Suzanne McGrath Photography

Seven on Sunday

Hello!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Ours was very full.  I don't want to use the word "busy" because I feel like it has a negative connotation to it these days.  So I'm going with "full".  

1.  I have to start off this post by wishing my sister HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I hope she had a great dinner celebration last night because I know she studied most of the day today.  Her kids had a sleepover with our kids last night last so she and her main squeeze could celebrate in style - aka sushi!  However, being in school (for her Nurse Practitioner degree) put a little damper on her actual day today.  Can you imagine studying on your birthday?  Me, either!  At least the light is at the end of the tunnel - graduation in May.  And could I be any more proud?  I don't think so.

Here she is from last weekend with her boyfriend:

  

2.  Friday night started with homemade pizza which is always a hit.  However, #1 had swim at 6pm so she didn't get to eat until she got home.  #3 had soccer skills and just barely got it in given it downpoured about 15 minutes before she started!  

And what did I do?  Well, I sanded ceilings - the little girls room and walk-in closet.  It was so gross!

Since we are getting new carpet in the near future, we decided there is no time like the present!  So the hubby scraped and then patched in the ceiling and I sanded it.  (I tried patching it in with mud but I hated it and was so bad at it that the hubby just took over.  And I let him.)  

Don't be too jealous of our crazy Friday night!

3.  Saturday was full of soccer games - three, to be precise.  But first, I had to drop #1 off at swim practice which mean I was up at 6:30am.  On a Saturday.  So gross.

Then, #3 had a soccer game at 8:15am which is early for her.  But man, does she play tough.  And by tough, I mean pushing and shoving.  That kid is gonna get called by the ref any day!  But she had a great game and scored a goal.  She was pretty happy.

After her game we high-tailed it home so I could prime the ceilings.  As soon as that was done (and I had properly showered) #2 and I headed to her soccer game.  Meanwhile, the hubby took #4 to her soccer game.  (#3 chose to stay home with #1.)  

And can I just tell you - the soccer game I watched was the absolute best I have seen her team play.  It is finally all coming together for them.  They were passing, playing their positions, helping each other out, and just generally playing at 110% for the entire game.  It was such an awesome game to watch!  And the best part?  We had five goals and all of them were scored by a different girl.  That just goes to show you there is not one star player - but a real, true team.  So cool!

As for #4, she played with a smile the whole game!  Which is a relief because she told me she was only going to play a half.  That kid kills me!  But damn, is she cute?!

4.  That afternoon I managed to paint the ceilings with two coats of paint AND I managed to get up the first coat of paint on the walls.  I didn't even have to watch the Husker game because I could tell how we were doing just by listening to the hubby down in the family room!  (Yeah, he's LOUD.)  Phew!  

We ended the evening by the cousins coming over and playing with the girls and joining us for dinner.  

5.  I started the morning off today with a 6 mile run.  It was just too gorgeous not to enjoy.  And you know what?  The trails here are pretty great!

6.  I capped off the morning by painting the second of paint on the walls.  The best part?  #2 rolled while I cut in.  She was so awesome and cut the time by almost half!  Plus, it was so great to have company.  

This is definitely still an in-progress view but here is where the room is right now:

Forgive the pictures but the celiling fan/light is down and I was chasing the light with my iPhone.  Not a great combo.

It's sort of a high/low room.  High = Pottery Barn duvet and Low = Target sheets.  But I love it.  And the little girls are so excited.  

We still need pillow shams.  I have to paint and upholster the headboards I bought in July.  They also need new bed skirts.  But I'm calling it down until No-Spend September is over.  

7.  BONUS!  I had two photo sessions this week.  Here is a sneak peak from each one.

Loved this kid.  He was awesome. 

 

We've been family friends with these guys since our littlest girls were in the Infant room at daycare.  In case you are mathematically challenged (and I include myself in that bucket), that is five years!  Man, how time flies!

 

8.  BONUS AGAIN!  But not really.  Just wanted you to know I will be out of town next Sunday.  Well, technically I will be getting back into town.  But all this to say, don't count on a post next Sunday night.  It'll have to be another make up post.  

Have a great week, everyone!

 

Six on Sunday

I'm back for my second week in a row.  But I already know I will not be posting next Sunday night because we'll be down in AR.  I'll try to make up for it with a Ten on Tuesday.  Deal? Deal.

