Guess who made the cut?

Steven is home from school with great news! He made the cut for the basketball team tryouts! So he has to go back tomorrow morning (6 a.m. again) for the last try-out. He said the list was about 20 and they will be selecting 12-15 for the roster. He should know if he makes the team afterschool tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for him. He really wants this!

This is him telling his Papa all about the tryouts...and that he made it thru the cut.

Bright and Early..

It is Tuesday, October 14th...

I am thinking... how weird it is to wake up in the morning and only see one kid. Steven had his 2nd basketball tryout today at 6 A.M.!! I think that is crazy... but he was not phased at all. However this morning I looked in the frig and he took his sandwich -but left the rest of his lunch! So no cheese stick, carrots or drink for him. The gatorade I put in there for him is now on the counter -but not with him at tryouts.

I am thankful for... Jonathan dropping Steven off to his try-out so I didn't have to get up. I am so not a morning person...

Today in the kitchen... Taco Tuesday!

I am going... to work in Jackson's class, then I'll be back

I am reading... nothing yet --although I just got an email that Ciera finished Twilight book4 -so I'll be reading that later today!

I am hoping... for a productive day. I have lot's I would like to get done around here.

I am hearing... Jack chattering to me.

Going on around me... just Jack getting ready for school stuff and dogs running around

One of my favorite things... cool, brisk mornings and a nice hot cup of constant comment tea!

Some plans for the rest of the week: Maybe another 6 a.m. tryout for Steven tomorrow -we have to see if he makes the next cut....bible study on Thursday and book club at the Cheesecake Factory tomorrow!

A picture thought I am sharing... I just took this picture of Jackson because he wanted one for his blog -but he claims I no longer take face pictures of him. Look how old he is getting, and that hair!

Menu Plan Monday

For several months now I have been participating in a online challenge, but have left it off the blog. Now I find I must share with all of you -in case someone else can benefit from this plan. It is called Menu Plan Monday... and organized by the http://orgjunkie.com/2008/10/menu-plan-monday-oct-13th.html. By using this plan we have many more dinners at home, together at the table. I like it so much better than take out or scrambling (which we did this week as I was still not feeling my best or planning ahead...)


Every week lots of women blog their menu's (some with links to recipes) on Monday. Organizing Junkie has a list of them on her blog and you can go to these other blogs and see their menu's and click on their recipes. I usually pick 5-7 to look at each week -just for ideas and because it is fun!


So here goes....

Monday: Crockpot Roast Beef with veggies and mashed potatoes with gravy
Tuesday: Taco night
Wednesday: homemade chili and cornbread (don't worry dad! I'll send some home with mom after book club:)
Thursday: pork chops, rice and tomatoes, glazed carrots and applesauce
Friday: http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/sausage-tomato-rigatoni-91758.aspx
Saturday: Bacon Cheeseburgers, green salad, home fries
Sunday: Meatball sandwiches, raw veggies with dip and chips

24 hours

Today I am feeling much better. Still coughing (I have a tickle in my throat that won't go away) but overall MUCH better. Antibiotics are amazing.. 24 hours and I am back to my normal me.

So last night I went to a home party my SIL had for DeMarte. This is bakeware/kitchen stuff made from silicone in France. The silicone is made from spun glass. But the muffin pan -it is bendable and soft, pliable like rubber. It is really non-stick and easy to clean!!! I am super excited and can't wait for it to get here in 2 weeks! We had meatloaf (made in the muffin pan), pumpkin cheesecake, roasted veggies (so easy, just on the pan --no oil or anything --10 minutes in the oven!) and there was also a jello mold. The products really are amazing -revolutionary. I have been a pampered chef junkie for over 10 years -my kitchen is full of gadgets and stoneware. I love using the baking stones, but I may decide I like these pans better! The storage would be easier, the clean up is certainly easier and wow -they were neat! I said I might have a party.. so we'll see what happens once I use the products a bit.

Today I slept in (Nyquil at 1 a.m. to stop my cough helped) until 9:30 and then left to go to lunch with my mom & the Red Hats. We went to the Tower Cafe in downtown Sacramento) and I must say the French Toast was out of this world! I would go back there for that again. Then we went to the new Caberet to see Forever Plaid. Full of music of the 50s and 60s it was a fun show. I enjoyed the afternoon.

Then I got home, expecting to smell my crockpot dinner... arghhhh. but I didn't plug the pot in!~ So we had KFC instead after a trip to the dog park. Now I am off to take a hot bath and watch the Starter Wife ... which premiered yesterday I think.... I enjoyed the mini-series last year, so I am hoping the series is just as good.

I finished the 3rd Twilight book last night.. still engrossed in the story. I found out there is going to be a movie and made tentative plans to see it with my niece and SIL --these type of movies are way more fun if you see them with someone else who loved the books/story. So I am just waiting for Ciera to finish book 4 and then I will be reading that one too.

