Wednesday, February 26, 2020

What's Up Wednesday


1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:
M: Chicken Bacon Ranch + Steamed Veggies
T: Enchiladas @ Burger Night {Thanks Brooke!!}

W: French Onion Sliders + Green Beans
Th: Pork Chops + Potatoes
F: Out!
S/S: Grilling!
2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:Our trip to the Ice Castle last weekend.
I hope to post about it tomorrow.
3: WHAT I’M LOVING:The warm weather last Sunday {60!} & anticipation of warm weather this weekend!
4: WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:Soaking up the last of the winter fun {skiing, ice skating, ice castles, etc.}
5: WHAT I’M DREADING:Photobooks -- I am sooooo behind! :(
6: WHAT I’M WORKING ON:Painting the AV closet & trying to find wallpaper for the elevator project, sigh. 
7: WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:My sister found out she's having a boy!!  & Spring is coming!
8: WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:Watching - The Pharmacist {I didn't know it was a series when we started it!}
Reading - The Other Woman
9: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:Marc Broussard, JJ Gray, & Amos Lee
10: WHAT I’M WEARING:These leggings {always & forever!} and this top 
11: WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:Date night, possibly drinks with friends, J has a birthday party, taking the kids skiing, shooting a few photos for my sisters company, & church
12: WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:Dare I say starting our kitchen cupboard project??
13: WHAT ELSE IS NEW:Jordyn is starting girl scouts -- I finally caved! Because we totally need one more thing on our schedule...

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

GOALS :: JANUARY 2020

I'm already a few days late, so this could be interesting -- haha!

*I forgot to add that I want to create at least one photobook this month.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

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}


Tuesday, April 10, 2018

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!

Thursday, June 1, 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 YorkNorth 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?

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Our Kids :: 6|52

Jordyn | I love when she encourages her brother to play with her

Cullyn | My little 'deep thinker' 

Monday, August 1, 2016

This & That {w31}

Did this:
Took C  to the pediatrician {Hand, Foot, & Mouth}
Met a friend for lunch
Photographed a newborn
Took C to his follow up eye exam {waiting 6 months for glasses}
Went out for maidrites & milkshakes 
Got my hair done
Spent the weekend at Guthrie River Ruckus with friends
Watched Zootopia with the kids

Instagrammed that:  


Scheduled this:
M: This & That 
T: 
W: Kids 31|52 
T: 
F: A Photo 

Monday, July 25, 2016

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

This & That {w30}

Did this:
Took J to church camp all week
Had lunch with a coworker at the food trucks
Took the kids to an iCubs game with friends
Got the 'all clear' from the ENT for J's ears--for the first time ever!
Went to my sister's Keep Collective party

Instagrammed that: 


Scheduled this:
F: A Photo 

Monday, July 18, 2016

This & That {w29}

Did this:
Had dinner with a guy we met in Mexico 4 years ago 
Took photos for a 6 month old
Added rock to the landscaping out front
Went out to dinner with the dance parents
Photographed a wedding in Davenport

Instagrammed that: 

Monday, July 11, 2016

This & That {w28}

Did this:
Listened to live music at Jasper Winery
Ate TropicalSno
Went to Summerfest
Drove to Nashua to see family
Spent the weekent at the Lake
Listened to Adam's band
Took several Jeep Rides
Photographed a 9 Month old

Instagrammed that: 


   

Monday, July 4, 2016

This & That {w27}

Did this:
Saw 'Finding Dory' at the Drive In
Went to the splashpads
Had our first Tropical Sno of the season
Made pizzas on the smoker with friends
Took the kids to their first really successful dentist appointment

Spent the weekend at the lake
Made Root Beer Floats
Went to a parade
Listened to Adam's band
Sang around the campfire
Took tons of Jeep rides
Spent the day in Party Cove

Watched tons of fireworks
Did sparklers
Made S'mores
Took 4 Wheeler rides
Shot guns

Instagrammed that: 


   
Scheduled this:
F: A Photo

Monday, June 27, 2016

This & That {w26}

Did this:
J took tennis lessons
I had a dentist appointment
My car went into the shop 
I took the kids to the splashpad
We went swimming
The kids and I watched my oldest nephew play baseball
We went out for ice cream
Adam and I spent a couple evenings playing cribbage on the deck
I photographed a wedding in Dubuque on Saturday
We had a lazy day on Sunday

Instagrammed that: 

 

Monday, June 20, 2016

This & That {w25}

Did this:
Swimming lessons for the kids {mainly J}
Took the kids strawberry picking
Went on a picnic at the park
Took both kids to the eye doctor
Listened to band practice in the garage while it rained
Had friends over for dinner
Started tumbling for J & C
Photographed all of the new Mercy Residents
Spent the weekend at the lake
Went out for pizza
Participated in our first kids Fishing Derby
Hosted Auntie Esha & Uncle Brad
Caught fireflies with Gram
Went kayaking with my sister and the kids
Went boating with Papa
Took a Jeep ride with my mama
Slip-in-Slided with my in laws
Floated with my family
Made homemade Ice Cream & strawberry shortcake
Celebrated Father's Day
Took several trips to 'Firefly Lane'

Instagrammed that: {totally over IG'd--seems to be a trend this summer!}


  
Scheduled this:
W: My Kids 25/52 
F: A Photo

Monday, June 13, 2016

This & That {w24}

Did this:
Went swimming at our friend's pool
Took Jordyn on her date {to the movies}
Watched Jordyn & Cullyn swim
Made our first s'mores of the season
Spent the weekend at the lake
Sent the kids to 'camp' on Friday
Went golfing, boating, & skiing with friends
Watched the sun set from the water
Took the kids tubing, boating, swimming on repeat all weekend!
Went for a Jeep ride
Celebrated Uncle Myles' 25th Birthday

Instagrammed that: {totally over IG'd!}



Scheduled this:
F: A Photo

Monday, June 6, 2016

This & That {w23}

Did this:
Went to a visitation 
Took the kids for ice cream with my sister
Drove to Iowa City for family photos with my family
Celebrated my brother in law's graduation from dental school!
Took the kids to the Farmer's Market & downtown for the morning
Went to a birthday party for a friend
Watched Jordyn's first dance recital

Instagrammed that: {totally over IG'd!}




Scheduled this:
F: A Photo

Monday, May 30, 2016

This & That {w22}

Did this:
Photographed a family, a newborn, & a wedding
Got a thumbs up from the ENT {she'll go back in 2-3 months for a f/u}
Went on a date with J 
Watched a private showing of 'Mean Girls' with some girlfriends at the theater for a fundraiser
Stayed home Wednesday morning w/ J {pink eye}
Stayed home Thursday w/ C {high fever - 103}
Went on a date with C
Sent J to Grandma Joy's {high fever - 104}
Took J to her first dance dress rehersal

Instagrammed that: 


Scheduled this:
W: My Kids 22/52 
F: A Photo

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