Hoopfest 2011

We had a fabulous Hoopfest weekend. The weather was great. The company was lovely. The basketball was exciting. We made it through another year injury-free (unless you count Jonathan's bruised rib from one overly aggressive player's elbow Sunday morning) and that is all that matters ;). Team Mose and Socks played well and had fun. And I was reminded, yet again, that deep inside myself is the heart of a competitor. That is a nice way of saying that I have some serious competitive issues. They don't come out often anymore. I'm a twenty-eight year old stay at home mom, after all. But sheesh. I was stressed-out each and every one of the 20ish minute games and it took me about ten minutes to cool my anger when they lost in overtime Sunday afternoon by one, after leading when the time went out and scoring another point after that (winning by two, basically). Grrrr ;).

I have consoled myself the last few days by acknowledging that I'm only at my worst while watching my husband. I mean, I don't care a bit if we're watching sports on TV. And I am more worried about how my little brother is responding to adversity during his matches than whether he's dominating the scoreboard. So that must mean I won't be one of those crazy moms cheering on my little girl, right? It may not really matter, though, because right now Clara is much more interested in watching bugs, dancing, and swings than she is anything sports-related. But still...

The two days spent downtown were great. Here are some of the pictures we took, documenting the weekend. And please notice Clara's face in every. single. picture. At least it's slightly better than turning away from the camera, which was her signature look a few months ago.

The boys: Chris, Neal, Cody and Jonathan

Add the wives: Bethany (+ Ella), Carly, Amy (+Clara), Stephanie (+ Quinn)

Andrea and her boyfriend, Parker were here for the madness as well! It was so fun to see Andrea (as always) and to meet "Big Parker", as we affectionately dubbed him. Since Clara already knows and loves a kindergarten aged Parker, we thought the distinction might ease the complication. And Clara really did love Big Parker immediately. As did we!!

A few action shots:

And the rest of the fans, of course...

Devouring seaweed snack between games. Yum!

This little girl is quite smitten by her daddy. She loved cheering him on with an enthusastic "Go daddy go!"

Sharing a post-match smoothie.

And the finale: the victory pose Andrea taught her!

Summer Parkways

The place we call home is a cutting-edge city, let me tell you. Hoopfest. First Night. Bloomsday. First Friday Art Walk. And now Summer Parkways. Modeled after an idea from Bogota, Columbia of all places, this event is brand new to Spokane. They close the street to create a four-mile loop for bikers, runners, walkers, strollers, roller bladers and the like. There are all kinds of booths along the way, encouraging excercise and activity.

On Wednesday the first Summer Parkways event of the summer happened just down the street. Jonathan's PT clinic even set up a little station. They grilled sausages and set up an obstacle course, including Jonathan's slackline*, which may have been the highlight of the event. Not joking, there was a line of little ones waiting to cross with the assistance of their parents for nearly the duration of the event. Clara and I joined in the fun, along with Jonathan's parents who rode the loop on their bikes. It was a great evening.

*Though I didn't blog about it, it should be noted that with his 30th birthday money, Jonathan decided to buy one of these tight-rope between tree contraptions that my brother said all the hippies use at the U of M. That is my husband. It kind of reminds me of the first work bonus purchase two and a half years ago. A different category than a cello maybe, but still in the category of hmmm, interesting.

Here are a few pictures. And let me just say that I think we may officially be in the season of summer now (sigh). After the longest spring in the history of springs, the weather looks as if it may stay above seventy for at least a week. Maybe even eighty. Wahoo.

Bring on the heat! And the slacklines and the barbecues and the popsicles. We love popsicles.

Father's Day

This father's day, Jonathan again requested a weekend away at Priest Lake. By nothing short of a miracle, it never rained the entire weekend (even though it poured in Spokane). It didn't necessarily feel like summer, but it was warm enough to enjoy a few meals on the deck and we even read most of Saturday morning in the sunshine. We took a nice hike Saturday afternoon along the Luby Bay trail and enjoyed the serenity of the lake in mid-June. There weren't many people around. Maybe it's because the weather hasn't even hit eighty degrees and the water is freezing? At least it's still beautiful.

