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Hello!!!

Sit down, grab a cup, and take a sneak peek into what we’ve been up to…

I did this “fun” nighttime 5k called Storm the Bastille during one of Milwaukee’s weekly summertime festivals, Bastille Days. Like a true Milwaukee’an, we ended at a bar.  Yes. We really do have vampire-like eyes.

A quintessential summertime thang….kids passed out all over your house whilst the grown ups play into the wee hours. Signs of a good night.

Yes. We discussed 50 Shades this month. Yes, its no literary piece. But yes, it was fun. The hosts had fun with the theme, including a flogger and a fun drink menu.

Do you like tofu? We do. When I made this, one of my kids asked, “so what animal does tofu come from?” I had to chuckle and explain. Tofu can be hard to learn –trust me, it took years to figure it out.  The key is to buy the right texture (extra firm) and then season and cook it properly so that its crispy on the outside and melty on the inside.Anyway, this is one of our favorites . A spicy green bean and basil dish served over jasmine rice.

I had a martini to celebrate the end of a very successful festival.  I never drink martinis. I am less than 110lbs.  I was in bed about 40 min later.

Ranier cherries are like crack. I love Costco for carrying them, or they’d never be affordable!

Call me “sucka” and say hello to Boo and Jimmy.  Our cat, Ike, seems to want to personally say hello to them, too. He’s always talking loudly to them and trying to jump up and see them. Let’s hope he doesn’t call them dinner.

I pride myself in trying new recipes at least 2x/wk.  Its not often they are a total fail (yes, we get a “let’s not do this again”, but total fail? not often). But this night we had an immediate dump into the trash before it even hit the table dinner. And then we took the kids to the village and had dinner at a local pub that on Tuesday nights, charges them in cents for their height (in inches). Cheap. Then we walked down to the river and skipped rocks. Mama won {woot!}

The boys were supposed to go to camp yesterday, but a tree blew over in a storm and landed on some stuff that blew out the power and water. So instead, daddy took them golfing. And Aidan got a birdie! Sweet!

annnd….if you’ve made it through all of that, I’ll share this with you. Its a little ode to why you should make your kids wear shoes.

I have 3 kids. So you won’t be surprised that we’ve been in the ER at the local Children’s Hospital many, many times for things like stitches, staples, stitches, extractments, poisoning, re-hydration, pneumonia, and well…other random ailments. Let’s just say that I am very thankful for good health insurance.

That’s my girl. Like my oldest, she eschews shoes at any chance she gets. She was playing soccer without shoes {naturally} and kicked the ball. Only, she kicked the cement.  And well, that didn’t go so well.

There was a ton of debris under that wound that I couldn’t get out.  And a huge hematoma. So they xrayed it. And numbed it. Then numbed it some more with 2 needles that made her scream to the high heavens. Then they irrigated it and drained the blood.  Poor kid. Oh, and she fractured the outer side of the big toe, too.  Good times.

So my kids will not be getting new crocs (victory! I loathe crocs) this school year. No more flip flops unless we’re at the pool. Its sneakers that tie and double knot for us. Shoes that are too hard to take off. You can call me the shoe patrol, if you will. Because I don’t want to to to the ER for a 4th foot injury (yes…its been 3 times).

And with that said, I am linking up with Jeannett {check her out! she just had a 4th gorgeous baby!} and everyone else for Insta-Friday.

and Alissa for a coffee date