Summer Fun Has Begun

The summer fun of veggies from the garden, watermelon bellies, BBQs on our wonderful patio and bike rides exploring trails and our four neighborhood pools. That's right FOUR!  Today and the following pictures we visited the pool in the farthest part of the neighborhood from our house, lazy river pool.  It has one large water slide, zero entry, sprinklers/spray park area, and a lazy river with a bridge (Wil checked and there were no trolls under the bridge).

This is how we do it!

When Andy is with us I only have the two girls in the trailer and her drags Wil using a 'co-pilot'.  It makes Andy's bike a tandem, so fun.  I have to admit this makes my weekend.  It has been about 90 outside but riding our bikes out in the beautiful weather and hearing the kids giggle and sing as we ride makes me smile.

I am so lucky to have a healthy, loving family to spend my life with.

They are each silly

adorable

and precious.

Both girls were so tired after swimming they fell asleep on the way home.

She makes me giggle everyday!

Just like his Daddy...enjoying a cold 'Root' Beer after a long summer bike ride.

I hope to get a picture of William jumping off the diving board, he did such a great job Saturday night, I just forgot my camera!

A Trip to The Woodlands

On an outing up to Northern Houston we stopped in at one of the Children's Museums.  The kids had a great time.  

They dug up Dinosaur Bones.

Explored

and drew on a car!

It was a great rainy day family activity

Banana Bread

As requested from a friend I will post my Banana Bread/Muffin recipe.   It is based on one from Better Homes and Gardens...

Oven 350    

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  

(**If you want a slightly healthy version I have been doing 3/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup oats-- very yummy Muffin flavor)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (this is optional or you can use cloves or more cinnamon)

1 egg

1 cup mashed bananas (3 medium-- the secret here is the sugar banana goo from the defrosted banana)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cooking oil (veggie or canola)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I usually leave out due to the baby but Papa LOVES them so think of your company)

You can cook in a loaf-- 8x4 50-60min  9x5 1hr+  mini loaf 40min

Muffin tin (makes 12)--15-20 min

Mini Muffins (makes 24)-- 10+min

** So that is what you NEED to make the bread.  Here are the direction and the secret that I touched on in the recipe about the 'goo'.  

What do you do with your bananas when they ripen too the point where nobody will eat them? Let them go one more day till they are very brown, but not attracting flies and put them in the freezer.  I will even put 1/2 bananas in the freezer (sometimes the girls will only eat 1/2 a banana and I hate to waste it).  When you have a total of 3 bananas and your ready to make some bread put them in a large/medium mixing bowl and set them out on the counter or frig (I like to put out of the way in the microwave) till defrosted.  Once defrosted squeeze out all the flesh, juice (sugar goo).  Its ok to have some of the inside peel fiber in the mix don't worry about that, but do try to keep the outer peel out of the juice.  Toss the peels and what is left in the bowl is the base of your 'wet' mix.  To this you add the egg, sugar and oil.  Once that is all mixed add it to the mixed dry mixture (flour, powder, soda, spice) and mix till 'just moist'--if your going to add nuts now is the time to stir those in.  The more you mix it the tougher the dough.  And yes this is a quick bread so the dough is very wet.  When doing a loaf sometimes the top will brown before the middle is cooked, if this happens cover with foil till cooking is complete.

Grease your pan of choice, fill and cook till a toothpick comes out clean.

If you are serving this to company make it the night before because when quick bread sits the flavors really get a chance to blend.

We're up to 5 teeth!

Poor little lady has spent the last two weeks cutting teeth, and the sixth one is just about to poke through! Her favorite thing to chew on is a cold corn cob...the dog likes it too!

Garlic Shrimp Linguine

Its been a long time since I posted a yummy recipe so here is a simple, delicious dinner that all five of us gobbled up.  I think it took me all of 15 min to make!
1 pound linguine
1 1/2 sticks butter
3/4 cup dry white wine
5 garlic cloves
drizzle of olive oil
1/3 cup of Asiago or Parmesan cheese
basil, oregano, salt and pepper to taste
1 pound medium peeled and deveined
DIRECTIONS
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium low heat; add wine , garlic, basil , oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Increase heat to medium high and add shrimp, to skillet; cook for about 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp begins to turn pink. Do not overcook.
4. Turn OFF heat, add cheese and toss with cooked hot linguine.
Garnish with Cheese and fresh parsley or herbs, if desired.  The picture is of one of the kids plates.  They like their salad dressing on the side to 'dip'.

NOTES...
Due to dairy allergy I used Margarine instead of Butter and it was still Yummy
For wine I used Yellow Tail Chardonnay
I used 4 fresh basil leaves strait from the garden
1tsp dried oregano

1/2 frozen bag of Shrimp (defrosted under cool water)
couple shakes of salt and pepper--but Andy added more salt to his plate
**I think if your not feeding kids that some red pepper flakes would be a great addition when you add the herbs
The kids loved the shrimp, noodles, salad and rolls. Even Aby enjoyed it...but she fell asleep while eating her roll!

Wil's First Trophy

Wil has gotten metals and awards but never a trophy.  The grin on that boys face was priceless, Did I get it on camera? NOPE! 

But I did get quite a few wonderful grins and priceless moments during his season.  

William started the season off with one of the first goals, and that crazy little man finished the season scoring one of the only two goals of the last game.  

I have to say, out of all the kids on his team (the tigers) I think he improved the most.  He always had a smile on his face and was eager to get out on the field.  Unlike most of the kids he didn't like to sit out and 'rest' he really would have rather played the whole game.  He never complained of the heat or the running all over and not getting the ball.  He never pouted about missing a goal or having the ball taken by the other team.  He was always running on the field, high-fiving the coaches, helping his team mates up, or on the side lines taking his 'rest' cheering his team on.

I think what helped Wil be such a good sport was he had some of the best cheerleaders around.


Lets not forget his proud (sometimes embarrassing) father on the sidelines cheering and shouting directions to not just William but all the little orange Tigers!  

GO WILLIAM GO!

All and All I think it was a great soccer season and he well deserved his trophy. Thank you Coach Charlie and Coach Liz for all your hard work.

All my little monsters enjoying the season end cupcakes!

Good Season Tigers!!!

What is so funny?