You Say To-MAY-to, I Say To-MAH-to...

I say we have them coming out our ears!!!

LAST YEAR, I planted three tomato plants, and we had WAY TOO MANY tomatoes, so, as a solution, this year I only planted one.
WELL, I do believe our ONE plant has OUTPRODUCED the three that I had last year!!!

Every time I went out to pick.....

...I got this many!

And this has been going on for a couple of months now.

In fact, last month, when Kyle was trying to think of a way (translated: badgering asking me what to do) to answer a girl to the Harvest Dance.... after throwing around many different ideas, I said, "Can't ya do it somehow with tomatoes???"  (Since there's NO shortage of those around here!) 

So, he did:

(do you 'get it?')

So, now that it's October, there are STILL dozens (maybe hundreds?) of green and half green/half red tomatoes on the plant!  It's going to start getting too chilly at night to be good for the plant, so I tried something new that I heard about.  

Someone told me that I could dig out the plant, with roots still attached....

LOOK how monstrous that plant became!!!
It started out like this:

Instead of saying, "Growing like a weed," I'm gonna start saying, "She's growing like a tomato plant!"

 (A regular scene these days on my kitchen window sill - these are all the ones that fell off during the digging it up and transporting stages)

....anyway, after you pull it out, you're suppose to hang it upside-down in your garage, and the tomatoes will continue to ripen, and you can keep using your tomato supply instead of losing them all to the cold weather.  (At least that's what I heard)

So, I did it:

After each of the kids came in from school that day and ALL inquired, in half-panicked voices, a version of the same, "WHAT THE HECK IS OUT IN THE GARAGE????" question, I decided I better warn my husband before he got home, seems as it was hanging in his parking space.

So, I texted him, "You MIGHT be surprised when you come into the garage tonight.... just giving ya a heads up. ;)"

To which he replied back,  "A new Suburban?  HaHa."

Oh, man....now THAT would've been a first-rate surprise!!!

But, so sorry, Babe - you're going to be sadly disappointed when you open the garage door.......and discover it is ONLY an upside-down tomato plant!  ;)   

Five Words

One of the main things I took away from the "Queen of the Kingdom" conference last weekend was about WORDS.

Words are so important.

Right from the beginning of the conference, our presenter/mentor wanted us to write down just three words on our name tag that we wanted to be....it was just to get our mind starting to think in that direction.
There's so many words - and we could choose ANY of the hundreds of thousands that exist in our English language EXCEPT we were not allowed to choose "uptight," "rigid," or "controlling."  ;)  Those were words that had she had drawn the "no symbol" (ya know that red circle with a diagonal line through it?) on her giant post-it paper pad up front, because those traits ruin our femininity and are not characteristics of a "queen."

Later, we practiced saying general declarations that were written in our class book, out loud, with the group, to get us used to saying positive words about ourselves.
We even got to "play with" (draw from it's sheath and raise above our heads) a Gandalf-esque sword

while declaring, "I am a goddess of truth and light!"  Having a sword makes a difference, I tell ya!  (you should try it!)  It gives you the feeling that you've got power.  Like what you are saying is official, holds some clout!  ;)

Anyway, those were just some of the activities (there were many others) we did throughout the conference to get us in the frame of mind to choose words for ourself. 

By the end of the weekend, I chose five words.

Calm

Compassionate

Healthy

Energetic

Delightful

When I am going about my day; when I am wiping down the kitchen counters, while I put away clothes, when I'm on the phone with a not-so-happy customer at work.... I repeat this phrase to myself.  "I am a calm, compassionate, healthy, energetic, delightful woman."  I have been saying it daily (sometimes multiple times).  My plan is to keep saying it a lot. 
When I don't feel like getting up early in the morning to go out exercising, I say it in my mind. 
When I look in the mirror, and I think, "bleh," I say it in my mind. 
The other day, when I was leaving the check out at Costco after I'd just purchased a large amount of items (who doesn't have a large amount of items when they go to Costco?) and had had some problems that came up while checking out, I heard the cashier greet his next customer after me, "How are you today?"  And I heard her reply loudly-enough-so-that-I-could hear, "Well, I was fine until I got in line behind that lady!"  I repeated my words (with emphasis on calm, compassionate, and delightful!) in my mind over and over and over the whole way out of the store, through the parking lot, while unloading all my stuff (that caused a long check out), and even after I got into the car!!  ;)
When I got really upset at home (no!) towards a particular person (who shall remain nameless) and situation, I said this phrase in my mind all evening!

