Hello from Sewickley, just outside Pittsburgh, PA!
Matt, the kids, and I are staying with his parents for a couple of weeks between the end of camp and the start of school. We’ve been keeping busy—here’s what we’ve been up to so far.
Matt had to travel back to DC for a few in-person workshops earlier in the week, which was unfortunate timing, but he’s back now and we’re all glad to have him. He’s still working while we’re here, but having him around for part of the day is so much better than none of the day. He’s planning to take some time off next week, so we’re hoping to enjoy a few end-of-summer family outings together.
I’ve been on full-time kid duty this week, which is definitely a lot—especially since I’m already tired from a busy summer and really ready for school to start. Having my in-laws around has helped a ton. My mother-in-law worked the first part of the week but is off now, and my father-in-law is retired and available to help when needed.
The pool has been the biggest hit. We got Riese some diving gems, and she loved swimming around to find them. Wes adored the baby pool—he kept walking around saying, “I swimming! I swimming!”
Of course, Wes’s enthusiasm means epic meltdowns when it’s time to leave. One evening we had dinner at the pool snack bar. No photos thanks to the chaos, but the kids ate hot dogs, fries, and fruit while I had a chicken pita sandwich with fries. Wes had to be dragged up to eat, but he settled in and enjoyed it, then we went back in the pool. When it was time to go, I ended up carrying him out while he kicked and screamed all the way to the car. Other parents totally understand the scene, but it’s still embarrassing and exhausting.
One morning my mother-in-law and I took the kids on a short “fairy trail” nature walk, which was a nice, calm way to start the day.
Another morning we visited Poppin’s Playhouse with my father-in-law. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, it’s worth a stop. The space has a calm, low-key vibe—bright, clean, and thoughtfully curated with lots of imaginative and tactile toys. The photo doesn’t capture all the activity along the walls, but there was so much for the kids to explore.
Poppin’s is right across the road from a tiny urban farm, which we checked out briefly before heading home for lunch and Wes’s nap.
On the fitness front I snuck away for a cardio tennis class one evening with friends at their club. An instructor led us through fun drills and games—such a blast that I plan to go back next week before we leave. Matt and I also squeezed in a quick sweaty run during Wes’s naptime one afternoon. My mother-in-law and I joined one of my sister-in-law Morgana’s virtual Zoom workouts too, though I only managed a portion thanks to “company” on my mat.
I’m hoping to make it to a yoga class tomorrow—looking forward to the stretch and calm.
Food Highlights
Now for the food. As usual, my father-in-law has been keeping us well fed, which we truly appreciate. One favorite meal this week was a very summery spread: grilled chicken with a garden herb lemon sauce, farmer’s market tomatoes and corn, sautéed mushrooms, and pasta salad.
Another night we had Mediterranean stuffed peppers with chicken, which were delicious—I went back for seconds. We also picked up some peaches at the farmer’s market; they’re excellent right now.
Leftover pepper filling—quinoa, chickpeas, veggies, and feta—became a bright salad the next day with a lemony vinaigrette. Another dinner featured rice, meatballs topped with the leftover herb lemon sauce, pasta salad, peas, and tomatoes. The kids are picky lately, but they loved the meatballs, which was a relief.
For lunches we mostly ate leftovers. One day I had taco meat with rice, peppers, tomatoes, and hot sauce alongside a big salad and watermelon. I also made a chicken salad sandwich using rotisserie chicken, avocado, Dijon mustard, and a touch of mayo—served with microgreens, carrots, and strawberries.
Another simple lunch was rotisserie drumsticks with fresh tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and salt, plus avocado toast made with farmer’s market sourdough. One morning Matt made an epic brunch with bacon, egg, tomato, cheese, avocado, and microgreens on the same bread—presentation points for his avocado work.
Matt and I also had a date night last weekend while his parents kindly watched the kids. We ate at a Sewickley restaurant called Vivo, enjoyed drinks, and shared a few appetizers to start. For my entrée I chose the lamb chops—the seasoning was good, though the chops were a bit tough in places.
That’s a wrap on our Pennsylvania adventures so far. I’ll be back next Tuesday with a recipe and again on Friday to share the rest of our Pittsburgh-area outings. Have a great weekend!