What do you remember about summer vacation?
I remember getting up late because both my parents were at work. I remember riding my bike to the community club where the city camp leaders, probably between the ages of 15-17 😂 ran a free daycamp. I remember they had a talent show and one of the older boys rocked out to Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad Name! I remember taking magazines to the wadding pool and hanging out there with a friend. I remember babysitting my Sis as well. I’m pretty sure there was a lot of TV involved in my summer vacations! I remember my Mom took me to the library every 2 weeks so I could get more books because I read… A lot! I remember getting my chores done by the time my parents got home from work so I didn’t get my ass kicked 😂 not literally but even figuratively it was a scary alternative! I remember my Mom getting 2 weeks off in the summer and we would come out to Penticton to visit my Grandparents. One time we took a family trip to North & South Dakota and explored the Badlands! That was my favourite trip. Actually, besides coming out to visit family… It was our only family trip. I remember camping. On the weekends we would pack up our tent and meet family and friends at nearby campgrounds. Mostly I remember riding my bike. We rode our bikes everywhere! I remember sleepovers, ice cream so much ice cream 😂, making Popsicles, and playing video games.
I wonder… Did my parents feel bad for not planning an epic summer holiday for us? Probably not. They probably thought, and rightly so, if we wanted an epic summer, we had to make it ourselves!
And we did! I don’t remember 1 summer being bad. I mean yeah, I was always excited to see my friends by the end of it but I didn’t have one summer holiday that wasn’t completely amazeballs.
Now granted, these memories of summer holidays probably started in grade 7 and up. Before that my sister and I were sent to my Grandparent’s for summer vacation. Some people would think that hanging out with your little Sis in a strange place for 8 weeks would be boring but I assure you those were some of the best summers of my life! Again, my Sis and I found our own fun! Whether it was reading beneath the weeping willow, eating cherries until we puked red, or writing masterpiece musicals to act out for our parents when they came to pick us up, We always had fun!
Things have changed. I don’t know when and I don’t know why, but they did. Nowadays kid’s summers are perfectly constructed itineraries of fabulous summer camps that allow our children to tap into their athletic, creative, and adventurous spirits! My Girls absolutely love summer! Every second week I work so they get put into their favourite summer camps. We usually pick adventures that are only available during summer months. HBear enjoys sailing, golf, rock climbing, and stand up paddle boarding. SBean loves tennis, pottery, dance, and art camps.
Not this year.
Ninja and I always try to take a long weekend off to take the kids on a holiday to Vancouver, Seattle, Alberta or somewhere close to home but still in a hotel 😂.
Not this year.
Usually the kids are counting down the days for the Cousins to come visit! SweetPea and CabbagePatch usually get here for Canada Day to celebrate SweetPea’s birthday on July 3. Usually, JQ gets here soon after and stays for the majority of the summer! If we are lucky enough PSketches comes in from Edmonton and my even Bro was supposed to be here with PrettyPenny for the last week of July and first week of August.
Not this year.
I have been having so much guilt about not providing my Girls with the best summer ever.
But, then I thought about it! Perhaps I am providing my kids with the most epic summer ever! The plan this summer is… No plans! Total and complete freedom! Perhaps by giving them this gift I am opening up their hearts and minds to creativity, adventure, and independence! Maybe without a planned schedule they will dig in the dirt, ride their bikes, create lasting memories… All on their own!
Or maybe I’m just trying to make myself feel better and relieve some of my Mommy guilt? 😂
Check out How Was Your Week, Honey? Ep.175 Listography This week we talk lists! Topics: Viva Puffs, nuts, spelling, travel, outdoor adventures, dream jobs, accomplishments, hobbies, other lives and top 5 drinking songs. Check it out HERE!
This week Ninja put out a very special episode of Our Liner Notes with HBear! They discussed their favourite music bio pics! Check it out HERE!
Check out a BONUS episode of Our Liner Notes with special guest… SBean! The Bean shares her favourite summer songs with Daddy in her podcast debut! Check it out HERE!
I have been meaning to post this dinner for a long time now! As I’ve said many times before, we love Mexican food! We are always looking for new ways to get tacos into our bellies 😂 in this recipe I combined one of our favourite dinners with SBean’s favourite dinner, waffles! These were super filling and crazy delicious! I am a big fan of cornbread so cornbread waffles were super exciting for me! We all agreed that they were a little dry though. Next time I would definitely top them with salsa or enchilada sauce to make it a little more moist. Either way it was something new and super yummy! We have continued our weekly baking and this time we tried our hand at making… Buttertarts! These didn’t even last the week! Everybody enjoyed them but SBean LOVED them!
Cornbread Waffle Tacos
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup melted butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 package taco seasoning
1 lb ground beef
2/3 cup water
desired taco toppings: chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onions, shredded cheese, cilantro or sour cream
Preheat a waffle iron.
In a bowl, combine the buttermilk and butter, then stir in the eggs. In another large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda, 2 teaspoons taco seasoning and salt. Make a well in the center, then pour in the buttermilk mixture. Mix just until combined.
Add some of the waffle batter to the iron and cook according to waffle maker instructions.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until browned and cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks, 5-7 minutes. Stir in the water and the rest of the taco seasoning and heat to boiling. Reduce the heat and continue to cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Serve the waffles topped with some of the taco meat, then top with your favourite taco toppings.
Butter Tarts
1/3 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
24 frozen tart shells, defrosted according to instructions.
Preheat oven to 375F. In a bowl of a standup mixer mix together the corn syrup, butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and mix well. Stir in the raisins.
Place the tarts on a rimmed cookie sheet. Fill the tarts with the mixture and bake for 12-15 min. until golden.
