Staycation Days 1-4

We all took the week off this week from summer camp and work to spend some quality time together :)  We kicked off the staycation on Saturday with back to back birthday parties.

First up was Laryd's 9th birthday at the skate park!  Ben did his best to keep up with the boys as most of them were a few years older, but they did such a great job of including him.  They skated non-stop for 3 hours in the hot sun, only taking a break for lunch, a pinata and cupcakes.  With blue frosting.  That we are still seeing the effects of (if you know what I mean).

Next up was Bronson's 6th birthday party, where I got to reunite with a few friends that I seem to only see at Shauna's gatherings and always enjoy :)

Ben actually fell asleep much earlier than this on the couch but we didn't want to disturb him while we stayed up later watching TV.

Sunday was a day of errands plus a trip to Bellevue Downtown City Park, a really fun park that was recently renovated.

On Monday we drove down to Seattle (with zero traffic - thanks eclipse!) to kick off our "true" vacation.  We made it to the waterfront in time to enjoy the eclipse for 30 minutes.  It was SO much cooler than I had expected and so fun that we could all experience it together (and collectively with so many people in Seattle)!

We purchased Seattle's "City Pass" which saved us a ton of money on visiting so many of the attractions we wanted to take Ben to.  Living here we rarely check out some of these sites and a few Ben had never been to, so this was the way to do it.

We started at the Aquarium.  Ben has never been much into the zoo or the aquarium, but recently his summer camp took a field trip there and he was REALLY excited to go back with us.

Next we grabbed an early lunch and then hopped on an Argosy Harbor Tour - 60 minutes around the Harbor.  We had the most perfect weather for it, too.

Then we walked up to Pike Place to wander around.  I had wanted to see the newly renovated waterfront side, and we were happy to discover a new brewery there to sit and relax for a few.

We also stopped for gelato:

We were wiped out after that, and our meter was up, so we went home to grill and relax.

On Tuesday, Greg got up for an early round of golf while Ben and I hit the gym.  Once we were all home and ready, we went down to the Space Needle!  Ben must have asked us 15 times if we were going to the "very top".  We kept replying "yes", until I realized he was asking if we were going to the tip of the needle, which is why he continued to ask - he was terrified!  Happy to have figured that out, we reassured him before we got in the elevator that everything was safe!  I'm also pretty sure that he thought the elevator was going to DROP (like the Tower of Terror did in Disneyland) so he was freaked out on the way up.

After the Space Needle, we of course found ice cream again because that is apparently what we do on vacation.

We went to the Museum of Pop (formerly the Experience Music Project).  It was really fun to wander around for awhile.  Definitely another thing I would never think to go do living here, but very cool.

Our City Pass had tickets to the Chiluly Gallery, but knowing Ben and Greg, I suggested they hit the park in the Seattle Center instead of joining me there.  It was fun to walk through and very impressive and beautiful, but not of much interest to any of us really - especially the boys!

Next up was the fountain:

On the way home, being very hungry, hot, thirsty and tired, we stopped for pizza at The Ridge Pizza in Phinney Ridge (so good)!  

Our day ended with Ben's first soccer practice!  1.5 hours with a coach and team who are NOT messing around.  Ben joined a team that had been practicing for 2 weeks already.  I had asked to have him reassigned because our team still didn't have a couch assigned.  We definitely joined the right team!  This coach makes the kids run laps if any of the kids touch the ball with their hands, only allows water breaks at the scheduled times, and will NOT be giving out trophys at the end of the season unless they actually are WINNERS.  LOL.  Greg and I are kind of loving it!  The kids really love him and I can tell are going to learn so much this season - and we were so proud of Ben for jumping right in there and hustling the entire time.

This kid LOVES sports and it's pretty clear that given the opportunity, he would like to play and try to dominate any and every sport. 

