Valentine’s Day

We had a nice little Valentine’s Day and hope you did too!  It was Friday so we were jetting off to school and work. We were a little later than usual but it was fine!

Kevin had gotten Molly Anne and I roses and she a unicorn balloon and other treats!  We got the kids each a lego set. Molly Anne did about 95% of hers by herself this past weekend and I am so proud of her. I only had to help her a couple of times. And yes she already finished it.  Crazy girlie.  Grady loves his duplo trucks and diggers!  They’re the cutest!

Molly Anne flipped over getting money for her piggy bank from my parents!  Grady put his in his piggy bank too but I don’t think he understands it as much quite yet. He will soon enough!

We always exchange golden retriever cards in this family!

After work we went next door and had a family valentines!  Look at Hilary’s spread. Impressive!  She also did chocolate fondue and had pretzels, marshmallows, graham crackers and strawberries to dip!  Delish!

The girls had a blast!

Loved the marshmallows!

Happy buddy boy!

I’ll recap the rest of the weekend tomorrow!  Today is President's Day so the kid's school is closed but I still have to work.  Winging it.  Started off with a boot camp so I'll probably be a little nicer than usual today haha.  Anyone else?! I think we are going to go on an outing this morning.  I thought about Discovery Place but this time of year I like to go to where germs aren't as prevalent.  Yes, call me crazy.  Anyway, we are heading to the local John Deere store and Grady is going to love it!  

Valentine’s Parties and a lunch

Yesterday afternoon I went to the kid’s school to put on both of their parties!  It was so fun and I’m so thankful to be able to do this even though I work. I know how lucky I am! 

Molly Anne’s was first because they wake up from nap earlier.  Other parents brought in cookies and pretzels (they’re heart shaped, kinda!) and I brought in table decorations and favors!

Gotta love Grady’s spare shirt. He never gets dirty at school but the one day he has a party, he does! Ha!  We did all of the same things in his class. They exchanged valentines too. Mostly food etc but one mom did the cutest John Deere toys and it said thanks for being a DEERE friend. Adorable right?!  I did bubbles. 


Back to Molly Anne’s class - All of the children brought in their valentines for each other and I had gotten these bags for them to decorate the week before so they used them to collect their treats!



She loved opening everything!

Random but this was my lunch yesterday - salami, aloutte cheese and cucumber rolled, egg with everything but bagel seasoning and red pepper flakes, veggies and triscuits with cauliflower hummus. 

My friend Christine sent me this early yesterday. She was working in the cafe and saw this cutie walk by. I loved that she sent this to me. I’ve never gotten to see him walking on the rope!  

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!!

Grocery Haul

It feels really good to have my act together every now and then...not very often these days, if I'm being honest.  I had a running list in my Harris Teeter app for a few days and finally ordered groceries and picked them up yesterday.  Making these few meals:

1. Cobb Salad via my friend Ashley - butter lettuce, avocado, red onion (already had), bacon, hard boiled egg, chicken (using rotisserie).  Dressing is 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 TB white wine vinegar, 2 TB dijon mustard, 2 tsp honey, S&P.  
2.  Spinach, Mushroom, Garlic, Shrimp Quiche
3.  Stuffed Shells (with sausage I already had)  

The rest of the stuff is breakfast items (scrapple duh!), milk for the kids, snack stuff, sweet potatoes and veggies for the kids and I.  Blueberries and donuts for Valentine's Day.  Never tried the cauliflower hummus before but looking forward to tasting that.  Molly Anne will probably eat it with me when we dip the baby carrots or snap peas in it!

Trying the pineapple mango juice for something different.  Also never have tried the almond milk creamer but it's non dairy so probably better.  I like having cracker cuts on hand and these havarti ones are good.  Rao's sauce was on sale so I got two jars of it.  It's the lowest number of carbs in marinara that I've found and delicious.  I'll use one jar for the stuffed shells.  Salsa because duh.  

Deli salami to make little wrap up rolls with the spreadable cheese and cucumber in the first pic (good low carb lunch).  Eggs for the cobb salad and breakfast.  Cups for a class party.  Butter because I had none and like to have it in the fridge.  Yogurt for breakfast.  Shredded cheese to use in the quiche and I like having these for breakfasts and other meals.  ICE lemonades are the best sparkling waters.  If you haven't tried the Barilla Ready Pastas yet...they're fantastic for nights when you need a quick dinner for your kids - I put butter, Parmesan and garlic powder on them and the kids love them. 

All of this plus two bottles of $7.99 Darkhorse Cabernet and a case of Miller Lite was $202. 

Hope this gave you all some new ideas?  I always like seeing other people's grocery run pictures! 

Some Random Things

1.  I've been trying to up my game for things for the kids to do when we go out for dinner.  I got the idea for these Globbles from Annie at Home of Malones.  They're these sticky balls that "stick, squish and stretch."  They're super fun and Grady likes them too.  He didn't try to put them in his mouth even though these say for ages 4+.  You can get them at Amazon here or Target here. 


2.  I went through a terrible stage around Christmas and early January where I wasn't going to bed until midnight every night.  If you know me, I'm usually an early bird going to bed...usually around 9pm.  Now, pre-kids and pre-working life, I was a night owl.  In college I watched David Letterman then went to bed.  But since I've started my adulthood (ha!) I go to bed early and get up early so this little stage back in January was majorly screwing with me.  I'm now trying to get back to my 9/10pm falling asleep time and it's much better!  I need sleep or I get sick and not nice. 

