shh, it was too hot at the beach...

 ...and don't you dare take the comma out.  :)

So yeah, we fried alive at the beach, don't you feel sorry for us?  Lake Ontario usually blesses us with some waves to play in, but yesterday the water was like ripply glass.  It was refreshing, but there was nary a breeze on that beach!  We drank our seltzers, and had some cherries and pepperoni, sandwiches for the girls, and we relaxed and watched the goings-on.   One lady had had just about enough out of Alex.  How could she possible do everything herself, she was just ONE PERSON.   There were people who arrived with floats and swim rings, goggles and masks, all hopeful, and I watched as they found out that NY state park beaches don't allow all that fun.  I wondered where these people came from, that they didn't know this already.  

We stopped at the store on the way home because of the 8 piece fried chicken special:  $4.99.  We had to wait six minutes for it to come out of the fryer.  Fried chicken, for five bucks.  Two huge breast pieces, the thighs, the drums, and the wings, mmm.  Hey, I never said it was healthy!  But when it's over 90 degrees, and you've been to the beach, and you have to hurry home to go to the Activity Club party, well, you aren't making dinner!  We also got two pizzas, from Little Cesaers, $6 each.  It was fantastic.  

So weight loss hasn't been going well.  I'll be honest:  I've gained 25 pounds since last summer.    How?  Well, if I knew that, it wouldn't have happened!  I blame some of it on the months the scale needed new batteries, it was freeing, but also...ugh.  A few snacks at night, here and there, some chocolate.  I still don't eat bread or cookies, cupcakes or cake, but the trail mix, well...I had some.  I still mostly eat one meal a day, and am trying to figure things out.  I'm not asking for advice, I just wanted to be honest on here because...well, when I was losing weight, I put it out there, right?  I am NOT giving up, however, no sir, no how.  

The good, the bad, and the ugly, and voila: the clothes I wore to the hardware store.  

Last nights Activity club pool party was a blast!  What's better than swimming with a bunch of kids, then serving them ice cream sundaes?

Miss Lydia...

Anya and Lydia, cousins and besties.

This morning, bright and early, we went to pick up our paint.  The girls chose Alabaster, the color we painted our kitchen cabinets.  We also bought a second gallon, separately so we could use another ten dollar coupon.  Then a quick trip into Aldi for cilantro, fresh salsa, cheese sticks, seltzer, cherries, seltzer...a lady with small children was heading to line at the same time as us, I waved her in front, she was thankful.  I remember what it was like shopping with little ones, they were like ticking time bombs, you need to get through the register before they lose it about something, sometimes. 

I only had teenagers with me, they stomp and slam a little at home, but they're good in the store ha.

We also went into the thrift store, because why not?  Char found shoes and pants, and I found a silver pitcher...

...and an armetale metal...pot...

I thought it would make a good planter, but lo and behold, you can cook in it!  

Our garden is doing well:

Anyway, we got home with the paint, put things away, and started painting!  We did one coat, and a second coat on most of the trim and edging.  We wanted to finish tonight, but the kids all left to go play volleyball.  After painting for a few hours, we went in the pool, floated around and talked about what to make for dinner.  We decided on meatballs, because Camille had chosen a bag of frozen cheese ravioli from the store today.  

Now it's quiet in here again.  Cam didn't go to volleyball, she's in the middle of sketching a picture.  She keeps busy.

Ah well, their room is in shambles, but one more coat of paint, and it'll be so nice.  

Oh, this is the seltzer I bought today:

Le Croix....God bless America!