oh, how i love summer dinners. the simplicity, colors and deliciousiness (yes, that is a word). last night, i made gnocchi. my sister had to pronounce it for me because i kept calling it gnash, which is quite different, but just as good in its own right.

i followed elise’s recipe and they came out perfectly. topped it with a homemade marinara sauce – perfection!  if i was on a roll i would have made some blueberry sauce for our vanilla ice cream, but one can only cram so much goodness into one day. perhaps, today.

random note – went to go see away we go. one of my new favorites. had to buy this album – it’s on constant rotation.

i could spend hours on your soft sandy beaches

your bright colors are everywhere –  they take my breath away

your romantic side is always there

and you know how to make a fantastic margarita!!

we were so lucky to have these folks make a 15 hour plane ride and a 7 hour car trip, all to come visit us! one of great things about having family far far away is that they come visit you. and let’s be honest, having visitors is the best! i love cleaning the house top to bottom before and after. planning a menu. showing the best of the city.

yes, nathaniel is wearing oshkosh b’gosh. i wanted to gobble him up in these overalls.

what does one do when visiting kansas city during a heat wave?? shop, of course! needless to say, it’s a tad bit cheaper here in kc than in norway. i believe berit knew her way around target just as well as i do by the time she left. perhaps, the best shopping included a trip to lawrence. the boys headed to the pool and left us girls to walk down mass street, oh the danger one can get into on mass street. sarah’s fabric was a treat for this crafty mama, as we spent a good hour drooling over the fabrics.

another must-stop included the lawrence antique mall. ohh the treasures i have found there. no we did not come away empty handed. i grabbed a few (four is a few, right?) glass jars and a serving tray. berit was oh so selective in her purchases. she showed great restraint but in the the end that red canister set had to go home with her. don’t believe for a minute that that is all the shopping done while in kc, not for this lady. but you’ll have to visit her blog to see all the deals she scored. fyi – google translator is amazing!

of course, any shopping and swimming must conclude with ice cream. ben and jerry’s i heart you.

…more to come on our trip to sandy beaches, loads of guacamole and scuba adventures…sigh…i want to go back!