Day 28 - Birthday Celebration

My gray for the day ;)

Even though tomorrow is David's birthday, we celebrated today because Dad and Lissy have to leave in the morning. We met up with everyone at church, which btw, was totally great this morning! Then Aunt Tish and and her David got back on the road to drive back to VA! I couldn't believe they made that trip just to spend the day with us...but it meant a lot!!! It was so great to see them again! 

We stopped at the grocery store to pick up grill fixings...steak, burgers, and brats! Plus some fresh corn to roast. The porterhouses were on sale for 5.99/lb!!! Such a good deal...so I grabbed a couple of them, but of course I had to get David his ribeye, so I got a couple of them too. Once we got home I made the pineapple upside down cake...David's favorite, but Dad likes it too. Thought it was a good choice for their birthday celebration. It was Dad's birthday a couple weeks ago, so of course we had to celebrate both of them! Got the grill going and started cooking. Man, that grill is NICE! I am so gonna be getting some good use out of that thing! hahaha...David will be able to eat the fruit of my labor...but I think I'm gonna be the one using it. ;) Although, he did save the steaks when I ran inside to get the cake out of the oven. So he's used it too! The kids were all playing badminton while we were cooking. It was a feast! so of course I forgot to take any pics :/ The porterhouses were thinner, so they got a bit overdone, for my taste anyways...I'm of the school of thought, redder is better! lol...But David got full pretty quick, so he shared his lovely rare ribeye with me! Thanks babe! The corn came out really well too! And the kids liked their bacon cheddar burgers. Overall, that grill is a hit!

It's gorgeous! Plus, they got a cover for it, which is really helpful!

We rested and hung out for a bit before cake and ice cream. Gave Papa his present...a Fitbit! Thankfully he didn't have one already...hahaha. 

silly boy!

Then David decided he was hungry again! Must be cake-time ;)

Happy Birthday to y'all (the kids sang...lol...too cute!)

Happy Birthday to y'all...happy birthday dear "Papa" "Daddy" cacophony of names overlaid in different order...lol 

Happy Birthday to y'all!

The cake came out really good! I refuse to make any other recipe...a lot of pineapple upside down cakes are dry and gross...but this one is so good! Plus the carmelized butter and sugar makes it over the top good! It's just about gone! lol

After that we watched the kids play video games and just hung out for a bit. Finally got to be that time...and off they went. The kids were fine until after they left...then got a bit glum, especially Buddy. He was pretty sad...my sweet boy!

Y'all, I was so impressed with David this weekend! He must have been feeling really well, or else was just determined, but he stayed downstairs basically the whole time! Even sat outside, which is way outside his comfort zone...lol! That is just about miraculous. He went to church...made it through the whole service. Again, not a common occurrence...although lately he has been making it more. He felt a bit sick last night at the restaurant, but it cleared up. I was really proud of him for making the effort. He was pretty good in the whole speech department too...sometimes his word finding still gets in the way...or he goes off on really weird tangents...but he did so great this weekend. I was so relieved he was feeling well for his family visit!

The only downside of this weekend was the fact that I didn't study at all. And I have a test on Tuesday. So tomorrow will be cram, cram, cram. Other than the 50% off sale at Savers of course! Duh!!!!! I can't miss that! hahahahaha

Day 27 - Family Fun

Today's gray...y'all I have made it without any repeats! Besides my gym wear, which really shouldn't count!!! haha

I was all looking forward to sleeping in this morning...and what time do I wake up? 5 freaking 30 am!!!! The younger two were up and watching a show and apparently making cookies! Luckily I fell right back asleep...and then woke up at 9...which is better, but still too early for Saturday!!! hahaha...oh well, it was just as well. I REALLY needed to mow! It was due like 3 days ago, but it's been raining everyday. It finally stopped yesterday...that lawn was like a meadow! lol

Buddy kept me company the whole time!

Saturday means pancake morning! Since David is taking a break from his diet, I knew I couldn't skip it!

buttermilk pancakes, buttermilk syrup, and strawberries and blackberries macerated in balsamic vinegar and sugar!

Worth breaking a diet over! lol

Then Papa and Miss Lissy, plus Aunt Tish and her husband, also a David, came over. Dad brought David's awesome birthday present...a new propane grill! Oh yeah, I'm gonna be using that baby all the time!!! :) It's gorgeous! and they got a cover too. We are so breaking it in tomorrow! I forgot to take a pic today, but I'll post one tomorrow! They also brought the kids a badminton/volleyball net...plus some new horseshoes. The house came with horseshoe pits (and a pool and hot tub...but the horseshoes is all we kept...lol).

caught David laughing at something...lol

silly kiddos

For dinner, I was already planning on cooking...had all the fixings for spaghetti...or we could have used the grill...but nope. David wanted to go to Catsup and Mustard, an awesome burger joint here in town. We were planning on going there tomorrow...lol...way to stick to the plan dude! Guess he just couldn't wait.

haha...I was too eager to eat...I couldn't wait for a pic! Of course, I got the pretzel bun...so good!

our waiter was kind enough to get some pics of all of us!

We got there right before the dinner rush, so we only had to wait for them to put a table together for us. The burgers were great as always...plus we got the half and half fries and onion rings...and the sweet potato fries with maple mayonnaise dipping sauce. Yum!

Back to the house for a mini concert...with very reluctant participants...lol...we guilted Fluffernutter and Glitter into performing! Fluffernutter played some of her guitar pieces for everyone. I have no evidence though...she was hiding even more in the corner ;) Then we even got Glitter to play her favorite violin piece.

