Week in Review: How is it August Already??

Whew, these last couple weeks have been busy and yet I can't really remember why.  Those hazy summer days are upon us and we feel the pressure of trying to make the most of them as the school year quickly approaches.  JP flies to Austria on August 18th for his fall semester, and the rest of the kids start on August 30th.  We've still got plenty of summer left (she types hopefully).

I went out to dinner with some wonderful girlfriends to one of my favorite summer spots and had a fish sandwich and a peach/strawberry frosé while enjoying the music, scenery, and conversation.  Much needed.

I still haven't had my one lobster roll of the summer, so that's still on the agenda, but we've been thoroughly enjoying the garden bounties that summer brings like...

My dad's tomatoes turned into a caprese salad with my basil.

My bountiful lettuce grown in our AeroGarden on my countertop where no bunnies can steal it besides my hunnybunnies :)

Martha Stewart's Mac and Cheese recipe which includes the three cheeses we always have in our house.  I cooked up some chicken sausage and made a quick fruit salad and gave them some lettuce to try as they had been very interested in watching the growing process.  

Got zucchini?  We were gifted some lovely zucchini and summer squash and I turned some into chili.  I just feel like as long as you season it well, you can throw almost anything into chili:

And some into Auntie Leila's zucchini bread (I substituted the nut/sugar topping for some chocolate chips mixed into the bread):

Our handy friend is refinishing our dining room table for us, after years of abuse from little kids and their mother who unknowingly and regularly used bleach spray to clean the table when they were young.  I vow to take care of it better once it comes back!

In other news, we sold our swingset that barely got any use and I used the cash to buy my new best friend:

 

Her name is Zumba (the Roomba) and she dances around our house and keeps the floors clean while I eat bonbons.  One day, she vacuumed and I mopped and we were just such a great team and why can't anybody else in my house appreciate a clean floor like we do?  Next up, I am going to sell our stationary bike and use the money to landscape the lawn.  Watch out kids, nothing and nobody is safe!

Maggie, Xander, Declan and Brendan have been in sailing camp this week, and have enjoyed it so much!  There's a lot to learn and they are eager little sailors who can take me out anytime.  Well anytime that somebody lends us their sailboat, I suppose!

Phil started the Director of Religious Ed position this week, and we have talked and researched ad nauseum about religious ed programs and what works and what doesn't.  If anyone has any helpful advice in this area, we would appreciate it!  

I hope you all are savoring your summer days with your friends and family :)