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! ;)

19 for 2019 Checklist

Celebrate 10 years of marriage - In Jamaica!

Complete a daily devotional - Check!

Cook more dinners & meal plan weekly - Still not a ton, but definitely more!

Finish Jordyn & Cullyn's baby books {18mo-6/7yrs} -- Didn't even start!  UGH!! Definitely making this a priority in 2020!

Make a life journal - Check!

Monthly dates with Adam - Terrible!  We didn't have any sitters and Adam was working crazy hours.  I think we've got a plan for 2020! :)

Paint kitchen cabinets - Didn't start this either.  BUT, I do still want to do it, so I'm keeping it on the 2020 list!

Paint upstairs doors white - This was a bigger project than I thought, but it's DONE!

Read 50 books - Check!

Read the bible to the kids - We didn't finish the entire bible, but we made progress.
{Re}learn the Books of the Bible song - Fail! I just can't remember the song {from childhood} and can't find it anywhere online to even start memorizing it. :(

Replace bathroom doors w/ barn doors - Check!  & I LOVE them!!!

Run a marathon - Check!  By far the goal I'm most proud of!

SAVE & pay off car - We paid one car off and the other will be paid off before summer {whoop whoop!} We have also doubled our investments this year, so I feel good about our financial state.

Send more paper mail - This is the one I'm most disappointed about.  I did send more than I have previously, but I'm keeping this on the list for next year.  I hope to send something via snail mail every week in 2020.

Start 'Self-care Sundays' - I started off good and lost steam part way through the year.  That being said, I do think I've incorporated more self-care into my daily habits, so I think I'm doing okay.

Take cabinetry to garage - Check!  

Take Lola on more walks - No, and I just have to come to grips with the fact that she does not walk well on a leash.  I took her on a few walks and she nearly pulled my shoulder out of the socket once and pulled me to a belly flop another time, so I don't plan on keeping this on the list for next year. 

Travel to a new state - We visited Colorado for the first time -- & loved it.

11/19 - 58%
With both of us starting new jobs and all of transitioning to Adam's new work schedule, I'll take it.  

Now...to goal set for 2020! 

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!

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.

GOALS | January 2018

Overall I would like more family dinners, less eating out, more working out, less money spent, more water drank, less time spent worrying, more time praying and reading, less negotiating with my kids, more dreaming with my husband, less time spent scrolling through social media, more laughing and playing with my family, etc.



That's what I wrote last year, and while I think I did better in almost all of these areas {dates with Adam for sure, more time in church, less scrolling on social media} but definately not saving money - boo! I'm still striving to be better in each of these areas, so I thought so it was appropriate to keep. Last year I fizzled out with monthly goals in April, so here's to making it further than that in 2018! ;)



January's list to push me in the right direction...

Floss daily

Celebrate 2018!
Go on a date with Adam
Blog at least 1x per week
Meal plan :: at least Mon - Thurs

Stay out of Target the entire month!
Take the kids on individual dates again!

Organize the closets :: Pull all of Cullyn's 2t clothes
Make a photo book :: I have like 100 to do this year!!!

Update the kids' travel journals :: MO, TN, NC & SC

Go on a family date :: Skiing? Ice Skating? Movie? Bowling?

What are your goals?  I love new suggestions!

FAMILY VIDEO :: June 2017

Bucket List Update

Bucket List {Updated}
Originally posted September 2010

Get married
Become a mama
Get my MBA
Purchase a house
Travel to New York [& see all the touristy stuff]
Take the kids to see the 7 Wonders of the US
Join a book club
Go to an NFL game
Run a 5K
Make $100k myself
Go sailing
Go to a MLB game
Start a Business
Go to Fiji, Bora Bora, and Turks & Caicos
See the Grand Canyon
Travel to Europe & Australia
See Mt. Rushmore
Have a picnic in Central Park
RV to the Yellowstone
Drive a motorcycle
Paddleboard
Swim with Dolphins
Hop on a plane spontaneously {for fun}
Drive through Vermont in the Fall
Enjoy wine country with Adam
Run a half marathon
Spend a Christmas/New Years at a cabin in Colorado
Parasail
Zip line through the jungle
Shop on Rodeo Drive
Ride at least one day of RAGBRAI
Give a stranger $100
Shoot a gun
Visit Time's Square on NYE
Travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras
See Las Vegas at night
Go on an African Safari
Take a vacation by myself
Go to the Kentucky Derby
Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
See the Boston Marathon
Eat along the NE coast with Adam
Swim in the Pacific Ocean
Travel to/through all 50 states..
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey| New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Is there anything else I need to add to this list? Something you've done that is a must?

FAMILY VIDEO :: May 2017

FAMILY VIDEO :: April 2017

This & That {w33}

Did this:
Flew home from New York City
Started my new job at work
Took the kids to the Iowa State Fair

Instagrammed that:   

This & That {w32}

Did this:
Gave the boys haircuts
Flew to New York City with my mama and sisters!

