I thought Tori deserved the spotlight for once. After all, she was our Numero Uno for a few years. Actually, I'm pretty sure she still considers herself to be top dog among our menagerie.
Tori greets us at the door when we come home. She enjoys belly rubs and she's very partial to the McHusband. She'll stand - or lay on - her ground even if it means potentially getting stepped on. She will lay on the landing of the stairs and won't move when the dogs go by her, even if it's Tucker who's barreling down at 37 mph. Sure, she'll keep an eye on them and be ready to move if she needs to, but she doesn't automatically make way for them. And if she's sitting on my lap or the McHusband's and Tucker gets in her face like he's apt to do, she'll hiss and swat and bite at his nose until he gives up.
Like I said - top dog.
Tori in HER spot.
Striking a pose.
Work it, girl!
Time for your close-up.
"That's enough, it's time for my 14th nap of the day. I need to rest up for dinner."
The McHusband’s company’s receptionist asked me if I wanted to join her and some friends at the park by our old house for Boot Camp a couple days a week for the month of September, starting yesterday.
Is it too late to say no?
We had our first session yesterday and it was tough. How tough? The instructor ended early because she “want[s] us to come back on Thursday.”
There were just four of us – the receptionist and her friend plus Chelle and me. I think a couple other ladies will be joining us on Thursday so it’ll be a good-sized group. Chelle gets a week to recover because she’s heading to the beach tomorrow. Of course, that just means she’s going to be super sore again next week after Tuesday’s session.
The rest of us will probably still be in pain from Thursday so we’ll barely notice the difference.
Boot Camp starts at 6:00 (p.m - I'm not a complete masochist), but I got there with time to spare so I jogged through the old ‘hood and past our old house. It looked…fine, but a little neglected. At least the grass wasn’t a foot tall like it’s been the past three times we’ve driven by since we moved. I had a bird bath and flowers in between two trees and now all that’s growing is a weed. Oh, they also keep their garbage and recycling containers on the pad (you can just see the edge of it in this picture) that the McHusband built next to the driveway so that they’re basically in the front yard. I can’t believe they haven’t gotten a letter from the HOA.
Anyway, enough boo-hooing over the old house. I have a beautiful new house now. More boo-hooing over boot camp.
At one point, we were doing push-ups on a bench and then sprinting up and down a hill before doing more push-ups. I said to Chelle, “I feel like I’m on The Biggest Loser,” and she said, “Me too, and I don’t even watch that show!”
Biggest Loser contestants: I’m sooooo sorry. In a show of solidarity, I’ll never eat popcorn and drink wine spritzers again while I watch the show.
It's getting to be that time of year when I'm not as interested in the gym and working out - I wish I could say it's because bathing suit season is just about over, but since I didn't don my suit even once this summer... I think as long as I can go straight to the Y from work like I've been doing, I'll be okay.
I'm hoping that doing Boot Camp this month will, at the very least, keep me motivated and, at the most, help me drop a few pounds and tone up a little.
The McInlaws visited Kevin, Jenny, and Chase on Sunday. There was work to be done - spread mulch, set up the pool, paint shutters - and someone had to keep Chase occupied while Jenny actually worked (as a home health nurse).
Now that Chase is walking, I'm not sure who worked harder: Kevin and the McDad outside, or Grammie inside - then outside then inside - with Chase.
Guess what? Kevin and Jenny have a special door just for Chase.
"Watch this, Grammie!"
"Bye, Grammie!"
Um, Kevin and Jenny? Maybe it's time to think about installing one of those pet doors that only open for the dog who's wearing a certain collar to activate the door.
Then again, the yard is fenced. How far can he get?
I can't remember the last time I baked homemade cookies. I did some break-and-bake ones for the McHusband to take to the beach in July and those were yummy, but there's something about making cookies from scratch, you know?
