August is "Get in Shape" Month

Ward and I bought an elliptical trainer over the weekend.  I am so excited and have wanted one for a really long time.  I am excited to start working out again.  I have come to a point in my life where all I do is sit in front of the computer.  Ward is excited about using it too.  We're thinking it could help his back problems and get more restful sleep at night.  

We're putting it up in the game room for now.  And, we are selling the foosball table.  If you know of anyone who would like it, please let me know!

Obsessed with Bob

I go through music quirks from time to time.  You know, obsessive jags on a particular artist or kind of music.  It rolls from one to the other, usually only lasting a few months.  

But lately....

I am completely obsessed with Bob Dylan.  I mean, I cannot get enough.  There is something so moving about his folksy music style and odd voice.  I love how his lyrics just hit you when you least expect it.  

Right now, I am listening to "How does it feel...(like a Rolling Stone).  

I remember listening to Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash on the Nashville Skyline album with my dad.  We listened to that album over and over again.  

Bowling Fun

Tonight Ward took Devin, Nick and me bowling at the new(er) ACME bowl by Southcenter.  As expected, Ward dominated the lanes with a game-winning high of 144, the boys both hovered around 100, and I pulled up the rear with a whopping 75.  I am so lousy at bowling, it isn't even funny.  Well, those boys thought it was funny to beat me.  

We highly recommend ACME bowl for an evening of family fun.  After 9:00 they do the glo-light bowling with all sorts of crazy lighting effects.  There is also pool, video games, and a pretty reasonable restaurant.  Everything is state-of-the-Brunswick-art.  

These pics were taken with my iPhone camera, kindof blurry.  It doesn't capture the action shots that well.  

My Virgin Baker!!

I know this seems weird, but I made my first solo attempt at baked potatoes tonight for dinner. They turned out really good!  Nick loved them and wants me to bake some up tomorrow too.  I honest to goodness cannot remember e-v-e-r baking potatoes all by myself before.  Now, I certainly know people who have baked their own spuds.... I've just never done it.  Never been a huge fan of the starchy tuber.  When offered baked, mashed or fried, I always opt for the cole slaw.

So, how did we get on to this?  Well, Nick stayed the weekend with an old friend from Mill Creek.  They had a blast and went 'tubing' on Lake  Sammamish. The friends' mom made steak & baked potatoes for dinner.  Nick of course wouldn't touch the steak, but loved the baker.  I went to the store and selected some big fat Russets and googled the best baker recipe I could find.  I was going to wrap them in foil, but learned that that just steams them.  I washed them, rubbed them with olive oil, and rolled them in this herb infused rock salt that I have.  Then I poked holes in them with a fork and baked them for 1 hour at 375.  YUMMMMM!   Good stuff. We ate them with butter, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and little green onions.   

Carole and Devin came over.  Carole couldn't believe that I had never baked a potato before and laughed at the notion of me "googling a recipe" for baked taters.   

I am adding "Baked Potatoes" to the list of things that I can cook!  Right up there with Mac & Cheese.  

Have a good week!!

Total Cutie

OK, I may be biased here, and I realize this is a ridiculous subject to post, but am doing it anyway...  Isn't Nick just so darn handsome??  Look at these two pictures.  What a cutie!  ...And he's not spoiled or anything :-)  Just a perfect little angel.   He will kill me for posting this, but I am betting he won't find out.

On another note - the Little League state tournament starts tomorrow, so I have this weekend, all next week and the following weekend left with concessions and then I am DONE!  It will be a hard last push.  I appreciate any prayers you can send my way - not only to survive the next 9 days, but to STOP VOLUNTEERING!!!  ughghghhg.  Seriously, although it's been insanely busy, I have had fun.  

Concessions Siesta

Woohoo!  I am so thankful for SIX DAYS OFF of concessions duty.  I had to open up Sunset concessions today for one of the final games of the 11 year old All Star tournament, but then the league president said he would close it up and run it tomorrow too.  Yeah!  So, I actually get a relatively baseball free weekend.  Ward and I cleaned out the garage today, then went to Rooters for lunch, and then actually came home and took a NAP.  Wow, what a treat.  Nick was at Carole's with Devin.  Now that Nick has returned home, I am going to take him up to the lake.  Yeay for relaxation!!!  

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Today is dad's birthday.  He would have been 63.  Mom, Jill and I spent time last night going through old letters from when mom was a teenager.  She was writing her girlfriend in camp and telling her all about Butch and how great he was.  It was a fun evening and just what was needed.  I really miss my dad.  I am thankful for a healthy, loving mom.  

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day Weekend!!!!

This is the start of a couple of rough days (4th of July and 8th of July - Dad's birthday) as I remember how much dad loved the 4th of July, and then how he would sweet-talk any available hands into giving him a massage on his birthday.  We all know it wasn't ONLY on his birthday that he asked for massages and extra doting attention.   I miss him so much.  

Last night was fun.  Jill's family, Carole, my mom & Ben and Christina all came over.  We BBQ'd and then lit off fireworks in the back yard.  Real nice evening.