Our Belated Weekend

We had quite a lovely weekend.  On Friday evening, we had the Meharry's over for dinner.  It was great to see them.  It had been FOREVER! We grilled and it was extra amazing.  We have started making our hotdogs Chicago style, well pretty much, and they are so so so so good.  Have you ever had a Chicago Dog?  If not, you really need to.  If you are a vegetarian, like us, and want to try an authentic dog, you can find veggie dogs downtown, so don't think you'll have to miss out.

To make your own Chicago dog you will need:

Poppyseed hotdog buns (you can go without, if you can't find them)
Dill Pickle Spears
Chopped Tomatoes (instead of ketchup)
Chopped Onions
Mustard
Sport peppers (we didn't have any)
Celery Salt
We use grilled Superlinks

Give them a go!! Here's a few pics of us enjoying friend time...

 You may be wondering if my child ever wears clothes anymore.  No, she doesn't...just kidding.  It just seems that I only have my camera in those situations.  

 Ezra, showing off his ride. 

 Zeb, very involved in a story.

 

Two, make that three, tired friends. 

The Creamy Strawberry Pie I was telling you about.  It was just as yummy as I had hoped.  Pretty easy to make as well.  Here's the recipe: 

Creamy Strawberry Pie

Crust:

6 ounces Nilla Wafer Cookies

2 tablespoons sugar

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup cran-raspberry juice

2 quarts strawberries (8 cups), hulled and thinly sliced

1/4 cup cornstarch

1) Crust.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine Nilla wafers and sugar in a food processor.  Pulse until fine crumbs are formed.  Transfer to a bowl and add melted butter; stir together until all crumbs are moistened.  Press crumbs into bottom and up side of a 9-inch pie plate.  Bake crust at 350 degrees for 14 minutes or until curst is lightly browned.  Place on wire rack and cool completely.

2) Filling.  In medium-size saucepan, combine 2/3 cup of the sugar, juice, 2 cups strawberries and cornstarch.  Gently mash berries with a potato masher.  Brings to a boil over medium-high heat and cook 2 minutes or until clear and thickened.  Remove from heat and let cool slightly.  Stir in the remaining strawberries, reserving several for garnish.  Poor into cooled crust and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

3) Topping. Before serving either use cool whip or using 1/2 cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons sugar to make homemade whipped cream.  Spread over pie, leaving a 1-inch border around edges.  Garnish with reserved berries and serve. 

On Saturday morning, we headed to Sabbath School.  It was Mark's week to teach.  We were planning on going to church, but Jason and Becky needed help changing the S.S. room over for the next lesson, so we stayed around to help.  After we finished, we realized that Church was almost over, so we went home to have lunch.  We had a lovely meal of pasta, bread, grilled asparagus and steamed broccoli.  Rosie loves asparagus and broccoli!  It makes me so happy when she eats so well!

After a nap, we took Rosie out to play in the water.  It was way too hot to just go to the park.  She loved the pool and her water table.  

What adorable little cheeks peeking out from her swimming suit:) 

 Loving the pool! 

 Mark got inventive!  She enjoyed it, sort of.

 I checked on our veggies and found this great cucumber (it was really yummy) and some lettuce.  After doing some online research, I learned that I have failed as a lettuce farmer.  I think I let it go too long and it has now "bolted" and gotten bitter.  Oops!

Enjoying a big bowl of strawberries. Oh, to be a kid again:)

 This bathing suit is a little small.  It looks shockingly like a wrestlers outfit.  It makes me smile though:)

 Mark took a few "maternity" pics of me with his phone:)  

 I still can't believe McKinley will be here in about a month and a half.  It's crazy!

Later in the afternoon, we went and picked up Kenneth and met the Meharry's at a park in Hinsdale to let the kids play.  It ended up being the boys playing more, but it was very fun.  We then headed to eat dinner and finished the evening on a very high note, at Oberweis.  It was Nicole and Zeb's first Oberweis experience, and they seemed convinced of it's amazingness.

Sunday was a relaxing day.  We did get some errands done.  We also washed the cars.  Here is Monroe helping out.
  

She loves helping with any project!

Daddy, doing his part.

She decided her car needed a little wash, too! 

This is why she is rarely wearing clothes theses days.  She gets soaked when she plays outside.  Such a sweet little face.  

I'm not sure where this came from:)

So anyway, that was our weekend, just a little late.  Love ya!