Cooking: Middle School is On Its Way Out!

This is the year things end. Middle school things that is. Last middle school swim championship, last middle school swim season, last middle school dances.... I am nostalgic for some of these  things. Middle school still sounds little kid to me. This will be the last year I have a little kid. I am happy for the growth and maturity that comes in the next stage in our lives, but for a few moments, I am nostalgic for the middle school years. They have been great learning experiences for us all.


This weekend we watched Ellie swim in her last middle school championship meet. She took time off both of her races and was part of a pretty great relay team. The best part of the whole day was watching her cheer her team with all of her heart. She loves being on a team and their 6th win (her second as part of the team) was a big deal for these girls. They went in nervous, worked hard and came out a winning team.

 

This weekend was a huge "Ellie weekend".  School dance, championship, talent show tryouts and cotillion just to name a few of the many things she did. Life is busy in middle school, that is for sure. Good thing we still have a full semester left to enjoy all the business of  middle school.

Casa Swann still in middle school Menu

•  Chicken ragu/ stuffed bell peppers/ creamed spinach
• swim meet  (Freezer pork soup/tomato soup)
• Veggie bowls
• Grilled chicken thighs/ Mexican baked sweet potatoes

Cooking: Last week of swimming

The weekend was lovely. We attended a great talent show to rival anything on television, attended our last Sunday Junior Cotillion and cooked a lovely dinner.

This week is full of friends and swimming.  This is the end of swimming for us. The season has been long (since August...really since May) and rewarding.

I wish it was this weather right this second!

Casa Swann End of the Swim Season Menu

Whole baked chicken/sweet potatoes/ kale white bean salad (Momma's girl night)

Salmon burgers/ butternut squash and apple bake/kale salad leftovers

Black eyed pea and Kale soup/ sausage

Order dinner

Hamburgers 

Cooking: Would you rather be a Bruiser or a Honey Bear?

This weekend was dedicated to my sweet baby girl. Between her middle school swim team championship and Junior Cotillion, I spent most of the weekend focused on her. She rarely is in the spotlight due to her sister being such a spotlight hog, so I hope she enjoyed the attention. She had two PRs and climbed about 12 spots in ranking in both events. Also, a little fire got lit. We are thrilled. Also, for the fifth year in a row, GPS dominated. GO BRUISERS!

This week, we have a dual meet on Tuesday with another Tennessee girl's school and in typical southern girl style, we feed the visiting team after the meet. Love that I will get to see both my girls swim at a girls only meet. Both of their teams are undefeated and this is a big rivalry. So it should be fun.

Casa Swann It's All About the GIRLS! Menu

• Steak salad/rosemary potatoes (regular salad for me)
• BRUISERS VS HONEYBEARS meet and dinner
• Quinoa soup/salmon burgers
• Garlic shrimp/ spaghetti squash 
• Tacos

Gratituesday: Swimming

This summer, I have watched both my girls swim. 

 

I love to watch them swim in meets. Not because they win (which they both do sometimes) but because they are doing something, well. Something that I am not good at in the least. 

My girls are my heroes.

One goes to practice when she can, making the most of practices and often demanding that her coach make them harder.The other has been going twice a day, at first by my choice, but now by her own.

 

I am so grateful for swimming. The skill to swim along with the skill  to push oneself through the next level of ability are priceless lessons. 

PS These are photos of past years...this year I have taken exactly NO photos of my swimmers, with the exception of a quick instagram photo here and there...because I am too involved in actually watching them. It's been great.

InstaFriday: Cool as we wanna be

 Instagram makes my life look so much cooler than it is! 

Have been hanging out with my mom doing what she loves to do, scour estate sales.

I scored these fancy glasses. Passed up the 8 track tapes, but dang it was tempting.

My newest obsession

 Summer means two things, swim team and good eating.

Salads get a lot more exciting at Casa Swann in the summer.

Swim meets twice a week go so much faster if you have a job to do. 

I like to be a judge. Love getting front row of all the swimmers, from hilarious 8 and unders "diving" off the blocks to the seriously fast seniors flying across the pool. 

My girls are middle of the pack summer swimmers, but love it.

salmon cakes and kitchen sink salad

 Did a crazy thing this week and convinced my reluctant hair dresser to darken my hair.

Right now, it is temporarily darker than it will end up. Which is kind of fun. It's shocking when people see me and I love seeing them try to figure it out.

 My husband is an 80's old wave guy and we went to hear the Psychedelic Furs at our local music festival. They were great, but about 102 years old which was really weird. Pretty in Pink? You bet.

 My girls are finally easing into summer. We have been up every morning and out the door by 7:45, but they come back and relax and goof off. Friends are over watching movies, I have been the chauffeur to the pool and library, and today we are heading off to hear music in Atlanta. 

Perfect, fly by the seat of your pants summer. 

Maybe we are cool.

Check out the really cool Jeannette.