a little bit of life [5.29.20]

It's FRIDAY! YESSSS!

My man is headed out for a weekend guys trip to celebrate a friend of ours getting married and a few of the 'left behind' wives and I are going to get together and have some girl time #whendoesthateverhappen.

I'm keeping it simple and sweet today and showing ya'll a little bit of life lately...

...just three brothers casually bonding over 'Go Dog Go', haha!

A few days before the 'official' last day of school, I had to bring the boys to their school to get all of their things and say goodbye to their teachers (I didn't snag one of Mason - we couldn't even go into his classroom :().

...just saying that is so bizarre.  I can't imagine being a teacher and walking into my classroom that has been left untouched, kept with every intention of the seats being filled the next morning.  This was hard.  I hurt for my two third graders and my first grader.  I hope next year is their best year yet to overcast this yuck shadow.

I have never seen a baby/toddler love books as much as this boy does.  He is ALWAYS grabbing a book and flipping through the pages. I hope his love for books lasts a lifetime!

I was home grabbing a quick bite for lunch and ran into this handsome man on his way out to do some yard work.  I love working so close to home so I can pop in on my lunch time ;)

...Yep! We're still walking and walking and walking some more :) As strange as it sounds, this pandemic has brought a lot of positive changes to our lifestyle over here!

 

My kids kept asking me if I actually took their pictures to my office (you can read more about that here) so I snapped this photo before heading out one day to prove it ;) ha!

Seeing all these sweet faces during the day is nice, i'll have to admit!

 

Hey Corb!!

Corbin got this bike for his birthday and has been riding it nonstop.  I love that he still thinks it's cool to wave at me in front of his friends while he speeds by ;)

Baseball around here returns THIS WEEKEND and you can bet your bottom this boy is READY!

Ugh! Ok, this got me right in the feels.  On my first day back at work, I drove out of the drive way and saw Lake's head peeping out the window watching me leave.

...and then the next day, he was more prepared and immediately brought his shoes to me while I was getting ready cause he was all 'I know you're leaving and I'm coming, too, k?'

...and then I texted my boss and was all 'I'll be working from home from now until he graduates from high school' 

...I actually sent that text message. ha!

Just a bunch of neighborhood boys doing neighborhood boy things...

We have TONS of kids that live in our neighborhood and it couldn't make 

This one. He is wild. 

...he climbs on EVERYTHING.

These are our 'WE FINALLY WENT TO EAT AT THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT' faces because WE FINALLY DECIDED TO GO EAT AT THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND IT MADE ME SO SO HAPPY!!

..Yay for glimmers of normalcy!

Well, there's your random assortment of our life lately!

Have a great weekend!

kids in the kitchen: Mason [May 2020]

I'm back with another 'kids in the kitchen post'!

If you're just tuning in and are all 'what the heck is going on?!' you can click here and read about how we've got our three little chef's cooking once a month over at our house :) 

In a nutshell...

1. Once a month, on a Saturday (because time and patience need to be in an ABUNDANCE of supply...) each of my three older boys get to whip up something yummy.  

2. We draw 'Saturdays of the week' to see who cooks when... the boys draw the numbers and that's the day that they cook

3. They pick a recipe from a recipe book that we have and let me know what I need to add to my grocery list 

4.They do just about everything on their own - but i'm there as moral support/ adult supervision ;)

Alrighty, let's get started!

  The boys had been discussing having 'dinner guests' on the night that they cooked, so since we hadn't seen Mamaw and Papaw in awhile (Tyler's parents!) we invited them over to watch Mason whip up some delicccciooouusss Chicken Bacon Carbonara (from Mix and Match Mama's: Eats cookbook!) and yummy banana milkshakes for dessert!

When I made my grocery list on Thursday, he sat down with me and let me know what I needed to add to my list.

As always, we stuck with our trusty, tried and true method.

Step 1:  Read off and retrieve your list of ingredients

...I unfortunately did not get this captured because Tyler was mowing the grass and I was on Lake duty ;)

Step 2: 'Prepare' your ingredients

For this recipe, he had to mince quite a few garlic cloves...

...he had a much better go at the garlic press this go around ;)

He also had to chop quite a few green onions, so we opted for scissors instead of a knife :)

He got to crack a few eggs and separate the yolks and whisk them, too... Something he hadn't done before!

