This & That

Did this:
Had the most chill week {thank you Jesus!}
Went ice skating with the kids
Took the kids skiing {so much fun!}
Shot photos for my sisters business
Had a family dinner date
Finally made it to church {I can't even tell you how long it had been, sigh}
J had a playdate
Decorated the bar
Painted the AV closet -- just need to hang the shelving now!
Spent almost all of Sunday outside!
Adam smoked a bunch of meat and we took a long Ranger ride again

Instagrammed {@MurdocksMamaBlog} that:

Scheduled this:
S: February Goals -- How they really went

M: This & That
T: Skiing
T: Snow 

Ate that:

M: Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Skillet + Steamed Veggies

T: Tacos + Enchiladas at Burger Night
W: French Onion Beef Sliders + Green Beans
T: Honey Mustard glazed Chicken {would not recommend} + Coconut Oil Roasted Potatoes {so good!}
F: Family date at Burger Shed

A Day In The Life | Cell Phone Edition

I'ts been soo long since I posted a day in the life post -- mainly because the second I get to work, I forget to keep taking photos!  So here is a snapshot of Tuesday.  It wasn't a 'normal' day because there is never a 'normal' day it feels like.

12:00a | I finish my book and go to sleep.  Already not a typical day as I'm usually in bed by 10.

12:15ish? | I was too tired to look, but I know I had just fallen asleep.  Jordyn busts the door open and tells me she's going to puke.  Never the words a parent wants to wake up to!  I take her to our bathroom and hold her hair.  Thankfully she never ends up getting sick!  I get her to sleep on the couch in our room and lay down myself.

3:30a | Cullyn barges in the room completely distraught.  What in the world?!  Two interruptions in one night is so rare -- thankfully!  As it turns out he is burning up and has a barking cough that came on suddenly in the middle of the night.  I get him situated on a blanketfort beside my bed and lay back down.  Jordyn is now awake and tells me she feels fine, so that's a bonus!

3:45-5:45a | Lay in bed completely awake, unable to fall asleep, mentally preparing for the change of plans for the day.  Think about work, kid coverage, my to do list, pray nobody else 'catches' it, etc.  Of course I end up dozing off around 5:45a.

6:00a | Snooze alarm.

6:15a | Snooze alarm again.

6:30a | Snooze alarm again.  Oh boy.

6:45a | Pry myself awake.  Take a shower, should be quick, but it's not because I'm still trying to wake up.  I don't do well with less than 8 hours of sleep, so I give myself a pep talk in the shower that I will not let it affect my mood today - ha!  Didn't wash my hair, so I throw on a hat with my leggings and hoodie.  No makeup today.  Thank goodness I'm not a beauty blogger!

7:25a | Wake Jordyn up to see if she's still feeling okay.  She is and wants to go to school, so I help get her ready & email the school to let the know Cullyn will be out ill today.

7:45a | Drop Jordyn at school at go to work.

8:00a | Get to work and clean up my office.  My meeting last night went until almost 8p, so I threw everything in my office and walked out, leaving a mess to deal with this morning.

8:30a | Work on grants all morning.  I had 5 to write and had been so busy preparing the budget that I hadn't even started them.

11:00a | Leave work and surprise Jordyn for lunch quick.



11:30a | Arrive home and chat with Adam quickly before he goes to work.  I check on Cullyn who is living his best life.  He no longer has a fever and spent the morning {& afternoon} watching TV & playing on his iPad.

12:00p | Continue working on grants from home.  I realize how much I miss working from home on Wednesdays.

3:30p | Load up Cullyn and head to town to grab Jordyn from my in-laws {that's where the bus drops them everyday} when I get a call from Jordyn.  There was so miscommunication today as to where I was going to pick her up, so she ended up staying at the school.  A first, and hopefully last, but I was thankful she had her phone to get a hold of me.

