Weekend Recap - Fun times!

It's late so I should be going to sleep, but I thought I'd do a quick update now because I'm working all day tomorrow (our computer consultant is coming to get me going on my new laptop!) and I know I won't have time to post.

We had a mellow but great long weekend. I was pleased with myself that I got through quite a few difficult food challenges without going out of the box!

Friday night we had a dinner reception at synagogue before services, with foods from "Around the World" with several area caterers presenting their specialities. We (Marlon and I and the kids) were in charge of the juice bar, which involved buying a million different kinds of juices, setting up the bar, and being the bartenders during the hour long food reception. It was fun (we did it last year too and I enjoyed creating different "mocktails" with the juices) and it kept me from being too upset about not eating, although the room smelled so good. I did torture myself a little bit (I have no idea why!) because I walked around to see what everyone was serving and it all looked so good. That was hard! So I quickly scurried back to the safety of the bar, where I could sip my 5 calorie glass of Minute Maid Limeade and not think about the food I was missing. The musical service with the special "Friday Night Live" band was incredible and it was a great evening.

Saturday Harrison and I had a good two hour session at the gym, and, aside from that, we just hung around at home much of the day. The kids all have big science tests this week, so I quizzed them and we just did stuff at home. In the afternoon we went to the pool and met up with some friends there and had an impromptu pizza dinner at the pool (another food challenge, but I just had my shake and ignored the pizza.) The two boys of one family (Harrison's good friend Chasen and his brother Colt) ended up spending the night at our house, which was fun for the kids.

Sunday morning Jacob and Michela each had hour long instrument lessons with our youth band director at temple, then we went to the temple family picnic at the park. Tons of food around, so again, another food challenge, but I just talked to people and ignored the table of goodies. It is certainly teaching me that I can have fun at these various kinds of events without eating everything! When I'm off of this diet, I'll be thrilled just to be able to munch on the vegetables and fruits - forget about the chips and dips! The kids played all the games and activities, Marlon and I talked, and even Midnight had a great time because everyone wanted to pet him. He's such a good dog that we can take him to things like that and he's not wild or difficult. he just hangs out by our feet.

After re-grouping at home, doing some more studying, etc., we decided to go to Laguna Beach around 4 p.m. Marlon watched the kids in the water (they did their boogie boards and played in the waves, etc.) and Midnight and I took an hour walk on the walkway. It was so great. It was really, really nice to have a change of scenery for my walking and what better place than the beach. And there were tons of people with dogs there, of course, so Midnight enjoyed quite a few "meet and greet" sniffs! By the time we were done walking, everyone was hungry, so we ate a picnic dinner on blankets on the grass. (I love Laguna Beach because it has a grassy area where we set up our stuff so everything doesn't get all sandy.) I had packed my chicken soup in a thermos and it stayed warm and was quite tasty. The rest of the family had a tuna salad and a pasta salad that I made, plus cheese and crackers, yogurts, fruit, etc. After we were done eating, it was after 6, so Midnight was allowed to go down to the water (between Memorial Day and Labor Day dogs are allowed on the beach after 6. Now that it's after Labor Day, they can be there anytime.) He LOVED the water, which was great because last time we tried going down to the water he didn't want anything to do with it and was freaked out. This time he kept splashing around and jumping the waves. It was so cute and he had so much fun and of course the kids had fun jumping around with him. The only negative is that the car is such a mess from all the sand everyone trekked into it!

We stayed up way too late after the kids went to bed working on the list for the Bar Mitzvah. It was agonizing because we had to cut people that we really wanted to invite. You all know me - I love to throw a good party and want to include *everyone.* But, unfortunately, space, budget constraints and a large amount of extended family make it impossible to include everyone we'd like and Marlon took to the list with a red pen like a slasher with an ax! (I know he had to keep me in check :) We stayed up til 1 a.m. going over it together, negotiating and discussing, and then I was up until at least 3 because I couldn't fall asleep because I was still thinking about it!

Then, amusingly, we both had strange dreams about the Bar Mitzvah and the guests. Marlon's was the best - he dreamed that a couple of our close friends were the waiters at the party!

Today Jacob had a private dance lesson, then we went to the JCC for their Labor Day pool party, which was fun. They had a bar-b-que and lots of water games and activities. (Another food challenge because it smelled so good, but I got through it.) I was even able to sneak upstairs to the gym for a workout, not as long of one as usual, but something.

Tonight we had dinner at home, studied a bit more for the science tests, did some reading, watched a little tv and then the kids went to bed. Marlon and I watched "It Happened in Vegas" (cute movie) and he's already in bed and I had better get up there too!

I hope you had a great weekend too. Tell me about it!