MY QUIET WEEK

My kiddos have been at Mt. Rainier with Grandpa all week at his cabin. They are having the best time....and I'm so happy that they are creating these memories together. We really never thought Gracie would make it so long being away from home...she is such a homebody and a mama's girl. She's too busy snuggling with Grandpa and Punkin (Grandma and Grandpa's puppy) to get homesick! They have had a wonderful week of hot tubbing, swimming, swimming and more swimming, staying up late, eating popsicles in the hot tub (for breakfast!), and lots of other things I'm sure they can't wait to tell me. I remember spending time during the summer's at my Dad's and all the fun my sister and I had with him. Now Cole and Gracie will have their own memories.

As for me, I have been enjoying the quiet. Paco and I have went to dinner, on bike rides, golfing, swimming, and just relaxing and enjoying being together for a change. The house has stayed neat, there's not nearly as much laundry, and we even still have some groceries in the house! HA!

It will be great to see our little Sutton's tomorrow, as well as Grandma and Grandpa. The kids and I will be going back to the cabin next month to spend several days with Grandpa again. Paco will more than likely have to hang out at home and work...BOO.

Starting this coming Monday, Cole and Gracie will be going to daycamp for 2 weeks out at Liberty Lake. Boy these kids are busy this summer! I miss being a kid!

My husband has a problem

Seriously.

It's called...infomercials.

He cannot resist them. He's even got all our credit card information printed on the back of the remote for easy accessability. Ok. kidding.  Over the years we have accumulated all sorts of treasures that could be ours for just 5 easy payments of  "insert dollar amount here". What a treasure! We simply HAD to have them. No wonder our lives were so complicated.

It all started with the bacon-wave. This was his first purchase. I don't even remember if we ever cooked bacon on it. Regardless....things spiraled downward from here.

Not long after was the miracle thaw. I remember my husband waiting anxiously every day for this to be delivered. Oh the thrill!

As soon as it arrived, he excitedly pulled an ice cube out of the freezer, and set it on the prized Miracle Thaw. The ice cube did, indeed, melt. We never used it again.

Later in our marriage came the Ronco food dehydrator.

I WILL say that I was fairly interested in this one. After all, we could dry all sorts of fruits and veggies for snacking! The interest wore off the 4th consecutive night that I was up checking on his banana chips and jerky at 2 am while he was sound asleep.

And while we had already done business with the Ronco company, we were able to get a smokin' deal on the Ronco rotisserie! 

Now, all sarcasm aside, I actually LIKED this machine. We made great kebobs and whole chickens. The downfall? It's a complete hassle and messy to deal with. Not to mention it's HUGE! We do still have it though. Maybe I'll dig it out of the garage and put it to good use for an evening.

Oh yes, there's more, and it's called the Sweepa.

I cannot tell you HOW LONG my husband made me stand and watch a demonstration on this at the fair. Seriously...it was a long time. Look how many clumps of hair he can get with that thing, honey! Isn't that amazing? And, if I buy ONE at $19.99, they'll GIVE me 2 more for FREE!! He was sold. I believe this little gem met it's demise one weekend when I was "helping" to clean out the garage.

Up next, how could I EVER forget...was the Handistitch!!

GREAT idea, piece of CRAP. Enough said about that.

Have I mentioned the tap light, food sealer and aqua globes?

Oh, and the miracle blade III knives!

Ok, absolutely NO complaints about the knives. Especially since we even got an additional  free set, yes, a FREE SET, because we DID call within 5 minutes! Good timing on our part.

Last summer it was the Topsy-Turvy upside down tomato planter...

Ok, so he won me over with this one. I LOVE THEM!! Just check out my tomato plant...

and last, but certainly not least, is our latest prize....the touch 'n' brush. This little beauty is currently suctioned-cupped to my bathroom vanity mirror. It's glorious.

Again, great concept. However, what really happens is you wind up with a huge glob of toothpaste at the bottom of it, which then dries up and hardens. Many a morning I have had to scrape out some of the wet paste and actually use it to brush my teeth. Seriously, I am desperate that early in the morning.

So, you see? My husband has a problem. Do they have self help groups for this sort of thing?

I still love you honey. But, if I get these for my birthday...

 we're through.

blueberry breakfast

This morning I made Paco and the kids blueberry belgian waffles with fresh blueberry sauce.

It. was. divine.

I used regular waffle mix, and added in pure vanilla and flaxseed for extra nutrition. Oh, and blueberries of course.

Cook it up on the waffle iron....

until its golden brown and crispy....

Whip up your blueberry sauce (recipe below)

drizzle that yummy sauce over your waffle...

fancy it up with a bit of whipped cream if you like. We like.

Oh my....this was tasty. A little goes a long way!! It could not have been more delicious!

Blueberry Sauce:
1 1/2 cups blueberries
3 Tbs honey
1/2 cup orange juice
1 Tbs cornstarch
*In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix 1 1/2 cups blueberries, honey and 1/4 cup orange juice. Bring to a boil. Mix remaining orange juice and cornstarch in a small bowl, and stir into the blueberry mixture. Stir constantly until thickened. Serve warm over waffles.

vacation

As my vacation draws to an end, I can't help but think of all the fun we had as a family this week. Seriously, it has been ages since we've had this much family time together. Apparently a stay-cation was just what the Suttons needed....

