What's Up Wednesday ~ January 2020

Hi! So fun that it is time for the first edition of What's up Wednesday in 2020!

What we're eating this week....

This month, we have been trying to do Whole 30 clean eating.   It does require so much though and prep! My daughter did it and has finished, so my husband and I started it to support her.  She is a picky eater so the fact that she stuck to it, we are so proud!  Technically, I am on day 28.  I will admit, I did break a few days ago and had a protein bar that wasn't whole 30 approved, but that's it.  I feel like I have achieved my goals of doing this....first, to support my daughter and two, to create some new habits of eating.  We did the Whole 30 a few years ago, which you can read my thoughts about here.  With that in mind, here is what we are eating this week:

Monday - sheet pan shrimp with red onions. red pepper and avocado

Tuesday - spaghetti (with zucchini noodles) and salad

Wednesday - church

Thursday - tomato soup (homemade with less sodium)

What I'm reminiscing about...

We had a great holiday break with both girls at home.  Our college daughter gave us socks with her face on them to wear when we miss her :).  I wore these to work last week.

What I'm loving...

Any chance I get to see my greats!  I saw them last weekend and had fun with them.  Crawford really wanted to do this 750 piece puzzle of NYC!

Spoiler alert....we got 2 pieces together :)

What we've been up to

I have been so busy at work these past 2 weeks.  Most days, I am working 8 1/2 - 9 hours and this does not include my lunch break.  Those are long days and I am mentally fatigued.

What I haven't been up to this month is social media.  I am taking a 30 day fast from Facebook and Instagram and am on day 28.  I thought this would be so hard, but it really hasn't.  I know I have missed out on some things, but overall, it has been so good for the soul.

What I'm dreading...

Not much at the moment

What I'm working on...

I hoping to figure out some summer/fall travel plans as soon as school calendars are released. Around home, just doing all the normal stuff.   I have many files I need to organize, but that is a to-do project.

What I'm excited about...

The weekend and next week!

What I'm watching...

I am so hooked on The Office and watch an episode or two most days to unwind after work.  We are also watching the final season of Modern Family and yes, this drama filled season of The Bachelor.

What I'm listening to...

I listen to Elvis music while taking my younger daughter to school in the mornings.  I listen to the Proverbs 31 Podcast and also Office Ladies.

What I'm wearing...

Jeans or leggings and long sleeve shirts with a long cardigan most days .

What I'm doing this weekend...

A little weekend of rest and fun is ahead for us!  More on that next week....

Oh, and I also plan to look at social media again :).

What I'm looking forward to next month...

My oldest daughter has a birthday next month, and while we will miss seeing her on her actual day, we are going to see her at college.  We also have some other friends coming in town that we are looking forward to seeing.

What else is new...

These are some random pictures my daughter and I took outside with some cool coloring on our pavement.  Also, my daughter had her first high school trip, rode on a school bus for the first time to a local field trip and made it on the news for her participation in the event!  It was so cool to see.

That's all for January...we've made it through the first month of the year!  

Journey Into Space

Happy Monday!


As mentioned last week, I mentioned I took my younger daughter to a space exhibit last week.  She and I have had a space interest in the past 10 years, so it is always fun to learn more.  The more we learn, the more questions we have as well.  It is so fascinating to learn about space travel.

We had fun playing this game where we had to stay alive as we balanced battery life while going between solar energy and the night time.

Here we stood on a mock component of the International Space Station. 

Here we tested how much a jar of peanut butter would weigh on different planets.

And here we are on planet Mars!

This girl, who is now taller than her momma, has always had an interest in space.  We had the coolest space birthday party for her when she turned 6, so almost 10 years ago! Here is a picture from when she was 5:

I could post lots more space pictures of her from childhood and if you're interested, I will post some old birthday party pictures soon.

Happy Monday!

Friday Favorites ~ January 10, 2019

So thankful for every Friday!  Rain or shine, I am thankful....and I think this will be a rainy weekend.

Here are some favorites from this past week...and 2020 :).

ONE

I have some winter decorations throughout the house, including my new dining room centerpiece.  I bought these pieces after Christmas and like the combination of silver and gold. 

TWO

Last year, I finished this book of 52 Lists.  It has weekly lists that were very thought provoking. 

 

THREE

My daughter submitted a drawing as an art student at her high school for the Christmas card contest in December and it was chosen as the school winner and top 2 in the county! She was presented with the actual card they made from her drawing this week. 

FOUR

My great niece celebrated her 3rd birthday and it was so fun to celebrate her with family. 

 

 

 

FIVE

Before my oldest went back to college, we had a morning of shopping then I spent the afternoon at a space exhibit with my younger daughter.  I will post some more on this next week. 

Have a great weekend!

Christmas 2019 ~ Part 2 / Christmas Day

Yesterday, I shared our Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve photos.  Today, is Christmas Day!

He waited until the last minute, but Santa came!

I still love Christmas mornings with my girls.

Random hands free phone holder :)

Brook got lots of quality art materials.

As always, we end our Christmas Day night by watching this movie, The Nativity Story.  I say it every year here, it is the best Christmas story movie and feel like everyone should watch it.

It was a Merry Christmas.  So thankful for a baby who was born so humbly to be my Savior.  I sure need rescuing and He has come for the weary.

Christmas 2019 ~ Part 1/Christmas Eve

Happy New Year!

Today, I am going to do part 1 of our Christmas activities.  We did most of our family Christmas activities the week of the holiday, so here are some highlights with lots of photos!

Sunday before Christmas, we went out to eat as a family after church then headed downtown to see the Christmas decorations at the Peabody, which are always beautiful.

 

This is a stocking I made as a child for my grandfather, Pop.  It is showing some age for sure, but I still like to display it every year.  He was one of the best men I have ever known.  Still love him and miss him so after 30 years of him being with Jesus. 

The Sunday before Christmas, I also finally started wrapping presents...and had a helper, ha!  Actually, not her own, but Brook did help me wrap too.

 I took Monday before Christmas off work and was so glad to have my first day off in December!  I was able to get some baking done, beginning with Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls.

 
That evening, we went to out to eat and looked at Christmas lights.

Christmas Eve came and I actually worked until noon.  However, it was so slow, so it wasn't too bad. We went to my parents that afternoon for lunch and presents.

My Brook

My sweet great, Crawford, who I had the pleasure of sitting by for lunch.  We read books and acted silly.

 My sweet great, Campbell, loved unwrapping presents and helped us all unwrap our gifts.

 
 Avery played red light/green light with some of the little and big kids :)

My Isabella and niece, Anna.  Love these girls! 

Me and Campbell

 My family

 My extended family on my side, minus my brother and his family, who couldn't be with us this year.  We really missed having them.

We went to the Christmas Eve service at our church afterwards, then of course, was hungry again.  With not many options, we stopped by the grocery store for our favorite local chips, guac, cheese dip and fried chicken.  We at this while watching Charlie Brown Christmas, Office Christmas episodes, and Elf.  It was a good day.

Tomorrow, Christmas morning pictures...