The kids had been waiting all day to go swimming at Papa's hotel...Buddy was starting to think we'd never go! haha...finally got there...and it was crazy packed!!! and terribly loud! Apparently there was a baseball tournament and they were all staying at that hotel. lol...wow! But we stuck it out for about and hour and a half...the older two got out about half way through...but the younger ones were having a great time! David called me at one point (he stayed home, obviously) and I didn't even hear it. Not that I would have been able to talk...I mean, it was pandemonium! But the important thing is the kids had fun!

Can't see the crowd in these pics...which is why I'm putting them up...but trust me, it was insane!

Finally called it a night...and got the kids home. We'll meet up with everyone at church tomorrow. Hopefully David is feeling ok and makes it! He really did pretty good...stayed downstairs for a couple hours...even sat outside for a bit...he only does that for company! hahaha...when we first got to the restaurant he was feeling pretty sick...but that was probably because we had a little walk to get there...once he sat down and got a drink he felt a lot better. I was worried...I have seen that scenario play out really badly...hahahaha!!!

Anyways, it was a great day...relaxing and just lovely to visit with family. We haven't seen David's Aunt Tish in years! The last time was at Mama's funeral...and it's not like you're exactly visiting with people. Before that was back when we lived in Colorado! So it was really great to just hang out and reconnect. I can't believe they made that long drive today from VA just to come see us for a day or so. That was incredibly sweet! And of course, we couldn't be happier to have Dad and Lissy out to visit too. We've really missed them!

Day 26 - Friyay!

I love this adorable top I found...where else but Savers! OK, with or without lipstick??? haha, I normally don't wear color on my lips, mostly because it's a hassle...but sometimes a girl just wants some color!

We could not get moving this morning. All the kids were late to school, 3 different times mind you, other than Fluffernutter, who might have made it in the door on time, but was definitely late for class. First Shift...who has not had a good year as far as attendance! So many absences, etc, because of all her health issues...but this morning was totally my fault! Ugh! I finally got her up and going...then laid back down while she was getting ready...and conked back out. Meanwhile, she's all ready, but unaware of the time. I wake back up at 7:36! school starts at 7:30. Sigh...I'm all, you should have called me, she's like, I didn't know what time it was. Grrrr!!! lol. Fluffernutter is always hard to get out of bed...I'm yelling at her at like 8:05, she rolls out and gets in the car pretty quickly. Drop her off at 8:14...a minute to spare. I don't even know what happened with the younger two. Everyone was ready...just lost track of time. I did NOT have it together this morning! sigh...

Thankfully the kids did a really great job of helping get the house looking nice...so there wasn't lots for me to do this morning. I took care of some of the odds and ends that still needed doing, then Sarah and I headed for yoga. Oh man, I was still sore from Wednesday, plus the teacher was totally holding the poses for longer than normal. I was literally shaking on some of them! lol...

I was all gray! Gray F-cancer hoodie, gray F-cancer shirt, gray mat! lol...Sarah had her F-cancer shirt on too...we should have gotten a shot!

Speaking of the F-cancer gear...Stephen Amell, the actor who does these shirt campaigns every year, was on America Ninja Warrior last night for the charity fundraiser Red Nose Campaign. I didn't see it last night, but the video was posted last night. He was awesome!!! Went through the course no problem...then even did an extra event, the salmon ladder! It was so cool! Y'all should totally check it out!

I needed to go to the grocery store to prep for company...even if we are eating out a few times, I need stuff in the house for some meals! I asked David if he wanted to go with me last night...and he actually said yes. What??? I totally wasn't expecting that! haha...so when I got home from yoga, I got ready, got him up...even got him in the shower! Although I'm sure that was more for family coming in than for Walmart...hahahaha! Y'all don't even understand...that is a big deal! Anyways, he sat at the Dunkin inside Walmart most of the time...but he did come pick out the ice cream! hahaha...but I'm glad he came, got out of the house...and he's been downstairs ever since! It's the not so little, little things. 

My overgrown mess of a garden is finally starting to bloom! 

my eyes look so brown in this pic...it's funny how they change depending on the light and what I'm wearing...they're usually much more green.

silliness

Fluffernutter had her guitar lesson and band practice tonight...I almost forgot! But she remembered! Good thing! She has a gig with her band coming up in like a week or two. Then it was time to go! Papa and Miss Lissy were meeting us straight off the road for dinner...Mexican food is pretty much a no-no on Atkins, so of course that's what David wanted first on this weekend he's taking off...haha! So Margaritas it was!

She's so cute! They are too ;)

Shift had gray on too!

yum! Buddy likes queso! And my blood orange margarita was pretty tasty.

I loved these skeleton mariachi statuettes!

David didn't love his food...because he ordered something weird like he usually does...and then usually winds up not liking! hahaha...he needs to stick with the basics that he likes, not try to experiment...he's really not the experimenting type! lol...Shift told him he wouldn't like what he ordered...she said he should just let me order for him from now on! hahahaha...He ordered a fish burrito...fish tacos, yes please! but a fish burrito? That's weird even for me! lol...oh well...my steak and shrimp fajitas were yummy! and the sopapillas for dessert were awesome! Although, they were tiny! I'm used to the big fluffy ones.

It was great to see Dad and Lissy...the kids were SO happy! After dinner they came by the house for a bit...it was a long day of driving for them...but they hung out for a while. Freckles was very happy to see them too...lol...because they pay attention to her! haha

Glitter fell asleep...she's not much of a night owl...definitely more of an early bird! lol...so glad tomorrow is Saturday. I am so sleeping in, and I think everyone else is too! haha...Dad and Lissy headed to check in their hotel...probably won't see them until pm tomorrow...lol :)