Last week we hit the road to visit family in Kansas City. I’m from KC (hence part of my blog name…I’m from the “Show Me” state 😉 ), and try to get back there at least a couple times a year.
Obviously, with the world turned upside down, I hadn’t seen family in a while. I had to adjust our dates a few times and wanted to make sure to take as safe of a trip as possible, so we headed out last Wednesday and came back on Sunday.
With a few stops, KC is about a 9 hour drive from Lexington. We made great time on both legs of the trip, only stopping quickly for gas and restroom break if needed.
I mentioned this earlier in the week, but this trip reminded me that traveling with kids does get easier! I made a list for each kid for their suitcase and backpacks, and they packed themselves! I double checked a few things, but they had it all. Also, I felt less stressed packing this time (I just hate packing…and unpacking) because I knew we were just going to lounge around! Comfy clothes, workout clothes and pjs were all that I needed.
We arrived Wednesday afternoon and stopped at my dad’s house first. The kids played outside, and my dad helped Hayden with his golf swing. 😉
Then, we made our way to my mom’s house. The kids were excited to continue their dog walking biz by walking her dog Gus. They walked him twice a day most days.
It’s summer. It’s July. It’s hot everywhere, but KC brings the heat. Travis and I were married in KC in June 2005…when the heat index was pushing 110. So this heat index of 106 was something I’m all too familiar with.
Two days of our trip, Travis took the kids to a nearby golf course so they could hit balls on the driving range…and “drive” the golf cart.
Look out!
Friday morning Travis and I went on a walk on a trail close to my mom’s house. We didn’t start our walk until after 10:00, and it was already so hot. We chose the trail, so we’d at least get a little shade!
Friday afternoon, one of my mom’s friends graciously let us cool off in his pool! It’s always good to see him and his wife…and the pool is a great way for the kids to cool off and burn some energy.
Gus got lots of snuggles.
I’ve mentioned before that Hayden has been reading the Harry Potter series. My mom has all the books, so she was saving them for when the kids would be interested in reading them. Hayden has read the first three books, so he started with the fourth book, Goblet of Fire, once GG gave him the set.
He even stayed up later than the rest of us on Wednesday night to start the book.
Sunday, on the drive home, Hayden read 90% of the time! He was really loving that book.
Throughout our stay, we played quite a few games. MonopolyDeal was a favorite. It took a couple of rounds to get used to, but we enjoyed it…and it’s definitely easier to pack and shorter to play than the Monopoly board game.
We also played Battleship that my mom had and then Dominoes at my grandma’s house.
Missouri has my favorite convenience store…Quik Trip. (It’s the little things that make you miss home, right? ;))They are always so clean and the employees are known for ringing you up as quickly as possible.
Sometimes we stop at QT on our way in or out of town, but Saturday, we picked up drinks for everyone as well as tacos from Taco John’s which are a fave of Trav’s when we visit.
When we are in KC, we usually hit up other local faves like Topsys for their popcorn and cherry limeade, Winsteads for a burger and shake, and of course, KC BBQ. This trip, we didn’t eat out as much just to be on the safe side.
On Saturday, we celebrated my Gma’s birthday. I ordered her a flower pot from the same Etsy shop that I purchased end of the school year gifts for the kids’ teachers.
Saturday night, we played more Dominoes before lasagna dinner and cookie cake at Gma’s house.
dinner at Gma’s
Then, it was time to pack up on Saturday night to head out Sunday morning.
It was a great visit, and we got to spend lots of time with our family.
Of course, it’s always sad to leave (and as the kids get older, they definitely do miss seeing family that’s far away), but it’s also good to get back home to Homer and sleep in our own beds.
Hello! I’m linking up with Erika and Ashley for their monthly Tuesday Talk link up. For Tuesday Talk, the topic is whatever you’d like to chat about. So I thought I’d chat about a topic that I’m asked about often…what it’s like to have twins.
I’m often asked, “What’s it like to have twins?” My response is often, “Well, I don’t know any differently.” It’s not like I had one kid and then twins. We came out of the parenting gate having two at once! I can also definitely say that it’s a blur of blessings.
Do you know what the second most asked question I get about twins is? “Are they identical or fraternal?” This one always shocks me as boy/girl twins would most obviously be fraternal. I just allows reply politely with, “fraternal.”
