Suzanne McGrath Photography

Six on Sunday

It feels like I was just here!  But no matter.  It's Sunday and I am home so let's get rolling..

1.  This weekend was much more calm than last weekend.  We only had two soccer games, two birthday parties, and a birthday dinner.  In our world that's nothing.

#2 played her first regular-season outdoor soccer game Friday night.  It was fun to watch the girls play under the lights but it did get a bit chilly towards the end.  I think the win they pulled out made it all worth it, though.

 

2.  Yesterday afternoon/last night #2 had a birthday party for one of the girls on the team.  I absolutely love how sports bring all kinds of different kids together.  Our team is spread out throughout the city and the girls go to a bunch of different schools but it doesn't matter.  They still love to hang out with each other and I think that is so great!  I think it's good for kids to make lots of different friends and broaden their horizons!    

3.  #3 had an orthodontist appointment this week.  I thought it would be the usual.  You know, take some x-rays, have the orthodontist check out her teeth, and hear "Come back in a year."  But nope.  She is getting braces!  It turns out she has a wicked cross-bite which they like to correct early.  My older girls didn't get braces until they had all their adult teeth.  However, in this situation, her cross-bite is so bad we can't wait any longer.  So, as of March 29th I will have three kids in braces.  I think that's going to be so funny and I can't wait to take pictures of them!

(#4 had a great time at the orthodontist.  She had a juice box and Cheez Its - neither of which I will buy.  Hence, she thought it was fabulous!)

4.  I went for a 12 mile run yesterday with my good friends.  It was such a beautiful day!  The wind wasn't bad, the sun was out, and I wasn't freezing.  Perfect!

 

5.  I spent time this afternoon making sure we have everything for our ski trip.  You may have already seen this picture, but this is what the music room looks like right now:

Seriously, packing for a family of 6 is nutty.  I have to remember ski boots, snow boots, ski pants, long underwear, helmets, goggles, hats, gloves, gators, socks, and jackets.  And that's JUST the outerwear!  (Lest you think I'm too anal, the one year I did not do this we left the hubby's ski jacket at home.  We were literally at the ski lift when we realized he didn't have a jacket.  That was not a cheap mistake!)

 

6.  Guess who had a birthday?  Yep, #1 turned 15.  I really can't believe I'm old enough to have a 15 year old.  She can actually drive herself to school now.  (If she had her own car, that is.)  How is that possible?!  I still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday.  

As per usual, we had a special dinner in the dining the room.  She chose the gray and gold china.  True to form (and her sweet tooth), she choose breakfast for dinner:  cinnamon rolls, bacon, scrambled eggs, and mock-mimosas.  It was delicious!

At 15, she is the best!  These adjectives come to mind:

• Swimmer.  She is going to swim for the high school this season and take a break from club swim.  I'm so excited for her!
• Smart.  She does well in all her classes and I never have to remind her of things.  In fact, I never know what she has - she keeps track of all of it!
• Bi-lingual.  She is taking Spanish and loves it.  I think she has a bit of a gift for it, actually.
• Funny.  She's got a great sense of humor and I love it when it comes out.
• Friendly.  She seems to be friends with a wide variety of kids which you know I love!
• Prankster.  She loves to pick on her little sisters.  In the best way, of course.
• Anal.  You should see her room.  It's almost always perfect.
• Confident.  She is quietly, yet gracefully confident.

Basically, she's just an all-around great kid!  We just have to remember to enjoy the time we have with her because in three and a half short years she'll be off to college.  Oh man, I can barely think about that!  It makes my heart hurt.  And part of the reason I am so excited for spring break this year.  It will be so much fun to spend time with all our girls - together!

And there you have it - another edition of Six on Sunday.  I'm not sure if I'll be here next Sunday so if not, I'll see you in two weeks.  Have a good one!

More Than Six on Sunday

Hello!  I'm back and ready to blog.  We've got two weeks to catch up on so this may be a little longer than usual.  I was going to include a full review of Nashville but I think I'll come back on Tuesday for that rundown.  Still, you should grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine depending on when you are reading this) and have a seat.  Let's go..

1.  Valentine's Day.  I was so proud of us this year!  We actually had the little girls's Valentine cards/gifts ready to go more than a week before their school parties.  That NEVER happens around here.  We're usually more last-minute type people.  

Here they were working on their Valentine cards.  The cards were so simple but the girls loved making them.  I call that a win-win.

 

And here is the finished product: 

We simply made a small little card and attached it to a small bag of microwave popcorn.  Of course I found this idea on Pinterest.  It was supposed to be a printable but I would rather the girls take a little more interest than just writing their name.  Therefore, they wrote the whole card and glued on the heart.  I helped tie the ribbon but that was it.  They did the rest themselves and were very proud of their hard work.  So fun!

 

2.  Tonight we celebrated Valentine's Day as a family.  #1 set the table and she put together a beautiful, coordinated theme.  #2, #3, and #4 helped me make the dinner.  And the hubby picked up Smallcakes cupcakes for dessert.  It was truly a family affair.  

Every year I pick up the girls a little something to open.  It's usually very small.  This year they each received a swimsuit from Target.  I knew it was long shot that they would like what I picked out but it was a fun gift to open.  And to my surprise, they all loved their suit.  Only #1 will have to exchange hers because I purchased a size too small.  I am just happy they each got something they need and will use on spring break.  That is a win in my book!

For dinner, I made a delicious salad for all of us.  The hubby and I ate crab legs and the girls had kung pao chicken meatballs.  I even broke out the rolls I had left over from Thanksgiving.  (I don't eat them because I can't pronounce any of the ingredients but the kids LOVE them.  They are definitely a special treat and rarely eaten around here.) 

3.  The older three girls each play an instrument.  #1 plays the violin and to my sheer delight is going to sign up for orchestra again next year - her sophomore year!  #2 plays the piano and #3 plays the guitar.  #4 has expressed an interest in the piano but I need to find a teacher for her.  I don't want her to go to #2's teacher just yet.

Anyway, I've gotten a little bit hard core about practice time.  Here's #3 practicing:

And I have to say, the extra emphasis on practice is really paying off.  Who knew?!  Ha.

 

4.  As you know - #2 and #3 each play soccer.  And I must say, it can get rough!  It's hard to see in this picture, but #2 came home from her game on Saturday with a couple serious bruises.  Her left knee (right side of the picture) has a bruise that takes up almost her whole kneecap!  

She played against one of her most bestest friends on Saturday and was really nervous.  Her friend is a forward and #2 is a defender.  They "versed" each other quite a bit.  But I was so proud of both girls!  They each played their hearts out and simply played to their best abilities.  They pushed and shoved just like normal but it was all good.  I love those girls!

 

Then after the big game, #2's coach, Lance, shaved his head in honor of his sister - also a mom of one of the girls on our team - who is battling cancer.  All the girls took a turn at shaving Lance's head and it was really special to watch.  Not only that, they each wore a burgandy headband in honor of Lance's sister.  Very special. 

