One of those posts...

I'm not the biggest fan of "Update" posts, just because I feel like if I personally start doing them, then I will stop blogging as much as I want to!

I love to spread my posts out and have each thing have it's own post, but for the sake of my brain right now...you get "one of those posts"...

(no offense to those who do that)

Updates as of late!

{I apologize, a lot of these are iPhone pictures}

On July 20, 2012,

We headed up to Franklin, ID for the funeral of Andy's adorable Grandma Nash.

It was a beautiful day filled with lots of sunshine and family.

On the way up we got to drive past the Brigham City Temple, soo pretty!!

Franklin, ID is right on the border of Utah and Idaho.

Literally the first city in Idaho after leaving Logan.

The Pallbears



The McDonald Grandkids



Beautiful casket that Beverly picked out

This beautiful butterfly came and landed right on the casket and sat there for a while,

so I snapped a picture.

The next day, July 21, 2012, was the "Taste of the Valley".

We missed it last year when my family went the first time,

but luckily got to go this time.

It was way fun!

We got filled up on food so fast, but all of it was delicious!

What it is?

It's basically Costco sample on steroids.

Yummy vendors from Utah Valley come to let people try something from their menu.

Such good food!

Each place you get one punch per person, so no seconds...

Every other week, one of the families on my mom's side is supposed to

go up and help my grandpa take care of his yard.

So we went up and helped him mow the lawn and other stuff.

He has these bees, so he showed them to us.

July 31, 2012

Happy Birthday 'Arry Potter!

Hannah, Tani, and Jenna threw the cutest birthday party for Harry Potter.

Andy and I both got to attend.

There were games, dinner and a movie.

Lots of fun!

And there you have it, July in a nutshell!

Hopefully I'll stay a little more caught up in August!

Love, B

Ready for S'more?

Another random National "Something" Day?

Yup!

National S'mores Day!

National S'mores Day is August 10th.

But since we will be in the process of moving on August 10th,

we will be pushing our celebrating to (maybe) August 12th.

I'm posting this one in advanced, so that you have no reason to not celebrate!

I know some people don't like S'mores, but with these treats below,

you don't have to have a campfire to have a S'Mores party!

So NO excuses!

MMM, I can't wait!

---

S'Mores Dip

How to make it here

Gooey S'more Cookies

How to make it here

S'More Croissants

No recipe on these, but they seem pretty self explanitory--but a side note,

marshmallows usually disappear when cooked in croissants, so don't be surprised!

S'More Cake

How to make here

If you don't enjoy the traditional Graham Cracker, Chocolate, Marshmallow,

then you can try different versions such as,

-Starburst inside a Marshmallow with a Graham Cracker

-Marshmallow roasted alone

-Marshmallow on top of those Fudge Stripe Keebler Cookie

There are many different choices! So have fun with it!

So excited to celebrate National S'Mores Day!

Are you?!

pictures courtesy of: http://onecharmingparty.com/
                               http://pinterest.com

National Root Beer Float Day

Never heard of it?

Haha, neither did we, until my mom told us!

(even though I'm pretty sure that Root Beer isn't even a national thing..whatevs)

Who doesn't love made up holidays?? 

A random reason to celebrate a food that you love?

Ya, I'll take it!

To "celebrate"...using that word lightly...Andy and I went up to my parents because last night my mom had made 

"Root Beer Float Pie". 

YUM! 

She's made this before and it's definitely up there on my top favorite pies,

 next to my Grandma Barbara's Strawberry Cream Cheese pie.

 But seriously, delicious.

I posted this picture to my Instagram...@bailmcdon...and thought I would post the recipe for you all!

Mind you in the picture above my mom made her own Graham Cracker crust which was very good,

 but she has also made it with the pre-made Graham Cracker crust that you can buy, which is also very yummy. 

So do it how you feel comfortable doing it!

So here you all go:

Root Beer Float Pie

PREP: 15 min. + chilling YIELD: 8 servings

1 carton (8oz) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed, divided

3/4 cup cold diet root beer

1/2 cup fat-free milk

1 pkg. (5.1oz) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix

1 graham cracker crust (9 in.)

Maraschino cherries, optional 

1. Set aside and refrigerate 1/2 cup whipped topping for garnish. In a large bowl, whisk the root beer, milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft set. Fold in half of the remaining whipped topping. Spread into graham cracker crust.

2. Spread remaining whipped topping over pie. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. (IMPORTANT*)

3. Dollop reserved whipped topping over each serving top with a maraschino cherry if desired.

*The first time we made this, we didn't let it refrigerate for that long, and we used to big of a thing of pudding, so it was very runny. You definitely want it to set up, still good either way though!

 Also, we aren't that big into making things healthy around this place, so we don't use low fat, fat-free stuff, but again do it how you'd like!

Simple as that! And amazingly delicious!

ps. Apparently Wendy's has a Root Beer flavored frosty, and no I'm not talking about the "Frosty Float".
This is how my mom found out it was National Root Beer Float Day!

Are there any fun, random 

holidays you guys celebrate?!

Let us know!

Love, 

B

National Ice Cream Day

Never heard of it?

Well now you have!

Every 3rd Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day.

Technically July is National Ice Cream Month.

I mean come on, who doesn't love a reason to eat ice cream with people you love??

I love it! 

My mom decided that we are going to make this a tradition, so this is now the
First Annual National Ice Cream Day Celebration! 

Wahoo, how fun is that?

I made an "e-vite", that I sent to everyone's email to have RSVP to.

It was super cute and fun to design.

We asked everyone that we invited to bring a 

homemade ice cream to share with everyone, and some cookies as well!

Everyone brought an ice cream, but not very many people brought cookies, which was totally fine!!

I opted out of making an ice cream, and volunteered to decorate, 

since I didn't get the chance to for the 4th of July.

We had Heath, Cookies and Cream, Raspberry, Chocolate, Mexican Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Burnt Almond Fudge (non homemade, but still delish!)

Stupid me, didn't get a picture of all the ice creams on the table..NEXT YEAR!

So now you know, now you all have no reason to not celebrate

National Ice Cream Day!

 We even had a few bocce ball sets, 

so people could go out and play!

 Happy National Ice Cream Day!

Love, 

The McDonalds

Fourth of July

Seriously, my favorite holiday!

I don't know what it is about it, but I really do love it!

I dont do much on the holiday but I still find something about walking around and seeing everyone dressed in Red, White, Blue, or a combo of all three.

It's so fun!

Every year, we wake up early and head down to see the balloons.

This year was nice because we live just down the street, so we got to walk there!

It's so crazy to stand right in the middle of all the balloons while they are filling up,

you feel like you are just being engulfed in balloon!



This is called a "kiss" when two balloons go in the air and touch each other for a while.





This balloon is HUGE. It's so big that they can't fly it in Utah County
because there is no where big enough for them to land again.



 After the balloons we went and ate breakfast at my parents ward breakfest.

Andy and I headed down to pick up Belle and walk to the parade.

We were running a little late so we drove and parked by my Aunt Lana's house and walked to the parade.

It was Belle's first time going to a parade.

She did really well,

except for the loud sirens and guns scared her.

We love to head up to my Grandparents house to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks.

So we went up there and sat on their balcony with a perfect view of the fireworks!

5:30pm

9:00pm

9:30pm



During the fireworks around 10:00pm

I have a few videos to post, but it won't let me at the moment, so check back later for those videos!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Love,

The McDonalds