Time Out

In May, I got away with some friends to Spokane for a "Time Out for Women" conference.  This was my third time attending.  It was wonderful, as usual, and I had a fantastic time exploring Spokane and being with great friends!

Parker's Birthday

Also in April, we celebrated Parker's 7th birthday.  On his actual birthday, he wanted to eat at a Mexican restaurant.  I warned him about the sombrero thing, but he was all about it.  He would do anything for the free sundae!   

T-bone, however, was bummed to be left out of the sombrero club.

Presents!

About a week before Parker's actual birthday and a couple of weeks after Tyler's, we headed to Portland so the boys could receive Birthday Kings' Treatment from Grandpa & Grandma Stewart.  They were served all of their favorite foods and were treated to a trip to OMSI, the science center in Portland.  What a fun trip!

In early May, we celebrated again with our favorite Washington cousins, Aunt Mollie, and Grandma & Grandpa Brown. 

Grandma's birthday is in May, so we did a combined cake for them.  Aunt Mollie got a pinata!  It was a great time, as family always is, and celebrating our Parker boy that we love so much.

Parker and Baseball

This was Parker's first year of Coach Pitch Baseball and he did awesome!  We had so much fun watching him get his coordination and were so impressed by how fast he caught on.  He had practice once a week and games once a week.  His coaches were Coach Nate & Amy, his best friend Connor's dad & mom and good family friends of ours.  Coach Nate is so awesome.  At one of his games, Grandma & Grandpa Brown, Aunt Mollie & cousins came to watch him play.  Of course, the nerves hit Parker and instead of slamming the ball out of the park like usual, he kept striking.  The rules at the Y are that you keep swinging til you hit, but those darn nerves wouldn't let him do it.  Poor little guy was getting so frustrated and nearly in tears.  Coach Nate knew he could hit that ball, so he pulled him over right after the game and pitched to him (outside of the pressure of the game) until he hit it TONS of times in front of his family.  You did a great job, buddy, and we are so proud of you!

Spring Break

We had ourselves a little "staycation" for spring break and had fun hitting library storytime, the mall and the park.  There's no place like home!

The Flight of the Paper Airplane

In April, Parker participated in his first Science Fair at school.  Our boy loves science.  His project was entitled "The Flight of the Paper Airplane."  He, with the help of Daddy, engineered several paper airplane designs and hypothesized about which one would fly the farthest, and which would fly the longest.  It was a very fun experiment to try and despite the threatening stormy weather, he came up with some results and presented shortly thereafter at the Fair.  He made a good impression on his judges and was very proud of himself! 

We celebrated afterwards with root beer floats from A & W!

oh my, oh my...

I fear that I have SERIOUSLY neglected this blog!  More importantly, I have seriously neglected keeping a history of our family's happenings.  Time for a little catch up....

Freezer Cucumber Slices

If you are finding yourself with an excess of cucumbers from your garden, this is the way to store them.  You wouldn't think that by freezing them they would retain their crispness, but with the brine solution they really do!  We have enjoyed them all year long in salads, or even right out of the container!

1. Wash 6 to 8 firm, slender cucumbers.  Slice thinly with a food processor (or by hand).  Peel and thinly slice 1 medium-size onion (we like red onion).  Measure out 2 quarts of sliced cucumbers.  Mix with onions and 2 tablespoons of salt in a large bowl.
2. Let stand for 2 hours.
3. Drain vegetables well.  Rinse thoroughly with cold water.  Drain well again.  Return drained veggies to the rinsed bowl.  Add 2/3 (that's two-thirds) cup each of oil, vinegar, and sugar.  Add 1 teaspoon celery seed.  Mix well.
4. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5. Pack in freezer jars or rigid freezer containers.  Leave 1-inch headspace.  Freeze.

**Cucumber slices can be defrosted and eaten after 1 week.  Store defrosted cucumbers in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.  Enjoy!

To do...

1. blog about Parker's birthday...in APRIL
2. blog about Time Out for Women in Spokane
3. blog about mother's day fun
4. blog about our trip to Silverwood Amusement Park & Couer d'Alene
5. blog about the last days of school
6. blog about the updates in the house...washer/dryer, guacamole wall, new window, new bedding, croffice, yada yada yada
7. blog about swim lessons
8. blog about our sad little garden
9. blog about our new swagger wagon
10. blog about my birthday
11. blog about Peter's and my trip to Hawaii
12. blog about our trip to Oly for the Fourth
13. blog about our trip to the Portland zoo and the Pearl District
14. blog about Peter's new calling in the bishopric
15. blog about Picnic in the Park Playgroup Wednesdays
16. blog about how summer is too crazy to sit down and blog!

Hope you're all having as much fun as we are!

Garden Delights

Easter 2010

I didn't even get pics of my boys in their Easter duds this year!  And they were darling, too.  Oh well.  Here is our Easter morning.  The Easter Bunny left butterfly nets, gardening gloves, puzzles and plenty of treats!