Monday, July 25, 2011

Lamb and Pizza

Both David and Smith were craving lamb yesterday - so odd, while I know that is a common thing David likes, Smith came out with, "me too!" when David mentioned his craving. I, on the other hand, had seen a picture of a grilled pizza, and decided I must make that. I made that a couple times last summer, with the normal fixin's like shredded mozzarella, pepperoni, marinara. However last night I wanted one of our Golden Jubilee tomatoes, fresh home-grown basil, onion and garlic from the farm market, soft mozzarella and olive oil. Oh my mouth is still watering.

So...lamb kebobs (turned into a mighty lamb sandwich!) for the boys and a grilled pizza for me! Tate ended up with hot dogs - I swear that girl is going to turn into a giant hot dog!





1 package dry yeast
2/3 cup water (100-110)
1.5 teaspoons olive oil
1-2/3 cup flour (or 2 cups)
1 teaspoon sugar
rosemary, chopped finely 


Dissolve yeast  in warm water for 5 minutes. Stir in olive oil, add 1.5 cups flour and mix on 2 with your dough hook for about 2 minutes, gradually add more flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough sticks to hook and cleans the sides of bowl, do for about 4 more minutes. Put in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top, cover and let rise for 45 minutes. Dough is ready when indentations remain. Punch dough down and let rest for 5 minutes.


Divide dough in half (cover not-used half), roll or form into crust size you want. Spray or oil grill rack, put the dough directly on the grill and cook for 4-10 minutes per side. Once flipped, put toppings you'd like - I brushed olive oil, sliced tomato, mozzarella, sliced basil, caramelized onions, roasted garlic. Mmmmmm. Enjoy!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Week in review

We spent the week at a good friend's house in Williamsburg, VA. Smith was attending an enrichment camp - Lego Robotics and Roman Archaeology, at the College of William & Mary (my parent's and brother's alma mater!). It was a great week - the classes, the companionship of friends, "wanding" at Great Wolf Lodge, swimming at the pool, and visiting Yorktown for some beach fun. All in all, a week well spent. While Smith was in classes every day, Tate and I visited some beautiful spots on campus, through Colonial Williamsburg, and, of course, Rita's Ice. Heat index was 118! Hot, hot, hot.








Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Big Rock Candy Mountain

Looked over my Summer Fun List, and then promptly freaked out because next week is HALFWAY PEOPLE! I love love love summer break and use my kids as an excuse to do everything!!




I do these monster lists every year, want the kids to do a journal, think we'll have a "theme week" complemented by a field trip to the appropriate theme (aka dinosaur week with a trip to the National History Museum in DC, etc). We do plenty PLENTY of fun stuff over the summer, but these epic plans always make me feel under-accomplished by the end of summer. So I decided to do a poster this year, with the hopes of a bit more accountability, and a bit more free-form-edness, and a lot more help from the kids. 

Checking off:
Hilton Head, Making Kool Aid Play Doh, Zoo, Rock Candy, making homemade ice cream.









So maybe a journal doesn't happen this year, and maybe, after 3 years of wishing (but not preparing) for theme weeks, I realize it just isn't happening. But maybe instead of all that, I just enjoy, live, relish the time with them, each and every day (notice I didn't say every moment!). I am working on laughing more, listening more, living more in the moment. It's a work in progress...

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tubing

Went tubing with a dear friend and her family. We (she) bought an underwater disposable camera to document the event, and they turned out looking very 70s. It was a blast - took 3 minutes to bus to the drop off point and almost 2 hours to drift down river! 




Thursday, July 7, 2011

The 4th and Vacation

Went to our hometown 4th of July parade, then hightailed it out of dodge to go to Hilton Head with my parents (sans husband). Us:






Hilton Head - nothing like going to the beach twice a day, eating ice cream at LEAST once a day, rinsing off all that salt water in the pool, going to bed at 10pm. Vacation joy, pure and simple. 



Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Love Book Collection

Tate made bookmark drawings for our entire family, and I've embroidered them and sewed them for their gift. I love seeing her drawings of each person, and would like to do this again when she's older - follow her drawing progress!


Cassidy, Mema & Grammy


For Papa


This idea came from SouleMama - Love! Tate does the drawings, lettering, and picks the colors for the embroidery and the back of the bookmarks. I'm just the minion.

I love...



...the way she plays with anything, anywhere (like in the store today, with pot scrubbers and coffee mugs!)



...to see her run across a field with 5 year old abandon, hair behind her, full sprint


...to hear her "make believe"


...how she pretends things are a commercial, while she's in the shower she tries to sell a scrub brush


...how she knows where everything in the kitchen is, unlike her 10 year old brother


...how she cooks with me, sits with me, holds my hand, LOVES me


...to hear her laugh


...her intensity - she is all emotion


...to see her love for her brother




...his intensity, seriousness, effort for everything he cares about


...how he retains everything - he reads it once. I envy that.


...how he still holds my hand (he grabs mine! and holds on tight!)


...his passion for soccer, reading, Wii - his passion in general


...to see him smile - oh! Those eyes!


...discussing things with him. And I do mean with him - he asks fantastic questions, listens, understands


...to see him with his dad, playing soccer, talking politics, wrestling


...to feel and see the love for his sister. They are lucky, truly lucky, to have each other!



A Run

We've worked out a deal this summer - David's idea, actually - to earn "screen" time. They automatically get 30 minutes a day (it's their preferred method of down-time). Smith can practice the piano or run 3 times around the block (equals a mile) to get his screen time. Tate can practice her letters for 20 minutes or walk with me and the dogs around the block.

An unintended benefit has been that Tate has started running with Smith! She is the girl that runs instead of walking anyway, so it hasn't been hard for her to keep up with him. But to see her not just running but throwing in a couple of skips, or a flying leap, while keeping up with big brother is quite something. I've never been a runner, but appreciate the sport, so I'm glad to see my children participating in something good for them like this.


More summer fun pictures to come. We've had a lot of fun this last week - zoo, Theatre in the Woods, pool, tubing...I'm exhausted!

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