Summer Shenannigans #2: Trying New Things

This summer has been about trying new things. Mr. Hubby and I have been making a list of things we wanted to try and/or do this summer that are new to us. That's not to say that we haven't been enjoying some things that are not new, but our goal is to expand our horizons. I've been hearing all about The Melting Pot from friends at work. It's a fondue restaurant that offers 4 course dinners! Mr. Hubby and I decided to give it a try one weekend for our date night. Since it was just a casual date night, we weren't ready to plop down $75 for a meal, so we opted for the cheaper 3 course option of the cheese fondue appetizer, a salad, and the dessert fondue. We left out the main course. We had plenty to eat with what we ordered. I don't even know how we would have consumed the main course with all the meats! We started with the basic cheddar fondue. They prepare it right there at your table and serve it up with bread, veggies and apples. I took some pics, but they aren't the best. So, please excuse my total lack of iPhone photography skills.

We definitely polished this off without any difficulties. Well....Mr. Hubby had a few "fondue fails" to which he couldn't seem to keep from dropping the food off his fondue fork into the pot! I had to aid in the rescue efforts several times. 

Next up, we had our salads. And since there is nothing cool or significant about a salad, I didn't include a picture. Try not to be too disappointed. Then, we had our dessert. We ordered the Flaming Turtle chocolate fondue. It is chocolate, caramel, and candied pecans. They prepared it at our table, and they made it flame. Now much to my dismay, I had a "blogger fail" because I didn't get a picture of it actually flaming. This one was served with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, blondies, brownies, pound cake, rice krispie treats, golden oreo covered marshmallows, and chocolate covered oreo marshmallows. We were all over that business. I mean, that fondue was slap your hubby good! (Disclaimer: no husbands were injured during this dinner)

We seriously would've licked the pot clean if we weren't in a fancy dining establishment!

Since it was date night and we both looked pretty good looking, we posed for a "date night selfie" in the parking lot. Mr. Hubby is just too handsome:)

Keeping with the theme of trying new things, I am continuing to do my volunteer work at a local hospital. So far, I'm really enjoying the work and the people I have met. It's nice to do something different and to do it willingly with a servant's heart! I may just be doing paper work, making phone calls, and entering data into a computer, but I like the fact that I'm helping out other hospital employees by lessening their work load. As a teacher, I understand what free and willing help even once a week can do for a person!

Later in the week, my mother-in-law and I FINALLY got to try Painting With a Twist. We've been trying for several months to find a date and a painting that we both would like. Luckily since it's summer time, we are both off from work and are more flexible. We found a painting of an infinity cross that we both liked. The atmosphere is very fun and enjoyable, the instructor was funny and lively, the people that we painted with were friendly, and there was 80s music going in the background! Now, I'm not an artist by any means, but this was easier than I expected. My mother-in-law definitely showed me up, but seeing as how she has years of crafty experience I don't see the need to compare my amateur abilities to hers:)

My first pic is of the rules they post. These are more "guidelines" I guess you could say.

The following pics are my before with a blank canvas, a during with the background painted, and the final product.

I don't think I did too bad considering I'm the farthest thing from an artist you will see. I think my youngest sisters' title of artist in the family is safe. This next pic is me and my mother-in-law with our finished paintings. Again, no comparisons, please. Then we have half of the group photo of everyone who was there in our class.

We did some other fun things this week. Mr. Hubby and I got season passes to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor. The rain finally stopped this week for us to go to Six Flags. I haven't been in about 5 years. It has been much longer for Mr. Hubby. He is not a fan of roller coasters. However, I broke him in right away with the scariest coaster at the park: Mr. Freeze in reverse! We rode all the coasters (except for the few they had closed) and he did great! Hopefully next week it'll be hot enough for the water park!

Our nephew is in town this week staying with Mr. Hubby's parents. So Monday this week we spent some time with him. We took him to the library to get books for the week. Since I am a teacher, I knew all the good books. I introduced him to the author Moe Willems. He writes the Pigeon books and the Piggy and Elephant books. I got him a few of my favorites. At first he wasn't too sure about the books, but I convinced him to give them a try. And wouldn't you  know it, they were his favorite books! His Nana said all he would read are those pigeon books and the other Moe Willems book, "This is Not a Good Idea." He would pick those books as his nap time and bed time books to read to himself. He even loved "This is Not a Good Idea" so much, that he asked to have it read to him over and over so much that he learned it himself. He's 5 years old and about to start kindergarten, and he was re-telling that book like a pro! He sure did make his teacher aunt happy. His kindergarten teacher is going to be so lucky this year! We also took him to McDonalds, to Sonic for a milkshake, and to the grocery store. I even got to lay down and snuggle with him during his nap. I just love this sweet boy so much! He's so much fun to play with. His uncle even played soccer with him....IN THE HOUSE! Because Nana and his uncle are cool like that.

And so it goes, another busy summer week has flown by. We are getting closer to our Dominican getaway. Stay tuned for more summer adventures!