Lagniappe of the week

la⋅gniappe -Spelled Pronunciation [lan-yap, lan-yap] Unexpected or indirect benefit.

I remember this definition to be of Irish origin and meaning something extra or additional. Well, if you have a better definition then let me know.

Here is some lagniappe. Please meet my new athletic shoes. I have not had a pair of these in about 10 - 12 years.

These are boys size 3 cross trainers. Yes, I am small around the edges as you know. About five weeks ago, I joined a gym for women with childcare. I cannot put into words how wonderful this is for me as a stress reliever, confidence and physical strength builder. I am terribly sore most of the time with weight training and doing squats..oh my goodness but I am really enjoying this one and the children are doing well with it too...even little T1. I have done water aerobics, Zumba, Cardio Strength and Les Mills Body Pump with a bar and plate weights as well as cycling and the treadmill. My folks and M take the children on two days a week so I don't always have to leave them in childcare. I am blessed that this gym is literally a three minute drive from my house if I hit the traffic lights well and the weather is good. I can really focus and get out of there and back to my life and that is exactly what I needed. What a blessing!!

SIGG reusable bottles has called a recall on any bottle produced prior to 2008. All of mine are from 3 years ago or so and definitely prior to 2008. I am happy to get to exchange them for new ones since these are beat up and the exterior paint is chipping. I underestimated how attached G5 was to them however. They are waiting in a box atop the fridge and I think I can mail them off this week with little awareness from G5 since they did without them all week so I could clean them and get them boxed up.
While driving one day this week, G5 asked me how to spell his brother's name so I dictated it from the driver's seat, not seeing why I was asked to do this. He then held up his box ( an Estee Lauder makeup box given to him by Mimi to hold toys, etc.) and there it was..he knows his letters by dictation! Wow!
When I said now you need to do your name...he said...'I already did!' and showed me the other side. Self portrait included. Amazing and as I thought it would be sooner or later. I did tell him to use paper next time though.

And finally, a fascination with the fright part of Halloween. A scary boy witch dinosaur??? and his buddy.