A little back story…
Since I struggled to get pregnant, we learned very early on that we were having twins because I had multiple appointments with my fertility specialist. I had taken an at home test and it was negative. A couple of weeks later, I took one again, and it was positive. Blood work confirmed I was pregnant, and when the nurse called, she said, “Your numbers are very, very, very good.” I didn’t think much about it….I was just happy to be pregnant. She then scheduled my ultrasound.
We arrived at the doctor the next week only to realize my appointment was for the following week. I guess I was too excited to keep the dates straight! When the doctor entered the room, he said, “Let’s look for twins!” Travis and I both just thought “haha” but as soon as we looked at the screen, I could clearly see two sacs. Since I was only 6 weeks, only “baby A” had a heartbeat. The doctor told us not to worry, and we scheduled the next appointment. Of course, we left in shock, but we were so excited.
At least we had plenty of time to get used to the idea of twins!
We kept everything quiet for a few weeks until my next appointment when both “baby A” and “baby B” had heartbeats. I still saw my fertility doctor for a couple more appointments before he released me to my regular OBGYN.
I saw my OB and a high risk doctor for the rest of the pregnancy. I had an ultrasound at almost every appointment, so we got to see the twins often. At my 14 week appointment, we found out “baby A” was a boy and “baby B” was a girl!
Throughout the pregnancy, there were definitely some ups and downs…sometimes the high risk doctor provided too much info. We had a little scare with Hayden and then Hadley consistently measured smaller than Hayden, but not so much that I really needed bed rest. My water broke at exactly 36 weeks, and they were born on November 20, 2009. Hayden weighed 4 lb 7 oz and Hadley weighed 4 lbs. Hayden came home with us after four days in the hospital. Hadley was in the NICU for 13 days.
I feel like I could write a whole blog post just on leaving the hospital with one baby and having Hadley in the NICU, so I will save all that for a later date. Although I was sad to leave her, I knew she was in great hands, and leaving with just Hayden was also such an overwhelming feeling.
I’m a teacher, and all about the gradual release model of teaching 😉The hospital let me leave with one baby, and I brought home the other one about ten days later. We eased into parenting two kids at once!
December 3, 2009. Reunited with Hadley
Life when they were little:
One thing we didn’t prepare for was how small they’d be. I’ve known/have friends and family members who have twins, and just never thought at 36 weeks that mine would be so small. Of course, we had their room ready, clothes washed and put up, bottles ready to go, etc…but no preemie clothes. The hospital, as well as friends and family, helped us with that situation.
My type A/planner personality was a strength during this time. My kids were on a schedule starting the first day. Really, the hospital put them on a schedule, and I didn’t deviate from it by even five minutes. Time to eat, time to sleep, tummy time, etc. When you have two kids at once, you don’t really feel in control. A schedule helped make me feel in control. Also, the kids slept 8 hours at night by 12 weeks, so the schedule really worked out for us and for them.
When they were first home, they were so small, they both slept in our room in a pack-n-play until they slept through the night. Then, they shared a room. We had pretty big bedrooms in our previous home, so they each had a crib but shared a room. They even slept in the same crib until they were six months old. I guess I just hated the thought of separating them. They shared a room until they were 3 1/2 years old.
Maternity leave was hard. I planned on taking off 16 weeks or so, and around week 10, I called Travis on a Friday and said I wanted to go back to school on Monday. He talked me out of it just saying once I go back, I can’t get my sick/maternity leave back….and that it would be better when they slept through the night. I had called him that day at work because Hadley wouldn’t quit crying. He met me at the doctor. When the pediatrician asked what was going on, I simply said, “I need her to be like him.” Hayden was sleeping peacefully in his carrier while Hadley continued to cry. She had colic and acid reflux…thankfully, that passed after a couple of months.
Let’s just say while pushing that double stroller down the Kroger aisle, I received many, “bless your hearts,” from people 😉
Similar but different:
My kids have been different from day one. When the NICU nurse handed Hadley over to us, she said that girls tend to be more feisty and self-sufficient. Of course, she had to fend for herself a bit those first few weeks while Hayden was doted on. So, if you ever saw five-year-old Hadley tie Hayden’s cleats in the middle of a soccer field, then you know what I mean!😂
Hayden is quiet, introverted, and inquisitive. He can be a bit inflexible (wonder who he gets that from?) BUT he’s more resilient than he realizes. He’s had to overcome and continues to work on some struggles and obstacles which has shown him, that at his core, he’s tougher than he realizes.