I didn't choose the words calm, compassionate, healthy, energetic, and delightful because that's what I believe I am....I chose them because I struggle to believe those things about myself.  And I can tell you, the more I have repeated that in my mind, the more calm, compassionate, healthy, energetic and delightful I have been able to feel in that moment.  Can it be that I am starting to believe them more?  It gives me strength to do things I might otherwise not have done.

These words can. change. me.
(Because that was another mantra of the conference, "For things to change, I must change.")

Just five words - out of thousands.

(Though, as I write this, it’s past meal time and I don't have any plans to make it and I let a stream of complaints and general disgruntlement flow out of my mouth earlier.  And there's the fact that I still haven't gotten around to doing some of our "SBL" outings this summer.  And when my son reminded me for the third (+) time that he STILL needs new soccer cleats due to his first game being in just 2 1/2 weeks, and my youngest [unedited] daughter asks why I have all those "red dots" on my chin…  I should have responded, “Because I’m HEALTHY…and ENERGETIC…and DELIGHTFUL…”)

So......

What are your words?

One Month of Summer - Gone!?!

June is over and done with. 

This fact created a little bit of panic with my children....it means one month of Summer down, only two(ish) to go. 

[In case my kids accuse us of "not doing anything"] Here's what's happened:

Matt's Birthday!

Family Vacation to Aruba!

Big Brothers torturing loving on little sisters!

Band aids....lots of band aids!

 Cousins!

Father's Day!

{Artists: Haylee, Katelyn, & Brookelle}

The Official First-Day-of-Summer celebration!

....complete with ice cream for dinner 

and opening a present (Summer-y wardrobe additions).

Swim lessons for Brookelle!

(she's in the blue swimsuit, furthest away in the photo)


Kyle attended a "Family History" themed Youth Conference with our ward the 25th-27th and had a great experience.

He also got to "sky dive" (iFly) as part of their Super Activity.  ;)

Scout day camps for Matt (in charge of the 11 yr. old scouts) & I (in charge of Bears cub scouts) up Millcreek Canyon in East Salt Lake City.

{view from the hike}

Our family went to this production of "Savior of the World"

Ladies Bear Lake Getaway!

{meanwhile the kids had a blast at home without mom making them to do their chores ;)}

I also found out that applying sunscreen to mostly the front of your legs, and hardly on the back, 

then floating on a raft (laying on my tummy) for two hours on the lake DOES NOT provide adequate protection...and it not a good idea!

Can you say BEET RED?

Can you say extremely painful to sit down - or walk?

Can you say half a bottle of Aloe Vera gel used in 3 days?

(Incidentally, the gel caused my clothes to stick to it, then I had to RIP it off my burnt skin - OUCH!!!)

You Can Tell I'm Not a Teenager

Earlier today, I wanted to use my cell phone and I didn't know where it was.
(THAT'S the first clue that I'm NOT a teenager!!!)

I checked all the usual places (purse, nightstand table, car, kitchen counter, charging station, etc.) but it wasn't there.
Oh well, I thought, I guess I won't use it right now.  I had work to do anyway.
(THAT'S the second clue that I'm NOT a teenager!!)

During a break at work, I called Matt on a land line and asked if he knew where my cell phone was.  Nope.  And we talked about the last time he'd seen me with it.  I'd had it at the School Musical last night, but neither of us could remember it since then.  And that had been 16 hours prior.  A whole 16 hours without a cell phone?!!?
(THAT'S the third clue that I'm NOT a teenager!)

I decided to call my cell phone number in an effort to locate it.  And a woman answered, "Hello.  Farmington Jr. High office.  This cell phone was found in the bathroom here at the school.  Whose is it?"  (The performance was held there last night)
"It's mine!" I replied.
Oh, yeah.....I HAD gone to the restroom after the performance, and as a precaution, I'd taken my phone out of my back pocket so it wouldn't fall out and take a "swim" into the toilet.
And, thankfully, an honest soul had found it and taken it to the office!  Alright! Farmington teens have redeemed themselves from their last stunt.
The office staff took down my name and told me they'd hold the cell phone for me.  I told them I'd try to come pick it up sometime that day.
"Sometime" ended up being 2 1/2 hours later.

