master chef

Here is a fun thing we did this last year with homeschool. Our very own Master Chef mystery box challenge. I gave the 3 oldest boys a plate full of the same ingredients and Matt, Collin, and I judged their creations on presentation, taste, and creativity. I gave them angel hair pasta, sausage, parsley, shallots, heavy cream, pizza dough, romano cheese, artichoke hearts, lemon, and a very limited pantry. Most of the items did not have labels so they had to smell or taste or just ignore it if they did know what it was. They did not have to use everything and they had a small bit of help with the stove and blenders and such.

I was blown away! They did so great and got really into it, not to mention the food was really good. Aden made his own marinara and added carrots for presentation. (I thought this would be gross but the carrots were really good with it.)

Collin was very articulate and tried everything, giving feedback to each dish and writing down his score.

Kaleb opted for the pizza rather than pasta and it was delicious.

Parker did a pasta dish with lemon and even used the lemon peel in the boiling water for the noodles, very smart!

As for the scoring, each judge could give up to 10 points for the three separate categories and in the end a dish could earn a maximum 90 points. (up to 30 from each judge.)

Aden had the best looking dish in our opinion, not as creative but the taste was surprising and real good. He earned 79 points total.

Kaleb's pizza won us over in the taste category, we all finished every bite. He came in with 79 points as well.

Parker was the most creative, we thought. He used more sophisticated flavors and Collin hated it. In the final tally he earned 76 points.

Everyone was happy though. For about $30 in groceries, it was enough for 3 meals. It was cheap and fun and I love that these guys are developing this skill. Collin has already said we need to find another judge because he wants in on it next time.

easter

Fun time celebrating Easter this year with boys and bow ties and bunnies.

My mom's family sold my grandparents home this year. As they were cleaning out the closets they found a box with four bow ties in it. I grabbed them up and boom! Grandpa Chuck's stylish legacy lives on.

The rest was all heading to worship, egg hunts, cascarones fun, and talking through Aunt Lindsay's set of resurrection eggs from 20 years ago.

boy mom

There is a lot about parenting that has thrown me for a loop. Having four boys, one thing I knew for sure was that team sports would be a part of our future. This year it was Aden's turn to try lacrosse. A funny thing about my detail oriented son, he is the only one in the family to ever read the rulebook for lacrosse. Aden is number 8 on the yellow team.

 Here is what I consider my best capture to date:

 Can you see the ball he just shot? The goalie caught it but we were so proud anyway.

Kal

Kaleb's turn to be the subject of Mom's terrible lacrosse photos. 

  He is number 12 on the purple and black team. Both he and Parker were given their Supersonics gear from their Seattle lacrosse team, that green helmet is usually what I look for. Their team has not won a game yet but Kaleb has played well. He played defense in Seattle but his coach wants him in as mid-fielder so he is learning a lot.  I miss the days where he and Parker played on the same team but he is enjoying doing his own thing.

*I am trying to sell him on the nickname "Kal," but he ain't havin' it.
**Their team name is "Thunder," which is written across the back bottom of their jerseys. hmm... a lot of boy jokes going around our place about that.

lax

   Three of our boys are playing Spring Lacrosse. Unfortunately, they are each on a different team with a different practice field. They are placed by the high school that the team with eventually feed into. We live in the Meridian High area but ended up with a kid on Rocky Mountain, one on Bishop Kelly, and Parker on Mountain View. So life is nuts. We are at a lacrosse field six nights a week. Not sure why I thought this was a good plan. Oh ya, they LOVE it. The boys have really come alive for the first time since our move back to Idaho.
  You would think with all this time supporting their athletic endeavors that I would have learned how to photograph this sport. No. The boys play the mid-fielder position that run up and down the field the entire game. Always moving and Mom can't seem to quite capture it. Here is my best attempt at Parker's first game:

 He is #16 on the lighter green team with the *lovely* red socks and elbow pads.

  He is loving his team. Parker is one of the biggest kids out there but he is getting into great athletic shape with all that running. Trying to keep up with the speedy little guys is his biggest challenge.
  I miss when he and Kaleb could play on the same team but this has been good for him to connect with other 8th graders.
  They won, by the way. And again last night, against a much tougher team. Go PJ!