Hayden, like me, eases into social settings and situations. He also takes some time to wake up in the morning and needs to wind down at night. Again, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Hadley has always been out-going, inclusive, intuitive, and fearless. She’s exactly the kind of daughter my personality needs. Because I am pretty quiet, she pulls the conversation out of me with her questions or just willingness to chat.
She hits the ground running and doesn’t stop until it’s time for bed. Then, she passes right out for the night until it’s time to start the next day.
Also, of note: Travis and I each have our own mini me. The first thing I noticed about Hayden when the nurse showed him to me was his nose. I said, “Travis! He has your nose.” (which is cute). When people tell me how much Hadley looks like me, I always say, “Well, unfortunately, she acts like me too!” 😂
A few FAVE pics…
through the years…
Education:
When they were little, they went to a sitter’s house. So, they were together all day, every day. Hadley would dominate over his personality, and it got to the point where Hayden would defer to her. I’d ask what they had for lunch, and he’d say, “Hadley, you tell mom!”
The year before kindergarten, we put them in preschool two days a week. We thought it would be a good time to see how they would do on their own in separate classes. They thrived. Hayden needed his own space…and so did she! Of course, on the first day of school, she walked in like she owned the place. He was certainly more timid. It all worked out though as they navigated that new world on their own.
All throughout elementary, they’ve been in different classes, per our request. They’ve ended up in the same math group with the same teacher a time or two, and that’s been fine for them.
I’ve learned that I need to let them be who they are, and I need to let them fail and learn.
I’ve had to shift my thinking…just because something comes easily to one, it may not come easily to the other.
And, of course, they hit some of those beginning milestones at different times, so I had to remind myself not to compare them. For example, Hadley talked before Hayden did, but he walked before she did.
They balance each other out perfectly.
It’s nice when it works out that they both excel at something. For example, Hadley was the top 25th runner in the 4th grade girls division for cross country. Hayden was 26th in the boys division at state! There were races where they both even finished in the same place! Also, both won awards for their science fair projects, so there was no rivalry there 😉
It’s convenient (for me) to see one school performance, or sign up to help with one time slot of field day to see their grade level.
Interests:
In the beginning, I kept them on the same teams for baseball, basketball, and soccer. This was when they were 4-6 years old or so. Then, it was time for them branch out. She didn’t want to play soccer and tried dance. One year they both did Academic Team at school, and last year, only Hadley did it. She was so excited to stay after school for chorus last year, but he wanted no part in that!
Spring soccer 2013
Of course, it keeps my schedule easier when they are at the same place at the same time, but that’s not fair to them. So they’ve been able to make more choices as the years have gone on.
He loves to read, draw and play sports. She loves to bake, craft, and hang out with friends.
Also, at this age, they have the same friend group but Hadley mostly sticks to playing with her girlfriends and Hayden with his friends. BUT…will you see Hadley mixing it up with the boys even when she’s the only girl? YES!
Will you see Hayden hanging out with Hadley and her friends if he’s on his own? Heck to the NO! 😂
Other thoughts:
I don’t dwell on it but I’m cognizant of the fact that I only get one shot at most of these milestones. I always say I was blessed to have two at once, but that does mean only one first day of kindergarten, one fifth grade graduation for the both of them, (and on and on)…
Even though we struggled to get pregnant, I didn’t know at the time that I wouldn’t get to rock a baby again, so I probably took those little things for granted thinking I’d get to do that again. (Of course, I have friends with one child who are in the same situation with only experiencing milestones once…so I am very grateful to have the both of them getting to experience those things together.)
Whether they know it or not, they have a built in best friend. I joke that I “front loaded” some of my parenting responsibilities at the beginning. Once they were old enough to play together, I actually did get back some of that time for myself to tidy up the house or make a grocery list.
I feel like I just rambled in this post…and I didn’t expect the post to be so wordy! Sorry for that!
The bottom line about having twins is that it’s a blessing I didn’t know that I needed or that I deserved. After struggling to have one…we had two. I’m thankful for that each and every day.
As the parent of twins, I try to carve out time for each of them, I try not to compare them, and I certainly try to let them be their own person with their own interests.
Having twins for kids is certainly special, but like all parents, I’m amazed at how time is literally flying by. Whether you have one kid or four, I’m sure you blink and wonder how they are already starting school, or driving a car, or graduating! Being a parent is certainly a privilege and an honor!
Oh there always is one more question that I get asked…
“Do they fight?” …YES! 😉
Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too! Thanks so much for reading.