 

5.  I set my alarm for 6:10am this morning.  I needed to run 10 miles after not running long last weekend.  Only guess what?  Mother Nature had other ideas.  Ugh!  Apparently it sprinkled last night and all the streets and sidewalks were covered in a sheet of ice.  I opted not to run.  That meant two weeks in a row with no long run for me.  Not good.  I HAVE to get it in next weekend!

6.  Yesterday, about 11am, the hubby decided we should go to dinner and a movie.  Apparently to celebrate Valentine's Day?  Anyway, I told him he was nuts!  But he was insistent and I thought it was pretty sweet because he never suggests we go out together.  I told him I would only go to a movie if we had reserved seats.  That meant our choices were really limited because of course all the "good" movies only had crappy seats left.  (I refuse to sit in the first four rows.)  He ended up buying tickets to The Hateful Eight.  If you're not familiar with the movie, it's a Quentin Tarantino movie.  Enough said, right?  It was awful.  2 hours and 47 minutes of awful.  I drank two beers, peed twice, and left to buy popcorn - any excuse for a break.

I don't carte blanche hate Quentin movies because I LOVE Pulp Fiction and even Kill Bill wasn't bad.  But this one?  No bueno.  The worst part?  The movie was at 6:10pm.  It was too early to eat dinner before the movie and by 9:30 it was too late to eat dinner afterwards.  So we just went home and heated up leftovers.  Romantic, aren't we?  Oh well, at least we tried and the next movie is my pick!    

7.  I helped my friend, Carmen, today by organizing her family's coat closet in their entrance from the garage.  We installed two new shoe shelves and moved another shelf up higher.  We also removed the clothes bar and installed coat hooks, instead.  Once she gets it painted and fixed up I'll post a picture.  It is going to be awesome!

Also?  Carmen picked me up a brand new Project Life Core kit signed by Becky Higgins.  I know I am totally a nerd here but I can't wait to use it!  It is going to be perfect for 2016 scrapbooking.  I have vowed to get caught up this year and the new Core Kit will help me do it.  I am so geeked out! 

8.  You've seen pictures of our cat, Darby, before on the blog.  She is seriously naughty.  I'm certain she was completely spoiled by her previous owners.  She thinks she owns the place!  Here she is as I found her after dinner.  She sat up there, drinking her milk, as if she didn't have a car in the world!

 

 9.  The three little girls did not have school last Thursday or Friday.  (#1 only had Friday off.)  Of course they all have tomorrow off as well.  Anyway, #3 has been a little social butterfly.  She had a sleepover at her friend's house on Wednesday night.  They had a BLAST!  They play so well together and I heard about all the fun games they made up and played.

And then, she had another friend, Addy, sleep over here on Thursday night.  #4 was delighted because when #3 has a sleepover #4 gets to reap the benefits as well!

Then the girls played all morning Friday and were majorly bummed when it was time for Addy to go home.  

 

10.  Meanwhile, #2 was at a sleepover of her own Thursday night.  (Really, we just traded kids.  Lizzie went over to Addy's house to hang with Addy's sister and Addy came over here.  Works perfectly every time.)

These three girls all had a sleepover Thursday night and went shopping together on Friday.  I love this picture because they have been friends since they were little, little, little and it's so adorable to see them together so grown up!  Plus, they are all soccer players and it is my hope they will all play together in high school.  How cool would that be?!

 

11.  #1 has definitely been busy as well.  She went shopping with friends on Friday, too.  Unfortunately, she had to cut her shopping a little short due to swim practice Friday night.  Poor kid!

 

12.  I have another menu for the week:

Sunday: Apples and Bacon Salad with maple balsamic dressing (delicious!), crab legs, and Kung Pao Chicken Meatballs (so good!)  

Monday: Home Fries Skillet + Fruit

Tuesday: Buffalo Chicken Quinoa mac-n-cheese + roasted broccoli and brussels sprouts

Wednesday:  Beef enchiladas + green beans

Thursday: Crock Pot White Chicken Chili + roasted sweet potatoes + fruits

Friday:  Pizza and salad

 

13.  Nashville.  In a nutshell, it was SO MUCH FUN!  There is nothing like spending time with your bestest friends who have known you for more than half your life.  Seriously.  Nothing.  

Since it is getting late (and my wine is all gone) I will come back on Tuesday to give you the full run down of Nashville.  I'll let you know of some fun restaurants, bars, and shopping areas.  But let me just say, if you haven't visited Nashville, What are you waiting for?!

Here I am with 5 of the best friends a girl could ask for:

And yes, we are already planning next year's girls trip.  I can't wait!

Have a fabulous week!

 

Six on Sunday

Howdy!  I'm here this week.  On a Sunday.  I feel so accomplished.

1.  You know how some weekends you go into the next week even more drained than the previous week?  Well, that is NOT me tonight.  No, sir.  This weekend included the lake, family, fun in the sun and now I am officially re-charged!  Just what the doctor ordered because I needed it.

We spent the weekend at my mom's house with my sister's family and had a really great time.  It was pretty relaxed which was wonderful.  I feel like I was finally able to fill my bucket!

We did all the usual things:  long run on the trails with the hubby Saturday morning, Bentonville Farmer's Market and shopping, followed by a long afternoon on the lake, and a delicious dinner last night.  Perfection.

Speaking of last night - the kids all ganged up on my mom and her special friend, Jim, and walked them through a Powerpoint presentation displayed on the TV explaining why they should get a dog (together with split custody) and which dog they should get:

It was so awesome.  It was complete with a picture of each dog AND a sound that played each dog's bark.  Each kid had picked out a dog and explained the benefits of that particular breed.  We loved it!  It was really cute and well thought out, too!  Alas, no such luck.  No one is ready to commit to a dog.

This morning the hubby and I took the older three girls out on the boat for a chance to ski or wakeboard on a smooth lake.  It was perfection.  The water was like glass and there was barely another boat to be seen.

My niece, Sydney, is now skiing on two skis like a pro!

And both #1 and #2 are now great at slaloming and wakeboarding.  I'm telling you - it's so fun to watch them pick up a new skill.  

Here is #1 up on one ski:

And #2:

And because I feel like the proud parent - the hubby managed to catch a few seconds of them on video, if you want to watch:

 

 

Anyway, it was a great morning followed by a fun afternoon with everyone on the boat!

 

2.  Last week we were down two kids.  The big girls spent the week with my mom and had a blast getting a little bit spoiled.  They boated, went shopping, rode go-carts, saw a movie and got a pedicure, and went to Eureka Springs for an afternoon.  It really did sound like fun and right up their alley!

Meanwhile, the hubby and I enjoyed the week as a family of four (so weird).  One night the littles and I ganged up on Patrick and convinced him to join us for a bike ride.  It was great and we ended up at the little girls' school, playing on the playground!

3.  Another night we had tickets for Mary Poppins out at Starlight Theater.  When I bought the tickets I didn't realize the big girls would be in Arkansas so the little girls each brought a friend.  