3:45p | Piano lessons, only for Jordyn tonight since I don't want to chance Cullyn bringing sick germs into their house.  Cullyn and I stay in the car.  I read and Cullyn plays on Snapchat on my phone.

4:15p | Head to Grinnell to take Cullyn to taekwondo and drop Jordyn off at our friends house on my way.  If he wants to test he has to go to class {he missed week 1 for basketball & week 2 because my car broke down on the way there}

5:30p | Taekwondo is done and I should stop and get groceries since I'm in Grinnell, but I don't want to drag Cullyn through the store and I'm not super motivated, we just head back home.

6:00p | Home.  Adam got home at the same time.  He and Cullyn change clothes and head to 'Burger Night' at our friends house {where Jordyn already is}.  I don't have the grants ready for tomorrow yet, so I stay home to work.  I work from the theater room tonight so I can catch up on Chicago Med, Fire, & PD.

8:15p | Adam and the kids arrive home, later than expected, but that's common on Burger Night.

8:30p | Kids are in bed and I work/watch TV for another hour before going to bed.

__________________________________________________________________
Previous DITLs
July 2013 | Maternity Leave
March 2014 | Friday
January 2015 | Friday
May 2015 | Workday {Monday}
July 2015 | Workday {Wednesday}
November 2015 | Working from home
May 2016 | Hour by hour

Life Lately

I feel like life has been moving at 2x since December...where has the time gone?!  We're on our second No School day for snow in as many weeks, and I'm here.for.it!  If only I got the day off, too!  I'm itching to get on the lake this weekend!  My parents are also coming to help me work on a few projects around the house -- fingers crossed!  They were supposed to come down last weekend, but I made them stay home because we got a huge ice storm. :(  Anyways, here's a little recap of what we're all up to these days...

Jordyn

She's in second grade now & loving her teachers.  She's had a little bit of hurt feelings with her two best friends being together in the 'other' class, but it's been a good learning experience for her and overall she's handled it well.  She's doing piano each week and is doing really good!  She's also in basketball which she enjoys.  Other than that she's in Clover Kids {4H} and loves youth group at our church.  Additionally, she's been begging me to let her do Girl Scouts -- I wouldn't mind, I just don't know that we {I!} can handle one more thing logistically on Thursday evenings right now.

Cullyn

He's in first grade already & doing really well.  He loves the social side of school, but could really do without the actual learning portion! ;)  Wrestling season is almost over for Cullyn, but he has done so well this year!  It's been super fun to watch him excel in this area.  In addition to wrestling, Cullyn is busy with basketball, taewkondo {another huge passion of his!}, Clover Kids, youth group {he refuses to miss!} & piano {the one thing he could ditch and not think twice about -- also the one thing I actually feel passionate about him doing, sigh.}

Lola

She's 2 1/2 already -- how is that possible?!  She is such a good girl for the most part!  She now roams the house when we leave.  She loves playing in the snow as much as she loves swimming in the water!  Unfortunately, she currently has a yeast infection {in her ear} and a staph infection {on her tummy} so we're treating those and giving her some extra love right now. 

Adam

He's enjoying a little reprieve from the crazy-busy year he had at work in 2019.  Appointments are slowly picking back up and he's been able to do some speaking for his new job.  The job change last year was such a great decision for our family and I couldn't be more proud of him for it.  We just got back from Las Vegas, a trip he earned through his company for their performance in 2019.  Unfortunately, with work being so full, the band has slowed down a bit, but he's getting back into it.

Me

I still feel super thankful to work in the same town as the kids' school.  Dropping them off and picking them up is gold!  My position at work has stretched me a lot this year -- I can't believe I've almost been here a year already!  At times it's been stressful, and demanding, but I am loving it!  It's fun to learn new things.  A bonus to me working in finance now, I am super driven to make more aggressive financial decisions at home, so that's been fun!  Traveling is still my most favorite thing in the world {behind family!}.  I just booked our RV for this summer {eek!}  My only hobby these days {besides reading & driving my kids everywhere} is small group.  It's been life-giving to me when I feel like Adam and I are ships passing in the night. Which reminds me, the thing I'm most excited for in 2020 -- Adam and I are bringing back weekly date nights!  Whoop Whoop!  I've also committed to keeping this space better updated now that the kids aren't as needy at night.