When I did go claim my cell phone, the office staff & I were joking about how I am NOT a teenager.
The sure signs:
* I didn't even realize it was missing for 16 hours!
* When it's whereabouts were discovered, I did NOT RUSH right on down to get it!
* I had NOT gone absolutely "batty catty" during the separation period we had experienced!
* And, although there were some missed calls and texts that had piled up during my absence, the number of them was still in the single digits!

I'm one of the 6%.

The Land of Short Street Signs

Thanks to our [infamous] East Winds here in Farmington, our street signs frequently get blown over.  For a few days after a windstorm, all order on the streets is gone as the signs, that usually tell drivers what to do, lay on the ground.  In some lucky cases, the sign is still somewhat close to the location where it belongs and the city workers can use the same sign to put back up and restore order.
But, when they've blown over and the poles have either broken off or are just severely bent at the base, to make it stand up again, they have to bury the *new* bottom of the pole into the ground which results in the sign being about a foot shorter than it used to be before the wind.  (I've read various reports that typical stop signs are anywhere between 7-10 feet tall.)

And then when the next windstorm comes along and knocks over the sign again, they have to go through the same process, which decreases the height of the sign again...

And then the wind blows hard again.....and the knocked down/broken pole/re-bury/put back up series happens all over again!

Until it gets to the point that, if you are driving a van/truck/SUV, you actually have to look down to notice the street signs.  I just can't get used to the short signs around here - no matter how many times I pass it, I totally notice it and think, That looks so weird!   I know! The Wizard of Oz should film in our city!

My son wants to go pose by all the signs (because I think he is taller than them in their shortened, post-disaster shape) and send those photos to his missionary brother to "prove" how tall he is!  Of course, he plans to "omit" the little fact that they are NOT standard height anymore!  ;)

This is Not Going to Sit Well with Someone

Today is Kyle's "half-birthday," and as such, we performed the traditional (and ceremonious) measurement of his height, and marked it on the growth chart.

As you can see, his line is now JUST A SMIDGE higher than his older brother's line!!!
{due to growing 1 1/2 inches in the last 6 months, and 4 inches in the last year}

Now, of course, it's been a whole year since Ryan has been measured since he's been away on his mission for 8 months, and the 4 months before that was one huge whirlwind with High School graduation activities/mission prep/last family vacation/last ever family photo with our family as we know it/bidding farewell to dozens of his friends when they left on their missions.....

So, who knows?  Ryan MAY HAVE grown some more in our absence.
But, if NOT.......Kyle is SO PLEASED with his current standing!  ;)

And he's convinced that he is going to pass up his [6'3"] dad.  Lately, so many people have made comments to him that he is totally starting to resemble Matt, so naturally, he assumes he'll end up as tall or taller than his dad.  Ha!  I seriously doubt that!  Because first of all, he has ME as his mom (a mere 5'3") but also, way back when, I took note of the height predictor test.  (The one where you take a boy's height at age 2 and double it to get their future full height).  And, according to that, he's only going to be 5'8" (which is right where he's at).  According to the "test," his older brother's potential isn't much better at 5'9" but it would be one inch taller than Kyle, so that's mostly what matters in their minds!

I intend to write about this fun little "happening" in my next weekly letter to Ryan......and I already know what the reaction will be!  :)
Horror
Disbelief
Displeasure
Disturbing
Annoyance
Pain
Mental Torment
Justification
Denial


I just hope this news doesn't knock him off his "game" to the point that he becomes disabled in his missionary work!  ;)

***************************
POST-EDIT NOTE:  Ryan promptly replied to my letter stating, "I want to see pics (proof) Kyle has passed me up!"

Did I call it, or what?!?  haha  ;)

I Think I May Have Gone to the 'Spa for Giants' by Mistake!?

I received a [very generous] spa gift certificate from my sister-in-law for my birthday last September (thanks, Nicole!) and I finally got around to using it this week.
They gave me a robe and some slippers to wear on my way to and from the treatment room.

I put on the slippers.....and I noticed they weren't quite my size....

....which I wasn't expecting because I know they probably have to invest in a "one size fits all" so it will work for their wide range of clients......

BUT, I have a very average sized foot, so I figured it would just be a little bit big - not THIS big.  I only filled 75% of this slipper!  I had a good 4 inches to go - I didn't get it!  (But, it made me feel "petite" - Yes!)

