Mother's Day gifts

Oh my gosh - where has the time gone?  It has been more than a month since I have written anything here!  All is well and all are well.  We are ready for summer, for an easier schedule.  I set up the backyard table yesterday, we will eat most of our meals out there and that is one of my all time favorite things to do.
Today we made silk scarves for Mother's Day gifts at the pre-school, they are so beautiful!  Each one is so different and it was really fun to see what colors the kids would choose for their mom.  I brought them home tonight to set and rinse them, they were so nice hanging together on the line.
More soon..... and by the way, in 1 month we will have two High School Seniors in this house! YIKE!

the clothesline....

Yesterday morning the boys came downstairs and said they wanted to shoot baskets.  I asked them if they could wait about 30 minutes until the sheets that were hanging on the line were dry.  They assured me it wasn't a problem, they could shoot around it.   I went about my business and a few minutes later they came in and said they were sorry, but my clothesline had fallen..... "an accident".   I just said, "Well, let's go get the wet sheets out of the mulch and then you two can grab your wallets and head to the hardware store and get me a new one, it's fine.  Thanks for letting me know."  They left, they were laughing in the car as they pulled out of the driveway and I thought that something seemed suspicious.  I had let it go, they hung the new one and the wet sheets and it was over.  Fast forward to the evening.... I heard uproarious laughter coming from the the two of them hovered over Brandon's phone and when I snuck in the "huddle" to see what was so funny......  this video, footage of "the accident".

Selection Sunday

This group of boys.... or as Maddie calls them, "tweens".  They were at our house yesterday afternoon to fill out brackets, eat chili dogs (and then make wiener jokes), play an intense 3 on 3 tournament in the backyard and eat some more.  It always amazes me how boys have conflicts and they get resolved as quickly as they get started.  I have learned to let it happen, not get involved, keep a watchful eye but not be a part of the solution unless it is really necessary.  

landed.

Basketball is wrapping up for the season.  We have been flying by the seat of our pants the last few months and now, we can all see the light a the end of the tunnel.  No games to play in this weekend, only ones to watch.  No early morning practices.  No uniforms that need to be washed.... BY THIS AFTERNOON!  

I have started reading Marley and Me, oh my gosh, we are living that book!  And this little seed, landed right outside my kitchen window as I was drinking my coffee this morning.  Landed. That's how this weekend feels, like maybe we've landed.  We have this song playing on the computer this morning.  

I hope  you have a really nice weekend.

Sunday breakfast

Maddie works every Sunday from 10 - 4, so every Sunday at 9 we all have breakfast together.  I get my long run in before then, Brian gets the puppy walked and her brothers roll out of bed to come join us.  And every Sunday morning she thanks us all.   The thank you from her is exactly what I'm thinking, but not saying out loud.... all part of raising teenagers.

Kansas Day

Happy 151st Birthday to Kansas! We have some friends who have a Kansas Day party every year - it's an old fashioned pie social (A-K brings Savory and L-Z brings Sweet) some good old timey music, Free State Beer, Kansas Trivia competition and a journal to write all the things you love about Kansas.    The rest of our weekend was spent at basketball games, so the change in scenery was a highlight for all of us!

homemade meatballs

Yesterday, my extended family all came to my house.  While the guys unloaded firewood, worked on this table and watched basketball, the rest of us made 450!!! homemade swedish meatballs for the freezer.  So fun!  We all laughed, worked, talked - I can see how women loved to get together to "make" things years ago.  There is something very satisfying about stocking up, making from scratch, doing it together, making memories along the way.  Each time I pull a bag out of the freezer this winter, I'll think back on yesterday and probably smile a little at something that was said or just a picture of the day.  

The recipe is below - my friend Jill made these for our family when I had Simon, 12 years ago.  I've been making them each winter since, they are great to have on hand.

3 lb. ground beef
12 oz. evaporated milk
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup cracker crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
Mix above ingredients and form into balls.  Freeze in single layer

Sauce (for 10 - 12 meatballs)
1 cup ketchup
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp liquid smoke

Bake at 350 for about an hour.  Serve over rice.