Costumes... and a Grilling sort of Fourth

Don't remind me that we're both in theater and that it may run in the family, ok?

We have been doing, what I'd like to term, "Potty Training Lite" or "Potty Training Version 1.0" or as others might call it, "Mommy's version of Half-Assed Potty Training". Since it's easier for Stella to just wear the underwear and a shirt, she found some old baby legs that we had when she was an infant and has now since enjoyed wearing "leg warmers" all the time. With rain boots. And a fleece monkey hat. Because why not?

 Our friend Ali found this bargain thrift store find for her... and it finally fits. I like to call this shot "Waiting for Mr. Darcy."Because who wouldn't wait for him if he was played by Colin Firth?

Homemade smoothie Popsicles have also become a sort of costume...

And speaking of costumes, check out our TP owl family!

Fourth of July weekend for us was all about Steve and this "i found it on the street with a sign that said free" charcoal grill. We did stuffed mushrooms (shown here), salmon skewers, za'atar spiced chicken, and BBQ ribs. Along with carrots, green beans, zucchini, broccoli, grilled pizzas, and naan. All on the grill over the weekend. And let's not forget the orange creamsicle ice cream... and the malted milk with chocolate sliver ice cream. Yah, we went a little nuts. But it was practically a 4 day weekend for us, and since we had no where to go in particular, we cooked. It was a tasty stay-cation.

Stella had fun in the outfit that my aunt Melanie bought her last summer.

And, in the outfit of her own creation - she was so excited to go in the $10 Rite-Aid plastic pool that she put her swimming suit OVER HER CLOTHES, backwards.

Scupper was on hand to wait for rib pieces...

And possible ice cream that could have dropped on the ground.

(and check out the patio set that I got on craigslist for $30 - one layer of paint and we were good to go.)  After enjoying many dinner out there this weekend, Steve and I sat and laughed out loud that 1) we had a "patio set" and 2) we actually had a deck to put it on... It might not be ours but we are sure going to take advantage of it while we can this summer.

Now it's off to go camping this weekend. Let's hope we don't have any camping fails to tell about when we get back. It IS supposed to be 99 out there, so we'll see if we just end up submerged in a backwoods creek all weekend.