Sunday photo.

Curve Balls.

It feels like I've been thrown a lot of curve balls this week – or unexpected punches. Either fits. My normally fine-tuned schedule has been shuffled around so much I'm feeling a little out-of-sorts. There have been a number work issues that needed my immediate attention, while swimming lessons continue to be cancelled and re-scheduled to dodge the rain. I've found myself, more than once, taking deep yoga breaths in the middle of the chaos. It seems to help.

While sitting down with my calendar and a cup of coffee this morning, I made a mental list of "Random Happiness", something I haven't done in a while.

• I'm blessed to have my family's necessities covered. Food, shelter, family. (Even if we did run out of propane {AGAIN} and face a weekend without hot water). Hey...we can always go swimming!
• 
  
• Thankful that the girls are enjoying swim lessons, and showing improvement each day – weather permitting.
• 
  
• Fortunate to have a job (that I love) in a state with 10% unemployment rate.
• 
  
• Looking forward to a girls-only dinner tonight with my friend Gina.

Really, the list can go on and on. Know what? I feel better already.

Swim Lessons.

We started Swim Lessons yesterday. The first day went surprisingly well! Josie's goal for the end of the week is to put her face in the water. Ellie's goal is to jump off the diving board. They can do it!

Love this suspicious face.

Really, really trying to put her face in the water.

Ellie, chillin' with her peeps.

Good kicking!

Awesome floating!

Oh...you can do it!

Hooray!

The day ended with a little snafu. Josie tripped on her sandal and went face first into the edge of a chair. The little pipsqueak has a big (bigger than ever) shiner! Poor little bug.

Sunday with the neighbors.

Earlier this week, Amy and I were discussing how the impromptu dinners together that we've enjoyed in summers past haven't happened this year. It seems as though it was so cold throughout May and June that it didn't feel like summer, then July came around and everyone has been trying to fit an entire summer's worth of fun into four weekends. Sad, but true.

Sunday afternoon I called her to schedule an evening run and she invited us over to their new backyard pool. It was so hot and steamy that we took them up on the offer – we put on our suits, hiked across the road and down their driveway.

While the kids swam, jumped and laughed, the adults huddled in the only strip of shade in the backyard...

After a few hours everyone was hungry, so we took the "party" to our house. Amy brought sliced veggies and peaches, I picked a pile of green beans from the garden, and Kyle grilled pork chops. She was right, it had been too long since we'd enjoyed an impromptu Kirker/TenBrink summer evening. As for that run? Never happened. This was much more fun.

Sunday Photo.

RECIPE: My New Favorite Pasta Salad

The first time I made this it came together using leftover red pepper and a lonely zucchini that was on its last leg. I've made it three or four times since – it's pretty darned yummy if I do say so myself!

RECIPE: My New Favorite Pasta Salad

Ingredients
2 cups dry pasta, cooked and cooled
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced and chopped
1/2 cup sweet red pepper, thinly sliced and chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup mayo
1 teaspoon dill weed (dry or fresh)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
pepper, to taste

Directions
In a medium sized bowl, combine the pasta, zucchini, pepper and onion. Set aside. In a small bowl combine the remaining ingredients to make the dressing. Mix well then pour over the veggies and pasta. Stir together and chill for an hour before serving.

Sewing day.

All week it's been 90˚, sunny and humid. All week we've been planning on spending our Friday at the beach with the neighbors, my sister-in-law, and the seven kids between the three of us. This morning it rained, and rained, and rained.

Since a day at the beach was out of the question, I decided to sew instead. I finished a pajama dress, sewed Josie another sundress, made a tiny Barbie apron (to thwart an argument between sisters) and made a new cover for our ottoman. (The old one was showing a lot of wear!) What do you think?

Before

After

I also froze a batch of green beans, did two loads of laundry, changed sheets and worked out. All of this while singing along to the soundtrack from Bible School. (The girls spent the morning pretending they were Bible School leaders.)

Not bad for a Friday that was supposed to be spent on my lazy butt in the sand. Maybe next Friday.

Here's to hoping!

It's hot.

How hot is it?

So hot that for dinner last night I served crackers,
cheese, salami and raw green beans.

Despite the unexciting menu, we were still all smiles. 

Oh...and a very casual dress code, as you can see!

Disney question.

Remember that amazing Key West trip Kyle and I took last January with our Visa rewards points? We've been saving our points since then and plan on using them for a {hopefully free} trip to Disney in January 2013.

The best laid plans...

We opened a letter a few weeks ago informing us that our bank is doing away with the points program, and replacing it with a "cash back" program. Damn. We have until July 31st to cash in our points, or lose them. Double damn.

