Braggin' Rights

Bill and I have been keepin' on with our new eating/exercise regimen. He has lost between 10 and 15 pounds (he didn't take a starting weight) and I've lost 9. I think I can speak for both of us and say that we've noticed a big difference.

Aside from him getting over a bad cold, Bill has so much more energy than he used to. I haven't really noticed an energy change, but my headaches are less frequent and mostly treatable with ibuprofen rather than my migraine medicine.

It's also been interesting to see how much better "real" food tastes vs. the convenience items. Like last night I made homemade oven french fries and they had so much more flavor than the frozen stuff. The kids loved them. Another favorite for Bill and I is homemade hummus. Laugh all you want, it's good!

We're not perfect. We have one or two cheater meals a week, but even those are scaled down, healthier cheats than what they used to be. I definitely think it's a change we plan to stick with.

He's Ba-ack!

As we all know from watching Charlotte's web (one of the only kid movies I'll watch more than once), this isn't the same Elmer as last year. However, for the first time since I started to notice the little buggers, he sure looks like last year's specimen. I'm a little bummed that Mother Nature didn't send a different colored one.

I really don't like his choice of location, so this weekend I'm going to remove his web and see if he will pack his bags and head elsewhere on the deck.

Camping Ree Style

No, we didn't let her sleep outside in the hammock. That would require one of us to join her and that just ain't happening. She likes to lay here in the evenings when the sun disappears behind the trees.

G's Summer

Wondering what G is up to this summer? He's been quite the busy boy. He bought his first car, with Popo's help. It needs a new engine, so it's a work in progress. He bought new tires & rims for it this week.

He's played a couple of band "gigs." We're going to his 3rd performance next weekend.

Lastly.....he pierced his lip. Not with anyone's permission, just on his own. Here are some pictures of his adventures.

Greek-Style Shrimp Pasta

2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb. raw shrimp, peeled & de-veined
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained
1 package reduced fat crumbled feta
1/4 cup toasted pinenuts
2/3 cup half & half
cracked pepper, to taste
1/2 box fettuccini noodles, cooked

In a large pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add the shrimp and garlic, cook for 2 minutes stirring frequently. Add the rest of the ingredients (except the pasta) and continue to cook until the shrimp are done and the half & half has reduced, about 4-5minutes. Drain the pasta and add to the pan, stir to combine.

Serves 4-5 people.

I love how fast this dish comes together. It's one of our favorites.

Sprayin'

Like most dogs, Addie loves to drink from the hose. Ree likes to play with the sprayer, so they make a good team!

Flowers From Our Yard

A Joining of Two Fish Tanks

Last night at like 8:30 Hammie comes running up the stairs saying "Daddy, Mommy come quick Ree....Ree um....Ree....um...." Bill ran down the stairs. Once his feet hit the bottom of the stairs Ree came flying up and flew down the hall to her room. Seriously, her little feet did not touch the floor. I watched.

Miss Ree had dumped about 1/4 of a big can of fish food into the downstairs tank. Sound familiar? This is the first time she's done it, but it's the 3rd time such an event has happened in the past 2 years. This was the first time they've been able to reach it since the last time it happened. Bill had forgotten to bring it back to it's top-shelf spot the night before.

Bill went on his usual tirade of how sick he is of the fish tanks, now the fish were going to die, blah. Then Hammie started saying he didn't want the fish to die, please save the fish, blah. So we trudged downstairs. I brought a doubled-up sack to put the imitation Parthenon in so that Bill could catch the fish without them all ducking in as though some fancy fish event was about to happen inside it. Although, come to think of it....there was what appeared to be a confetti shower going on inside that tank. A confetti shower to rival the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square.

Bill managed to catch all of the fish and they seem to be getting along with the upstairs crowd. The silver lining to the whole unfortunate event is that my favorite plecostamus is now back where he belongs. He moved downstairs for some reason, I can't really remember why.

So, time will tell about the downstairs tank. I'm not sure if it will be rehab'd or not.