Summer Day Dreams

I love Summer.  Summer tans, like hers.  Summer mornings, and days, and afternoons, and evenings... like right now.

Jack and I are having appetizers; Triscuits with Muenster cheese and OJ on Ice (mine may or may not have a splash of Amaretto in it.)  The older kids are washing the dog in the shower.  Shaun has to work late, but eh, it's summer.  We'll eat cereal or sandwiches... or Triscuits with Muenster cheese.

And then there's the summer weekend mornings like this one, where the kids climb in bed with us to cuddle, and crisp summer light greets us.  (I love how you can see the word "dream" on the back of Shaun's shirt in the first picture up above.)

It is just so nice to have hardly a schedule at all, to sit with the kids while having your coffee, to do "summer" things like play in the mud puddles and go to swim school.

And let's chat a minute about swim school, shall we?  Evan is in the highest class of those tested, Madalyn in the next level down, and Jack had one-on-one lessons.  I think these lessons back-fired because now Jack LOVES to swim and both he and Charlie (the twins) jump at me simultaneously in the pool.  I literally CANNOT turn my back to watch E or M perform a dive, or there are two bobbing, clawing, flailing bodies soon next to me and thirsty for air. 

Evan was disappointed that swim class was not about showing off his tricks.  Madalyn was disappointed that swim class was not a chat room.  Madalyn ALMOST got her side breaths down, Evan ALMOST got his back stroke down... but they both learned new things and- eventually- learned to follow routine and not swim upstream. 

Still, they had their moments right up to the end of talking over the lane ropes while they waited for their turns, and swimming under them, giggling, and going back to their lane again.  It's hard to be mad when they love being together so much.  When Evan got to wear his flippers for the first time he yelled at the top of his lungs down the ENTIRE length of an Olympic sized pool, "MA-DA-LYN!  I've got FLIPPERS ON!  FLIPPERS!  LOOK!  MADALYN!  MA-DA-LYN!  FLIPPERS!  SEE??  I'M WEARING FLIPPERS!"  His swim teacher was gently gliding the kick board and trying to get him to turn around and do the exercise, but it was no use, he had an entire leg in the air and was waving it frantically toward his sister who was a half a mile away and talking the EAR off her own swim teacher. 

"FLIIIII-PEEEERS!"

Today was the final day of swim class.  This meant they FINALLY got to climb up that high dive they've been eye-balling for the past two weeks.  Evan did the whole thing in a cautious, OCD manner; in an I have set my mind on it, I WILL go through with it, but I could quite possibly wet myself along the way.  Madalyn, on the other hand, (you totally know where this is going, don't you...)

Madalyn could not get off the board fast enough.  Her red polka dot bikini a-flappin' in the air the whole several yards down.  It is HIGH.  I was a little worried about them falling off onto the concrete before getting to the end of it.  Every mom within hearing range asked me one after another, "Now how old is she?"  The older swim class students standing around waiting for the little tykes to get off their boards already were oooing and ahhhing, too.  Look!  Look at that little tiny girl!  I wouldn't have done that at that age.  Look at her!  Even the swim teachers were lifting their shades and sharing knowing looks of amusement.   

The other great thing about swim class, other than an activity in and of itself, is that I think I might have picked up two new babysitters.  Jack's teacher was SO sweet to him and they fell totally in love with each other.  He would point out all the bugs in the pool drain- "I see a bug!  You see da bug?"  and tell her "I tired of kicking," and rest his head on her shoulder. And SHE rubbed his back so tenderly, God love her.

But as short and wonderful a summer as it has been, every now and then, I am feeling that fall itch. 

Well, only in moments like this, really.  When a few hours after she cuddled so innocently, I find her letters permanently monogramming the side of my bed, on my brand spankin' new sheets.

Wasn't too bright of her to SIGN HER NAME in the felony. It's that same senseless quality that makes her such a daredevil on the high dive.

But maybe she knew exactly what she was doing.  After all, I do think of her every time I go to bed, and every time I rise.  And surprisingly, they are thoughts accompanied with a smile and fond feelings.  Feelings that make me want to smother her chlorinated hair with kisses, God love her. 

Braveheart

Well, either he's brave, or just plain senseless, (and you know which one we're all leaning towards,) but he DOES resemble William Wallace from the movie, does he not?

Can you guess what he gone and done?

No, not a sunburn.

Lipstick, that's right.  You're good. 

From my makeup drawer.

Have I mentioned that he likes my makeup drawer?    

Not an ounce of remorse, tsk, tsk...  ohhhhhhhh, there would've been remorse alright if I'd known then (when I took these pictures,) what I know now... which is that he didn't leave this artwork to the porch, but also on my bedspread, my shower door, my closet wall, and the bedroom carpet.  You know how they say lipstick is one of those things you can't get out?  One of those true stains?  Well, "they" are telling the truth.

That poor bed of ours has had quite a week.  More on that another day.

Food Frenzy

So, last week was one of the first I haven't worked in quite a while, have I mentioned that yet?  Anyway, I got all domestic-crazy and cooked more in one week than I have in my entire life.  (Slight exaggeration, but still... it was something crazy.  Flour and sugar everywhere.)  It's not that I missed cooking, but I missed eating.  I would SO hire a chef if I could.  I just don't love to cook.  But I love to take pictures.  So I took pictures while I cooked.  That helped.  And eating it helped.

I only had time to go through half of the recipes again today... so here's what's on the menu: Kentucky Butter Cake, Doug's Cauliflower, Brown Rice and Pork, and Banana Bread.  Plus, I'll include a coordinating timeline to see what kind of madness the kids got into while I cooked, because- well, I can't do BOTH!  (Duh.)

