Spring/Summer Recap-- Part 1

It is time for some major updates.  I used to update my blog weekly, but due to several things we are involved with as a family (one of them being LIVING LIFE!) it has been a real challenge for me over the last 6 months or so.  So, this is my attempt at an overview of the end of spring and beginning of summer.  Which just for the record, was awesome.

My youngest turned 14.  She is a very special girl to us and we are thankful for the 14 amazing years we've had with her.

When you turn 14, you are invited to go to dances that are held every-other month for youth ages 14-18 for kids all around Minnesota from our church and their friends.  It is cool because they have fun activities, games, dancing, and food.  I went to these same dances when I was a girl, so it is special to see my girls have this experience also.  And it was awesome to go with her big sister.

Speaking of dances, there was this little thing called prom.  Whew- what an undertaking.  A great big group of kids got together and contributed a little money and had someone cater an amazing meal.  The parents dressed like waiters and served them.  A few moms got together and decorated the room they ate in.

 I be-jeweled that dress!  It took me my neck and hands weeks to recover, I tell you!  It was worth it, though.

 The shoes are almost as important as the dress- sepcially the tennis shoes.

 They took a million goofy pictures.

Here is my oldest at her last choir concert of Jr Year.  Here are 3 buds, all juniors.

Memorial Day Weekend we made time for a hike to Willow River State Park in Wisconsin then walked around Stillwater afterwards.

We were at this building for and the sky was amazing.  It looked like the heavens were opening up.

 This was the last parade that my daughter will dance in ;o(  This was the first of many "lasts".  It feels really bizarre and is unbelievable to have a child grow up to this stage.  Very bittersweet!

I was part of a committee that helped to organize the visit and performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when they came in June.  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  Little do people know they really are excellent entertainers.  I think most people just expect a spiritual or church-like performance.  That is one element, but they are also fun, funny, entertaining, you will laugh, and you will cry-- and you will get chills over and over again at their power.  

One of my favorite memories was meeting Alex Boye.  Look him on Youtube.  He has tons of free videos and is amazing.

Could I be any luckier?  I was standing right in front of him during rehearsal as he sang.  Front row seat sarinade.

Yea right…. my husband a rock star.  Keep dreaming, Honey ;o)

I can't say I minded standing with the choir as they rehearsed!!!!  

Or getting a bird's eye view of the force and power that Mac Wilberg puts into conducting.  It was amazing to see him from this vantage point.

Here they are at rehearsal.

And here is the performance.  So many people came.

And here we are at the end of a very long and amazing day.

And summer wasn't even half-way over at this point.  This will have to be part 1!  More summer re-cap pictures to come….

Ground Turkey Meat Loaf

This is a recipe to remember.  My kids gobbled it up and there was nothing left afterwards.  That doesn't happen everyday, so this is a keeper.  Some of us ate it plain, some ate it with whole wheat toast, then a slice of the meat loaf, then mozzarella and parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.  The other thing I liked was it's simplicity-- I have another meatloaf recipe that has everything but the kitchen sink in it, and they ate this up more than my other recipe.  Less is more sometimes, and it was a hit!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 medium onion, grated
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons ketchup
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 
  
• Directions
• 1. Heat oven to 450° F. In a large bowl, combine the turkey, bread crumbs, egg, onion, and 2 tablespoons each of the milk and ketchup; season with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
• 2. Put the loaf into a bread pan, and top with the remaining ¼ cup ketchup. Bake until cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.

The First Week of September

…. is just full of excitement!

My yard is in full bloom.

This was the first year we had our garden plot, and weren't sure how it would do.  It did much better than expected except for it was a little confused and some things came on late and some things came on early.  Darn Minnesota weather!

As crazy as our weather is, we were pretty happy with our produce…. about a gazillion cucumbers and zucchini, and plenty of tomatoes.

And I am in love with my squash, pumpkins, and gourds.  So, so fun!  But look how dry the ground is and it is drying out the vines…. so not typical for our climate.

 My first crook-neck squash = love.  Isn't that cool?

The first week of September also meant the first home football game.  Which brought on a whole mix of emotions for my senior in high school.  It seems like yesterday that we were at the first football game when she was a freshman having a surreal moment feeling like it was just yesterday that we were at our own high school football games.  It is all so weird and time just keeps marching on.

 Haha…. look closely at their pony tails.

 My girl is the 3rd one from the left standing in the back row.

For my freshman, she had a great first week of school and no trouble adjusting to high school life.  She got together with some friends this weekend and had a lot of fun, but the pictures are too incriminating.  I think she would hate me if I posted them, so I guess they will just have to remain on the back burner for black mail purposes some day.

One of my friends had a first also…. her oldest daughter turned 8 and chose to be baptized.  She asked me to help her with the dessert bar, so I let her use some cake stands and some vintage table cloths and vases. It turned out sweet.

It has been a great first week.  We will see where the wind blows in for the rest of September…