Kentucky Trip in pictures: Part 1

Ok, so I'm uploading my pictures only to realize I took 277 of them.

Apparently, I'm a little shudder happy.

What can I say?  First family vacation.

So, I'm weeding some out, cleaning some up...

...and still catching up on work and housework from being gone.

So, here's the first installment of pictures.

We left our house at 4:45 am on Friday and headed south.

With two little boys in tow, we had to make a few more stops than anticipated...

...but all in all, we were only out of the car for an hour total.

We arrived at our destination around 2:30pm and spent the rest of the day enjoying our accommodations.

Including the three tier deck/patio/fire pit, dock and lake.

The view from the dock looking up to the house (through the trees)

A. got to drive the boat a bit.

C. even got a turn in the driver's seat. 

I'm not sure he ever took the wheel, but he LOVED sitting there.



We saw an amazing amount of turtles and geese.  We actually counted 113 geese swimming in a line!
I have a picture of that somewhere, but can't quite find that.

Then, back to the house for a brat dinner (gluten free brats!!!) with more family, and then we broke out the fire pit and enjoyed some s'mores with cookies instead of crackers.  Oh.my.delicious.

I actually got to see my cousin Erik for the first time in over 20 years.  It was really fun to catch up!

My dad with C.

I thought it was an adorable picture.

This bird feeder was the busiest feeder I've ever seen!  There were trees all around, and each bird would swoop in, take a few seeds and head back to the appropriate tree.  Then, as soon as one bird would leave, another would swoop in from another direction.

Then, in the morning, we caught a less than feathery creature...more furry...aiming for the feeder as well!

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have from our busy Saturday!

I went running in a local park - which I was told was nice a flat, but was everything but.  A. came with me to run - since he thinks he's going to do a 5k with me this September.  He petered out at .5 miles...and I spent the next 1.5 miles trying to coax him to run.  The park was beautiful, and they were setting up for a tractor pull later that morning.  Only in Kentucky.  :)


I forgot to take my camera on our travels to see my cousin's houses.  They both recently built or remodeled their homes, and it was so neat to see the building trends down there vs. up here.  The area is just beautiful, and chasing fireflies with the kids made stepping in dog poop totally worth it!

I was REALLY nervous going down there because my cousin has two cats in her house...and two horses in her back yard.  I am allergic to both of them, and C. is REALLY allergic.  But since our awful reactions, we have changed our nutrition and supplement habits, so I was eager to see if we were going to reap the benefits.  I packed up the inhaler, magnesium spray and benedryl (which I realized later that I forgot! - just the benedryl, not the other stuff).  The cats were sequestered to her basement, and my cousin spent the entire day cleaning everything so C. would be able to come over.  She warned us to stay off certain furniture that the cats usually lounge on, and let us know that her bedroom was a no-cat zone (therefore our safe room if C. reacted).  The horses were about 50 feet away, and the cats stayed in the basement.  I'm happy to say that C and I emerged from the evening without so much as a sneeze!!!  My poor mom got a little itchy and sneezy - which is the only reason I realized I forgot my Benedryl.

Sunday we went caving!!!  I have tons more pictures of the beautiful caves...so I need to make a new post.

Things I learned in KY

I'm baaaaack!

We had our first family vacation since C. was born.  And our first road trip with A. that was longer than 4.5 hours.  We travelled down to Kentucky for a little R&R.  I have many, many.....many pictures coming...but until I get caught up at work (which will likely take longer due to my delaying and creating a blog post), they will have to wait.  Hopefully I'll have them ready by tomorrow.