And then I realized.....I must be in the wrong place - I'd gone to the "Fee-fi-fo-fum Spa!"  ;)

But it was confusing....because I did not experience the same "over largeness" fitting with the robe.  Hmmmm, it MUST have been for the "Giant babies."  ;)

It Owns Me

Ever since I started wearing my new Fitbit (first full day was Dec. 26) I HAVE to get my 10,000 steps a day.
 
If it is 11:00 p.m. and I haven't yet achieved my steps, I will "sneak out" to go walking around the neighborhood to get them.  Apparently, the first time I did this, someone at home "needed" me (WHEN don't they need me?) and they couldn't find me, and no one knew where I was, and mayhem broke loose.  When I returned, Matt requested I please inform them in the future if I am going out.....ya know, in case something happens to me.  Like what?!?  Get abducted by aliens up the street?!?
If the day is almost over, and I don't have my steps AND we're experiencing inclement weather, I will pace back & forth on our covered porch.  Or run up & down the stairs.  Or do laps in our garage.
If I'm thirsty and need a drink of water, I STOP myself from asking someone else to get it for me......because if I get up and get it myself, that tacks on several extra steps.
If I need something while I'm making dinner from the cold storage room in the basement,  I don't call for Kyle anymore like I always used to......I want the steps myself!
It's no longer one of my kid's jobs to go and get the mail.....because if I get it, I know that's another 250 steps!

I'm telling you - I'm a SLAVE to this Fitbit.
I WILL NOT let myself NOT get my 10,000 steps a day.
EVERY day.
EVEN on the weekend.
If I let myself go just one day without getting my steps, then it'll just be easier to go another day, and then another, and another.....and I DON'T want that to happen!

 (BTW, it says 0 on the water because I would have to manually enter it in....and I don't.  I just like the Fitbit to crunch all the numbers for me.)  

I mostly wanted to start doing it for health & fitness, but ya know what's ALSO happened?  That was a pleasant surprise? 

I'm spending MORE TIME with my family and children!  The kind of TIME where I'm really WITH them.

Because I'll ask if anyone wants to go out and walk with me - and someone usually does.  Katelyn & I just walk & talk about her favorite subject - The Pioneer Woman (she's the one who "introduced" me to the Fitbit in the first place).....and then Katelyn asks when we can do that again!  ;)

Matt has decided he has to protect me against those "aliens," so he'll come out walking with me at night and we walk & talk.

One day, I needed a bunch of steps, so Brookelle, Katelyn, & I went up to our church.  I thought we'd just do laps around the church, but, NO, they had a grand idea to play "Tag."  So I obliged.  We were up there all night.....or at least an hour!  And I was "It" the majority of the time! (Because I kept getting caught!)  They LOVED it and didn't want to quit, even though I kept "suggesting" we did. (my bladder can only take so much "Tag!")  Again, Katelyn repeatedly asks when we can do that again! 

I ask her, "WHY?" 

And she tells me, "It was so fun." 

And I say, "Really?!?  'Cause I totally stunk at it."  

And she says, "No, you didn't.  You were really good.  You can run fast.....for a Mom your age!" 

And I say, "No......you always tagged me, and I couldn't catch you very much."

And she said, "THAT'S why it was so fun!"

Instead of driving my child to her friend's house to play, I walk her over there......and then I walk back when it's time to come home.  And Brookelle talks my ear off the whole way.

Same goes for getting Katelyn to Activity Days.

I'm also walking to the school after school to meet my girls and walk home with them (& their friends - gotta take advantage of that while it's still happening).  I heard Katelyn explaining to one of her friends, "Ya know how some moms pick their kids up from school and give them a ride home?  Well, our mom picks us up from school and then makes us walk home!"



I'm liking this "by-product" of my Fitbit (more time spent together with my fam) that I didn't realize would be one of the results.  My family is all on board with the idea.  They will frequently ask where I'm at for the day - and WANT me to accomplish my 10,000 every day.  Good thing, because my obsession dedication would exist with or without their support. ;)  I love it!

I ALSO overheard Katelyn tell one of her friends, "My mom has a Fitbit, and she HAS to get 10,000 steps a day.  She's going to do that EVERY day until my brother gets home from his mission, and then she's going to be SKINNY!"

Oh, WOW!  The pressure's ON!

They're Barking Up the Wrong Tree

WHY did we receive this magazine in the mail this week?

And WHY have we previously received two other issues of this same magazine before this one, too?
At first I thought it was a one-time sample that we sometimes get of various magazines, but, NO, it looks like it's now a regular delivery.

We have no interest in "How to enjoy wine."