I truly think the popcorn was the highlight of the evening!  I didn't remember the details of Mary Poppins and I think quite a bit of the show went over their heads.  Not to mention it was long.  Really, really long.  The first half was an hour and 20 minutes.  That meant intermission didn't even begin until 9:20.  And 80 minutes is a really long time to sit still when you are only 6 and 8 years old!

I still really enjoy Starlight theater but I think I need to be a little more careful choosing the show next year.

4.  Our bathroom is progressing along nicely.  Finally, I know.  We hired a guy to lay down the tile and I am so glad we did!  He is nearly done but it took him three days (not all full days) to get this far.  If that were us, it would have taken a month of weekends!  Doesn't it look pretty?   

He just needs to finish the water closet and a couple rows in the main bath and he'll be ready to grout.  That means we'll be able to install the toilet, bath tub, and vanity.  I can hardly wait!  

5.  We are gone again next weekend.  My family reunion is up in South Dakota next Friday night and Saturday.  The kids are all looking forward to it, though #4 is pretty peeved that we aren't going up there before Thursday!

We're staying in camping cabins Friday and Saturday night.  I'm a little nervous, not gonna lie.  They are just cabins with beds and AC.  We have to walk to a communal bathroom.  That will be a new one for us but kids are supposed to camp at some point in their lives, right?  And let's face it, this is about as close to real camping as I will get!  Wish us luck!

6.  The hubby and I bought a new mattress.  We had no time to shop and the bathroom remodel means funds for household items are running low.  Therefore, we only checked out Ikea and called it a day.  We picked a foam mattress.  I'm hoping we like it!  If not, we can return it but we won't be able to get our money back - we'll just get to pick out another style.  

I'm planning on building a tufted, winged headboard.  However, the bathroom is the number one priority right now so I know I won't get to the headboard until later this fall.  And that's OK with me.  I need to focus or I'd probably have 10 different projects in 10 different stages started around the house and that would not be good.  

Phew!  There you go.  That new mattress is calling my name.  Have a great week!

Six Plus Six = Twelve on Sunday

Hello!  I'm back this week.  And it's looking good for the next few weeks.  That said, let's get the show on the road!

1.  Last weekend the hubby and I took our annual trip up to Lake Okoboji in Iowa with friends.  If you've been following along for awhile, you probably remember me talking about it before.  Anyway, we've been going up there since 1995 and having a blast every time!  This year was no different.

Of course we played games:  poker, quarters, and beer pong.  Here's our beer pong night.  We improvise and play it on the floor.  We fill the beer pong cups with water and then drink shots of beer out of little cups that are clean.  

We ended in a tie.  Lipsticks vs Dipsticks.  One win each.  

We spent quite a bit of time on the boat and probably an equal amount of time in the bars.  (We all like to pretend we're 21 again.)  Unfortunately we don't recover as quickly as we did in the past.  Oops.

 

I have to say, I learned (AGAIN) that you should not drink this:

after many of these:

I need to remember that little rhyme I learned in college:

"Liquor before beer, never fear.

Beer before Liquor, never sicker."  

But really, it was such a great weekend.  We always have the most fun with these people who we've known for ever.  And our old friend, Jody even made up for a day/night.  This will be the year we remember as golf carts, the new Regal Beagle, sleeping on love seats, the Okoboji Store, and general craziness.  As usual.  Can't wait 'till next year!

2.  Before we left for Okoboji I took #2 in to the eye doctor.  I took a picture to memorialize the visit.  Can you tell me what's wrong with this picture?

Uh, yeah, the machine is backwards.  (She was just posing after her exam.)

Anyway, she got contacts!  Or, more correctly, contact.  As in one.  She only needs correction in one eye.  I am so proud of her.  She is putting them in and getting them out all by herself.  (I may have told her not to count on me for any help.  Too squeamish.)  And she's totally doing it!  The bonus is she can now actually see out of both eyes.  I had so much trouble getting her to wear her glasses.  So win-win!

3.  Last Monday I took the day off so I could spend it with the girls.  We had such a great day together!  I started off by mowing the lawn (that was my anniversary present to the hubby - very romantic, I know) while they were still in bed.  Once #1 got home from swim practice we all went to Starbucks.  Our favorite!

We followed it up with a trip to the grocery store but they are such helpers I love having them tag along.  After a quick lunch we headed over to the library where we all checked out a few books.  The girls watched a movie while I did meal prep and general kitchen clean-up.  I'm not saying that part was great but it was nice to get it done and make my week a little more smooth.  #1 missed her afternoon swim practice because she had a doctor's appointment.  Bronchitis.  No bueno.  But she was glad to get some antibiotics!  After a decent dinner we all hit the pool.  That is my idea of a great, yet normal, day with my kids.

4.  While we were at the library I checked out a few books.  I finished The Blonde Theory by Kristin Harmel in just two days.  It wasn't entertaining but not all that well written.  I really felt like the editor could have done a better job cutting out the redundant parts.  The character thinks the same things over and over and over.  It was a little much.  But obviously not bothersome enough that I didn't finish it.  I'd recommend it if you want a light and easy beach read.

I haven't read the other two books yet so I can't comment.  We'll see if I get into them or not.

5.  I don't know about you, but we have a terrible time losing iPhone/iPad chargers.  It's almost a sickness around here.  Then we all fight about whose is whose.  No good.  

So, I saw this ad on Facebook and fell hard!  ThingCharger.  I failed to read the small print before I clicked buy.  (Four of them.)  They're not actually in production yet.  Womp womp.  I'm so sad.  I'm hoping to get them in the next few months and my fingers are crossed.  I think this will change lives!  (Yes, I'm being a big dramatic.)  

I'm telling you about this because if enough of us buy, they will move to production even earlier.  Come on, you know you want one!

6.  This weekend was our first full weekend home in 6 weeks!  Yep, we've been gone every weekend since June 13th.  That was poor planning on our part.  We had great trips but just too many in a row.  So this weekend we started off right by having beers at the pool with neighbors after dinner Friday night.  So fun!  All the girls +1 came down with us:

It was such a fabulous way to start the weekend off.

7.  Saturday the hubby and I worked on the bathroom floor.  Then today we managed to lay the self leveling cement.  Let me tell you - that job is no fun!  Those bags are 50 pounds and we had to rent a special drill to miss it all up.  I am so ready to hand this job over to the professionals.  We know how to tile but it's 175 square feet and would just take us too long.  I'm crying uncle over this one.

8.  I started off my day today with an 8 mile run.  Let me tell you, it was disgusting outside!  The humidity was about 80% and it was so muggy.  But it was nice to get it in before our day turned crazy.  And none of the girls were even awake when I got home at 8:30am!

