Snapshots of the Holiday Weekend

This weekend, we had some much needed "family-time." On Saturday, we drove up on an overnight trip to Portland, Maine to visit Denise and her wonderful family. We had a really great time catching up, playing baseball, visiting the beach, and eating (and eating and eating)! On Monday, Tim and I hosted our first big BBQ at the house with family and friends. Lots more eating took place, including some homemade guacamole and sangrias. yum.

Happy Birthday, Jen!

I picked these for you, my friend. I wish I could be there to take you out for dinner and drinks tomorrow... but well wishes and happy thoughts will have to do. I love you and miss you.
xo

Honesty is the best policy

At the grocery store today, an eighty year old woman came up to me and put her hand on my arm.

"Hi," I said, a bit startled looking up from my shopping list.

"Will you be mad if I tell ya somethin'?" she said.

"Oh, um, no," I replied curiously.

She quickly stepped close to my face, and lowered her voice.

"Well, I can see the top of your crack from here," she said motioning to my rear.

"Oh, um, thank you very much," I responded, as I tugged up my drawsting capris and turned away as the blood rushed to my cheeks.

What's Cookin'?

Since our weather has quickly turned from summertime 80's to cool, gray low 50's, I've been in the mood to cook. This is one of my favorite "adult" pizza recipes that I got from a friend I used to work with many moons ago during my college days. James would always come into the childcare center where we taught in the city with the best looking homemade pizza lunches. This is the recipe for one of them:


Veggie Pizza

Roll out some of your favorite pizza dough (Trader Joe's has a good one)
Spread 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over it
Crush 1-2 cloves of garlic and spread
Put a layer of baby spinach on the bottom
Then add Roma tomatoes, chopped marinated artichokes, black olives, a few red onion slices (which I did not have tonight), and lots of feta cheese!

(one piece of advice... you may want to first cook the dough a bit before you add all the veggies, since the veggies are pretty moist and heavy)

Another recipe I tried this week was homemade salsa. I really can't take any credit for this one either, but I'll share it anyway. When I was at Trader Joe's this week, they had containers in the produce section with all the fresh ingredients to make your own salsa (for $1.99!) All you had to do was read and chop and mix. Here's the recipe in case you want to try it:

Fresh Salsa
Peel and dice one shallot and two garlic cloves. Combine with one Roma diced tomatoe, and one jalapeno pepper. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, with the juice of one lime. Add salt to flavor, and enjoy! This made 2 cups. It was really delicious (even without cilantro which I am surprised was omitted... but you could add some).

There you go. :)

Pause

today i smell...

banana bread in the oven
fabric softener from the tumbling dryer
sweet cool rain mixing with earlier heat


i hear....

thunder rumbling
pinocchio on the television
giggling boys
tea kettle whistling


and i feel ...
at home

i must remember, it is good to slow down sometimes

To all the Moms in my Life

Happy Mother's Day, Ladies. You are beautiful inside and out. You inspire me with your love, dedication, self-less acts, creativity, and kindness. Cheers to you xo.

Police and Paramedics

Last night, a few girlfriends and I got together for our first book club meeting. As we sat at a local pizzeria, munching on salads and musing over our selected reading, ("The Pact," by Jodi Picoult), I got a call from Tim. "We had a little accident here," he said nervously. My heart sank as I plugged my ear with my finger to muffle the restaurant noise and ask, "What happened?" Tim went on to explain that Ezra had wanted to be pushed very high on the swing at the local playground. After Tim gave him a big push, Ezra fell off and landed hard backwards. As Tim picked him up, his nose began to gush with blood. Tim explained that he wasn't able to make it stop, so he walked the boys across the street to the police station and asked if they had a first aid kit. When the police officer saw that even the gauze he provided wasn't helping it to stop, he called the paramedics. After only a minute, the EMTs showed up with a fire truck and ambulance. Ezra sat on Tim's lap, as they examined his head, neck, back, and tracked his vision. Fortunately, everything appeared fine. When Ez's nose finally stopped bleeding, the medics said it was up to Tim if he wanted to take him home (and watch for signs of fatigue/concussion) or to take him to the ER. Tim decided to take him home, and that is when he called me. Both Ezra and Tim sounded all shook up, and Ezra reallly wanted me home for a hug. Tim put Ezra on the phone, and when I asked Ezra what happened, he just said, "Mommy, I fell and my nose got bloody and...," his little voice broke into a scared cry. I told him not to worry and that I was on my way home. This was unlike Ezra who usually shakes off boo boos pretty easily. My heart ached as I quickly packed up my uneaten dinner, excused myself from our little meeting, and headed home. I think I prayed the whole drive.

When I walked in, I gave Ezra a big hug, and was relieved to see that he seemed much better. He told me what happened and showed me his shiny badge sticker from the police officer. But poor Tim, who had been holding it together and staying calm for the boys, looked pale. As he held up the bloody laundry as evidence of the drama, he said he felt terrible and blamed himself for the fall. I reassured him it was just an accident, and that I was grateful for the action he took. We let the boys stay up past bedtime for ice cream and a video, so that we could watch Ezra longer to make sure he didn't appear lethargic in any way. When all seemed fine, the boys and I sat together to read a story before bed. Before we began to read, we prayed and thanked God for watching over Ezra and keeping him safe. Times like this make you hug your kids a little tighter, and a little longer.

"It's Gettin' Hot in Here"

Woo Wee! This unpredictable New England weather had temperatures reaching into the 90's! For the past two days, the boys spent lots of time in the sprinkler out back trying to stay cool. They called this game, "My butt is burning!"



Following Ann's advice, I put them to work killling our dandelions in a more natural fashion.... spraying the heads and roots with white vinegar. I think the neighbors were a bit curious what was in those spray bottles. I'll let you know if it works.



What is a summer-like night without a trip to the local ice cream parlor. Yes, that is my tongue hanging out as I am about to eat some yummy chocolate peanutbutter.

Men at Work

What is it about watching your hubby mow the lawn, that makes you want to throw your arms around him?




And, as you stop to admire your little men help, too, you think, "Ah, this is good."

Until, one throws down his rake to run up and ask, "We're getting money for this, right?"

Thanks, Mom

My parents came up for a visit today. My mom and I spent the entire afternoon weeding and planting along the front yard. She pointed out where various flowers/plants would be coming up in the next few weeks. We planted pansies and dianthus in between them, stopping only for a much needed iced coffee break. It felt good to be outside, get my hands in the dirt, and work side by side with my mom.

Later, my dad, brother and sister-law joined us for baked ziti, ceasar salad, garlic bread, and (of course) dessert.

It was a nice day filled with flowers, food, and family.