college memories

Dropping Tyler off at college last week brought back a wave of emotions and also brought back so many old memories. Memories of when I was in college.

It really does not seem like that long ago that it was me being dropped off at college by my parents. It was a different school and a different time- but I have to believe that some of the same feelings were going through my boy as we dropped him off at his school?? I remember feeling such excitement, a little nervous, such excitement, wondering if I could figure everything out, a little sad, and such excitement!!

It really does not seem that long ago that these pictures were taken!

*photo of me in Pete's dorm room*

*Photo of Pete in my dorm room (my side was the messy side!! :)

I am so excited for my boy and this next chapter of his life... and for him to create his own memories of college life!!

snapshots from the cabin

Each summer we spend a week at a cabin with our family, my parents and my sister and her family (and sometimes if we are lucky an aunt, uncle and maybe a cousin, too!) It is always such a fun and relaxing week and something our whole family looks forward to!

Snapshots from our week this summer....

*beautiful sunsets*

*Grandpa taking some of the grandkids fishing*

*Drew catching one of his many fish!*

*cousins playing at the game table*

*bonfires*

*dinner at a favorite restaurant*

*golfing*

*vicious scrabble games :)*

*outside games*

*boating*

*big storms (7 inches of rain in one night)that made for flooding*

*bowling*

*Dairy Queen "run" on the boat*

*and just plain old fun*

move-in day

Yesterday was a day that I have been anticipating with excitement but yet at the same time not exactly wanting the day to arrive. I am not sure that makes sense… except to say it was the day that we moved my oldest boy to college.

This past week was a flurry of activity with shopping for all the last minute necessities, packing, and saying goodbyes to friends and family. And doggies.

For me, yesterday came way too soon! I look back and wonder how Tyler could possibly be old enough to be going to college. But he is more than ready… and so therefore, I must be ready too.

The whole move-in day was amazing! We arrived on campus at about 10am. On the road into campus we were greeted and welcomed by many ‘student orientation leaders’ and faculty. Each car was stopped and welcomed and then directed to the appropriate dorm. When we reached the dorm our car was then met with a ‘move-in crew’ (all wearing lime-green t-shirts) who unloaded our car and brought all of Tyler’s stuff up to his room. We did none of the moving! All we had to do was go and park the car and then head up to his room to start unpacking! Wow!

The day was filled with events for the entire family and included a family picnic, parent meetings, and a resource fair. Families were really encouraged to spend the day on the campus participating in all the different events- which we did. It was such a beautifully planned and welcoming day.

Tyler walked us to our car at the end of the day.

I thought I would be so sad and an emotional wreck when it was time to say goodbye and for sure on the drive home— but I wasn’t. Ok, maybe I was a little sad- but mostly I felt peace and happiness, knowing this is exactly where Tyler should be and that he looked completely secure and ready to take on this new chapter of his life.

As a parent our job is to raise, teach and guide our children so they can spread their own wings and soar on their own. And I am proud to say that I think I did my job well.

Chicago weekend

This past weekend the family headed to Chicago for a long weekend.

We went to see a Cubs baseball game.





In very hot weather.



We attended my family reunion at a fun little park.
We had fun playing games like Bags, Frisbee, baseball and one of the little cousins even brought a pinata.













Got rained on 6 inches in one night.



Enjoyed some of our favorite Chicago food: Vienna hot dogs from Gene and Judes and Italian beefs from The Spot.









Played lots of Scrabble and Farkle.



Swam in the hotel pool and took some rides down the hotel halls.



It was a fun weekend of activities and visiting with relatives.
I love visiting Chicago!

summer salads

This last month or so I have been trying to exercise more and have also have been trying to eat a little healthier. It is not always easy especially with our crazy schedule- but I do know that I feel so much better and I have more energy when I put healthier food into my body. And the older I get I find that to be even more true!! :)

The past few weeks I have been trying to make a few new salad recipes for dinners and each one has been so delicious. Plus, a salad always sounds so good in the hot summer weather—which we have been having a lot of this summer.


Lime and Cilantro Chicken Salad
(This recipe is from Nordstrom's Cafe and is my all time favorite salad!!)

Dressing:
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons pureed chipotle chile's in adobe sauce
2 Tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Salad:
3 ears corn, grilled or roasted (2 cups)
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts- seasoned with salt and pepper, cooked and sliced
1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, diced
1 pound mixed baby greens
2 cups Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper, chopped
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
fresh cilantro

For the dressing: Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor.

For the salad: Remove the corn from the cob. Combine the remaining ingredients. Toss with the dressing and sprinkle with the seeds and cilantro.

Delicious!
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Greek Grilled Chicken Salad

This recipe I found on a (new-to-me) food blog and the salad was AMAZING!!! So Good- the whole family loved it- good! I will definitely be making this again!!

You can find the recipe here at Aggie's Kitchen.
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Another recipe I made was Pioneer Woman's 
Asian Noodle Salad
I thought for sure I took a picture of this---but for some reason I can't find a picture. This was a great salad- but when I make it again I would probably add some sliced grilled chicken and also cut the recipe in half---it makes a ton!!! But it is so good- the flavors are amazing!!
This recipe can be found here.
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And with all of the great vegetables in season right now I can't wait to try some more new salad recipes!!!

scenes from summer

I cannot believe that more than half of the summer is over already! Summer always goes way too fast!

Here are some pictures of a few things we have enjoyed so far this summer.

*Time in the back yard.












*Enjoying smores at a campfire.


*Lighting bottle rockets.


*Fireworks on the Fourth of July.


*Beautiful flowers (and vegetables and fruits) at the local farmer's markets.


*Walks around 'the lakes' and time at the Rose Garden.






*Trying new recipes like these Jalapeno Poppers from Pioneer Woman.


*Time relaxing.


*My car flipped 100,000. (I know- exciting stuff here!!)


*Shopping withTyler for college.


*A night listening to Blues at the MN Zoo.


It has been a fun and relaxing summer so far and I am hoping the rest of the summer proves to be a lot of the same!