We don't order wine when we dine out.

You won't find any wine in our home.

We don't pair wine with our chocolate.

We aren't even wine drinkers.

In fact, we decidedly abstain from alcohol of any kind.

That's why I just shake my head in confusion when these arrive in the mail....and ask, "WHY?!?"

Someone sure got their "customer profiling" wrong.  Dead wrong.

A real case of misdirected "marketing."

They need to study our "shopping trends" a bit more carefully next time.
Now, magazines about Ranch, Hershey's products, or Cherry Ju Ju hearts would be much more productive/enticing with us!  ;)

Things That Make You Go, "Huh?"

1.  I saw these cough drops at the store on one of those "mark down" shelves.

$1.49 for a bag - I'll take it!

I like to always look through the items that have been re-tagged with a sale price to see if there is any great deals (that I also *need*.)

If there are multiple price tags on top of each other, it means there have been multiple mark downs.

When I get home, I like to peel off the price tags one by one to see the "price history" - how the price has changed/dropped.

(Then I know what a great deal I got!)

Except, this time when I peeled off the top tag (the $1.49 price I paid), I saw that the previous price was just $1.00!
Huh?!?
I think the price tag put-er on-er needs a refresher math lesson.

2.  Katelyn had some cute, navy blue Toms-type shoes that looked very similar to this:

After wearing them several times, they got a little hole in the toe.

Which, by the way, I have seen many, many times with this type of shoe. NO BIG DEAL.

So, then the next day, I see Katelyn wearing THESE shoes:

I asked what was going on.  Apparently, THIS was her solution to concealing the little toe hole.
(These are, in fact, her navy blue Toms)

Because fluorescent orange duck tape covered shoes are SO MUCH BETTER?!!?
Huh?!?

3.  Our missionary son, Ryan, wrote home eight questions that he wanted our whole family to each answer individually, in a letter back to him.

It was the same 8 questions for everyone, but he was curious to see the differences in our answers.
It was kind of a fun activity because everyone's DIFFERENT perspective of the SAME THING was revealed.

Here is Matt's (dad) response to Ryan's eight questions.

ALMOST half a sheet of paper!

In contrast....

Here is my letter/answers.

Page #1

And Page #2 

Huh?!?

(I KNOW missionaries like letters!)

We're Livin' Back in the 21st Century Again

About two months ago, our microwave just went ka put.

It was about the same time - give or take a couple of weeks - that our ice maker also quit working - AND our mini van broke, too.

It was official.  WE MUST HAVE A MISSIONARY GOING OUT! 
{Because the Adversary tries to get ya any way he can during the prospective missionaries final days/weeks before departure....it happened to me, too, 23 years ago - So, I already know the drill - I'm onto him!  My "challenges" were ALL problems with vehicles, though.}

But, back to the microwave.  I had JUST finished cooking something in it, and I simply opened the door to retrieve my food, and at that very instant, it just blitzed, and all the lights went out - never to work again.

It was very traumatic for my children because now they were "going to STARVE!"  Ya know, because the method of "cooking" ALL their life-sustaining food was gone!
All your basic staples like:
microwave popcorn
hot pockets
Easy Mac
Instant oatmeal
leftover pizza
nachos
corn dogs
edamame (OK, that was mine!)

Over the last little while, our fridge has filled up with 37 assorted sizes of tupperware containers because no one ate any dinner leftovers anymore - since no one knew how to re-heat it without a microwave!

We had to like melt butter on the stove!

We had to google, "Can a hot pocket be baked in the oven - and How?"

We had to boil water on the stove, then toss in a bouillon cube, and wait for it to boil some more to make broth -- it took like 8 1/2 minutes!  Oh my!

We had to use the oven to try to melt cheese on tortilla chips - and it didn't turn out the same - bummer.

You don't know how many times we went to use the microwave, stopped, only to remember; Oh yeah, we can't.  Now, what am I suppose to do?!?  So irritating!

Can you believe the "hardships" we've had to go through?!?  ;)
Bwa ha ha ha.....we're such wimps!  The pioneers did it!

But, today was a happy day when the repair man came to our home with all his handy dandy tools & Good News - the right parts had finally come in!  He took that microwave right outta the wall.......

 ........and he dissected it, and......uh, er, I'm not quite sure....he just did his repairman thang!  OR maybe (by the looks of this photo) it was out-of-this-galaxy messengers who came and "zapped" it back into working order with their rays of light.

