MIA

Sorry I've been missing in action for a while.  When was the last time I posted? Ok I just looked TWO weeks ago.  Oh my goodness.  FAIL.  So I'm just going to ramble a bit about what's been going on over the past two weeks. 

I will be back at the Menu Monday and regular blogging now!  Promise.

- Spring has came! So we've been playing outside a lot, this year it is SO much easier, I see lots of outside time in our future!  :)

Mowing, don't tell him he's not in the grass.

~ With that about statement being said, Friday, this Friday, May 3rd, they are calling for a chance of snow?!?!?!  What?  Stupid Missouri weather.  Try explaining shorts and t-shirts one day to pants and coats the next day to my kids.  UGH.

~ So, I've received five graduation invitation, am I obligated to send/get each one a gift?  I don't know how this works exactly. 

~ I've not only been a failure at blogging, I've been a failure at cooking.  Seems like we've been running every night so we just grab something quick and easy.  Our weeks are going to look like this: Monday night - I zumba, Tuesday night - Nathan has started riding bicycles, Wednesday night - we are actually home together, Thursday night - Amelia has dance, Nathan rides bikes until 8, then I go to late Zumba and Friday night - we're home together. Insane, but we make it work and I'm GOING to get better at having dinner at home.

~ Gus, our dog, had to go.  :(  He was such a great dog and we really loved him, but he decided he didn't like Amelia.  I don't know why or what happened, but Saturday he randomly started growling at her and even tried to nip at her.  She's the sweet one, always petted him and loved on him.  Asher was the one that tried to run him over with toys and whatnot and Gus was fine with him.  Amelia was super sad and just wanted him to love her, but I couldn't take the chance of him actually biting her.  However, I'm confident we found him a great home where he'll be loved and showered with attention.

~ Amelia is gearing up for her Spring Dance Recital, it's May 11th.  Also her last day of school is May 16th, that girl isn't going to know what to do this summer.  :)

Modeling their costumes.

 

~ I'm in the misted of planning us a mini family vaca to St. Louis in June and a bigger trip for just Nathan and I for our TEN year anniversary.  The sad part is we can't decide where we want to go.  Any good suggestions?  Honestly we are thinking a MAX of four nights away.

Cooking together

 

~ Asher is at such a fun age right now.  The little stinker thinks it's SO funny, for instance, when I tell him 'I love you' he replies with 'I love you Daddy' and then laugh.  He SO knows what he's doing.  :)

~ Alright, I'm finished rambling for now.  I'll be back sooner than later this time!

Catching up

Wow, this week has FLOWN by!  I didn't get a Menu Monday post up, not because I didn't have a menu, but because I ran out of time.  Whew.  I'm not sure where to start.

Friday night - We got a dog. The kids got to bed late.  It was all overwhelming.

Saturday afternoon - Amelia named the dog, Gus.  We took him to the vet to get checked out.  He's a Silky, most likely 1 1/2 - 2 years old, house broken, good with the kids.  In dire need of a good grooming. 

 

Saturday evening - We had friends over for dinner.  Nathan grilled, and we all played outside for the most part of the night.  We had a wonderful time, and enjoyed the great weather.

This is the cookie dough dip I blogged about last Friday.

Sunday - Church, where Asher took his morning nap on me during Sunday school, so we didn't have to rush home for naps, instead we went with friends to lunch.  After lunch we headed home for afternoon naps.

Sunday evening - Amelia's Spring Sing at her school.  She did such a great job, and I can't say enough good things about ABC Preschool.  The whole staff is wonderful.  It's such a great, Godly environment.

Pure Drama, before the concert.

My favorite picture from the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were normal days for us.  We are getting used to having a dog to tend to as well.  He's going for a hair cut today, thankfully.  Amelia wanted to know if Jill (the lady who cuts her hair) was going to cut Gus's hair too!  She is loving 'her dog'.  When she prayed last night she thanked God for her dog and her family.  :)  Asher is still a little unsure.  When you asked him if a new dog lives at his house he will tell you no.  We follow this question up with do you want a new dog, and he'll say no.  :)
The weather has been Spring-like (finally) the pass few days so we've been able to enjoy more outside time as well. However, I see that I'm going to have to come up with ways to get the kids back INSIDE.  :)

Randon Ramblings

~ Asher has started to sleep with a stuff doll/animal. I say stuff doll because some nights it's a stuffed Geo from Team UmiZoomi, other nights it's Mickey Mouse.  This is the first thing we've allowed in his bed with him.  It's the beginning of the end I think.  Which makes me sad.

~ We've been considering getting the kids a dog.  A small indoor dog, preferable house broken.  Any tips?

~ Nathan and I have been watching the Downton Abby Series, if you haven't watched it's, it's fabulous.  We're 3 or 4 episodes into season three.  Good stuff! Any other good series that you are watching?  We need something for when we're finished with Downton.

