Table for Eight

Is there anything better than time with a book you love? (PS: Jr. loves to read, but I'm pretty sure this scenario was staged. He was teasing me about loving reading more than video games. If we look closely, the book may even be upside down. And it's on Pompei!) Turns out it's always summer when you're a housecat! Bam and Papaya on the kayak at the lake near our home. (Our community lets us check these out for use. It is so cool.) I love cooking in the summer--tho my pesto was only medium. I haven't mastered the recipe. I love coconuts. (Even after Survivor. Heck, BECAUSE of Survivor.) Bam is probably the most creative person I know. I was never like this as a kid--and I love that she is. Zu went to visit Janae's Service Hamster, Silver. The running joke between us all: I'd like Janae's family to get a service dog. Janae thinks her hamster fills the bill. "Silver-the-Hamster calms people," she claims....

Kind of random, but I'm making pesto today for the first time. Ever since Elder Meehan left on his mission, I feel the need to try new things. I guess it's my way of distracting myself, getting lost in new things?  Oh, who knows?! (And probably, who cares? Ha ha ha.) It's a way to pass the time-- that's all I'm sayin'. But back to my point! Today I'm making pesto at Janae's--using her basil, her AWESOME BlendTec blender, my homegrown garlic, my olive oil ... and my $49.99 per pound PINENUTS! Yup, you heard me: Pinenuts are $49.99 per POUND here in Utah. What in the honk?  Funny, yesterday I tweeted about how expensive pinenuts were and people immediately replied "pesto doesn't really need pinenuts." WHAT?!  That's not what FoodNetwork says.  Now, I may only be able to afford two tablespoons of pesto, but I'm making it according to The Iron Chef's recommendation, people.  Work with me here.  I do...

Bam's painting nails like nobody's business. She calls these ones "galaxy." Just a quick post today to say, I am loving summer SO much. Something about starving on a deserted island the last two summers makes being home this summer (with food, toliet paper, a toliet!, pillows, soap, family, and a watch) SO SO SO SO SO SO sweet. And guess what? I bought a new bathing suit this weekend. A non-Survivor one! And you know what that means? 1. I picked out the color I wanted. (For the game, production typically tells us to stick to a certain color on the "color wheel.") 2. I bought it a full-size bigger than last year's model. (Because when you're planning to do the Survivor Cleanse, it's best to buy a suit that's one size too small. You wanna anticipate fitting into it once the lbs are melting off of ya in the sweltering heat. Translation = if you only make it to Day 12 of the game, your suit is TIGHT. But if you make it to...

Summer Salad--thanks Rebecca G., from our Carbon Canyon days! This is how hilarious/ridonkulous our lives are right now: Our oven caught on fire while I was baking bread Sunday and that isn't even in the Top 100 of Nutty Things That Have Happened Since Sunday list. But my point! We're not baking/cooking this week. So, tonight we're having this yummy cold salad w/ some store-baked bread (eeek!). Thanks to my friend Rebecca for sharing it: Summer Salad 4 cups avocados, diced 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 2 cups cubed cucumbers, peeled, diced 1 red onion, sliced 4 TBS cilantro, diced 2 TBS garlic, minced 2 TBS lime juice 1/4 cup olive oil salt black pepper * lettuce (if ya like) 1. Toss all ingredients and place on a bed of lettuce (if ya like). Serves 8   **** And in unrelated Meehan news: Zu made this awesome card for a friend. (And yes, I still can't rotate a photo.)   My BFF, Whittney has a bday this coming week (18th). This...

Jr, Zu, Lu, and Papaya--first day without school. We are so happy school is officially out! --Jay has graduated and is getting ready to leave for his service mission to Indiana. --Bam got a new fish (Sparkle), is babysitting a lot, and even considering getting her drivers license. --Papaya, Jr., and Jay signed up for CrossFit.  --And Zu and Lu, well, they are playing piano, swimming, and begging me to homeschool them until they are 18. (Those girls are FISH. We should live on the coast, I tell ya. They love the water.) (PS: This cracks me up, but Zu is learning "Thrift Shop" on the piano right now.) I am so glad it's June.  Just the word, "JUNE," makes me smile. End of the school year breakfast at Willage Inn. (Spelled like it's pronounced.)   Visiting my BFF Janae, her daughter, and Bam. Bam's new fish: Sparkle.     Jay's mission logo. (None of us Meehans have been to Indiana, so this is an exciting time!...

This Sunday as I was leaving church, I had an exchange with our Bishop (clergy) that left me feeling so optimistic, I just have to blog about it--in hopes that it may help you feel optimistic, too. You see, this summer has been a real Mountain-Top and Valley summer for our family. We've had some of the best times (Mountain-Tops), but also faced some real hardships (Valleys).  And I think it's safe to say as for me and mine, we prefer the Mountain-Top experiences. Ha. So, moving on ... my point! As I was leaving church Sunday, probably looking a little less than my perky self, our Bishop came up to me and simply said, "We'll get through this." We'll get through this. And that was it. That was all that needed to be said.  Those four little words gave me such relief. You see, he's right: we aren't alone in our troubles. Our friends and family are here to help us journey through. And although things may  not be perfect, we will get throu...