This is how I started my first ever Bolognese. I think I need a bigger pot.
It was supposed to make about 7 quarts so I’m not quite sure where I messed things up…and it took a lot longer to simmer down than it said…so I wasn’t packing it up until bedtime.
And while it’s tasty, it didn’t knock my socks off so I probably won’t be making it again. But, I do want to taste my friends version to see how different it is.
His setup was much more precise…but then you had to be when doing two or more bushels at a time.
These were tomatoes from our own gardens! We’ve been picking them consistently but we can’t eat them fast enough so I had to make something…and pretty much everything starts with peeling the tomatoes.
It was our first major shindig at our new place…and we didn’t even think about turning it into a housewarming. Oh well.
We did 9 racks of ribs in the sous vide. Our sous vide container isn’t big enough so we had to jerry rig a Rubbermaid bin.
We rented a waterslide and invited about 60 people. We had a great turnout of about half…and the kids had an amazing time on the slide. I don’t think Owen got off for more than a minute to use the bathroom and five minutes to eat dinner—he started about noon and we pulled the plug about 9.
We were so busy with party prep and visiting with guests that I didn’t even take many pictures. I can’t believe I didn’t even take a pic of the food spread—I always take pics of the food!!
We set up a tent and picnic tables.
Tom had put up posts to hang our sunshades and lights from.
Tom prepped the ribs in the driveway.
The kids still sliding at 8:15!
A good time was had by all…and we decided to keep the slide another day because it was supposed to be another hot day and we only splurge like this every few years.
I tried to get pics on the front porch but the lighting just wasn’t right (well, the lighting was good but it was too bright and they wanted to squint).
So we tried elsewhere, but it still wasn’t right…and Katie was cold.
First day of 4th grade. What?! So serious.
Okay, a tiny smile.
Owen and Xavier are the only two at their bus stop at 7:45. Yes, 7:45AM. Needless to say this is the ONLY day I will be going with him. 🙂
Katie’s turn…in her annual T-shirt pictures.
We found the perfect lighting! She was pointing to geese flying overhead.
First day of 1st grade. I can’t even with this outfit and the shoes.
With a backpack almost as big as she is!
At the bus stop with Linkin and Nate (Sophia will be there, too, but she was parent drop off today).
My happy face!!
And later on Facebook I found these pics of how the elementary students were welcomed to school. How cool.
Katie got invited to a sleepover at Sophia’s so I sent her off. It’s soooo nice having friends on the same street. (We alsohad Owen invite a friend over and he was a total hoot to watch—he had soooo much fun. They even picked our veggies!)
My new friend that I met at the playground (LOL) invited us over today so that was right after the orthodontist. They live in a new subdivision in a huge new house and it really made me miss our new houses… And yes, I told her I kind of hated her a little bit. 🙂
The kids all got along—even with Katie! They jumped on the trampoline, played Xbox for a bit, played Legos, had snacks, then played board games.
Anna was really impressed since she said normal playdates only last about 20-30 minutes before one of the boys is done. So apparently Owen and Katie are magic.
Her husband happened to come home early and he was just as great and easy to chat with as she is and we had a great time. I can’t wait for them to meet Tom!
Oh, and you know how I said it was weird how similar we were? Look what she has?
We have the same exact secretary. I have only ever seen one other of these in person and it was at antique store. Bizarre. (Truth be told, I might like ours better if it looked like this. In its current state it is NOT my style.)
The time flew and suddenly it was 3 hours later…
It was supposed to be a quick trip to get a few books to read before school started. But they have so much fun looking for books…and then Owen found a friend. So how could I make them leave?
Each kid was playing at a different friends house for quite awhile. Then Katie got invited to Six Flags with them if it was okay with me. Ha! Yes! (These are the same neighbors who first offered to watch the kids while we unpacked the week we moved in. And Katie’s best friend.)
I got this pic in a text…and then a bit later a note saying (and I quote):
We took katie on the condor. She almost puked on Sophia:) she was doing some heavy breathing…didn’t know she did not like big rides:)
After I apologized for not warning them (I thought they’d just be going on the small rides that Katie likes) she said that Katie had been very proud of herself! When Katie came home, she told us about ALL the rides she went on (kids rides, but still…baby steps).
Of course when Owen found out that she had gone without him, he was whiny. Not even considering that
Kids.
Katie’s school (Owen’s old school) got new playground equipment so the PTA had a playdate there. They do this playdate every year before school starts so hopefully the kids can find other people in their grade and make friends before school starts (each grade wears a different color shirt).
We ran into friends right when we got there…
And then I made a friend, too! It was really hot so I eventually sat on the bench next to another mom and we started chatting and just totally hit it off! We had lots in common (she just moved here, she’s an editor/graphic designer, we have the same sense of humor) and our boys hit it off, too (she has twin fifth graders). I was super excited to say the least.
While Katie was fishing, Owen went out in a kayak with Grannie!
He did really really well and had a blast!
Then of course Katie wanted to go. We told her next year she could go by herself but this year she had to sit with Grannie.