Until then, here's a few things I learned while on vacation:

• It is VERY handy to have grandparents in the car on a long journey.
• It is VERY handy to have a DVD player and Lighting McQueen in the car on a long journey.
• My husband does NOT like it when I sigh or inhale quickly due to his driving.
• He gets annoyed quickly with this.
• Very quickly.
• It is VERY helpful if I just don't look at the road.
• Indiana is a very long, very flat state.
• Kentucky is beautiful....sans the ticks, black widows, and snakes.  (only one of which I saw)
• Zoo memberships save a LOT of money at zoos all over the country.
• I now know the difference between lateral and vertical caves.
• I am VERY grateful to have lost 40 pounds while in the vertical cave caverns.
• I am VERY grateful to have more stamina on long days spent walking...and walking....and walking.
• I can run anywhere, anytime.  It's an exercise I can take with me - very easily.
• I enjoy gin and tonic's with a lime.
• It's easier to control gluten free eating when staying at a relative's house.
• Herbalife shakes saved my arse from a total backslide.
• Monster cookies are gluten free.
• Smore's taste sooooo good when using monster cookies instead of graham crackers.
• Bird feeders are fun to watch.
• C. and I can come within 50ft. of a HORSE and still maintain a stable breathing pattern!!!
• Time spent with favorite family members is refreshing for the soul.

When the list items start crossing themselves off.

A few weekends ago - the week before the 5k,

we had a big family weekend.

It seems that one of my list items popped up all impromptu-like...

...and I thought that was pretty darn cool.

Not having to plan (you know, as much as I CAN plan with my type B personality)

to complete a list point.

So...I'm just going to take you through the events of the weekend.

See if you can identify when it pops up.

Saturday AM:  Baby shower for D's baby sister.

Who is now having a baby of her own.

It's a boy!

I'm very excited - I love little boys.

Sorry the picture is dark - darn back lighting!

We gave her a Michigan onsie.

Cause they live in North Carolina now, and I want to make sure

my nephew knows his roots.

This cute little duchess is the younger daughter of a dear friend of mine.

Also very sweet that she is also the sister-in-law of my sister-in-law.

(HA!  Try to figure that one out!)

Poor little F, she kept pouting while I held her.

She's a bit- wee-little -teeny-bit a mama's girl.

But ADORABLE!

My other sister-in-law made this cake!

And my dear friend Kathy made the cupcakes.

Well done, ladies!

Later, we invited the whole gang over to the Love Shack for some family time.

The entire family has not been together since a wedding a few years ago (C. was 6 weeks old).

I made brownie bites topped w/ strawberries.

C. found the biggest strawberry in the world and proceeded to eat it like an apple.

After dinner, the kids were playing with some balls in the yard.

Then, they started to play a game that looked a little a lot like kickball.

So, I popped out of my chair and joined in on the fun.

Before we knew it, more adults than kids were playing.

My team got their heinies kicked.

C. ran the bases every time - without stopping - regardless of whether he kicked the ball or not.

Uncle Mike told him to "stop on the base."

C kept running and said, "I don't want to."

What's that?

You're checking the list?

You found it?

YES!  #35.  Play a game of kickball.

Thank goodness it didn't say "win" a game of kickball.

And since it was the hottest day of the year, and we were all drenched with sweat,

D. decided to fashion a dew rag out of a kitchen towel.

Yep, that's hot.

And since we don't know when we'll be all together again,

we pulled out the cameras and self-timers.

I had to take mine up and down to fit on my picture wall,

but Matt's turned out awesome - and he took it landscape, so we fill the picture better.

But here's the family picture (all of us, in our sweaty glory)

from my camera:

Top Ten things I do that annoy my husband....and I do them anyway :)

Many blogs I read participate in Top Ten Tuesday.I always find myself looking forward to Tuesdays for their funny or heartfelt lists.  Then, I began thinking of things in top ten lists.  I'm taking it as a cue from my cerebellum that I need to start posting on Top Ten Tuesdays for a bit - at least until the lists stop running through my head.

Ok, top ten things I do that annoy my husband....and I do them anyway

1.  I never fully close the pantry door.  I know it would take very little effort to push that door an extra 3 inches so the door would sit flush in the jam, but...well, there's many other things that I can do with those 15 seconds.  Besides- our wood stainer did a fantastic job on the wood- and no one really gets to appreciate the side of doors nowadays....


