Kids tell it like it is

So Saturday night Dan decides we are going out to dinner then to Yogurt Mountain for dessert. If you don't know what yogurt mountain is let me fill you in, it is a self serve frozen yogurt (I use that word lightly) shop with I think like 15 different flavors to choose from and probably double that of toppings. You fill your cup pile on the toppings then the moment of truth...45cents an ounce...ouch!

So we pack up the kids in the wagon and head out 280, after dinner and some light shopping we walk on over to YM. Excitedly we fill our cups with flavor combinations that don't really work once they melt together in the bottom of the cup and head outside to enjoy. After eating his yogurt down to the last drop, scraping out the cup, and even tipping it up tapping out the last drop Caleb puts down his cup and says "I'm gonna exercise tomorrow." The lady sitting next to him chuckles thinking this is funny. I reply with "that's what I keep saying I'm gonna exercise tomorrow."
Caleb looks right at me and says "mom you never exercise" I thought the lady next to him was going to fall out of her chair laughing. "Your right Caleb. "

Back Yard Splash Bash

This weekend not only did we celebrate the 4th but we celebrated Caleb's 7th birthday. Wow 7 where have the years gone? This year we decided to have smaller simple birthdays so for Caleb we had a backyard splash bash. Everyone came with water gun, or should I say cannon have you seen the size of some of these, in hand for a free for all.

We also got the new slip n slide surfer for the kids to play on, surfing on it proved to be harder than advertised espically since our back yard is not level. Mostly the younger kids used it as a splash pool so it was not a total waste.

Of course Jimmy did give it a go with the raft instead of the skim board

Dan and I made about 300 water balloons that were used in a game of capture the fort adults vs kids, the kids won but I think the adults had a lot of fun.


Even Jack joined in on the fun, when your birthday is in July it just screams BACKYARD SPALASH BASH!
Top it all off with a little ice cream cake and you have a good start to year 7.
Happy Birthday Caleb!

Then the next day we celebrated the 4th with some Red White and Blueberry Cupcakes,what a weekend!

Kids Night

Since I started doing cooking classes at the community school Caleb has begged to come and I promised him I would teach him to cook. So I decided this summer the kids would make dinner one night a week, they get to plan the menu and cook the food the only rule is it must be a complete menu and it can't be cheeseburgers every week.


So this week was our first dinner that the kids made they chose Macaroni and Cheese with ham and broccoli. Even though the temp was about 95 that day and mac and cheese really did not sound good I agreed. I printed off the recipe and taught them how to read the recipe and follow the directions...lesson in reading at the same time.



They learned how to make a white sauce aka bechamel, and how to boil pasta. I know some people might laugh at me but I just think the earlier you start the easier and what talents and interests can develop. And besides don't they just look so cute in the chef hats? Caleb will tell you he only has a small one because he is a junior.





When asked what they learned Caleb said you have to stir the sauce a long time. Ella lost intrest about half way through but Caleb held out to the end.


Fannie Farmer's Classic Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups good quality shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs


Directions
1 Preheat oven to 400°F.
2 Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions; set aside.
3 In a large saucepan melt butter.
4 Add flour mixed with salt and pepper, using a whisk to stir until well blended.
5 Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly.
6 Bring to boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly).
7 Reduce heat and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.
8 Add shredded cheddar little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.

9 Turn off flame.
10 Add macaroni to the saucepan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce.
11 Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish.
12 Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
13 Bake 20 minutes or until top is golden brown

I am going to make them their own "cook book" with the recipes of everything we make this summer and some of these cute pictures.

Kids in the kitchen

My kids always want to help cook, I guess because they see me do it so much it is just a part of our lives not to mention that they both love food. I remember my mom giving me scraps of pie dough that I would roll up with cinnamon sugar and bake still such a fond memory. I want my kids to have basic cooking knowledge and these fun family memories so I try to let them "help" from time to time. You never know what kind of talent you are fostering...Caleb made us all rotisserie chicken sandwiches for dinner a while back and stated "I'm a GREAT chef" he was so proud of himself. He has learned how to cook an egg sandwich all on his own...ok so he has burned his arm on the hot pan but lesson learned, pay attention to where your body is.

A few weekends ago I was making cupcakes for a baby shower and Ella just wanted to help. Not really wanting to be bothered and just wanting to get done I almost said no but then was haunted by the pie dough and let her help me cut out fondant flowers. I had plenty of time and so what if I had to remake a few, she took her job seriously and did a great job and the cupcakes turned out fine. So I would encourage parents take the time out cook with your kids and give them a little freedom to experiment you may have a "GREAT CHEF" in the making.
Not to bad for the flowers that Ella made

The cake the kids made

Last week was my birthday, I know this is way late but school has thrown me for a loop with my days. The kids had asked to make me a birthday cake, they get all into birthdays, so I said OK this will be fun. I baked the cake and let then ice, decorate and put candles on. And what a creation it was sprinkles in pink of course, a smiley face in pink and candles in pink and white to add variety.

Caleb beginning to ice the cake
Ok so I helped a little ;)
how many sprinkles will fit into a 3yr old mouth?

no mom we did not taste the icing

the finished product, I love the candles around the sides

Caleb said "It's gorgeous"

I had to have some help blowing out all those candles

Beach Babies

Summer is almost over and this reality has set in as I sit here post vacation and review all the pictures. In a few days Caleb will start school and then summer will officially have ended for this year. Once again my kids and myself are all tanned to a nice brown with bleached hair we all have that beachy glow. These are just a few of my favorite pictures from last week, check back all week for more photos and tales from the beach.

Walking off into the sun set

Caleb and Ella in their truest form