 He was SO EXCITED that Mamaw made a point to arrive early so he could show her all of his chef skills!

Here he's frying the bacon and yes, repeating 'slow and low' three dozen times ;)

Bon Apetit! Another dinner that was executed dang near flawlessly!

He did such a good job and definitely maneuvered around the kitchen with much more of a flow.  I never had to tell him to wash his hands, he was always cautious when using any sharp objects and he kept an eye on his dinner without being reminded to.  He cracked eggs like a pro and learned how eggs benefit a dish (it made the pasta so airy and fluffy!) - I give him AND his dish an A++

I have been so impressed with how the boys have taken to cooking and the finesse that they all use in the kitchen!  I love making these memories with them.  

Next up will be Corbin and then we'll start over in June!

what's up wednesday [5.27.20]

Happy Hump Day!

I'm linking up with my favorite bloggers to share 'What's up' over here!

1. WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS WEEK...

Well. I made a HUGE batch of guac for our Memorial Day weekend, so we'll be snacking on that for the next few days! If I don't buy extremely ripe avocados, we can usually eat on the guacamole for 2-3 days after I make it before it turns green and yuck.. you can find the recipe here.

Oh, and as I mentioned on Friday.  I've been surviving off of Hulk Smash smoothies for lunch now that I'm back at work.  They're easy to make (you can even make 'portion' bags and throw everything into a freezer bag and grab one when you're ready to make one!) and are packed with nutritious goodness!

2. WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT...

...I'm ready for another day in the sun!
...and for me to be as tan as my husband, ha!
 We had the best weekend with all of our friends!

3.  WHAT I'M LOVING...

I recently got most of my purchases in from Amazon and have really been enjoying them! I'll chat a little more about them later :) 

4. WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO...

Helllloooo Summertime!
We officially 'wrapped up' school last week and declared it summer around here!  The older boys had a 'farewell' parade at their school and we also had to pick up their supplies and things from their teachers.

Bittersweet but I think #allthemommassaidAmen when we think about just getting this school year BEHIND US!
Here's hoping next year is, well, normal ;)

5. WHAT I'M DREADING...

...Well, i'll be turning 30 two months from today... So there's that.

6. WHAT I'M WORKING ON...

I am working, working, working on getting a 'How we meal plan' post together! For YEARS I have gotten so many questions from family and friends about how we manage that realm of our life and always love giving them my tips and tricks.  I am excited to share it with you! 

7. WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT...

...did I say Summer already? ;)

Getting that 'taste' of Summer over the weekend has me READY!

8. WHAT I'M CURRENTLY WATCHING/ READING...

Agh! I just finished my last book and am needing something else to read!

I have really found myself in the evenings not wanting to wind down with tv anymore and have taken to enjoying a cozy blanket and a good book... any suggestions? 

9.  WHAT I'M LISTENING TO...

...currently?
My husband's podcast. Ha! 

10.  WHAT I'M WEARING...

Well, I've been LIVING in a bathing suit all weekend, and I'm not at all mad about it ;)

I ran out and snagged this one from Target and really liked the way it fit!

See you tomorrow!

Memorial Day 2020

Hello, hello!

Hope your long weekend was nice and... long!

We spent Saturday hanging out at the house and later on, Mason made us dinner! (More on that later!).  Sunday and Monday were spent with close friends poolside and we had the best time!

Just two grown soon-to-be fourth graders who were kind enough to stop and let their momma snap a picture of them ;) #rare

I'm so sad that I realized I did not take one. picture. of Corbin! He was with us on Sunday and basically didn't get out of the pool the entire time.

Oh gosh. This cutie.  He was SO. EXCITED. I don't think a smile left his face the entire time he was outside.

Now.  A little insight for ya.  Lake is OBSESSED with the water.  Like, dunks his head under constantly in the bathtub obsessed.  So we KNEW we were in for it this year now that he was mobile and well...

...This child walked right up to the edge of the pool, sat down, and crawled into the pool.  Completely alone.

...and then he screamed his head off when he got in because the water was SO COLD.

We were surprised but not at all surprised at the same time, ha!

We were able to get him in the water so long as he wasn't fully submerged.. boy does NOT like cold water!

Um... Erica, wasn't it just yesterday that they looked like this?

...Love them and their sweet little friendship.

