First post with pictures from the iPad

Just checking this out to see how it works. Or if it works!

Memorial Day Weekend

I love Memorial Day weekend for several reasons.
1. It marks the beginning of the end of the school year. Once you get to Memorial Day, the end is in sight. Even if there is a boatload of work to do to close things out.
2. Sally was born right after Memorial Day.
3. We bought our house over Memorial Day weekend 24 years ago.
4. Best of all, I met Jack at a Memorial Day party 29 years ago. My brother, Tom, and Jack were friends from time spent as co-workers at IBM and another co-worker had an annual Memorial Day party. The host always encouraged his friends to bring girls to the party to even out the ratio and so Tom brought me. I liked Jack from the moment we first met. I didn't hold it against him that it took him almost 4 weeks to call me (I had to have Tom give Jack a message for me). I will never forget the first time he called me...it was a hot Monday night and I was working on lesson plans for summer school the next day. The famous line from that phone call was from me. Jack asked if I wanted to go out the following weekend and after I said yes, he asked which night was better for me. "I'm really flexible!!!" I think I might have sounded a bit desperate, not wanting to let a live one get away! We did go out that following weekend, July 3, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I wouldn't want to forget to mention that I am thankful for all those who died for our freedom and for our country. I do understand that is what Memorial Day is all about.

My family is so intellectual

Often Wayne comes home on Monday nights to check in with the fam (and get a homecooked meal and his laundry done). We love to watch intellectually stimulating television shows...such as Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelorette. Gotta love Monday night TV and the way it brings a family together :)

Teachers in Need

Yesterday we went to a fundraiser at Sally's high school. It's for a fund that benefits teachers who are going through difficult times because of serious health issues. It began when Sally was a senior in high school; one of the English teachers' young daughters was battling leukemia and he had to take some unpaid leave because of that. The school community rallied around the family and helped them out through donations. The TIN fund has continued since then. By the way, I am happy to report that the girl is doing well now, five years later. Anyway, Sally offered to bring Abbie and Nina to the fundraiser because there were lots of fun kids' games and activities. Jack and I tagged along. It was so fun! Highlights of the day included: 1) the girls won two goldfish. They were thrilled but we weren't sure how Arne and Beth would feel about it. Luckily, they were good sports. Abbie named both fish...their names are Rascal and Chinese. 2) the padded inflatable obstacle course-Nina LOVED it. She could have gone through it 100 times and not been tired of it! 3) personal tour of the firetruck- no one else was out there when we went, so it was just the girls getting the royal treatment from two cute fireman!

Abbie driving the firetruck

Nina liked the fireman

the obstacle course that Nina loved!

the girls chatting it up with Bob Buddig

Success! Rascal and Chinese are going to a good home

 

 

Out of the Rut revisited

It's been a while since I have posted an "out of the rut" item. That's probably because we have been in a rut:). Earlier this evening Jack and I drove Sally and her friend Sarah to the city. They were meeting a group of friends for dinner and we needed to drop off some clothes at Wayne's. After our missions were accomplished, we stopped and had a quick dinner at a little neighborhood tavern in Wayne's neck of the woods. It was a nice change of pace! Here are some pictures from the evening.

Happy Mother's Day!

Jack and I are so blessed to still have both our moms and our kids to still have both grandmothers.Both Marie and Shirley are wonderful mothers. They are supportive, loving, giving and accepting, among many other fine attributes. I enjoyed some quality family time yesterday. I had a visit at my mom's with both my sisters and Karen (who is Sue's neighbor and friend who is just like a sister to us). We had a lot of fun taking this picture! It took many tries and a little cropping!

Jenny, Mom, me, Karen and Sue

Later in the day, Jack, Sally, Matt and I joined Jack's mom, dad and sister Sue for dinner. Great meal and great conversation and great company.

me, Downtown Sue, Marie, Bill, Matt, Sally and Jack

Wayne was not around this weekend as he was at the Kentucky Derby with some friends. Wayne and two of his friends, Alan and Steve, place a $3 bet on the last race of the day and won $1600! Pretty exciting!!!
All in all, a lovely Mother's Day :)

Little Cara Lee is getting married

Man, time flies! I went to a wedding shower today for Cara who I have known since she was in fifth grade. Awesome girl, marrying her darling high school sweetheart. It was such a fun shower. The hostesses, Mary Kay and Ruth, asked the guests to bring their wedding albums to share with everyone. I loved seeing how friends and acquaintances looked on their wedding days. Brought back many good memories! Love to celebrate such happy events.

Easy Delicious Crockpot Chicken Recipe

I have an awesome recipe to share. It's called Crockpot Chicken Barbeque and it is easy and delish. Here it is:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I use about 1 1/4 lbs)
1 1/2 cups ketchup (I use closer to one cup)
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground red hot pepper flakes or to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Combine all ingredients for the sauce in the slow cooker. Add the chicken and mix well so that all of the chicken is coated with the sauce.
Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or until chicken is fully cooked all the way through. Then shred or cut up the chicken ( I just take two forks and pull it so that it is shredded up...takes about 2 mins!). Mix it up so the chicken is all coated. Serve on rolls.
I found this recipe on About.com. There are lots of helpful hints on there, including how to adjust the seasonings if you want to double or triple the recipe. I am impressed by how far a pound of chicken breasts can go when you prepare it this way.And I think it is pretty reasonable calorie/fat/carb wise.
Highly recommend this recipe :)

May Day!

I cannot even believe that it is May 1st already! Love it.The weather is finally getting a bit nicer and it is definitely getting lighter in the morning and staying lighter at night. That helps. And only 5 more weeks left of this school year. Wow.

It has been a relaxing weekend. Jack and I had our typical Friday night, very chill. We ended up ordering a Home Run Inn pizza for dinner; we loved the ones we had at Mark and Cathy's last weekend. Yesterday we had fun running errands together. We had Matt's parents, Bob and Mary, over for dinner with Matt and Sally, too, of course. It was a big milestone for me. It was one of the first times ever that I wasn't rushing around getting things done all day in preparation for guests. It's not that I am so much organized than usual; I think it is just that I have lowered my standards! I was even able to run over to the local nail salon to get a polish change for my fingernails an hour before the guests were to arrive. Pretty big deal for me. We had a fun evening with Bob, Mary, Matt and Sally. Bob even let me take a picture of him!



Sally and Matt





The moms





Bob, Mary, Sally and Matt