2.  I don't plan my time appropriately....especially when it comes to dinner time.  A. has a baseball game at 6?  Oh...ok, well, I'll start cooking at 5, and we'll eat at 5:35....and be out the door (with dirty faces and unfinished homework) by 5:40.  While I understand a little forward thinking would be helpful, well.....I have no excuse for this.

3.  I have a roller coaster of emotions.  I do try to buffer them a bit.  I can tell when I'm horribly annoyed with life-in-general, and really pray about not saying something I'll regret.  D. has gotten pretty good at classifying the weeks into: cuddly, happy, annoyed, and RAWR!  I think that sums it up pretty well.

4.  I'm not a fan of housework.  Never have been, never will be.  I clean when the fancy strikes....which isn't often.  I don't know how he deals with this and his OCD, but I'm just grateful he's not rocking in a corner somewhere.

5.  I'm addicted to reality TV.  I love watching the Duggers, Say Yes to the Dress, Extreme Home Makeover, Swamp People, etc.  He'll watch Swamp People with me, but anything girly, and he's out.

6.  I'm impulsive.  He's very careful with his actions, words, and spending.  I'm the free-spirit of the marriage.  I (at times) lack a verbal filter, and at times spend money without thinking.  Yes, we live on a pretty tight budget, and I stay within the budget - I am sure there's probably some wiser decisions I could make with our monetary out-go.  People magazine comes to mind....

7.  I fart.  Yes.  I just admitted to farting on my blog.  There's no "feminine way" to describe my backside emissions.  If you've ever met anyone with GI issues, you will understand.  If you have GI issues, you can commiserate.  I try to hold it in until I'm away from everyone....but sometimes that's not a possibility.  EVERY time I excuse myself and head to a different location, the stench will either grow legs and follow me back, or D. will find a reason (unconsciously, of course) to head in that direction only to be hit by a wall of stench.  This common courtesy is null and void if we are leaving a social gathering - at which point, I've been holding too much in for far too long.  At this point, his singed nose hairs are considered mere collateral damage.

8.  I over pack.  When we go anywhere- whether overnight or far away, I always have a lot of contingencies packed.  Extra underwear, extra shoes and socks.  Extra entertainment for the boys.  Extra food for munchies.  This leads to a lot of heavy lifting and junk sorting while in transit.  But, you know what?  He's eternally grateful for this when one of the boys gets sick and I had meds, or when he's forgotten his own toothpaste, and I have it in my bag.  Yo....in your face, D!  ;)

9.  I pile.  I have no problem putting something off until "later."  Only, later comes about 6-7 months down the road.  He needs clean and tidy.  I am not clean and tidy.  We have separate locations for organizing papers, etc....but there are times he can't even LOOK at my area without a twitch.  I've realized that both of my parents tend to pile things as well.  Therefore, I'm seeing this as a genetic trait, hence I am no longer responsible to trying to fix something that is genetically in-grained.

10.  I forget names....only I don't realize I forget names.  I used to be in medical sales.  I used to remember names with awesome clarity.  Until I got sick.  Now, my memory isn't as sharp as it used to be.  And I forget that I'm not as sharp as I used to be, so I talk with all the confidence of a salesperson.  So....upon seeing some of our neighbors for the first time this spring, the conversation when like this:

Neighbor guy:  Hi Dave and Sandy!
Me:  Hi John!
Dave: (grumbling under his breath in my direction): Jim.

Me:  Hi Jim!

Crazy neighbor lady:  Hey guys!
Me:  Hi Judy!
Dave:  (grumbling under his breath in my direction) :Julie

Me:  Hi Julie!

Basic conversation among neighbors....

Me:  Yeah, we saw Sandy and Tom the other day too - they're back from Florida.
Dave: (grumbling under his breath in my direction) Sandy and BOB.
Me:   Yeah, we saw Sandy and Bob the other day too - they're back from Florida.

This happens more than I want to admit.  Time for more memory games!!!

