What's Up Wednesday 5.25.16

Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe it is the end of May?  This weather has me all confused...50 degrees one day, 90 the next, rainy, and everything in between!  But with it being almost June I guess that means it is summer (even though that is a realative term when you are not on a school schedule!).  Here's to spending time outside, going swimming, and making memories!

I have been slacking on the blogging front lately, but I love this chance to catch everyone up on what's going on in our world!

What we're eating: Zach and I are doing a clean eating challenge right now, so we are trying new recipes, snacks, and all kinds of great things.  I think we have been pleasantly suprised by most things we have tried!  We are drinking Shakeology every morning for breakfast ( a natural based, super-food, protein shake).  I've tried other shakes before and never liked them....this one I love!

Monday: Southwestern BBQ wrap
Tuesday: Stir-fry
Wednesday: Hamburgers
Thursday: Crock-pot Chicken Tacos
Friday: Grilling Kabobs

 

What I'm reminiscing about: Our wedding day!  It was such a perfect, exciting day!  The opening act at our show last Saturday played our wedding song, "Better Together" by Jack Johnson.  I had not actually heard that song in forever and it caught me so off guard and totally made me cry!  So grateful for our relationship!

What I'm loving: The strawberries are ripe at our local strawberry farm!  We went when it first opened and picked so many berries, and they were so so good!  It's about time to go back and pick some more!

 

What we've been up to:  Watching Zoe in her first dance recital...

Being a part of Kaia's dedication at church on Mother's day...

Lyle finished his first year of preschool, and had his end of the year program....

We attended a bridal shower for our cousin Aleigh....

 

And on Saturday Zach took me to a comedy show with Bobby Bones who is a radio DJ.  I started listening to their radio show right when I got out of college-it was funny and kept me awake during my drive home after night shift!  Now they are a national show based out of Nashville.  But I still love the show, how positive and funny it is.  (And I realize I sound like an old person loving on a radio morning show!) The show was great, and we stayed to get a picture and a book signed afterward.  Such a fun night!

 

What I'm dreading: Nothing right now!

What I'm working on: Cleaning and organizing!  I am so bad at letting things pile up, so I am trying to do a bit of deep cleaning in different rooms on the weekend. 

What I'm excited about: Zach and I are part of a challenge group where we are doing a workout program (We chose Piyo-a faster paced combination of pilates and yoga) and clean eating for a month.  We are about a week and a half in and have been loving it!  I know for myself I can tell a difference in how I feel, my energy level, and I'm sleeping better.  We took weights and measurements at the beginning and at a week in.  Mine were comparable (which is okay!) and Zach made huge improvements! 

 

What I'm watching: It seems like every show we watch has had their season finale in the past week!  But The Bachlorette just started, so at least we have that!!! Hahah. ;)  Time to find some new shows on Netflix!

What I'm Reading:  I am almost finished with Amy Poehler's book, "Yes, Please!"  I've enjoyed it, I always think it's interesting to hear the behind-the-scenes stories!

I am also a few chapters into the book, "Grace for the Good Girl" by Emily Freeman.  I absolutely love this book, and have been learning so much about myself!  I definitely will need to write a post about this book!

 

What I'm listening to: Shades by Walker Hayes....song of the summer right there!

What I'm wearing: Scrubs and workout clothes.  Nothing too exciting!

What I'm doing this weekend:  This weekend is our anniversary and the kids are going to spend some time with Gigi and Grandaddy!  We are having a stay-cation and plan on watching a movie in a normal amount of time instead of taking 4 hours and starting and stopping it a million times!  Funny how your goals change after you become a parent! HAH!

What I'm looking forward to next month: Meeting up with friends, enjoying summer, and I have a feeling harvest and combine rides will be here before we know it!

What else is new: This little girl loves to read books.....

And this boy asked for popcorn last night so he could pretend to be at a movie theatre in his room.  "You know because they have all those snack choices and movie choices??"  Love that boy!

 

And look at these sweet cousins! They are going to be great friends, I just know it!

