What's Up Wednesdays

Today, I'm sharing my What's Up Wednesdays for the month of March.  I am just in shock and so so excited that we are already getting ready to enter into April.  People... that means Summer is just around the corner, and this girl could not be happier about it.  Bring on the heat! 

I'm linking up today with Shay, Mel and Sheaffer.

What we're eating this week

We've been grilling, which is my favorite.  If I could grill every meal outside I would.  Who doesn't love keeping the mess out of the kitchen.  We've had burgers, hot dogs, steaks and ribs.  I am hoping to make fajitas one day as well, but I'll make those inside.

What I'm reminiscing about

I was asked by this sweet girl to chaperon prom.  I keep thinking to myself, "Wasn't I just at my own prom?  I mean how did this happen?"

 I had a lot of fun, and I don't think I embarrassed her or myself too much.  So if I'm reminiscing, it's about how I used to be young.  ;)

  What I'm loving

I found these pillows at Target, and I'm loving the fun Spring/Summer colors.  I was wanting to add some color into my house, so these are perfect.

What we've been up to

I bought the game of Clue to play with Dan and the kids.  We are all loving it.  Probably me the most, because I've only lost once.  Haha!  ;)

Always homework to be worked on... always!

Dan surprised me and the kids, and decided at the last minute to book a trip to Hawaii.  We packed our bags and were on the airplane within 24 hours of him deciding.  We had been saving and planning for a trip, but there wasn't ever a time that seemed to fit great.  I think he finally came to the point of, now or never... so we went for it.  It was a bit of a whirlwind, but it was so fun and I'm glad we did it.

What I'm dreading

Nothing that I can think of...

What I'm working on

Friends, I have wintered well, and I'm going to have to lose a bit of it.  I have never had to lose weight before, and I'm not so worried about the weight as I am the inches.  This is all so new to me, and to be honest, it's not so fun!  I'm more of a bacon and french fry kind of girl, but instead I'm trying to watch what I eat and get out and get in some walking.

Monkey see, monkey do.

What I'm excited about

I'm excited that we only have about 2 months left of school.  How fun is that?

What I'm watching/reading

Since we just had Spring break, I took it upon myself to get in some reading.  I've been reading a fun little series, I just wish she would have finished the series with a fourth book.

What I'm listening to

It's Tuesday evening as I'm typing this out.  I can hear the sound of the laundry running, and Dan and the kids outside shooting hoops.  Such peaceful and content sounds. 

What I'm wearing

My comfy's.  Since we've been home a lot, I've been taking advantage of it, and not getting too dressed up.  Boring I know, but it's real life around here.

What I'm doing this weekend

Gracie will be playing basketball in another tournament this weekend.  It's a two day tournament, out of town.  So we'll be driving and sitting in the bleachers a lot.  :)

What I'm looking forward to next month

We booked a little weekend getaway in April to celebrate some of our friends turning 40.  When you have 5 out of 8 either turning 40 or just recently turned 40, you celebrate, right?!  :)

What else is new

Snapchat.  Are any of you on it?  It is the weirdest social media yet.  I feel like I'm starting to get it figured out, but man it's taken me a while.  And if you think you can Google it, to get help using it, you're at a loss.  It wasn't any help.  Only time and pushing a lot of buttons works.  This is what Snapchat looks like when 2, thirty something year olds get on and start playing around.  In all fairness, I don't actually post things like this on Snapchat.  I'm sure my 13 year old would freak.  Haha!  But on my blog, it's free game, right?!

I hope you're all having a great week so far!

  XOXO

Easter Weekend

Today is the last day of Spring break for the kids, and I don't think any of us are ready for it to end.  I'm reminding myself that we only have one more quarter left of school and then we'll be out for the summer.  I don't think the kids and I could be more ready.  Hurry up summer!

This weekend, was packed with friends and family.  Friday evening my sister and her family came over for dinner.  While we waited for dinner to be ready, my sister started showing Emma how to sew.  They got a couple curtains knocked out for a little fort the kids have been playing in outside.  And then they started on pillows.  Aunts are the best, because she wouldn't be learning it from me.  I am awful at sewing.

Saturday evening we met up at my sisters house with a couple of friends and their families for a BBQ.  Such a fun way to kick off the start of Spring.

 5 out of the 8 of us, is either turning 40 this year, or just has in the last couple of months.  Melissa surprised John with the news that we all booked tickets to Vegas next month, which happens to be when he turns 40.

We ended the night off by watching, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, while the boys played cards, and the children ran around in the dark playing Cougar Cougar.

Sunday we made it into town for Sunday school and church.  We didn't get a picture this year... I think we were all a bit tired from the night before, and nobody was in a super good mood, so I let it go.  Some days, you just have to let it go, right?! 

I took this picture after church and after they'd already changed into their comfy clothes.

