UNO Season

Have I mentioned recently that playing UNO is becoming a regular event at our house.

It's good clean family fun.

Or is it??

Just for memories sake, I am going to jot down some of the most common phrases heard around our kitchen table during a game of UNO:

* Is it my turn?
* GO CHIP!
* What color is it?
* Is it my turn?
* Can I play a SKIP on a REVERSE?
* NOOOOOOOOO
* Wait...which way are we going?
* Is it my turn?
* Quit looking at my cards.
* You forgot to say UNO
* Who goes first?
* I just dealt.
* Who farted?
* Is it my turn?
* Is that a nine or a six?
* Why do I have eight cards?
* Is it my turn?

Doesn't that make you just want to run over and join us???

Chip is the organizer. He dashes all over the house, rounding up all the players. He wants everyone to play. It's more fun that way. He is also the one who lays a card down and immediately says "Is it my turn?"

He is finally mastering the art of holding his cards in a fan shape so he doesn't have to shuffle through them every time. Talk about the human delay of game.

We play till the big loser hits 200 points. Last night, that was Hubby after about six rounds. We have played many, many more rounds, but it is never enough for Chip. He would like to play around the clock.

It is a season in our lives.

The UNO season.

It will be fleeting I am sure.

In fact, I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not, but wrestling is out. Sigh. Chip isn't watching it, talking about it or playing it anymore. It just faded away. It makes me kinda sad.

It also makes me wonder what in the world we are going to do with the five wrestling rings and bin full of wrestling figures that he accumulated during the WWE season of his life! Maybe I will put some of his favorites up in the attic.

Well, that is all my fingers have in me for today!

Hope Tuesday is good to you!

Celebrating Dad

It's Monday.

All day.

We had a great weekend, but man could I have used just one more day.

We spent a lot of the weekend celebrating Hubby's birthday. There were presents, streamers, a big, icing covered cookie from The Cookie Company, birthday cards, etc... He is a kid at heart and loves presents. This year, we bought tons of baseball card packs and wrapped them individually. Every time Hubby mentioned something about his birthday, the boys pulled one out of their pocket to give to him. Chip was keeping some under his baseball hat and when Dad would say "birthday", he would tip his hat down and hand him a pack of cards. It didn't take long for him to make the connection and so he mentioned his birthday ALOT!

His other gifts, a projector, an autographed mini helmet, some shirts and the "I'm 46 years old fer sure present.......a nose hair trimmer!" He requested it. He got it. He used it.

As I suspected, we made a trip to Dave and Busters this weekend to celebrate Dad's birthday. I haven't been there in a while and it was quite fun. I didn't play anything, but I get a charge out of watching the trivia game and/or those kids who are masters at the Dance Dance Revolution. I am not even sure what is going on with all the taping, jumping, stomping and what they are trying to match on the screen, but there were two guys at Dave and Busters who were gettin' it. They were sweating like crazy. That has got to be some terrific exercise. Not sure those moves actually translate to a dance you could actually do in a club, because I am afraid someone would get hurt on the dance floor. Parts flying everywhere!

On a very sad note, my sweet friend Beth called me yesterday to tell me that her husband Tony's dad had passed away. Just took me reeling back to the phone calls we got about Joe and Louise. My heart just breaks for their family. It is so hard to lose someone you love.

Looking ahead this week, we kick off some back to school stuff around these parts - pick up textbooks for high school, meet the teacher night at elementary school, etc. Our first official day back to school is next Tuesday, August 23rd. Work is also cranking up with a vengeance, but I am ready for it!

Paleo Update: We ate a great deal in celebration of Hubby's birthday. We avoided Krispy Kreme, which I was thankful for! I thought I made terrific choices in all of our restaurant selections. I had a salad at Freebirds - no tortilla, no cheese, no rice, no beans, dressing on the side. At Red Robin, I had a burger with no cheese, no mayo, no bun. It was in my little basket just wrapped in some iceberg lettuce. It tasted fabulous. I had no french fries. None. They have endless fries at Red Robin. I had zero. Nada. None. I had no cookie cake at all. Not even a tiny piece.

I gained three pounds in two days. Son of a ....

I guess cavemen didn't have restaurants.

I am sure it was a lot of added salt that I have cut out when I am eating at home. I am also sure that I need to make even better choices at restaurants.

Can you bring me a stick of celery, two baby carrots, a lemon and a giant cup of water? I think that is like negative calories since you burn more chewing than is in the actual food.

I think the bottom line is that humans really don't need that much food. I have read briefly that on the Paleo diet it is encourage to fast occasionally for a couple of meals. Apparently, cavemen didn't always catch dinner, so sometimes they went hungry. I don't like that. I will continue to avoid processed foods, carbs, sugar, but pretty sure I am not ready or willing to go hungry!

That is all for now! Here is to a great week ahead for all of you!

Thoughtful Words

My sweet friend gave me a devotional book at the end of our Bible Study this past spring. On my birthday, this is what I read:

"Hold My hand, and walk joyously with Me through this day. Together we will savor the pleasures and endure the difficulties it brings. Be on the lookout for everything I have prepared for you: stunning scenery, bracing winds of adventure, cozy nooks for resting when you are weary, and much more. I am your Guide, as well as your constant Companion. I know every step of the journey ahead of you, all the way to heaven."

