A case of the sickies

Whew! What a hectic few days! 

Friday night the babies stayed with Nonna and Granddaddy (Matt's parents) so we could take Ava on a little date to the carnival. When we woke up Saturday morning there was a puddle in the kitchen floor. Our fridge went out and all of the ice melted. Luckily, we have my grandmothers fridge in our basement. We usually use it to hold extra can drinks and waters. We were able to move everything from upstairs down to that fridge. Hopefully someone can come today to fix it. 

The babies came home Saturday afternoon and poor Hew started running a fever. 103. Bless his little heart. He can't catch a break. We skipped church Sunday since he still had a fever and a runny nose and just rested. I ended up taking Hew to the doctor yesterday morning and its just a virus. So far today he acts like he feels better. I'm hoping he's over it and I'm praying so hard that no one else get it. 

How was your weekend? Help me live vicariously through you. 

Menu Monday

I thought I'd share my menu for this week. I like to read other people's menu posts because it gives me some new ideas to try. And I am always on the look out for new stuff to cook. Plus, menu planning helps with the grocery budget.

Our "week" starts on Fridays. It's payday. It works for us. :) So when you read this we will already be done with Friday-Sunday.

Here's our menu for this week:

Breakfasts: waffles, French toast sticks, cereal, oatmeal, grits, toast, fruit (whatever the kids are feeling)

Lunches: sandwiches, beefaroni (don't judge), Mac and cheese, leftovers, garlic butter pasta, salads (again, whatever the kids are feeling)

Snacks: fruit and veggies, Popsicles, veggie chips

Dinner:

Friday-eat out (grocery day)

Saturday- Mexican Night (taco salads with chicken, beans and fixings)

Sunday- BALT's (bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato sandwiches)

Monday- family dinner night (we eat with my Mom and Sister on Mondays...sometimes I cook, sometimes I don't...this week I'm making Mac and cheese to go with what my mom is making)

Tuesday- family dinner night (we eat with Matt's parents and grandmother on Tuesdays)

Wednesday- copycat California Pizza Kitchen California Club Pizza

Thursday- BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, green beans

     BALT's

That's our menu for this week. We've been bad lately about buying groceries but then eating out instead. Last week we only ate out on Friday evening. Hopefully this week will be the same. So far so good. 

Carnival Fun

Last night the babies stayed with Matt's mom and dad while we took Ava to dinner and to the carnival that came to town. She loves going!

We had a great time spending this one on one time with her. We try to be intentional about spending time with just her. Sometimes she feels lost in the shuffle. It's a daily struggle with 3 kids to help them all feel important. Praise the Lord that each new day is a new start! 

Commenting Challenge Day 5

I'm linking up with Jenna for her last day of the commenting challenge. 

Today's topic is FOOD, one of my very favorite subjects.  I wanted to share one of my very favorite meals.

picture from link below

We have this little chain of restaurants nearby called Surin.  I have been several times and I always get the same thing.  It is by far the best thing I have ever put in my mouth.  It is called Nam Tok Beef.  (If you follow the link it talks about the dish.)  We always go to Surin when it's date night because it is kind of pricey.  But it is totally worth the splurge.

What are some of your favorite meals?

Commenting Challenge Day 4

Y'all, the past 24 hours have been super busy. I didn't even have a chance to write a proper post for today. I'm typing this from my iPhone and praying the babies stay asleep for just a few more seconds. 

Today's topic is Christmas in July. Y'all, I added my Christmas list app (It's called Better Christmas List) back to my phone a week or so ago and I honestly have no idea what to get any one. I struggle with gift giving. I want to get everyone something they want or need but the budget doesn't always allow for that. What are some of your suggestions for kids and grandparents? Ava will be 7 and the babies will be 2. 

I promise to try and get on tonight and leave some comments for Jenna's Challenge. Hopefully I will have a few minutes. :) 

Commenting Challenge Day 3

I'm linking up with Jenna again today for her Commenting Challenge.

Today is all about Pinterest.  I love to browse around and get great new ideas.  Here are some of my favorites:

I made this Mississippi Roast.  It was a huge step out of our food comfort zone but oh my gosh!!! We loved it!  It has this sort of tang to it that is awesome.  We have had it numerous times since.  Huge hit around here.  I usually serve it with some mashed potatoes and a veggie on the side.

We have used these Alphabet tracing pages in our homeschool.  I laminated them so we could use them over and over.  And now Hew and Hollyn can use them.

I also used this sheet to discover my new favorite shower/bathroom cleaner.

I have a ton more pins that I want to try...like these key chains, making my own baby bodysuits/shirts, and I want to try some of these art projects with the kids to decorate with for the Holidays.

What are some of your favorite pins?

Commenting Challenge Day 2

I'm linking up with Jenna again today.  Hop over and check out the other awesome blogs.

Welcome back!!!

Today's topic is all about series. TV. Books. 

Now with 3 kids, it's hard to find some time to sit down and watch TV or read. We do use our DVR to record a few things to watch when the kids are all in bed.

First, Army Wives. I started watching Army Wives a few seasons ago and actually used Netflix to watch the entire series from the beginning. This past season was kind of hard at first because so many of the original cast left. I'm still holding on to hope that they will renew for at least one more season. 

HIMYM. We love How I Met Your Mother but have fallen off actually watching it. We have a ton to watch on the DVR. Maybe it's daunting to think of how many there are. Maybe it's just that we don't have time. Either way we need to catch up. 

I recently read Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series. It was such a good series to read. This past Saturday they aired the first episode of the Cedar Cove series on Hallmark Channel. I, of course, have it on DVR but haven't had time to watch it. I'm hoping its really good. 