1.  We're almost entirely in the swing of things now.  All activities started last week except for swim.  #1 starts this week with an easy schedule - only three nights.  Here is what our week will look like once swim gets going:

Monday:

• 5:30 - 6:00 piano for #2 (thank goodness it's at our house!)
• 6:00 - 6:45 soccer for #4
• 7:00 - 9:15 swim for #1
• 7:30 - 8:00 swim lessons for #4

Tuesday:

• 4:30 - 5:45 soccer for #2
• 6:00 - 7:00 soccer for #3
• 7:00 - 9:15 swim for #1

Wednesday:

• 7:00 - 9:15 swim for #1
• SOR (school of religion) once a month.  The hubby is in charge.  I extricated myself from those!

Thursday:

• 6:00 - 6:30 guitar for #3
• 7:00 - 9:15 swim for #1

Friday:

• 6:00 - 8:00 swim for #1  (If she wants to take the night off she goes on Saturday morning.)

So I know it looks a little crazy.  (And actually, I don't think it looks that bad!) Thank goodness for car pools.  I think I'm in about four carpools at any given time.  They safe my life.  And my sanity.  Mostly my sanity.

So far, so good.  All the kiddos still really like their activities and even #4 did well at soccer.  I think meeting all those girls - who represent all the different kindergarten classes at school - really boosted her confidence! 

2.  Along with school and activities comes my having to plan meals better.  During the summer it's easier to wing it because we can eat later.  But not so during the school year.  So I planned my meals AND wrote them out on our cabinets.  (It saves me from having to answer, "What's for dinner?" about a thousand times per week.)

In case you were wondering, here is what I've got planned for the week:

Sunday/Tonight:  steak on the grill (hot dogs for some of the girls), Bacon, Leek, and Mushroom Risotto (I omitted the mushrooms - much to my chagrin), and green beans with almonds.  Let me tell you, the risotto?  TDF.  (To Die For)

Monday:  Salmon burgers (yes, my kids actually eat them!), Sweet Corn with Maple-Bourbon Brown Butter and Bacon, Fruit

Tuesday:  Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Egg Drop Soup, Broccoli

Wednesday:  One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Pasta, Salad, Fruit

Thursday:  Skinny Creamy Italian Chicken Skillet, Yellow Squash, Fruit

Friday: On the road to Arkansas??

3.  Friday afternoon we said goodbye to our first nanny of the summer, Maddie.  She was such a delight! We really hope to get her back next summer.  I know she is going to have a blast at K-State.  The girls miss her like crazy already!

4.  Project bathroom renovation is moving ahead!  I have the layout pretty much finalized.  I just have to see the floating double vanity at Ikea in person, first.  TANGENT:  Sept 10th!  Oh Em Gee.  I am SO EXCITED!  I have loved Ikea for YEARS but have never actually been INSIDE one.  I need to strategize the best time to check it out because I know it will be a complete madhouse for awhile.  I'm thinking I'll just wait a few weeks and try to get there first thing in the morning on a Saturday or Sunday so I can finally see the inside of one!  And then I will spend the ENTIRE DAY there.  So excited!!!

OK.  Moving on.  I've decided to move my sink to next to the hubby's sink which will free up a wall.  And rather than build something in the newly-blank space, I'm going to put a mid-century china hutch there.  I think it will soften the room to have wood tones since everything else will be tile, white, gray, and sleek.  And also, it is way cheaper than some sort of built-in.  I need to devote an entire post to my plans!  Anyway, here is the china cabinet I found.  On Craig's List of course.  Duh.  I love this thing.  It's in beautiful condition - only one small scratch.  

Those little things in the door are actually beautiful brass/copper inserts.  The hardware is gorgeous!  Even the hubby got excited and usually he just rolls his eyes and goes along with me.  So that's how I know it's good!

5.  We had a great weekend.  Lots going on but not too much and great times with friends/family!  Saturday morning the little girls each had a soccer game.  The first game was at 9am and it was bearable.  The second game was at 11am and it was pretty gross out there.  #4 played that game and she did great until she didn't do great.  She got hot, tired, thirsty, and I quote, "I am out of energies!"  But overall it was much improved over last season.  Phew!

