definition - Grom

grom (n.) - shortened form of the word grommet. refers to a YOUNG surfer... usually under the age of 15. Most of the time people that are called groms are youngins who RIP (are good)

used in a sentence: That grom surfs better than I do

Putting on sunscreen and ready to hit the beach.

Now you know where his nickname comes from.

Beet Chips

I found a way to get Grom to happily eat veggies. Beet Chips!

They are pretty easy to make. Here's how we do it...

1. preheat your oven to 350F.

I use our convection setting.

2. wash and peel your beets

veggie peeler works great.

3. use a mandolin to slice the beets into thin slices.

Grom has mad knife skills. He respects a sharp blade and is very careful. I was still watching close when he gave the mandolin a spin.

4. spray a cookie sheet with olive oil spray.

I like to use my Pampered Chef stoneware pans.

5. arrange the beets in a single layer. it's ok if they overlap a little bit.

6. give the beets a light spray of olive oil.

I think Grom thought he was spray painting them. He got a bit heavy handed. In his defense, I think spraying cooking spray is fun too.

7. give the beets a gentle sprinkle of salt.

Our last batch was pretty salty. I think I'm going to try giving the sliced beets a salty water bath before cooking next time.

Don't worry if your hands get stained. It just shows that you really made these amazingly yummy chips. (And it comes off pretty easy with a little hand soap.)

8. bake for about 15-20 minutes. flip them over about half way through.

9. chips crisp up as they cool.

10. enjoy!

Be warned, beets can make you think you're having a medical emergency. This too will pass... literally. hee hee.

daybook 06.27.11

FOR TODAY - Monday June 27, 2011

Outside my window... summer is here! Beautiful!

I am thinking... about the 4th of July... making plans... celebrating with family and friends... and saying goodbye to Gogo.

I am thankful for... stability.

From the learning rooms... We just finished "How to Eat Fried Worms" in the car. Audiobooks are the greatest. Our library's hold fees are going up though in July... bummer.

From the kitchen... over baked but still yummy tofu. We had guests for dinner. It was kinda embarrassing how bad dinner was.

I am wearing... really comfy black floaty capris, an orange tee and flip flops (pretty much my uniform)

I am creating... random pieces of crocheted stuff. I learned how to crochet last week. Now I'm working on my stitches so I can start making beanies. It's easier than I thought.

I am going... to not forget my Bible study group this week. I spaced last week. When I realized it, I felt SO dumb.

I am reading... Crunch Time (audiobook) by Diane Mott Davidson and Third Times a Charm by Virginia Smith.

I am hoping... to watch Grom swim like a fish this week. I'd love to see him starting to do some strokes, and fully expect a forward flip into the pool.

Around the house... the vegetables are planted. Can't wait to see if Grom and Grandma actually get some tomatoes. It's really hard to grow tomatoes at the beach.

One of my favorite things... toilet paper. Anyone disagree?

Vocabulary word of the week:
tomfoolery: a silly act, matter or thing, silly or foolish behavior
I'm ready for some tomfoolery, my life has been rather serious lately.

A few plans for the rest of the week: swimming lessons, VBS, karate, gymnastics, Bible Study, driving here, driving there, driving everywhere, Kid's Night Out and DATE NIGHT!

Here is picture I am sharing...



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What's for Dinner - 6.27.11

Monday

~Grom - VBS~

Indian Cauliflower

rice

baked tofu

Tuesday

~Grom - swim lessons, karate, VBS~

Quiche in a Bag

(italian sausage & zucchini)

beet chips

fruit

Wednesday

~Grom - swim lessons, VBS~

LO baked ziti

salad

Thursday

~Grom - swim lessons, gymanstics, karate, VBS~

~Bible Study~

YOYO

Friday

~Grom - swim lessons, karate, VBS~

homemade pizza

Saturday

~Grom - Kid's Night Out (Gymnastics)~

DATE NIGHT!!!

Sunday

~fellowship dinner~

burgers and dogs

Wonder what other families are eating this week? Check out the hundreds of menus posted each week at Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Etsy Finds - Yarn

I'm learning how to crochet on Saturday.

Industrial Age bluefaced leicester $22 from SkeinYarns

Waste Not Want Not handspun $22 from SpinningWheelStudio

Flame 80/20 merino nylon $20 from swiftfiberstudio

Green Apple sweet merino lite $22 CAD from sweetfiber

Sun and Sky $27 from FiberJuJu

If I Was a Zebra crochet cotton $2.99 from CustomCottonEtc

Playground self striping handspun yarn $38 from nunnaba

super wash merino $21.95 from LaTeaDaDesigns

alpaca & silk lace $13 from RickiKellyStudio

Mike the Barber

does good work.

before and after

It's fun to go through pictures.

The last young man is Beat.

He was here from Thailand with the same exchange group as Gogo.

Belt Test

Grom had his first belt test a couple of weeks ago.

Meet the newest "white with a black stripe" belt.

Buddies

I love hanging out with 6 year olds.

daybook 03.22.11

FOR TODAY - Tuesday June 21, 2011 - The first day of SUMMER!

Outside my window... it's dark. Another day is done.

I am thinking... about loss, about sin, about obedience. It's cheery in my head (not!).

I am thankful for... a great year with our Swiss son. Having him as part of our family happened unexpectedly, but from the moment we met, it was clear it was what we were supposed to do. Grom got a big brother and Gogo got to be a big brother (he's a youngest).