My baby daddy

Each year when Father's Day comes around, I like to think about my baby-daddy

and reflect about how great of a father he is, and how thankful that he is the one

God gave me to dance the mine fields with.

I started doing posts like this three years ago, and I love doing this each year.

So, without further adieu, here are a few characteristics that describe my main man.

My baby-daddy:

• has a scruffy beard
• enjoys a funny movie
• doesn't cry often

• coached Jr. Basketball
• looks hot with a whistle around his neck

• takes our boys on the roof
• takes great caution when our boys are on the roof
• looks hot on the roof

•  Works well with our neighbors
• Fits in with just about any demographic group
• Takes time out to help our neighbor dig a few holes for his trees
• Looks hot while digging holes

• Recognizes the importance of play
• Is willing to take the boys on the playground while I sit and chit-chat with friends
• Looks hot on a playground

• Goes to concerts with me - when the concert is my favorite band.
• Wears ball caps whenever socially acceptable
• lets me cut his hair in order to save money
• Never complains or freaks out when I say "oops" while cutting his hair
• Has blue eyes
• Looks hot at a concert in a ball cap

• Is totally content (and thankful) that we have 2 boys
• Is patient with the boys
• Loves to teach math-related projects to the boys
• Builds rockets with the boys
• Looks hot with my 2 boys 

• Loves and respects his parents
• Loves and respects my parents
• Talks with his dad (almost) daily about latest goings-on in the political arena
• Is very diligent about keeping up with politics
• Is a hard right conservative
• Is ridiculously intelligent (see previous statement)
• Is hot while being intelligent

• Looks unbelievably hot in a tux  (swoon!)

• Doesn't believe in keeping-up-with-the-joneses
• Is humble
• Doesn't believe in the i-deserve-it mentality

• Loves that I plant a garden every spring
• Remembers to water the garden when I forget
• Makes lists
• Makes lists of lists
• Has a servant's heart

• Is glad to see me feeling better
• Supports my gluten free lifestyle
• Still eats Doritos
• Walks the dog every Sunday morning before church
• Is a meat-and-potatoes kind of eater
• Prefers salty over sweets
• Works himself to the bone
• Is hot when he sleeps

• Is loyal to his friends
• Is even more loyal to his family
• Is even MORE loyal to the boys and me

• Loves the season of fall
• Camps out in the back yard with the boys every summer
• Loves having fires in the fire pit and talking to the wee hours of the morning

•  Has a farmer's tan on his arms and neck
• Has funky tan lines on his legs

• Takes a second helping of dinner (even when it's not that good) and always thanks me for a good meal.
• Gets along (a little too well) with my father and brother

• Is willing to pose for pictures on the beach with my family (like that's a sacrifice, but wanted to include this picture as its one of my all time favorites!)

• Is willing to go in the water with jeans on to keep C. happy and safe

• Teaches our boys how to pump on a swing
• Works with the boys on riding a bicycle

• Has an entrepreneur's spirit
• Works 60 hour weeks
• Builds the addition in his spare time

• Doesn't believe in debt
• Has a solid foundation in God

• Enjoys the smaller things in life
• Has the BEST belly laugh
• Is my voice of reason
• Takes the morning off of work to support my first 5k run
• Encourages me to take time for myself and exercise
• Loves that I don't let many manufactured foods in the house anymore
• Is patient with my meeting schedule at nights
• Helps me with the laundry
• Reads to the boys whenever they ask
• Wishes we didn't have a TV in the house
• Is incredibly patriotic
• Enjoys fishing

• Is worthy of my love, admiration and respect.

Happy Father's Day, baby!

Random Friday List (and some 5QF!)

1.  I watched an interview with Ann Curry and one of Wiener's sexting mistresses this morning.

2. Her side of it: "Well, it is what it is.  I knew he was married, but we really didn't talk about her.  No, I have nothing to say to her - she really wasn't a part of this.  I have no regrets."

