It was so hot yesterday.  I think it got up to about 107!  I swam three times.  Once before grilling our dinner so I wouldn’t be hot out there… once after grilling because I was so hot… and again after getting Isabelle down for the night just to relax.  The water was nice and cool.  I made a huge batch of the best potato salad ever and grilled burgers.  Delish!

This morning I am taking Bailey to an orthodontist appt. at 10… He has mixed feelings about it, he does need braces (I think) and he knows it but dreads it too.  He saw the orthodontist a few years ago and we were told to wait.  So we did.  I have heard more than one person (including Julie) say that they got braces too young and their teeth grew more and became crooked again.  Amanda and Emelia have really straight teeth, don’t know yet about Iz…  I hope it goes well.

I’m officially caught up with laundry!!!! Yay!!!

Amanda wants to buy her books for College this week so that’ll be another fun outing…

Have a fun Tuesday.  Stay cool.

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...sunny & 105!!!!

I am thinking…I need to face the heat for the third time today!!! 1) kohls and hob lob w/mom; 2) walmart 3) store to get laundry detergent (forgot)…

I am thankful for…air conditioning!

From the kitchen...I’m making a big batch of potato salad!

I am creating…nothing… sad but true.

I am going…to swim later I hope!

I am wearing…white linen capris, aqua sleeveless top, white sandals…

I am reading…twilight. Still. and hopefully starting devo book I saw on Lauren’s blog.

I am hoping…to finish laundry today. yikes.

I am hearing…the air conditioning blowing, Matt (he had to come home and shower because he got into poison ivy at work … if you shower in dawn green apple soap you don’t get a break out). He’s highly allergic.

Around the house…are lots of kids! mine and the friends… swimming and eating. I love summer.

One of my favorite things…sonic ice with coke. I know it’s repetitive, but true. And bubble gum. And brighton laugh cologne, and a clean house. Wait. It said one. Oh well, I’m a rebel remember?

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…since it’s my “birthday week,” I will be doing fun birthday stuff some of the days… like eating lunch etc.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

This weekend was pretty nice! I got to accompany Matt to take his final. Got to shop (tax free) at the mall… got to be there for his test results which were awesome! Had one of the teen girls over to do her hair for her. Had a fun cook out and swimming. Church was great. Me & the girls ditched class and ran to the donut shop, they read our lesson in the car and we had time to finish up while eating our donut holes back in class. I’m such a rebel. We had a nap today and tonight we had a potluck dinner at church. I picked up some pizzas while picking up a car load of teens. Talk about noise! I made delicious pork chops grilled for lunch…

This week I plan to utilize the grill.

I’m going to make the sticky chicken meal again (thanks Kim!)

Sticky Coconut Chicken

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I used boneless skinless chicken breasts)

1 cup canned coconut milk
1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 tsp. red pepper flakes

Marinade chicken in coconut milk, ginger, pepper and red pepper flakes at least one hour (I let mine marinade four about four to five hours). Grill on barbecue.

Glaze:
3/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. red pepper flakes

While the chicken is grilling, bring above ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until mixture is reduced and thickened, about 8-10 minutes. Be patient because it takes a little while. But once it starts getting really thick, immediately take it off the heat! Glaze both sides of chicken the last few minutes of grilling and serve chicken over rice.

We’ll have burgers one night. Grilled.

Steak one night. With corn on the cob. You guess it. Grilled.

That leaves one night open… I’ll leave it that way to make room for a pizza or maybe leftovers.

Visit Orgjunkie.com to link your menu up and view hundreds more!

My birthday is this weekend! Hopefully I’ll get a day or two off from cooking :), doubtful.

One last thing… today (Aug 4) is Izzy’s favorite therapist’s birthday!

Do you have pets?  I know a lot of my blogger buddies are pet lovers.  There is a pet lovers network that was made just for fellow pet lovers to meet.  All you have to do is go sign up at zootoo.com and you can load pictures of your pets.  You can also link up with a local shelter and/or rescue center.  We have three dogs and the one pictured is my personal favorite.  Her name is Lady and she is the smartest dog in the world.  She shells pistachios with her teeth so carefully before eating the nut.  She will actually have a little pile of shells after eating them.  The kids love to feed her chips because she will take them so gently and is so careful not to break them until she is ready.  It’s so funny!  What funny thing does your pet do?

This pet network’s purpose is letting pet lovers help pets.  By joining together, pets can be rescued and fed.  Go check it out!