First Week of Summer

We started the summer with the Summer Reading Program Sign ups at the library. Starboy and Princess each got a shirt. We had to be there at 9 a.m. to make sure we could get the right sizes and sign up for the program. You need to read 6 days per week From May 31-July 30 to qualify for the prizes. (We can read to princess, Starboy reads 20 minutes each day.) They have an adult reading program also. You must read 3 books and write short reviews and then you earn a T-shirt. Coach and I are signed up for that.
We spent time over at Grandma H's with Cousins. Starboy is getting really good at taking care of Princess. He is great at playing with his younger cousins and making everyone smile and have fun.

Starboy asked his dad to give him a summer buzz haircut, so Saturday night all those brown locks came off. He thinks it's fun to be bald, I don't mind in the summer, since then I don't have to worry about keeping his hair combed.

Monday, Starboy started summer school it goes 9-12 Mon-Thurs. They do fun activities like storytime, music, computers, art as well as reading and math. After school he wanted to do a project with the neighbor boy so they decided to paint rocks.

On Tuesday he decided to try and sell the rocks. I told him that most people probably wouldn't stop to just buy rocks, so we added lemonade to the sale. $.20 for a glass of lemonade and $.05 for a rock.

His friend from down the street came and helped with the sale. Splitting the earnings equally they each earned $2.12. We live right by a stop sign. I am always amazed at how many people stop. It was a fun activity. Some people even picked out rocks which made Starboy excited.

I worked hard to get this computer set up for Starboy to use this summer. It is set up out in the living room so I can assist him, and watch what sites he is using. The rule is he has to do 10minutes of math, science, or spelling to earn 10 minutes of playing games (lego Starwars, Sim Safari, Baseball etc) and there is a limit of 1 hr of computer time per day.

Starboy would much rather play with friends than work on the computer, but there are a lot of days when friends can't play, and he really will need to know how to use the computer as he gets older. I think this is a better alternative to T.V. watching everyday.

Yesterday we got to go to IKEA which is a Swiss store. Starboy played in smileland with my friends other children. We then went to the deli there Starboy and the other children got frozen yogurt cones that were very yummy, and I go their signature cinnamon roles. Warm and oh so delicious. After Ikea we got to go to my friends home to play and eat dinner. We didn't get home until 7:30. Coach had been at Lagoon all day with the 9th grader. His last day of school is today. Summer has begun and we are trying to have lots of fun!

Green Eggs and Ham!

For April Fools Day yesterday, Starboy and I made Green Eggs and Ham (Sausages) for Dinner. The green eggs were made green not by food coloring (which Starboy is allergic to and we try to keep out of our house) but by using vegetable purees. Zucchini and Spinach to be exact. I used 1/2 C. of both purees mixed with 2 T. milk, 6 eggs and a pinch of salt. It was fun to make and Starboy was so excited that he volunteered to read us the Dr. Seuss book after dinner (this is after already doing his 20 minutes of reading for homework earlier).

I like to use puree's in my cooking. I got the idea and a lot of the recipes from the "Deceptively Delicious Cookbook" by Jessica Seinfeld. Now, at my house we eat a lot of vegetables. I don't use the puree's to necessarily hide the vegetables. Starboy has learned to eat salads, and steamed veggies very well. But there are a lot of foods that have little nutritional value that kids love. Using the purees makes me more likely to make them. Like tonight I am making Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (with cauliflower puree). This weekend I am planning to make pancakes (with beet puree and cottage cheese). The best part is how great all of these recipe's taste. You have to try it to believe it, but most of the time it taste's even better than without, but you can not put your finger on the fact it is the veggies doing the job. There are even chocolate brownies with spinach and carrot puree (I haven't tried those yet, but I am planning to very soon.

Using these purees adds a new variety to the kinds of meals I make, and it lets me feel good about giving my family some of the more "fun" foods that I would generally skip because of the little nutritional value.

The purees are a pain to make, especially if the blender you have is not the best. Yesterday I ended up having pureed carrots all over because the blender decided to explode from the base. But I try to make a bunch all at once, and then I can use them the whole month or even 2. You have to steam or roast the veggies before pureeing them, so you need a good 2-3 hrs to get everything done. I am sure it gets easier with practice. I have been using the purees for about 6 months, but have only actually pureed 3 times. I put all of the purees in marked ziplock bags in 1/2c. quantities. Then when I want to make a recipe with one, I just go to the freezer get out what I want and add it to my meal. EASY!!
I mostly use spinach,broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and red peppers. Other common veggies to puree are zuchinni, squash, beets, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. I encourage you to check out this cookbook if you are looking for a fun way to introduce more veggies to your family (but use a good blender so you don't pull your hair out!!)