Well....we're back from the in-laws and just now making dinner....sloppy joes (thanks hmac!). It didn't go quite the way we wanted it to....but it wasn't completely horrible either....I guess it was a compromise of sorts. I'm happy to have it resolved.
I feel absolutely great right now...just finished up a 30 minute workout on the elliptical and burned 376 calories....per the elliptical machine read out...not sure how reliable it is...but i swear i think i lost a gallon of sweat! haha