Domino's Pizza Delivers

When you read the title of the post, did you sing it?  Remember back in the day "Domino's Pizza Delivers" used to be their tagline and they would end commercials by singing that?  (If you don't remember that, then you probably aren't old like me and you weren't watching TV in the mid 80s.)

I think I mentioned in a previous post in May that Peter had gotten a job working for a company that managed construction zones.  He worked with them for 3 weeks and then quit.  The 10 plus hour days and the 5:00 AM wake up calls were too much for him.  And honestly, too much for me.  Because guess who else was waking up before 5:00 AM to make sure he was up?  

If I know that someone in the house has to be up early my brain starts reminding me around midnight that someone has to be up early and my sleep from then until time to actually get up is very sporadic.  If I do manage to go back to sleep, then my brain wakes me up a little bit later to check on the time again so no one oversleeps.  Apparently, my brain does not trust the alarm clock to do it's job.  All this to say, that I was not too disappointed that he quit. That job was wearing ME out!

He has gotten another job with Dominio's. He is a delivery driver and so far so good.  The time goes by quickly, there are no early morning alarms, and he gets tips.  Although some of them are better than others.  Last night he got a $0.17 tip but he also got a $10 tip.  It all averages out to be pretty good money for a summer job.

Another benefit that he has been enjoying is that he gets 50% off anything he orders.  But last night, he got a free pizza!  Apparently someone placed an online order for 5 small pizzas and then cancelled it after they were already in the oven.  So they offered them to all the drivers and since he hadn't eaten dinner yet, he brought one home.  

He said the worst part of the job so far(other than receiving a $0.17 tip) is when someone orders the Cinnastix because they smell so good when he is delivering them that it makes him hungry.  

Isn't he cute in his uniform?

Tokyo 2022 and Father's Day!

When the kids finished their first year at Our Lady of Mercy (Sarah 2nd, Peter 3rd), we celebrated with dinner at Tokyo Japanese Restaurant.. This restaurant is just a minute from the school so way back in 2012, we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the fact that they completed their first year at a new school.  And we've gone back every year since to celebrate the end of another school year. 

We always tried to go the weekend closest to their last day of school. But with Peter being in college and getting out in May, Sarah's graduation, Sarah's birthday, everyone's schedules, etc. we FINALLY got around to celebrating this past weekend even though everyone has been out of school for weeks!

Here are my babies at our first Tokyo meal in 2012:

And here they are in 2022:

As usual, we had a delicious meal and enjoyed spending time together.  I was figuring that this will be the last end of school celebration but we decided that we could probably make it work next year after Sarah completes her freshman year in college and Peter completes his sophomore year.  The only issue will be getting their schedules to align but surely we can find one weekend between May and August that we can continue our tradition!

When we got home from dinner, Sarah had the Basement over and Dan made them a fire in the firepit and we proceeded to stay out of their way.  They seemed to be having a good time and no one needs their parents hanging around so I went to bed and Dan and Peter watched Groundhog's Day. (I do not like that movie but Dan does and Peter had never seen it.  He, too, is now a fan.  Must be a male thing.)

Anyway, I think the kids had fun.  They made s'mores and did a lot of laughing around the firepit.

On Sunday, we celebrated  Father's Day with our normal Sunday lunch at mom's and came home to unwrap presents and cards.I am so thankful for this sweet man of mine.  He's the best father and husband and I thank God for him every day!

Celebrating the birthday girl!

Sarah turned 18 on Saturday. EIGHTEEN!  I'm still a little shocked that I have an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old. How is that possible since I, myself, am only 21?  

Saturday night we went to The Spring House in Winston-Salem to celebrate her birthday and her graduation.  It was a lovely dinner.  We had a wonderful time together and the food was delicious.  If anyone local ever goes there, you have to get the bread service.  It was four or five different types of bread and it came with four spreads: sun-dried tomato tapenade, whipped goat cheese, honey bacon jam, and pimento cheese.  (It also came with fresh butter.) We devoured that in a heart beat.

Here are a few pictures from the evening:

And of course on Sunday after church, we had lunch at my mom's where we enjoyed the dessert of Sarah's choice (strawberry triffle) and birthday presents.

 

My mom sure knows how to decorate a festive table with lots of Sarah's favorite color!

I really enjoyed spending time with my family and the birthday girl this weekend!  I'm trying to treasure every minute because I know this summer is going to fly by.

Eighteen is...

Eighteen is....

confidant

intelligent

creative

thoughtful

beautiful

hardworking

capable

kind

conscientious

 

 

Eighteen loves to...

 

listen to Harry Styles

watch Netflix/Hulu  (Pretty Little Liars and Grey's Anatomy)

hang out with her friends

lifeguard at the pool

go to the beach

get ice cream with her brother when she's not annoying him

drink Starbucks and Boba tea (her new favorite)

sleep in 

have a plan

be organized

get her nails done

 

Oh how I love my sweet eighteen!

Happy birthday, Sarah!

 

 
 

 

 

Two hummingbirds, one mockingbird, and one goldfinch.

I got my first hummingbird feeder the summer of 2017.  Every year, I excitedly hang up my feeders in early March waiting hopefully for their return.  And typically they arrive by the second week of April.  And I would joyfully watch three, or four, or even five birds fight over the feeder to enjoy the nectar daily until they disappeared in late September/early October.  If you've been around here for a while, you know my hummingbirds bring me great joy. 

But this spring was unseasonably cool and rainy around here so I decided not to even bother putting the feeders out until early April. And as soon as I did,just like clockwork on April the 11th, we spotted one hummingbird  feasting!

And for a week or so, it was just the one.  Another one finally joined it and we have two that hang out at the house and eat from the feeders regularly.  In the past I know we have had at least four (and maybe a couple more) because they would all fight over the feeders (even though we have plenty of feeders, apparently hummingbirds are very territorial). But this year, there are only two.  

I'm assuming it's because I put the feeders out later than normal and a couple of birds came, saw no feeders, and kept flying until they found some food.  Lesson learned. Next year I will put the feeders out in March and hope for the best!

But don't worry about me missing my little visitors because this ridiculous mockingbird visits multiple times per day. He perches on the part of the feeder where the netting over the nectar is missing and pokes his beak in and out.  I'm assuming he's getting some nectar because he continues to come back. When he's had a few sips, he flies away and that sends the feeder spinning and of course, annoys me to no end because it cause some of the nectar to drip out.

In addition to the giant mocking bird, I have also been receiving frequent visits from the cutest little goldfinch. It perches on the feeder or sometimes the string and just hangs out.

Do you see her hanging from the wire above the feeder?  Crazy bird!

So between the two hummingbird visitors, the mockingbird and the goldfinch, I've got plenty of activity at my kitchen window and that's making me happy.  I've contemplated one of those clear bird feeders that hang on the window. You fill it with bird seed and then can watch the different birds eating it through the feeder. I'm close to getting one but I'm afraid there will be a huge mess underneath it (spilled seed and bird splatter). Does anyone have any experience with one of those feeders?  I'm thiiiiiiiiiiisssss close to getting one.

And if I do, this will be me...

Have a great weekend!