One of my favorites

This is one of my favorite pictures....just two friends that can totally be themselves around each other. E hung out at Damon's games all day on Saturday (and froze). Funny thing is, Damon would have equally as much fun hanging out at E's games. They support each other in everything they do, it's a great friendship. I know it's still a few years away (but going fast) it would be fun if they had their grad party together. A lot can change between now and then, but would be cool to go back through old pictures. Here's to all the friends that I cherish and couldn't live without in my life. Love you all!

Brrrr......Baseball

Damon's games were pushed back 4 hours, but they were still able to play. It was a little chilly today...had to get out the winter jackets and blankets. I took a TON of pictures....some good ones, some not so great. I guess I have 2 leagues and 2 months of solid baseball to figure it out...some days the camera is smarter than I am. Anyway, really just wanted to share a few pics from today.....it was great that Grandma and Grandpa were able to make it to one of his games! His buddy, Ethan, also came to both games....rare weekend when E didn't have his own games to play. Was great to have him hang out with us! G'night.

Menu : Week of April 21

Monday: Maid rites and Sun Chips (Damon had a game).

Tuesday: Cheese ravioli with spinach and grape tomatoes (see photo in previous post)

Wednesday: Chicken enchiladas and salad (need to pick up a rotisserie chicken!)

Thursday: Shrimp pesto (unless I have to go get my mom in Ames, she's going to stay with us until Saturday)

Friday: Meatballs with stir fry veggies over rice (new recipe...not sure I'm going to like it)

Ravioli, Baseball and School

Sorry, Shayla! Tonight we had ravioli with baby spinach and grape tomatoes. I made the sauce with low-fat chive and onion cream cheese. It was pretty good. I'm not a vegetarian, so if I make it again it could use a little meat....chicken, shrimp, something! Other wise it was pretty good....no rave reviews from the boys, so not sure how often I'll make this one. Damon had a spinach salad, he loved it! Weird, I don't know if I would have eaten spinach by choice at his age.

We have a baseball game tonight at 8:00 p.m. It's finally sunny, so hopefully I'll capture some great photos to post later. We'll be under the lights by the time the game ends around 10:00 p.m. so that could be interesting. Yes, 10:00 p.m.....late one.

So today is day 2 of Heather and Guthrey's trip....I didn't realize how much I email, text or call her. Wow, I must bug her a lot!

Anyway, off to help Damon finish up some homework....still struggling in school (science and social studies), not because he can't do it, but because he doesn't always get his work turned in. Luckily, he's gotten to turn in the last few and his grades shot up! Makes for a much happier home life although he's still grounded from pretty much everything. He's doing great in English which is new from past years and great in Math as always. His math teacher, Ms. Fanning, is amazing. He really enjoys her class....possibly a crush?!? He'd NEVER admit it even if he did. Wow, hopefully he doesn't actually read this now either because I'll be in big trouble for even suggesting it!

Baseball and Vacation (or lack there of)

Well, it's sprinkling again today which means I'm not taking my camera to the baseball field. Ugh. It's not raining hard enough yet or lightning, so the game is still on. Hopefully this weekend we'll get some decent weather and I'll be able to take pictures at one of his 4 games this weekend!

Well, can you say jealous? I am, Heather and Guthrey left for Mexico today. I wonder if they can stop through customs and get the sun care that is stuck for one of my programs for work?!? Ok. maybe not...well, hope they are having one (and by one I mean 10) drinks for me. Adios!

Giving in and Meals

Damon called me today at work, which sounds normal, but it isn't. Mostly he calls his dad, why you ask?!? Well, because Dad says yes a lot more than Mom. Today he called asking to go to Ethan's...this is one of those moments where I would tell most mothers to stand strong and say no, he really hasn't earned this privelage. He still looks at us as if we're the ones that have assigned him piles of homework (seriously he has more homework than I remember ever having at his age), as if it's our rule that he reads 5 books per quarter (that's 20 books per year!), as if actually holding him accountable for his schoolwork is a complete injustice. Yep, he's 12 and in middle school. I'm glad my parents didn't keep a blog at this age about me....it would be embarrassing to relive and I'm sure they would say he's a lot like me. Anyway, I said yes to hanging out with E. Mostly because baseball has started, they play on different teams and they won't be able to get together very often until July when first season is over. So after I gave him instructions to pick up his room and start reading his book until they stopped to get him....he still said, "Love you Mom" before he hung up. I don't know if he's just working me over because I said yes or if he truly understands beneath the eye rolls and sighs that my requests aren't unreasonable. Either way, he's a pretty great kid. I'm blessed with a boy that has a kind heart, loves his family dearly, is loyal to his friends and (so far) will still say he loves me. 

For supper tonight I made pesto pasta with whole wheat noodles, shrimp and asparagus! Can you say DELICIOUS?!? I cheated a little and used Dried Tomato and Garlic Pesto Mix from here. I sauteed the shrimp and asparagus in garlic and very little butter (so proud of myself). I don't love shrimp, but Terry does and he was thrilled. He said it was great and that I can make it next week too....so sweet. Here's my menu for this week : Monday: Chicken fajitas and fat free refried beans; Tuesday: Low-fat chicken fettucine alfredo with broccoli; Wednesday: Burger and a few fries at Granite City (bummer, told myself I would get a salad!); Thursday: Pesto whole wheat pasta with shrimp and asparagus; Friday: Maid-rites, sun chips and salad (Damon has a game at 6:00 p.m. so it has to be something he can heat up when he gets home from school). Next week's menu coming Sunday night probably....I'm actually enjoying the new recipes I'm trying! So far Terry said his favorites are the pesto pasta and the honey mustard chicken (Damon loved this one too!). Terry said I am a DORK for taking a picture, but a girl at work calls it food porn and who doesn't love a little food porn!!!