Superhero Room

Since we have been talking about all things Lyle lately, I thought I would share his bedroom with you.  As part of his Christmas present, he received several things to update his room.  Even though he's had a big bed for awhile now, his decor was still the same farm theme from his nursery. 

Zach painted the stripes for Lyle's nursery (a true labor of love!), but I love how they make his room so much more interesting!

Lyle helped "decorate" his room for these pictures which were taken a few months ago.  As I am looking at them and see the scale his "decorations" have escalated to, I am a bit terrified.  His room is looking much more like a kid version of the show "Hoarders" these days. 

But he is too sweet and it gives him such joy, so we will see.  Either way he loves his new room, and I think it suits him perfectly!

Sources:
Comforter: ThinkGeek
Sheets: ThinkGeek
Watercolor Prints: Water Color Magazine
Letters: Homeade
Marvel Sign: Hobby Lobby

A DINO-mite Party!

Lyle had been planning his birthday for months.  Mostly since Aria's birthday in December.  Almost all of the decorations were his idea, and he helped make them all.  It was so much fun to share in his joy!

 

We started off the weekend right with donuts!

 

Lyle helped me bake the cake and sister helped him lick the bowl.

SOO proud of his decorations!

 



His birthday interview.

 

 

Dinosaur party hats

 

His dinosaur cake!

 

 A backyard full of our favorite people!

Time to blow out the candles!  Such a fun day celebrating our big four-year old!

Lyle Holden: Four Years Old

Four years old.  Four wonderful years with our sweet, silly boy.  You have grown and matured so much this year!  You have a very sweet personality, want to be silly most of the time, can be a bit nervous about trying something new, and have a tremendous love for your family and friends.

Height: 43.5 inches (97%)

Weight: 41.4 pounds (87%)

Loves: Dinosaurs, “decorating”/setting up scenes, playing in the sandbox and on the swingset, puzzles, building-you are great at following the directions or copying the picture.

You love to help in the kitchen, especially if we are baking something.

Imagination games are your favorite.  You don't care much about sports or learning to ride a bike.  And you hide easter eggs in your room every day for your Dad or I to find.


Favorite Shows/Movies: Max and Ruby, Team Oomizoomi, Charlie Brown movies, Dinosaur Train

You love to "decorate" in your room.  You line up, place, and display all of your toys and books all over your room.

Favorite Songs: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Your song for the letter “F” from preschool, theme songs from shows.  Often you remember the sound and rythm of poems or songs you learned at school, but can't remember the words-so you make up your own!

Favorite Books: Curious George, Dino-Wrestling, Avenger books.  You still love your Christmas books, so we leave them on your shelf and read them from time to time.  Last time we were at Gigi's you wanted to know where her Christmas books were, and were really confused as to why they were packed away in a box.

Favorite Games: Matching games and puzzles, Candy Land, Kerplunk.  You got several new games for your birthday, so we have added more to our rotation.  You also rock at the game majong and will play the full adult version on the ipad or my phone.

Sleep: Your sleep has evened out pretty well. Most nights you go to bed between 8:30-9. After you
brush your teeth I read you your “question” (a 3-year journal that has a different question every night)


We don't have a double stroller, so you let Aria ride on your lap

and then we read a book. You pick a stuffed animal to sleep with-“Tigey”- a big stuffed tiger from the Denver Zoo usually wins, but some nights you pick someone different. You have taken to sleeping with your head on a big body pillow and have a regular pillow (WITHOUT!!) a pillow case for your “foot pillow.” I do not know where you got that from! I have to drag you out of bed most mornings about 7 to get ready for preschool or daycare. But weekends you are up pretty soon after that, ready to watch some cartoons! Every once in a while you will still nap in the afternoon, but most days you just rest.

Friends: You have gained some great friends at preschool this year. Your best friend from school is Tyler Hostetler. You loved that your cousin Willa was in your class too-every morning you would give her a hug. She moved up to the older class at Christmas and that was a sad day. You will be very happy to learn you will be back together again next year! You also still love to play with Eli Gerber.