3.  Um.....WHAT?!?!?!?!?  He.is.married. 

4.  What the heck ever happened to things like PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and INTEGRITY?!?!?

5.  I about stroked out screaming at the TV, and its not even 9am yet.

6.  I'm picking strawberries with the boys today.

7.  And a sweet, sweet friend.

8.  Mmmmmmm.  Love me some strawberries.

9.  The next few weeks are crazy.

10.  But will be filled with fun.

Ok!  5 Question Friday!!!





1. What is your favorite summer time activity?

I enjoy gardening, taking the boys to the zoo, and playing with friends.

You'll notice I'm a "appreciate the small things in life person" as opposed to "I need to be a big shot and do big shot things all the time."

But "big shot" things are fun to do once in a while....

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?

There's a few different brands I'll use.  We have 3 that we will use depending on what's on sale, and I know they will work on my husband's grimey clothes and not flair up A's eczema.


3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?

BLT's!  I LOVE BLT's in the summer!!!  Especially the ones that are made with fresh tomatoes just-picked-out-of-the-garden - when their all warm from the sun, and the tomato juice runs down your forearm after the first bite.  Oh.my.heavenly.

4. Do you have any talents?

I wouldn't actually call anything I do or possess a "talent."  I don't play an instrument.  I'm not athletically gifted.  One thing a few friends have said to me over the past few months is, "Sandy, you are soooo talented at being a good friend."  So...perhaps that's my talent?

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

I'd be an expert at making money (while putting forth very little effort).  :)  Not saying that money is the end-all-be-all, but it would be nice to have one less thing to worry about.  That, and I'd love to be able to be a philanthropist.  There's a lot of need out there, and I'd love to be able to help.

If that's not feasible...I'd be an expert in all things health-related.  The more I learn about medical stuff pertaining to my body, the more I want to learn overall.  How nutrition can cure some diseases, how our bodies are so wonderfully made.  And I wouldn't be one of those Dr's that goes with the rest of them either.  I'd find real answers to real questions - and keep my patients off statin drugs.  Yep, that's what I'd do.

(Almost) Two years

A few weeks ago, someone asked me how long I've been gluten free.

I had to think.

Thank goodness for this blog!  I just went back and found this post where I gave you possibly too much information about my health history, and realized that it will be two years this next week!

So, the other day, Dave and I were talking.  He asked me what I've noticed about being gluten free, and I asked him what he noticed in me.

Here's his answer:

- I'm no longer irritable all.the.time.
- I'm off the couch.
- The house is clean(er).
- I'm cooking real food.
- I'm thinking clearly and remembering conversations.
- I have more energy.
- My allergy shiners (black around my eyes) have decreased.
- My libido has increased (sorry, tmi...but worth mentioning)
- My patience with others' and the boys has increased ten fold.
- I'm active with the boys again.
- I'm more ambitious with goals.
- I stay on top of the grocery shopping.
- I have more desire to connect with friends

Here's a few things I've noticed:
- I'm not in pain all.the.time.
- I sleep SOOOOO good!  No more insomnia for me!
- I HAVEN'T HAD A MIGRAINE IN TWO YEARS!!!
- I've had 6 colds in 2 years (instead of 6 colds in 2 months.)
- I haven't had a canker sore in my mouth for 2 years!  (instead of 3-4 at a time all the time)
- I only go to the bathroom twice a day (instead of 20 times a day - no exaggeration either!)
- I have zero swelling in my joints.
- I can think clearly.
- I don't get break outs on my face the way I used to.
- I don't crave bread.
- I don't get winded at the smallest activity.
- I haven't had a power-surge in two years (women in menopause will understand this)
- I don't dread leaving the house.
- I haven't had an eczema flair up in two years.
- My gums don't bleed anymore when I intermittently floss.
- I haven't had a UTI/kidney infection in 18 months.
 - I haven't had an allergy attack in 2 years.
- I don't always want to hunch over with abdominal pain
- I no longer have a "lump in my throat" feeling like I'm suffocating


And you know...I'm sure there are more in there too that I haven't noticed!  I had no idea that something like an autoimmune response to gluten could affect so.many.things.