I managed to run to the grocery store in between games and then spent a few hours in the kitchen that afternoon prepping for dinners this week.  It just makes my weeks go by so much more easily when veggies (and everything else!) are chopped and ready.    

Yesterday afternoon we headed to the pool with my nephew and other friends of the girls.  My niece, Sydney, my sister, and her boyfriend showed up a little late after Sydney's soccer game was over.  (I felt so sorry for her having to play at 2:30!)  It was a perfect pool day!  #1 brought her waterproof phone case and took some under water shots.  So cool.

After the pool we headed up to the house and all the kids made their own pizzas.  I had tripled the recipe and made a ton of pizza crust for everyone!  The kids get a kick out of making their very own pizza and it's really not that hard. Just takes a little planning.

We finished up the evening with a movie.

Today #2 had a soccer game at 8:30.  Again, so glad it was early.  And her team won!  Bonus.  This afternoon we worked on things around the house, ran errands, typical weekend stuff.  And I managed to do this:

I didn't quite finish the first coat.  Oh well.  It'll wait.

We ate an early dinner and then headed down to the pool.  It felt so refreshing!  After the hubby and I got out, we just sat back and watched the four girls play together.  I'm not sure if there is any better feeling than watching your kids play with joyful abandon?  I made sure to save it for the memory banks when it's cold and dark and they are sick of each other.  But tonight was awesome!  We capped off the evening with Sonic shakes.  Perfection.

6.  I only have one photo to show tonight. I shot my neighbor's senior pictures this morning and it was so much fun to break out my big girl camera again!

And with that, it's almost my bedtime.  Have a great week!

 

Senior Pictures...Blue Valley West Class of 2014

Meet Andy.  Class of 2014.  Smart kid.  He's going to study some kind of engineering - hopefully the kind that has to do with petroleum.  Yeah, smart.  That's as much as I understood.  He's also exeptionally kind and considerate.  The kind of kid young adult any parent would love to have!

We headed out to Iron Woods Park.  Andy wasn't entirely into the senior picture idea and didn't want the really trendy stuff.  A-OK with me!  These are classic and will never go out of style.  

Good luck, Andy.  I hope Tulsa comes a-callin' for you!

Six on Sunday

For only having one soccer game, this weekend just flew by!  So here goes...

1.  Remember how I talked about my great run last Sunday (#2 in Six on Sunday)?  Well,  crossing my fingers didn't work - my foot was sore all week.  So bad I broke out this bad boy again...  

Yep.  I don't need an X-ray to be about 98% certain I now have a stress fracture.  I couldn't walk normally until today - a full week later.  Which means there is practically no way I will be ready to run 26.2 miles in two weeks.  

I am definitely bummed.  But I always knew, in the back of my mind, that this was a risk.  Afterall, I only missed four long runs and 3 weeks of workouts after I broke my foot in July.  I think I just didn't ease back into things slow enough.  So...I will most likely go and cheer on my training partners!  Life goes on and I don't want to waste my time crying over something I can't change.

2.  We had dinner with friends on Friday night and had a blast!  Here are the three littlest ones:

I went around their house taking pictures of all the awesome frames Chad has built for their artwork.  And I have to say I am excited to give a couple a try.  I have two pictures I LOVE but they each need a special frame.  I am up for the challenge.  (After I wrap up the kitchen, that is.)

3.  Speaking of the kitchen...we made some great progress today.  I drilled all the hinge holes which is more than I can even count (but definitely more than 20 holes).  That's a lot of drilling!  Of those doors, we were able to hang six which makes me really happy.  I think we'll be able to wrap it all up next weekend. WooHoo!

Here is a sneak peek of a finished corner:

I am so loving the gray and white combo.  Timeless and elegant and modern.  

4.  As I mentioned above, we only had one soccer game this weekend.  One.  That's practically like zero in our house!  #2 played at 8am this morning.  It was 46* when I rolled out of bed.  But by the time the game was over I had shed my jacket and was only wearing my sweatshirt.  I have to say, it was a really beautiful morning for a soccer game.  Here are the dads getting set up while the girls warmed up:

I swear that picture does not do it justice.  Gorgeous.

5.  We decorated this weekend.  Quite a bit.  I added a couple touches of fall:

And a LOT of Halloween.  I didn't have time to properly shoot everything, so you'll have to settle for this one:

Plus, I'd like to add just a couple more touches - a ribbon here or there.  But I didn't want to ignore No-Spend September so I think I'll pick up a couple rolls of ribbon this week and put the finishing touches on later.  But I have to say, I'm excited.  I think it looks GOOD!