Photo of our lake from the first snow of the season -- we're on like our 7th now! ;)

This & That

Did this:
Alll the after school activities
Wallpapered my bathroom{!!}
Read 'Winter in Paradise' & 'What Happens in Paradise' by Elin Hilderbrand {now I have to wait for book 3!} But a super fun series and we've vacationed to the little islands she refers to in the books!
Had my car break down on the side of the highway -- sigh
Paid $500 to fix the car -- ugh!
Spent much of the weekend working in preparation for meetings last evening.
Survived an ice/snowstorm
Learned how to run the snow blower -- & only fell on the ice twice
Let the kids have a big sleepover {6 plus our 2}

Instagrammed {@MurdocksMamaBlog} that:

I'm hoping to do this:Finish putting my Christmas bins away
Create a photobook from our Jamaica vacation
Take the kids ice skating {now that we finally have ice

Scheduled that:

T: This & That 
W: Life Lately
T: Day in the Life

F: Friday Favorites

This & That

I did this:
Took the kids to a Minnesota Vikings football game
Had dinner with old friends
Celebrated a friends life
Hosted friends for NYE
Read 2 books
Went to Cullyn's wrestling meet
Spent a night with my parents, a night in Clear Lake, and a night in Minneapolis
Took Cullyn in to get his new glasses fitted
Cleaned a bunch around the house

I Instagrammed {@MurdocksMamaBlog} that:

I'm hoping to do this:
Put my Christmas bins away
Finish Christmas returns
Schedule all our 2020 appointments
Create a photobook from our Jamaica vacation
Decorate for Valentine's Day
Get packed/find things to do in Las Vegas
Survive our first week back to reality!

I scheduled that:

M: This & That 

T: January Goals

W: 15 Minutes for Me

T: 26.2 - My Marathon Recap

F:  A Few Favorites

This & That + my favorite Open-faced Hamburger Recipe

It's been forever since I did a little recap of the week...

True story in Iowa this week!

Did this:
Volunteered at the concessions stand with the kids
Got my hair did!
Kept my niece, Oaklyn, overnight
Watched my niece's last volleyball game
Let the kids each have a friend sleepover
Made Banana Nut Bread
Hosted {not really!} my parents
Took more of our kitchen cupboards down {yay!}
Pitched our screen door {that broke my new outdoor light, sigh}
Took the kids to a Trunk-or-Treat
Ran 10 miles
Sipped Moscow Mules on the deck with Adam
Caught a cold
Edited a senior session
Skipped church
Had family photos taken {!!!}

Instagrammed {@MurdocksMamaBlog} that:

Ate this: {Spoiler alert -- we ate to survive this week since I didn't feel 100%!}

M: Nachos from the concession stand & ice cream after the kids went to bed {true story!}

T: The best Mac & Cheese ever!

W: Adam got home early and made a super yummy cheesy egg, hamburger, & potato scramble!

T: Gas station food on the way to my hair appointment {just killin' in this week}

F: Pizza & Popcorn!
S: Open-faced Hamburgers -- my mama's recipe!
S: Pirates of the Ponderosa {our local marina} for lunch.  The kids ate popcorn for supper and Adam made me Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese
*This week has to be better, right?!  Haha!
--------------------------------------------
Open-faced hamburgers

1 lb. raw hamburger
1 egg
1 cup shredded cheese
ketchup
seasonings {onion powder, Lawry's seasoning, pepper} to taste

Mix it all together and form into patties.
Put the raw patty on top of a halved english muffin
& bake at 350* until baked to your desire.