My mom always makes these in Maine and I love them so had to try one today when Tom and I went out for dinner and I saw all the perfect stones (and we were early for our reservation). It wasn’t the best placement for a photo but not bad for my first one. It was harder than I thought it would be—the rocks have to be just right.
Papa had cut out pieces for birdhouses so Tom helped get them all put together.
And then there was the painting.
Photos of the fully finished projects to come…Katie left hers out and it rained so she has to repaint it. And I didn’t get a pic of Owen’s.
Still wish it wasn’t 8 hours away.
Another week of grandparent camp for the kids and another week of respite for mom and dad! Everyone is having a blast!!
Since we live so close to family now…and the kids are getting older and more self-sufficient, we thought it was time to let them stay for a long visit with the grandparents! As scheduling happened to work out, we went to Michigan for our family Christmas and then left the kids there…and then Gramma Jean and Grandpa David would drive up to meet Papa and Grannie Lin to hand off the kids…and then we’d eventually drive up to the UP to pick them up. They would be gone a total of 19 days, 12 of which they were completely without us. Needless to say we were all looking forward to it…the grandparents were excited about having the kids, the kids were excited about fun with the grandparents, and we were excited to have some alone time and general peace and quiet.
Here are the pics from some of the adventures they had with Gramma Jean and Grandpa David!
Lake Margarethe – of course they made fast friends with other kids who where there!
When we were packing up to leave I found the bathroom cups grandpa drew for the kids.
And the meat festival begins…Of course Timmy brought a ton of his amazing brats…but this year he added smoked brisket to the menu! HOLY WAH!
And no, your eyes aren’t deceiving you…that’s a Gummy Bear brat. With real gummy bears in it. It wasn’t bad…just a sweet taste. I thought Katie would love it because she LOVES gummy bears but nope. Silly kid.
And the annual kid comparison! After last year when Owen was taller, Nick pulled ahead (which he should, as he’s almost 14).
2017:
The kids goofing around while I was getting the camera set up.
My test shot to make sure the settings were okay, and I loved it so much I kept it. It’s also fun to see how we can all pull it together for the real photo!
Nick and Owen…conspiring? Planning? Who knows.
Gramma created a project for the kids—money frozen in a block! They had to figure out how to get to it! (It didn’t take them long!)
Oh yeah! We also gained a dog for an hour or so. Mom didn’t recognize him and Tom called the number on his tag and it was animal control…?!? He was good and just hung out with us—got a few pets and belly rubs (Maggie pretty much ignored him). After awhile a young girl came looking for him—and we found out she was visiting someone in the neighborhood.
Overall it was a perfectly gorgeous day—not too hot and not too cold, lots of good food (too much, actually, but we’re Lens so it’s expected), and great visiting with family and watching the cousins play!
I love being home with family…and celebrating Christmas in the summer is amazing! (And what’s Christmas with family without a few adult bevvies?)
Remember last year when Gramma took Katie out on a birthday adventure? Well, she loved it so much they decided to do it again! But this year, Katie was really nice and invited her brother along, too, since she knew he’d have fun, too. Awwwww, what a sweet Katie bug.
They went to the city park and had a picnic lunch, skipped stones, and played in the river; then went mini golfing and to another playground; and finished off with ice cream from Dairy Queen and a quick treat from Dollar General! They had a great day!
At our dinner last night, a friend of the family (and my high school Spanish and yearbook teacher) told me a friend of mine was in town and they were having breakfast if I wanted to join them. It was early, but they are both worth it. And it was great to see her face when I walked in! It was just like a yearbook staff meeting!
We had dinner at a friend’s house tonight…and she lives on the river so of course this happened. Katie didn’t love it (too cold and too many rocks) but Owen really liked it (though he may just have really enjoyed having a dog and another boy his age to play with).
Katie had a birthday party here today. It wasn’t actually that bad—fairly quiet in the grand scheme of things. And she had a blast.
We let Katie have a sleepover with Sophia for her birthday—I think it was the first “real” (non-family) for both. Both girls had a ball. We only had to tell them to quiet down once and I think there were both out by 10:30.
Katie picked bundtinis for her cake:
And walking her home in the morning!
We met friends at the park for a few hours and they surprised Katie with a birthday cake pop!
Our neighbors have a pet rabbit. Katie finally got to meet her today. She is sooooo soft. (I don’t remember rabbits being THAT soft.)
Since we went out last night to watch real fireworks, we were just going to do some little fireworks at home. I went to the store to buy some and guess what? Turns out fireworks are illegal in Illinois so it was a pretty boring evening. We just had a campfire and neighbors came over so the kids still had fun with the sparklers and smoke bombs but we can’t wait to go to Michigan and do some real fireworks. (Get ready Gramma Jean and Grandpa David!)
When the Six Flags fireworks started we thought we might be able to see them from our front yard or the street but we walked all the way to the church and we could just see them through the trees.
We spent the day in Cadillac with Tom’s extended family at a local campground where the kids enjoyed meeting new friends and playing in the pool.
Katie liked the animals. (Yes there were animals there. She especially liked the goats.)
Maggie didn’t bark once all day…until she got in front of the goats. At which point she thought she was ferocious.
After some visiting I just amused myself. There might have been margaritas involved.
