Shawn's Date

Shawn is on a date today with another woman.  I would be jealous, if it weren't for the fact that it is with the lady photographed here:

My Grandma

 They actually do this date once a year.  

My husband has a huge garden in our backyard, and we get a few tomatoes.  (Sol may be hanging over the sink eating three five  seriously 6!? right now.)

My grandma is one of the last living fans of the county extension office events, and she is up to date on all the exciting*(very generous use of the word) programs they offer such as canning and gardening classes.

One such event offered is an annual Tomato Day complete with educational tips on tomatoes, canning, and competitions for best tomatoes of many varieties.  This is their date.  Shawn takes her to breakfast at joints with names like "Fat Ernie's".  Then they are off to the Farmer's market for all kinds of shenanigans.  Shawn is the youngest man there by a good 35 years.

So, this year, my Grandma has mentioned some 3000 times that there is a competition for tomatoes and she thinks Shawn's tomatoes have a shot.  (Shawn did not feel this way.)  I coaxed him into humoring my Grandma's competitive nature and bringing a few plates to enter.

I just got a call, he won 2nd prize for his Baby Roma Tomatoes, so he is the proud owner of a $10 Farmer's Market Gift Certificate!  He wanted to know what we wanted and I directed him to locate the nearest Mennonite baked goods because I think we are good on fresh veggies for a bit.

It seems my Grandma bought him a strawberry rhubarb pie.  Those two whipper snappers - living it up like they are a mere 65!  (Which for one of them is impressive - I won't say which one.)

I'm sure in his acceptance speech, he thanked his own Grandpa for the green thumb.  (Tuck in a few prayers for his Grandpa Earl if you see this.)

My Backyard Farm

When it comes to things I love about my house, ranking in at numero uno is my backyard.  I'm not typically an outdoorsy person, but my kids are, and having a large fenced in space with treehouse, grass, and garden for them to roam is ideal.

The best is the garden in the summer.  It is really Shawn's garden, I just do the occasional weed and I love to pick the tomatoes when they ripen.

Shawn with his delicious hobby.

So today, after Shawn brought in the squash and zucchini, the kids and I grabbed a basket (I thought that was more whimsical than the usual bowl) and went hunting.

Solly loved time in 'the maze'.  Dommy did the majority of the spotting and picking.  A great lesson in self sufficiency and the gift in nature.  It seems like they might understand the Gospels better with just a little understanding of growing food.

Shawn already got a ton of cucumbers and made pickles. 

Using our garden potatoes, squash, basil, and some goat cheese I got on sale, I have plans to make this amazing looking dish.  I'll let you know if it is as great as I think it will be.

Days like today, I feel like the farm girl I unrealistically think I would want to be, if I didn't have an affinity for laziness and high heels.

Stuff and Goal #2

This week has been beautiful.  So I have been trying to be that mom that I loathe being - you know, the one who spends quality time outdoors with the kids.  I am a results based person, so I sorta just like to do stuff that has an end goal.  Most of the time I spend really working with my kids is educational based or cleaning based- as in, I make them and show them how to clean things- you're welcome, future daughters-in-law.

So to prove I did good mom stuff:

boys on their bikes, with bells - because we hate the neighbors it would seem  (we don't) 

No matter what cool activity we engage in, he is stuck doing this.

Dominic's helicopter - act impressed.

 This week I'm teaching a new somewhat prep intensive reading/art summer school course in the mornings, my sister and I are trading childcare, and we are going to DISNEYLAND! next week, so much packing awaits us.  I had Gretchen's girls this afternoon and the lunch fixings were slim.  I dared not drag the 4 munchkins (Sol's at Totus Tuus) to ALDI for an embarrassment-fest, so I broke down and (if you're a healthy person insert "whipped up a salad" and skip this paragraph) bought McDonalds.  I don't do that much.  For one, it costs more than I typically shell out and it isn't my ideal healthy meal either.  But I did.

Coletti asked me 3 times "What is this drink?"  What she really meant was:  
"What is this God-nectar of delight?"   I call it "Koolaid".  

More outdoorsy-ness.  

Shawn's garden, one corner away from weeded.  

My entire back patio and driveway look like a plot for war.  Enemies beware.  

Goal #2 has a little less ambition than the already less than dazzling Goal #1.

I'm going easy on myself during this already busy week:

Arrive on-time to everything and keep the house in order.

IDEAL
I bet June never drags into the cub scout ceremony with untied shoes on the Beav.
And those cabinets....

REAL

I would show my real with a photo, but there is not a picture chaotic enough to represent it.  I googled "flustered mom" and was shocked not to find my photo in the search.  I'm constantly heading out the door with kids in tow for this and that, leaving a mess, forgetting a baseball glove, and breaking laws written for bad drivers like me to get somewhere before 15 minutes late.  I really don't want to nag my boys this week to get in the car and race off.  And I want to maintain some order.  And I don't want to rely on my super husband to finish the cleaning and dress the baby in the process.  He's been working tons and cashed in lots of PTO just to pay Wilson's hospital bills.  So he deserves a break.

Now to keep a pepper-print promise to Dom and Francesca.  Then to pick up Sol - on time.