I am a little concerned, though.  My knee has been feeling funny.  That's the only way I can describe it.  It doesn't necessarily hurt but it doesn't feel right, either.  I can feel it pulling behind my knee and perhaps a bit to the side.  I thought I just needed new shoes but they are not helping.  I'm going to try some stretches for my IT band and see if that helps.  If not, I'm heading to the PT.  I don't want to keep running on it and just have it get worse.  That would majorly bum me out!  I need my long runs to keep my sanity.  

9.  So Friday night, after we were back from the pool, the kids talked us into making a run to Sonic for half-priced shakes.  The kids all got into the car (#1 was driving) and...nothing.  Seriously.  The engine didn't even TRY to turn over.  UGH.  That was in the Trailblazer.

That wouldn't have been so awful had our other car NOT BEEN IN THE SHOP!  That's right.  We were stranded in our house.  The Suburban was (is) in the shop and the Trailblazer wouldn't start.  Welcome to our lives.  Seriously, I can't make this shit up!

But then Saturday morning the hubby just had a feeling.  And sure enough!  The car started.  I think we've replaced the starter already so now we don't know.  Ignition switch?  I used to ask my dad these questions so now all we have is Google.  The joys of owning two older cars.  But I'm still not willing to pull the trigger on a new car.  I'd rather wait one more year.  We'll see if we can do that...

The good news?  The car has started all weekend.  I went to the grocery store yesterday morning and parked in the back of the lot, through two spaces, in case I needed to get a tow!  Then while running around yesterday afternoon I didn't even turn it off.  I just left it running!  Try not to be jealous:)

10.  You know how I mentioned up above I mowed the lawn as my anniversary gift?  Well, that's right.  We just celebrated 18 years together!  Man, that is a long time, huh?  The good news?  I'd totally do it all over again.  That's not to say we always get along (we don't) but there is no one else I'd rather take this ride with than the hubby!

So what did we do to officially celebrate?  We ate sushi at Ra last night and went to see Trainwreck.  It was a perfect date!  I can't tell you the last time we've had sushi together and that movie?  You have to see it.  Go!  Today!  It was so funny but it was more than just funny.  It was also touching and poignant in a spot or two.  So for real, go see it!

11.  Speaking of movies, we just took the kids to see The Minions tonight.  What did I think of it?  Meh.  Honestly, it was a little much just listening to the minions talking.  Plus, also, I was really tired and I may have taken a nap during the first 15 minutes.  (I totally did.)  It wasn't terrible but I wouldn't tell you to rush out to the theaters to see it.  I'd wait for it on DVD.

12.  Last one.  The girls played "messy Twister" this week.  They used their Twister mat but then colored shaving cream and covered the circles with it.  They had a blast!  Unfortunately I only have one picture of the middles.  I need to get the other pictures from our fabulous summer nanny.  

I leave you with this:

Hilarious, right?

Phew!  I'm tired now.  Time for me to hit the hay.  Have a fabulous week!

 

 
 

Six on Sunday

I'm here to report we had a fabulous week down in Arkansas.  It really was nice and relaxing and fun.  All of it.  That's the short version.  Read on if you'd like to "hear" the long version/photo diary...

1.  We hit all the things I mentioned last Sunday...

Silver Dollar City:

 

Kayaking:

 

Lunch with just my mom and me:

We also walked through Crystal Bridges art museum, the kids and the hubby went for a hike (while my mom and I were at lunch), we spent lots and lots of time on the boat, my mom took the little girls to the movie, Max, while the big girls and I went shopping, we went out to a fun Mexican dinner, and lots of hanging out as a family.  

2.  My sister and her family joined us Friday morning for the 4th of July weekend.  We had perfect weather!  

Here are my little girls with their cousin in matching swim suits.  Cute, no?

 

My mom with all her grandkids:

 

We decorated the front of her house with flags - I love this look!

 

3.  We watched fireworks from the lake on July 3rd.  (The city of Bella Vista always launches fireworks on the 3rd which is actually really nice because then we had our own show on the 4th.)

What you can't see is how many boats were out there!  It was crazy.  And then it got so hazy from all the smoke that we couldn't see the fireworks for about 5 minutes or so because they were hidden by a veil of haze!  It really was a lovely night where we enjoyed pizza and appetizers on the boat before the big show.

4.  We went to the parade on the morning of the 4th.  The kids were in heaven because...candy.

 

 

Check out their pockets:

 

5.  I only went for two runs while we were down there.  I ran 8 miles on each Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed my time on the trails.  The first Sunday I ran by myself and the hubby joined me this morning.  Although I slipped in those two runs, it was really nice to take a week off from the gym or feeling any pressure to work out!  I truly think it's good to take a mental break every now and then. 

6.  Lastly, thank you all for the kind words you offered me after my post last Friday.  We definitely missed my dad this weekend.  He would have loved spending time with all us and being the captain of his beloved Black Pearl.    

We honored his memory and let his ashes go this past weekend.  We did it off the boat into the lake as he wanted.  We toasted him with a Miller Lite or frozen Snickers bar - depending on our ages.  I'm glad we waited to let his ashes go but honestly, it didn't make me feel any better.  I still miss him.  I will always miss him.  

 

I love you, dad.

Make-Up Monday

Hello.  Sorry for the radio silence but we have been busy.  Really busy.  This week should settle down a bit and for that I am happy.  So let's catch up, shall we?

1.  My little girls did an art camp for the first time this year and absolutely loved it!  They attended with one of #3's BFFs:

I'm so glad I finally enrolled them this summer.  At first #4 cried - big, rolling, alligator tears - because she didn't want to go.  Well, I made her go and what do you know?  She loved it!  It was all they talked about that week.  And on the last day of camp the parents were able to go to an Open House and see all the art work created.  It was such a fun experience for them.  If you're in the Overland Park area and looking for recommendations, look no further than Wolf Creek Art Studio!

2.   Last week our nights were busy but the week prior we really enjoyed casual nights down by the pool.  It's so great because it's only two houses down and we just walk over whenever we feel like it.  That week I think we were down there three nights in a row?!  The kids swam and swam while the hubby and I just chilled out - maybe drank a beer or a glass of wine.  It was fabulous and what summer is all about!  I think we might be able to enjoy it this week, too and I'm totally ready for some downtime.

Here are the littles with their little neighbor friend, whom they adore:

Don't you just love the shades?!

3.  We celebrated #2's birthday a few days before the real thing.  It's hard to schedule summer birthday parties and get good attendance!  So we went with a Thursday night and it was great.  Originally, #2 wanted to play laser tag followed by a swim at the pool in the dark.  BUT...it was especially hot and humid that day.  So the girls decided to skip laser tab and just go swimming.  They really, really wanted to go in the dark but the weather was looking iffy so we went a little early.  They still had fun!

4.  Two weekends ago we headed down to my mom's house in Arkansas.  The weather gave us a little bit of a run for our money, but we persevered and won out.  The hubby and I even managed to sneak in a 7 mile run so that was really nice!

Of course we visited the Farmer's Market in Bentonville on Saturday.  They had the BEST produce and flowers that day.  (I think I say that every time?)  

