What's Up Wednesday

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:
Leftovers!  The fridge is out of control after this weekend.  We also have stuff for Chicken Parmesan, French Dips, Homemade Pizza, & a Charcuterie Board.

2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:
Last weekend -- it was so good!

3: WHAT I’M LOVING:
The sunshine -- last week was so gloomy! :(

   4: WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:
Getting outside as much as possible -- boating, cruising, & pulling weeds.

5: WHAT I’M DREADING:
Nothing really. 

6: WHAT I’M WORKING ON:
Refinishing a bookshelf for the guestroom. 

7: WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I started working out with a group of girls this morning.  We do it outside by the lake, so it's kind of fun.  Well, the socializing part at least. ;)

8: WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I haven't watched anything lately, but I have read so many books.  Here are the last three... The Hiding Place, The Royal We, and Sunset Beach

9: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:
Audiobooks -- the perfect way to make the time pass while pulling weeds!

10: WHAT I’M WEARING:
These shorts & these tanks

  11: WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:
Not much. Lola turns three, Adam's bang plays Saturday night, & church on Sunday morning.

 12: WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:
All the summer things!

It’s WHAT ELSE IS NEW:
I'm back to working in the office again. 

What's Up Wednesday

I'm linking up today with Sheaffer and Shay for What's Up Wednesday.  

What We're Eating This Week...

I was doing so good with cooking and meal prep when this all started.  By this point I'm really over cooking!  

Breakfast - I usually make chocolate chip muffins early in the week and then eggs each morning after the muffins have run out.  

Lunch - quesadillas, dinner leftovers, muffin tray lunches, pizza pinwheels, etc.

Dinner - Steak & potatoes, Chicken Parmesean, Lobster pasta, fresh fish & rice, pizza, porkchops & potatoes, and popcorn & shakes {anyone else do this on Sundays?}

What I'm Reminiscing About...

Graduation parties, weddings, softball, I guess I miss all the things May usually brings. 

What I'm Loving...

Audiobooks!  And TypingClub.com for the kids.  Most of all, reading Harry Potter as a family before bed.  Oh, and online church!

What We've Been Up To...

 Lots of movie nights, game nights, playing outside, walks, bike rides, playing with chalk on the driveway, basketball, shuffleboard, book reading, Bible study time, and remembering all we have to be thankful for.  Oh, and cooking, so much cooking.  Why do we have to eat three times a day?!  haha!

What I'm Dreading...

I'm not sure "dreading" is the right word for this, but I met some new neighbors just yesterday and we didn't shake hands or anything like that but we said that whole, "We would shake your hand, BUT..." thing to each other.  I know things have to change for a while in order for us all to be safe but I dread the idea of a world that's still afraid to shake a new neighbors' hand or hug someone years later.

What I'm Working On...

Our school is officially closed until next year so I'm playing teacher on top of working my normal job, but after that I'm filling in these commitment-free evenings with home projects and photobooks.  I have one photobook left to do {2013}, and I'm waiting on the electric to be moved so we can then do the back splash in the kitchen.  Once I'm caught up on photobooks I'm going to start digital organization.  I have a mess of files and images on 5 different laptops and 7 different external hard drives -- ugh!

What I'm Excited About...

I'm just excited for summer.   Longer days so we can ride bikes, swim, have picnics, go fishing, enjoy campfires, outdoor movies, etc.

What I'm Watching/Reading...

Like the rest of the world, Adam and I gave in and watched Tiger King {not worth it!}  I'm reading The Sound of Gravel right now.  I just finished One Plus One and plan to read Open Book next.

What I'm Listening To...

Kids, non stop!
& the wind -- it's soo windy today!

What I'm Wearing...

I am so proud of myself, I haven't bought once piece of clothing for myself since the beginning of the year {I think!}.  If not January, it's been at least since February.  That being said, this lockdown has allowed me to wear my favorite leggings every.single.day {to be clear, I do own several pair!}  Right now I'm wearing them with this a gray camo aerie sweatshirt that must be discontinued.   

What I'm Doing This Weekend...

Since Adam and I were supposed to be at the Kentucky Derby this weekend, I'm going to try to convince him to dress up and sip Derby cocktails on the deck this weekend.  It's supposed to be sunny and 78*, so why not?

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month...Well May Day is always a favorite for me, and social distancing hasn't ruined that, so I'm excited to make May Day baskets with the kids and Ding-Dong-Ditch some friends. :)

2014 | 2016

What's Up Wednesday

What We're Eating This Week...

I have no idea because Adam has been cooking again -- whoop whoop!  This is a major upside to him being home!

What I'm Reminiscing About...

Life in general.  I've been working on photobooks, so I feel like I've been reliving the past few years -- bittersweet. 

