Friends, where have we even been this whole time? Honestly, right where we’ve always been. Smack dab in the middle of right here. Yet, this portion of the blog has been quiet for a handful of months. So, we’ll just combine everything into one nice round-up of shenanigans and whatever else we’ve managed to get ourselves into.
How does that sound?
First, it started with the polar vortex, which kept us inside for what seemed like EVER, and for which I never complained even once. And by that I mean the exact opposite. I complained the whole way through. Then the cold just sort of stuck around. After that, we reached the end of the school year, and “Maycember” is a real thing. We are as busy in May, if not busier, as we are in the 4-5 weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year. I’m convinced the parallels only intensify the older the children get.
And we make a point to not over-busy ourselves. But sometimes, you’d never know it.
So here’s my question, do you experience “Maycember” in spite of your best efforts to strike a balance? Or are things pretty calm for you at the end of the school year?
We did experience a few noteworthy moments, if only because we managed to snap a few photos along the way. So pull up a chair, maybe some iced coffee, and sit a spell. And as you peruse through what we’ve been doing lately, don’t forget to comment below with your latest happenings!
WHAT WE’VE BEEN EATING:
I am all over this Roasted Salsa Verde. It is the twist on a traditional salsa my summer needs. And just to make sure I knew what I was doing, I prepared a few batches in spring. Because “planning” and “proactivity” are vitally important. Who are we kidding? It’s the snacking, the snacking’s important. And with a salsa like this, it’s easy to do!
Also, if you’re new to tomatillos, then this is a recipe worth trying! It will not let you down.
K-Hubs fell into a scrumptious recipe made of leftover vegetables. It ended up being so tasty, it earned a spot on the blog. If you haven’t checked out K-Hubs’ Sauté then now is the time! It’s honestly one of those “a little of this, a little of that” recipes. And those are some of my favorites.
WHAT WE’RE PLANTING:
The last few winters were hard on our landscaping. And last year, we never quite got around to planting our herb gardens. But, alas, this year we got ourselves in gear. And Toodle took the lead, planting basil, dill, oregano, and parsley in two planter boxes. Basically, this means we’ll be eating all the Paleo Tzatziki Sauce we want, complete with fresh dill. And we’re throwing a bunch of fresh parsley into batches of Avocado Pesto. As for the oregano, I’m contemplating leaning how to dry it to use in the future. Last, but certainly not least, we are eating our way through Homemade Basil Pesto. Because how can you not?
What I always manage to forget each year is just how therapeutic gardening can be, even with nothing more than a small planter box or two. Taking care of something and watching it bloom is rewarding. And I think Toodle is super-proud of her harvests so far. According to Good Housekeeping, gardening packs a punch when it comes to managing heart health and stress levels, and it even counts as exercise.
From where I sit, literally, I love to look out the window at the blooms. So whether it’s a blossoming spirea plant, a tiny basil stem, or a colorful dianthus, the four of us are ALL IN.
DATE NIGHT OUT!
K-Hubs and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. We marked the occasion by going to a friend’s concert downtown, leaving the kids home with my goddaughter, and taking a few pictures of the social scene we haven’t fully navigated in about 10 years.
There was sometime about reconnecting with friends we used to run around with pre-kids that reminded us we’re still young. It was also a reminder to maintain our friendships as well as we can because not only are friendships a healthy part of living, but the kids don’t stay young forever.
I just had lunch with my high school English teacher, who also serves as a bonus mom. She talked about how she and Mr. English Teacher are planning the next part of their lives, almost like a retirement part two. Their friendship circles are changing as their friends move away to be near adult children. It reminded me of how our circles changed when we became parents. And, as Mrs. English Teacher said, it’s all about adapting.
So in our case, we feel like we’re resurfacing, reconnecting with people we used to see every Friday night. And it’s wonderful how that works out because the girls are starting to develop their own social circles, and our roles as parents are changing.
Essentially, I could write a whole post about being married 16 whole years. But I won’t. At least not today. What I will say is that I really did marry my best friend. And we’ve learned to meet in the middle. But it’s important to note, the middle always moves. It isn’t always a 50/50 split. There are times when K-Hubs comes first, and there are times when I come first. Or the kids come first, house projects take over, and car maintenance needs to be completed on the fly. I’m grateful for this guy. And even though this picture is from our wedding day, you can safely assume he hasn’t aged much. Only just in the last few years did he stop getting carded when purchasing alcohol. And he’s actually a whole decade and a half older than me.
These are the days of our lives folks. As good as it gets. And I’ll take it. ❤️
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