Back to school is almost here!

This is our last summer night. We had back to school night this afternoon/tonight. First, we went to the brand new elementary school. How I love the new school. It's so pretty. Both kids got good teachers. Hannah is in 5th now, and she will have three different teachers. She has her "besty" in her class so she couldn't be any happier. Hayden got the teacher everybody wants, so I'm super excited. She is supposed to be hard, and we already have a homework assignment ;) We went to back to school night for Hunter as well. I got to check out his teachers and they all met with my approval. I will say his science teacher, Mr. Hunting, looked about 12. It's not even his first year teaching. I must be getting old. I was a total looser parent and didn't have any of the forms filled out so he could get a ticket to receive his schedule. Luckily, my friend was giving out the tickets, and I promised to turn in "my assignment" on Wednesday. I have never been to a back to school night at Skyridge, so I didn't know better(last year we were at Disney) and I assumed the first day was fine. OOOOps.

We got all the sports schedules for Hunter, Hannah and Hayden. It looks like Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be crazy. I will need to be 3 places all at once. No problem!!! Hannah's practice is held at a Middle School about 20 MINUTES away!!! Yuck! That's at 4:45, Hayden's practice is 2 minutes away, but it's right at 5. Hunter needs to be picked up from football practice right at 5. Hmmmmm... I'm working on different carpools so we can make things work. Goodness.

My parents have been here (they watched the kids for Hood to Coast) and they leave tomorrow. It was fun having Ma and Pa here for a visit. I'm off to go fold laundry, and make my bed. I love clean sheet Monday!

Hill to Coast wrap up

It's done! I had a great time at Hood to Coast. It was hard as can be, but lots of fun. My team started at 8:30 am on Friday, my van didn't start running until about 1ish. Times are very mixed up for me. I was in a Hood to Coast vacuum. Eating, sleeping even exercising were all done at very strange times and places. I ran my first leg at about 3ish. Then we had some time off while van 1 ran their second legs. We ate dinner and chilled and we were back at in at about midnight. I was the second runner in our van. My middle of the night run was the one I was nervous about. Good reason too, it SUCKED!!!! a)it was in the middle of the night b) it was all uphill. And by uphill I mean up a mountain. About 10 minutes in, I thought what the heck?? Then I hooked up with this dude John from DC and we chatted, then we hooked up with some other person, and we just chatted and complained until we were up the mountain. Finally, at the end it was downhill, and downhill never felt so good. I was so happy, proud, relieved, pooped, excited to be done with a run. I had some Gatorade, which made my "stomach" a little sick ;) After some Imodium all was well. After our second legs, we parked the van and slept for about 3 hours. It felt like heaven. Then we were out for our final leg. I was wanting to just get it done! I didn't know the other ladies in the van so well before, but got to know them quite well during the race. We had a great van. 3 of the women had done the race many many times. Two of them wrapped the van like none other. The LaCamas teams were the "Head Hunters" so we had a crazy jungle/pirate/skull theme. We had people taking pictures all day and night. They packed us each a little backpack full of fun stuff, and made us shirts and matching hats! Loved them. I am not really very sore, we were all very careful to stretch and use "the stick" after each run. I have soaked in Epsom salts and have taken a nap today. I'm feeling good. That's all for now, I'm off to make a little dinner and pick up the house (just a little).

Wish me luck..."not break a leg" though

Wish we luck, I'm going to go pack for Hood to Coast. Wait, I don't need luck on the packing...just the running part. I'm excited and nervous and maybe dreading the middle of the night "very hard" run. I went to the dentist yesterday, and (he has run it before) he asked me my legs. When I told him what legs I was running...he got all weird and asked me what I knew about my second leg. I told him I knew it was going to suck, it was uphill, in the middle of the night, and very dusty. He gave me a mask to wear (you know the kind dentists wear). But I am the type of gal that imagines the very worse, I have been running some really ugly hills. I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. The hills I think I can do...it's the middle of the night. I'm going to be tired. You know the other thing I'm worrying about? My contacts. When should I take them out, when should I put them back in? I'm bringing my Croc flip flops so my feet don't have to touch anything gross. I'm not worrying about any makeup except mascara. I don't want anyone to think I'm sick or anything. (When people see me without mascara for the first time...they always look twice! Damn those blond lashes!) Oh shoot, I need to go wash my sports bras. I don't want to start smelly. I am going to be very smelly. My workout shirts are those fancy ones that hold onto all the stank. I'd wear perfume, but I don't want to be that girl. I just want to get on with it already!!

Have you tried these? I think they are mighty good. It's like a tart/tangy jelly center covered in dark chocolate. You must enjoy the dark chocolate to fully enjoy this snack. Just saying they are tasty.

I want these

I have heard lots of good things about this red cookbook, they didn't have it at my Costco today, but they did have the blue one. I flipped through the blue one, and it does look good. Lots of good hints and suggestions throughout. I think I need them. ****A note to all of my sisters, please do not buy this cookbook :) Christmas is coming.****

Does anyone have a Valium?