I don't know much, but I know I love reading that. It puts a smile on my face. I thought someone else out there might need this today.

Other than that bright news, things are clicking along around here. New shoes have been purchased for the first day of school. New haircuts have been suffered through. Harry is done with his first week of cross country practice. Chip has been refreshing himself on multiplication facts. Summer reading is getting done. Paleo eating plan is going well.

Hubby has a birthday coming up tomorrow. We are going to party like it is 1999. Or more likely, we are going to party like it is 2011. The kids will probably want to take him somewhere super awesome like Dave and Busters and then Krispy Kreme. It's going to be crazy I tell you.

SIDENOTE: The cavemen did not eat doughnuts. They were stupid. They hadn't yet learned about the beauty of flour, lard and sugar deep fried in oil. They didn't know what they were missing. Sadly, I DO know exactly what I will be missing. I will be missing Hot Doughnuts Now.

Work is cranking back up after being blissfully easy for a few weeks. I think I am ready. Not yet feeling a "BRING IT ON" or anything, but not dreading it either.

Hope your week is wrapping up nicely and you have a relaxing weekend planned!

JumpStreet

I recently wrote about a new place in town called JumpStreet and I thought I would share some pictures. Mom and Dad - please show this to all my nieces and nephews so that they will bug their parents to bring them to visit their Aunt.

If they come, she will take them to JumpStreet.

It is air conditioned, so even in the heat you can have some fun.

There are multiple long runways of trampolines with hills on either end. This is not a very good picture, but they are long. People were doing some crazy cool tricks in here.

You can jump and jump and jump and jump.

Bounce and bounce and bounce some more...until you are a sweaty mess.

Or swing off a rope and land in a pit of foam blocks.

Or trampoline into the pit.

It is hard to climb out of the pit, but that is why it is good for you.

There is also a maze and a crazy mechanical bull to ride.

And be thrown from.

And there is a dodge ball game going on all the time.

In fact, the second time my boys went to JumpStreet it was with my friend Martha. She took seven boys. Martha is very brave. My kids said they played dodge ball the entire time. That was two hours of dodge ball and they said they could have played longer. But hunger beckoned and they left.

It's a fun place!

Come see me and I will take you there!

Ten Random Tidbits

I have been uninspired to write for the last few days. A bit lethargic. Taking lots of deep sighs. Summer is winding down. Vacations are over. Reality of a busy calendar and schedule is staring me in the face. I don't like it.

If I don't make eye contact, maybe it won't be happen. I try that with Astro sometimes and it works. I'll keep you posted on my luck with ignoring the calendar.

Anyway, until I get a fire lit under me, here is a quick "Ten Random Tidbits" for you.

1. We went to the Melting Pot for my birthday dinner. It was fun. Surprising how when you get each course with the little plates of veggies, meats, breads it seems like it won't be enough food. Tiny pieces. Cooking them individually. Takes forever to eat. Then the dessert comes out and you are so full you can't move. Chip is in love with Rice Krispie treats dipped in chocolate.

2. I got a Nook Color for my birthday. Great gift and I have already read two books.

3. Harry started Cross Country practice this morning. I woke him at 5:45 a.m. He said it was hard.

4. I started a new eating strategy. Paleo. Eating like a caveman. Lean meats, fruits and veggies. A few nuts and good oils thrown in. Day three and it is not bad. Again, I will keep you posted. It feels terrifically healthy.

5. Family Uno is dominating our evenings. I am losing big time. Is there a real strategy or is it more luck of the draw?

6. The boys are pet sitting, which means I am also pet sitting. Three dogs, two cats. Chip loves it and takes much pride in taking care of those pets. It is good.

7. It is so damn hot here and we need some rain. Seriously.

8. We went to The Container Store yesterday. I love that place.

9. My sister's husband Kevin's mom was brought home with hospice recently and it does not seem she has very long on this earth. Say a prayer for Pat and all of her family, who will miss her so desperately when she is gone.

10. That is all. Can't even come up with a #10, so I will end with nine!

Hope your Monday jumps off the start of a wonderful week!

Birthday Wishes

More laughter than tears;
More joy than heartaches;
More adventures than challenges;
Soft breezes;
Toes in the sand;
Sun on my face;
Peace and contentment;
A glass of wine and a warm cookie every once in a while;
Buckets of "I Love Yous";
Health, happiness and love in my heart.


....happy birthday to me.......

It's Official....

The sweet baby boy that I brought into this world just five minutes ago passed his driver's permit test today. He is legal to get behind the wheel of a car.



If you are looking for me, I will be in my room crying.

No really, I am super proud of him. He will be a great driver and I am not worried at all.

That is a lie.

A big fat lie.

I am worried.

Worried he will get hurt.
Worried he will hurt someone else.
Worried he will wreck the car.
Worried he will leave in the car and never come home.

So really...I will be in my room crying. And praying. Lots and lots of praying.

Actually, it is just a permit. He still has to have a license driver over 21 in the car with him at all times.

It is going to be fine.
It is going to be fine.
It is going to be fine.

I love you Harry.
Be careful out there.