisins
(I will also added 1/2 cup blueberries, and 1/4 cup flax seed, and 1/4 cup walnuts to give a little extra nutrition and crunch)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place bananas, oil, vanilla extract, and 1 cup oats into the blender and blend until the mixture is smooth.
Add raisins and rest of oats to the mixture and stir by hand.
Form into 12 balls, place on cookie sheet and press to flatten slightly.
Bake for 20 minutes.

I posted my first items to my Little Aviator shop on Etsy this evening. There is still so much to do but it is a big fist step! Now to post the rest of my items...

Nothing makes you slow down and enjoy summer like a little watermelon on the front porch. No worrying about drips so the cheeks can get nice and juicy!

I like having a clean house but do not always feel like I am keeping up with it. In Japan, department stores sold household journals that helped keep the laundry, groceries and cleaning in order. That was a bit extreme for me, but since I love making lists and checking things off, I thought a cleaning checklist might be just the thing I needed.

So instead of falling behind and having to hiring a cleaning lady, give this checklist I created a try!

Our neighborhood has a wonderful summer tradition of playing movies in Alabama Square when the days get longer and the weather warmer. Everyone brings their own chairs or blankets and enjoys freshly popped popcorn and soda under the gazebo.

We headed to the park to watch National Velvet, a Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor classic about a horse. EJ was ready for bed by the time it was dark enough to start the movie but she enjoyed playing with her friends at the playground beforehand.

This poster is for "Biebs". She could be the nurse in the poster; it reminds me so much of her. She is strong, resolute and always ready for adventure.

Biebs recently left an exciting ER position to be commissioned as a Navy Nurse and help those in our military. She starts a month of Officer Development School (ODS) tomorrow and then will be stationed down in Beufort, NC. (not to be confused with Beufart:)

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Biebs, as you go through the training. I am sure you will be stretched and challenged in many new ways but I know you will rise to the challenge and excel. I can not wait to hear about all the new experiences!

Godspeed my dear friend!

We biked down with our neighbors and enjoyed some perfect weather at the park.

EJ got a close up view of the McGuire bagpipes before they performed

And then EJ and Connor spent most of their time at the swings.


Click here for the 2011 summer season schedule.

And here is a video of the McGuire Pipe Band.

May means the beginning of blueberry picking season. I learned since moving to Florida that the combination of climate and sandy soil here means sweet juicy berries. I grew up foraging for the tiny tart ones that grew low to the ground in the back woods of MN so it was a pleasant surprise to find that blueberries can also grow in clumps on large bushes.

Beulah Berries is a quick 14 mile drive from downtown Pensacola. It is actually just three turns from our house! We first visited the berry patch last year when Avia and PopPop were visiting. When I received an e-mail that the berries were ready for picking, I knew it was a place I wanted to take them again.

You start your picking experience at the berry shed. It is stocked with anything you might need to make your visit enjoyable. (buckets, bug spray, water, chairs, shade)

A sign is posted inside with picking instructions. The shed is unmanned so these are quite helpful.

EJ grabbed her bucked and was ready to start picking.

She headed out with Avia in search of ripe berries.

Buelah Berries grows 17 types of blueberries. This visit we primarily picked Palmetto blueberries.

The bushes were the perfect height for EJ to reach.

Most of them made it into the bucket.

But a few went directly to the mouth.


About an hour later we each had our gallon bucket filled with blueberries. At $10/gal (or $1.25/lb) they are a great deal!

I froze one gallon to use for pancakes and smoothies and the other has already been eaten. We will be visiting the Beulah Berries again soon!

We celebrated Avia and PopPop's last night visiting with a lamb dinner on the front porch. DaddyO has been experimenting with different lamb recipes and found one he had to make for them.

Avia butchered (literally not figuratively) the lamb and EJ helped make the spice rub (she ended up with yellow feet from the tumeric but is a pro at pushing the pulse button on the processor). This recipe will hereafter be known as "PopPops Lamb" as he exclaimed during the meal that it was the best lamb he had ever tried. That is a big compliment coming from him!

We used the following recipe from Epicurious, and this Naan recipe was the perfect accompaniment.

Ingredients

1/2 large onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
6 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh marjoram leaves
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 4 1/2- to 5-pound boneless leg of lamb, butterflied, fat and sinew trimmed

We don't need to travel up north to enjoy cooler weather this month. We were very happy to get the drop in temperature but I was a bit surprised when I saw how cool it was compared to our other favorite locations. We may just have to go camping and imagine we are in the AK wilderness:)

Megan and I go way back...back to the days when our husband's were in the RAG together and we were newbies to Navy life. I like to say she followed me to Japan and then Pensacola, but I know I was just lucky to have her husband stationed where mine was. If only she would follow me to our next location:)

The theme of the shower was a front porch garden.


We incorporated flowers into our decorations and food as much as possible.

The tissue paper flowers were made using a technique I learned in Japan. (every Japanese student seemed to know how to make them) Here is an easy tutorial.

The centerpieces tied all the decorations together and added color and freshness.


A friend made these fabulous cupcakes using instructions from What's New, Cupcake. The only downside to making such a beautiful cupcake is no one wants to eat them. Fortunately she made extras!


We had a drink table of fruit sangria, iced tea, and simple syrups.

The shower was held at 1:30 so we kept the food light and easy to manage.

Veggie cups meant no one had to worry about double dipping.

The fruit tartlets were quick and easy. Simply take a sugar cookie, add a dollop of lemon curd, and top with fresh fruit.


Mango pudding has become a favorite of mine. When I found cute silicone molds at World Market recently, I knew these little desserts would be a fun addition to the shower.

Before Megan opened her presents everyone learned how to make a Moravian Star. Each of our stars were then added to a mobile she took home for her nursery.

I did not get a picture of her mobile but here is a close up of the star. They take a bit of practice to learn, but once you have made a couple they are quite easy. I liked these instructions best!


It was a wonderful afternoon of baby talk, laughter, and food. We are so excited to meet Megan's little one in less than a month!