Yes, we are surprised big-time!

Sam announced the other day that she would like to play softball.  What!?!?  Mind you, she has never shown any interest in a team sport before. Like ever!  Sam loves horseback riding and we are all for her doing that weekly.  But when your daughter, who normally used to have major social anxiety about being with kids she didn't know and would rather go unnoticed, says she is interested in playing softball, then you find a softball team STAT!  And you can tell this is something she really wants to do, when not once has she asked if any friends could join her or speak nervously about not knowing anyone.

Done!  Sam is now signed up to play softball.  She has joined a local league and fortunately, it is geared towards girls who are still learning the fundamentals of the game.  Her practices are on Mondays and Wednesdays each week from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  We dodged a big bullet by avoiding a practice day on Tuesday when religious school meets.  Whew!  Because you don't know what the schedule is going to be until the season is just about to start.   We still don't know when the games will be, but again, I am hoping it is early enough on Saturdays to avoid overlapping with her acting program.  All of a sudden, Sam became a very busy girl!

Monday:  Softball, 6-7:30pm
Tuesday:  Religious school, 4:45-6:30pm
Wednesday:  Tutoring, 4-4:30pm
Wednesday:  Softball, 6-7:30pm
Saturday:  Acting, 1:30-5:00pm
Sunday:  Religious school, 9:00-12:00pm
Sunday:  Horseback riding, 2:00-3:00pm

And we still need to add in a weekly softball game once that scheduled is released.  I don't think Sam will have any problems falling asleep with all this activity.

I am excited for Sam and truly happy that she expressed in an interest in something without us having to convince her to give it a try.    Jeff has been practicing with her in the backyard on catching and throwing.  And I have to say, she is not that bad.

Streaming live: Food Network in our kitchen

Several years ago I made an announcement that I was taking a break from cooking dinner on Saturday nights. 6 nights a week was plenty for me to put a healthy, well-balanced meal on the table.  I didn't care if we went out to a restaurant, did take-out, got food delivered, or if someone else in the family wanted to cook, it was not going to come from me.  Jeff and the kids took the news well and up until several months ago, we mostly went out for a quick bite on a Saturday night or Jeff picked up a rotisserie chicken and some sides from the grocery store.  Easy-peezy.

Somewhere along the way, Jeff decided to find some new recipes and start cooking.  Followed by finding new desserts to be baked by him as well.  Since Summer 2018 it has now become 'his thing'. The joy Jeff takes in cooking and baking is a bit on the scary side. Jeff truly loves being in the kitchen and cooking us dinner, complete with a mouth-watering dessert. The smile on his face is a mile wide when he is done and presents it to us.  Who is this guy I married?!?!?  I promise you, I have 13 years of evidence in the other direction on Jeff wanting to cook.

I blame the Food Network.  There the ones that have given Jeff the inspiration to take all his knowledge from watching Chopped, Worst Cooks in America, Great Food Truck Race, Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, Man vs Food, Guy's Grocery Games, Food Network Stars, and Great Brittish Baking Show (this last one is on Netflix) and put these techniques to practice.

We've recently hit new heights of Jeff wanting to do it all when he decided to get a pasta machine to make fresh pasta.  Really.  I am not making this up.  Three times now we've been watching a show and the very same pasta maker Jeff purchased is the one they are using on tv.  What a thrill it is to know you picked the right model.  :)   Jeff has gotten really good at making pasta and the kids can't get enough of it.

Proscuitto wrapped scallops and homemade fettuccine

Gnocchi from scratch!

Veggie Paella

Chocolate Mousse

Ian's not so fun Friday

There was a lot of feedback on Ian's braces predicament.  No movement in Ian's overbite after 2 years of wearing braces got people talking and offering their opinions.  And everyone had one!  Apparently, it is very common to pull perfectly good teeth and help move things along.  Once I got comfortable with the idea, we proceeded with two teeth getting extracted.  

The appointment last Friday was a pretty yucky one.  Ian had to first visit the orthrodontist and get the wire taken out on his top teeth.  Then he went across the room to where the dentist was and had the teeth pulled. Followed with a seat back on the orthodontist part of the office to get a new wire put in.  I know this was the best thing for Ian, but I felt like the worst mother in the world watching my son go through this.  

The dental technician gave me Ian's teeth.  OMG!  They are huge!!! It sort of makes sense now why his teeth weren't moving.  The roots on these teeth were too massive to shift.

YOWZER!  That's some serious root action.

Once we were able to leave (with plenty of back-up gauzes ready to use), I took Ian to get a milkshake.  We attempted to have it at Cheesecake Factory (only 2 miles from the orthodontist), but Ian was clearly miserable and we changed the plan to have it to-go.  As we were leaving we made sure to get 2 pieces of cheesecake to take with us because only soft foods can be eaten for the rest of the day.  Um, can you say mom guilt?  

The orthodontist told us within a year's time everything will do what it needs to do and Ian's braces can come off. Knowing Ian he has started the countdown and will not wear them one day longer than he needs to.

Before the teeth came out.

After the teeth came out.