My family stayed home last night and today.. relaxing and hanging out. I hear that the Nebraska game was good (although they lost in overtime) and hockey season has started as well. These are the days they like, no structure, no schedule, just playing and being.

Basketball

It is (Friday) October 10,2008

I am thinking... about making a cup of tea, sitting in my chair and reading some more of book 3 of Twilight...
I am thankful for... modern medicine. Yesterday I felt horrible... today, 24 hours after taking the first dose of antibiotics I feel way better!
Today in the kitchen... nothing happening, not even sure what we are having for dinner.
I am going... to a Demarle at Home Rendez-Vous party at Cynthia's.... kitchen and cooking items --looking forward to it. I need to replace my muffin pan as my Pampered Chef one broke... so it's good to see the options that are out there first.
I am reading... book 3 of Twilight... not actually sure what the name of it is?
I am hoping... that Steven's try outs go well for the school basketball team~
I am hearing... pitter patter of doggy feet and Jackson talking to the dogs
Going on around me... waiting for Steven to get home
One of my favorite things... molasses cookies are back! I got some yesterday and they are perfect with a cup of hot tea (which I am about to go make...)
Some plans for the rest of the weekend: going with my mom to see Forever Plaid downtown tomorrow, other than that --resting, cleaning and reading
A picture thought I am sharing.....

Steven hasn't played basketball since April. He made the All-Star team (pictured) after that season, but he has been concentrating on Baseball. Today he is at tryouts for the 7th grade team at school. I hope he makes it -he loves to play and we enjoy watching him. Most of all -I know HE wants to make it --so I hope that it works out for him.

I finally hit 40!!

Today is the day! No I am not 40 years old, not for a few years anyway.. but I have lost 40 pounds since December. I thought I would show some before & after pictures... come to find out there aren't many pictures of me at all.... So here are the ones I could find...

December 2007 -- after I saw this picture I realized I needed to make changes, soon!


April 2008 --- I had lost about 10 pounds by increasing my activity and watching portions. I signed up for the nutrition class at Kaiser 2 weeks after this picture was taken. My dr. said my bad cholesterol was good and healthy, but my good cholesterol was too low/bad. I started the class 3 weeks later.


August 2008 -- I was down a total of 25 pounds from December here.

Yesterday -Steven took this picture for me. Down 40 pounds so far...


I am still working on my weight and my health. Every day. I am trying to encourage healthier habits in myself and my family. It is a daily battle and some days are better than others. I have joined Weight Watchers now and find that the hour a week I spend there really motivates me to keep going. I am on my way to a healthier me ... and finally enjoying the journey.

It's funny... yesterday I had 7 people comment on how flattering my hair cut was or how much they liked my hair... I giggled knowing it wasn't my hair at all -but the missing 40 pounds!!

The Weekend...

Well I am happy to report that I am feeling somewhat better. At least with cold meds anyway. I still feel like I am drowning when I lay down, but the meds make it possible to sleep. I tried to get a prescription (as I know it is a sinus infection) but since my dr. retired, they won't prescribe anything without seeing me (reasonable) but the soonest they can see me is Thursday (not reasonable). So working on that....

Jack was home from school yesterday with the stomach flu that is going around, but seemed better today.

This weekend my dad came by with Logan Saturday afternoon to get Jackson for a sleepover. He played with the dogs while the kids goofed off and then off they went to Papa's house. We saw them again at Steven's 2nd game on Sunday. I hear they had Panda Express (which they love) and Papa had never been there before... nor will he go again he says....
A shot of the dogs with Jon & Me... I thought I would include it as I rarely put pictures of myself up... but it was part of the photo's I got them to take to document a week in our life.
And this one I just loved... of Steven and Sammy..


Steven's team played 2 scrimmage games on Sunday. It was well attended on Steven's behalf with us, my dad, Jon's mom and sister and nephew and Logan too. Logan and Jack spent most of their time with Iain in the playground or grass area... but the rest of us watched the games. Steven pitched the 1st inning and did a darn good job! No one scored on him. We won both games and it was a great confidence booster for the kids.

Dinner

I need to blog about the weekend.. but I am still fighting what I think is now a sinus infection (fever and all today). I will go to the dr. tomorrow. I did want to share these quick shots today as they are new. After Steven got home from school, he asked what was for dinner. I told him my thoughts were chicken strips with mac & cheese and a veggie. He asked if I wanted him to cook it since I wasn't feeling well (after determining I felt warm and "didn't look so good"). So .. he cooked dinner -his first time doing it on his own!!

Jackson helped stir the cheese into the macaroni (his favorite helper job in the kitchen) and Steven did the rest. I helped him with the timing of it .. but otherwise he did it on his own. It was tasty and good. So nice to have a full meal when you don't feel like cooking.

I am off to bed now, hopped up on Nyquil.. hoping for a full night of sleep. Tomorrow has to be better.... it has to, I have a lot of things to do....