We spent the rest of the weekend day on the boat.  The big girls each brought a friend so we had 6 kids with us that weekend!  All the girls were able to go tubing and the big girls water skied and wakeboarded.  (Zoe learned to wakeboard and Adeline learned to ski - so it was a big weekend for them!)  Let me tell you, 6 kids is nothing.  The hubby and I totally nailed it!  The only bummer (and it was major) was that my mom dropped a tool on her toe and ended up with a broken big toe and 7 stitches!  Ouch!

I took pictures of the girls at the lake but I'll spare you pictures of the toe.  You're welcome.

#1 and her friend, Zoe.

 

#2 and her friend, Adeline:

Addy's mom said they look the same as they did in kindergarten.  I think she's right.  I love that picture!

And here is #3.  Not sure why I didn't get a shot of #4?

 

 

Here are all six of them together - they swam a lot!

 

5.  Last Monday #2 turned 12 years old!  It was special because Adeline was still here visiting us from Dallas so she was able to join us for #2's birthday dinner.  #2 requested Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps.  Of course I obliged her, even though they are a major PITA to make.  (But oh so good.)

 

At 12 years old, #2 is:

• Funny.  She has such a great sense of humor!
• Determined.  She has to have the last word in every argument.  Every time.
• Smart.  She is doing extra studying this summer just so she can join the Math Plus (or whatever the heck it's called these days) class next year.
• Argumentative.  She loves to argue with #3.  Only #3.  Go figure?
• Friendly.  She has several friends from grade school and seems to be collecting more from middle school as well.  Love that.  I always tell my girls you can never have too many friends.
• Helpful.  She loves to be my sous chef in the kitchen and I love to have her help!
• Athletic.  She's a great soccer player - she doesn't get rattled back on defense.
• Musical.  She's been taking piano (again) for the last year and she really enjoyed choir this past year in school.

We are so grateful to get to be Lizzie's parents.  She's an awesome kid!

6.  While the big girls (and their friends) came home with us from my mom's house, the little girls did not.  They were treated to four days with Gamma and they loved every minute of it!  Although I will say she wore them out - not the other way around.  They were exhausted when they got home Thursday night.  But definitely a good exhausted.

They went fishing, hiking (although short - remember my mom's toe incident), shopping, got pedicures, saw a movie, went out to dinner, and just generally hung out with my mom.  #3's favorite part was fishing and #4's favorite part was going to see a movie.  So cute.  Here they are fishing:

And yes, they each caught a fish!  

7.  Last week was crazy.  We had a birthday dinner (for which I not only had to cook but hit the grocery store as we had NO food), a birthday party (for #1), a trip to the airport so Adeline could fly home, and a round trip to Nevada, MO to pick up the little girls.  All before Friday!  

So the birthday party...yep, #1 had her party last week even though her birthday was back in March.  We just had such a hard time finding a good day for it and we finally decided on a Wednesday night.  The theme was outdoor movie night.  I think the girls had fun!  They came over and jumped on the tramp for quite awhile before coming inside for pizza and presents.  I started the movie at 8:30 but it wasn't really dark enough until about 9pm.  Oh well.  With pick up at 10pm we didn't really have a choice.  Here's the set-up:

And I put out a popcorn bar when the movie started:

I will say it was fairly easy but I wish we owned an outdoor movie project because renting it was kind of a pain.  All in all, though, it's a really easy party to put together!

8.  Then last weekend our family scattered between three different states:  I took #1 to Columbia, MO for a swim meet, the hubby took the littles to Omaha, and #2 stayed in town with a friend.  

I can't tell you how many hours I spent in this building this weekend - mainly because I don't want to add it all up or I'll cry:

 

I know I've written about it before, but #1 has sort of hit the wall.  She's not dropping very much time in her races or she's adding time.  I know she'll get past it eventually but it doesn't make it any easier while she is going through it.  Thankfully she loves the sport and she's very determined.  Plus, she has some tremendous friends on the team which really helps!

My saving grace this weekend was that I managed to squeeze in a 7 mile run.  Despite the humidity, it was a gorgeous morning!

9.  Since our family was scattered to the winds this weekend we decided we are going to celebrate Father's Day next Sunday.  That way the hubby will get spoiled and he'll get to "shred it" at the lake.  That feels like a win-win for all of us!

10.  Lastly, I've been trying to curb my clothes shopping this past summer.  It's not that I am not buying ANYTHING, but I am being very selective and trying to buy pieces that will coordinate with what I already have.  It makes it feel like I'm growing my wardrobe much more than I really am - so it's sort of like I'm faking myself out!  I think it's a bit similar to a Capsule Wardrobe but I am not going to go down that path completely.  It's just too limiting.  So far I've purchased:

• a striped black and white dress (Marshalls) that goes great by itself or with a blazer.  I can totally mix and match different shoes, too!
• a linen chambray dress (Marshalls) that I can wear to the office or with a pair of Converse.  I can belt it or not - multiple looks!
• a pair of Navy with hot pink laces Converse (Marshalls) that I adore.  And #1 is so embarrassed of me when I wear them that it makes me want to wear them even MORE!
• a linen dress that I'm totally wearing for the 4th of July (Old Navy).  I just got it and wore it this weekend and received a ton of compliments on it which made me feel great.  It's definitely casual but I can wear tons of different shoes with it - so that's almost like a whole new outfit, right?!
• a sleeveless white shirt (Old Navy).  I have some bottoms where I only have ONE top that matches so this will go with a ton of my wardrobe.  It's very simple and and has an adorable dot pattern to it.

Phew!  I feel like I wrote a ton this week.  I think we are now all caught up.  Have a fabulous week! 

Ten on Tuesday

I keep falling behind.  Last week it was Make Up Monday and now this week it's Ten on Tuesday.  Hopefully we'll get back to our regularly scheduled programming next Sunday!  

Since I'm two days late, you get four extra this week!  Here goes...

1.  Last week was crazy busy with end of school year activities.  So I'll start out with last Monday.  The little girls had their Field Day and All-School Lunch on the playground.  I didn't make it to watch Field Day but the hubby and I were able to surprise the girls by bringing them shakes for their picnic lunch.  I definitely think they enjoyed being outside and playing fun games that morning.  

2.  We were busy with two concerts last week:  #2's choir concert and #1's orchestra concert.  While each concert was a bit longer than usual, they were both really fantastic!  The choir concert had a pops emphasis which was fun to hear because I recognized most of the songs.  I definitely tapped my foot along.  

The orchestra concert was also really good.  (It's crazy how much the 8th graders have improved in the last three years.)  I loved hearing the 8th graders play Phantom of the Opera!  And of course they ended the performance with Black Ice where all the 7th and 8th graders play on the stage in the dark with glow sticks attached to their bows.  It's so cool to watch!  Definitely a highlight for me.

3.  I'm calling this picture Last Day of School:  

If I'm being honest, it was really just #4's last day of school since the other three had a half day on Friday.  Just details, right?