I almost didn't do anything for Easter, because I felt like my kids are getting too big.  But then I remembered Emma is only 8, and that I have to keep going.  She just seems older than she is, because she's always around the older kids.  I guess that's what happens to the youngest child, they grow up quicker.  :(

Every year our family plays the egg toss game.  You start off by throwing the egg to your partner and after you've both thrown it once, everyone takes a step back.  You keep getting farther and farther away until somebody's egg breaks.  I think this game is a favorite with everyone.

Poor Benjamin... the egg broke all over him.  Emma's expression in the background cracks me up!

So many laughs!

Emma and Haley were our 2016 Egg toss winners!

Such a fun and full weekend, and now today it's time to make sure laundry is all caught up and that backpacks and outfits are ready for tomorrow.  Our next break will be Summer break!  Wahoo!  :)

  XOXO

A Treasure Concealed

A Treasure Concealed, is a book based in Montana at a gold mining site.  Emily's Father has moved them from one mining camp to another, hoping to strike it rich.  Meanwhile, Emily is busy taking care of her sick Mother, and all of the other chores that fall upon her shoulders.  While she watches time pass away, she is dreaming of a home and future of her own.  When a stranger shows up in town, it changes everything.

I have read so many books over the years that I don't throw out the word love, unless I truly mean it, and even though I can't say that I loved this book, I did really like it!  For me to have loved this book, I would have liked a bit more tension or chemistry in Emily and Caeden's relationship.  Their relationship was sweet, but there wasn't enough for me to fall with them.

Overall, the book was well written, and I thought the story was very original.  Having good character descriptions is huge, and she nailed it for me in this book.  I felt like I could picture where they lived and what they looked like, which makes this story truly come to life.  I think Tracie is an amazing author and I am excited to read the next in this series.

* I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publisher, in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

I'm Going To Prom

The weekend may be coming up, but things aren't slowing down around here.

Emma tried out for the school play on Monday and made it, so I'll be watching both performances today. 

And then tomorrow evening...

I'm going to Prom!

Yes, you read that right.  When I told my sister I was going, she sent me this picture!  Haha!  I thought it was fitting, and couldn't love it more.

  

One of my besties and I, get to be chaperon's, and I'm having the hardest time trying to figure out what to wear.  Nobody has told me what I should wear, so I'm all over the map.

Part of me wants to go looking like this...

Maybe even bring some binoculars and a walkie talkie.

Another part of me wants to go like this...

After all, it is PROM!

And the other part of me wants to go like this...

Hahaha!

What's a girl to do?  So many choices!

Unfortunately, I really don't want the kids to hate me, so I may try to dress and act somewhat normal.  But then there's the whole issue of dancing.  When a good song comes on, am I actually required to just stand there and not bust a move?

My sister asked, "What if Foot Loose comes on?  How do you stand still for that?"  Yikes!  What about Jump Around?  Why isn't there more pins on Pinterest, telling us how to be a fun chaperon, and what we're supposed to wear and how we're supposed to act?

I don't want to sit on a chair in the corner of the gym watching the clock until it strikes midnight, and be a lame chaperone.  And that's another thing... I don't feel old until I'm told I have to stay up until midnight.  Friends, I'm going to have to take a nap tomorrow afternoon, just so I'm able to stay awake, because, I'm sure it's highly frowned upon for the chaperon to be napping in her chair during the dance.

I'm hoping I can take a few pictures and maybe come back next week with a few pointers, in case any of you ever end up in this same situation.

But until then...

Have the best weekend!

XOXO

Hawaii Part 3

Today, I'm showing the last of the pictures from our trip.  There were too many to put into one post, so I figured I'd break up the posts a bit.  I know it's picture overload, so if you're not into pictures, come back another day.  ;)  

Emma was enjoying Island life.  #likemotherlikedaughter 

In all fairness, so was this other girl of mine.  She actually had tears when it was time to leave Saturday night.  Dan had to laugh, because I'm always close to tears when it's time to leave Hawaii as well.  So I guess both girls take after their mother.  :)

Now that they've been to Hawaii, and have seen how fun it is, it's going to be a lot harder to leave them home next time.  Haha! 

We did have some strong winds a couple of days that we were over there, so here I am laying out looking at the beach covered up in a towel... because sometimes even Hawaii isn't warm enough for me.  #imawimp

We mixed it up a bit this trip and instead of staying at the Westin like we normally do, we decided to stay at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club.  We stayed in a 1 bedroom condo, and loved it.  It worked out so good for our family, having the extra room.

Before we checked out of our hotel, I told my family we had to have a family picture.  There was lots of whining, and I just flat out told them that someday I won't be around and they'll be thankful that I made them stand still for a picture.  

 Glasses on...

 Glasses off.

Gracie wanted to take a couple of pictures, so I made Dan take a walk and let her get a few shots in.  Doesn't he look thrilled.  Haha!

She loves her Daddy, no matter how old she gets!

Sisters!

 We watched the sunset, and then we loaded up our stuff and left the island.

I am so thankful for the week that we got to spend as a family.  The memories we made, and the time we had to ourselves.  It was a perfect getaway, and even though it's snowing here at home, it's good to be back.