Hi! How was your weekend? We actually just got back from visiting my family in KC. I hadn’t seen my Gma since Thanksgiving, my mom since early February, and my dad since mid-March (right before everything shut down). Anyway, this road trip was the best yet. I’m reminded that travelling does get easier as the kids get older.
That being said, it’s back to reality which means laundry, grocery pick up, appointments and more. So, I thought I’d keep this post short, sweet and funny….with some of my favorite memes that I’ve seen this month.
1.
This! I can’t wait for the day when things are back to “normal.”
2.
This actually popped up as something I shared a few years ago on Facebook.
July is bringing the heat for sure…especially in KC. On Saturday, the heat index was 103! Thankfully, my mom’s friend let us swim in his pool for a couple of hours!
3.
One thing I have embraced during this time is realizing I don’t need to go to all the places all of the time.
4.
This could definitely count as a “mom meme.” 😂Although, I’ve always been one to turn down my radio so I could think 😂
5.
I don’t even like to jog in place during a workout. Feet need to stay on the ground!
6.
I’ve admitted I’m not much of a talker on the phone. This meme is definitely for me…but mostly for phone calls that are more business, not personal.
7.
Amazon for the win, y’all! 😂
Hopefully, these memes provided a laugh or two.
Today is filled with unpacking, getting caught up on school emails, taking the kids for their yearly eye exams, & calling for an unexpected ortho appointment…Hayden’s appliance needs fixed I think.
This week was a mix of crossing things off my “to do” list, working on school stuff, running a few errands, going to Hayden’s baseball games and much more.
We’re glad it’s almost the weekend.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites post.
Favorite Moment:
Definitely a favorite moment this week has been seeing some of my family that we haven’t seen in months. It’s been good for all of us.
Favorite Kid Quote:
Wednesday, 8:30 am in the Starbucks Drive-thru: Hadley said she would like a hot chocolate. I looked at her kind of surprised since it was 85 degrees outside, and she said, “Well, I doubt you’ll let me get a vanilla bean Frappuccino in the morning, right?” 😂 Good point.
Favorite Homer Pic:
Homer often hops up on the stool in the kitchen. It’s like he’s bellying up to the bar. He’s so funny.
Favorite Clothing Item:
These pjs I purchased from Amazon are definitely a fave. They are lightweight, comfy, and perfect for summer! I got the “galaxy” color/style.
Speaking of tie dye, Hadley is embracing this style too. She tie dyed a t-shirt with a friend recently, and even tie dyed a pair of socks too. I’m not sure about the socks and sandals looks, but “you do you, girl!”
Favorite Book:
I finished Our Little Lies the other day. My library didn’t have it, so I purchased it from Amazon for my Kindle. I try not to buy Kindle books often, and when I do, they are less than $5. This one was $2.99 and worth every penny. Definitely a great read.
Favorite Mom Meme:
I love to cook…but I struggle with cooking motivation in the summer. This meme definitely applies to me!
Bonus Favorite: Flashback Friday
Facebook continues to bring some favorite gems in “memories.”
This pic is from July 2010. We’d visited family in KC and made it just outside of St. Louis during our car ride back to Lexington. The kids were eight months old and kind of fussy….so we got a hotel room for the night. They were so cute sitting up in the bed with their pacis. The Run DMC onsie was a gift from my brother and one of my favorites.
Then, this pic is from July 2011 when we were in South Carolina. It was the kids first time at the beach. Such a sweet pic. They definitely don’t hold hands anymore!
Confession: I live for lunch, y’all. Usually I’m doing intermittent fasting, so lunch is when I break my fast and am ready to eat.
Confession #2: I’ve really enjoyed lunch during quarantine for two reasons.
1. I get more than 20 minutes to eat lunch while at home rather than at school.
2. I really enjoy making lunch for my kids. I was never a stay-at-home mom (except in the summer), so I’ve really embraced having extra time to make breakfast and lunch for myself and the kids.
I’m not making anything Earth-shattering but even having the time to serve Hayden & Hadley something warm, like a grilled cheese sandwich, is nice and a favorite part of my day.
Breakfast:
For breakfast, I just stick to coffee.
Hayden’s been eating Cream of Wheat on repeat. He loves it, but it’s also soft and easy for him to eat with his new ortho appliance in his mouth.
Hadley typically has waffle with Nutella and strawberries or toast and jelly.
Lunch:
Rule of 3: I’m not sure if it’s a real rule or one I made up but I always put 3 things on their plate…their main course + two sides.
