Suzanne McGrath Photography

Six on Sunday

Hello!  I'm blogging while watching/listening to the Oscars.  I really don't care who wins or loses because I don't following movies very closely, but it's still interesting.  By the way, Justin Timberlake just killed the opening!  So good.  So here goes...

1.  We had a busy weekend.  My day yesterday was non-stop and the hubby's day today was non-stop.  All told, from Friday after school to this evening we had three music lessons, four soccer games, a basketball game, a meeting on Spain, a birthday dinner, church, School of Religion, two swim practices, a Costco run, an O'Reilly Auto parts stop for a new battery, and a bachelorette party.  Just a typical spring weekend for us.  The madness has started.

#2 played in an outdoor soccer tournament.  She had a game Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning.  Did I mention the windchill Friday night was 14*?  Yep.  Only it felt like negative 50*.  I have never watched a soccer game while that cold!

Of course the side we were sitting on had the wind blowing straight into our faces.  I literally sat INSIDE my sleeping bag.  That was the only way I made it through the entire 75 minutes!  They lost Friday and Saturday but won today.  It was a great transition from indoor back to outdoor.  The games are really played so very differently.  Both are fun to watch but for completely different reasons.

Saturday was their last indoor game of the season.  I swear, I was watching hockey - not soccer.  There was so much checking into the wall it was nuts!  They lost by one and it was their only loss this session.  It was a bit of a fluke loss.  But that's soccer.

 

2.  The hubby's parents and brother came down for the weekend.  It was nice having them around.  They took us out for dinner Saturday night to celebrate #1's birthday next weekend and the hubby's birthday at the end of the month.  Dinner was great!

 

3.  #4 played her last basketball game yesterday.  I have to say, I am so proud of this kid!  She started out crying while playing because she was so overwhelmed to loving it.  She even scored in the last two games!  I really hope she plays again next season.

I managed to capture her basket!

 

Here she is with her BFF after the game:

 

4.  We just couldn't not ski this year.  It was killing us.  (OK, maybe I'm being slightly dramatic.  But just slightly.)  So we booked an adorable log cabin about 15 miles outside of Breckenridge for just a quick 5 day weekend.  I am THRILLED!  We'll head out on a Thursday and drive home Monday.  We'll be able to ski two days and hang out in town for a day.  I can hardly wait!  

Isn't this place so cute?!

The girls are all ecstatic.  The little ones can't wait to play in the snow at the cabin and the big girls are excited to ski and snowboard.  (Let's just hope we don't have any broken bones this year.  Fingers crossed.)

 

5.  I made an adorable little plant stand today:

I flipped a tomato cage upside down, cut off the legs, and spray painted it gold.  Then I plopped a black pot inside.  Ta-da!  I hope I can keep this plant alive.

 

6.  Remember how I became a CASA?  (Court Appointed Special Advocate)  Well, my first case is officially complete.  The judge released the case on Tuesday.  It is a little bittersweet.  I think I will take some time off between cases because it is difficult for me to come up with enough time to devote to a child as needed.  I think I'll stay up-to-date on my continuing education hours so I can pick it up again when my life slows down a bit more.  But if you are thinking about becoming a CASA, I highly recommend it.  Feel free to reach out to me if you have ANY questions.  It's so worthwhile.  The difference you can make in a child's life is priceless.  Truly.

 

Well, on that heavy note, I'm outta here.  Have a great week!

 





 

Six on Sunday

Hello!  Did you have the same GORGEOUS weather we had here this weekend?  I hope so because it was AWESOME! 

 

1.  Yesterday was definitely busy around here.  I did about five million loads of laundry, ran to the grocery store, attended #4's basketball game, a wedding shower, #2's indoor soccer game, and an open house.  Phew!  But it was all good.  The weather so beautiful I didn't mind running around.  I'm talking capris and no coat.  In February!

Today was not nearly as crazy.  The cousins came over after lunch for the day and a sleepover tonight.  They played outside a ton which is so nice!  And they can hang out tomorrow since they don't have school.  Lucky.  The hubby even has the day off.  I'm the only one who has to get up early.  Womp womp.

We even ate dinner outside tonight!  

  

 

2.  Did you have a nice Valentine's Day?  We keep it low-key around here.  But honestly, I like any excuse to eat in the dining room and make it a little fancy.  Plus, the girls love it, too!  Here was the set-up:

They each received a bottle of nail polish, earrings, and two truffles.  But they were still pleased as punch.  

