Mud Run

Chris ran in the 5k Mud Run over at Skyline on Sunday.

It was also his birthday. We got him a GPS and we ate the Soup Plantation. I went around telling everyone at church and throughout the day that it was his birthday, and he was older than me... (for six months).

This is his birthday cake I made...

Just kidding!

Ally ran in her championship race. She needed to place in the top 12 to qualify for state, but came in 17th. Good race, and now she can come to Michigan with me for T-Day weekend. The Foothills boy's team qualified to go to state -- only two teams could qualify and they made it by one point. It's the first TEAM from Foothills to ever qualify for state. Very exciting.

Ally and I met with friends for the midnight premier of New Moon last Thursday. Some friends got our place in line at 5:30 p.m. I got there at 8 p.m., and they let us in the theater at 10 p.m. There were at least 200 people in front of us in line and probably 2,000 or more total in line. Very fun, crazy lines, crazy people... will have to see it again to be able to hear everything. So fun and GREAT movie. We loved it.

Turkey Time

I did get all my T-Day shopping finished up in order to avoid the rush. Chris said I always seem to send him out for something at the last minute... please, is that me?! It's probably because people eat up my ingredients! Like today I made an apple-bacon-cheese-bella frittata, but it turned out to be minus the bella because the mushrooms got eaten! It was still good though -- just threw in some onions instead. Our neighbor David, an elderly gentleman who lives by himself, will join us for dinner on T-Day.

It is cool and nice here. When I was into Costco I couldn't resist buying myself a man's red plaid flannel shirt to wear around the house or as a light jacket. Cozy! Some guy in Costco was buying four turkeys! Maybe it was for a preschool or something. They have all their Christmas stuff in... makes me just want to run up and down the aisles throwing stuff in the cart. I have been too cool to drink my usual fraps, so I've been checking out the skinny lattes at Starbucks... gingerbread, cinnamon dulce, pumpkin spice, caramel macchiato... haven't found a fave replacement yet, but I'd say pumpkin spice is in the lead.

I finally, finally lost another pound. Man, my body just doesn't want to go below 150! I am making some healthy pumpkin peach muffins tomorrow for breakfast. But at the same time I am making chocolates, getting in practice for the Christmas gifts. I might start shipping some, since the hot weather is over. I made white chocolate covered caramels, chocolate covered pretzels, caramel marshmallows (which didn't taste all that great), caramel peanut clusters, and peanut butter filled. I also made a mixed chocolate crisp heart for Ally's friend's birthday.






Has Tigger been sneaking the chocolates?


A photo of Amy about 16 years ago when she was three. We were attending a wedding.


The four of us went out to lunch at Applebees on Sunday. Had a good time -- I like eating there because they have Weight Watcher's options on their menu and they are pretty good. Tomorrow I am meeting some old friends from church at Starbucks for a quick get-together. Haven't seen them in probably ten years. Another Facebook connection!

My boss is in the hospital and may have surgery, so I was busy working with our foreman, rescheduling appointments, putting people off, and returning phone calls today. CRAZY -- if he does have surgery, he could be out for a couple weeks.

Wanted to post soon because lot's more is going on this weekend with Ally's championship race, Chris' birthday and mud run, and the New Moon movie opening (which Ally and I and friends will attend on Thursday at midnight).

Latte Weather

I actually had to turn on the heater in my car on the way home tonight. Ahhhhh... and my lattes in the morning (sugar free vanilla) are just what I need... like a little taste of heaven! Broke down and bought an electric kettle -- got tired of heating one on the stove all the time, or in the micro.

The cats like a little warmth now and then, too!


Speaking of micro, mine is dying. Slowly but surely... first the LED lights slowly went out, now it no longer beeps for anything, so I don't know if I pushed the buttons for sure or not. And, of course, the warranty just ran out. What I really want to do it ditch it and replace my stove with a flat top one with the micro above it... but since that's about $800, I'll probably do nothing and just keep babying the micro since it still heats. That'll last until I accidently melt chocolate for 20 minutes instead of 2.

