Goodbye to One of the 18 Summers

We’ve all read how our children only get 18 summers, so we need to make every one count. Of course they’ll have a summer every year, but after childhood it just won’t be the same. 

And we’ve also read how you never know when it’s “the last time.” The last time for what? For everything. Your child will get older and just stop doing some things he’s always done, and you won’t realize it until he stops. So, you really need to savor every moment with your children while you have them.

So my latest “last time” story is that it’s time for Aidyn to get braces. We’ve done all the preliminary visits and he just had his last three baby teeth pulled so that they can put the braces on. What does that mean? A few weeks ago, he just had his last visit from the Tooth Fairy. Now, at age 12 (almost 13), he doesn’t subscribe to this sort of magic anymore (it is more for show on behalf of his younger brother). But it is the last time, and it is a big deal. My baby is growing up.

And if that wasn't enough of a wake up call, little brother Jaxon just had a birthday - he turned 10! So, I really don't have any single digit kiddos anymore.

They are both nearly as tall as me! The times are a-changin' in our household, that's for sure!

The boys head back to school next week, so you’d better believe we are going to eek out as much summer fun as we can during the short amount of time we have left.

And in the spirit of savoring time with your children and the 18 carefree summers that they are allotted, this is an open letter to childhood summers:

Dearest Summertime of Childhood,

It pains me to say that you’ll be leaving us soon. Although we know you’ll return around the same time next year, we’ll have to agree to part ways for now. And that means for the time being, we must bid a fond farewell to:

Pool Time

• Perfecting our diving into the pool
• Adjusting a new pair of swim goggles so that they fit just right

All Other Manners of Getting and Staying Wet to Cool Off in the Heat

• Playful romps in the sprinkler
• Waiting for our turn at the Slip-N-Slide
• Water gun fights
• Wading in the creek

Enjoying the Delicious Foods of Summer

• The sticky sweetness of melting Popsicles and ice cream sandwiches running down our chins and fingers
• Picking fresh produce from the garden or from the local Farmers Market
• Smoothies, sundaes, and milkshakes
• Juicy tomato sandwiches with just the right amount of salt and pepper
• Relaxing on the deck or in the hammock while dinner cooks on the grill
• Fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries
• Visiting local ice cream shops to taste test their best homemade flavors 

Beach Time

• Gathering seashells, sand dollars, and rocks along the beach just after sunrise
• Riding the ocean waves on rafts
• The smell of sunscreen as you reapply it to sun-warmed skin
• A smattering of freckles across our noses and cheeks

Summertime Fun

• Sleepovers and adventures with cousins and good friends
• Catching lightning bugs (or fireflies if you live north of the Mason-Dixon line)
• Sparklers, pop-its, and fireworks
• Playing basketball barefoot in the rain
• Playing trivia games during road trips to parts unknown
• Staying up late playing video games and sleeping late the next day to make up for it
• Freedom from homework, school projects, and other kid responsibilities

Summer, we have had so much fun with you, and as always we are so sad to see you go. Please remember to visit again the same time next year. We will be waiting with open arms and more energy than you can imagine! 

Until we meet again – 

Opt for Optimism

I have started a 30-day challenge called Opt for Optimism, and I am inviting you all to join me.  It's fun and completely free of charge, and very uplifting for the spirit.   The mission is simple- to put optimism into action by completing a small challenge each day for 30 days.  You know, they say if you do something for 30 days, it becomes a habit....  Some of these challenges are personal reminders.  Others are random acts of kindness.  It's all good.   Good for the soul.  Good for you and for each other.   Let's do this. 

So how does this work?  You just visit the Opt For Optimism Website, and enter your email address to sign up for the challenge.  After that, you will begin to receive a daily email with a small challenge for you to complete. It's that easy.  It's all done on the honor system so there is no one to answer to other than yourself.  But these challenges are simple and fun and will certainly get you thinking and hopefully putting those thoughts into action too.  

My first challenge was to compile a list of at least 5 things I am grateful for and post it somewhere I will see everyday.   I posted my little list on the bathroom mirror so I see it first thing each day and again before I go to bed at night.  

Today I am on a mission to leave a kind note on a stranger's car.  I already have a note tucked into my purse just waiting to hop onto someone's windshield at some point today.  I know if I received an uplifting note on my car, it would brighten up my day so much.  I hope this does the same for someone else.   Remember, you never know what others are going through and how much your light might brighten their day.

Let's all try to shine a little brighter, ok?  Today, tomorrow, always.  

Crockpot Marinara Sauce

I haven't shared a recipe with you guys in a while, and this one is perfect for summertime. Why? Well, it's an awesome way to use up a bounty of fresh garden tomatoes and basil, for one. But, even better than that, is that you can put all the ingredients into your crockpot first thing in the morning,  head out for your Summer adventures for the day, check back in on it again once in the afternoon, and your dinner is basically done!

So fresh from the garden marinara sauce with little to no effort? Yes, please!

Crockpot Marinara Sauce

5-6 pounds tomatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

6-10 cloves garlic crushed

1 medium onion roughly chopped

1 teaspoon dried oregano

6 leaves fresh basil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teapoon pepper

sugar to taste

1. Add olive oil to crock pot and fill with tomatoes. Roughly chop onion and add on top of tomatoes. Add garlic and spices on top. 
2. Cover and cook in crockpot on low for 4 hours.
3. After the sauce has simmered and tomatoes are soft, process the tomatoes through a food mill over the crockpot to remove seeds and skins.
4. Taste test the sauce and add sugar to cut the acidity if needed (usually between 1-3 teaspoons).
5. Continue cooking in crockpot on low for an additional 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally. Make sure to vent the top so that excess moisture can evaporate and the sauce can cook down and thicken.
6. Serve when desired thickness is achieved.

Notes:

I use a 6 quart crockpot and just fill it to the top with tomatoes. It usually takes about 20-25 medium sized tomatoes.

Roma tomatoes are an excellent choice for making sauce because they don't have as much water content, however any tomatoes that you have available (especially if they are homegrown or fresh from your local farmers market) will work great! You just might have to cook them a little longer to get the sauce to thicken.

If you want to forego using the food mill and peel and de-seed the tomatoes on the front end, you can. But, cooking the tomatoes with the skins and the seeds helps to thicken the sauce with the natural pectin in the tomatoes. You can use an immersion blender instead of a food mill to smooth out your sauce if you've already removed peels and seeds before cooking.

If you are pressed for time and can't cook the sauce for a full 8 hours, you can opt to add a small can of tomato paste to the recipe.

Some Recipes You Might Want to Try This Sauce With

This marinara sauce would be fantastic with any Italian recipe that you make. Here's a list of some of our recipes that you might want to try with this sauce:

• Spinach Stuffed Shells
• Baked Ziti
• Pizza Fondue
• Veggie Lasagna

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