Instagrammed that:   

Scheduled this:

M: This & That 

T: 

W: Kids 32|52 
T: 

F: A Photo 

Currently

It's been a while, so here's an update...

{making} lists...always
{cooking}  not a thing!
{drinking}  a glass of white wine

{reading}  just blogs, I have Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Where We Belong waiting for me 
{wanting}  to catch up on editing before I start a book
{looking} for a place to make us shirts before our girls trip

{praying}  Cullyn get relief soon {he's got hand, foot, & mouth right now}
{planning}  our girls trip to New York City!
{giggling} at the way some people act

{wishing}  there were more time in a week!
{enjoying} this evening to myself
{waiting}  for the weekend--Adam & I are going away with friends

{liking}  how well the kids have been playing together lately
{wondering}  if I'll get my huge work project turned in on time
{loving} all of the time we've been able to spend as a family at the like this summer

{hoping} to get caught up on photography, real work, and house work soon
{needing}  an assistant
{smelling}  the wantons I'm eating for dinner

{editing} two weddings, a 6 month session, a 9 month session, and a newborn session
{wearing} metallic flip flops, my new jean shorts {HIGHLY recommend for moms}, a white take, with this tank over it, and my new necklace 
{noticing} how fast time is passing by

{knowing}  I need to get my hair done soon
{thinking} how thankful I am to have a husband that sends me away when I need to get work done
{feeling}  tired, overwhelmed, stressed, blessed, loved, & thankful

Hour by Hour | Spring 2016

Since I always seem to miss the official day in the lift link up, here is a day last week, hour by hour.  

6:30a | I get up to do a little photography work {editing, ordering, & emailing} and 'watch' Chicago Fire that was recorded from earlier in the week.  Adam gets ready for work.

7:30a | The kids wake up and request breakfast.  They both have some eggs, half of a peanut butter bagel, half of a banana, and a few grapes.  Cullyn also eats a granola bar {I fear for high school with this one!} ;)  Adam leaves for work.

8:30a | We're all getting ready.  Jordyn sees me putting makeup on and has to do hers, too.  Sorry about that dirty mirror.  She's spends a lot of time in front of it. ;)

9:30a | We meet friends for playtime at our church which is perfect since it's raining.

10:30a | We stay for Story Hour and crafts which follows playtime.  Cullyn throws a huge meltdown when craft time is over because he isn't ready to be done {sigh}

11:30a | We come home and the kids play in the toy room and then living room while flip laundry, check emails, and make lunch. 

12:20p | We drop Jordyn off to school.  I'm all like 'woohoo! we're 10 minutes early!' only to realize we're actually 20 minutes late! #MomOfTheYear  I realize this half way there, so she literally runs into class. 

Cullyn and I swing by Target to grab a few things {pull ups, dance recital makeup, and some groceries}

1:30p | Cullyn takes a nap while I start a load of dishes, pick up the living room, go through client orders from the lab, and go through 'real job' emails with a Mt. Dew on the deck. 

2:30p | I should be picking Jordyn up from school, but Cullyn is still sleeping and the director of her preschool is amazing, so she drops her off at the house on her way home.  *Trust me, I don't take having Miss Tracey in my tribe lightly, she is seriously an angel sent from God! I use the extra few minutes to switch and put away laundry {again!} and pack the kids for their sleepover with grandma.  When Jordyn comes home, we go out front so she can 'walk her baby' and then do her {self assigned} 'homework' She also talked about her best friend Abby.  When I asked her about Abby, she said YOU mama!  You're my best friend {HEART MELTED!} 

3:30p | I woke Cullyn because I needed to get the kids to my MIL's and back home before my photoshoot.  Cullyn did not like being woke up and was a total grump.  He spotted his cap gun on the way to the car and played with it for a few minutes before leaving. 

5:00 | I drop the kids off and take the scenic route home while listening to a podcast. *Ignore my clock…it keeps slowing down and losing time for some super annoying reason.  Anyone know anything about that?!

6:00p | I'm on my way home and it starts raining super hard.  My client calls to reschedule her session for another night.  Frustrating because I've just taken the kids 60 miles {each day} to their grandma's house at 4p when I could have waited until like 8p, but mother nature just does her own thing, so whatever.  Adam gets off work and meets a client downtown to look over a space for their upcoming band gig. 

6:30p | I get a snap from my niece who has Jordyn at my youngest niece's softball game which brings a smile to my face.  I meet Adam at the house and he asks me to go to Jake's {the bar we used to frequent often before kids} to watch the Cubs game. I'm tired and would prefer to stay in a veg out, going to bed at like 8, but know it will make him happy, so I agree. 

7p | We get to the bar to watch the Cubs and eat a frozen pizza. ;) 

I forgot I was doing this and failed to keep track of what time we got home.  I do know that I went to bed about 37 seconds after we got home! ;)

Just another day in our life these days - you just never know what's going to happen.