We've been going back and forth about what to do with our points. We've thought about cashing them in for plane tickets to visit Uncle Chris and Aunt Amy in Houston. Then we looked at Disney again. (Don't worry C & A...we'll still come down for a visit!) As of today, we have enough points to stay at a Disney resort for 4 days and 3 nights, with tickets for Kyle and I. We'll have to pay cash for the girls' tickets, but the rest is free. Grandpa Kirker has offered us airfare vouchers, so we won't have to buy plane tickets. Not a bad deal!

Now for my question.

We were planning on January 2013 – the girls will be 7 and 5. If we use our points, we have to use them this coming January – they will be 6 and 4. What do you think? Should we wait the additional year, or is 6 and 4 a good age for Disney?

Snake.

Kyle found a snake this weekend. I found it creepy.

Ellie and Josie found it fascinating!

Thinking about touching it...

This bug {snake} box gets used daily.
Thankfully...not by snakes.

The little guy didn't want to stay in the box.

I love Ellie's feet in this picture!
If there were sound effects, you'd hear "Eeek!!"

Don't worry about the snake. We only left him in the box for a few minutes. Josie decided his mother was probably worried about him, and let him go. Hopefully his mother moved him far, far away – into a less "dangerous" neighborhood!

A grandpa and his girls.

 Grandpa Kirker has been visiting since late Thursday evening. It's been a visit full of hugs, giggles and smiles. These photos are just a few of the many I've seen the past few days. (I'm sure there are many more to come!)

Sunday Photo.

She loves to swing.

Eleanor loves to swing.

She loved it when she was three...

She loved it when she was four...

She loves it now that she's five...

And just like it reads in our favorite book, Sisters:
"And both felt the day would not be 
complete without a swing after supper."

Frugal Lisa Friday: Josie's Summer Dress

The summer after I had Josie I made myself a skirt out of one of my favorite Amy Butler patterns. I pulled the skirt out last week and realized that  A: it's more frumpy than flattering anymore and B: I'm kind of tired of it (it's been almost four years). After staring at it for a minute I decided to alter the skirt and make a dress for Ellie. While I was sewing, I thought about all the dresses Ellie has, and how little Josie never gets anything first-hand – it seems natural to make things for Eleanor, as eventually Josie will wear them as well.

Since this skirt is technically made from a hand-me-down to start with, what I ended with is a perfect dress for Josephine. Introducing Josie's summer dress...

RECIPE: Mango Salsa and Grilled Tilapia (with Easy Quinoa on the side)

Mangoes were on sale this week at the grocery store: 10 for $10. I didn't buy ten. Mangoes are delicious...but TEN? We bought two – one for breakfast and the other I used to make Mango Salsa.

When you're raised on good old-fashioned tomato-style salsa, mixing it up a bit with tropical fruit takes a little getting used to, but well worth it.

Monday night Kyle grilled tilapia. We topped it with this salsa and served Quinoa on the side. Delicious! On the fish, the Mango Salsa is refreshing and tangy. Dip a tortilla chip into the bowl and the flavor changes to sweet, salty and spicy.

I suggest making it this weekend. Make 10 batches if you'd like! (I guess it depends on how many of those $1 mangoes you throw in the grocery cart.)

RECIPE: Mango Salsa

Ingredients
1 large, ripe mango, peeled and diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1-2 small jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped (depends on how spicy you want it)
juice of one lime
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
salt and pepper


Directions
Mix all the ingredients together and allow the salsa to chill in the fridge for an hour or so before serving. (You can also make it a day in advance.)

RECIPE: Grilled Tilapia

Ingredients - Marinade
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oiljuice of 1/2 a lemon
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh basil
salt and pepper
 1 lb. of Tilapia fillets


Directions
Mix the marinade ingredients together. Pour the marinade over the tilapia fillets. Allow to marinade for a few hours in the fridge. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side or until the fish is no longer translucent. Top with the Mango Salsa

RECIPE: Easy Quinoa

Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup quinoa
2 cups chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
salt and pepper

Directions
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the quinoa and toast until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. (About 20 minutes). Remove from heat and toss in the remaining ingredients.

You don't know Jacques!

I've always been a Malaga Wine or Bubble Bath on my toes kinda-girl, but this summer it's been You Don't Know Jacques. Who knew that my favorite OPI summer toe polish would be a brownish-greyish-taupe?  {The answer: my friend Gina. Thanks for the suggestion! I'm loving the unusual-for-summer shade.}

Tired mother allows children to bathe in pool.