 

And it was really an excuse to cook a delicious meal!  I made filet mignon, scallops, mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli and brussels sprouts:

That picture really does not do it justice.  It was scrumptious!  I cooked the steak and scallops according to this recipe and it could have been any easier!  The kids didn't eat the scallops which was just fine with me because it just meant I got to eat more!  And the steak was cooked to perfection.  Yum!  Now I need another excuse to make this meal again:)

 

3.  #2 had the opportunity to hear Sonia Warshawski speak to her class at school.  "Sonia was born in Poland and was 17 years old when the Germans forced her and her family into the ghetto where she worked as a slave laborer.  When the ghetto was liquidated, Sonia and her mother were deported to the Majdanek death camp.  Her mother did not survive.  Sonia was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau and then to Bergen-Belson where the British liberated her."  mchekc.org/portfolio-posts/warshawskisonia/.

#1 also had the opportunity to hear Sonia speak when she was in 8th grade.  I love that Sonia takes the time to speak to students so they can really make the connection to the Holocaust.  I think hearing Sonia helps them to understand the Holocaust happened to real people.  It's a gift Sonia gives to the students.

 

4.  I made a new dinner last night and it was a winner!  If you like steak, you need to try this!  (Or, you could substitute chicken for the steak.) Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls with Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle.  So good!

 

5.  Work has been super busy lately.  I'm hoping it settles down this week but I'm just not sure it's in the cards for me.  I actually worked today so I could plow through emails and that was sad.  I mean, it was 70* outside and I was in the office.  Oy!  At least the kids had a blast outside.  That made me feel better.

 

6.  I bought a couple new houseplants on Friday.  I'm hoping to do something fun with at least one of the.  The other one is just to replace a plant that is pretty much dead.  Hopefully I'll pictures to show you next week!

 

That's all I've got for tonight.  Have a great week!

 

 

 

 

 

Six on Sunday...but really NINE!

Hello!  I'm here on Sunday since and all is well in our household.  We had a good week.  I hope you did, too!  We enjoyed the 70 degree weather yesterday and even managed to get the entire first floor and our room/bathroom clean.  All at once.  Not to mention the laundry was all done, too!  That's productive, huh?!

 

1.  As I was editing pictures, getting ready to post tonight, all the girls were up in my room watching TV.  #4 was in the bathtub - her favorite after dinner activity.  Anyway, she was asking her sisters to get her towel for her.  They were, of course, ignoring her.  Finally, she yelled, "I'm going to count to one.  ...ONE...  BE HERE!"  And let me tell you, it was so funny!  We all just died laughing.  Sometimes she is so hilarious and yet doesn't realize it.  I will miss this age when she grows out of it since she is the youngest.

 

2.  I was able to tag along on a Girl Scout outing with #4's troop on Tuesday afternoon.  We took the girls to tour the Johnson County courthouse and learn a little bit about the court system.  It was interesting trying to explain some pretty complicated subjects to a group of second graders.  But it was still fun.  Here's #4 sitting in a Judge's seat:

 

 

3.  We had homemade pizza night again for the second Friday night in a row.  (It's so much harder to do homemade pizza night when I've worked a full week vs. just ordering pizza.  But I'm always so glad when I take the time to make it.)  Anyway, only the book-ends were home.  The middles were both gone.  So it was a quieter night but we still enjoyed it so much.  I absolutely love spending quiet Friday nights at home.  I think the older I get the more of a homebody I have become?  Plus, I love when the biggest and the littlest get to spend time together.  I know they will have the fewest memories together since #4 will only be 10 years old when #1 leaves for college.  So I treasure their time together!

No, that is not #1's glass of wine.  It was mine.  Don't have a panic attack.

 

4.  I went for a 6 mile run yesterday morning with my friends, Carmen and Sarah.  It was gorgeous!  The temperature was in the low 50s.   We had a beautiful sunrise.  And great conversation.  It was a really nice way to start the weekend.

 

5.  I went to the grocery store yesterday - as usual.  As I was putting the groceries into the back of my car, I was struck by how little $300 will buy!

Yep.  That's it.  I will say I splurged and bought $27 worth of filet mignon for Valentine's Day, but still...that's not very much, is it?