• hiking
• swimming, swimming and more swimming
• multiple bbqs with friends and family
• lazy mornings
• late evenings
• lots of lounging by the pool
• cocktails aplenty
• cub scout night at the Indians game and campout
• a few meals out
• family movie night
• swimming, swimming and more swimming
• homemade belgian waffles
• cold spaghetti salad
• lots of hot dogs, burgers and popsicles for the kiddos
• a late night run to DQ for strawberry golden oreo blizzards

This had to be one of the most relaxing weeks I've had. I feel great!

Sigh. Back to the real world tomorrow. Maybe I'll give my notice. Honey, sound O.K to you? {Grin}

Summer salad

This is our FAVORITE summer dish...cold spaghetti salad! So much so that I have made it three times this week! Here is the "recipe"....I don't use specific amounts...I just like to wing it!

INGREDIENTS:

*spaghetti noodles

*diced cucumbers

*diced vine tomatoes

*diced red onion

*sliced olives

*chopped basil (fresh from the garden is the ONLY way to go with herbs!)

*chopped chives (fresh)

*chopped cilantro (fresh)

*light Italian dressing

*red wine vinegar

*Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning (I used tomato basil garlic)

*parmesan (I used the canned stuff but of course it would be better with fresh!)

Cook the noodles until al dente. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix in dressing and red wine vinegar to the consistency you desire. Sprinkle generously with Mrs. Dash seasoning and parmesan.

This is SO delicious....and even better the next day! I love being able to put my own fresh herbs in it. I LOVE SUMMER!!

Our family day

What did we do today? Well.....

we lounged around lazily

challenged Daddy to a waterfight

squirted ourselves in the eye

made silly faces

enjoyed the lovely summer weather

soaked in the cool water

We also:

*lost a tooth at 6am (Cole)
*enjoyed early morning coffee on the deck           
*did the housework routine
*ran errands                          
*enjoyed chocolate chip waffles for lunch that Daddy made with our new waffle maker
*fixed our pool pump issue, which I will say was my fault. Oops.

This evening? Having a few friends over to hang out and BBQ.

Oh, and can you guess what the kids are doing this evening?

Letters from camp

 This past weekend Paco and Cole went to Cub Country camp at Diamond Lake. Aside from locking their keys in their car (and calling us girl's away from our girl's weekend to bring an extra set), they had a great time. They participated in archery, bb gun shooting, different sorts of classes, swimming tests, human foosball, rock wall climbing, making rockets, fireside programs, jumping castle racing, flag ceremonies, using a compass, and all that other stuff that makes boys into men! HA!

The boys' camp

Somebody got cranky and was sent in the tent for a timeout, which turned into a nap!

Human Foosball !!

Using a compass

Making rockets

I remember going to Camp Sweyolakan as a girl and sending and recieving letters from my family at home. It was so cool because I felt SO far away (in reality I was only an hour away!). Yesterday I recieved letters in the mail from MY campers! Here they are:

Glad that my campers had fun!

Today

• sleeping in until 8:30
• sipping coffee in my rocker on the deck
• explaining to my son why we should not suck up popsicle sticks with the vaccuum
• errands with my family
• wandering around Cabelas, and being surprised with a cool new hat by my hubby
• swimming with the kids
• kicking the kids out of the pool so hubby and I could float (he was on the pink one!)
• while floating, visiting about everything and nothing
• Shooing away neighbor kids
• Stealing hubbys' new deck chair when he's not looking
• Offering to do all the housework if hubby would do the grocery shopping
• Surprised with a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks
• picking fresh basil and cilantro from the garden
• contemplating what kind of critter is eating our strawberries
• admiring my enormous tomato plants that have no tomatoes
• making yummy cold spaghetti salad for dinner
• laughing at hubby who took children's benadryl and is now fast asleep
• watching the kids take a late night "dip-dip", with the pool light on...this thrills them
• Enjoying a peaceful summer evening and sipping my latte
• Feeling relaxed and completely content
• It was, in fact, a very good day.

VACATION!

The Sutton family is on vacation! It's such a treat for all of us to have time together. We had made plans to go to Mount Rainier but decided it may be better to stick closer to home. What's on the agenda? Well for today it's housework and yardwork! Yesterday we took the kids on the Liberty Lake waterfall hike...we hiked a total of 5 miles. It felt great! We weren't able to make the full loop (just over 7 miles) because Gracie was wearing out on us. Next time, we vow to finish!

We have some plans for a few more outdoor adventures this week...more hiking, a family campout and campfire in the yard, maybe visiting the driving range, and some biking on the trail. Saturday night we are joining our cub scout pack for Scout night at the Spokane Indian's game. Gracie and I will be heading home afterward, but Paco and Cole get to pitch a tent on the outfield for the night! Last year they got caught in a downpour, but it looks like more favorable weather this year!

Happy birthday, Paco!

Look who's turning 35 today!!

Oh, and will you ALSO look at who's wearing black socks with sandals? I'll deal with that issue later. {Grin}

Have a wonderful birthday Paco! Oh, and one last surprise..

Growing

Thank goodness the summer heat is finally here! Everything is growing beautifully!

Peas, basil and carrots...when the breeze starts up you can smell the basil in the dining room.      

Yellow pear tomatos

new blueberry bushes, strawberries, lilac bush and black-eyed susans

new strawberry plants this year

YUM!

Roses

We planted this raspberry bush last year...it's huge!

Hosta, sunflower, Gracie's rose bush (which we nearly lost this winter..it's coming back though!), clematis

the bark is finally down!

view of our deck

The garden...finally getting some warm weather!

Rubano radishes

More broccoli growing

Front porch

This area is going to be my project next year, I'm going to expand it to about three times it's current size. This year I added delphinium and columbine.

One of our two topsy-turvys

GROW GROW GROW!!