Byron, Lisa, and the girls stopped by today. They were in the area on their way back from Charlotte because Byron was taking a second look - and getting a first ride - on a boat that he's thinking about buying. Lisa and the girls stayed at the house with me while the boys went to see the boat. Originally, Melaney and Lindsey were going to stay at the house so Byron and Lisa could check out the boat and I was thinking that Melaney and I could make cookies together since, well, my house doesn't really have anything interesting for four-year-olds.
Anyway, I made the cookies after everyone left and let me tell you - they turned out pretty darn delicious! I may never make chocolate chip cookies any other way. I used Allrecipes to find a recipe that used the ingredients I had on hand - oatmeal, flour, sugar, and chocolate chips. Lori's Awesome Cookies looked like a great option, and Lori didn't let me down. They have kahlua in them - how could I go wrong?
I made half with white chocolate chips - the McHusband's favorite - and half with milk chocolate chips. The latter are my favorite, of course. Hope everyone at the McHusband's office likes cookies because that's where the majority of them are headed in the morning.
I met my mom, Bri, Lyla, Shannon, and Owen at Chili's in Asheboro for lunch on Sunday then we headed up the street to the mall to spend a little more time together. Lyla and Owen both did great in their high chairs during lunch (no small feat for Lyla who's walking now and NOT wanting to be restrained).
Lyla was excited to see the play area in the mall and Owen thought it was pretty cool, too. Who needs the Asheboro Zoo when you can see and touch polar bears and cheetahs IN the mall for free?
"Oooh, a tunnel!" "Hi, Gma and Owen!" I think the bridge is a little too steep for our new walker.
Owen found a cool new playmate.
And he thought the moving blocks were especially fun. (Sorry for the abrupt finish to the video, my camera's memory card was full so I had to delete some of the McHusband's car pics to make room for my pictures.)
"These are so much fun!"
Look at Lyla go! She's not a baby anymore.
Whew! It looks like Lyla's so tired that she's asleep on her feet.
We left the play area and checked out some department stores. Owen's favorite store? Sears! (That's where 'Merica shops, by the way.)
Did you guys know that Sears has a play area, too? Yep, and it has BIG toys!
"Where's the brake release on this thing anyway?"
"Watch out, Aunt Steph, I'm comin' your way!"
After a while, Lyla was finally happy to ride around for a bit so long as her shoes - or "Soos!" - were on display.
We made one last pit stop at the little kiddie rides then it was time to head home.
"What do you mean, it's time to go?"
Thanks, guys, for meeting me in Asheboro. I loved seeing everyone and can't wait for our next visit!
And get back here, stop scrolling down - there aren't any pictures with this post. Sheesh! What kind of blog do you think this is?
WHAT IS UP WITH THE OLD NAKED PEOPLE IN THE LOCKER ROOM AT THE YMCA? Is it an "old thing?" Like, they just don't care anymore who sees them in their birthday suit? They spent their whole lives covering up and, by golly, they aren't going to do it anymore!
I went into the locker room after my spinning class and these two women with lockers near mine had just showered and were taking their time drying off and getting clothes on. I always change my shirt after working out because it's typically soaked with sweat (sorry, probably TMI). The locker room has these little "stalls" with a curtain that you can use to change. That's where I go because, well, I'm not old enough or in good enough shape to be naked or even semi-nude in the locker room.
I'm sure the two old ladies who saw me go in there were probably scoffing at my modesty. "Who does she think she is? Like we even wanted to see her change! Being naked is natural, no one should be ashamed to see or be seen that way."
I had to pass the ladies on the way from the changing stall to my locker. At that point, the one lady was drying off in a way that really wasn't fit for others to see. I mean, people PAY to visit computer sites where that kind of action is featured.
I'm sure I'm the weird one who can't handle naked strangers hanging out near me, but I'm still going to complain about it. And I'm sure the repercussion of doing so is going to be becoming one of those naked old ladies one day.
Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I guess sometimes Bri's phone isn't as good of a camera as I've given it credit for. Or maybe it's the active 14-month-old subject.
Lyla decided to play dress-up with Nate's boxers. I sure hope she got them out of the clean pile!
