‘Engagement Chicken’ Articles at Sweetnicks

When we moved back to this house last summer, I opted not to bring our swingset with us. Nick had really outgrown it, and Madeline wasn’t ready for it yet. Oh yeah, and I had it cemented into the ground at the old house, so it really wasn’t going anywhere. I could have gotten a new swingset for this house, but then I had a brainstorm. A trampoline! I have always wanted one. We had a teeny one that the kids used all the time, but if I got a bigger one, we could ALL use it. Gotta love having kids … a great way to secretly relive our own childhood!

So I told Nick my idea, to see if he’d go for it. If he really had his heart set on a swingset, I was fine with that. Luckily for me, he was completely on board. I kept my eye on sales and last November, Wal-Mart had a steal on the giant ones with the safety net enclosure. Like for a third of the normal cost. Can I tell you how much those boxes weigh? OMG. Like, seriously, a ton. Got two guys to load it into my SUV, and I don’t think the first guy would have signed on to help had he seen what I was buying. It barely fit in my truck.

My favorite picture? The one below. I love how high Nick got, and her expression – look at that wide-open mouth!

Nick was so excited that I bought it, but it sat in our garage until the warm weather broke. Last weekend, we put it up and it has been diligently used ever since then. By all of us. I think everyone needs a trampoline in their backyard. Our backyard is tiny, but I deemed it the kids’ space. The front yard is mine. This trampoline seriously takes up half the yard, but it is so.very.worth.it. The giggles. The laughter. The pure unadulterated fun. The pictures say it all.

Now for the Engagement Chicken. It feels like this recipe has been around forever. And that’s about how long it took me to make it for the first time last month. I first heard about it from Glamour magazine, when they first printed it in 2004. Apparently girls were making it for their boyfriends, and their guys were proposing to them after eating it. Hence the name Engagement Chicken. Cute, no? I made it for the kids’ dinner on a night when I was going out. As I left with my friend, each of us stealing a bite before heading out the door, she looked at me and said, “And we’re leaving why?” It’s crazy for something so simple to be so downright yummy, but it is. Just be careful who you make it for.

Project 365
Photo #74, April 7, 2010

Nothing signals warm weather like beach feet!…

Nick has played on the town soccer team for four years now, two seasons a year. This year, we decided to add a little baseball to the mix. The first practice was this past Saturday morning, and we were on the field bright and early, for three hours. Madeline and I set up camp in a far corner, out of the way from stray flying balls, and settled in. I can’t tell you how proud of Nick I was. When I originally signed him up, I can’t say he was too happy about it. He’s never played before, and was apprehensive about it. “What if I can’t hit the ball? Or miss a catch? Or don’t know which way to go?” Nick is my thousand-question-much-trepidation baby. To appease the fears, we all took turns practicing with him and taking him out and going through some basic rules. Me. His Uncle. Jamie.

When we got there Saturday morning, his team had one of his school classmates on it, so that helped. But something happened. He dug in. Became completely and fully engaged. Raised his hand. Volunteered to go first. Swung the bat. Had fun. So, so very proud of him.

Madeline watched Nick play for the first solid hour, and every time she saw him running, she stood up to cheer for him. Love that about her.