 

6.  I should give you an update on the chiropractor situation.  I went back three times last week.  She told me she felt like the situation was getting better.  However, I didn't notice a thing.  So I got a massage yesterday afternoon and I'm so thankful.  My neck/shoulder/back is so much better!  It's not perfect, but there is a noticeable improvement.  I'm thrilled.  They both told me their practices work in tandem and it seems that may be the case.  I only hope the situation keeps improving.  

 

7.  The little girls made their Valentines today.  I have to say, I was not into it this year.  At all.  I bought a few boxes of Rice Krispy treats (any food purchased MUST be off a pre-approved list).  Anyway, the girls came up with their own creations.  I'm totally impressed because I did not help them one little bit.  And they still had fun and they feel very accomplished because they did it all on their own.

 

8.  While I wasn't into Valentine-creating tonight, I was into lunch box creations.  I made the girls these little treats for lunch tomorrow.  Fun, huh?!

 

9.  The hubby and I went to see La La Land last night.  (It was my turn to pick.  Last year we saw The Hateful 8 on Valentine's weekend and it was awful.)  I wasn't sure what to expect because the movie has been hyped so much.  I was afraid if I had too high expectations I would be let down.  While I genuinely liked it I was really disappointed in the ending.  I think underneath my sarcastic exterior I am a hopeless romantic because I was so sad.  Just so sad.  The hubby kept laughing at me because he said he saw it coming a mile away.  Ugh.

 

Phew!  Nine tonight.  That's gotta be some kind of record.  I'm pretty proud of myself:)  Have a great week!

 

Make-Up Monday

1.  I didn't blog last night and I'm sure you know why.  Because of this...

Yep, watching the Super Bowl at my sister's house.

I have to say, although I kind of wanted the Falcon's to win, that was some game!  I thought the football was actually better than the commercials.  I was disappointed in the commercials this year - I like the funny ones and nothing stood out to me last night.  On the other hand, I loved Lady Gaga's halftime show!  I thought she was outstanding and I'm not a huge fan of hers.  But man, she was entertaining and that lady can SING!

And the food we ate?!  Delicious!  My sister knows how to do hor d'oeuvres!  She had quite the spread.  I'm sure I ate my calories for the week in one night but it was worth it.  So good!

 

2.  I had a little time on my hands Saturday afternoon and I started looking at tile for #1's shower.  I actually talked the Littles into going to the Tile Shop with me.  (OK, actually I bribed them with a stop at Starbucks on the way home.)  Anyway, I found some tile I just loved - a black and white theme.  The tile I picked is modern but black and white is timeless.  I felt like it was a good plan.  However, she wants to infuse some color in there with an accent wall.  I'm just not sold.  If I do an accent back wall with blue, I feel like I can't do the black floor I wanted.  Ugh.  Do I let her have a say or not?  After all, she will only be home with us another two years.  Decisions.  Decisions.  Tell me, what would you do?

 

3.  I started going to the chiropractor last week.  She says I'm a mess and wants to see me 6 times.  I think my neck/shoulder is getting better but honestly, if she can't fix me in 6 tries, I give up! 

 

4.  Our weekends have still been pretty light, which I love.  This past weekend #1 had a swim meet but it was super small and really quick.  Love those kinds of meets!  Meanwhile, #4 had a basketball game both Saturday and Sunday.  She cried on Saturday but she powered through it on Sunday.  (She just doesn't like all the yelling and pushing and shoving.  Honestly, I think tennis will be her sport.)  Neither the middles had a soccer game so it was a really easy weekend.  

 

5.  We picked up #1's car last week and it has been so great!  Tonight she dropped #4 off at tennis on her way to swim practice.  It's awesome having her help us!  Plus, she just got a job working at a swim store, so she will need the car.  I just hope she doesn't wreck this one, too!  She starts training this coming Friday and I'm most curious to find out if she will get a discount on racing swimsuits.  How awesome would that be?!

 

6.  We are toying with the idea of doing a quick, cheap ski trip.  We're all just so darn sad at the thought of not going at all this year.  I adore our family time together!  We may drive out there on a Thursday and come back on Monday.  Of course we would stay someplace cheap, but who cares?  We'd get to ski!!  

 

Well, I think that's all I've got tonight.  Have a great week!