Wow - what a difference 2 years makes!

It's still a "V" for Victory

I'm decompressing from the weekend.

The huge weekend.

The weekend I thought would never come to fruition.

My first thoughts after awe that it actually happened...

...have been met with criticism.

Not from others, from myself.

I had two goals going into Saturday:

1) FINISH the race in under an hour.
                                           -did that
2)  NOT be the last person over the finish line.
                                            -did that

Why under an hour?  That seems like a LONG time, right?

Well, most fat-to-fit bloggers I read that run their first 5k race have completed it in anywhere from 52-58 minutes.  Their first-run weights were anywhere from 80 more than me to 30 pounds less.  So, I thought "If I can match their starting run times, then I know I'm in good company for going forward."

I started training.  By the week before the race, I was running about 2 miles (give or take depending on the day) and then walking the rest.  I didn't have an expectation of actually running the whole course, but I did expect to run more than I actually did.  I didn't expect to hit a mental wall at mile 2.5.  I didn't expect my feet to hurt so darn much.  I didn't expect to be so thirsty.  And I didn't expect that my adrenal function would have been ground down to a nub the week before the race (or that I would run out of thyroid meds the week before either).  I didn't plan on my anxiety issues to come back and rear their ugly heads.  I didn't plan on any of that.

But I still finished....in well under an hour....and certainly not last.

So, in spite of unexpected things, I still met my goals.

It's still a victory.

And now I have (one teeny tiny) experience card to play in my head as well.

MOVING FORWARD

Instead of all the "I should have's" or "I could have's", I'm going to celebrate the Victory I made on Saturday.  I finished in under an hour, and I wasn't last.

Now I know what to expect on race day and the week leading up to it.

I know how much its going to hurt, and I lived....so I can do it again.

And now I know to set my sights on a goal....and I know I can achieve it.

So, I'm tweeking my goal.

I'm tweeking my training.

And my next run is in September.

My secret's out!

It's only a few hours removed,

and I'm writing this post with tears welling in my eyes almost in disbelief that it happened.

I can't believe it happened.

But I have the sore feet and sweaty clothes crumpled in a pile on the floor to prove it.

And now I have pictures. (Thanks Bob!)

Two words enter my mind:

Gratitude and pride.

Respectfully.

See my 101 List off to the right?

There's a "secret goal" at the bottom.

Why was it secret? 

Because I wanted to give myself an "out."

It was my "escape hatch."

I wanted to do it, it's been in my mind for 3 years now...but I was still doubting myself.

Even after months of training, I was doubting myself even yesterday when I wrote this post.

So...what's awesome is that God put some people in my life that I could trust.

Willing to support me more than I was willing to support myself at times.

People I'm so grateful for.

Let me tell you, my support system is amazing.

Amazing.

So....what did I do today?

Check it out:

Yes, that's me.  With a race bib on.

In lycra running pants.

With my adrenal issues, gluten issues, flat feet, thyroid issues, out of shape,

overweight (but down 40 pounds)

 me.

And I did it in spite of all that.

I ran, I walked, I power walked, I jogged, I ran some more.

 I had two of the most AMAZING people flanking me the whole way.

the.whole.way.

When I hit a wall, when I had a charlie horse (or 3), when I wanted to give up...

they pulled my head back in the game.

I can never thank them enough.

Thank you, Melody and Steve!!!

And I had the most amazing people on the sidelines cheering me on.

And LOTS of love via texts....

Family, friends....my heart is so full today.

And I'm proud.

Because other than the mental checks, it was my two feet that brought me through that course today.

I did this!

Me and my (flat) feet.

And the most amazing people giving some wind in my sails.

So...while I was tired and I still am.  And my feet will probably be screaming for the next week or so, I have a feeling this is only the beginning.  The sense of accomplishment...its addicting.

Bring on the training!

You know....next week.

Random Friday List +prayer request (and some 5QF!)

