team dinner at the Brown's

After 45 minutes of game film, an intense two hour practice, and a 25 minute drive…

Eleanor Weasley loves her ribs, that's for sure

defense crew

Tepper does not mess around when it comes to food… 

if you haven't tried thin mint ice cream… you should change that

and a big thank you to sarah brown, and her family 

earth space field trip

Today must have been the first time in over 3 years that I have gone on a school field trip… Which in my opinion is disappointing. Not to insult my science teacher, I learned more today than I have over the course of a month in our regular classroom setting. My class, along with the two other periods, got to visit CU's observatory and explore all it has to offer.

CU continues to hold my #1 favorite college campus

one of the most interesting things of the day - a sphere with four projectors that can display earth along with other planets 

the rooftop has two telescopes where you have a perfect view of the flatirons- every friday night the public is free to use the telescopes to see the stars and planets after 8:00 pm

the biggest of them all 

a quick lunch 

Someone find me a school where everyday is experiential learning… 

emilie update

Emilie has been in South Africa now for nearly a month. Working with the nonprofit organization, African Impact, she has been assigned to a project called "The vulnerable children program". The main goal of this program is to rehabilitate children suffering from physical, emotional, and mental problems. So far, she has made incredible friends and deep connections with the kids she has been working with. 

through out her trip, she is also exploring what South Africa has to offer 

Cape of Good Hope

we all love and miss you, emmy. 

sunday night family dinner

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH WARM SPINACH-WALNUT PESTO:

always grateful for my mom and the delicious meals she cooks

INGREDIENTS

• 3 large spaghetti squash or 1 1/2 pounds whole grain pasta or gnocchi
• Salt and pepper
• 1 bag frozen organic chopped spinach orspinach (16 ounces)
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 1/3-1/2 cup vegetable stock or chicken stock
• 1 small bunch flat leaf parsley (1 1/2 cups, loosely packed)
• 1 large shallot, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, peeled
• About 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt, pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
• Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, to taste

Serves 6

PREPARATION

Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.

Halve the squash lengthwise and place cut-side down on baking sheets. Roast for about 1 hour or until tender, then turn cut-side up and shred the squash into spaghetti-like strands with the tines of a fork; season with salt and pepper.

Defrost the spinach and place in a clean kitchen towel. Wring out all the liquid, then separate the spinach with your fingertips to loosen it up.

Toast the walnuts in the oven or a small pan until fragrant and crispy-brown at the edges; cool.

Place the stock in a food processor or blender and add the spinach, parsley, shallot, garlic and toasted walnuts. Pulse into the pesto sauce.

Heat the olive oil, four turns of the pan, in a large skillet over medium heat; add the pesto and stir for 2-3 minutes to warm and combine the flavors. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Add the pasta or gnocchi and some of the starchy cooking water to the pan to combine or toss with the roasted spaghetti squash right in squash shell. Combine some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, a small handful at a time, into the squash, to taste; serve warm.

spring is here

My mom has been telling me for weeks now to get outside and photograph the beautiful plants blooming in our yard. Every year it seems like spring happens over night. I'm not sure if going to Africa has me more appreciative of the beauty that surrounds me every day, or if it's just me getting older… whatever the case may be, I have fallen more and more in love with nature and what it has to offer us.

bird bath of fallen pedals

outside of our study room (my mom's favorite)

we call these the "pee trees" (they reek)

reminding me of my grandma judy

peter gave the boys a bath 

the beginning

I've always like the idea of creating a blog. I have have seen friends, family, and even people on television create blogs for the sake of remembering. If I think back to last year, I could give you a general idea of what was going on, but the details have faded with time. I have tried journaling every night but it is often forgotten, and lacks a visual aspect. So, here I am joining the blogging bandwagon to one day look back and recall those once faded details.

 my new companion.