Also, I preach about not being wasteful, but I also don’t make them finish every bite. I tell them to eat until they’re full, but they better not come ask for a snack an hour later!
Some of the kids favorite lunches are:
grilled cheese
tomato soup
chicken noodle soup
quesadilla
hot dog
dinner leftovers
Trader Joe’s shells and white cheddar mac & cheese
“charcuterie” board with dill cheese (from Trader Joe’s), pickles, salami or prosciutto, Cheezits or Dots pretzels, grapes or strawberries
Jasmine rice bowl (with chicken, black beans, sweet potatoes…and more!)
Tortilla roll up
For the tortilla roll up, I…
Take tortilla, and put two pieces of Provolone cheese on top,
Layer whatever lunch meat you like,
Place a couple of pieces of Romaine lettuce, then
Add bell peppers and a drizzle of mustard.
Enjoy!
This roll up can be tweaked with whatever you have on hand. I’ve used Arugula instead of Romaine, Cheddar cheese instead of Provolone, sometimes I put pickles on it, etc.
To end on a funny note…this made me laugh out loud 😂
What are some of your favorite things to eat for lunch? What do your kids typically eat?
Travis had a birthday last week, and we bought him a few things that I thought I’d share in case you need some ideas for any upcoming occasions.
Keychain
Lewindy popped up as a Facebook advertisement, and I thought the personalized keychain would be a great Father’s Day gift for Travis. We were in Florida during that time, so I personalized it with a picture of the kids that I took on the first night of the trip.
The downside was that it did take over three weeks to come in, so it ended up being a birthday present instead of a Father’s Day gift. The quality is great and the product turned out perfectly. Also, it came in a cute bag that made for a nice presentation.
On the backside of the metal plate with the picture, I personalized it with a note from the kids.
That being said, I don’t see this product on their site right now. BUT…I did find a similar product on Etsy.
Etsy had a few shops with this type of product.
Coffee Mug
We don’t necessarily need another coffee mug in this house, but I noticed Travis taking his coffee to work using some of my random travel mugs that have mom or teacher sayings on them 😉 So, as always, Amazon saved the day.
I loved the look of the mahogany color and packaging of this Sipworks travel mug. And, of course, it arrived in two days! Win. Win!
Wallet:
If you’ve been following along for even a bit, you know nothing is safe at our house in regards to being #homered. Desserts and wallets seem to be his jam. Around Christmastime, Homer destroyed Trav’s wallet. Even though we don’t do Valentine’s Day gifts, I bought Travis a wallet. It lasted two days.
Since Valentine’s Day, Travis has used a rubber band to keep his cards and cash together. I thought I’d try one more time to purchase a wallet for him after seeing Christine talk about the Andar wallet in her Instagram Stories. I even used her code for a discount.
Besides the fact that he needed a new wallet, I also loved the feature she showed where you pull the tab and the card pops out…rather than when you have to dig, pinch, and pull to get your card out to pay.
There are a few wallet options, but I bought Travis “The Apollo.” Like the keychain, the packaging for the wallet was nice with a box and then a drawstring bag.
I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s already lasted longer than the Valentine’s Day wallet from Target.
Tab to pull to release card
Once he opened the gifts, I realized I clearly had a brown/tan/mahogany theme going on!
He appreciated all the gifts, of course…and the kids were excited for him to open them.
I know. I know. You shouldn’t talk about religion, politics, or…money! 😂But…
Amy has shared a MoneyDiaries post a time or two on her blog. It made me think about what a rather typical week may be for our family, so I thought I’d log my spending for a week to see where my money goes. (Spoiler alert: The answer is two parts: 1. Kids 2. Food)
There are definitely times of the year when we spend more money and then months where I try to reel in the spending. For example, November is the kids’ birthday and birthday part(ies)….and of course, December means Christmas…and presents. Then, in January, I always make a point to not make any necessary purchases. (Read: delete Nordstrom and Amazon apps)
In the summer, we are usually at the pool or do other activities like going to the movies or putt putt golf. Some of those activities are on hold this summer, but I’ve made a point to try to plan some kind of activity once a week.
I chose to document my spending last week (Monday, July 6- Sunday, July 12) and we actually stayed home most of the time besides a few outings and then baseball games.
Monday:
Mondays tend to be when I get caught up on my “to do” list, get groceries, and make other purchases that I’ve put off. So…Monday is usually a bigger spending day.
