Weekly Update

Happy Easter!  Wrapping up spring break is a little bitter sweet!  I have loved being home with P.  I am looking forward to track and finishing up the school year strong.

Here is the plan for the week:
- Easter!!!  Here is what we did.
- Maybe TAT, I don't know what the topic is though :)
- I hosted a really cool party and want to tell you about it.
- I feel like I'm not taking as many pictures of P so I'm going to and post some on Wednesday!

Road Trip

J and I were blessed with a great group of friends from college.  We regularly got together with the group right out of college.  Weddings kept us going for several years.  Then we managed to stick through New Year's Eve, 4th of July, and other "family" holidays.

Enter March Madness!  We have been getting together for the first weekend of the tournament for MANY years.  Even as kids entered the picture we still gathered to watch lots of games.  Two years ago, J and I were a little busy having a baby.  Last year, my basketball schedule, her birthday, and my funky diet kept us away.

This year the calendar worked in our favor!  P's birthday was the weekend before the tourney began so we made the plan to go.  I found a Residence Inn nearby.  I choose it since we would have a living area in our room and a kitchen - especially the fridge.

Driving was interesting.  She did better on the way up then the way back.  She did ask about 2 hours into the 3 hour drive to go home!  I was nervous about not being able to get on the Internet to watch videos but the IPad was a help!  On the way home, we hit the wall and she was tired but couldn't quite get to sleep.  Once she slept a little it was better. 

The choice of a hotel was great!  We had a quiet place to go nap, great breakfast early enough for us, and space for our food.  Sleeping was a little rougher than I had thought.  P is just too big for her pack and play so she wound up in bed with us for part of each night.  She did okay but we will have to have another sleeping arrangement next time!

The kids were great too.  They all played all day and night so well.  The older kids did a great job watching after the little ones.  With 10 adults and 14 kids it was a full house!

TAT: Is it spring yet?

Toddle Along Tuesday is hoping for spring, just like we are.  I am all for a good snow day (I teach) but since I am on spring break I was hoping for some warmer weather.  I have some great clothes for P from her birthday and will be sharing more next week with her 2 year pictures.  In the meantime, these are the most spring like photos we have!

If only sun meant warm!

Flowers mean warm, right?

Here is me in an Easter bonnet!

We do have better spring style than this, but with snow on the ground this is as good as it gets for now.  Check out some other spring styles at Growing Up Geeky!

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Link up - What's for dinner?

Meal planning does involve some easier recipes than others. I'm including an easy but tasty meal that goes a long way!  I hope you enjoy it like my family!

This is one for Kalua pork. It's a slow cooker recipe that really is set it and forget it. I got it from All Recipes. They have a great site and even better app. Check this one out - and others!!

Here is this week:
- leftover lasagna
- crunchy rosemary chicken
- Kalua pork
- grilled ham and cheese
-goulash 

Please link a post that has to do with meal planning, recipes, or food in general.  Here goes week 1!

Seriously!?!? I have a 2 year old!

It's a little hard to believe and it's been a week!  First I'll recap the party then do her update. Here goes:

We just had family over for dinner. It was officially a green Minnie Mouse theme. It was on her birthday - St Patricks Day! Here was a little but if the day:

Age:2 years old, aka 24 months

Sizes: We are in size 5 diapers. She is still straddling 24 month vs 2T. At her 2 year well check she is officially 28lbs and 35 inches tall. There is an old wives tale that she is now half of her adult height. I think that is a great height to end up with, even if she will be taller than me!

Sleeping: I am still knocking on wood here. Things are good. Our weekend away was a little rough but there is more to come on that. 

Eating: She is getting back to normal but still pickier than I would like. We will be making the switch to 2% milk when this gallon runs out. I don't think she will even blink. 

Favorites: Same as always, although babies, dress up, and her kitchen are taking up a lot of our playtime too. 

I'm not sure what I will do with updates from here but we will see!

Weekly update

I did not follow my plan at all. P's party was great (update still to come) but with that, 2 year check, school, and getting ready for our road trip, thing were crazy!  So my plan for this week, looks like last week!

- P's birthday. This week I will do her monthly update and recap her party!
- we took a road trip. I have details!
- I'm going to do my next installment of What's for Dinner?  Join me!

Making the move!

Since GFC is needing this summer, I'm moving to Bloglovin. Won't you join me there?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Weekly update

I followed the plan and threw in a little pi day fun!!  Here's what's coming this week:

- Today is P's birthday. This week I will do her monthly update and recap her party!
- I'm hoping TAT is around.
- I'm going to do my next installment of What's for Dinner?  Join me!

Swim lessons, gym time, and play dates, oh my!

Summer is quickly approaching and I am already starting to think about how P and I will spend our time.  I am going to a couple of workshops and teaching summer school but we will have lots of free time.  Here are some of the options that I am considering for our agenda:

Swim lessons.
We will be headed to the pool and our local amusement part (that also has a water park) as often as I can.  I really want to be outside often and this is a great way to do that when it is super hot, like it gets here.  Needless to say, I want P to have some experience with water (again) before we do.

The gym.
I am committed to working out again.  Luckily P likes the childcare there so we will have that as an option for us that benefits us both.  I get to get a workout in and P gets to play with other kids.

