Future Olympic Gymnast

Update

Well, I'm delinquent once again on updating my blog, so here are some very grossly overdue updates. :) I'd like to start doing better (for real this time) because this blog is on my online scrapbook. I've really resorted to Facebook to document my goings-on these days, but I still want to provide more thoughtful... thoughts? here than I do on Facebook. So standby for really deep thoughts, Mer Show Style.

So this is what I've neglected to post the last few months:

1. We built a pool, which was a dream come true for both Sheridan and me. Both of us have wanted one since we were kids, and we finally made it happen for ourselves. We traveled to San Diego in February for Katie's baptism and the kids were so horrible on the plane that we agreed not to vacation with them for a very long time. The pool broke ground immediately after. :) It's our staycation for a long time to come!! All we do is swim on the weekends - hosting friends and their families for swim days and/ or just spending quality time with each other every hot summer weekend day... like today! We've had 2 family swim sessions today. :) Here is the collection of photos from throughout the project - it started in February and finished in May and was a very time-consuming project.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157630702776298/

2. Speaking of Katie's baptism in February in San Diego, we had an awesome visit (minus the plane rides there and back - those were awful)! Here are the pics from that:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157629106812746/

3. In June, I met up with some friends that I competed with in gymnastics as a kid for the Olympics trials in San Jose, CA. It was an amazing experience! The gymnastics was phenomenal and my old friends and I picked up right where we left off - we had a blast together. We saw Mary Lou Retton, the Karolyis, and got to witness Nastia Liukin's last routine, not to mention the selection of the men's and women's Olympics teams. It was incredible! Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157630695042794/

4. Headed to Sheridan's 20th high school reunion in San Jose soon and Maui in several weeks. We're super excited about both of those and can't wait to share more details about both. Standby!

So that's it. Hope you're all doing great! Love, Mer xo

Summer Lunch is Served

Turkey Burgers, adapted from Rachel Ray's Cranberry Bog Burgers recipe

1 1/3 pounds (the average weight of one package from meat case) ground turkey breast

1 small McIntosh apple, finely chopped

1 small white onion, chopped

1 rib celery from heart of the stalk, finely chopped

1 rounded teaspoon poultry seasoning

Salt and pepper

Vegetable oil, for drizzling

4 sandwich size sourdough English muffins

8 leaves Bibb lettuce, cleaned

Combine turkey, apple, onion, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl and form into 4 large patties. Preheat a large skillet or a grill pan to medium high heat. Drizzle skillet or brush grill with vegetable oil and cook patties 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, on the muffins. I serve the corn below with it, as well.

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Grilled Corn with Coconut Flakes and Sriracha Mayo
Recipe by Angelo Sosa from Top Chef, posted in People Magazine, July 2012
Serves 4

4 ears corn, shucked
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. Sriracha
1½ tsp. kosher salt
¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes

1. Preheat grill to medium-high. Add corn, butter and thyme to a pot of water over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil; reduce and simmer until corn is tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together mayo, Sriracha and salt until smooth. In a skillet, toast coconut over medium heat, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Grill corn, turning, until charred, about 10 minutes. Cover with spicy mayo and coconut.