Today Brian took the kids to Antelope Park to play…they have literally nothing going on this week and they have been truly enjoying summer so far…I have to admit that I am a little jealous!
(Nothing like squinting into the sun for a picture)
Summer Bucket List item #12…done!
To celebrate the “unofficial” start of summer this past weekend, we uncovered the fire pit, roasted a few marshmallows and made s’mores! I found HUGE marshmallows at the store which made perfect s’mores.
Sam (and myself) like our marshmallows a little on the blackened side and Brian and Molly like their marshmallows more lightly toasted. Each kid has their own technique to roast their “perfect” marshmallow…Sam just sticks his straight into the fire and Molly dances with her stick to keep the marshmallow from becoming too blackened by the fire.
(Perfectly melted)
Yum!
Summer Bucket List item #30…done (but this one can be repeated multiple times throughout the summer!)
This past weekend Alicia and her family made their way back to the eastern part of the state and they stayed up at the lake for a mini-vacation. The kids have been excited to get up to the lake for the first time this season and begged to spend the night. Since I had today (Memorial Day) off, it worked out well for us to go up yesterday, spend the night and come home today.
We arrived Sunday before noon and the kids changed with lightening speed into their swimsuits, threw on their lifejackets and headed to the water.
The kids also found their fishing poles and tried their luck at fishing. My kids have yet to perfect the skill of casting, however:
(Hmmm….what is wrong with these pictures…)
Molly also happened to “catch” the boat canopy…
At least Aunt Stephanie was successful in catching a fish! She has found a “hole” just west of our dock that is an apparent hot spot for the local lake fish…
It also was great to spend time visiting with Grandma Elsie, Grandma Amelia, and Grandpa Zelensky (along with Aunt Diane and Jim) who came out to the lake to enjoy the day…
Other pictures from this weekend:
(Waving at all the boat traffic is a full time activity on a busy weekend)
(Molly was overjoyed with the new inflatable Nana obtained)
It was a great weekend and now we have Summer Bucket List items #2 and #27 checked off!
This past Saturday Molly and myself made our annual trek to Brownville, NE for their Memorial weekend flea market.
We arrived early to beat the crowds and the heat. We were able to meet up with Whitney and Brent and spent the majority of the morning searching for treasures. I probably only spent about $10 total with no major purchases (just some little things). Whitney did become an “official” flea marketer as she purchased her own ”Irene”!
By about noon, Molly was pretty well done walking around in the mid-90 degree heat and seemingly 90% humidity (honestly, I was ready for air-conditioning at that time also). We loaded up and headed back toward Lincoln. It has become a little tradition to stop at a local cafe in Auburn as we drive back to Lincoln and we were tired, hungry and in need of cooling off when we pulled into the parking lot!
(Someone was very happy to have cold water and air conditioning!)
(The best part of the meal!)
We had a fun day and it was great to be able to go treasure hunting with Brent and Whitney. Our next flea market trek will probably be to Fairbury on the 4th of July but I am always on the look out for new adventures!
This salad is one of my family’s favorite. Several people request that I bring this salad each time we have a big family gathering. I can’t even remember where I first found this recipe but it is SO yummy and very easy to throw together. The only downside is that you really have to eat this salad the day it is made (or at least after you add the Fritos) as the Fritos absorb the liquid and get mushy…this usually is not a problem since there is minimal to no leftovers after our meal!
2 (15 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 (10 1/2 ounce) bag coarsely crushed chili cheese Fritos
1. Mix the first 5 ingredients and then refrigerate.
2. Right before serving, stir in the chili cheese Fritos and mix well.
Enjoy!
Generally speaking, I am not a list-maker type of person. I have this “bucket list” in my head of things that I would like to do/accomplish/see in my lifetime but that particular list is not written down. Recently I have been checking things off that list (learning to make kolaches, learning to make and can jam). It is exciting to think about everything that you want to accomplish in life so this year Brian and myself challenged the kids to come up with 50 things they would like to do this summer. I was inspired by a link to THE HAPPY FAMILY MOVEMENT blog that I came upon to create this summer bucket list.
Our plan is to check everything off the list by August 20 (which is their first day of school). Yesterday I sat down with the kids (and the computer) and we created this list for our summer:
1. Swim at the Racquet Club
2. Go to the lake
3. Have a friend over to play
4. Go to the Library
5. See Grandma and Grandpa
6. See Nana and Papa
7. Go to the Children’s Museum
8. See a movie
9. Have a picnic
10. Go to the Omaha zoo
11. Go to the Lincoln zoo
12. Go to a park
13. Go to the SAC museum
14. Go to Trago Splash park
15. Visit Morrill Hall
16. Eat ice cream at Ivanna Cone
17. Get a book at Indigo Bridge
18. Ride a camel at the zoo
19. See the cows at PrairieLand Dairy
20. Run through the sprinklers
21. Go on a bike ride
22. Ride the train at the zoo
23. Ride a horse at the zoo
24. Eat donuts at Conroys
25. Swim with cousins in Wahoo
26. Go to Imperial to visit cousins
27. Go to the park in Wahoo
28. Feed the ducks at the pond
29. Eat popsicles with the neighbor kids
30. Make S’mores
31. Play mini golf
32. Go to the county fair
33. Go to a baseball game
34. Go bowling
35. Have a water balloon fight
36. Catch lightening bugs
37. Make homemade playdough
38. Go to Pioneers park
39. Go to the Sunken Gardens
40. Eat ice cream at the original Zestos
41. Go to an outdoor concert
42. Make homemade popsicles
43. Go to Jazz in June
44. Go treasure hunting at Aardvark
45. Watch fireworks
46. Go tubing at the lake
47. Spend the night at the lake
48. Visit all Great Grandparents
49. Redo Molly’s bedroom
50. Have Fun!!
We have the list printed out and tacked on our fridge. The kids have so much fun coming up with things to do…most of them are easy to accomplish and require really no money. It was great to see how many of their bucket list items involving spending time with family!
August does seem far away but, in reality, the weeks will just fly by (especially when about 4 weeks are spent with Brian helping with some type of sports camp). The bottom line is that we just plan to make the most of every day and we hope everyone has a great summer!
Another school year has FLOWN by…it was just yesterday that the kids had their first day of first grade, right??
(FIRST day of first grade)
(LAST day of first grade)
I took a picture of the kids yesterday before taking them to school. Molly asked why I wanted to take a picture and I replied “to show how much you have changed this past year”. Molly insisted that she didn’t change at all, but I totally disagree.
Both kids are now reading chapter books fluently. Molly tried (and actually liked) playing soccer. Sam played flag football last fall and continued to take several basketball camps during the winter and then played rec soccer this spring on an undefeated team. Both kids are now adding and subtracting two digit numbers and both kids also have lost 4 teeth each (and all 4 holes in each of their mouths have been replaced with 4 permanent teeth).
Both kids have also grown several inches. Sam started the year out with pants that gathered at the top of his shoe because they were too long and now, at the end of 1st grade, his pants are about 1 inch too short. Molly has grown at least 3 inches this year and I will have to let down the hems on several of her jumpers prior to starting school in August.
The kids have had awesome teachers this year. Molly had Mrs. Alishouse as her (homeroom) teacher and she had Mrs. Nealon for reading. Sam had Mrs. Nealon all day. I absolutely can’t believe how fast the kids have learned and am so impressed at their reading skills that they have developed this past year. Both the kids love school and that is a true testament to their teachers!
I can’t believe I have two 2nd graders now! It was hard not to get a little emotional when I was at mass yesterday morning and I watched the kids sit with their first grade class for the last time. I can’t (and don’t want) to stop time but there is just so much truth to the saying that “they grow up fast”. This summer we are putting together a bucket list of “50 things to accomplish this summer”…hopefully time can slow down enough for us to complete that list before August 20th rolls around and they are back at school.
Happy Summer!
This year in 1st grade, Sam and Molly (and their teachers) used up MANY dry erase makers. I can’t even remember how many different packs that I sent to school with the kids this year as they (Sam in particular) kept noting that they “need more dry erase markers” at school. I came across a couple of “pins” on Pinterest about making marker, colored pencil or crayon bouquets so I found it only fitting to adapt that project to provide new dry erase markers to the 1st grade teachers as an end of the year gift (because I am sure the teachers go through the dry erase markers just as quickly as the kids)!
I found super cute flower pots on sale at Michaels, bought a half circle of foam that fit into the bottom of the pot, and pushed a pack of Crayola dry erase markers (Molly’s teacher’s favorite kind, per Molly) into the foam to make the bouquet.
I had some shredded cardstock that I used to keep the markers even more secure and then used sticky photo tabs to attach a die-cut flower to the top of the dry erase marker. So easy and cute!
Happy end of the year Mrs. Alishouse and Mrs. Nealon…you did an AWESOME job with the kids this year and they LOVED having you as their teachers! Happy Summer!
Last Sunday Sam had his last soccer game (it was a make up game to make up for a rain out earlier in the season). Sam’s team this year has been made up of 1/2 St. Peters and 1/2 Hill Elementary 1st grade boys. They really did a great job and ended the year without any loses!
(Sam setting up to score a goal)
(Nate congratulating Sam after his goal)
(Sam was SO excited to get a trophy. The boys played well this year and had fun!)
This is my favorite recipe for French Dip. It is SO easy and SO yummy! The meat is amazingly tender and the juice is perfect for dipping your french dip sandwich.
French Dip
Beef Roast (I usually trip to get a roast that is 1.5 to 2 pounds but larger can work also)
1 can Beef Consomme
1 package Au Jus Sauce mix
2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
Place the roast into your crock pot and sprinkle both the Italian seasoning and the whole package of Au Jus mix over top. Pour the can of Beef Consomme over the roast. (I should note that sometimes I will add a 1/2 can of water to the crock pot if the liquid does not come up to the top of the roast with just the Beef Consomme alone).
Cook for 8-10 hours in the crock pot.
Enjoy!
