blogger mom

This feels really nice. It's 7:30 in the morning and I haven't said "hurry up" once. That's because this is the first day of Riley's summer break! No rushing around to get him to school. I can't believe he's done with kindergarten. I feel like kindergarten is officially the end of being a little boy. First grade sounds so much older, which makes me a little sad. I have been so happy with our choice to send him to Westgate. He really enjoyed his year, learned a ton, and made a lot of new friends. Yesterday was field day and it was really over the top. They were outside all day and the PTA had organized so many games and activities, including the big inflatable jumping games. As most things do at Westgate, it all ran like a well oiled machine. They really do things well. The kids had a blast, I wish I had pictures. I was able to stay for most of the morning. Then I came back a little early to pick him up for the day, just in time to "clap out" the 5th graders, which is a Westgate tradition. The classes line the halls to clap and wave good bye as the 5th graders parade through. The teachers blow bubbles, music over the loudspeaker...it was all really great. I cried. This year my child leaves kindergarten, but I know the time will go so fast and we'll be clapping my kids out of elementary school before I know what happened. Riley worked very hard this year. All day kindergarten is a lot of work for a little guy. He is an amazing reader and writer and I'm very proud of him. Now we're ready for a great summer!

Here's a summer recipe we've been enjoying at night on the porch swing...Happy Summer!
Vegan Chocolate Shakes:
1 1/4 c. rice milk
2 trays of ice cubes
2 bananas
2 heaping T. of baking cocoa
1 t. of vanilla (or more if you really like vanilla, which I do!)
3-4 T. maple syrup
2 T. all natural peanut butter (or more if you really like peanut butter, which I do!)

After trying many no so good recipes for vegan chocolate shakes on line, I decided I could come up with something better. This is so good, in my humble opinion. I received the ultimate compliment from Trey. We were all sitting on the porch swing enjoying our shakes when the ice cream truck came by. Trey said, "These shakes are so much freaking better than that ice cream!"

Tomorrow is Pickle's birthday party (Pickle is Evan if you're not familiar with his nick name). I'll post more about the baby of this family with birthday pictures soon!

One more thing...we leave for the beach in two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!