sunday, fun day....

.....with pops & mimi!

....so obviously i was...ahem, should have....posted this yesterday....but i was held hostage ~ sitting at the ortho office ~ with brett all afternoon!!....ugh!....seriously, they were turning.off.the.lights.when we left....now that's a new one for me....anyhoo, brett's shoulder is a whole post of it's own....but i am so, so thankful for wonderful friends like these that were able to keep my children for what i thought would be *a little while*.....then 4 1/2 hours later we saved them from my two beasts....what a day!

anyhoo....on to sunday, funday!

we started the morning with a yummy cracker barrel breakfast....good stuff!!

we needed to head home for a quick wardrobe change...it was a little windy & cool....and then we were off to the park! no rest for the weary.....

always time for a little football lesson!.....big man tells us all the time, "i gonna play football when i get big!"....yes baby boy, i am sure you will!! ~ it's kinda genetic at this point :)

down.....set.....HUT!!

playing in the park works up an appetite!....we headed for ice cream next.....yum-o!

i decided to walk home from the ice cream place....and miss priss joined me!.....i had to attempt to work off some of the awesome food that day :) anyhoo, needless to say the weekend was jam-packed with family & fun.....and these two kiddos were worn slap out sunday night!....both were asleep by 6:40pm....LOVE IT!...

never a dull moment.....

....it was another fun, family filled saturday....
and we loved it!

the day started with another redsox victory with yet another cheering section for sis....olivia & uncle mike!

the fun continued with lunch at one of our favs.....chappy's....and this visit was extra special...

Dora....or D-D-D-Dora as big man would say!

she was no disney character for sure but the kids loved her just the same & that's all that matters!

more fun....splish splashing in our *pool*....good times!

i think this pic below is priceless.....i am pretty sure brother was doing something to aggrevate his sissy...as usual!

popsicles in the pool....perfect!!

after our first set of family left big man decided it was time to break out the trucks.....he is ALL boy that is for sure!!

of course, sissy couldn't be out done.....but notice that priss pot didn't want to actually get down in the dirt so she made herself a seat! such a priss :)

and i did say earlier ~ first set of family....mimi & pops made a quick trip over late saturday afternoon....the hubby and i were excited to have a *date night* too....more pics later from our sunday fun :)

................................................

....so, i *created* a recipe.....yup, from scratch.....all in my little, too much going on in there, head....kinda crazy huh!?!?! i took inspiration from another favorite pasta dish of mine....does that still make it original?? hmm, regardless ~ it was really good and that's all that matters to me! please have pity on me and my *writing* of the recipe...it may sound a bit jumbled, no professional here!

Shrimp & Spinach Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce

1 – 1 ½ lbs large shrimp, peeled & deveined
1 bag (6-8oz) pre-washed baby spinach
1 box penne pasta ( i like the whole grain variety)
1 jar Classico Roasted Garlic Alfredo Sauce
1 can diced Italian tomatoes, drained
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 clove minced fresh garlic or 1 tsp jarred, minced garlic
2-3 tbsp olive oil
Shredded parmesan cheese

- Cook pasta according to directions on box. Set aside in a big pasta bowl.
- Pour alfredo sauce, tomatoes & 2 tbsp basil into small saucepan. Cook over low-medium heat until heated thoroughly. Stirring often.
- Add olive oil to large sauté pan, coating the bottom. Stir in garlic. Heat over medium. Add shrimp. Cook for one minute & flip over. Cook one minute more. Add spinach to pan. Cover & wilt spinach for 2-3 minutes. Uncover & stir spinach. Continue cooking until spinach wilts down.
- Add sauce to shrimp & spinach. Stir well, warming thoroughly.
- Pour sauce over pasta, toss together well.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese to taste & remaining basil.
- Serve immediately!
- Feeds at least 4

....yum-o!! as i am typing, i am still full from this awesome meal.....and you know what?!?! i bet it is even better tomorrow when the pasta has had a chance to soak up all that wonderful sauce....

Enjoy!! Bon Apetit!!

t.v. free...day three

...i was lucky that work didn't start until a little later for me yesterday morning....i got to enjoy coffee & breakfast at home and helping get the kiddos ready....though i don't think miss priss loved me snapping pics so early in the morning :)

day three was an easy day for t.v. free week.....too busy for it anyway!....i treated sissy to a snack after school.....seriously, the kids might like this no t.v. stuff if they keep getting special treats!

good to the last drop......or should i say stick! after snack & a quick change it was time for gymnastics....i hate how poor the quality is in some of these pics but it just proves that i really need the long lens for my camera!

and the sign of a *real* gymnast....blisters & tape on the hands!

home for a quick meal....this pic of brother was too cute not to post!.....i mean, he really got all dressed up for dinner :) ..... as soon as dinner was over the kiddos headed out to batting practice for sissy....whew! what a whirlwind afternoon.....like i said ~ too busy to care about the tv!

lucky for me day four will include a playdate for miss priss.....whew, that will help! poor brother asks each night as we are winding down ~ can we turn on the tv?? .... and each night i tell him nope, sissy won't let us!!