Daybook {June Swoon 2014}

Outside my window

These summer days have been beyond beautiful. Today is the last day of June and I hate to see it go. I had a fun hashtag on IG #juneswoon2014 where I documented all the lusciousness of this month. Time to switch over to July and full-blown summer heat, patriotism and travels. I need a new hashtag...

Reading

One of the best parts of summer is the freedom to read. For fun, whenever and wherever we feel the need. As always I have many books going at once.

My books:

The Little Oratory Still participating in the read-along here but have yet to formally set-up my oratory.
Bread and Wine Almost done. It's good.
What To Wear for the Rest of Your Life I love the section on organizing your wardrobe. So need this.
Poser Can I quit this one yet? I'm bored.
Done : A Cook's Guide to Knowing When Food Is Perfectly Cooked Always have to read at least one cookbook and this one takes me back to basics.

Audio Books

The Secret Life of Violet Grant I am listening to this one and not loving it nearly as much as her other book, A Hundred Summers.
Outlander I am listening to this one again for probably the fifth time. I read it when it first came out in 1992 and have waited anxiously for each additional release over the past 22 years. Now the latest is here and I don't want to crack the cover. The sooner I start, the sooner it will end!

Kai (age 6)
Magic Bone: Be Careful What You Sniff For 
Kenny and The Dragon

Zach (age 11)
The House of Secrets Book 2 
Tangerine
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Soccer IQ : Things That Smart Players Do



Rhys (age 12)
Dr. J : The Autobiography
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Mr. Mornings
The First Phone Call From Heaven

Out and About

We have had a busy summer of camps, and still have three more to go, but somehow it has felt  well balanced this year. Too many days without plans leads to trouble around the house but not enough margin in our days and we feel wrung out and eventually get sick.

The older boys were volunteer helpers while Kai attended as a camper. It was a big hit and they all want to do it again next year.

Vacation Bible School

Rhys is playing on a team put together by some classmates. They have no practices but play every weekend. This has been a fun way to stay in the game.

Field House Basketball Games

We had never attended the annual church picnic before but we did this year and had a wonderful time. The boys spent the afternoon in the water with friends from church while I got terribly sunburned visited and enjoyed the scenery.

 Parish Picnic

 Basketball Camp

The older two boys went to the same week long, all day basketball camp this year that they loved last summer. Once again, they enjoyed the competition, as well as the freedom and independence this old-fashioned camp offers. Next year all three will participate I think. They really want Kai there with them.

After the Movies

Right now it's hard to find movies for our whole family to see together. Kai is still too young for the super-hero movies the older boys like so we have to split up to have a movie outing. However, we recently went to How to Train Your Dragon 2 in 3D and all five of us loved it. Plus the 3D glasses are always worth wearing for a photo.

Around the House

When we're not out and about, there is a lot of reading, playing X-box or watching sports on TV. I usually retreat to the kitchen work or slip out to the deck with a book. Sometimes being the only girl, and not a very sporty one at that, in a house of four sports-loving males can be a little isolating. That being said, I am absolutely loving the World Cup this time around. My boys are all such huge soccer fans that they have sucked me right into the game. Having the USA to cheer for is all the better. 

Pursuing

I snapped this shot of my legs while waiting to see the surgeon last Friday. I am officially four months out from ACL/meniscus surgery and finally feeling like myself again. The surgeon had good news : I am ready to start jogging again. Not that I am a real runner, but I do like to jog for exercise and I have missed it and any form of exercise now for seven long months. I am feeling out of shape and quite plump and cannot wait just to get moving again.

The five scars are healing really well  (the one down my shin is from childhood and not this surgery) and my mobility, though painfully slow to return, is nearly normal again. I cannot straighten the leg fully nor can I bend it fully but the average person would never know by my walk that I am still healing. I will continue to go to physical therapy to get back to running and then see the doc one more time in August. Then I should be free and be able to put this year of knee pain behind me. #sograteful

 In the Kitchen

Cedar Planked Salmon

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

Strawberry Jam

Since my knee is so much stronger, I have thrown myself back into my first love - cooking. I am determined to cross off as many of these recipes as I can this summer. To that end I have created a menu plan for each week:

MONDAYS Chicken and a side dish 
TUESDAYS easy
WEDNESDAYS Seafood 
THURSDAYS easy
FRIDAYS Pork or Beef
SATURDAYS eat out
SUNDAYS Sweets

So far it has been amazingly helpful. I just plan the three main dinners for the week and the rest falls easily into place. We are ticking off the bucket list and I am feeling creative at the same time.

Meals This Week
MONDAY Goat Cheese Chicken Breasts, Hassleback grilled potatoes, salad
TUESDAY smoked turkey subs
WEDNESDAY Paella
THURSDAY BLTS
FRIDAY Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Apple Pie, American Flag Cookie Cake
SATURDAY eat out
SUNDAY Tortilla Española, Gazpacho, Tinto de Verano


Looking forward to

The 4th of July (and USA vs Belgium)

Our epic road trip to South Dakota and North Dakota at the end of the month.

Sharing and getting more inspiration here:

The Simple Woman's Daybook
MENU PLAN MONDAY