9.28.2016

What's Up Wednesday

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I’m linking up with ShayShaefer and Mel again the last Wednesday of the month for What’s Up Wednesday!
What we're eating this week: 
I have no clue. I've been horrible at meal planning this last month and we have gone out to eat way too many times! Hopefully I'll do better in October!
What I'm reminiscing about:
This sunset the other day. I feel like we don't get that many gorgeous sunsets in Iowa but this one was amazing.
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What I'm loving:
David is on a major super hero kick and was so excited to get the super suits out! I'm planning to buy a bunch of super hero costumes on clearance after Halloween for David's Christmas gifts.
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What we've been up to
Our local zoo has free admission the last few weeks of September and all of October during the weekdays and so we have been hitting up the zoo as much as possible. It really isn't the most exciting zoo but Jack and David LOVE IT! It is their favorite place to go :) Last week a bunch of friends all went to the zoo with Elizabeth before she moved and it was so much fun!
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What I'm excited about:
All of the fall things! We got our Halloween decorations out this week and Jack and David were so excited. The Frankenstein and the countdown calendar are my favorites. 
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What I'm dreading:
Deep cleaning the upstairs.
What I'm working on:
I am working on renewing my teaching license this upcoming summer and so I have to take a bunch of online professional development classes. The class I am taking right now is drawing (how that will help me be a better elementary school teacher I have no clue) and I really stink at it and it is not enjoyable to me at all!! Most of my drawings stink but I thought this once was decent so I'll show you :)
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What I'm watching/reading:
We finished watching Breaking Bad and I'm so glad it's over! I don't know how I expected the series to end but I hated the ending and overall, while the story line was entertaining, well written, and kept us wanting to watch more, I wouldn't recommend it. I don't like watching somebody slowly destroy their life!
However, I loved the books I read this month!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! I know a lot of people didn't like it, but I went into it with low expectations and didn't expect it to be like the books and I really enjoyed it!
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This is my favorite book I've read this year! It is so real and honest and I just love her story. Spencer read it too and loved it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!!
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What I've been listening to:
Just the radio :)

What I'm wearing: 
It's finally cooling down this week but it has been hot for Iowa this September. I've been wearing this dress that my mom gave me from WALMART. I love it!
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What I'm doing this weekend: 
Hanging out and watching General Conference
What I'm looking forward to next month:
All of the Halloween things!
Bonus Question: What is your favorite Fall recipe?
 Ham and Cheese Soup:
4 medium potatoes
1 cup celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cups water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cubed ham

Cook potatoes, celery, and carrots in 3 cups water in a pan. In another pan, add butter and flour at a low temperature. Add milk, salt and pepper. Stir constantly over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Let it boil for 1 minute. Stir in cheese until it melts. Then, add vegetables and ham. Heat, but do not boil. Serve immediately.


Other fall staples that I love:
This cornbread 
This pumpkin bread
This chicken pot pie
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9.18.2016

What we've been up to

I uploaded pictures from my phone and it turns out I took a bajillion screenshots in the last week or two. Here are some of my favorites:
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This pic reminds me of Spencer and David in the morning (David always ends up in our bed in the middle of the night) - and I'm always at the edge of the bed not touching anyone because I hate sleep cuddling!!!
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Elizabeth (on the left) is moving this week to Texas and I'M SO SO SAD!!!! She has been one of my very best friends in Iowa and I'm going to miss her so much!
(Side note: I am 5'4'' on a lucky day but Elizabeth and Lisa make me feel so tall :)
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I swear this kid is either wearing his underwear on his head or pooping in his underwear. #ihatepottytraining
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My mom sent activity books in the mail for Jack and David and they loved them!
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This weekend, Jack and David went to a friend's house for their very first sleepover. Our amazingly kind friends offered to take them for a night so that we could go over night somewhere but we ended up just having a stay-cation at home and it was amazing and so relaxing! We went to dinner and a movie (we saw Sully and loved it!) on Friday night and then on Saturday morning we slept in, went on a bike ride, took naps, and I read an entire book while Spencer watched football :) This was our second kid-less night ever and we really need to figure out how to have more of those :)
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I think we found our favorite restaurant in the Quad Cities. We ate this entire pizza and then ordered and ate another one! #don'tjudge
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Here are some pictures our friends sent us over the weekend - the boys had a blast!
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David was a little sad at night and Jack fell asleep comforting him :) I'm so glad my boys have each other :)
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We are so glad that the LeFevres moved to Iowa! Jack and David love them! Prom pic of Jack and Jackson :)
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We picked up our kids on Saturday afternoon and had dinner at a park. It might be our new favorite park with a swing like this!
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9.07.2016

Things I'm Loving

  • Visitors! The Kellers moved away from Davenport over a year ago but they passed through Davenport last week and stayed with us for a night. It was so good to see them!
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  •  Facetiming (or foreheadtiming?;) my grandparents for the first time! My grandma has impressive Ipad skills!
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  • This shouldn't be a favorite, but it is. Potty training David has been difficult and so it's kind of nice when Spencer has to deal with accidents and not me ;)
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  • Last outdoor swimming of the season on Labor Day. I love watching Jack and David go down the slides and off the diving boards. They have no fear!
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 David's dives and flips are a little crazy!
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  •  This chore chart that Spencer made. He got on pinterest, printed it out and laminated it this weekend! GO SPENCER! I have yet to complete a pinterest project so he has officially "one upped" me! haha
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  • My birthday!!! I always love that I have a three day weekend around my birthday. I wasn't feeling great on my actual birthday, but it was still a good birthday. Jack insisted on taking me to Family Museum, we went to Chic-fil-A with friends, I got to take a nap in the afternoon when Jack and David went over to a friend's house, and we went to "the tractor restaurant" aka the Machine Shed for dinner. I got spoiled on my birthday and am grateful for all of the phone calls, texts, facebook messages, and presents :)
Jack told me at the restaurant to take a picture of him by the corn :) 
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  •  These two. I love spending every day with them :)
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P.S. I wrote a "What's Up Wednesday" post last week but for some reason it published on a different date and ended up a couple of posts down. Here it is if you are interested --------------> What's Up Wednesday