Compared to many areas of the country, we get out of school really late (end of June) so I haven't got all the summer plans set like many do. This summer though we are joining the Happy Family Movement in creating our own summer bucket list and getting out there and having some fun!
We're be making our list with the kids this weekend and can't wait to share!
Make sure you link up your lists to so I can check out your summer fun.
I thought I'd start a new feature here on the "lollipop blog". About a year and a half ago, I chose a vegan eating lifestyle and am still enjoying new and tasty recipes 18 months later. I thought I'd start sharing some of my recipes along with favorite cookbooks and resources.
For Mother's Day, Mo and the kids got me a new vegan cookbook to have fun with.
Here is where this can be found on Amazon.
I've tried three recipes so far and each one has been flavorful and tasty. I am definitely looking forward to working my way through this book.
On the menu this week is the Chickpeas and Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Mo picked this one out to give a try and both of us decided this was a keeper. Place it over some couscous and you have a complete meal.
When I can find the recipe on the internet or if it's from a magazine, I would be happy to share. But when it's only in a book, I must refer you to the book rather than post without permission. This one I could not find elsewhere.
Just a quick post to wrap up Conor's birthday, only several weeks late.
It's kind of a tradition to have ice cream cakes at our family parties - the kids adore ice cream (what kid doesn't?) so why not celebrate with it in cake form?
Here's a happy-I-get-to-eat-ice-cream-cake-smile.
We were only in the new house a couple of days here so I couldn't find any candles. We just pretended.
Not sure why the face here - maybe because I wouldn't let him eat all the cake.
Caught her trying to swipe some cake before we cut it. She was so caught.
And since I don't do ice cream, I had a nice bowl of fruit salad. I know, you're wildly jealous of my bowl of fruit.
A couple of weeks ago, we had a nice Sunday afternoon celebrating Conor's birthday with family. With a new yard that's bigger than the old, we pulled out the old stomp rocket without fear of sending them all over the neighbor's yards.
And we have lift off.
Each kids took a turn stomping and the other woulde try to get the rocket before it hit the ground.
Meg is clearly not shy about celebrating her catch.
He was on a roll with catches too.
And of course if you make a face at the camera, I WILL photograph it!
The rain is back so I need to enjoy these pics since we won't be getting back there for a few days. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will all clear up for the holiday weekend.
I think I'm coming to the end of my pictures from the old house. Every time we had a nice day, we seemed to end up in the back yard and I always tried to shoot a few pictures. Here are my "portraits" of the kids from April.
And that is the last you will probably see of that wooden fence as a background for pictures!
Let's leave today's post with a conversation from yesterday evening.......
Meg comes banging into the kitchen after playing with friends in the neighborhood around dinnertime.
Meg: I need to go take a shower.
Me: Okay (thinking she had just taken a shower that morning and while the health talks at school have got her thinking about cleanliness more, I was thinking twice a day may be a bit much)
Meg: It's a long story. (she clearly saw my look)
Me: why?
Meg: Let's just say I have silkworm guts in my hair and leave it at that.
So we left it at that and she went to take a shower. Silkworm guts? Really??
Springtime means lacrosse and with Meg and Conor both playing, we get to see lots of it. I figure I would try to start going through my photo's as I take them rather than the daunting task of trying to do it at the end of the season!
Lots of rain this May has meant many a cancelled game so maybe my number of pictures will be less this year......
She looks tough even though she's little.
We actually had a bit of sunshine at Conor's game - much nicer than the cold mist I endured from Meg's jamboree.
And give Meg some time to chill and you will inevitably find her reading a book....
Meg is always the first one to get on the ground and snuggle with Shamrock. She loves when he gives doggie kisses!
A week or two before we moved, we got a spell of really warm and sunny weather. One afternoon the kids took out the water guns for a bit of fun.
The rule when the water guns are out is when Mom has the camera, no drops of water better come anywhere near said camera. Because of that, guess where the furry one hid out while all this was going on? Right behind my chair.
And since then, we've had rain and more rain so no more water gun fights.
Yeah - we are back up on the internet! After being disconnected for over a week, I feel like I've joined the world again!
Not only are we working hard every day settling in, Shamrock has used up tons of energy exploring his new digs. If he's not running around, he can be found in various places around the house looking like this:
I love how he's snuggled in with his toy....
The beautiful thing is he's been sleeping soundly at night and makes no fuss about going to bed. AND even better, he's been sleeping later just to catch up on sleep!
In school, Meg is in an advanced program called Quest. It's a little extra something for kids who need extra work and challenges in the school day. The focus of this year was to develop thinking and research skills by choosing a topic and creating a project for the Quest Fair.
Meg started with natural disasters but that was way too large. She then narrowed that down to plagues, caused by nature. Finally, she narrowed that down to the Irish Potato Famine. Or as she would tell you, An Gorta Mor.
After months of research and working, the fair finally arrived. Meg not only created a 3-D project and a written board of ino, she went the extra mile and dressed in clothing that would approximate the people of that time, as best she could.
The shawl is hand knit and covering her Irish sweater.
Here she is standing in front of her Irish cotage and potato field.
Here's a better view of the cottage and field.
Notice the official looking gent knocking on the door, getting ready to evict the downtrodden tenants. (sssshhh, we won't talk about the cow and the lamb which would have long since been gone).
And here she is standing in front of her display board:
And I won't talk about the irony of her famine project being given a spot in the school cafeteria for display.
Meg wowed her visitors with her knowledge of all things An Gorta Mor (well, as much as one can know and understand in the fifth grade). Feel free to quiz her next time you see her!
