J said T had a lot of fun at the party but it was intense because the activities weren't really organized. T ran around and played on the swings. He also played with the squirt guns outside and other toys inside. Apparently J didn't have many opportunities to be social. T fell asleep in the van late in the afternoon on the way home. This created a problem. Wake him and end up with a very tired and grumpy child all night? Let him sleep and wake him later in the hopes that he'll feel less tired and less grumpy and hope he'll still be able to sleep on time? Let him sleep and hope he sleeps through the night? We decided to let him sleep for a bit. We set our wireless phone on "monitor" and put it in the van and parked it in the shade with the engine running and the air con on. We locked the doors. We could hear everything clearly through the phone. We let him sleep for an hour and a half and it seemed impossible to wake him when it was time to get up. He was cranky through the night and ended up going to bed really late, which was problematic because we were planning to leave early for Balloon Fest.

Sunday I woke at 5:30 to run the dog. No wait, I turned off the alarm and woke at 5:45. Hmmm. Nope. Turned off the alarm again and woke at 6:45 and was out the door by 7:00 am. Late start to the day but had to get the dog some exercise before we headed for Balloon Fest. Returned home and whipped up a quick breakfast. We ate, showered, changed, and were on the road by 9 am. Stayed at the festival until about 5 pm. Blazing hot day. Grateful for the sunscreen and umbrella we brought. Saw dogs doing amazing tricks while catching frisbees and watched Cachunga "wrestle" an alligator (for public education, or so they said). Endless snacks, games, rides, etc. Free giveaways of drinks, food, ice cream, and other snackables. I normally don't eat or drink diet or sugarless foods and beverages. I could instantly tell when I was drinking one of the chemical sweeteners by how my body felt. Sucralose (Spenda), aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and other artificial sweeteners have a negative effect on me. I could tell within seconds, both by taste and physiological reaction, if some of the artificial sweeteners were in the drink or food. Blech. This is what happens when you mostly drink water with an occasional beer, wine, or juice. Your body can't tolerate fake stuff and/or heavily sweetened drinks. My favorite drink of the day? Fiji water. Not because it was from Fiji. Because it was clean, fresh clear, plain water that made my body happy on a very hot day. As we were leaving we were given free bottles of ice cold fruit-flavored water. I was thirsty from the heat so I quickly downed one of them with relief. Five seconds later, I felt it. Looked at the label...yes, sucralose AND acesulfame potassium. What has happened to U.S. taste buds? Must everything be colored and sweetened, even if artificially sweetened,  to sickening levels? Ugh. I got home and drank 3 tall glasses of pure, cold, clear water. Felt better after that.

What happened to Monday? Hmmm. Breakfast, dropped off the kids, came home and took the dog for 2.9 miles at a slow pace. Worked for 2 hours moving mulch in intense heat. Showered, did laundry, worked in the afternoon. Picked up the kids, made dinner, bedtime routine. Another day gone.

Today was errand day.  Loaded up the  minivan, dropped off donations to the food pantry, dumped glass & metal recycles at one location, took clothes to dry cleaners, dropped off recyclables at another location (cardboard, newspapers, magazines, and batteries), got gas, purchased propane, and then dropped off kids at school. Home around noon, made lunch for J and me. Stayed indoors and worked from about 1 until 4. It is 110 degrees with the heat index. May row instead of run right now. Tonight's dinner will be a variation on a recipe involving chicken, peanut butter, and bread crumbs. I hope it tastes good.

Lot's of social stuff coming up (dinners, trips, visitors, etc.). Need to get much professional and household work done in preparation.

Have I mentioned recently that I love J? She is the glue that holds our family together. Everything that is wonderful in our lives seems to come from her.