So What! Wednesday (on a Thursday)

I am SO GLAD that my fellow blogger friend is back to doing her So What! Wednesday posts. It's been a couple years since I did a So What! post but I think I will bring it back...for this week at least;) I can't guarantee anything since I feel like I barely have time to sleep!

This week I am saying SO WHAT if...

...it is actually Thursday now? I did start this post on Wednesday night, so that counts for something, right?!

...I can ONLY listen to rap while I work out? I have tried to watch Full House on the elliptical. I have tried to listen to Luke Bryan. I have even tried to listen to Justin! But, alas, my favorite gym Pandora station is 2000s  hip hop. Old habits die hard.

...my house is never clean? I have just come to the realization that my house will be clean in about 16 years. 

...I get busted all the time for throwing away kid art? All. the. time. I promise I do keep some, but I can't ALL THE THINGS.

...a combination of Trump and Target bathroom issues have led to me unfollowing have of my facebook feed? My brain just doesn't have it in me.

...I over-document my kids? I just love their guts and want to remember these stages!

...I have to drink water ALL DAY LONG in order to not want a Diet Coke? Giving it up has been easier than I expected, but I am literally chugging water all day.

...all I wear 80% of the time is work out clothes?

Whew. That felt good. Happy hump day. friends!



menu monday

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Monday: we never got around to these Chicken and White Bean Enchiladas last week so I am making them tonight!

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Tuesday: Baked Chicken Chimichangas -- these are so good!

 

Wednesday: Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

 

Thursday: Grilled ranch chicken, mashed potatoes, & green beans

 

Friday: Cheeseburgers & baked potato salad (Thanks, Publix!)

 

Saturday:

jam packed weekend fun

Our weekends have been so busy (in a fun way!) since baseball season started again. We always have games on Saturday mornings for Grayson & now Ben is helping coach our friends 7 year old team. Grayson gets to practice and hang out with the bigger boys & he thinks that is the greatest thing ever!

 

I feel like I live for the weekends & I love soaking up our family time. This weekend was so different. It was busy & fun and I am wishing we had just one more day to enjoy it!

 

We started our Saturday off at the ball field to watch Grayson. My friend, Laura, gave us this wagon and I am obsessed. These two loved it! We were there for over 2 hours & the littles were troopers. Grayson got some great hits with his new "big kid" bat & Cheney and Griffin ran around playing with friends. Being a baseball sibling isn't always so bad!

 

This weekend was also Franklin's Main Street Festival.  We made Cheney skip her nap so we could go downtown and walk around.

 

 

This little girl loves to walk everywhere now. She thinks she is way too big to be carried around. We hear "no walk!" all the time!

 

We walked around and ended up mostly just hanging out in the kids area. The boys played in the bounce houses and Cheney played in a ball pit. I hosed her down with sanitizer afterwards. (kidding. kind of) But, the very best part of their day came when Griffin and Cheney rode on the ponies! Griffin has always wanted to do pony rides, but he gets nervous at the last minute. Cheney lives for horses. She is downright obsessed. She immediately starts yelling "NEIGH!" when we see them. They both decided to ride & Griffy was so proud of himself for actually doing it!

 

 

Look at those faces! PURE JOY. I am pretty sure they will both be getting a pony for their 4th and 2nd birthdays. How can I say no to those faces?! ha!

 

We spent the majority of our time outside this weekend which is just how we like it. We played, planted some veggies, did yard work, & ended with ice cream for dinner tonight.

 

I love my little family. We can't wait for summer! 

New House Tour: Cheney's room

Cheney's room got a little facelift over spring break courtesy of her daddy! When we moved in to our house it needed mostly just cosmetic work. Paint has been the biggest thing & we've been tackling it room by room! Here are the before pictures of Cheney's room:

 

Her room (and most other rooms) was a yellowish tan that was really blah. Her blackout curtains are usually closed and the wall color made it feel so dark all the time. I wanted something bright & airy! Her old room was gray & we loved it.

 

I tested a few different colors and settled on Behr's Silver Bullet. It is lighter than her old room & I knew it would brighten everything up!

 

My trusty assistant, as always! This was right after she discovered a tub of Vicks baby rub and covered herself in it. She smelled like a eucalyptus plant!