Breakfast on the deck: raspberry oat bars and Montana Eggs. And yes, I have no shame in my portion size. It is mostly vegetables anyways ;).

The view from our beach.

Relaxing on the deck.

Clara loves the beach. LOVES it.

The joys of potty training at the beach. Clara had her first experience going outdoors by this lovely little boulder. A great first spot for a "tinkle", don't you think? We also had two outdoor potty experiences driving home from the lake when she announced abruptly that she had to go and we were nowhere near a restroom. Yes, life these days involves lots of talk about tinkle and poop, and planning errands around sanitary (ish) bathrooms.

Because I somehow managed to get through the entire father's day weekend without any pictures of Miss Clara and her daddy, here are just a few from the last few years...

After leaving the lake Sunday morning, we spent the rest of Sunday with both our dads. Like last year, we got to hear the two of them together (crazy, I know) sing in a quartet at their church. And we enjoyed a lovely barbeque with them both after that. Did we get pictures of either of our dads on father's day, even with a nice, fancy camera sitting within arm's reach? Of course not. So here are a few more recycled pics.

We love you dads! And Jono, you are the best dad that any little girl could ask for. Tea parties. Cello serenades. Unique and inspiring dance moves. Attempts at sport exposure (at least you're giving it your best effort). Original songs. Dress-up parties. She is one lucky girl.

The Cake Message

This is the cake I made my mom for her birthday. She and my dad came over for a special meal in early April and the Hooks came along too (boy is it convenient that our parents are great friends with one another). We brought it out to the living room after dinner and we sang happy birthday to my mom.

I waited an entire five minutes (or so it seemed) before cutting into the cake. I wanted everyone to decode the message on top of the cake. Can you figure it out?

My mom turned fifty-three and her birthday is April 3rd, so the numbers had nothing to do with her. Wouldn't she think it strange? Apparently not. Finally I said something like "Weird. What do those numbers mean?". Only then did someone say, "no? Is that your due date? Are you pregnant?!!" I was expecting them to come to that conclusion in seconds. But they did get it, in the end. It just took them a bit longer than I had predicted.

So yes, we are pregnant. And really really excited, of course.

I was a little off on my due date, though. After our first ultrasound, it looks more like early December (the 4th). Maybe I was just pulling for the thought of an 11/ of 11 birthday ;). Who knows. If this little one debuts a bit early like his/her older sister, it will be November. Or if I follow in the footsteps of a few friends, I'll have this baby past my due date. We shall see! I'm fifteen weeks (four months for those who don't think in weeks) and in my second trimester.

I'm pretty sure that these last eleven weeks (since we've known) have been some of the slowest moving in my life. I suppose it's to be expected. I've been praying often against fear. And even if I haven't lived victoriously in that arena at every waking moment, I am learning a lot about trusting the Lord and giving up control. Because honestly, I don't really have control, do I? And I don't really want it. God knows the exact story he has for our family. And I'm pretty certain that it is infinitely superior to the plans I have (even when I think my plans are best, right?!).

Will this little bundle be a he or a she? We could find out in a just a few weeks but I think we're opting to be surprised again. I know. Most days I think we're kind of insane - but we'll be thrilled either way, so we're excited to experience the crazy moment in the hospital, yet again.

I'm sure I'll be writing more in the coming weeks. But just to document these past three months of pregnancy, I can summarize easily: exhaustion, nausea, whacked-out digestive system (to put it nicely), and more exhaustion. I'm anticipating the day I can make it from morning to night without a nap. I will accomplish so much more when that day comes. But I'm not complaining. I'll take it. Really, I will :).

And in case you're wondering, we have told Clara. She says the baby is a boy and we should name him mommy. She also holds up her shirt and tells us she has a baby in her tummy. Hmmmm. Going through pregnancy this time around (with a two year old) may prove quite interesting.