Made some healthy meals this week... an angel food pineapple cake, healthy pancakes, a hashbrown casserole which was pretty good. But also made these chocolates which were to die for. Caramel coated in white chocolate, and then I had these orange crunch bits that I bought at the candy supply store, wasn't quite sure what to do with them, so I stirred them in some white chocolate. Man were they good -- tasted like those orange creme pops. TASTY!


Had to work on Veteran's Day even though I AM a vet! I sent Vet thank you's to all my friends on Facebook who I knew were Vets. Didn't know I had so many!

I went into my fave Starbucks (which means it's not crowded), and ordered my drink. Sat down to read my Bible and my studies, and they forgot to make my drink. So I finally got it and a coupon for a free one. Ally told me I should order the Venti with the free one and milk it for all it's worth, but I didn't think I could drink one that big, plus extra calories and all, but I did get a Grande instead of a Tall. Found this pic that will be my gravestone for SURE! I know there's a carmel frap light waiting in heaven for me when I get there.


Ally had league finals this week and placed 15th in the 5k run. Her side had been hurting her for unknown reasons for about three days, but she hasn't mentioned it lately so I'm hoping it's past. Her regional championships are on the 21st and if she qualifies for state, she'll have to make a decision whether to go to Fresno to run or come to Michigan with me to meet up with the family. She has a non-refundable ticket that was over $400 and our hotel room in Michigan is paid for -- made the plans months ago, but at the time I told her if she ran cross country and qualified for state, she could make the decision whether to go or not. I won't go this year, but Chris will take her if she decides to go. She keeps wavering back and forth -- I told her not to stress about it until she even sees if she qualifies.

I am making a mental note to get my Thanksgiving cooking stuff by Monday at the latest. I definitely want to avoid grocery stores the week of due to crowds and low supply of T-Day items. Chris reminded me that it seems like I always send him out for a last minute item or two. Please, now does that sound like me?!

Bits and Pieces

Chris and I went to see The Surrogates. Not my kind of movie, but I owed Chris one after making him sit through The Time Traveler's Wife. It was okay, at least it wasn't that scary or bloody. And I did see George Clooney while we were there.

I played volleyball on Thursday night -- I got hit the hardest I ever have by a spiked ball (and that includes a spike in the face that almost knocked me out). It left the seam imprint in my arm for a couple hours, and it's three days later and I can still feel it!

The weather has cooled off nicely, we're enjoying weather in the 70's. There is actually a tree turning color at my work -- ha! Ally's school pics arrived this week -- we just can't keep her from growing up.

Chris told me he's getting a promotion to GS-12 soon at work. Hooray! He's been waiting for that for awhile. He's having a fit about his weight, so I have been making less chocolate and more healthy dishes. Made some crab-stuffed mushrooms a couple times this week and a breakfast hashbrown casserole. Also an angel food and pineapple cake. All low-fat or non-fat recipes. I'm back on track too, and should record another one or two pound loss soon -- woot! I really want to end the holiday season under 150!

We've been busy with parties and goings on all weekend. Here's Ally and her friends (next pic) before going to a semi-formal birthday dinner tonight. Chris and I took them, and another parent is driving the return carpool. Chris took me to Starbucks after, we had a nice time. His days off are so messed up, some new plan that isn't quite working out, we haven't known what his days off are until sometimes the day before! Once this week he went all the way to Imperial Beach to work, only to find out they changed his schedule and he wasn't even supposed to work. That's the US Government -- oh well, at least there's job security!

Watched the Charges squeak out a win in the last minute against the Giants today and by one point! GO BOLTS!

The Boo Crew

The week flew by -- we were very busy. Ally placed seventh in her cross country race, her best finish ever. I made candy for all the pastors for Pastor Appreciation Month. The kids carved pumpkins and went trick-or-treating. I passed out full-sized candy bars, probably had about 100 kids. Here's some pics from the week...