6.  It's that time of season - Photo Shoots.  I had a senior picture shoot and a family picture shoot this past week.  I'll show you one of each.  

First, here's Andy.  Class of 2014 from Blue Valley West.  (And my neighbor.)  Love him.

And my running partner's three boys.  So cute!

Phew!  That's it.  My week in review, if you will.  I hope you all have a fantastic week!

 

Josh - Blue Valley West Senior Pictures

Meet Josh.  Class of 2012.  Blue Valley West.  

We shot these during the heat of July but you'd never know it.  Josh was cool as a cucumber!  Check him out.

We did a few at Loose Park.

But the majority of the shoot was spent down in the West Bottoms.

Good luck, Josh.  I'm excited to see where you end up at college!

Six on Sunday

1.  I had 24 hours to myself over the weekend.  As in, I was in MY OWN HOUSE with NO kids!  Can you believe that?  The last time that happened I only had two kids.  My hubby was going to meet my parents in Omaha (the halfway point to Sioux Falls) to drop off #1 and #2 for a week of Gamma and Papa time.  After I sweetly asked him if he wouldn't mind taking #3 and #4 with him - oh, and going up a night early - he kindly agreed.  

Although I dreamed of movies and bon bons, manicures and pedicures, facials and massages - that didn't happen.  I spent the majority of my time trimming all the bushes in our landscaping.  I literally hit three out of four sides of our house!  I spent HOURS doing this.  And I'm not gonna lie to you - it sucked.  Royally.  But at least it's done and it looks so much better.

2.  I am having second thoughts about not sending #3 up to Sioux Falls with her sisters.  Last night she cried and cried and because she missed them and wanted to be with them.  She is also NOT a fan of sleeping by herself.  She really needs "my Lizzie" as she says.  So to spoil her a little, I took her to a movie and to Target to buy new shoes today.  That cheered her up - but only slightly.

3.  I don't know what's gotten into me these days, but I'm on a kick to "fix" my house.  You know, those little projects that don't take much time but you've put them off for oh, say six YEARS?  Yes, those.  So tonight I painted the baseboards in the breakfast nook in the kitchen (six year project) as well as the trim around the door to the deck (two year project).  It feels good to mark something off my list:)

4.  We are going up to Madison, SD for a family reunion next weekend.  We are staying in a cabin up there.  #3 refers to it as the "cabinet".  It cracks me up.  So of course I don't correct her - I encourage it.

5.  Speaking of words, I think #4 says "Mom".  Not "mama", but "mom".  It's very succinct - almost British.  I think I might have caught her saying "that" last week, too.  I hope so.  I'm ready for her to start talking.  I think it will cut down on the temper tantrums a little bit.  And THAT would be a good thing.

6.  #4...#4...what can I say?  She is the Queen of messes.  Tonight she took out the crayon drawer in our "art cart" and dumped it on the floor and then proceeded to swoosh the crayons all over, as fast as she could.  That was after she spit out a fruit snack in the box of Kleenexes and threw in a couple puzzle pieces for good measure.  I swear, I walk around just picking up All.  Day.  Long.  **sigh**

And because I can't post without a picture (or two), here are a couple more from Brett's Senior Session.  Brett is going to be a Senior at Blue Valley North next year.  Oh, and ladies (if I have any teenage girl readers?), he is single and lookin' to mingle.  (Yes, I just had to say that - it cracks me UP!)  

I edited this next one a little differently.  I'm not sure what I think about it - but the graffiti made me do it!

That's it.  Have a terrific week.  

Brett {Overland Park Senior Pictures Photographer}

I have been editing my heart out all night - or since 8:15 when #4 went down for the night.

I shot Brett down in the West Bottoms last night.  Was it hot?  You betcha.  Was it the hottest day of the year?  Nope.  That's today.  But despite the heat, we had a great time!  We just walked around and waited until inspiration struck - which happened about every 10 feet down there.  There are so, so, so many more of these, but this is all I can muster tonight.  Hopefully I'll have more posted later this week!

I am posting this next one because it makes me laugh...I love the graffiti!  

Brett - I hope you like them as much as I do.