Wow. Spring has come and gone... and summer is not far behind. I feel like I blinked and it is fall again. If only winter would go by as quickly! I know I know... I wish I was so lucky. Since I have been MIA for a while.....

Here's a quick update on life at the Kluesner house---

1. I started working on my Special Education endorsement, which will eventually become Masters. 3 classes in. 4 more to go.

2. Eric has turned 30... which means my birthday is coming up shortly. I am not quite sure how I feel about that one. We celebrated cleaning water out of the basement and dealing with wet things. Not fun. Rain is not my friend.

3. We welcomed 3 adorable babies this summer.. no not ours. We are leaving that to our fantastic friends! Andrew, Bryce, and Beckett sure are cute! There is one more coming later this month! (Again not ours!)

4. We have not attended any weddings this year. (I think that is a first in a long while)

5. I have 2 more days of summer vacation left, then back to school with meetings. I will be teaching at one of my FAVORITE schools, and am so excited to get going. Not very excited to start getting up early though.

6. Pinterest has become my new addiction. Not healthy, but oh so fun!!!

7. I joined a club... that shall not be named ahem *Chef League* ahem. And my mouth waters at all the awesome things in it!

8. We have spent some time catching up on Bones. Such an awesome show. How we have missed it for 6 seasons, I am not sure. Dancing phalanges!

9. Our yard is still a train wreck this year. Part of it looks a little better, thanks in large part to my parents. I am looking forward to fall for the simple fact that lots is going bye-bye!

10. Food Challenge had gone on Hiatus for a while..... but its back baby! So to welcome it back I'll share the first recipe. Spicy but oh so good. Get it while the peaches are good! :)

Barbecued Shrimp and Peach Kabobs

• 12 (12 inches each) metal or bamboo skewers
• 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (ground red) pepper
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 pound (16- to 20-count) shelled deveined shrimp
• 3 medium peaches, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 bunch green onions, dark green parts trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
• Lime wedges, for serving

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Directions

1. If using bamboo skewers, soak skewers in cold water at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling on high.
2. In large bowl, combine brown sugar, chile powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Add shrimp, peaches, and onion; toss until evenly coated.
3. Thread shrimp, peaches, and onion alternately onto skewers.
4. Grill 3 to 4 minutes or until browned and shrimp just become opaque throughout, turning once. Serve with lime wedges.

Winter blues got ya?

With all this dreary winter weather lately, I am finding lots of time to indulge in my favorite winter activity..... Reading! There is nothing better than curling up on the couch in my nice warm slippers, a blanket, and a good book! It looks like we have a few more days headed our way, so I MUST share this book!

I went to my favorite friendly and cozy bookstore just looking for ideas. They have a great section with all the local book club picks and I love to look here for great ideas. The lady came over and told me that I need to read this book. After hearing her spiel, there was no way I was going to enjoy this book, but I humored her and took it over to the comfy chair to read before I buy. Much to my surprise I was immediately sucked in to this book and couldn't put it down. I read it every free second I had!

The book you ask? Still Alice by Lisa Genova.

It is a book about Alzheimers/ Dementia. Not the most enjoyable subject (thus my apprehension). It is about a 50 year old Harvard professor, at the height of her career, who starts forgetting things. It explores this haunting disease in fiction form. It's a tear jerker... a thought provoker.... it is sad but an increasing and unavoidable problem in the world..... It's haunting.... It is MUST READ!

The house that built me

It's just a house.. just a house.

But it was my house!

(well technically it still is... until Saturday)

I left behind the house that built me..... the house I grew up in. The house filled with my childhood memories... the place where my parents got married .... the place we celebrated Proms, graduations, first dates..... the house where I cut my foot on a piece of glass .... the house I didn't always like, but it was my home!

It just looked so different... so empty... devoid of everything that made it HOME.

(It's not like my parents are leaving my hometown, they are moving across town, after staying in a hotel for couple of months, but that is another story.)

Surprisingly, I shed very few tears driving away, but many MANY MANY more were shed throughout the week. As I was unearthing the hidden treasures, I was remembering the story behind it or hearing the story for the first time, and was OVERWHELMED with the emotions! About the time I would get it together, I would find something else that would send me back over the edge. Such an emotional roller coaster that I was completely unprepared for! (I thought I could just sort my stuff and be done! Naive I know! )

Through the tears, the laughs, and the frustrations I realized a few things---

1. I have been IMMENSELY blessed!

2. Somethings haven't changed since I went to Casa Montessori as a kid--- my teachers noted that I was often "clumsy" because I was too busy watching what others are doing! And I do things well, when I am paying attention!

3. Someday I will learn to knit and tat. I have the supplies that were my Mom's I just need to learn how.

4. Even though I wonder what my life would have been like.... I am so thankful for the things I would never have known if my life had taken that course!

5. The outpouring of memories of my Mom that haven't happened in a long time.

6. Finding notes from high school.... ahh Teenage Angst!

7. A supportive husband who is stable and level-headed.... even when I am not.

8. Even though the house will not be mine.. I will still have the memories. I welcome the opportunity to create many many MANY memories at the new house.