5 Things We Do In The Car

If you know us in real life, you know I spent a good portion of our limited evening time {4-8p} in the car a few nights a week.  Adam doesn't get home until after the evening activities are done, which leaves me to do 100% of the drop offs/pick ups for piano, taekwondo, gymnastics, 4h, youth group, etc.  Honestly now that I'm using my time more efficiently instead of just wasting it, I don't mind.  Since we live 20+ minutes from several of these activities, we spend a decent amount of time in the car, which I know is not uncommon.  So I thought I would share with you a few of the random things we do in the car.  Some can be done while driving {spelling words} while others are done simply waiting for a child to get out of their activity {reading}

I'm baaack!

Goodness gracious it's been a long time since I've sat down to catch up!  Like months actually!!  Soo much has happened!  The kiddos have started back to school {1st and 2nd grades!} so it feels like a good time to sit catch up on a few of the bigger things...

I just moved into this office last week, so I'm still getting settled {those shelves need some work & I need a printer stand :} but I'm super excited about my new space. 

• I quit my job at the hospital in Des Moines {after nearly 10 years!} to take a position as the Finance Director for the little city we now live in.  It's so different from my former job, but I am learning SO much and it feels so good to use my brain in a different way!  The job change with 100% a God thing.  I had heard about the opening, but when I finally sat down to apply {on a Sunday} it had closed the Friday before.  I let it go assuming it wasn't meant to be.  Fast forward about 10 weeks, I woke up out of a dead sleep super early one Sunday morning and was hit with the urge to check on the job {I had never done and/or experienced this before}.  Low and behold, the position had been opened back up for applications.  I applied and although it's been a stretch position {I haven't done actual accounting since college 10 years ago} I got the job.  It's like God knew I needed to be closer to home {I get to drop the kids off for school each morning -- I hadn't ever been able to do that before!} great benefits, not too, flexibility, autonomy, etc.  It's just been such a blessing.  So I quit my job the beginning of February, took a trip of our lifetime to the British Virgin Islands with friends, and started my new job the very end of February.  Whew, the rest will be shorter--I promise! :)
   
• We traveled to Colorado as a family, South Carolina {the kids and I}, and road tripped to St. Louis, Tulsa, and Kansas City.  I think my sweet MIL has spent more weekends with our Lola girl than we have! sigh.  Speaking of Lola, she turned 2!  She's such a good pup and is officially out of her kennel {except post lake when she's all wet from swimming}.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Cullyn's photo from 2015 went viral.  He came home from his cousin's house and said, 'Mama, do you know I was fame today?' It was pretty adorable!
   
• I started running again.  I've had this goal to run a marathon for so long and I just can't get it out of my head!  It's been on my Bucket List for years and I just can't shake it.  Now that the kids are older {and the previously owners of our house left us a --crappy, but working-- treadmill} I decided this is the year.  If all goes as planned, I will be able to cross this off the bucket list by the end of October.  {please throw up some prayers if you feel inclined!}
  
• I stepped away from photography.  It was a hard chose, but was necessary.  It's just hard to step away from something you've been building for so long.  With Adam's new job he's home less, so I'm just not able to dedicate the time it needs right now.  I will shoot my last wedding in September and close that chapter...for now.  I'm hoping this decision will also allow me to start taking photos of my own children again!  :)
  
• Not only has school started, but alllll the other things have as well.  Taekwondo {Cullyn} and gymnastics {Jordyn} both started this week.  Piano, for both, will start next week and Clover Kids {4H} and church group will start next month.
   
• Summer was so good to us! {I documented a lot of our bucket list on Instagram} but I'm super excited for fall!  I would say I'm ready for things to slow down, but I know better! :)  This weekend alone we have a going away party, a 90th Birthday for Grandma-Great, Adam's band is playing at the local street dance, I have a long run, church, I'm hosting a bridal shower with my MIL, SIL, and niece for another one of my nieces, my parents both have birthdays, we're having a family day at my BIL & SIL's house, and an outdoor movie night.  That's all in 2.5 days, so I'm hoping Monday involves decorating the house for fall, soup on the stove, some football with the windows open {the weather here is so good right now!}, and a family movie night in the theater room to prepare us for the rest of the week!