Do you watch any of these shows? What do you enjoy watching/reading?

This is what I spend most days with. My kiddos and messes. :) I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Jenna's Journey 4th Annual Commenting Challenge

I'm joining up with Jenna from Jenna's Journey for her annual commenting challenge. Hop on over and join in!

Today she suggested we do a sort of "about me" post. I've posted some about me but here's a little more.

*I enjoy lazy weekends. Spending time just enjoying my family and soaking up these memories.

*I'm a twin. Every time someone learns that I have a twin (usually the hard way by thinking Kristen is me) they say "why didn't you tell me you were a twin". So now you know.

*I have a huge addiction to office supplies. Pens. Notepads. allthethings office...I puffy heart them!

*We have 2 dogs. A poodle named Lella (rhymes with Bella) and a pit bull terrier named Naomi. Lella was Ava's birthday present last year and Naomi was a stray. We named her No-Name Naomi. She answers to it now.

*I am a hoarder of furniture. I buy random pieces at yard sales and thrift stores. I may use it. Or I might use it one day. :) Matt loves it. Not!

*I enjoy tweeting and using Instagram to share my life. Follow along.

Share with me a little about you.

5 on Friday

I thought I would join in with the 5 on Friday link up this week.  It seems like a fun way to find new blogs and it's an easy prompt...write about 5 things...any 5 things.  I think I can handle that.

::1::

I'm so excited that it's Friday.  I love the weekends because it means my little family is all together.  We don't have any real plans for the weekend.  I'm sure we will move some stuff to our storage unit tomorrow and we have nursery duty at church on Sunday.  Other than that, we are just having a low-key weekend.

::2::

I'm busy readying school stuff.  I purchased and/or made everything we need for this year but I'm waiting on a good bit of stuff that seems to be lost in the USPS (that's another post for another day). It was bought and shipped on July 1st.  It's the 19th.  UGH!  I'm hoping and praying it comes today. 

::3::

I'm starting my Christmas list already and honestly I have no idea what to get anyone on my list.  It doesn't help that the kids' birthdays are all right around Christmas time.  It's like a double whammy for us.  Send some ideas my way for the kids and Grandparents.

::4::

We've officially entered the terrible 2's and the sassy 6's.  I'm drowning over here.  No one forewarns you about 6.  Everyone talks of how horrible 2 is.  I'm here to tell you that 6 is just as hard if not harder.  I'm praying for patience and for all of this to pass quickly.  Join me?

::5::

I'm highly guilty of the double space after a period.  I was taught that way in high school and it's such a hard habit to break.  And you know what?  I am totally not going back through this post and deleting all the extra spaces,  Maybe next post I can remember to leave it off.  But honestly, what does the extra little space hurt?


Y'all have a good weekend!

First Day of Speech Therapy

This was where Hollyn was moments before the therapist arrived. Silly girl!

Today was our very first speech therapy appointment. I was a little leery about how it would go because Hew and Hollyn usually tense up around strangers. It did go better than I expected though. They played a little bit with her but didn't do much talking. Most of the time was spent doing their evaluation which more involved me answering a million questions times two. :) 

We are only doing monthly visits right now so a good bit of the work lands on me. I'm ok with that seeing as we already are a home"schooling" family. I am racking my brain and searching the Internet for lots of ideas to help us. Those that have done speech therapy...what are some of your favorite activities, apps etc for encouraging vocabulary. We do a lot of narrating and read a good bit but lend me your ideas, please! 

And just because I can't resist sharing this picture...here is Ava reading to the babies. She's such a good big sister. 

Half a Year Later

Hi friends!

A lot has happened since my last post...back in JANUARY. I know, I know. But life has been happening and I have just been enjoying living it. I'm jumping back in with both feet now. 

Here's what we've been up to since January:

Matt and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary in May. We didn't do anything big. We actually all ate at Milo's and went to church. We had plans to getaway one weekend but we just haven't managed to make it happen yet. Soon. 

We spent several weekends in Tuscaloosa watching Alabama's softball team. Matt's cousin plays on the team. It was a fun little adventure to pack up and head out on Friday evening. We'd spend the night after Friday nights game and watch Saturdays game, then head home. So much fun!

For Memorial Day we took a little trip to Biloxi, MS and visited some of our favorite nearby places. We even took a day trip to New Orleans. 

Ava's 4th dance recital was the first Saturday in June. She absolutely adores dance. This year her studio did an 80's themed recital. Ava dance to "When I See You Smile" for ballet and "Don't Worry, Be Happy" for tap. Both dances were so cute!  

We visited some of my family in Georgia in early June. We had the best time. It was so good to spend time with them and piddle around and finally get to see their new house. 

Over the course of a few weeks I read Debbie Macomber's "Cedar Cove Series". There are 12 books with an additional 2 short stories. I really, really enjoyed them. And now they're making the books into a television series on Hallmark Channel (premieres this Saturday, July 20th). I'm so excited!!!

The babies semi-graduated from occupational therapy. They had their annual review at 18 months and had pretty much caught up to their peers in all areas except speech. So, we start speech therapy this month. This week actually. I'm anxious to see how it goes because honestly Hew and Hollyn are leery of strangers. Not a terrible thing but it is when they're being evaluated. We shall see.

We had a pretty low-key 4th.  Matt had to work on the 4th but was off on the 5th.  Rather than sit at home, me and the kids went and ate lunch with my mom.  She fixed BBQ porkchops, baked beans and homemade french fries.  Yummy!  That evening we went with our neighbors to watch the fireworks downtown.  We had a great time!

And now we are just gearing up for school to start.

What have y'all been up to?