Anyway, aren't they cute?  #1 is dressed up because she had 8th Grade Graduation that morning:

Their school is so big that it took a really long time just for the kids to file in and sit down.  And then it took a really long time for them to walk through and receive their diploma.  It would have been nice just to have them file in and receive their diploma AT THE SAME TIME because sitting still for extended periods is not a skill in which I am proficient.  At all.  

Regardless, it was nice for them to feel "official".  As in officially done with middle school.  They spent the rest of the day at Power Play.  The only downfall with the location was it's popularity.  There were quite a few other schools there that day which meant very long lines and no opportunity to do everything they wished.  Oh well.  They still had fun.

Here is #1 with her friends.  She's the second from the left:

 

4.  The real last day of school was Friday.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn't that great.  I think it was in the 60s and overcast.  Major bummer.

But the kids didn't let the weather stop them from having fun.  #1 had a swim birthday party to attend.  #2 had several friends over for sandwiches and swim time.  And the littles just joined in with #2 and her friends.  Here's proof the big girls actually got in the water:

Let me just say, there was NO WAY I would have gotten in that water!  I wore a sweatshirt AND a jacket down to the pool.  Brrrrrr....

5.  We went down to my mom's house for the weekend.  We were hoping to get a lot of time on the lake, but we only made it out for a day.  The weather just did not cooperate!  Saturday was the only decent day.  I set my alarm to get up and run but it was just POURING when I woke up.  Uh, no way.  I went back to bed.  

We did, however, make it to the Farmer's Market and had great luck.  The produce was awesome!

We spent the afternoon on the boat.  The water temperature was just shy of 70* so I did not actually get in.  But all the kids went tubing and #2 went wakeboarding.  Of course the hubby couldn't be outdone by one of the kids so he shredded it, too.  I stuck to driving the boat - that was more my speed.

Since rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast for Sunday AND Monday we decided to cut our AR weekend short and headed home Sunday afternoon.  We were bummed but we're planning on heading south again for Father's Day weekend.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate a little more next time!

6.  I have recently read two books I haven't talked about yet.  The first one was given to me by my mom in preparation for our trip to Paris.  It's called Paris in Love: a Memoir by Eloisa James.  It's a quirky little book about her year in Paris with her family.  The chapters revolve around specific aspects of her time in the city but are really just a bunch of short snippets - think Facebook posts - about her observations.  It was really easy reading and often humorous.  Not to mention it did a fabulous job of making me all the more excited for a week across the pond with my mom and sister!

I just wrapped up Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman.  And yes, I realize I'm years behind the "in" crowd.  Whatevs.  It was so much better than I expected!  The way she captured her year in the Federal prison system was fascinating.  Her descriptions of the people around her absolutely painted pictures in my mind of all them and their little quirks.  I devoured this book!  And I might even watch the Netflix original of the same name.  (That's huge for me given I really only watch one 30-minute TV program these days!)  Net-net, read this book if you haven't already.

7.  Today was the first official day of summer vacation.  And it was FANTASTIC!  First, I was able to sleep in.  (I was supposed to run but, rain.)  Second, I didn't have to make anyone breakfast.  Or lunch.  Third, all the girls had a truly fun day!   #1 hung out with swim friends ALL DAY.  #2 spent the afternoon at the pool with her friends.  And the littles had a friend over for the afternoon and they played HARD.  All in all, it was a really fun day for the girls which made it really easy for me.  (Our nanny starts next week.)  I really, truly love summer as much as the kids!

8.  I took #2 to Target tonight to look for swimsuits.  She's a petite little thing.  I'm talking she wears a size 7-8 swim suit even though she is almost 12 years old.  On a whim I had her try on XS bikinis from the junior/women's section and guess what?!  They fit!  She was thrilled to be able to buy a swim suit that wasn't from the kid section.  And I was so excited I bought her TWO!  Like that seriously made our whole day.  It was so fun!

And just so you don't think my life is all roses we also picked up hamster bedding.  I came home and promptly changed out the hamster's cage.  Yes, I lead a glamorous life.

9.  We FINALLY are moving ahead on our bathroom.  The electricians came out last week and moved all the switches, wired a few things, and put it a box for our heated floor.  I'm so excited!  I painted the ceiling (again) and it looks much, much better.  (Hint:  do not paint a ceiling that has been scraped of popcorn in anything other than flat paint.  Just don't.)  I also bought wall paint and the hubby patched three holes where the old light fixtures were removed.  I'm hoping to begin working on the floor this weekend by laying down the cement backer board.  Wish us luck!

10.  Our menu.  So I know this is really late but maybe you can use it for next week?

Sunday:  The hubby made dinner so it was hamburgers (with guacamole, fried shallots, and feta cheese) and hot dogs.  Again.  Plus watermelon.  I didn't care because I didn't have to cook.  I consider that a major win in my book!

Monday:  Steak salad (steak of hot dogs for the girls), roasted asparagus (forgot to actually cook it), and risotto (I add a little chardonnay and usually skip the cream.  You can really play around with it!)  

Tuesday:  Tacos (I make my taco seasoning) or taco salad + fruit

Wednesday:  Kung Pao chicken lettuce wraps + roasted broccoli + fruit

Thursday:  Skinny Creamy Italian Chicken + salad + fruit

Friday:  Pizza + (I'm going to try making a cauliflower crust pizza for myself - wish me luck) + salad + fruit

10.  I'm enjoying a glass of Cabernet while writing tonight and it's the first glass I've had in a month and it tastes FINE!

Phew!  I'm done.  That's all I've got tonight.  Have a fabulous week.

 

 

 

Make Up Monday

I sat down to blog last night.  I uploaded and edited my pictures.  That's as far as I got.  It was late and I was tired.  Why was it so late, you ask?  Because we were busy celebrating...

1.  ...my sister's graduation from her Masters program!  WooHoo!  If putting yourself through school as a single mom does not qualify for a big celebration then I don't know what does!  

Aren't we cute?

Seriously, I don't think I could be more proud of Aimee.  It took her three years and a ton of studying and even more paper-writing (so gross - I'd rather take a test) but she totally did it.  Once she passes her boards she will be a Nurse Practitioner.  I, on the other hand, wouldn't have been able to pass biology 101.  We could not be more opposite that is part of the charm!

Her ceremony was on the UMKC campus.  Afterwards, we all headed to the Grand Street Cafe for dinner.  We had our own private room and it perfectly fit all of us:  Aimee, her two kids, her boyfriend, Jason; my mom and her special friend, Jim; and me and my family.  We all pigged out and drank "special" drinks.  (Wine/beer for the adults and Shirley Temples for the kids.)

Really, it was a very neat evening.  And I'm glad my kids got to be a part of it to know what a big deal it is to graduate.

2.  My little girls are still very into riding their bikes around the cul-de-sac.  They take purses with them if they go to the next cul-de-sac so they can be prepared.  Prepared for what? I'm not exactly sure.  I am just so happy to get them outside after school so I don't have to see them hunched over the stupid Kindle or iPad.  THIS makes me happy!

