picnics rule & meal list thursday

I'll just get this week's meal list out of the way so we can quickly move on to the fun stuff.  Business in front, party in back, am I right?  I am from MO after all.  (And no, I did not intend for this to be a teaser for mullets.  Mullets will not be found further down this post.  Well, OK.  Lila kindof has a mullet.  But it's not her fault.) 

Summer Squash Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and Salad
Creamy Avocado Pasta with Roasted  Grape Tomatoes (Found here on tastykitchen.com.  This one might be a bit frou-frou for some dudes but it is an awesome, super easy summer dish.  Heck, if he gets all fussy about it just serve it with chicken and tell him he can EATITANDLIKEIT!  Also, follow her recommendation about not serving this dish left-over.  We all know that an avocado the morning after is not pretty.  Make fresh and devour!)

Recipes here.


Back to bidness.  So does anyone else out there think that picnics are super awesome?  Taking our kids on a low-key weekend picnic dinner is definitely among our favorite activities.   Assuming our schedules and beastly St. Louis weather permit, of course.  They are easy, cheap, and they get the kids out in the fresh air and out of our hair so we can enjoy the view and unwind from the long week. 

Here are the pictures from our picnic dinner last Friday night.  I might need a picnic now, right here on my bed.  Where's the cheese and crackers?

 The important stuff:

"Why yes, I think I will try a tomato."

 "On second thought, I'll just stick with salami."

 Done eating, time to play...

...and run up and down the hill a hundred times.



"Horsey!"  (statue of King Louis IX of France)



Time for a break!



And time to teach the important things...



...like sharing a cookie...

...and sharing a laugh.

("The Wheels on the Bus Go Poop-Poop-Poop.")

...and of course, one last trek up the hill.  (Thanks, Dad!)