The way to party

Last Saturday, we hosted a Leadership dinner for my co-workers and their spouses (or +1's). My boyfriend is a party planner by nature, (I think a lot of that comes from his Momma!). He took the menu and the setup to a whole other level then what I would have been able to do alone.

We started our get together with drinks, (served from our new industrial ice coolers, rocking the Red Bull and Rockstar logos) kimchi quesadillas and homemade guacamole and chips. This was followed by a main course of smoked whole chickens, cedar plank sockeye salmon, spicy prawn orzo, and  a spinach walnut cranberry salad. We finished off the meal with dark chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries and mint.

But the star of the event were these adorable and scrumptious mojito jello shots that a friend showed me on another blog.

Look at them! Don't you want to eat them all up?!

I made a few changes to the recipe that we found. I highly suggest these but give yourself lots of time.

Mojito Jello Shots - Adapted from A beautiful mess

16 whole ripe limes
1.5 cups of sugar
1.5 cups of water
3/4 cup of fresh lime juice
3 packets of unflavored gelatin
1 box of sugar free lime gelatin
3 stems of fresh mint
1.5 cups of rum (optional)

Cut all limes in half. Juice all of the limes into a measuring cup until you have 3/4 of a cup. If you have more feel free to add it in the next step or discard it. Use a small sharp knife and a spoon to remove the lime flesh from each half. Set these in a container so that they are all holding each other as straight as possible.

Simmer water until just under a boil. Add sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir is one packet of unflavored gelatin at a time until combined into the sugar/water mixture. Then stir in the lime flavored gelatin as well. Add in the fresh lime juice and stir together. Take 2 mint stems and place them into the gelatin mixture and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Remove mint stems and add in rum.

Poor the gelatin mixture into the pre-scooped out lime cups. Place the limes into the fridge for at least 3 hours or over night. If possible place the jello shots into the freezer for an hour before you serve them. Prior to serving, cut each lime cup in half, this will give them the segmented look in the picture. If you want fresh lime on top, cut remaining mint leaves and sprinkle on top. Serve. Enjoy.

It was DELICIOUS! I honestly can't take a lot of credit. Although, I was very impressed and slightly amazed at how smooth the whole preparation of the event went. I never felt stressed or frazzled and I was able to enjoy all of our company.

There are few things in this world as wonderful and amazing as close friends, great food, and intense laughter.

This will not be a night quickly forgotten.

The things kids say

My youngest daughter and my youngest nephew are about 2 years apart. When they were younger my daughter always referred to my nephew as, "the baby". At the time, I was more then done with having children and she latched onto any baby thinking it could be like a little brother or sister. I used to think to myself that she would make such a great big sister.

Being around someone younger has made her realize what her older sister feels towards her. She tells me things like, "I can't do anything alone!", "He says he wants to play, but only the things he wants to play!". I can't do anything other then nod for fear I will loose it with laughter. There is a big part of me that hopes this is good medicine for when she sees her big sis at the end of the summer.

WAIT - it gets better...

Today was an especially amusing day to me.

This afternoon while playing in the pool with the younger kids I was talking to my daughter about why she can't play mermaid with her cousin. She made of a myriad of reasons which ended in a disagreement with me where her only argument was, "I'm SMARTER!". Every time I wanted to ask her a follow up question she would take herself under water not to answer.

It makes you think. Smarter huh? Based on how much she already knows I am sure she will be smarter than I am. But I am definitely not ready to admit that to her. However, I can already tell that every argument I ever had with my mother will be nothing in comparison to what this girl will come at me with.

Post "I'm smarter!", we came inside to get ready to go pick up my sister and her husband. I suggested that the kids should bathe. My nephew looked at me, asked for his clothes and then said, "I'm taking a bath." So I ran the bath and then realized he wasn't wearing any clothes, I told him to go into the bathroom and wait for me. He said, " Ya, Mommy says you can't be walking around the house naked!". The only thing I could come up with was.... " Good advice buddy". I walked into the bathroom doing my best not to laugh on the outside as much as I was on the inside.

Kids are amazing. When we have the time to really hear what they are saying and just enjoy the moments of the day with them, they are HYSTERICAL.


A great day to remember...

Where it all begins

Three days ago, I told my sister I thought I should start a blog. Her comment was, "About what? The boredom of staying at home? :) ".

I follow that question up with one to my boyfriend who is currently 700 miles away. "Would you be ok with me starting a blog?". He made a comment that sealed the deal for me. He stated that it wasn't any different then me keeping a journal, with the small exception that anyone in the world could read it.

So, here it begins...

For the last 9 days I have been staying in my second childhood home keeping en eye on my nephews while my sister takes a vacation with her new husband. I am the only adult here and I consider myself to be a relatively social person, so I'm going a little stir crazy. Don't get me wrong, the time off work is nice. The time with my youngest daughter and my two nephews is amazing. But, I just don't know what to do with myself.

Even in the span of a few days I have already created a schedule. Wake up 6 AM, make coffee, look at my online masters program work (nothings ever new, since I completed it a week ago), check my phone, feed kids, play with kids, read a book, take the kids swimming, feed the kids, play with the kids, feed the kids, swim some more, feed the kids, make sure everyone showers, put kids to bed, PASS OUT!

A few things I have discovered.

#1 There is a reason that I work. Bless every stay at home mother in this world because I am not made for it. I love my children, I love my family, and I also love my time at work.

#2 Boys eat more food than anyone could possibly imagine. I have two girls. They eat 3 meals a day and snacks. These boys, and I am including several pre-teen boys in this number as my nephews friends are here frequently, never. stop. eating. I have ran the dishwasher 2 times a day for the entire time I have been here. It is literally incredible the amount of stuff they can pack away. Those tiny metabolisms zapping every calorie.

#3 Cleaning is an up hill battle. I decided to do my normal Saturday cleaning tasks; bathroom, kitchen, vacuum, floors. First of all, my house is not this big. Second of all, with this many kids by the time you finish you feel the need to run around behind them cleaning up, again. I now understand why some of my stay at home friends vacuum every day.

#4 You learn to laugh a lot. In my house we have two young children in school, two adults in school and working full time and all of the normal kid stuff, soccer, school events, and day care in the summer. We are pretty maxed out. Our life is very structured. We try and make time for game nights and movie nights and park time but it doesn't always happen. Staying here is the middle of all this kid chaos has taught me to embrace it all. It's good for me to have to let go a little.

With everything that has happened and all that I have learned in the last week, I'm excited to head home soon. Even my daughter who loves spending part of her summers here is ready to get back to her room, her friends, and her Buddy.

This has been an experience to remember...