July 2011: all About the Doritos and the Pepsi Throwbacks

Unless I am specifically assigned them for a barbecue, I never buy potato chips. That's because I like them enough that when I start eating them I can't easily stop, but I don't really love them. If I'm eating fattening, greasy potatoes, I'd way rather have them in french fry form.

Ditto Doritos: I never buy them. That's because I like them. I like them a lot. They remind me of being a kid, when my sister Suzette and I would ride our bikes down the block to the Little Store, which was a gas station + general store + paint-your-own-ceramics store. We'd each buy a can of Pepsi and a bag of Pizza Puffs, which were kind of like puffy Cheetos, except they were shaped like a slice of pizza and sort-of tasted like, well, pizza. (Does anyone else remember Pizza Puffs?)

Doritos remind me of Pizza Puffs.

This month, Costco had an instant rebate on Doritos. An enormous, gazillion-ounce bag of Doritos for just $3.25? We brought home a bag every time we went to Costco.

And we go to Costco a lot.

The month got even better when our local grocery store had Pepsi throwbacks on sale, 4 boxes for ten bucks. Ah, Pepsi Throwbacks! I curse you as I adore you! I love you so much I hate you!

Doritos and Pepsi: the very core of our July. But in case you were wondering what else I haven't blogged about (but still want to) this month, here is a break down:

• Despite my children's protests (nearly all of which included the word "stupid"), I instituted a no-electricity-before-noon rule. Oh, we had things like lights and air conditioning, and I'd even allow the radio. But video games, mindless computer time, and TV watching were strictly forbidden. While this didn't really result in more efficient housecleaning, it did mean more reading got done, which is an exchange I'll gladly make.
• What I don't understand: how, during the month of no-electricity-before-noon, my electricity bill was $178 dollars. What the? I had to read the bill at least ten times before that number would even compute.
• Our trip to Idaho, which included one day at Grand Teton National Park, one day at Yellowstone, and one day at perhaps the most beautiful cemetery ever.
• Kendell finished his photography class. Here is his final project. We spent a lot of time working on it together.
• Haley was gone 16 days this month: five for girls camp, three for the above-mentioned trip to Idaho, and eight more for another trip to Idaho with her friend Nikki. In between my dreams (which quickly dissolve into nightmares in which I'm sobbing as she walks away) about sending her off to various places (college, jobs, and one particularly strange one involving a sketchy modeling prospect), I've decided that teenage absences are the equivalent of pregnancy insomnia. Just a little taste of what will be coming up. I miss her already.
• Speaking of growing up. One day this month, Jake was very, very, very firmly reminded that if he didn't clean his room he would be facing imminent death. This room cleaning evolved into him giving all of his beloved-as-a-boy toys to Kaleb. K. was thrilled to be the recipient of marbles, a collection of black stones, Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and a dozen Bakugon. I was happy Jake was so generous but devastated that he realizes he doesn't want his toys around anymore.
• Nathan got a hair cut and then found the hair gel. He likes spiking his hair in really, really sharp spikes and then poking you with his hair when you hug him. 
• Nathan finally got to go on a long-awaited scout camp out. Since I was working on the Friday he left, Kendell took the day off to get him ready. I don't know about your boys, but for mine? A campout is not complete without a can of spray cheese.
• Kaleb's month consisted of as much of his favorite activity as possible: playing outside with his friends. There is nothing, nothingthat makes him as happy as having someone to play with. Favorite activity: running through the sprinkler or, barring Mom's refusal to let him get wet, spraying the grass with the hose.
• We spent Independence Day like this: I went running in the morning, and then came home and mowed the lawn while everyone else putzed around. I insisted on an early-afternoon nap. Then we went to our friend's house for a barbecue. I brought chocolate sheet cake and blueberry pound cake. We planned on an hour or so of fireworks—these friends always get amazing fireworks—but it started to rain so we lit all of them off at once then ate dessert under their patio cover. I can't remember the last Fourth that included rain, but it was a memorable moment: the air cool and heavy with the scent of nitro, the delicioiusness of cake, and the rhythm of rain on a tin roof.
• July always means shopping at Nordstrom for back-to-school clothes. This year, since Haley is on the fashion board, we got to go the week before the sale started. It wasn't as fabulous as years past, selection-wise, but it was fun to shop early in curtained-off sections of the store!
• Jake landed his first job, doing yardwork for one of my librarian friends. She's commented several times on what a good worker he is. Cue beaming Momma!
• We finally renewed our Rec passes so the kids have been going swimming quite a bit. I confess that I do not love swimming and perhaps had at least one wife/mommy meltdown when I really just wanted Kendell to take the boys and let me stay home. Still, watching them frolic happily in the water and jump off the high dive made me forget the miserableness that is damp thighs rubbing together. (I firmly believe that if my thighs didn't touch, I would love hanging out at the pool.)
• One one of these swimming excursions, Kendell went ahead and took his cell phone swimming with us. Trust me: an hour in the pool, including some time in the hot tub and the sauna, is really not good on your cell phone.
• One day I dared to add chicken to my children's second-favorite pasta salad. You'd think, by their response, that I decided to add boogers to their second-favorite pasta salad. Apparently chicken in pasta salad is a horrid, horrid idea. (Kendell and I, however, both loved the chicken-inclusive pasta salad.)
• I did a lot of running, including five long runs: 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15 miles. Remind me to tell you about nearly being taken out by a bike rider on my 15-mile run. It's a great story involving my stellar ninja moves and cat-like responses. One aching shoulder, one sore wrist, and an enormous bruise later...

How was your July memorable?

Comments

[wendy]

The miserableness that is damp thighs rubbing together . . . lol! Even in my super skinniest junior high days, my thighs rubbed together. Acceptance was better than resentment. I love love love swimming! :)

I loved seeing Kendall's photo assignments, and skimming through your July details. Can you believe it's August already? I'm not ready for August.

[wendy]

p.s. When I saw I had one "friends & family" blog post on my google reader, I hoped it was you!

[Lucy]

This may be a totally inappropriate comment, but I've always blamed wearing garments for my first year of marriage weight gain. I think I missed out on that inner-thigh-rubbing gauge that kept me in check before. I'm sure it was more of my happy eating, eating, eating, but you never know:)

I've never tried any of the throw-back sodas. They scare me because I used to love, love, love Dr. Pepper. I know diet soda is from the devil, but I'm sort of back into needing the bubbly every day and I just can't stomach those calories.

Your July was awesome! I haven't implemented any kind of electronic restrictions unless I am in some kind of rage due to messes. With summer being over in two weeks, it feels too late. But great idea!

[chris]

I have quit buying chips because it is way too much temptation. Same with other snack foods. And I seriously need to cut the soda - I am suffering for it.

Love the electronics restriction idea. I need to be stricter. It just has been so dang hot here that being outside has not been an option.

I spent most of July gone. I need to get back on track now that we are home.

Way to go on the long runs! I have been in serious pain. I am hoping a doctor tells me what the heck my problem is!

[LCSmithSAVED]

I'm new here (linked through the Big Picture Festival), but I am now singing out loud, "Getting to know...you...Getting to know all...about you :~D
Glad to make a new friend!