Summer Salad Recipes

There is something about the change of seasons that motivates me in the arena of cooking. I pretty much always love to cook, but I certainly go through phases. Phases where I'm both ultra motivated and the extreme opposite of ultra motivated. Or when I nearly pull my hair out being sick of living in a house without a dishwasher. So I don't create dishes for a while. But that doesn't last long. Because the fact is, I love to cook. I like to eat too. And my husband (and now daughter, mostly) love to try new things, so it makes cooking quite rewarding. Most of the time.

Like I said, though, I find that at the change of seasons I am always in my most motivated state. I think it's because I start thinking of all the dishes I haven't made in almost a year, and I get excited.

The summer, for me, is an easy time to get motivated to cook. It might get too hot to think about baking (just for a few weeks for us, really), but the abundance of fresh food and vegetables literally scream for me to create. Fresh tomatoes? Basil and mozzarella sandwiches on ciabatta, please. Berries? My dad's famous crisp recipe, of course. Rhubarb coming out my ears in the back yard (like it is now)? Muffins. And sauce. And pie. Corn on the cobb? Grilled or boiled with nearly every single meal, please!

Here in Spokane we haven't quite hit the good stuff yet, when it comes to fruit and veggies in season, but we're getting there. But I am going a bit crazy in the salad department already. I mean, what in the world tastes better on a summer evening than a delicious salad with some good bread? Okay I know, a barbecue might sound a teensy bit better. But wait until you see these salads, and you might change your mind.

Here are a few salads I've made in the past week or so. If you're not convinced that a fresh summer salad is as tasty as a big ol' burger, try them. I dare you.

Salad #1: Incredible Couscous Salad (Spokane Jr. League Cookbook, my "go to" source)

Note: I have been making this salad for years now. It is so delicious. Perfect to take to the picnic or the ball park with plates. Great as leftovers for lunch!

Salad:

1 c. couscous, uncooked

1 1/2 c. boiling water

3/4 c. frozen corn

1 1/4 c. green & red bell peppers, chopped

1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 c. tomato, seeded & chopped

2 T. green onions, sliced

2 T (or more!) cilantro, chopped (or parsley, but cilantro is far superior)

4 c. smoked turkey breast, cut into 1/2" cubes (I buy from Costco & cut the whole thing, freezing in bags for later in the summer - it makes three recipes, depending on the size)

Dressing:

1/3 c. olive oil

1/3 c. lime juice (fresh is best, but I often forget & use the bottle)

1/4 t. salt or to taste

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/3 t. cumin

pinch cayenne pepper

*Combine couscous and boiling water, cover and allow to stand five minutes. Uncover and cool completely.

*Combine cooked couscous and remaining salad ingredients.

*Combine dressing in small bowl, mix well, and add to salad.

*Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve and watch it disappear.

Salad #2: Chinese Chicken Salad (from my dear friend, Andrea)

Note: It is so delicious. Believe me when I tell you this (even without a picture. Sorry!). Last week I tripled the recipe and delivered it to two new moms, saving one portion for ourselves. And did I manage a picture? No. But trust me. It's really good.

Dressing:

1/4 c. oil

3 t. white vinegar

1/2 t. pepper

3/4 t. ginger

2 T. sugar

1 t. salt

Layer in this order:

5 c. torn romaine lettuce

1 package ramen noodles without seasoning, crumbled

2 c. cooked, diced chicken (my friend Carly always does her chicken for cooked chicken recipes by placing it in the crock pot, frozen, on high for a few hours. So easy!)

11 oz. can shoe peg corn (or a few huge handfuls of Costco frozen corn)

1 large tomato, diced

2 green onions, diced

1/2 c. coarsely chopped peanuts (unsalted)

*Mix the dressing ingredients together and pour over salad just before serving. This salad isn't great leftover, so if you don't think you'll eat all of it, reserve some before adding the dressing.