~ I'm rereading the Mortal Instruments series.  The City of Bones movie comes out in August, and I want to be prepared.  :)

~ I'm struggling with entertaining the kids verses getting my housework done.  Is there a good balance?  I don't mind putting stuff off to play, but there comes a point when it has to get done and there are only so many hours in the week.  Yesterday I only managed 2 or 3 loads of laundry.  However, we went to the library, managed to grocery shop, and make m&m cookies. 

~ I made cookie dough dip over Easter weekend and it is amazing. Warning this will rune your diet, but it's totally worth it. Grab your favorite dry cookie mix (of course I chose chocolate chip), one package of cream cheese, and one stick of butter. Mix is all together, shape until a ball, allow it to chill for about an hour, grab something to dip with (animal crackers, vanilla wafers, spoon :)) and go for it! A-MAZING!

~ We're planting a garden!  I've asked and asked and asked, I guess my persistence paid off because we're going to buy the stuff this weekend!

~  Have a GREAT weekend!

Circus Fun!

All of us ready to go to the Circus.

Elephant ride. This was right before Asher starting saying done done done, and trying to get up.

Best family picture we could get.

She loved the pony ride.

As you can tell he did not.

 

Camels too.

 

She loves her some popcorn.

 

This was Asher face for the first 10 minutes or so.  Cracks me up.



We were at Kansas Express, which isn't far from where the Circus was held and he was snoring.  Don't mind the pink bink, it's a back up.  :)

Menu Monday

We had a GREAT weekend, I'll post about it soon, but for now here's my menu this week.

Monday - Tonight is Provel Pizza.  I'm so excited about this homemade pizza.  It's made with provel cheese, which is what they Imo's, and turkey pepperoni.  It's sort of silly how excited I am.  :)

Tuesday - I'll probably grab subway or something tonight, Amelia and I are going to a 31 Party, so I won't be home to cook.

Wednesday - Momma Day!  We're going to have Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo tonight.  I'll probably cook Perfect Chicken to use, I love this chicken recipe.

Thursday - Leftover night.  Boring. 

Friday - I'm going to try this pinterest recipe tonight. Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken. Hopefully it's a win.  Oh and speaking of which, the apple dumped in the crock pot with oatmeal and left overnight, was a pinterest fail.

Saturday - We're having friends over for dinner.  Nathan is grilling pork tenderloin on the egg, we are going to have the chili rubbed pork tenderloin with blackberry sauce from the Big Green Egg Cookbook.  I'm going to make this for a side item.  I'm hoping it's a good alternative to a loaded potato casserole.

Sunday - Amelia's 'Spring Sing' is tonight at school, so I'm going quick and easy bag chicken tonight.

Easter Weekend

We decided to take Good Friday off this year, sort of.  Nathan still got up and went to work and the kids still went to Sara's until about noon, but then I went and picked them up and we had an extra momma afternoon.  Friday evening we ended up having pizza hut for dinner with mema and papa, which the kids LOVED. 
Saturday was a nasty rainy morning, but I had scheduled haircuts, so off we went in the rain.  Asher did better this time than last time, and looks like such a little man with his hair cut short.  Amelia looks SO much better, I hadn't realized how long her bangs had grown. 

 

I nearly cried when taking this picture.  Doesn't he look SO big?

Saturday afternoon we had Easter at my mom's house.  The rain cleared up and it ended up being a beautiful afternoon, however the yard was very soggy, so that limited where we could 'hide' eggs.  But hey a 3 year old and an 18 month old don't really care where the eggs are hidden. 

 

 



Sunday morning the kids slept in until 6:30, which was GREAT, but put us in a bit of a rush to get to church at 8:30.  We made it on time, but I failed to get one good picture of the kids dressed up together.  Asher refused to take his bink out to let me get a cute picture of him AND he wouldn't stand by Amelia. Needless to say, his favorite word of the morning was, no.

 

 

 

 

I took his bink out.

Only picture of them together.  UGH.

 

 

 

Sunday after church was Easter dinner at Joe and Lois's and the kids were able to play outside some more.  We finished the weekend off by grilling chicken and playing outside at home.  The kids were in heaven, they LOVE being outside.  I'm so glad we got to spend sometime out there this weekend since it's sleet today.  It was a great weekend!

 

Mark 16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him.





Menu Monday

Monday - Going with easy tonight, I'll fry up some ground turkey before heading to early zumba and we'll have hamburger (turkey) helper when I get home.

Tuesday - Pinterest recipe night.  This looks like a super easy and relatively healthy week night recipe.  I hope it's a keeper.

Wednesday - Super easy, crock pot Pork Tenderloin.  We'll have wild rice and a veggie with it. 

Thursday - I zero plans of cooking, so it's leftovers or take out.  :)

Friday- I didn't get to make my Chicken Pesto last Friday, because I was lacking an ingredient that I had to make a special trip to Mama Jean's for, so I'm going to make it tonight.  Hope it's worth all the trouble!

Saturday - Sunday - Nathan and I are going out of town with another couple!!  No cooking for me.  I can't wait.  :)