WHATEVER it was - everyone is rejoicing!

But, we don't even have a chance to use it again right now - because we are literally leaving on a camping weekend this minute!
(At least the trailer we're camping in has a microwave!)  :)

Who Would Want It?

Today, I couldn't find my phone ANYWHERE!

I looked in all the usual places.....THREE TIMES.

We tried calling it, but could never hear it.  Did that mean it was at home, but on silent?  OR that it was someplace else?

I tried to remember the last place I remember having it, and it was yesterday....but Brookelle had also dragged my purse around the volleyball court last night and rummaged through it looking for candy - had it fallen out then?

Matt looked at the time of the last text I had sent him, and it was yesterday, while I was at the girls' tumbling class....but I was pretty sure I brought it out of there with me.

So, I went about my day WITHOUT a phone and no one could get a hold of me if I was away.  Matt had to actually call our home land line to talk to me, and leave a message with one of our kids if I wasn't home.  Just like the good 'ol days!! 

I tried calling the tumbling gym a few times, but it always went to voice mail - and their mailbox was FULL, of course!

Matt offered to stop by there on his way home just to see - he'd had ENOUGH of me living in the "dark ages!"  ;)

So, he goes in and tells the lady at the front desk that his wife might have left her cell phone here yesterday, and did they pick it up?

She doesn't answer him either way, but asks suspiciously, "Can you describe it?" AS IF he were trying to pull one over on her, or something.

He replied, "Ya, it's got cracks all over it!"

 {Which describes it to a "T"}

After which she quickly produced my phone and handed it over.

Really?!?  ONLY the true owner would even care one bit about having THIS phone....even if it was laying out in plain sight, as thief bait, it probably wouldn't get taken!

In the Right Place at the Right Time

Ryan's day at the St. George Temple....

going for the first time to receive his own endowments.

 To find out more about temples, click HERE.

So GLAD for his choice to be there!

So GLAD to be there with him!

What a BLESSING the temple is!
It IS the House of the Lord - I could feel it!

Because of the temple, we can be a Forever Family = JOY.

------------

*For a history enthusiast like Ryan, the St. George temple holds a special meaning since the spirits of our country's Founding Fathers visited [the then President of the Church] Wilford Woodruff requesting that their temple work be performed for them.  A great painting (an artist's rendition of Pres. Woodruff's testimony) and plaque with all the men's names on it is displayed inside this temple.  Read about this interesting fact in THIS article.

Out to Lunch - 5 Ways

One of our traditions during summer vacation is that I get to take each of my children, one by one, out to lunch one day - and then maybe do a little shopping or something.  The restaurant is their choice.  This had to be calendared during "family business" at the beginning of the summer - or else it wouldn't happen, especially with preparing to get a missionary ready to leave in August and my work schedule with the airlines that is inherently busy during this peak travel season.
Brookelle got to do it this year, too, since it's her first "summer vacation" from a 5-day-a-week school year.

It's something I look forward to.

Yesterday, I just finished up my last lunch.  And when I stopped to think about it:  5 different children = 5 different lunch experiences.  :)

