What the day ended up being...

Well I did go visit my parents and boy did I get a lot accomplished but not everything.. typical! There is always so much to do and not enough time. I guess that is life and that is why you must prioritize.
So I drove down on Wednesday evening to spend a few hours talking with my dad. Before I got to the house I dropped by the grocery to get a few things for baking cookies... more on that later.
I got to the house dropped off my stuff and went looking for some dinner. I thought about picking something up on the road but knew that there was plenty of food there. (That is an understatment) My mom stockpiles like the stores are going out of business and no more will open for a year! Anyways after finding soup, cheese stick and some extra meat I cooked up my food and ate it while Dad talked. After eatting, Val called the house and was talking to Dad for a while. I took this opportunity to try out a new recipe. I made these protien balls from bodyrock.tv. They were AMAZING!!!!! I have really come to like her webpage and found some good workouts and food options there. (not getting paid to advertise) My dad made a comment about how what I was making looked good... until I added coconut! He hates coconut. So the protien balls had 1 1/2 cups pb, 1 cup vanilla protien, some nuts, coconut, and a bit of chocolate.
After he got off the phone I proceeded to chat with him while I cleaned out my parents kitchen pantry. I only got 1/5 of the way through. I found items that needed to be thrown out and helped them along into the trash. I hope to go back and do the same thing closer to Christmas. I love to organize other people's stuff. I also like to throw out stuff. I don't find any need for holding onto items for an extended period of time if there is not use.
Anyways... It turned out to be almost midnight! I had to get to bed!
The next day I woke up at 9am! I havnt slept that late in forever!!! Mom got up at 930 and we took the dogs for a walk.
Before the walk I had planned to try out this new recipe for homemade pancakes.... I took out the cottage cheese and guess what... MOLD! Yuck totally gross! I just picked up the cottage cheese last night at the store. ahhhh. Plan B was to use milk. So I made pancakes with milk, whole wheat flour, some protien, egg, etc. They turned out super good. Especially when paired with peanut butter. :) Ill try the new recipe some other time I guess.
My parents just got this one dog, Zoe. She is half beagle half black lab and is very cute. She calms Shadow down a lot. He is half black lab half who knows what (but something very thing) She pulled the whole three miles we were on a walk. I am curious as to how long she will run for. I may try that out during Christmas but I guess we will see how much time I have.
Anyways, after the walk we went to lunch and then to Target, Trader Joes, Harris Teeter, and then ANOTHER Target. By the time we got home, it was already 430 and I had to get back on the road to get home myself. Boooo!!! No time for cookies!
So on the road I went back home. It was a super nice visit and Ill see them in no time.

Parents

Ok.. I have a terrible statement... I havn't seen my parents since it was 90 degrees out.. at the beach! That was in JULY!!!!!!!! Of course I talk to them on the phone but seeing them is totally different. I know that Christmas is just a couple weeks away and I will see them then but that is totally different because I wont have that one on one time with them. It will be multiple people all around and sometimes it is just nice to have on on one time.
When I was younger, none of us kids had a lot of one on one time with each parent. There just was not any time for that sort of thing. I'm not saying I didn't have a great relationship or great childhood because I SURE DID. All the sacrifices that they both did for each of us came straight from the heart. We had loads of fun with our mom going to the zoo weekly, all the museums, home craft projects, etc. With our dad we would travel here and there for swim meets. He would be the one to give me advice when I asked for it and even when I didnt sometimes. He has always been the talker and my mom the listener.
Anyways... back to my point. I havn't seen them in forever so Im going to go visit tonight! I am going to go by myself and have one on one time. Tonight I am going to hang with Dad and make a fire and watch some tv, maybe have some coffee.
Tomorrow my mom already has the day planned.. or so she thinks. :) We are going to go on a nice long walk, then go out for some lunch and bake some cookies. I also plan on going to some stores too. I am in need of some items and I guess we will see if I score any good deals.
Last night I raided my pantry with all my baking stuff. I know my mom should have all the requirements but sometimes things run out in the middle of baking. I am also bringing some special food items like coconut (I know she wont have that) Whole wheat flour, and protien powder (yes for the cookies)
My plan of attack with the cookie are making these ones that require some whole wheat flour, 2 cups vanilla protien powder, crazins, dark chocolate, and some coconut. MMM They are so good and they are great pre or post workout cookies.
Im sooo excited!

Thanksgiving and beyond..

Well.. Thanksgiving now seems like a blur. It was only a week ago but seems so far way already! Daniel and I made our annual trip to Fayetteville to visit Dad and Jean and the puppy dogs. We ended up getting a late start because Daniel had to stay late at work. I guess it all worked out. I was able to get some chores done while waiting on him. We hopped into the car and I snoozed the last half of the way to the house. I had been up in the air if I wanted to go out to the stores at midnight like I had done the past two years but after weighing the options, I chose just to get up early and go at 8am.
So, after unwinding for a bit we all went to bed and I was up bright and early to hit CVS. I got there a bit early but made a game plan. I was in and out in no time from the store along with other shoppers. I got everything I wanted which was so nice. I then went to go to some other stores but they were not going to be open til 9 so I went back to the house for a Thanksgiving day run. My plan was to go between 6 and 10 miles.... The rain stopped me at mile 5.
O well. That was fine. I took what I could get. I decided to get ready for the day and went back out to the stores since it was after 9am.
By the time I got back to the house from the stores, it was time for lunch. Jean's family came as they always do (ever since I have been going) and we had such good food. I was beside myself with this sweet potato dish. I still cant believe how good it was. I am going to make it myself tomorrow and can't wait!! We all stuffed ourselves as usual and then just chatted and looked at the sales ads for a while.
Unfortunatly our stay was short lived and we had to get back because Daniel had to work the following day and I had shopping to get done.
520am came way too early on friday but I was ready to get some shopping done. My first stop was to Target... this is how my day went... target, michaels, bed bath and beyond, another target, riteaid, old navy, halmark, macys, dsw, ice cream, alex's house, honey baked ham, toyota dealership, home, back out to best buys, then to walmart, another target, shoe shopping, pet smart, then i met val at target AGAIN to give her some items.
I must say that NO I did not go and spend money in all of these places. I had free coupons, gift cards, and half the Targets I had to return or just go see if they something there for Daniel (they didnt)
I will say that it was the best black friday I had ever had. I just had the best time shopping by myself and doing whatever I wanted to do. I also ended up being so lucky with the traffic, nice cashiers, etc.
AND When I met up with Alex, we had free ice cream and then a free cookie at lunch!