Trap Door, Ike and a Clean Closet

We started off the day eating with the Fritz family here. It was DELICIOUS, even if it seemed like we waited forever to get a table. They have a great Sunday brunch and it was the best "last supper" I've ever had. After brunch, Terry decided to get started on our trap door. Just kidding, our front step cracked and caved in, so Terry is working on forming a new one. I think it's more work than he expected since a few of the bricks were damaged in demo. Then we went over to the Simon house and got to meet IKE! What a cutie! I'm so not jealous of the puppy stage though! And finally, I couldn't take it any more! I cleaned out the linen closet....wow, did it need it. I threw away a bunch of samples, old meds, etc. and tried to organize it a little. Oh, and I I think we've kept every box for every cell phone we've ever owned! Seriously, why?!? Of course there is still probably more that I could get rid of, but it makes me happy each time I open that door....a little organization in our otherwise chaotic life! Damon is suppose to have games Friday and Saturday, hopefully I'll finally get to take some baseball pictures! Monday is the first day of a fresh start on healthy living. 

Special K Bars and Baseball

Tomorrow is treat day. I should take a veggie tray, but I'm not. Partyly because that would require me to run to Costco to buy the prepackaged version, but mostly because WHAT'S THE FUN IN THAT?!? Anyway, I made special k bars (see photo). They are delicious (toot toot). Terry and Damon can eat and entire pan by themselves and in one night (who am I kidding, I can hang in there for a solid half pan). But honestly, I'm counting on them eating them until they are sick. I made a double batch because Terry said he's eaten really well this week. I have too, but I don't want to blow it at 8:30 p.m. Here's hoping they're gone before I get up tomorrow or I'm afraid I'll have one for breakfast. Pray for me....I'm at that point. Tomorrow is also another baseball game for Damon. I'm looking forward to it, so I hope the weather isn't as bad as they are forecasting! They lost their first game, but played pretty well considering they are a brand new team. With a little batting practice and they should be competitive. Then pretty soon LL will start too, it will get a little crazy with games, but crazy fun. It won't be long and I won't get to enjoy these activities. I can't believe he'll be 13 soon. Yikes, how did that happen?

Eating Out

We eat out WAY too much. Or should I say "I"?!? Lunch, dinner and occasionally a muffin in the morning from here. And I wonder why all the extra pounds. So, this week I decided....no more eating out, right? Well, sort off. Let's not kid ourselves....who doesn't enjoy being waited on now and then, no dishes, no clean up! However, my favorite spicy spinach and artichoke dip from here doesn't have the lowest of calories. So, my menu for this week is = Monday: grilled cheeseburger and potatoes, Tuesday: WW honey mustard chicken and asparagus, Wednesday: spaghetti with whole wheat noodles and a side salad, Thursday: chicken fajitas, Friday: vegetable beef stew. And this leads me to....I have to do something, but what?!? I need to make a change, so I'm thinking about this. I know anything would work if I stuck with it....FXB worked, but then I stopped exercising and ate whatever I wanted 7 days a week and SHOCKER I'm back to where I started. If anyone wants to join me in this quest to find some sort of balance I welcome you. I haven't committed to anything as of today....well, except to not eating out (as much).

Huntington's Disease : Hoop-A-Thon 08

We went to the SL Huntington's Disease Hoop-A-Thon this past weekend. It was a successful event and raised over $12,000 for HD!!!! Every dollar gets a closer to finding a cure! Tami was smiling and responsive, although in a wheelchair. It's amazing to see all the family and friends that come out to support the ones they care about. Even Jung's TKD made a special appearance. I can't thank everyone enough that donated their time, money, gifts and support for this deserving cause. Here's a few pics from the event, including one of the whole family, Tami and her oldest brother Chad and Damon and Big Terry. For more information on HD please visit here. Saturday night after the hoop we stayed here with a bunch of family. We had a blast and I've learned that "TTYL" is OUT and I should be saying suh-weet, peace, fierce, and I have a list of songs I need to download that are in. Thanks Ashley, Ann Marie, Meghan and Molly for keeping me dope, I mean hip, or wait was that cool?!? It's official, I'm old. :)

Lunch Date

Today I had a girls lunch. We went here and had the yummy quesadilla explosion salad! So good...well, don't get carried away....the little bite size burgers with onion rings piled on top of some french fries looked way better. The girls were both really good and of course their mommy had them carry the bags I got for them, so that earned some brownie points! How could you have a bad day eating lunch with these two! So fun. Maya and Grace ended lunch by singing "I'm a Barbie Girl"....I'm pretty sure the 3 men behind us were ready for us to leave. Maya also had a little dance (see photo), I wasn't fast enough to turn from picture mode to movie mode, but still funny.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Some days I think we could all use a little reminder of this : Remember what matters.