1.  I haven't blogged much the past few days.

2.  Something is happening tomorrow that I'm growing increasingly nervous and anxious about.

3.  And I had a discouraging day yesterday - which compounded my nerves and anxiety.

4.  Fortunately, God placed some pretty awesome people in my life to help me while I limp along.

5.  They're keeping my eyes on Him.

6.  And helping me close the door to negative self-talk.

7.  Which I'm very prone to do to myself.

8.  So, please pray for me today and tomorrow.

9.  I'll post tomorrow (afternoon) and fill y'all in.

10.  But for now, just please pray.



Ok....now let's have some fun!



1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?


BWHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

Oh....I was such a naive little girl.  Dreams of white picket fences have made way with kitchen ceiling critters.  My two story cape cod has been replaced with the Love Shack.  My dreams of the "million dollar famly" (one boy and one girl) have been replaced by my two boys.  My Ken Barbie husband has been replaced with the hottest, most honest carpenter.

Guess what?

I wouldn't change a thing.  God certainly knows what he's doing.  And I'm thankful that he didn't give me the desires of my seven-year-old heart.  These two boys are such a blessing and a joy of my heart.  My husband?  Well....frankly, he puts Ken Barbie to shame with his hotness.  My house...while I'd prefer to be done with the whole construction zone thing, is not only teaching me a valuable lesson in patience, but it's also giving me a blessing of a NEW house without a mortgage payment to accompany it.  That's way better than any 7 year old's keeping-up-with-the-joneses/i-need-stuff-to-impress-everyone-else dream.

2. What is one must have item for the summer?

I have two.  Sorry, not playing by the rules here.
First, bug spray.  I hate bug bites.  I really dislike bugs period.  Gross.

Second, Tevas.  I have found that they are the only summer sandal that fits my uber flat feet without causing my hips to ache or blisters on my feet.  No cheap knock-offs for me.  They don't work right.  A $35 lesson I've recently learned.  Ugh.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)

Yes, we do!  My thought on it is, #1, it gives my boys something do work on while I work.  #2, it keeps their minds sharp.  #3, while all the other kids are "catching up" at the beginning of the school year, my boys are just fine.  I dig that.  I also like having something educational to do with them in the summer.


4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?

I do some freezing, but I'd love to get into canning more.  Growing up, my parents canned SO much!  We had fresh canned produce from my dads garden almost all winter.  It was wonderful.  And it saves our bodies from the chemicals of packaging in plants and factories.  I'm loving that idea!  So, strawberry season is fast approaching!  I'm all over it....right, Kathy?!?!?


5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?

Depends on what we've got going on.  If I'm working out later in the morning, I'm in jammies until I work out.  If I have to get somewhere, I'll get ready, but not put a lot of effort into it until after my work out.  If I'm not working out, then yes...I get ready right away.  If I stay in jammies that I'm more prone to lounge and be unproductive.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Take me out to the ball game

This spring, we enrolled A. in baseball at the local YMCA.  He's never been in baseball before, so we opted to go to the Y - whose league is a tad more instructional than the others out there.

So far, he's LOVING it!  He has a friend on the team, but all the boys have become very comfortable with each other very quickly. 

Here's A's team, the Red Robins:

I snagged these pictures on picture night by stealthly standing behind the photographer.

Here's some "action" shots:

I LOVE watching A's face get excited when he knows he's about to score.

Priceless.

He's very excited to contribute to the team's score!



Playing first base - in the "ready position"

Playing third base, keeping his eye on the ball.

And just because I like a good laugh, and want you to know that we're not always

"all about business" on the diamond,

here's a few more:

Chewing on his glove:

apparently, I need to feed him a larger dinner on baseball nights



Dancing to the beat of his own drum:

This is baseball code talk for:

Mom, I'm hungry....and I have to pee.

It's amazing in Michigan weather, we're freezing one night, wet the next, and sweltering the next.

But, it's exciting to see that he's passionate about baseball, and he's LOVING working as a team.

I can't wait to see what next season brings!