As I left to pick up groceries, I realized I didn’t have much gas. The Kroger I was going to doesn’t have a gas station, so I got $10 gas before heading to pick up Clicklist order.
Before picking up the order, I went in to Kroger to pick up other essentials for Trav’s birthday the next day. Hadley was with me and helped me pick out a cake, a card, and candles. I also picked up hamburgers and hot dogs as well as my weekly flowers for the house. Total: $58.53
Hadley had been wanting to try the S’more Frappuccino from Starbucks. There’s one in the Kroger, so I let her get one. Total: $0 because I had a gift card.
Clicklist order: Total: $111.70 for groceries for the week. (We tend to spend $150 or so on groceries weekly)
Hayden got a haircut. Total: $14
I purchased neck gaitors from Amazon for the kids to try as masks. Total: $11.65
Then….I got an email from WordPress. My annual subscription was due. Total: $66for the year. (Which means…I’ve had my blog for a year! I did my first post in August of 2019 even though I purchased the domain in July 2019)
Tuesday:
We stayed home most of the day getting caught up on chores and prepping for Trav’s birthday dinner.
We are seeing family soon, so I did go get a COVID test. (I was negative) Total: $0
Travis picked up a few baseball things for Hayden at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Total: $55.46
Wednesday:
On Wednesday, the kids played outside a lot, and again, we hung out at home during the day.
Total spending on Wednesday: $0!!!! 🙂
Thursday:
Thursday morning was spent with Hayden at the orthodontist. He had his Herbst appliance inserted. We spent the rest of the day at home before his baseball game.
Ortho – too much money to talk about 😂
A&W root beer float for Hayden after his appointment (and ice cream for Hadley…moral support) 😉 Total: $5.70
The kids hit me up for concession stand snacks and Gatorade after Hayden’s hot baseball game. Total: $8
Friday:
We ate lunch at home because we had leftovers from Thursday night’s dinner. Also, I knew we’d go get ice cream for our afternoon activity and most likely get carryout for dinner.
Gas at Kroger because I was really on empty. I did get $.20 off/gallon and got a full tank of gas for $38.
We could finally drop off books at the library. I’d had about 12 books since mid-March! We stopped by the library before heading to a part of town called The Summit.
I thought we’d get popsicles from Steel City Pops but the kids requested milkshakes from The Shake Shack. Total: $10.60 We walked back to Steel City Pops and I got a popsicle for $4. (I have enough points that next time my popsicle is free.) We hung out and ate our treats before heading home.
Travis and Hayden went to hit baseballs and picked up Dominoes Pizza for dinner on the way home. Total $20.
ice cream on Friday
Saturday:
Saturday was one of those days that we ate out for lunch and dinner. Hayden had a baseball game that wasn’t over until 1:00, and after that, we had to pick up my car because I got 4 new tires.
New tires. Again, I don’t want to talk about it 😂 #adulting
Chick-Fil-A lunch for the 4 of us: Total $31
I treated myself to a pedicure because it had been quite some time…and I’m worried the little place I go to won’t make it with how the economy is right now. It was a very safe experience. Masks, gloves, Plexi glass to separate client from technician. Total $40
Chipolte for dinner. Total $36 (& everyone had leftover Chipolte for Sunday lunch)
Sunday:
Sunday was spent mostly at home, but with a stop at Kroger for a few necessities and 3 prescriptions.
Hayden had a (bug? spider?) bite that worsened over a couple days. We were able to have a TeleHealth appointment with the Little Clinic. She prescribed an ointment and antibiotic. I also had a prescription to pick up for myself. Total $40.83 (Technically, I used my health care spending card)
I also picked up about 20 items while I was in the store. We had most of what we needed for the week, so instead of a ClickList order, I decided to just pick up what we needed since I was in the store. I feel like I can’t catch a break with groceries. Even when I think it’s going to be a “light week,” I still end up spending $100 or so because I needed my expensive nasal spray, a birthday card, cleaning supplies, and other odds and ends that add up. Total: $111.39
Other Thoughts:
Each week seems to be similar and different during our normal months of spending.
I cook Sunday-Thursday, so it’s rare for us to eat out during the week for dinner. Even for lunch, we typically eat at home during the week. Once we started with quarantine life, I started letting the kids choose a lunch place on Friday for take out/ drive thru. It was like a reward for making it through a week of home school and a way to support the food industry! 😉
Even on the weekends, Saturday lunch carryout is hit or miss. Some Saturdays if we are out because of a ball game (like this past Saturday), we may get something to take home and eat. Most Sundays we have lunch at home because I’ve usually picked up groceries, or I’m just forcing the family to eat what leftovers we have.