Salad #3: Oriental Cabbage Salad (from my mama)

Note: This isn't a main dish salad so I'm breaking rules. I just made it for my father-in-law's birthday because it's one of his favorites. It tastes delicious with pulled pork sandwiches. Just don't make too much because it's not great leftover (or reserve some before adding dressing and have it the next day).

Salad #4: Greek Orzo Salad with Shrimp (Spokane Jr. League, yet again)

Note: I made Ina Garten's potato salad (yum!) for a few bbqs Memorial day weekend and ended up with a huge bunch of dill leftover that I wanted to use. I decided to make another one of my favorite summer salads with the leftovers this week. Now pretty much anything with the word greek in it, I'm apt to love. This is no exception.

Dressing:

3 T. fresh dill, chopped (or 1 T. dried)

1 1/2 cloves garlic, minced

3 T. olive oil

3 T. lemon juice (fresh is best, of course)

1 1/2 T. red wine vinegar

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

Salad:

1 lb. large shrimp, cooked peeled & chilled

3/4 c. orzo, cooked according to package directions, rinsed, drained, and chilled

3 1/2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

1 c. cherry tomatoes, cut in half

12 Kalamata olives (I use these only when I have them - I didn't this last time)

2 green onions, sliced

*Combine dressing ingredients in food processor or blender. Process until well blended, about 15 seconds (I guess I have never actually read the directions for this recipe because I have made it dozens of times and never blended the dressing. Oops)

*Combine salad ingredients and doss with desired amount of dressing. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Salad #5: Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad (a combination of a few recipes I've read)

Note: This was a newbie for me. I had some pesto from TJs I wanted to use and some fresh mozzarella, so I went for it. It ended up tasting pretty darn good and took hardly any time to prepare.

1/2 package whole wheat spiral pasta, cooked according to package and chilled

3/4 c. fresh mozzarella, cut in small pieces

1/2 can black olives, diced

1/3 c. sun dried tomatoes, diced

1 chicken breast, grilled and cut into pieces

4 T. (ish) prepared pesto

2 T. pine nuts, toasted

*Mix all the ingredients together and sprinkle with pine nuts just before serving. Easy. Healthy. Delicious!

There you go! I haven't posted recipes for while, so how about five all at once ;).

Birthday BBQ

Last year we spent hours and hours preparing for a surprise weekend away to celebrate Jonathan's dad turning the big 6-0. This year we showed up to his parents' house with a side salad and a gift for a birthday barbecue instead. It may not have rivaled our time last year (what could?!), but our afternoon and evening together was fabulous.

The weather even permitted the first outdoor meal on the Hook's deck. And even more astonishing than that? We got a great family picture (with a tripod and a remote control clicker, nonetheless!). How is it that our little girl who has not willingly smiled in a picture for the last four months managed to pull this one off? I don't know. But I'm not complaining ;).

The cousins together = giggling and silliness nonstop (and lots of Ring Around the Rosy).

Papa's personal present opening assistants:

Happy 61st, papa! We love you!

Swim Lessons

Clara just finished her second set of swim lessons. They're really more like "water experiences" than lessons. She can now kick her feet. Blow bubbles. Jump (or flail) off the side of the pool. Use "scooper arms" to paddle after a toy. And somewhat-willingly be dunked under water. Oh yes, and she has four new songs to add to her growing collection.

She steadily improved each time. Except for her last lesson, actually. I painted her nails for the first time on the eve of her final lesson and it proved to be quite the distraction in the pool. When she momentarily forgot that her nails were painted pink, she did just fine. When she remembered, however, she proceeded to show and tell everyone within earshot about them. Mom mistake number 2,304. Live and learn. But, I have to say, it was better than mistake 876 when I learned the hard way not to feed her cheese before taking her into the pool (see last year). You see, I am improving somewhat.

The nails. And the one shot I managed to get of her in the wading pool.