Indian Summer?

Well we enjoyed 80 degree temps this weekend, meaning we spent lots of time outside. Pop and Magga were here so we had a blast running around the yard, "fishing," meals on the deck, and a baseball game to top it off. I  always long for fall, but I can't resist these low-humidity wam days in September! 

Anyways, here are a few cute pics from the weekend.

On a totally different topic, I get the question of how do I cook and plan weekly meals each week from friends often, so I thought I might try posting a few weekly menus on here. We're blessed that A is a good eater (what he lacks in quantity he makes up for in variety), so everything I post is A approved. My go to cookbook these days is the Six O'Clock Scramle (SOS), which I adore. She has great recipes that are actually fast. And they use a variety of grains, vegetables, and spices which I love. *I try to go meatless multiple nights a week, so you'll notice that within my menu.

Okay here we go...

Sunday, aka Grill Day: pork chops, oven roasted potatoes with herbs, oven roasted brocolli 

Monday: sweet potato quesadillas with a side salad*

Tuesday: leftovers from the weekend (I made baked ziti from a Pioneer Woman which makes enough for 12 so...)

Wednesday: Greek rice bowl (SOS)*

Thursday: Pumpkin soup with canellini beans and pancetta (the original recipe is from has this made on the stovetop, but I'm going to make it in the slow cooker)

Friday: Sausage with apples and cabbage (again, from SOS)

If you like my menu go buy SOS. I swear I'm not getting a kickback. Also, check back next week to see what we have planned  😄

Summer is here!

I love summer do a lot of reasons: the sun, the pool, the fruit and vegetables, and did I mention the heat? Yeah I love the heat. It's the southerner in me (sorry Midwest family)! Oh and my birthday happens to coincide with this time of year too :)

So I'm glad we can officially say summer is here. Already we're having a blast and doing things that scream summer to me, as evidenced by the random set of photos below. It's going to be a great one!

The Big Snow

Well we finally got our big snow this winter - 14" give or take. This gave A a real chance to try it out. 

Kyle went and picked up a sled for the occasion. 

Looks like he's having fun right? Well, unfortunately not. He wasn't a big fan and almost immediately wanted to go inside because it was cold. 

Nothin' says snow day to me like some hot chocolate :)

We tried going back out the next day (clearly it wasn't going to melt overnight, and in fact it snowed another inch or so). Luckily it was much warmer. I decided against sledding though and went to snowman action instead. 

He approved :) 

No Fear

I wonder where and when kids learn fear. I sincerely hope that A never truly fears for anything, though I realize that is impractical. For now at least, his fearlessness amazes me. The smallest kid in the place and yet he climbed all the way up two giant play structures last weekend. I won't lie...I wish I could have joined him (for the thrill of course)!

(Look for him in top middle of the picture...white Tshirt going into the tunnel.)

And now get ready for the big one...(in yellow)

Oh to be a kid :)

Just my imagination...

I love this age. I hope I can say that about every age, but I think that being a parent gets more fun as our little ones grow. We're starting to see A's imagination and it's hilarious. I wish we could all be this fun and creative and that it didn't fall away as we grow in this world. I'll just laugh while I can though, and hope that he'll always want to make dinner for his animal guests and put his friends in time out for their antics.

Dinner time with whale, dolphin, giraffe, hedgehog and doggie.

Bear enjoying his dinner in a big boy seat at the dinner table. 

Take note: folphin bit his booboo and whale tried to eat his snack. 

It's cold outside!

A is clearly my son with his cold-blooded genes. I get cold at the drop of a hat, and so does he. So it's no surprise we last about 10 minutes outside in this weather. So, here are some cute pics of him playing INSIDE over the last week: making dinner for his bear, finger painting, and trying to staying warm in his newest sweater :) 

Despite the cold and being cooped up inside, he has been an angel. I think he deserves a Jo-Jo (aka Oreo) for that :)

Water fun!

Things have really cooled off here this week but finally realized A would love a spray park! Why haven't we done this before? He had a blast of course. My favorite I his expression in this first one...the water had just come on and he couldn't believe it! I love how excited e gets with new things...I wish I was still like that!

His new hat is a little big and it became so floppy it covered his eyes...

Hat free and splashes galore!

Stay cool everyone!