Local parks.
We are lucky to have several area parks, several with splash pads, that are close.  I am hoping to get to one per week.  I am also hoping that we will have some friends join us!

I am also looking into places like Gymboree/The Little Gym for when it it is really hot, but they look a little pricey!!  We will see.

Do you have a summer plan?

Happy Pi Day!!

Here's a little ode to Pi Day!!  Yep, I am a nerdy math teacher!

My favorite things

Last week I shared what I am hoping P gets for her birthday but they are items that are just for toddlers.  Here are some of the things that I am longing for right now:

1. New flat iron.

I have a cheapie that works but I would love a good one.  This is the one that my wonderful hairdresser recommended.  The brand is ghd.  It is EXPENSIVE but someday, I will have it!!!

2. Dansko shoes.

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3. ITunes gift cards.

I have my Ipad and Shuffle so I am always looking at songs or apps that look fun!

4. The perfect umbrella stroller. 

I still haven't settled on which one but I am looking.  I really want it before the summer starts.

5. Bondi phone holder.

This is the cutest little gadget that will hold your phone on a door, plug, pants, etc.  It is silly but useful!

TAT: Makes my skin crawl

Yeah!!!  Toddle Along Tuesday is back!  I am so excited!  This is a great place for me to take inspiration for writing my blog from!

This week Melissa's has us writing about our Mommy Pet Peeves.  I have a great husband. I know that a lot of people say that, but I honestly can say that he is great. We have a very balanced relationship - in our friendship, love life, parenting, and household. Ladies, he does my laundry. Every week.

With that said he does do one little thing that drives me nuts!  J has a lot going on in the morning. He gets himself ready, P up and ready, and out the door. Part of him getting ready is packing his lunch. He eats the same thing every day - PB&J and a fruit cup.   Along with everything else he does in the morning, he leaves out the bread and PB. Yes, this is silly but it bugs me.

To be fair, I do little things that drives him nuts too. We try but there are these little habits that we bug each other with!  Check out more pet peeves at Growing Up Geeky!

Weekly Update

Another great week in blog world, even though the stomach bug has run through (pun intended) our family.  It was a rough week but we are all healthy now and looking forward to a good week!  Then P's birthday!!! 

Here is the plan for this week:
- I shared P's list, but here are some of my favorite things right now.
- What to do with a toddler?  I am writing about what I am thinking about.
- Rumor has it that Toddle Along Tuesday is coming back!!!  Yeah!!!

Getting back to the gym

I really do like being in shape.  I even like working out.  What I am not a fan of, is finding the time to get the workouts in.  I took a break around my surgery ad winter break.  Then I got sick, Payton got sick, work got busy, work got crazy, and now Payton is not feeling well again.

I know that I need to get back.  Even Payton is asking to go back to the gym - she loves the child care area.  I am making it a priority again to get my workouts in.  I want to feel good about being in shorts.  I would love to feel good about being in a bathing suit, but let's be honest...

I am promising myself 2 days at the gym a week.  I am hoping for 3 but being realistic!  I am also hoping that I might be able to get outside with P as the weather improves.  I think that I am going to need to back to the beginning of the workouts I had.  Here goes!!

Payton's Wishlist

With Payton's birthday approaching, we have kept track of some of the items we hope that she will get.  Here is what is tops on her wish list...

1. Sandbox
This was not something that I was super excited about.  With that said, I think that she will really enjoy it and it will give us another something to do outside this summer.

2. Tricycle
This is what J and I are giving her.  Again, I am really looking for fun outdoor activities for us.  I like this one because she will be able to get control as she gets older and better at controlling it.

3. Clothes
This will always be on her list.  We need summer clothes, bath suit, and PJs.  Besides, the more clothes she gets, the less likely I am to buy at Target.  But sometimes the clearance rack is too hard to pass by.

         

4. Water table
I almost bought one of these last year but I am glad that I didn't.  P was just too young, but I think that she will really love it this year.

5. Rocking horse
Our sitter has one and P LOVES it.  I am hoping that we can get one that will last for a few years.  I am looking for suggestions here!!  I am torn between wood, plastic, and stuffed!

         

Bi-weekly Link Up - What's For Dinner

Meal planning for us!
I really enjoy cooking.  I love food.  I love trying new things.  I have a few barriers to getting it all done.  J is a lot more picky than I am but he will try most things.  Time - how does time go so quickly???  I need about three more hours each day.  Finally, I like to cook but I want to play with P more.

The compromise for me - meal planning for the week and having some prepared meals frozen for us.  It takes a little more work on the weekend but it helps SO much during the week.  We don't set each day, just a list of possibilities.  I am going to start posting our plans for the week and then recapping how we did.

Here is this week:
- leftover lasagna
- crunchy rosemary chicken
- orange teryaki steak bites
- 2 nights we are eating separately due to basketball
- one night with the in- laws


I am starting a link up that will run every other week. Please link a post that has to do with meal planning, recipes, or food in general.  Here goes week 1!

Weekly Wrap-up

I stayed on track!!!  Yeah for me!  I am  setting my goal a little higher for the next few weeks to see how it goes. I am going for 3 posts per week.  I am also looking at a Monday post for each week... stay tuned!

Here's the plan:
- Monday's new weekly post
- Payton's wish list for her birthday - I need some help here!
- I am getting back to the gym and I am going to put my plan in writing.