PS...I got a tattoo last night!! :)

GOALS Check Up | January

Here are my January goals...

HOME | Paint Upstairs Doors White
Progress.  2 of the 6 doors are complete.  In my defense, Adam was gone and I can't lift the doors so I was constantly at the mercy of friends coming over to flip them for me.  A huge pain, but I'm determined to get them done in February.  On the plus side, even with just 2 done, it's looking so much better!

HEALTH | Schedule Annual Appointments
This was a win.  I scheduled dental and eye appointments for the kids and I.  The ENT, pediatrician, and gynecologist aren't booking out that far yet. I will add this to my schedule in 3 months to see if anything else needs booked.

FINANCIAL | Discuss all Amazon Purchases with Adam
Success!  Not only did I consult with Adam before every purchase, I feel like I cut back on spending overall this month.  I'm trying hard to make sure it's a need instead of just a want.

ME TIME | Go to the Rachel Hollis Movie
Check!  I saw Made for More back in August when it first came out, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see it with friends when asked.  What better way to start the new year! :)  Bonus that we got dinner at Flavory Bistro before.

SOCIAL | Dinner w/ Friends
I had the most delicious dinner at RoCA to celebrate Alicia's Birthday!  Sadly, Adam was traveling for work, so I had to go solo, but it was worth it.  Such a fun night, even if I didn't get to bed until 1a!

FAMILY | Minneapolis weekend
I am SO incredibly sad this didn't happen.  I was looking forward to taking the kids back to the ice castles in Minnesota since we went 2 years ago!  Sadly we got a huge snowstorm {over 2 feet of snow!} on the weekend we had tickets.  I'm still hopefully will will get back, but I'm not sure when that will be.  On a positive note, we did go to A Dogs Way Home, spends lots of time outside in the snow, and had an epic Nerf gun fight.

DREAM BIG | Create a Will
Hands down the biggest win of the month!  After 8 years of transferring this from to do list to to do list, we finally completed our will!  It was a 15 minute phone call with the lawyer and a 15 minute meeting.  SO painless and it feels amazing to finally have it done!

I feel like I killed my January goals!  Hopefully February will go just as well! :)

An Overdue Update

Life is going at full speed this month!  Here's the full scoop on everything that will hopefully answer some of the questions I've been getting...

ANKENY HOUSE | SOLD {in 11 days - woo hoo!} with a few ups and downs, but we're super excited for the new owners {fellow Cubs fans and owners of a Great Dane & Lab -- what a coincidence!}  We're moving next weekend!

LOLA | Oblivious to everything!  She's finally potty trained -- can I get an amen!  She's the happiest person in this house -- always!  She's a lover of the kids, digging in the mud outside, and eating allll the bones!  She's gotten huge!  Last I checked she was 53 pounds! 

311 HOUSE | Also known as the current lake house.  We had several buyers interested in this property before we put it on the market, but they all ended up falling through for one reason or another.  We thought for a bit we would be moving into this house until it sold, but last week a pre-approved buyer came it and bought it.  We're still waiting on an appraisal of this house, but Lord willing, that will be complete and good to go by the 23rd/24th.

CULLYN | Celebrating a birthday next week {so bittersweet!}  This boy is the biggest lover--so kind to everyone, except maybe his sister! ;)  He's super into spiking his hair and wearing cologne.  Oh, and Pokemon cards {much to his father's dismay}.  He's a little sponge in school and the biggest rule follower they've ever seen.  Perhaps a future police officer? ;)

275 HOUSE | Believe it or not, it's just a few houses down {on the same street} from our current lake house {which can get pretty confusing when you're having a conversation}.  I'll go into more details of the house once it's a done deal, but Adam and I couldn't be more excited to be moving into this house.  So.Much.Space! And Light!  They've accepted our offer, so we're just waiting to close on the other two houses so we can close on this.  If all goes well, we'll be sleeping in this house on May 2nd.  Please say a prayer for us!  