Meal Planning: August 19th - 26th

Review from last week:

I think I've officially gotten to the point where I prefer a home-cooked meal vs. a restaurant.  Particularly when it comes to steak and veggies.  It's both good and bad.  The good news is that I generally don't mind meal planning, grocery shopping and cooking - but sometimes I really don't want to at all.

This was the last Blue Apron meal from the week before.  Freekah and chicken.  REALLY good!

 

When Brad and Charisse were over, Brad did some cooking!  On Saturday night he made Prime Ribeye steak with a red wine reduction sauce that was to DIE for.  I made zucchini and a kale salad.  

 

It was fun cooking with Brad, as he gave me exactly what I was looking for: Tips and tricks to make meals extra delicious.  He even got up on Sunday morning (after Charisse and I stayed up until 4:30 am drinking wine on the couch - like the old days when she lived with us!!) and made us biscuits and bacon gravy from scratch and some super delicious "pudding eggs".

Technique: Heat a little butter in a pan. Crack eggs into the pan over medium heat and do NOT break the yolk.  Start to whisk up the egg whites as they cook (keeping the yolks whole).  Once the egg whites are cooked and scrambled, turn off the heat and start to whisk in the yolks.  The result is some of the best scrambled eggs you've ever had (unless you have had my mother in law's scrambled eggs, in which case these would be second).
I digress.

Grilled Chicken (my new favorite thing Greg makes on the grill) with pesto-basil zucchini noodles with tomatoes and fresh mozzerella.

Lentil Tacos from the Thug Kitchen cookbook.  These were really good!  Greg didn't eat them (he had 4 caveties filled that night) so I haven't gotten him to weigh in on them yet.  I went tortilla-less, but I think these would be an excellent meat substitute in a quesadilla or a taco.  Yum.  And if you use the steamed lentils from Trader Joes, the fastest recipe to make ever.

A green salad with grilled chicken.  I mentioned on Instagram that I think I've perfected the simple green salad:

Red Leaf Lettuce chopped
Cherry tomatoes (yellow AND red to make it pretty)
Thinly sliced shallot
Cucumber or radish slices optional)

Toss all lightly in extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  

Nothing special, but really really delicious.

 
Salmon rolls:

Plan for next week:

Saturday: We have back to back birthday parties on Saturday, and the second one is a BBQ. 

Sunday: Spending the afternoon/evening in Bellingham with the Mills and eating dinner with them!  A non-cooking weekend!

Monday: TBD

Tuesday:  Out for dinner

Wednesday: Out for dinner

Thursday: Blue Apron Meal: Seared Steaks & Thyme Pan Sauce with Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans & Crispy Shallot


Friday: Blue Apron Meal: Sweet & Sour Pork Bowls with Sauteed Peppers & Miso Roasted Eggplant

Saturday: Blue Apron Meal: Fresh Rigatoni & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto with Green Beans and Summer Squash

Week in Photos: Charisse + Family, Hot Weather and T-Ball

We wrapped up the summer t-ball season with an epic double header in the 90 degree heat.  On a Monday.  Phew!  The kids were starting to unravel during the second game (as predicted), but ultimately they had a blast.  Looking forward to coach-pitch the next time he plays!  He definitely is ready.

Charisse, Brad and their kids (Drayk, Mila and Nadia) came to town for a visit!  We got to see them first weekend they were here at a pool party their friends hosted, which was perfect as it was blazing hot!  It was so much fun to see them briefly at the party before they came to stay with us the following weekend!

I purchased the world's best pool (this one) and Greg is in love.  I didn't realize it was called a "family lounge pool", but it's perfect.  Just enough room for Ben to play and for us to chill.  Plus, drink holders.

The next weekend Charisse and family came to stay with us on Friday and Saturday nights.  It was crAzy, but so much fun.  And after witnessing her interact with her (adorable and really fun kids), I have to say that Charisse is one of the greatest and most patient moms I know.  Fingers crossed that they move back to Seattle!

A random picture from Grandma Wednesday!  My mom took Ben to check out the new playtoriam (or something) at the mall and he LOVED it.