There’s usually a day or two where I think we won’t spend money and then a birthday present needs to be purchased, Homer needs to go to the vet, or, apparently, a bug bite gets infected needing a prescription.
If I know a week is going to have some extra expenses, I definitely try to plan accordingly. Also, this week was abnormal in the sense that I had two major Kroger runs in one week even though it’s technically for two weeks of food.
It’s always eye-opening to see where the money goes…but it’s also sometimes cringe-worthy too!
We definitely try to instill a sense of hard work and savings with our kids. I know we don’t do a perfect job, but they have saved for major purchases in the past, are walking a couple of dogs this summer, watering neighbors’ plants, completing chores around the house because they live here…not for an allowance, and they often get told “no” when they ask for things they think the “need” when really it’s something they want. haha (Listen, I get “want” vs. “need” mixed up at times too!)
I feel like I don’t cook as much in the summer…or maybe it’s that we grill out more often in the summer months…? but…
I was digging through my recipe box last week, and stumbled upon this recipe that I hadn’t made in forever. I’m not sure where I got the recipe, but I’ve had it for years, so I thought I’d share.
Ingredients:
20-25 Jumbo shell pasta, cooked
1- 24 oz jar of Marinara
2- 15 oz containers of Ricotta cheese
2 cups of baby spinach, rough chop
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
1 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Turn on oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool under water.
Spread most of the Marinara sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish.
In a bowl, combine the Ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Spoon the mixture into shells and place them on top of the sauce.
Drizzle the remaining Marinara sauce on top and then sprinkle the Mozzarella on top.
Bake, until the shells are heated through, 10-12 minutes.
Increase heat to broil. Broil the shells until the cheese begins to brown, 2-4 minutes.
Enjoy!
I was almost finished filling the shells, but here’s the mixture in the bowl.
I squeezed 25 shells in the pan!
Almost ready for the oven (add Marinara and Mozz.)Getting their bake on…Ready to eat!Dinner is served.
I’ve never done it, but I’m sure you could incorporate browned sausage, chicken, etc into the mix to make the shells a bit heartier with protein.
Happy Friday! For some reason, this week seemed to fly by! As usual, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites post.
Favorite Kid Quote:
Hayden was on a roll this week.
On Sunday, we met some of Trav’s family for an early dinner. We got home around 6:30. At 7:00 Hayden asked me what was for dinner, and I told him we’d already had dinner. He said, “Well, I need a second dinner. Dinner 1 didn’t ‘qualify.'” haha
Then…
On Monday, Travis took Hayden to his haircut place for a much needed trim. At dinner, Hayden was telling me all about it. He loved it because they washed his hair and had a television. He said, “I enjoyed the experience. By the way…only men can go there!” 😂😂I guess he’s a man now!
Favorite Moment:
In the afternoons, Hadley and I have been reading a bit of Love Does: for kids. It’s been sweet seeing her take interest in the book, tell me her thoughts and ask me questions.
Favorite Day:
Tuesday was Trav’s birthday! So, of course that was our favorite day this week. We got him a few gifts and a cake.
When I shared a couple pics on social media, more than one person asked where the cookie cake was! They know me so well. 😉 I was just trying to be practical when I went into Kroger for the few things I needed (rather than take a trip to the mall to Great American Cookie), and looked at their options. There was one pitiful cookie cake, but Hadley noticed this chocolate one with buttercream frosting. It’s no cookie cake, but it was delicious.
I love this pic of my fave 3.
We grilled out and kept it simple for dinner and shared the cake with Trav’s brother and his boys.
Favorite Food / Snack:
I’m late to the Dot’s Pretzel game. I picked these up the other day at Kroger, and the family plowed through the bag in less than two days. I picked up another bag with my Clicklist order and told everyone to pace themselves!!
Other Favorites:
When Hadley went with me to Kroger to get a cake and cards, she wanted to try the S’mores Frappuccino from Starbucks. It was one of the items on the Summer 2020 Fun list. She enjoyed it, and let me try it too.
Speaking of the Summer 2020 list…Hayden wanted to draw and color more this summer. He’s been doing so almost daily.