1. I first went out with Kyle to Costa Vida (I'll never complain about that!)  He goes there for the BIG sweet pork burrito.  He hopes eating like that will cause him to get big(ger) and tall. ;)  He's in a stage where he's more interested in going out to eat good food rather than to be with me, I think.  ;)  He talked a little & barely muttered a "hello" when he was greeted by one of his old cub scout leaders who was also there - being the "quiet giant" that he is.    He wasn't much into the "dining experience" where you hang around even after the food has all been consumed.  He was ready to go.  (Was that so the fewest number of acquaintances possible could potentially see him there together with me???)
2. Next I went out with Brookelle to Kentucky Fried Chicken.  She goes there for the drumstick, original recipe.  She also got a side of Mac & Cheese which she decided wasn't that good.  She chose for us to sit on a high table with tall stools, but then she wanted to get down & up, down & up a good part of the time.  Our conversation was also disrupted by her having to go potty (or just wanting to check out the restrooms?), watching other customers and then telling me [in a not so quiet voice] any interesting/odd/funny thing she noticed about them (while I tried to shush her volume down a bit), looking at all the signage on the walls, needing more napkins, and me reminding her to actually EAT.  (lots still left on her tray).  It may have had something to do with the fact that we were going to her Dr. appt. immediately afterwards?  (Or that she just CANNOT sit still!)
3. I actually made it on Ryan's schedule one day, too, for lunch - his days are filled with working a couple of jobs & friends, that I didn't know if he could "fit me in"  haha.  We went to Sizzler.  He goes there for the STEAK, of course!  There was a special with a steak/salad bar combo, too, so even more food in his book is always a PLUS!  And I'll just say that he DEFINITELY got his money's worth!  We talked about this, that, & the other: friends, mission calls, World Cup soccer, money, work, ranch dressing, the "game plan" for his mission prep, our family, traffic, etc. etc.  Our waiter came back at least 10 times to refill our water and ask if we needed anything else, and left the after-dinner mints.  (WAS HE TRYING TO HINT THAT IT WAS TIME FOR US TO LEAVE, OR SOMETHING?!?)  :)  And then we talked some more - and he ate some more.  ;)  What a vast contrast from my previous lunch date with the 6 yr. old!
4. I took Haylee out next - also as a combo with her Dr. appointment.  Picking a place is difficult for a Celiac because so many places have gluten all over their menus.  And then it's especially difficult for Haylee because the gluten-free options are things she doesn't want to eat.  She settled on Wendy's.  She got a really healthy lunch (HA!) which consisted of a vanilla frosty, some fries, & a root beer (but she would not try a flavoring in it, even though they have the 200+ fountain drink variety machine there!)  Even though I like their burgers & chicken sandwiches (now on pretzel rolls!) I got a baked potato because I think it'd be rude to eat good bread in front of her on our date.  Eating out is very different when you have to worry about food allergies, I tell ya.  We talked about random things - even though she's going into Jr. High this year, I'm glad she's not into all that "Jr. High stuff" (pop culture, phones, boys, bling, expensive clothes, and non-innocent things in general) yet.  Although I do get rolling eyes, looks of disgust, & sassy tones already - yuck!  She doesn't talk & eat at the same time, so I have to sometimes stop the talking, every now & then, so the eating will happen!
5. Finally, I ended up the Summer lunch rotation with Katelyn to Chick-Fil-A.  She hadn't ever tried their food, but had heard really good things about it.  She opted for the chicken nuggets - and was not disappointed!  She discovered she likes their special sauce - even better than honey mustard!  The thing about Chick-Fil-A is that it's required that their employees all be so nice....which led to a couple of them stopping by our table to chat.  They were very pleasant, but it took away from my time with Katelyn, so I was kinda bothered - although she later told me she like them.  That's just like her - she's so friendly - she DID sit there totally smiling at them the whole time.  Katelyn got a lesson in asking adults for what you need.  I taught her how to approach the counter to request a drink refill and also to trade in her "kids toy" for an ice cream cone.  She was nervous before doing it, but then felt quite accomplished afterwards.  I did get a few texts during lunch that I responded to -- and she called me on it!  Yep!  I should BE WITH her.  We stayed after our trays had been cleared away to talk longer to make up for all the other talking time we missed out on with the interruptions from the employees & my cell phone. 

See?  Different.

So, whether it's reserved & eager, or fast-paced & unfocused, or long-winded & glutinous, or anxious & pure, or bold & enthusiastic, I am glad for the opportunity these lunch dates provide for me to spend time with my children.

A Visit From the Leprechaun in May?

A friend shared with me that Listerine has MORE USES than just helping with your gingivitis, plaque, & bad breath!!

(GOOD!  Because I can't even rinse my mouth with it for the required time WITHOUT my mouth burning, my eyes watering, and then drooling all down my chin and neck!!!)

She said that you can soak your feet in it and it's like a cure for thick, dry skin/rough heels/foot problems!  And since I kind of have a 'thing' for foot care & pampering, she CAUGHT MY ATTENTION!!  

So, instead of pouring in the [usual] hot water into my foot bath, I poured in the Listerine, and put my feet in for a while.

HEY!  I GOTTA DO SOMETHING - PASS THE TIME CREATIVELY - WHILE MY SON'S MISSION CALL SITS UNOPENED [STILL] IN OUR HOME!!!  ;)

I didn't really notice that I miraculously had soft, smooth, silky, supple feet after this procedure....

  ...but there WAS definitely a CHANGE!  ;)

Old Wives Tale???

I reported my green/blue feet to my friend......she laughed long & said she hoped they didn't fall off now!  Thanks A LOT!

(I told Brookelle & her friend, who was over, that I think the leprechaun 'got me' -- they thought that actually made perfect sense!)