If you can't stand the relentless heat, retreat to the kitchen

The heat here is horrible. My poor swollen pregnant body officially HATES the hot weather. We are in our 11th straight day of triple digit temperatures. People, I tell you this should be illegal. Our air conditioner runs for about 20 straight hours a day. Do you know what that does to our utility bill?! I die inside a little each time I look at it. And even with the air running constantly all day long it is still about 82 degrees in this house. It is too hot to go outside. The kids are going crazy. I'm going crazy. I need cooler weather. It is essential to my well-being (and that of those who live in close proximity to me). Today is supposed to be the last day of 100 degree weather. The infamouse Delta Breeze is gearing up and will kick in by tomorrow and bring the temperature down into the 90s. And by Sunday, the high 80s. And get this.. It will actually cool off at night. No more 76 degree lows.. We are talking lows in the 60s. My prayers have been answered. Maybe now my ankles will stop being so swollen and I will stop being so grumpy. Maybe.

The heat makes it near impossible to turn my oven on, as that heats the house up tremendously. And of course, in the middle of the heat wave, I get a call for a catering job. The client (a referral!) is coming over this Friday to taste test some things, talk prices, menu, etc. The job is a party for close to 100 people on August 19th. How stoked am I?! This will be my first job that doesn't involve me knowing the person who hires me! And to think someone referred me! (I know who did the referring and I am so grateful to them!). So I am preparing for the meeting on Friday, getting some things pre-made and testing other things (stuffed mushrooms, which has been requested - the likes of which I have never made before....). It will be interesting and I hope the client likes me enough to hire me. How exciting! Now, I must get my pregnant, barefoot self back into the kitchen.

Bungo was his name-o

London: "Mama! We have to get this book. The one about BUNGO!"
Me: "Who?!"
London: "BUNGO! Right here!!!!"
After looking at what he was pointing to...
Me: "Ohhhh, Dumbo. That's Dumbo."
London: "Yea, Dumbo."

Bungo definitely is a classic story.

Happy Birthday to me!

So, my birthday isn't until the end of September... But I just saw that the Dixie Chicks (one of my favorite bands) are coming to Arco Arena in September. I have wanted to see them in concert since they first came out and have never gotten the chance. Until now. I immediately told Gabe "I know what I want for my birthday!". And since this is the BIG one.. 30.. I figured we could splurge on the tickets. So I marched myself out today and bought their new CD (which I wanted anyway), got the presale ticket code, and just now purchased our tickets for their concert.

This will soften the blow of turning that unspeakable number.

A mind shattered into a thousand pieces

I am catering a wedding reception this Saturday for 100 people at 6pm. The preparations have started. My mind is about to explode. There is so much I have to do... All whilest caring for the two crazies that suck every last ounce of life out of me. Have I mentioned that I am 5 months pregnant and oh so very tired all the time (see afore mentioned crazies)? Because I am. But I am, of course, so thrilled to have this opportunity. It is a great experience and notch on my catering belt. It's always at this point before the event that I yearn for it to be over and done with. It is now that I long for a full time nanny, a bigger kitchen and (at least) double ovens. That pregnant, lifeless, exhausted part of me wants to just throw in the towel and figure out some other way to provide the food (a way that doesn't involve me preparing it). But the soul of me, that part is as giddy as a school girl at this opportunity to do what it is I love to do. To get one step closer to having my dream job. I am trying to unleash that part so that it devours the other part. That battle is a bloody one.

I cannot wait until Saturday at 11 pm when I lay my weary head down on my pillow and breath a HUGE sigh of relief.

For a dear friend

Now that our friend Steve is who knows where out in the yonder.. I feel a sense of responsibility to keep him posted as to the happenings in our world, as he is a bit incognito. So Steve, if you read this, we miss you, we are praying for you, and we can't wait for you to return. I know it must be hard to be away from Steph.

And in case you didn't know, we found out we're having a boy! He will be called Porter. Porter Cash. He is due to arrive at the end of September, so figure most likely he'll make his debut at the beginning of October. We are very excited to be adding to our brood.

Here are some pictures of London and Adelaide.





Thank you for your service to this country. You deserve the utmost respect for doing what you are doing to help keep the rest of us safe and free. You are more of a man than most.