Sunday evening I was exhausted. (I caught Ellie's chest cold.) The pool water was clean. The girls were grubby. While Kyle and I sat on the deck enjoying the shade, Ellie and Josie splashed in the pool with a bar of soap. I guess I'm "that Mom".

Silly girl.

Serious (or tired) girl.

Double Doctor Day.

Ellie and I were on the road by 7:15 this morning for an early AM appointment with my Orthopedic, followed by a visit with the pediatrician.

As we walked out to the car, thunder and lightning were all around us. The poor little bugger was clinging to me – scared out of her flip-flops! We didn't get off our road before the downpour started. I swear the storm was right on top of us the entire 40 minute drive to the Dr. office. When got off the highway, I watched as the stop light above me was swinging horizontally. The entire passenger side of the car was being pummeled by enormous raindrops and massive wind gusts. Just as I was getting ready to turn, the top of a tree in the median came crashing down. Scary stuff!

Luckily, the rest of the morning was better than the drive in. Ellie has been put on an antibiotic for her chest cold that is now on its 16th day, and I've been given the go-ahead to start running down hills, and increasing my mileage. Hooray!

I think I'll wait until the weather clears though before I try out any of those hills!

Sunday photo.

Our niece, Allison Ann

Spots.

Wednesday we received a Highlights Magazine envelope in the mail containing a couple sheets of "Spot the Dog" stickers.

Thursday morning, while I worked, Ellie and Josie were using the stickers on a coloring project. At some point one of them came up to me and stuck a sticker on my hand, and another on my shirt. I eventually peeled the sticker off my hand, but didn't pay much more attention to the other. Honestly, I usually have a sticker stuck to me somewhere – I'm a mom.

I worked until 2:30pm, then the girls and I drove to the transfer station to drop off our recycling. Next we made a quick trip to the grocery store.

Once home, my dad and brother Mike stopped over. We visited for a while, then just as they were getting ready to leave, my brother asked "Uh...what's up with the stickers?"

I looked at him blankly.

He motioned to my shirt.

I looked down, gasped and grabbed my chest. Apparently I've been walking around all day like this...

Frugal-Lisa Friday: Fancy Feet

Frugal-Lisa Friday: Fancy Feet

Monday, my mother-in-law sent us home with some "plain 'ole flip-flops" (as Josie called them).

We decided to fancy them up a bit.

You'll need: hot glue gun, flip-flops, two silk flower blooms, small pieces of felt.

  Step #1: Cut two 2" wide by 1.5" tall ovals out of your felt.

Step #2: Glue a "V" the same shape as your flip-flop thong onto one of the felt ovals.

Step #3: Press the glued oval onto the bottom side of the flip-flop thong. Hold it there for a minute or so until it sticks on its own. (Careful! This step is kind of hot!)

Step #4: Glue a "V" to the top of the flip-flop thong. Put an extra glob in the center area, then press your bloom into the glue. Again, hold it there for a minute or two.

Step #5: You're now going to glue the "wings" of the felt oval {the sides that are kind of flopping around under the thong and bloom}. Put a spot of glue on each wing and press them both up to meet the bottom of the flip-flop thong.

Step #6: Well...I'm sure you can guess. Repeat with the other flip-flop.

Ta-da! No more plain 'ole flip-flops!

10 things I love about summer.

1. Cold summer mornings
2. Dinners outside on the deck
3. Tan lines
4. Canoeing
5. Daylight that hangs around until 9pm or so
6. Sitting on the beach, feet in the sand, listening to the waves
7. Slow mornings
8. Less laundry (I think the kids live in their swimsuits!)
9. Driving with the doors off the Jeep
10. Open windows with little girl voices streaming in

July 4th weekend.

What a great holiday weekend. The weather held out so our days at the river were warm and sunny. Perfect for sitting in and floating down the Chippewa.

Despite the hectic weeks to come (both Kyle's brother and sisters families are moving within the next two weeks), everyone was relaxed, social and well...really, really fun to be with!

I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked. It seemed like every time I brought my camera outside it steamed up – and stayed that way! However, there are enough photos to document our perfect 2011 July 4th weekend at the river.

There was swimming...

A temper tantrum or two (one of them mine)...

Time spent cooling off in the water...

There were sparklers for kids...

And sparklers for grown-ups...

There were numerous bonfires...

Lots of hammock time...

And our annual burning of the Christmas tree...

All-in-all, a wonderful weekend spent with family.

(We did miss our river friends the Pungs and McFarlane's though!!!)

Only 360 days until we can do it all again.