It's been awhile since I have done a book review. I just finished this book. It was recommended to me by my sister, Stacey. She was even kind enough to lend me the book which sat on my shelf for months. Finally I blew the dust off and started reading. Let me preface this by saying that this isn't one of my favorite genres...modern day...crime...mystery. I generally don't gravitate to books like that. But once I started reading I was hooked. I loved it.

From Goodreads: 

Back in 1985, Frank Mackey was nineteen, growing up poor in Dublin's inner city, and living crammed into a small flat with his family on Faithful Place. But he had his sights set on a lot more. He and Rosie Daly were all ready to run away to London together, get married, get good jobs, break away from factory work and poverty and their old lives.

But on the winter night when they were supposed to leave, Rosie didn't show. Frank took it for granted that she'd dumped him-probably because of his alcoholic father, nutcase mother, and generally dysfunctional family. He never went home again.

Neither did Rosie. Everyone thought she had gone to England on her own and was over there living a shiny new life. Then, twenty-two years later, Rosie's suitcase shows up behind a fireplace in a derelict house on Faithful Place, and Frank is going home whether he likes it or not.
This is a great summer read. Perfect to read while traveling or soaking up the sun. Once I started reading I found out that it was the 3rd book in a series. It didn't matter. You can read it as independent book and it is still a fun read. Oh yeah...in case you were wondering...Tyler is reading it too. He gives it the thumbs up.

Image via Pinterest

On another note...

This book just arrived in the mail for me from Amazon. I am so excited to read it I can hardly stand it. I will probably wait to savor it and finish up some of the other books I am currently reading. Delayed gratification people. Why am I so excited? It is a book written by one of my former high school teachers...Mr. Gould. Let me rephrase. My ALL-TIME-FAVORITE TEACHER!! It is a satirical story based on my high school. Oh my high school. That is a post for another day.  Mr. Gould was flat out hilarious. I can't wait!!

The Merry Month of May

May is always such a busy month with all the end of the year festivities. Here are some of the things that have been going on around here.

Ailey's 2nd Grade Music Program

Ailey has such a cute little group of girlfriends. Ailey is still/always has been a girly-girl. She loves her friends. When I drop her off at school in the morning and she sees her friends they all come running and squealing and hugging and giggling. It is pretty funny.

Ailey and some of her best buddies all requested to wear a little mascara and lip gloss to the program. Most of us mothers relented...technically "stage make-up" you know. Those poor boys in their class didn't know what hit them. It starts so early.

 Slightly awkward picture...the wind was whipping and we were holding up about 10 families who needed to walk past us to get to the parking lot. Once again that is my "take the #$%^ picture Reilly!!" face. I have a lot of pictures like that. I really need to channel serene. Tyler is hissing "Hurry Up!! Can you tell? :)

 

These guys were there too. 

Mother's Day

 Kelley, Elle and I took my Mom out for Brunch on Mother's Day 

 

This year my focus was mainly on my Mom and my Grandma. I told my family to not go all out for me and just give me cards etc. as we have a huge family vacation coming up to the mother of all weddings...Jordin and Ramon's...in Kansas City this summer. It is going to be quite the extravaganza. All superfluous cash is going in that direction. Of course my family didn't really listen and I still got some wonderful plants, flowers, and a gorgeous rosebush for Mother's Day.

Track 

Kameron finished up his track and field season. He did a great job!! Track season is blissfully short and we have had wonderful weather.No complaints here!! I love how much he is improving and the joy he finds in running. I never heard any complaints about going to practice...and his coach worked them HARD for nearly two hours twice a week. His cross-country coach was also there for most practices and meets as most of the kids run both...so he was informally coaching them as well.

 Here is his 2012 Track picture...so handsome!! 

It was also the Trek...our school's Fun Run. This is the highlight of the year for Kameron and Ailey.

Here are some pictures of them with their BFFs. I think I have a Trek picture of Kameron and Jonathon every year since Kindergarten. I am so grateful that both Ailey and Kameron have such nice best friends.

 Jonathon and Kameron

 Ailey and Violetta

 

 Brynnie cheering them on!!

We still have another choir concert, a band and strings concert, a ballet recital and a piano recital coming up.  Stay tuned. Also, we really did record some of Ailey's music program...that I will post later in a video.

Happy May!!

New Fav

You know I like to keep you in the loop with new things I am eating/drinking...little indulgences. Here is a new one for you. It's a Korean Soda and it is DELISH!! It is called Milkis. The name is a little off-putting as I absolutely hate milk and so was a bit tentative to drink what could potentially be a "milky soda". I had no reason to fear; it is tasty. Very tasty.

I read about this soda on a blog of a woman who went to Korea with her return missionary husband and really enjoyed drinking this beverage. She described it as tasting kind of like a 7-UP and vanilla ice cream float that has melted but without being thick and creamy. I was intrigued. I happen to love 7-UP and vanilla ice cream floats especially when I am sick. It is one of the only things that tastes good to me.

