No No No No No...

I did it.

I swore I would never do it.

When the fad started I thought it was ridiculous and casted it aside as tacky.

I shook my head every time I saw them...especially on men. eeek.

I knew I was smarter, had more self-respect, and didn't need them at all.

It was a given they would be uncomfortable...binding...unflattering.

Boy, was I wrong.

I did what I swore I would never ever do.

I poured myself into a pair of skinny jeans...and I love them.

They are cute, they are stretchy, they are flattering.

Now ~ I just need the courage to wear them in public...ten pounds lighter now. So maybe, just maybe they will actually be inspiring.

Inspiring enough to help me lose the next ten pounds.

Skinny butt signing off.. (figuratively speaking, not literally yet)

Sweet spot...

This little boy~ I don't seem to ever have photos of him since he spends most weekends doing tournaments with his daddy. But every Sunday, I get to see him kick around the football for 60 minutes of high-stress (that would be me) entertainment.

I am usually the nut-so mother on the sidelines yelling until her voice gives out. Ladies, I know you have ALL been there.

He has found the sweet spot at least twice this season, and yesterday I watched him assist in a beautiful goal. So here he is...

...stealing...

...kicking...

...and giving it everything he's got.

Signing off loud and proud...

Mo's Mad Skills...

Remember the self portrait from yesterday? Well, here he is in the flesh showing off his mad skills at the Imagine Children's Museum.

This boy is ALL BOY.

He's silly...

He meditates...

He's got poise...

He does Kay - Ra - Tee... (albeit pretend)

and he's got superhero like moves for any job...

If I had to give him a superhero name, it would be Mad-Mo...

...and that, is mainly because of his temper. I promise (and those that know him can vouch) this kid can set any human off like a Roman Candle. Lordy, Lordy, I feel extra sorry for all his teachers.

Go get 'em Mo!

Morgan's Self Portrait...

Have you ever tried to draw a picture of yourself? I have and let me tell you, it ain't easy.

But you know what is even harder? Trying to draw someone that you love.

PROVEN FACT: You can never draw an accurate picture of those that you love because you are too blind to draw their physical flaws. (At least that is what I was told by an adult in High School Art Class and Adults ALWAYS tell the truth...uh huh)

I like that though...but on a lighter side, I think this little guy did a great job with his self-portrait.

Man...I would KILL for these eyelashes.

My little man has skills...

Calling it as he sees it...

An afternoon discussion with Morgan Rowan, 5 years old.

Morgan: "Mommy, what happens when people eat too much?

Me: "Well, they can get sick or get a tummy ache."

~Thoughtful pause~

Morgan: "What happens when people don't eat enough?"

Me: "The same thing. People can get really sick if they don't eat."

~Longer Thoughtful pause~

Morgan: " I thought that if humans eat too much they end up looking like an upside down balloon."

I am sad to say that I laughed. I am such a bad human.

Cass Cooks!

I. love. to. cook.

really.

I. just. don't. do. it. often. enough.

Well, tonight I did. But two stories first.

Story 1.

Today, people don't think twice about going to a restaurant for dinner. If you go back to the seventies & eighties (when I grew up), going out to eat was a novelty...a really treat! We had several favorite restaurants that I went to with my family. Pizza Inn...Williamsburg Square...Furr's or Wyatt's Cafeteria (I adored the assembly line format to get your food!).

Mostly though, we stayed at home and mom would cook for us. She was good like that.

(Mom- do you remember those awful vegetable pancakes? I will never forget those.)

I remember my Mom's homemade pizza the most. You know why? Because I would eat the crust and my sis would eat all the toppings. We were quite the team! and mom NEVER complained about that. Now my sis and I? We would complain about the fennel seeds Mom insisted on putting on the pizza. Boy, we were awful (not the same awful as the veggie cakes).

So as I made dinner tonight I thought of my mom and her pizza. Thank you for taking such good care of us!

Here was dinner...

...and here it was NOT!

Story 2.

My Granny, she pretty much rocks. I don't think there is anything that she has cooked that I haven't liked...well, there may be a few congealed salads that I have chosen to block from my brain.

She. makes. the. best. cinnamon. rolls.

So of course I thought of my Granny tonight when I needed to figure out how to use the rest of the dough left over from the pizza.

So in honor of the two women in my life that have shaped me the most...

Cass. Cooks. Tonight. For. You. Both.

Wish you were here to enjoy it.

Bring on the Annoying Duck...

Sunday is the day...

Can I do it?

Will my time be a new PR?

Will the rain please, please, please hold out?

Can I [gasp!] run without music blasting in my ears?

Will I get distracted by all the pretty homes surrounding Green Lake?

Will there BE another place in the US with such a high concentration of Estrogen? [I doubt it!]

I will find out tomorrow @ the AFLAC Iron Girl 5K fun run...

Off to get some shut eye...