ADAM | More excited for this move than I could ever explain!  He will also be much closer to his work territory once we're in the new house.  He's also been having so many band gigs this year!  Other than that he's just been seeing how much he can watch on our Firestick. ;)

ME | Been purging and packing and like a mad woman!  Ridiculously excited to decorate and design a new house!  This is a long-term move, so we're hoping to make this space exactly what we want for the next 30 years!  Other than that I'm just anxious for the weather to warm up so we can get outside!  I've also been on a mission this past year to detoxify our house, so I've been researching natural replacements for all the toxins.  Other than that, I'm just dreaming of becoming debt free and replacing my Jeep with a minivan. :)  Oh, and our RV trip this summer!!  Last thing, my mama and I are headed to Texas {Dallas, but Waco for a day!}.  Send me all of your favorite spots if you have any!

I think that's it for now.  If I missed anything feel free to ask in the comments!

A {Mon}Day in the Life

A super overdue day in the life post since the last one was fall of 2015!!  These are my favorite post to look back on, but I usually stop taking photos part way through the day {I kind of did on Monday, too, but I think I have enough to give you an idea of our days right now}.  This is the first time I've done a work day because quite honestly work days are pretty boring, but this one ended up being a little more eventful than me just sitting in my office for 10+ hours!

5a | get ready for work
6a | arrive at work

6-10a | work -- emails, 3 residents called in, 50 patient reschedules {thankfully I don't actually have to do this part}, schedule a few meetings, etc. decided to start doing a DITL

10:30a | arrive home -- J is sick, so Adam worked from home in the am and I worked from home in the pm.  After 5 1/2 years of this, we've finally got these 'sick days' down.  Since I go to work early {not as early as I used to, but still early} it's easiest if we split the day and each work from home a half day, or take a half day of PTO if the kids are really sick.

11a | make lunch for J and I, start dishwasher, & washing machine, and start J on some homework.

11:30-5p | email, look at flights for work & personal, pay bills, order flowers for a new mama, work on a Milestone project for work. J watches Rio & helps me by folding laundry.  She also finishes her Valentine's for dance {Tuesday} and daycare and school {Wednesday}.  We also packed up 2 care packages for Adam's coworkers daughter's family who lost everything in a house fire. :(
5p | Pick Cullyn up from daycare.
5:30p | Homework  with the kids & Mark arrives for 'band practice' - usually a Tuesday night activity, but moved due to a scheduling conflict.

6p | Dinner & more practicing
7p | Teeth, Potty & Pajamas followed by books in bed.
7:45p | I worked on my puzzle while the boys practice -- totally should have edited {I have 2 weddings I need to wrap up!} but was being lazy.  Prep for Tuesday {school for both kids, Lola to my sister's house {someone's looking at the house}, dance for J, late work meeting for me, etc.}
8:30p | Mark leaves and Adam and I watch the Olympics for a bit {I can't get enough!}
10p | Lola and I head up to bed since I'll be at work from 6a-7p tomorrow night.

What do your days look like?

Other DITL Posts...
July 2013 | March 2014 | January 2015 | May 2015 | July 2015 | November 2015

What's Up Wednesday

My first What's Up Wednesday ever, so here goes..

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Summer!

3: WHAT I’M LOVING:

Meal planning, a tidy home, & more time downtime - I love January!

4: WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

All the fixing, cleaning, & purging around the house!

5: WHAT I’M DREADING:

Friday and Saturday -- we're laying an amazing man to rest and I'm just not sure my heart can take it. 

6: WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

Uploading photos to Shutterfly so I can make some photobooks -- I am sooooo behind! :(

7: WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

My sister is coming home next weekend {!!!} & I'm hosting a get-together with a few of my friends tomorrow night!