Another favorite?! When Hayden gets a haircut! Always so cute…
Hayden begged me to bring Homer to his game last night. Since Hayden had a big ortho appointment yesterday and a very sore mouth, I obliged. Homer made a *brief* appearance for a couple of innings before I benched him (took him home!)😂
Favorite Mom Memes:
Y’all, this makes me laugh and cry at the same time 😉
And this one…😂
Bonus Favorite: Flashback Friday
This pics from July 2013 popped up in my Facebook memories. We were in KC visiting family and my cousin took these pics of the kids. I actually have them on canvas and they hang on our gallery wall.
Sis still loves BBQ- look at her face 😉Sweet little smile from Boo
I wrote my first ever Day in the Life post in March. I had chosen a March date at the beginning of the year not knowing that March would be when the world flipped upside down. After that post, I decided to look on my calendar for a summer date and settled on Thursday, July 2nd. When I chose that date, I had a feeling life wouldn’t be back to “normal,” and that definitely turned out to be true.
Honestly though, this could be a pretty typical summer day except in years past, we probably would have spent a huge chunk on time at the pool.
Here’s what last Thursday looked like:
In the summer, I usually wake up between 7-8, and that held true on this day too.
While waiting for the coffee to be ready, I scrolled Facebook and Instagram.
I saw this and “shared” it on Facebook. The night before, Hadley went to bed in tears worried about the upcoming school year. While we still don’t have answers, last week, there was major talk about options, a survey for parents and teachers to fill out, and lots of opinions from everyone and their neighbor.
Hadley is like me…holds sad feelings in until we can’t anymore. She felt overwhelmed with everything she had been hearing and just wants to have “the best 5th grade year ever.”
So, when I saw this post, it just really hit home.
The kids were actually up by 8:30 which is very unlike them…haha. BUT…they were up and excited because it was the first morning they were feeding the neighbor’s cat while they were out of town.
I spent a little time reading my favorite blogs and drinking my coffee before…
going with the kids to meet Smokie. Since it was the first morning feeding Smokie, I just wanted to make sure the kids knew what to do. Otherwise, they went on their own. They are at the perfect age to cat sit!
Then, around 9:45, it was time to make my bed (which I do every single day!)
Then, I got dressed, washed my face, answered some emails, and checked on the kids for breakfast.
After that, I drank my Slim and got my workout in. Hayden even joined me for a bit 😉
Around 11:15, I helped the kids with whatever assignments they had questions about in their daily workbooks. Real Talk: Hayden hates me for making them do this. They do about two days of pages M-F which takes them about 20 minutes. So, he can hate me as much as he wants as long as he remembers how to do long division when school starts back!
Then, I headed to Kroger for a few things that I’d forgotten in my weekly Clicklist order.
Around 12:30, I ate lunch and then worked on my Friday blog post from 12:45-1:30.
After that, I actually had time to chill in the pool. I sat in the cool water and read a book for almost two hours! Hadley joined me for a bit.
Hayden hung out inside because he said he had a headache. After the pool, I checked my emails and then watched tv with Hayden for a bit. Then, it was time for him to get ready for his first baseball game of the season. I filled up his water bottle while he got dressed.
Y’all, those 5:30 games are hot ones!
Hayden was the starting pitcher, and it was such a close game. He ended up hitting a walk off double to drive in a runner and win the game! They were so excited to get their first W.
I love watching him play baseball. When he pitches, I’m a pretty nervous mama, but what I’ve learned over the past couple of years is my nerves are for nothing! For being pretty quiet and introverted, he feels confident on the mound. During the first inning, his coach gave him a few pointers on when to release the ball, and with those adjustments, I could see his confidence grow while pitching in the following innings.
We tell Hayden all the time that being a great teammate, being coachable, and always trying your best is what matters. Kids learn so many life skills through athletics and extra-curricular activities, which is why I put up with these crazy schedules we have 😉
1st inning on the mound
Look at that sweet smile!
I love that Travis helps coach Hayden’s team. It’s good for the both of them!
Game ball for Boo!
He may now be referring to his left arm as his “money maker” and requesting Icy Hot after every game 😂…but we will keep him humble.
The game wasn’t over until after 7:30, so we made a quick stop at Drakes for dinner. I had never tried their teriyaki chicken rice bowl, and it was so good.
Then, we all came home, showered and relaxed. I read a bit on my Kindle.
Then, Hadley asked to watch one episode of Alexa and Katie, so we watched that together.
And…I could barely keep my eyes open, so by 10:00, it was lights out for all of us.
These posts are always fun to do…but it’s so hard for me to remember to take pics! I hope to do one of these posts again in the fall.
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