From the learning rooms... lots of reading. Audiobooks in the car are the latest rage. We listened to Mr. Popper's Penguins and now Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I like it!

From the kitchen... just trying to cook the things I plan. So far so good this week. Tonight it was Trader Joe's Turkey Bolognese with pasta. Tomorrow, some boneless skinless chicken breast hits the crockpot.

I am wearing... black capris, chartreuse tee, black flip flops and I took a risk and threw on a black with white polka dot scarf. I don't think it worked, but it did cover a spot on my tee.

I am creating... fingerpainting with Grom and his buddy. Grom didn't get to do as much art at school this year as he did last year. I'm shocked and sad how much he's forgotten (like basic color mixing). It motivates me to do more with him over the summer.

I am going... to figure out how to take more care of myself.

I am reading... Age Before Beauty by Virginia Smith. And listening to Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson.

I am hoping... that I do a better job of keeping in touch with Gogo than I usually do keeping in touch with other people who are no longer in my daily life.

Around the house... a bench I ordered from Pottery Barn will hopefully be delivered shortly. I can't wait to get rid of the table that's been keeping the benches spot warm.

One of my favorite things... watching Gogo and Grom together... playing iPad games, kicking soccer balls around, "exercising", relaxing in the sun... it goes on and on. I'm going to miss it.

Vocabulary word of the week:

proclivity: a natural inclination toward something, predisposition, propensity

Gogo had an obvious proclivity for becoming a part of our family

Here is picture I am sharing...

Rub a dub dub, four men in a tub.

(an after surfing soak to warm up)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Grom has soccer camp all week. I'm blessed to be able to have lunch with a friend tomorrow. My grandmother is coming to visit. We celebrate my nieces' 3rd birthday. And I'm sure there's more

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What's for Dinner - 6.20.11

Monday

~Family Dinner~

~Father's Day Dinner Celebration~

BBQ chicken

artichokes

macaroni salad

green salad

fresh berries (3 kinds)

Tuesday

turkey bolognese

spaghetti

zucchini

Wednesday

shredded bbq chicken sandwiches

beet chips

cole slaw

Thursday

~Bible Study~

nachos with shredded chicken

Friday

Indian Cauliflower

rice

baked tofu

Saturday

~Girlies' 3rd Birthday Party~

curry artichoke rice salad

Sunday

~fellowship dinner~

Baked Ziti

Need some ideas for dinner. Check out the hundreds menu posted each week at Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Etsy Finds - Swiss Edition

1. leather swiss cheese bookmark $7.99 from BrookMarks

2. Switzerland map pendant $19.50 from ivcreations55

3. swiss watch movement ring $65 from edmdesigns

4. organic rainbow swiss chard seeds $3.50 from cubits

5. swiss railway pictographs tee $16 from isotope

6. Switzerland puzzle piece broach $15 from ME2Designs

7. swiss army blanket tote $125 from Lavendarharvest

8. swiss cross pendant and necklace $95 from undinejewellery

9. train travel poster wallet $12.99 from karenlaneart

daybook 06.13.11

FOR TODAY - Monday June 13, 2011

Outside my window... it's beautiful! sunny... not much wind... we're eating dinner outside tonight.

I am thinking... about what I might do when I'm done blogging.

I am thankful for... family (blood relations) and "family" (Christ related). I am so blessed.

From the learning rooms... this summer is all about reading. Grom and I just finished some "One Minute Reader" and movable alphabet practice.

From the kitchen... I don't have to do much cooking this week. Lots of eating out. Tonight my parents are making chicken and ribs... yum!

I am wearing... flip flops, black capris and a pretty (and very soft) blue t-shirt

I am creating... all of my creativity has been random and practical. I really want to get the binding on my quilt. It's going to look so nice on our bed.

I am going... to have lunch with a friend tomorrow. We don't spend much time together. She's in the middle of some hard times. I'm hoping to encourage her a bit.

I am reading... Age Before Beauty by Virginia Smith and The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (with Grom).

I am hoping... Gogo's going away party is great. Facebook says we have 100 people coming. I think it could be a few more. I think I need to buy more chocolate and cheese.

Around the house... Gogo's parents and brother arrive at our home on Wednesday. I look forward to meeting them.

One of my favorite things... the reusable plastic plates that I bought at Walmart recently. They are cheerful and colorful. They also come clean easily in the dishwasher and are going to save me buckets of money - I won't be buying disposable plates anymore.

Vocabulary word of the week: feckless: incompetent, ineffective, indifferent.

I've made many feckless attempts to get up early in the morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Gogo finishes his finals, Grom enjoys his first week of summer, Gogo's family arrives, lots of fun and activity, Grom's buddy spends a day and a night with us as his brother goes to the hospital (again!), throw in some karate, some gymnastics, a trip to Farmer's Market and it''ll be a busy and perfect week.

Here is picture I'm sharing...

My dad has been scanning old pictures. Here's me. I was a cute baby.

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What's for Dinner - June 13, 2011

Monday

~Family Dinner - my parents cook~

Ribs and Chicken

Tuesday

~Grom - karate~
stuffed baked potatoes
fruit

Wednesday

~Bible Study~
~Gogo's parents arrive~
dinner out
Taco Temple

Thursday

~Grom - gymnaastics/karate~
~Me - Bible Study~
dinner out
Farmer's Market

Friday
Steak and a Movie Night ???

Saturday

~Gogo's Going Away Party~

chocolate fondue
raclette (cheese, potatoes, bacon)
chips, salsa & guacamole

Sunday

dinner out
Golden Gong