Kidding hahaha :) I'm just tired. I took all my children plus Hannah's friend Hannah back to school clothes shopping. It was rather hellish, I must say. The big kids were all pretty good. But Hope...oh my. I brought the stroller, but she doesn't sit in it. She'd want to walk or have me carry her. Of course, right? The mall wasn't so bad. The real melt down started at Kohls, I got lots of pity looks as I was carrying her screaming through the store. (I took the cat boots off, heaven forbid) However, pity turned into something else entirely at Famous Footware, where the salesperson had picked up one too many times today. She wasn't so patient with my little one, who just wanted to try on shoes. I'm just glad that's done! She did fall asleep in the car. :)

Now, what to make for dinner? I'm afraid the San Fran trip has sucked all my menu planning brain cells right on out of my head. HMMMMM, I can't do omelets again...

Julia Child makes an omelette

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The movie was great. I came home and googled Julia Child, and found this little gem. I have made many omelettes, but never made an omelette like that, until today (that's what we had for dinner). It was so easy, and so good. Way better than how I used to make them. Try it! Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar, that woman can do anything.

Hello?

Hello??? Last year the first day of school was the day after Labor Day which was like the 2nd. So, I just magically assumed that the first day back would be the day after Labor Day...or the Wednesday because I did remember that the first day back was a Wednesday. Oh no, the first day back is before Labor Day on the 2nd of September!! I'm sure at one time I knew the correct date, after all I even have the back to school night marked on my calendar. But in the back of my mind...I was thinking the first day of school was the 9th or something crazy. I do believe my kids got gipped on 2 weeks of vacation compared to the Tomball schools. I am NOT complaining ;) This next week is our last full week of summer. I can't believe it. School supplies are all bought...and spread all over the dining room table. Hannah needs shoes, everybody needs jeans, nobody really needs shirts, and since socks apparently are disposable...everybody needs socks.
Hunter 8th
Hannah 5th
Hayden 2nd

Next year:
Hunter 9th
Hannah 6th
Hayden 3rd

I can't believe Hunter will be in high school and Hannah will be in middle school. Yuck!

I'm taking/dragging Scott to see Julie and Julia or whatever it's called. He is being a good sport, and not complaining (at all) because I really really really want to see it.

Got zucchini?

It's hard to tell just how big these are, but trust me they are huge!!

Right about now we have more zucchini than we know what to do with. We pick the big bad ugly zucchini not to eat, but to play with. Hunter and Hayden have "zucchini ed" people (ding dong ditch, but you leave a zucchini). Hayden and his friends like to use the big ones for air soft gun shooting practice. We have even carved some up. I have cut the small ones and put them in just about anything and everything. Not to mention bread and cookies. I don't think I'll buy a zucchini at the store ALL winter long! If you want to feel like you have gardening success...plant zucchini.

I watched my neighbor's kids today (she watched mine while I went to San Francisco). OMGoodness, is it time for school to start yet? Soon. I finally feel like I'm back in the groove after my girls trip to San Fran. Boy, does it take a few days to get your feet back under you.

Last night Scott and I went for a late run. I had run 6 miles earlier that day, but needed some night running/training. It really wasn't so bad, and this is coming from someone who gets grumpy past 9. I had book club last night and I even had a full tummy. I was tired starting out, but once that heart starts pumping, you are awake. Amazing how that works. Hood to Coast 1 week from today. I really just want to get it done. I think I'm prepared/ready as I'll ever be, so bring it on!

I went to my friend's Silpada jewelry party tonight. I didn't think I'd buy anything but left with a new cuff bangle bracelet. Well, didn't actually leave with it, payed for it, and it comes next week. Maybe I'll wear it for Hood to Coast, kidding. I don't think it would go with my Head Hunter singlet (super ugly shirt we had to buy for our team). Totally rambling now, goodnight.

My little Giada

For several months all Hope wanted to watch on TV was Max and Ruby. I like Max and Ruby so that was fine by me. In fact, I think we all kind of liked Max and Ruby...bigger children have all been know to sit and watch M&R...with Hope;) Well, I started DVRing Giada's new cooking show on the Food Network, and Hope has watched. Now, she wants to watch Giada as much as she wants to watch Max and Ruby, that's saying a lot. For many weeks she had been into "making recipes". Making recipes=making messes, really but it keeps her busy and happy. Really, anything can go into a recipe. Cheerios, nuts, crackers, berries...then she likes to freeze it. Everyone must sample, too. It's delightful. Now, she has found a fellow chef to bond with. "I'm like Giada" she now tells us as she is wiping up some concoction. Hope describes things she eats as "tasty and delicious" or "tasty and sweet". She is a funny girl.

Ice Cream

Oh my goodness, do you like chocolate and peanut butter ice cream? If the answer is yes, then you must make this ASAP. Joy the Baker does not disappoint with this one. I'm just passing this good treat along. It tastes like frozen pudding...with peanut butter.

Another favorite ice cream recipe is found here. Just saying...if you are in need of a treat here you go!

Testing

This is my same blog, just a different address. Testing to see if this works.