Lazy Summer 2012 part 1

It's mid July already! Time has pass by really fast. We have been here for 4 months and I haven't posted anything in even longer...but I feel so boring. We haven't done anything fun. We went to Florida but stayed put at my sister's house, by the pool (that was the fun part.) we have been to Nashville but only to the zoo. I have been desperately looking for something to do in town, but there is nothing less than an hour and a half away. Jared has been really busy, he has been away 3 times already, and when he doesn't work late he fixes our yard. Which is looking great (pictures will follow). The summer is almost over, not the heat, just the empty summer holidays, and I feel a little unaccomplished. So to make me feel better here are pictures of Summer 2012.

At home...

I made pretzels for breakfast one day

in the hot, hot evenings of Summer the children caught lighting bugs

 In Florida...

they played in the pool at Tia Katrina's house...

read books under the coconut tree

Helped Kc practice lacrose

played with electronic devises and spent lazy afternoon in the hammocks

 

 

Back at home...

deers are eating my tomato plants, bu they looks to cute I couldn't shoo them away

Jared builds our wall.

Soup, rolls, and kitchen helpers

I am sick today with a cold (in the middle of Summer). So I decided to make veggie dumpling soup. Since I had to clean the counters to make the dough for the dumplings, and plain veggie soup sounds a little too plain, I decided to go a step beyond and make mozzarella filled rolls to accompany the soup. I like making this soup because it is so easy. The dumplings are actually some thick homemade noodles that I make with four, salt and cold water. The hardest part was that I had to go and buy the carrots and celery which surprisingly I didn't have. They are a staple in my fridge, but not this week.

Despite the fact that Aiden looks like he is struggling, the dough was really nice and light. Bella was working quite daintily with the dough

 After making a few of them I realized that it was fun to stuff the dough so I called my kitchen elves who came quite readily. The end result looks amazing. Don't you think? They are light and fluffy with a chewy mozzarella center. Delightful!

I'm very happy with my elves. They are usually ready to help out in the kitchen, specially when I am baking, which is quite often since baking is my favorite thing to do in the kitchen, besides eating, of course. Aiden is always ready to come and put his hands into anything, Isabella only if she is not reading, otherwise I have to make her help and after doing what was initially asked of her she asks if she can go already. I want my children to love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. I know that I should invite them to help more often, and not be so worry about messes. (I despise messes!) So one of my goals for the rest of this year is to have them help themselves more often in the kitchen.