8: WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

Admittedly, I'm not reading much because I told myself I can't pick up another book {except in the car} until I get caught up on editing {sigh!}  We however have been watching several movies lately -- Jack Reacher, The Tillman Story, and Taking Chance plus all of these.

9: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

The new JT & Stapleton song -- on repeat!

10: WHAT I’M WEARING:

I'm really trying to wear more of the clothes I already have {and part with the things I've just been storing for years!} but I'm wearing these leggings on repeat!

11: WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

We have the funeral, a work event, church, and hopefully taking the kids skiing.

12: WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

My sister coming home, hosting my other sisters baby showers, the daddy daughter dance, our final Christmas party!

13: WHAT ELSE IS NEW:

We're listing our house for sale!

Bonus question this month: What is your favorite soup recipe?

WHITE CHEDDAR PALE ALE POTATO SOUP

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons salted butter1 yellow onion - finely chopped1 clove of garlic minced

7 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into small bite sized pieces

1 pound of cooked hamburger

1 cup your favorite ale beer {Blue Moon}

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded {Aged White Cheddar}

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

1 cup whole milk

4 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper to taste

Step One: Begin by sautéing the beef & onions, with two tablespoons of butter in a sizzling Dutch oven. Cook them until the hamburger is crispy and the onions are translucent, beginning to caramelize.

Step Two: Add the garlic and herbs, sautéing them with the beef for a minute or so, stirring the entire time to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn.

Step Three: Add the chicken broth to the pot, and toss in the potatoes. You can salt the broth at this point, but make sure to taste before you do. Boil your potatoes in the broth for thirty minutes or until they are fork tender.

Step Four: While your potatoes are boiling, make the cheese sauce in a different saucepot. Simmer the ale, milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and cheese on low-medium temp, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is all melted.

Step Five: Once the cheese is melted, puree the sauce using an immersion blender until it starts to froth. Once blended, pour the cheese sauce into the Dutch oven and stir.

Step Six: Once the potatoes are tender, ladle out one cup or so of soup broth into a mason jar. Add the flour, screw on the lid, and shake the jar until the flour/broth mixture thickens. Pour the thickened broth back into the Dutch oven, and stir. 

Step Seven: Using your immersion blender again, blend roughly half of your finished potato soup. This step is completely customizable. The more you blend, the thicker and creamier your soup will be. Serve with warm buttered bread.

What we've been watching

Megan Leavey - Incredible, true story about a Marine and her dog.  Almost anyone would love this movie, but make sure to have tissues nearby!

The Glass Castle - True story about a poor family and their nomadic lifestyle.  You can enjoy this movie even if you haven't read the book.  

Inside Out - Great kids movie talking about expressing feelings.  Phyllis from The Office is one of the voice-overs. :)

Leap - Jordyn got this movie for Christmas and we all {except Adam!} loved it.  It teaches kids about working hard and following their dreams.

We're currently in the middle of an ice storm, so I'm thinking we'll watch Up this afternoon.  Our date night this week may result a movie on the couch, too since Adam's battling the stomach flu! :(  

Any movie's you've watched recently that you can recommend?  We like most {non-scary} movies! 

The Best Thing I Did in 2017

We were blessed to do some fun things in 2017 {We got a new puppy!, Adam and I went to St. Lucia & Mexico, we also went to Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, the Ozarks, and Illinois for starters} but hands down the best thing I did in 2017 was start taking video footage of our every day life!  That sounds fancy considering it was just candid moments captured with my iPhone 6!

I downloaded the 1 Second Everyday app {free at the time, $5 now I believe}.  We had so much fun doing this and it's invaluable!  I plan to continue it in 2018.  It's super easy {you can take 3 videos one day and just upload them to separate days if you get behind}.  I did find I preferred videos recorded horizontally.  Let me know if you have any questions -- I would be happy to help you.