 

I love this room now!

 



Menu Monday

Ben and I have a little competition going on right now. We both want to lose 10 pounds before our trip to Hilton Head at the end of May.  I have started going back to the gym again since Cheney is healthy (hooray!) and Ben started Crossfit.  We've also only been drinking water. This is a big deal for me because Diet Coke has been my main drink since college! I'm happy to report that I am alive and only had one day with a bad caffeine headache!

 

I am trying to do better at making good choices for our family dinners.  I love Skinnytaste recipes but need some more resources. What are your favorite places to find healthier recipes that are family friendly?

Here is what we are eating this week:
 

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Monday: Baseball game night calls for something easy & fast! We will having this crockpot salsa chicken & using it to make tacos!

Tuesday: Chicken and veggie stir fry with this sauce. I tried making a flank steak with this marinade and it was a bust. BUT, we loved the flavor of this teriyaki sauce so I guess that part was a win?!

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken tortilla pizzas

Thursday: Grilled chicken, squash, mac & cheese for the kids

Friday: Cheeseburgers & sweet potato tots


Menu Monday & a new favorite recipe

I am actually getting my menu post done on time! and also. 2 posts in 2 days? I'm feeling a little crazy!

 

I'm going to start by sharing a new family favorite. I made these Taco Stuffed Shells a few weeks ago and they were a hit with 5 out of 5 family members. That rarely happens! I was so happy that Ben actually got seconds when he typically doesn't eat pasta!

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These are easy to make ahead & do not take much time. Go try them & let me know if your family approves too!

 

Monday: French Bread Pizzas (Mondays are game nights & we have to eat something fast!)

 

Tuesday: Sweet & Sour chicken (I just buy a bottle of sauce at the store) and fried rice (recipe below)

 

1 bag of boil in a bag rice

sesame oil

soy sauce

frozen mixed veggies

1 egg

scallions

 

Prepare rice following directions on box & set aside. Add about 1 tbs of sesame oil to a hot skillet. Add 1 cup of frozen mixed veggies. Sauté the veggies for a few minutes until they begin to soften. Add rice. Stir everything to combine. Add a few shakes of soy sauce -- this totally depends on how you like it. Add as much as you like! Make a well in the center of the skillet and add the egg. Stir it all together quickly until egg is cooked. That's it!

 

Wednesday: Chicken Tostadas (I'm happy to share my recipe if anyone wants it!)

 

Thursday: this mama is going out!

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Friday: Baked Chicken Chimichangas

 

Saturday: Grilled Chicken + some sort of veggie



happenings

We had a BUSY week & weekend! This was a big week especially for Grayson. He started spring baseball (I think this is his 5th season playing?!) with his new team AND we registered him for kindergarten!

 

On one hand I can't believe my first born is old enough to be going to big kid school. On the other hand, he acts like a mini-teenager and I know he's been ready for awhile! Grayson barely missed the cutoff this year and is SO EXCITED that he can finally go to kindergarten this fall. We got him all registered on Wednesday & we go to sneak a peek later this month!

 

Spring ball also started this week! This year Grayson gets to play with two neighbor friends, Carter & Hutson, and it is so fun! It helps that Cheney & Griffin have playmates at the games, too. Grayson is happiest playing baseball and he has such a God-given talent. I love watching him! He is on The Nationals this season & is loving every minute.

 

This little firecracker is almost 20 months. That is so hard for me to believe! Cheney girl is so much fun right now. She's been healthy (hallelujah!) and back to her old spunky self! This stage is great. She is talking so much more & can copy lots of things we say. She is saying short phrases: I love you, I got you, and her personal favorite...No mine! We hear that a lot. She runs so fast and climbs EVERYTHING. Literally. Cheney is super independent and wants to do everything on her own. She keeps us busy!

 

My parents were up here this weekend & the kids loved having them here. Cheney talked about Nana and Poppy all weekend and was not happy to say goodbye this afternoon. We played outside all day yesterday & went to church and lunch with them today. I love taking a picture of the kids on Sunday mornings because they all look so cute. We call them "candy pictures." I will let you guess why!

 

I hope everyone had a great weekend!