What I'm Loving...

All of the extra family time!!

What We've Been Up To...

Organizing, cleaning, gaming, painting, purging, playing teacher, snuggling as a family.

What I'm Dreading...

How long this dreaded COVID-19 will continue.  Adam was laid off on Tuesday.

What I'm Working On...

Painting the kitchen cabinets -- it's so exciting to see this finally happening!  I've been dreaming about it for almost 2 years!

What I'm Excited About...

Teaching the kids how to type {properly}, we're working on cooking, and then we're going to move onto addressing a letter.

What I'm Watching/Reading...

I've been listening to audio books while painting, so I just finished In Pieces, When Life Gives You Lululemons, Castle of Water, The Perfect Couple, & Grace Not Perfection. 

We've been watching a kids movie about every other night.  I do not recommend My Life As a Zucchini or Wall-E {snooze!}  But we've enjoyed Iron Will and Big Hero 6 this past week.

What I'm Listening To...

Alexa, 'play Elevation Worship on Pandora'

What I'm Wearing...

The best leggings ever, this top, these shoes, & my apple watch.

What I'm Doing This Weekend...

Continuing to paint the kitchen cabinets and a bunch of games and movies with the kids & Adam.

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month...

Cullyn's 7th birthday & Easter.  Maybe even coming out of quarantine? 

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...

How we...do Fall

Here are a few of the things we do to soak up as much as possible during my favorite season of the year...

*Fall Bucket List*

This is our 2018 fall bucket list, but here are previous ones for 2017, 2016, 2015.

*Soup Sunday*

This summer we started Cinema Sunday, but we're taking a break for the fall to accommodate for all the football games! :)  We decided to theme it Soup Sunday and invite our friends over for different soups each week.

*Friend Party*

Last year we went to a fall campfire party with s'mores and a taco bar.  This year we're hosting a pumpkin carving party, so stay tuned for that. :)

*Sports*

Praise the Lord, the kids won't be playing soccer this year, but Jordyn will still be busy with dance and tumbling. And I think Cullyn is going to try wrestling {please resuscitate me if you see me passed out in the stands from holding my breath too long! My nerves are already rattled about this!} 

*Decor*

I get to decorate this house for the first time, so that should be fun {& interesting}.  Here are photos of our Ankeny house decorated last year. 

*Apple Orchard*

We've done this every fall since the kids were little.  In the past we've always went to Center Grove Apple Orchard, but now that we moved, we might need to try a new place.  I love this activity {for many reasons} but we always love coming home and making fall recipes with the apples we pick.

*Pumpkin Patch*

Sorry for the photo overload, but this is probably our favorite activity of the fall.  It brings back so many fond memories for me! We're so lucky to live by an awesome pumpkin patch that offers pick your own, hay rides, apple shooting, slides, homemade apple cider and donuts, a jumping bean, animals, a so much more. 

*Photoshoot*

I always try to sneak a photoshoot in the fall {didn't happen last year -- photographer problems!} to capture our family with the beautiful foliage. *My plug here -- as a photographer, I always encourage families to take a photo at least once a year {doesn't have to be fall!}.  It doesn't matter if it's perfect, if you weigh what you want, if your kids have bruises, or if your husband hate taking them.  Your children should have at least one photo with their parents ever year.  I promise they aren't going to care about the details!  The years fly by, don't wait for the perfect scenario!

*Scavenger/leaf Hunt*

We usually do at least one of these each fall.  Sometimes we do an actual scavenger hunt, other times we just look for special leaves, but no matter what we do this is always a favorite activity of the kids. Proof that sometimes the simpler things are the best, even if it's a free leaf hunt. Kids just love time with their parents attention. Here is a post of our day of 2016.

*School Parties*

The kids will each have a school fall party, so I will help with that again this year. This will be my first year with both kids' parties on the same day/time so we'll see how this goes down!

*Trick-or-Treating*

This post has a few of last year's Halloween favorites.  Unfortunately, as any Iowan knows, the weather here on Halloween is extremely unpredictable. It could be cold or snowy {most likely}, maybe rain, or possibly even nice {so rare!}.  It really makes planning outfits difficult.  Last year it was so, so cold. I usually do themed costumes, but one year we ended up with a superhero and a princess, so ultimately it's just whatever the kids will agree to wear -- haha!  If you're looking for ideas we've done a caterpillar and a butterfly, a football player and a cheerleader, and Moana and Maui.

  

  

  

*Fall Snacks*

The kids and I like to make easy, simple snacks and the holidays are the perfect excuse!  Snack mixes and baking are our go-tos, but we always try to make a special Halloween breakfast {if it's a weekend} and supper too.

What activities do you do in the fall?  I always love hearing about other families traditions!