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.