Well, I cooked a “real” supper tonight (unusual for a Saturday night because I’ve usually been on the go all day and don’t feel like spending time cooking).

Tonight’s menu: manicotti, salad, yeast rolls.

I was afraid that, due to the humid weather, the rolls wouldn’t rise very much.  Wow, was I ever wrong!  They were huge.  They overflowed the edge of the cake pan I put them in.  Big enough that I split one between the 2 girls.

Managed to make it through the day (thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!).  DH was working late tonight, so when I got home, I started the spaghetti sauce and sausage cooking, and we all loaded up and went to the gym.  DD2 had a bit of homework that she finished in the car and we studied spelling words on the way home.  Tough words for her this week, “restaurant” just being one of them.  Tough words for a 4th grader.

Nothing fancy for dinner – spaghetti sauce with mushrooms and hot Italian sausage (from The Market), rigatoni, green beans, and sugar free lemonade.

and, hopefully, the pollen count is way down.  I’m tired of everyone sneezing, stopped up, etc.  On the other hand, perhaps due to the lousy weather, the entire family was one big grouch tonight.

So, for dinner tonight, bacon and eggs.  Not just any bacon though… bacon from Benton’s, the best bacon in the entire world.

Well, it seems that everyone needs new shoes here at the Carnival.

DD2 outgrew her softball cleats that were too big last season.  She also needs new running shoes, a real pair of running shoes since she is now running and will hopefully be in a local track club’s summer kids program – running twice a week and a meet every Saturday.

DH desperately needs a new pair of sneakers/trainers.  I’ve never seen anyone wear out a pair of tennis shoes the way he does.  His look like the dog (if we had one) has been chewing on them a month after we get them.  I wear sneakers until I’m tired of looking at them and finally buy a new pair.

So, I declared tonight a “no gym” night (DD1 and I usually go to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings), that we would have to eat out somewhere, and everyone must be forced to endure shoe shopping for the others’ sake.

Have I mentioned that DD1 has Asperger’s?  And that she hates stores?  And even though she loves eating at Chili’s that the noise factor there usually makes her grouchy?

So, first stop of the evening is to the sports department at Target.  Cheap softball cleats, under $20, and out of the store in 20 minutes (including the time we stopped to chat with someone).  Yippee!

On to Chili’s.  Typically loud and their usual great service (although the kitchen seemed a bit slow this evening).  Leftovers for the girls to eat before church Wednesday night.  DD1 starts complaining about how long we’re at the restaurant and that she has a headache and that she’s ready to leave and …………….

On to Dick’s Sporting Goods for DH and DD2 to look for running shoes and sneakers.  DD1 went next door to prowl around PetSmart, guaranteeing us at least 15 minutes of angst free shoe shopping.  Well, not so angst free.  DH can’t find anything he likes, and DD2 can’t find anything in what we consider a reasonable price range that is in her size (2 sizes larger than the last ones we bought).  Call us frugal, cheap, or realists, but I think spending over $50 on a pair of running shoes for a 10 year old who isn’t competing is ridiculous.

DH ended up buying some golf balls and I tried on some workout gear (thanks, Dicks, for starting to carry workout clothes in sizes for those of us who need to work out!)  but I didn’t buy anything – the Adidas shorts felt weird – I can’t quite get used to the wicking fabric, so will try again when I’m calmer and maybe they will feel okay.

DH thinks that track is a cheap sport, but I’ve already told him once she starts serious competition that she will need a new pair of running shoes every 500 miles or so.  At >$100 each.  Plus all the really cool +$40 running shorts that she’s got her eyes on.  If anyone owns a sporting goods store and would like to advertise on the back of a very petite 10 year old in exchange for clothes and/or shoes, just email!

So, we still have shoe shopping left to do, but it will have to wait until Saturday.  The rest of this week is booked and I need to get in some gym time.

Perhaps, with Corey’s fine example, I will actually use this blog.  So here’s the first “official” real post.

Hair – shortish

Your Mother – alike

Your Father – adviser

Fav Food – pomegranate

Dream Last Night – none

Fav Drink – tea

What room are you in? – living

Hobby – kids

Fear – roaches

Where were you last night? – home

Something that you aren’t – thin

Muffins – fattening

Wish List Item – porch

Where you grew up – Navy brat (sorry that it’s 2 words, but we moved every few years)

What you are wearing –shorts

Your Pet – cat

Friends – select

Something you’re not wearing – bra

Fav Store – Christmas

Fav Color – purple

Last time you laughed – today

Your Best Friend – DH

Best Place you go over and over – Hilton Head

Person who you email regularly – Scott

Fav Place to Eat – Fogo de Chao

I decided today to start blogging.  There are, occasionally, pieces of our lives that I would like to write down.