I am a regular at my local Asian Market and have never seen it. Yesterday I was there and bemoaning that they don't have this drink. Tyler suggested (wisely) that we go to the Korean Market and see if they had it there. (Why didn't I think of that...I've been looking for it for over a year.) We drove over to the little Korean Market and I hopped out and ran in the door. I asked the nice woman if they carried a soda called Milkis. Her smile beamed about a mile wide and she enthusiastically pointed me towards the coolers. Our market offered three flavors: melon (no thanks!), original, and strawberry. I bought 2 original and 2 strawberry. I hopped back in the car and had my human guinea pig (Tyler) give it a taste. He pronounced it delicious and slurped it down. After finding out that it wasn't necessarily "milk-like" I gave it a swig. YUM. It is carbonated and creamy tasting without being creamy. Kind of cool. Tyler popped the top on the strawberry one and that one was delicious as well. I brought one home for the kids to taste and they loved it too. Today for "Fun Food Friday" (our little family tradition we have: the kids get to go get a treat after school on Fridays if they have been on time for school etc.) guess what they have picked out as their treat...yep...Milkis.

Go find one and enjoy!!

You're Welcome!!

THE ALL-TIME BEST PASTA SALAD

I may have posted this recipe before...who knows? So if I have...oh well...and if I haven't TRY IT!! It's been quite a while since I posted a recipe. I guess with the advent of Pinterest I haven't felt the need. But as the weather here is BEYOND beautiful and I have no interest in cooking up a big meal and the fact that summer is around the corner...I am posting our family's favorite pasta salad. I made it last night for the first time since last summer. Still our favorite. Keep in mind that I make several GOOD pasta salads: a Greek pasta salad, our regular macaroni salad, a vinaigrette pasta salad...but while those are delish this is by far the most requested. I make it and take it boating. I make it and take it to picnics. I make it and take it to the lake.

Fiesta Pasta Salad (I have no idea where this recipe came from)

Rotini Pasta
Tomatoes

Frozen or Fresh Corn...thawed
Can of Kidney Beans
Green onions
Black olives

Dressing:

1 C. Mayo
1 T. Chili Powder
1/2 C. Milk
1 Pkg. Hidden Valley Fiesta Dip
Lime Juice

Make the pasta and add all the ingredients in whatever proportion you like. I usually use a box and 1/2 of rotini pasta for our family. For black olives I usually use the sliced. I add two cans of kidney beans. I double the dressing. The lime juice I add until it has just the right limey kick. I also sprinkle a little cayenne pepper in because our family likes a bit of a spice. Also, the original recipe calls for avocado. I omit this...just because I like to eat it for lunch the next day...or later in the day...and the avocados just don't hold out well. All my kids like it (and I have two extremely picky eaters.) Even Bryn ate two large bowls of it last night for dinner.

Side Note: Once when my in-laws came to visit I grabbed cinnamon instead of chili powder and added it in. I FREAKED OUT. Then I tasted it. Still delicious, they had no idea and they even requested the recipe. Ergo...you cannot screw this up. Even if you add the wrong ingredients.

Woohoo Summer!!

Family Lake House Clean-Up Day

This last weekend Ellersicks from several states gathered to do yard work, to clean up, to repair, to spruce up, and to open up our family's lake house for the summer. The weather was absolutely GORGEOUS. We got an amazing amount of work done; were able to visit and catch up; we laughed a lot; and the kids even jumped in the lake for a swim. Perfection.

So for those of you sorry suckers who weren't there...check out the pictures...and feel guilty!! :)

 Stacey, John, Kelley and Me

 

 Trimming down the jungle of raspberries 

My Mom working with her injured foot

 

Uncle Mike  

John and Tyler

 

 Kelley

 Hannah on kid duty

 

 Justin 

 Uncle John

 

One of about ten dump runs...each requiring someone to drive the truck that has non-existent brakes while two other people hang off the back!!

 

Hannah and Gavin

 

Ailey, Hailey and Grace

Airing out mattresses

 Swabbing the decks

 Cleaning the Sleeping Porch

 Cleaning Lilac Lodge

  Cleaning the dormitory upstairs in Lilac Lodge

Girls Playhouse

Boys Club House

 

  Granny and Justin

 Tree Trimming Extravaganza!!

 

 Ellersick Brothers...White Pine Savages Ride Again

Uncle Steve, Uncle Mike, Uncle John

 

 Uncle Mike

 Uncle Steve

Uncle John

 John Sykes

Raspberry Patch

 

Garden Area

We got so much accomplished in Lilac Lodge, in the house, roof work, yard work, repair work, dock work...you name it...it got done!! 

Bring on Summer!!