Kentucky Butter Cake 

3 c. all-purpose flour

2 c. sugar

1 t salt

1 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1 c. buttermilk

1 c butter

2 t vanilla

4 eggs

sauce:

3/4 c sugar

1/3 c butter

3 T water

2 t vanilla

Okay, so let's hurry up and skip to the mouth-watering part.  Mix the dry stuff, blend in the wet stuff, yada, yada... and you end up with this:

If I worked on Food Network, this is where I would talk about how silky and smooth the batter is.  But I don't work on Food Network and I prefer to keep those adjectives to the bedroom dressing room.  So, pop this in the oven, and watch your back because there might be Barracudas in the kitchen:

Now, the yummy part- the sauce.  Start with your sugar and butter:

Add your water:

And your vanilla:

Then- and here's the part where I want to giggle excitedly- take your cake out of the oven and poke holes in it:

No, seriously.  See?  Poke holes in it.  Now technically, I think the recipe calls for a cooking skewer, but I just use whatever I can find lying around: Tinker Toys, Barbie Doll legs, Double A batteries... no, no don't use the batteries, only kidding.  In this case, I believe I used a wooden spoon.  (The skinny part, stupid.) 

Sorry.  It's been a long day.  Ignore the name-calling.  Oh!  And be sure not to poke through the other end of the cake... you should not be touching the cake pan, moron.  (Ignore it, remember?) 

Then- this is where it gets good- pour that butter sauce down into the holes.  Oh you heard me, drench it, baby!

Because then you end up with this gooey masterpiece.  That you get to EAT.

And when you turn it out, voila!  A lovely, regular, ole bundt cake.  (Except it's not, because it has the secret sauce inside keeping it moist, remember?)  This is really good served WARM.  Or toasted for breakfast with more butter on it.  What?  Don't look at me like that.  Toasted things call for more butter.

Doug's Cauliflower

1 cauliflower

honey mustard

provolone cheese

This is my mom's husband's recipe and it's a really nice way to keep your vegetables from tasting like vegetables.

Start by rinsing and then boiling your cauliflower whole, like this:

While you're waiting, pull those Sister Shubert rolls out of the freezer and do this to them.  What?  It won't kill you... today.

Carefully remove the flower and place it in a casserole dish, like so. 

Smother with honey mustard.

Well, rub it around a little so it doesn't look so sloppy.  Of course, if you get it on the dish like this, what's the point I guess?  It makes it look homemade.  Yes, it does.

Now lay those round slices of Provolone around it like this. 

Into the oven she goes.  (And this is what an oven looks like.  It's the square thing in your kitchen with wire racks.  Be sure to turn it on first.)

Time for a kid check.  Up, there's one:

And I see she's dressed herself again.  She changes clothes more than a movie star changes hair color.

The Bandaid on her big toe.  It really is fascinating.  We keep close track of our boo boos 'round here.  We count them and wear them like battle wounds.

Speaking of Bandaids... 

And out she comes, looking scrumptious.

Mm mm MM!

Banana Bread from SK

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour

Mash some bananas and drop them in the butter.  Already looking pretty good, isn't it?  Well, unless you have a texture-thing, like Evan.

Mix.

Add that sugar.  Now, you could get out a spoon and just stop here.  But I am not THAT wild about bananas, no matter how much sugar and butter you throw on 'em.  So let's keep going...

Add the rest of the ingredients- HOLY SCHMOLY!  WHAT was that noise?  Did you hear that explosion?  I think that means we're overdue for a kid check. 

Why is the back of the couch and the rug sparkling, and where did the dog sprint off to?

Ah, nearby I can see that aerosol can of body glitter that my dad and his wife gave me for Christmas.  Well, now everything shimmers and smells like "warm vanilla", so who can complain, I guess.  If the dog weren't hiding under the bed I would take a picture of him for you- he is SO sparkly.  Could be on Broadway in Lion King or something... bet he'll never bite on a can again.

Well, we better keep plugging, don't worry about him, he'll come out eventually...

Pour that batter in the pan, bake her, and:

Voila.  Best toasted in the morning, and lathered with PB.  Or not toasted and lathered with PB.  (We like PB in this house- even the dog.)  But I supposed if you are out of that, more BUTTER will also do just fine.

Mom's Consomme Rice

1 stick butter

1 can beef consomme

1 can french onion soup

1 cup rice (don't use "Uncle Ben" but spend the money for the big square thing of Basmati Rice)

Kim's Pineapple Cheese Casserole from Kim

20 oz can chunk pineapple

3 T pineapple juice

1/2 c sugar

3 T flour

1 c shredded cheddar

1/4 c butter, melted

1/2 c Ritz crackers, crumbled

Okay, I'm tired of the step by step's, so can we just cut to the chase?  These are really good recipes and turn out like this:

I just put pork down in my rice when it went in the oven and covered it for some of the cooking time and it turned out great.  You cook this between an hour and hour and a half... just keep an eye on it.

This rice is so good.  Seriously.  It was great with this casserole and greens.

Here's the pineapple casserole, only you can't see it buried under all the scrumptious crumbles.

There, is that better?  YUM.  It was SO good.  I might not put quite as much sugar in it next time because my brother and I aren't huge on sweet stuff, but Shaun IS, so... he'd probably notice if I skimped out on him.  Well, we better go check on the kids.  I know where Charlie is, I know where Madalyn is... but those boys... where are they?

Jumping off the headboard, where else?  I wonder how Evan's middle initial got knocked down?  I wonder where Jack's clothes are?  I wonder a lot of things.  (This is the reason I named the photography business "How I Wonder," by the way.) 

And if YOU'RE wondering if this kid ever wears clothes, ever, ever?  No.  No, he does not.