Puppy Chow!

I will never forget the first time I was introduced to the AMAZING-ness of puppy chow. It was 1991(ish) and I was in Mrs. D's first grade class. We had just finished reading a book about Clifford the Big Red Dog and then Mrs. D did it. She brought out bags of the stuff, and gave us each just a handful on a paper napkin and it just melted my heart! lol. If you know me, you know my soft, soft, soft spot for chocolate (and peanut butter is always a plus)! Anyway, I didn't know if I'd ever experience it again, until my mom's friend Shirley made it for me... again and again and again as I grew up. Well, one day Shirley decided she was going to move to Seattle, which meant I'd no longer have my own personal chef to make it for me when I needed/wanted it! So... before she left she wrote down the recipe for me and it sits on the side of my fridge. It literally is the only hand-written recipe that I have. It has been with me to Kentucky, Oklahoma, and back to Florida (through a move or 2 - another one is coming at the end of this week actually - Z and I are like nomads). Anyway, I thought I'd document it! Z helped me make three batches of it for my bff Ashley's baby shower on Sunday! It was a hit, of course... and I even let the mom-to-be take home a huge sack of it - because she and baby Jacob deserve it! :)

It's not in the best shape, but it's still the best!

(If I killed someone they could find my fingerprints on it .. in peanutbutter!)

The ingredients ... times THREE!
Starting to warm up the chocolatey goodness!

Mellllllting...
Covering the chex in the melted mixture... this is half of one batch.

Putting it in a load of powdered sugar!

Letting it "cool". You know Z and I were taking some to try it though...

from each batch!

The final product!

Go make some. Right now! You won't regret it...

-Ashley

JUMP!!!!

I had gone under the railroad tracks at least 100 times in the boat before, but I had never really thought about being one of the crazy people who actually goes up and jumps! Well, put two crazies in the boat with me and heck yes I'm jumping!! John helped Allie and I up and I WALKED across the top and waited for Allie to go up... and CRAWL across. And then waited for John to make it to me... and THEN Allie decides to just JUMP! and then John! and THEN ME! It was like waiting 100 years to get to the water, but it was so fun!

Wondering what the plan is to get up there...

Still wondering!
John helping me up.

I made it!

Allie starting to crawl over while I'm blowing in the wind...

Are you here yet?!

... Allie!

....John!

... Ashley!!

HOLY MOLY! It doesn't look very high, but standing up there was quite the rush!!! I may or may not ever do this again... I guess it all depends if anyone else is doing it! Because if my friends/family are jumping off a bridge/railroad track - I totally am too! Until next lake weekend...

-Ashley

Boating on Lake Sinclair

We spent a lot of Friday and most of Saturday out on the boat... Thanks Captain Zach and Captain Deb for driving us around! Although, I did drive once and I scared people on my boat and people not on my boat! I prefer riding and not paying attention - Z prefers paying attention and driving. Works out perrrrrfectly! The weather was a bit cloudy, but as we all know, the sun still got to us and we all were nice sunkissed! :)

Deb!

Allie!

John!
Clouds!

Cheeeeeers!

Captain Z and Shipmate Ashley!

John and Allison

... and my favorite sign ever!!!!

-Ashley

Weekend @ Lake Sinclair!

Two weekends ago Z and I made the trip up to Georgia to spend the weekend with some of his family at his grandma's house... which just happens to be on beautiful Lake Sinclair! When Z and I started dating we realized after a few months that we both had family that lived 6 hours away, and only about 15 minutes from each other! My family had planned a trip up during the summer, and it just happened to be the same time that Zach and his family were going to be there for their annual "Camp Meeting". We ended up spending time together that summer (2003) and have been back together almost every summer since! The next summer I drove up from FSU and spent my first weekend on the lake... and there have been many more times since then, and each time it seems to get better! :) We play cards together, eat/plan many delicious meals, we go tubing, boating, and just relax on the deck/in the water on a raft! PERFECTION! Thanks, grandma, for letting us crash and take over your house once a year! Hehe. :)

Zach with his brother John and cousin Alex (and grandma's head)!

John and his amazing girlfriend Allie! On one of the sunset "cruises"!

Love this view! I was excited to have caught my first lightning bug! Having fun with sparklers on the dock! Allie made us some amazing banana pudding.. and Alex couldn't let any go to waste!
Deb needed some triangular moments... here is one! ;)
I have more pictures on my other camera... so this weekend will be a two parter! ;)

-Ashley

The Reception!

On May 28th my brother and new sister-in-law had their wedding reception here in Tampa! It was at a country club close by and was absolutely perfect! They had tables set up inside and out and the weather was wonderful! A lot of family came in from out of town so we were able to spend time with them over the weekend as well! They showed the video from their ceremony in St. Lucia to everyone and it was so sweet! :)

One of the few pics I got with the bride AND groom!

Set up outside...
The hubby and I!

Mom and I!

My aunt and grandma!

Congrats again to them!! I'm so happy for my big bro! :)

-Ashley