Saturday, we had the pleasure of attending Tyler and Lindsey’s beautiful, perfect wedding. The bride’s mom took care of Sophia and Ben when they were just little, and we’ve never known a nicer family. I’m a wedding crier anyway, but when I saw this: All I could think of was this: Given Ben’s sweat and…
Category: Life With Ben
It Takes A Village
Saturday was Ben’s graduation party. He has been looking forward to this event for a good six years, and I think it is safe to say that it exceeded all his expectations. He planned the menu with my guidance (which mostly consisted of me putting the kibosh on serving duck to 75 people, and then…
21 Reasons Why
The last week and a half has been a whirlwind of activity, celebrations and milestones. Sometimes one is just too busy living life to post about it! In the last nine days: We celebrated Sophia’s birthday. Ben finished his school year. All four grandparents arrived. Sophia finished school. Ben graduated from high school. Ben went…
Slump
Now is the season of our discontent. I don’t know why. It doesn’t make sense! We are all vaccinated and we have begun, cautiously, with baby steps, to enjoy some of the things we used to take for granted, like restaurant dining. The weather is tempestuous – hot, cold, rainy, dry, windy, windy, windy –…
Asian Lettuce Wrap-sody (pick your hoison)
We had a great weekend! We are now all fully vaccinated, and so are Ben’s grandparents, so that warranted a family visit this weekend. It was the first time we had seen each other since 2019, and it was a great time of reconnecting. Picture people running across a field in slow motion, to scoop…
Building a Better Taco
…and a better version of your day. I should have been suspicious when I got home and Ben greeted me with, “I missed you! I had a great day! How was yours? Let me laud your safe arrival home with trumpeting fanfare!” OK. I made up the last sentence, but the rest is verbatim. He…
Ringing in the New Year with the Fondude!
2020, you’re on the bench. 2021, suit up! Ben has a lot of hope pinned on the new year. When the world shut down last March, he was on the cusp of exploring some work opportunities through school. For a guy whose main interest in school has always been social networking opportunities and lunch, the…
Cookie Cutter Christmas?
Our Christmas was great. We don’t need to describe it with qualifiers – “It was fine, considering we couldn’t do all our normal things,” or commenting on only one aspect, “The roast beast was divine,” or the old second grade stand-by, “Sure, it was an awesome Christmas! Of course, it’s opposite day.” It was just…
A Christmas Carol
Phil’s brief stage career peaked when he played Jacob Marley in “A Christmas Carol.” Sixth grade was a long time ago, but he still remembers wearing the chains he forged in life. Tonight, dear reader, you shall be visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, as we remember holidays spent with family and friends.
Long December
Ben has been pushing HARD for this shrimp dish since spying it in one of his cookbooks. We changed it a bit, and I’m writing up a version of what we will do next time, based on our preferences. Citrus Shrimp Kabobs 1/2 cup orange marmalade 1/4 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1…