3.  Does anyone else have Pottery Barn Kids washcloths?  I have had the worst luck with them getting mold/mildew all over them. It’s gross and I throw them away instantly. I won’t buy them anymore.   Just didn’t know if anyone else has the same issue. Target and Lands End are way better! 

4.  I did a bootcamp this morning at 5:30 with a guy that trains some panthers guys. I may have talked about doing it in December too. I probably won’t be able to pick up Grady for a few days but it’s so so good.  Something different from the ole peloton. I try to go when I can.

5.  Who is busy with valentines festivities?!  I have both kids parties tomorrow then another little something for Molly Anne’s class on Friday. I’d like to do something fun for the kids for breakfast Friday morning. Maybe I’ll do donuts or something special like that.   Also, made these for the teachers. Starbucks gift card and Burts Bees Strawberry chapstick!  Just a little something!  Got the tags at Target. Done. 

6.  Picked up some books for the kids yesterday with a Barnes and Noble gift card that my Aunt gave them for Christmas. Working on sight words with Molly Anne. She wants to read so badly!  Right now I think her reading is from memorization. 

Happy Hump Day!

Kevin’s Birthday

Kevin’s birthday was yesterday and we had fun celebrating despite having to work!  Bright and early Molly Anne could hardly contain herself and had to give Kevin all of his presents from us and my parents! Of course she opened every one!  It was so cute. 

She had picked out balloons and plates at Target so we used those to amp up the celebration! ;)  

Young man loved playing with them before school. 

I grabbed Midwood Smokehouse at lunch and took it back to my office fridge. It was the only way I could figure out how to get his favorite dinner to him without loading and unloading kids to go in and get take out during 5pm rush hour. It ended up that Kevin picked them up early and I had a work call to be on so it worked out. We got some time outside to play after work and before dinner so that was good.  

Also, Grady learned about the camera on my phone this week and understands what I’m doing when I take his pic. So now he runs to me after a picture so he can see it! 

Cutting that sidewalk ha. Boyfriend needs a haircut but I gotta get ready for that workout!  

She’s been working on her balance bike in preparation for taking off her training wheels on her regular bike. She is learning all about balance this week so I’m hoping it’ll be an easy transition soon and very soon! 

Randomly twinning in our colors. Didn’t know it until we were out there!

Blowing out a candle for his big day!  Molly Anne and I made cupcakes on Sunday morning. Funfetti and chocolate frosting because they’re “Daddy’s favorite!” Kinda, not really, but they made his little girl happy so they made him happy! 

Grady was sooooo excited about the cupcakes. He reached for them on the counter all day Sunday and Monday, yelling, “cup- caaaaa!”  We weren’t mean and he had one each day, don’t you worry!  

We hope and think Kevin enjoyed his special day!  

Snow and Outside

Well let’s see. We went to the club on Friday after work. It’s just so easy. They always have a buffet which is amazing so Grady has instant food and that entertains him for almost an hour.  Just saying!  Stud status ready to roll. 

Grady’s fourth course. ;)

He had sherbet for the first time and clearly liked it. 

We always know people there and it’s so close to home. It was a good vibe this Friday!

I made a fire on the porch after the kids went to bed and I hung out there for awhile catching up on my phone.  Kevin said it was too cold for him. It actually was pretty cold haha. 

Mills didn’t care though. He was so happy. 

Saturday morning we divided and conquered. Kevin and Molly Anne did an errand and Grady and I did a couple of things. Then we all met at Kendall’s basketball game to watch that. Grady fell asleep without having Molly Anne in the car to entertain him!  Also, he’s very into his coat right now. He almost acts like it’s his lovey that is out of his bed!  

We came home and put Grady to bed for his nap after lunch. Then it started snowing which was insane!  We had tornadoes and temps in the 70s a few days prior and then this!  She LOVED it. She ran around yelling, “thank you God for making it snow!”  I took a video of her and she said, “send that to God!”  She’s got a lot of Jesus in her little heart!  

Mills’ favorite day of the year! He loves snow. 

She and I went to Target to get some wrapping supplies and that is always an adventure. 

Came home and Grady got up and it was still snowing so we took him out to play. It snowed for about 10 min last year so this was the first time he sorta understood. I got the cutest video of him seeing it!

We did playdoh (Grady is way into this and I think finally understands it’s not to eat!) and played in their playroom for awhile.  Then we tried to go to dinner but it ended up that I just took the kids back to the club for dinner.  We had a nice little time!  

Yesterday we did painting (it was a MESS!), legos, more playing upstairs and Joe and Kendall stopped by to see us for a little bit. I did my peloton while they napped and after that the three of us literally were outside from 3-5:30pm. It was glorious. We went on two different walks, biked, scooted, worked on her balance bike for the transition to no training wheels which is happening soon, played soccer, did some tractor digging and much more. Our neighbors came to play for a little but too which was so nice!  Ending the weekend like this is always the best. 

When your four year old is watching your one year old! 

At one point Molly Anne fell and Grady went up and hugged her. It was precious. And I hope this always happens. 

Look at him looking up at her!!!!!!

We did sooo much playing this weekend. Lots of quality time. There was zero screen time, lots of outside time and when there’s a lot of playing outside, I feel like I’m winning in the mom’ing department. Anyone else?  I do let MA watch her tablet or cartoons on a Saturday morning but I try to let that be it for most of the week.  It’s not always like this (hello cold weather and life!) but I really do try.  She will be so sheltered like I am as I sit here with the Oscars on in the background and have zero clue who anyone is!!  Grady doesn’t sit still to watch anything yet. Most we’ve ever gotten is about 10 minutes of Thomas the Train! Lawdy be. 

Y’all have a great Monday!  Who is watching The Bachelor tonight?!