Aria: You dear Lyle, are such a sweet big brother. You look out for your sissy and love to have her along for the fun things you have planned. She is very much at the stage where she is into everything, and sometimes when she gets into your “creations” you get upset. But even when you’re mad you are still pretty sweet about it. We try to keep her out of your room and let that be your own space.

School: I cannot say enough about what preschool has done for you this year. It has helped you become independent, more confident, and you have learned so much! You can now write your name really well, are associating sounds with letters, are learning to make patterns, and are pretty good at cutting with scissors! You have been learning all kinds of songs, poems, and lately have been working on the Ten Commandments. You like to make up more commandments like… “and commandment number 12 is put away your toys, and commandment number 13 is….”

Food: You are still pretty picky, and most things you say “no thank-you” to. You almost always will eat fruit or bread. Lately your favorite meal has been fettuccini (often you will request enchiladas! And we will say…”you mean fettuccini?” “oh yeah, fettuccini!”). You still love spaghetti, pizza, yogurt, pancakes/waffles, and of course you love treats and candy
.
Funnies: You LOVE to be silly! Tickle fights are your favorite thing.

Often you will start normal stories by saying “The legend has it…..”

"That is ridic-lee-us"

"That's gis-dus-ding"

What joy your bring to this world with your awesome smile and giggles.  We love you so much buddy!

What's Up Wednesday 4.27.16

Okay, so I know it's Tuesday, but this blog post originally was written last week on Wednesday.  True to life around here!  I figured posting a week late was better than letting it just sit unfinished!  Now to finish Lyle's 4 year old post and find all the pictures from his birthday party!

What we're eating: Cheese dogs and cheese rice, taco salad, spaghetti, steak and mashed potatoes

 

What I'm reminiscing about: Lyle had his fourth birthday on Saturday and each year I always think back onto his birth and all the stages he has gone through since then. How bittersweet! I got to go on his preschool field trip to the zoo...he is so grown up!

What I'm loving: I have been going to a yoga class at the wellness center and I love it!  I've only ever done DVD's at home, and doing a class live with an instructor was so great!  It's only once a week, but I'm trying to keep up and do it at home a couple times as well.

What we've been up to:  We have been having awesome spring weather, so we've been out in the yard swinging, playing in the sandbox, and talking walks.

What I'm dreading: Showing these white legs off when it's shorts season.  Anyone have good self-tanner recommendations?? HAH!

What I'm working on: We were in birthday crafting mode the last month, and I have a few details left to finish for a bridal shower at church this weekend.

What I'm excited about: Lyle has 6 month check-ups with both the allergist and the dentist this next week.  That seems a ridiculous thing to be excited about, but he is so much improved on both fronts than where he was last year.  Thankful our boy is feeling better!

 

What I'm watching: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - A new season just came out on Netflix....this show is ridiculous and hilarious!

I also love Brooklyn 99 - Which I love for the same reasons!

What I'm Reading:  I am reading Gone With the Wind (I've never read the book or watched the movie, and surprisingly I really like it!  It's just ridiculously long!!)

I have been reading Let.It.Go by Karen Eshlemen.  The tag line is "How to stop running the show and start walking in faith."  I think I need to start doing book reviews...I loved

Our Sunday School class has been reading Praying Circles Around the Lives of the Your Children.  I've read it once before, but reading it with our class has been awesome!

 

What I'm listening to: Switching between Adele and Ed Sheeran on Pandora

What I'm wearing: I got this new shirt at Target and love it!

What I'm doing this weekend:  I am helping with a bridal shower on Sunday at church, and Zach will be spending time down at the store on Saturday.  Otherwise we will be home trying to do a million loads of laundry!

 

What I'm looking forward to next month: A quick overnight trip to KC, hopefully time together with old friends, and helping my sister at a homeade market!

What else is new: A sassy little girl and piggy tails!

We have a full, fun month ahead!