3.  Last Friday night was spent in one of my most favorite ways:  an impromptu get-together with the neighbors.  We all sat outside in our driveway, drank some beers, and watched the kids run around and play.  Even the middle/high school kids came out and entertained the littles for a bit.  I mean seriously, how awesome is it to see a freshman boy chase around my 6 and 8 year old girls?!  It's priceless.

Of course I got suckered into making popcorn.  With lots of butter and salt! 

That picture cracks me up.  The dog is scrounging for dropped popcorn and it looks like the girls were drinking a beer!

4.  Last week #2 had a chance to attend a soccer clinic put on by the Sporting team.  It was really, really cool!  She was able to join about 60 other kids and actually practice ON the Sporting field.  

They split the kids up by height (which for the most part meant age) and sent them to various stations taught by players, coaches, and staff.  I watched most of the stations and they ran through some pretty great drills.  Plus, again, the grass felt fake.  Ooh to get to play on it!

Afterwards the kids were able to get four autographs:

 

She saw Espinoza, Melia, I forgot the third, and Myers.  And they were the nicest, most genuine athletes I've ever seen.  

5.  Our bathroom reno is finally going to start moving again!  We had hired an electrician but then he injured his shoulder.  We gave him a little time but then it started to look like he wasn't going to make a quick recovery.  We got another bid and he's coming out Wednesday.  I'm so excited!  Once he finishes we can finally start the floor and everything else in Phase 2.  Thank goodness.  I'm ready to have my bathroom back.

6.  Just in case you're following along or looking for gluten-free or Paleo meals, here's our meal plan for the week:

Lunch:  cauliflower soup again because I never actually made it last week.  We scrounged and ate leftovers and that made me alternatively sad and mad.  I'm happy to report the soup has already been made and we ate it for lunch today.  Delish.

Saturday:  Hamburgers and hog dogs on the grill again (#1 and I were gone at a swim meet) with guacamole and fried shallots + fruit

Sunday:  Grand Street Cafe (highly recommend it)  And don't say you'll just have one bit of dessert because it's impossible.  Trust.

Monday:  Baked tilapia (i just rub with a little EVOO and add lemon pepper spice) + roasted asparagus + homemade mac-n-cheese and leftover homemade chicken nuggets (hint:  i bake them - frying is too hard and messy) for the kids + apples

Tuesday:  Pork Roast (we'll throw the leftovers in the soup for lunches) + mashed potatoes + roasted broccoli + fruit

Wednesday:  Chicken Nanking (a new recipe - wish me luck!) + roasted yellow squash + fruit

Thursday:  Pad Thai (I love it so much I could eat it every week.  And almost do.)

Friday:  pizza and beer night!  My favorite.

I can happily say that eating this way allows me a few indulgences (ie Friday night beer and pizza) while keeping me below my target weight.  And the good thing is I'm never hungry.  I snack on a lot of fruit and almonds during the day.  And a banana is sort of my treat.  I'd say I'm about 95% clean eating and about 5% fun.  It's not a terrible mix.  

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

 

Six on Sunday

Hello there!  I'm actually kind of sad to be here blogging tonight because it means the weekend is over.  But really, I need one more day.  Sigh...

1.  So last week, about five minutes after I posted this picture to Instagram or Facebook or both...

I got a call from #1.  She was at swim practice and fell during dryland.  (The first 30 minutes of practice is spent out of the water doing various types of conditioning.  Think running, squats, lunges, burpees, sit-ups, etc.)  Anyway, she fell while they were running and was pretty sure she fractured her wrist.  Excellent.  But not really.

I left the house at about 7:30 to pick her up and take her to Urgent Care.  We didn't walk in the door of our house until nearly 11pm that night.  Ugh!  However, there was good news.  X-rays of her wrist and hand showed nothing was fractured.  Thank goodness.  So she just walked around the rest of the week with her wrist wrapped in an ace bandage and it finally seems to be almost back to normal.  Phew.

I'm actually glad I got the X-ray done right away.  That way we knew she was going to be OK and we didn't have to spend the rest of the week guessing about her wrist.  And now she'll still be able to go to the swim meet in St. Louis at the end of the month.  So all's well that ends well.   

2.  The girls were spoiled this weekend by their grandma and their uncle!  Grandma Rori and Uncle Sean drove down from Omaha this weekend just to take the four girls to see the new Avenger's movie.  How cool was that?  Plus, they were also able to see all three girls play soccer - bonus.

Last night they went to the movie and everyone loved it - even the little girls!  AND, all four girls were able to get a Starbucks frappucino to take into the movie.  Like I said, spoiled!  But what a treat for them all.

3.  Today I was able to see my very first Sporting KC game in person.  It was so cool to be so close to the field and see all the action!  #2 and I joined her friend and her mom and had a great time.  Plus, we could not have asked for more perfect weather.  Seriously, it was beautiful outside AND they won!  Talk about a perfect first soccer experience!  

Meanwhile, over at our house we had an extra because Addy didn't want to go to the game but their dad was out of town.  (Hence, how #2 and I were invited along!)  The little girls had a blast running all over the cul-de-sac and playing outside all afternoon.  The kids were having so much fun we just had everyone stay for dinner!  Just a great afternoon all around.

4.  We have three weeks left of school.  I don't know who is more excited to be done - the kids or me?!  Not even joking.  I am so tired of making lunches every day.  I am DONE with kindergarten homework.  Well, not really.  Three more weeks.  And I can't wait until bedtimes are more relaxed.  I just love summer!  I love how the kids can sleep in.  I love how we can stay up late and hang out on our deck.  I love running to Sonic for shakes after 8pm.  I love our summer nanny who is awesome.  I love lazy weekends at the lake.  I love running on the trails in Arkansas.  I just can't wait!

5.  The hubby and I had a busy "social" weekend.  Busy as in tons of fun!

Friday night we went to Afentra's Prom.  For those of you don't listen to 96.5 the Buzz (or do not live in KC), Afentra is the host of the morning show.  She throws a "prom" every May.  And by "prom" I mean a free concert.  Yes, totally free.  The only catch is you have to dress up for prom and you have to get in before the venue fills up.  And we took advantage!

We went with our friends, Chad and Christi and had WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

Sidenote:  We realized we have been friends with Chad and Christi for nearly 20 years now.  Isn't that crazy?  We all met our first year in KC together.  Christi and I worked at Investor's Fiduciary Trust Co. (now State Street Bank) that first year out of college.  That was clear back in 1996!  And then Chad got hired on at Sprint and managed to get the rest of us hired on at Sprint within a few months of each other.  Man, those were the days.

 

We thought we should pose like they did in the 1970s:

 

And check out the ruffled shirt:

 

So the doors opened at 6:30 and we got downtown about 5:30.  Luckily, there is a bar next door to the Midland so we had drinks there while we waited for the doors to open.  The theater was really cool inside and we had a great place to stand and watch the concert.  There were four bands and unfortunately, we missed Van Joy because...I don't really know.  I think we lost my husband and went to find him and decided we needed to leave.  While I'm sad to have missed Vance Joy I'm glad we stopped drinking when we did.  Because we were CRAZY.