Meal Planning August 12th - 19th

Review from last week:


The last Blue Apron meal from last week.  Really loved this one, particularly the white cheddar:

The hot weather we have been having has me wanting more and more salads.  This one made with red leaf lettuce was especially great.  The perfectly-ripe avocado made it excellent:  

 

Blue Apron again: Black Pepper Beef.  Sweet and spicy:

Pork burgers with a cucumber-sour cream sauce and blistered shishito peppers.  LOVED IT.

Plan for next week:

Saturday:  Our friends Charisse and Brad (+ kids) are in town and staying with us this weekend.  Brad is an amazzzzzzzzzzzzing cook and is going to cook for us tonight!  I volunteered to be his assistant and I'm hoping to learn a bunch of new tricks :)  Menu TBD.

Sunday: Mozzarella, Tomato and Pesto Zucchini Pasta Salad with this pesto and grilled chicken

Monday: Lentil Tacos from the "Thug Kitchen" cookbook:

Tuesday: Salmon Roll Sandwiches

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Assuming the burn ban is finally lifted, grilled burgers with caramelized onions and salad

Friday: Out to eat

Meal Planning: August 5th - 11th

Review from last week:

Surf and Turf, courtesy of Greg:

Zucchini Rollatini.  I asked Greg to grill up some chicken to go with this dish because I was afraid he was going to tell me that vegetables alone do not cut it for dinner.  He was definitely a skeptic.  Afterwards he declared "we didn't even need the chicken!  This tasted pretty damn close to lasagna".  I mean, of course it didn't, but it was super delicious and filling.

2 of the 3 Blue Apron meals:

Salmon and Freekah Salad:

Sweet and Spicy Beef with squash.  Loved this one.

Plan for next week:

Saturday: TBD.  We are going to a pool party with some friends so dinner may be there or out to eat afterwards

Sunday: Baja Chopped Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

Monday: Soup and Turkey BLT's before a t-ball double header!

Tuesday: Blue Apron Meal: Black Pepper Beef Bok Choy with Garlic Rice

Wednesday: There is a food truck event happening in Bellevue where we will be dining :) 

Thursday: Blue Apron Meal: Pork Burgers & Blistered Shishito Peppers with Cucumber & Heritage Tomato Salad

Friday: Chicken & Cherry Tomato Sauce with Farro and Green Bean Salad

Week in Photos: T-Ball, Summer Diet and a Haircut

Ben has a particular way he likes to lay on the couch when he is watching his iPad - forehead on the arm of the couch, face down.  This often results in a hilarious hairdo, especially when his hair is damp after a shower.

Our T-Ball team photo!  The team is made up of 4-6 year olds.  Upon meeting the kids, I had a general sense of who was what age - until the kid in the back row middle shocked me by telling me he is only five.  FIVE.  And I thought Ben was tall!

Ben and his teammate, Josie, who also happens to be attending the same summer camp as he is!  So much fun.

What is better than trying new beers on a hot summer day?

Ice-cream for dinner!!!

Out trying a new (to us) pizza place in West Seattle after visiting Lisa and Evan and seeing their new house!  The Mariner Game was playing on a TV and they were behind, so Greg and Ben put on their rally caps.  It wasn't until the ride home that we realized the game was a replay ;)

My mom took Ben on a Where's Waldo hunt around Edmonds.  A bunch of the local businesses were participating - you go to their place, find the Waldo and then they give you a sticker or a stamp.  He had so much fun and found so many of them!

Ben lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvves games, and he is getting to the age where we can put away some of the "junior" versions and transition to the classics!  This week we played Life and Battleship.

Photoshop fun:

Greg and Pepper!

Ben and Raleigh comparing their (almost) matching shoes!
 

Racing three times around the house. Ben won :)

Hair styling in the shower by dad served as inspiration to get a fresh haircut a few days later:

Enjoying the "cool" weather on the deck before it got excessively hot (95) and smokey (smog/smoke in the air due to fires in Canada).  YUCK.