...but don't love them getting so big!

...Pool season is something you have to build up stamina for, ha! This is basically what we all looked like when we got home both Sunday and Monday!

Melt. my. heart.

...oh and can we also talk about the fact that this man is already sporting a great tan?

....it makes me sick.

...and so do his perfect curls!

...He took a liking to the stairs and sat like this the entire time.

It's Lake's world, we're just livin' in it!

Lake was so, so obsessed with this water table that we ended up purchasing one of our own to have at the house! I can't wait for it to come in!

...The big kids kept us all entertained with their diving board tricks!

Hope you and yours had a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Friday favorites [5.22.20]

Why hello there, Friday... aren't you looking like all of the other Friday's as of late, ha!

I'm linking up today to share a few Friday Favorites!

This has been on my favorites list for a few weeks now but it's ESPECIALLY a favorite this week because Tyler and I finished our 30 day Yoga challenge last night! 

We have LOVED our 30 day journey with Adrienne so much that we've already picked out her 30 day 'Yoga Camp' next!  If you're looking for a way to get your body in gear, give Yoga with Adrienne a try!

So obviously I've seen so many people during this season rolling out passion projects (...including myself with this blog!) including...

My husband!

Tyler, along with his might-as-well-be-brother friend Kyle have started a Podcast!!

For AWHILE my friend Erica (Kyle's wife) and I have told the two of them that we should be recording their conversations.  Usually on a Saturday night, you'll find us at Erica and Kyle's sitting around a table playing cards (....because I guess we're that old now, right guys? ;)) and more often than not, Erica and I are bellied over laughing at these two goons guys. So when they finally decided that we may actually know what we're talking about  their commentary is actually pretty hilarious, that pulled the trigger.

They're only a few episodes in but if you have a fellow 'fellow' in your life or just anyone in general that enjoys reality tv, nostalgia and sports then they're your guys.  They truly do know a little bit... about a lot, ha! You can find them on the Apple Podcast app or on YouTube.

...and on that note...

I am not a guy. 

...and don't get me wrong, I love listening to my husband and one of my closest friends 'dabble' on their podcast.

...but I can appreciate the fact that not all females would enjoy the soothing sounds of my husband and one of my closest friends dabbling on and on about Michael Jordan, Survivor and old school video games ;)

So, let me lob this suggestion over to you ladies in the back...

My cousin, Alicia and her friend have also started a podcast recently, and it's filled we all things that we girls can appreciate ;) Think 'The Bachelor', things going on in the world, and just general life 'ugh's' that we ladies face. SO if that's your style, you can find them on the Apple Podcast app and on YouTube as well :)

See? Options ;) Different strokes for different folks.

It's warming up in Tennessee which means we're all pulling out our shorts and tank tops over here...

...and your girl ain't ready.
...The thought of having to show these milky toned legs of mine anytime soon makes me hurl.

Now that I'm older, wiser and terrified of wrinkles and skin cancer, my old friend, the tanning bed, and I have parted ways.  So self-tanners have become my new friend, because I just cannot pull off the 'pale skin' look and because I also just don't know where all you sun kissed momma's out there find the time to be outside and get a nice tan. ;)

I have two ride-or-dies that I usually have on hand: St. Tropez - Dark Bronzing Mousse and Loving Tan - 2 hour express Dark tanning mousse.  Both have their pros and cons about them, so depending on my 'mood' I'll use one or the other.. You'll see that one is an 'express tanner' (meaning it develops quicker) and another is your typical, 8 hour, sleep in that 'ish tanner.. Both brands have both types, but I prefer these specific ones in each brand over their longer/shorter developing counter partner.
Make sense? Convoluted, yes. 

...but you do you.

Now that I've gone back to work, my Hulk Smash smoothies have been the PERFECT answer to a quick lunch time! I make myself a glass and then give the rest to Lake to accompany his lunch.

If you're in need of a quick, healthy lunch idea... head on over and check out that recipe!

I'd never get pretty flowers planted again if I didn't say that my new, ready for spring, flower beds weren't a favorite! I'm SO GLAD Tyler was able to knock it all out last weekend because this weekend? Rain, rain, rain, RAIN. Ugh!

That's it for my Friday Favorites!  I hope you have a great, sunshine-filled long weekend.

See you Tuesday!