The hubby couldn't walk out of a room without random strangers going up to him wanting to talk about his leisure suit.  And I'm pretty sure he got more than one free drink out of it.  People thought he looked so good they wanted to buy him a beer!  And every time Christi and I went to the bathroom people asked us about our dresses.  It was so fun!

And in case you are wondering, Christi and I found our dresses when we went thrift shopping for First Fridays.  I think we each paid $20 for those stunners.  And the guys found their suits at Re-Runs down in Westport.  They paid around $75 each for their three pieces.  So all in we were right around $100 which we figured was what we would have paid for concert tickets.  So it was all good.  And we can totally wear these again.  Like, to Afentra's Prom 2016!  Holler if you want to join us.  It was awesome.

And I have to say, the bands were great.  I absolutely loved the Kooks.  It was totally worth the new clothes, the Uber car to get down there, and the $50 round of beers.  Totally.

Saturday night we had a 40th birthday for our friend/neighbor who just lives down the street.  I'm gonna be honest here and tell you we were a little nervous whether or not we could rally.  Thankfully, after a little nap and a Starbucks iced coffee, we were good to go!  We had a great time hanging out with old and new friends and neighbors and having a few drinks.  It really was a lot of fun!

And I have to say, having adult plans two nights in a row is really living it up for us.  In fact, I can't tell you the last time that happened.  But it really made for a super fun weekend.
 

6.  I've had a couple friends ask about we're eating these days.  So I thought I'd include my menu with links for you all, if interested.  I've posted most of these links before but I'll stick them in again tonight so you don't have to hunt them down.

I am making Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup for Lunches for the hubby and me.  Throw in some leftover chicken or scallions and it's even better.

Sunday:  Steak Salad (the crispy shallots are my favorite) for the grown-ups and hot dogs (Applegate brand) for the kids.  Plus lots of fruit.

Meatless Monday:  Salmon Cakes for the grown-ups.  I make a double batch and then eat the leftovers for lunch.  (I think #1 will eat these, though.)  Chicken nuggets for the kids.  (I make a double batch and freeze the leftovers and then just warm up in the oven later) + roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts + fruit

Tuesday:  Homemade spaghetti (the hubby and I will forgo the pasta and eat this over roasted spaghetti squash) + salad

My spaghetti sauce is super easy.  Throw some garlic in for 30 seconds and then add half to a pound of ground beef.  Throw in some salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano.  When the meat is cooked, add one can each of tomato soup, tomato sauce (15 oz), and tomato paste (8 oz) plus a cup or so of water.  If you have red wine, definitely add about 1/3 a cup or so.  Simmer it.  That's it!  Yum.

Wednesday:  Some type of shrimp dish.  I still haven't figured it out just yet.  Homemade mac-n-cheese for the kids.  I will admit I still haven't found a homemade cheese sauce that is better than Velveeta but I've given up Velveeta so I keep trying!

Thursday:  Pad Thai for the hubby and me.  The kids will just eat roasted chicken with some veggies and fruit.

Friday:  Pizza night with the soccer team.  (Hopefully we can get that scheduled!)  Basically, this is my "free night".   

Six on Sunday

Hello!  I'm here tonight but rather tired and not feeling 100% into blogging.  So this may be short.  You've been warned.

1.  It was a big religious week for us here in the McGrath household.  #1 was confirmed on Monday night and #3 had her first communion this afternoon.  

I'll be the first to admit, I'm still not really down with the whole "being Catholic" thing, but the hubby is and I needed to support him and the kids.  So I went along with it all.  I don't really think about it at all these days so there is that.  Anyway, we got through the week and celebrated the girls and that is what mattered!

Monday's night mass was nearly two hours long.  That was an hour too long in my book.  Thank goodness we made it through and #1 was confirmed!

Here's the proof:

 

#1's sponsor was our summer nanny, Maddie.  And seriously, #1 could not have been more lucky to have such a special person for her sponsor.  Maddie means the world to us and we were delighted that she could join in on the special night!  Plus, she drove two hours from college just to do this for #1.  We are so lucky she's in our lives.  Not to mention she is going to nanny the kids again this summer.  Can't wait!!

My mom also drove up from Arkansas to be there for #1.  I thought that was really awesome of her.  Plus, she managed to squeeze in two soccer games - #2 and #3.  Not bad for a quick trip!

2.  The rest of the week was fairly normal to busy.  We had soccer practice (times 3), swim practice, and guitar lessons.  We are totally on the countdown to being done with school.  I can't wait!

3.  I joined in with my friend in her garage sale.  I came out $250 ahead.  Score!  We are socking that money away for our Okoboji trip this summer.  

And that hat #4 was wearing in the picture above?  Yeah, she totally stole that out of the garage sale pile.  It's been a "dress-up" hat for years but I guess she thought it was the perfect accessory to Monday night church.  OK with me.  We all thought it was awesome!

4.  My mom, my in-laws, and the hubby and I all went in together and bought #4 Laser Tag guns for her birthday.  There are several different options but we went with these.  You guys - they are so FUN!  Even though her birthday was on the 15th, we waited so she could open them in front of all of us.  She opened them last night and we all played with them out in the cul-de-sac.  I can't wait to play with them in the dark.  I totally got into it.  We ran around hiding around parked cars, trees, in our garage, and had a blast!  

We have six total guns which is the perfect number for all the cousins.  Or the kids and their friends.  Or the kids and the neighborhood friends.  Of course all the cousins played with them today and they were a total hit.  So fun!

5.  Have I written about a new TV show on TV Land called Younger?  I love it.  It's on Tuesday nights at 9:00pm CST.  I think I love it because the main character is my age but pretending to be 26.  It's so funny to see her see the world through 40-year-old eyes but pretending she's younger.  Seriously, if you have free time you should check it out.  I barely watch any TV shoes anymore but this is one I make time for every week.  So good.

6.  Today was a big day.  Both #3 and my nephew had their first communions.  Since they were on the same day at virtually the same time we weren't able to be there for both kids but we celebrated together.  And isn't that what it's all about?  Wait.  Don't answer that.

Anyway, the in-laws stayed with us and joined us at church.  My mom stayed with my sister and joined them at church.  And my sister's ex-in-laws (is that a thing?) went to church with them as well.  And then everyone came over here afterwards and we had a blast!  I felt like it was the "new normal".  

The kids had so much fun just being together and having everyone they love under one roof.  I loved it.  We all got along really well and enjoyed each other's company and all the good food!  It was really a fun afternoon of catching up with everyone and just hanging out together.  I'm so glad we were able to do it.  In the end, I was really glad the kids's communions were the same day because it meant everyone was able to celebrate together.  And it was perfect!

Here are just a few pictures:

 

And there you have it.  

Have a great week!