Five on Friday

Oh Friday!  I am always so happy when you come around!  I am linking up with some fabulous ladies at hello! Happiness, the good life,  A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and  to share my top five today.
 

One - Girls Day 

I am driving with my mom tomorrow to Tulsa, to meet my sister Kristen.  We have great plans to eat at the Cheesecake Factory (yum, yum, yum!) and shop for maternity clothes for Kristen.  This is something we have been able to do together with all of the girls in my family when they are pregnant for the first time.  It is so special to share in the excitement!  We will greatly miss my other sister, but are hoping to make up for it in April with another visit.

Mouth drooling menu here

Two - The Bachelor is over 

I made Zach suffer through most of it with me, mostly because his comments make it so much funnier.  Everyone on that show is so dramatic, I have to admit we laughed when he said he was glad he didn't pick Clare after she freaked out at the rose ceremony.  Most of the time he ended up being a jerk but those girls were crazy so maybe it evens out?  My favorite part of each week was reading the recap's on Shay's blog at Pinterest Told Me To.  If you watched the bachelor this season, you HAVE to go read them.  Hilarious.

Three - The Sun Returns!

This week has finally brought the sun returning to Kansas!  Those clouds, freezing temperatures, and snow can get so depressing.  And having a toddler boy who can't go outside might drive anyone up the wall!  We have been taking full advantage of the longer days and playing outside after we get home from work.  We played "hide and seek" with a ball in the back yard the other night, and Lyle could hardly contain himself while Zach looked for the ball.  He would last about three seconds, then go screaming and pointing to where he hid it.  I was dying laughing by the time we went inside.

Four - Superhero Obsessed

Zach has been teaching Lyle all of the superheroes lately.  They've been watching cartoons on AppleTV (they have tons of old ones!).  He will say "Nanana, Batman!" and "Hulk! Smash!"  This has made him quite picky in the morning, as he wants to pick out exactly which character is on his underwear and his shirt.  If he is doing this before he is two, I'm guessing my veto power won't last much longer!

Five - A Reminder

Speaking of superheroes, I am reminded of this quote.  Not every chore can get done every day or every week.  And other people usually care a lot less than you do yourself.  But what I NEED to make time for is reading my bible, praying for my family, stopping to teach my son, and focusing on relationships.  

Five on Friday

I am linking up again with Hello! Happiness, the good life blog, Carolina Charm, and A.Liz Adventures to bring you my Five on Friday.  

I decided to give you my five favorite pictures of Lyle from the last week.  Enjoy!

Picking out his dream combine.

Using Tupperware as a sippy cup holder

Getting ready to help blow out the candles!

Zach's grandma has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks.  Lyle's favorite thing to do when we visit her is take a ride on her walker to see the fish!

Syrup EVERYWHERE!  Did you guys know it makes a great hair gel??

Five on Friday

Am I ever glad to see Friday this week!  Linking up with some great gals, listing my five "happenings" of the week.  

ONE  We are heading to my sister's tomorrow to celebrate my nephew, Eric's first birthday.  Can't wait to celebrate!

TWO  I don't know what it is about this week, but all I want to do is go home, put on my pajamas, park in front of the TV, and not move.  Maybe it's because I know how incredibly comfy my new pajamas and slippers are.  

Victoria Secret

Amazon

THREE  It's been Pioneer Woman themed at our house the last couple of weeks.  I made her potato skins and Whisky BBQ sliders for New Years snacks-both were amazing!  I'm hoping to keep cooking through her cookbooks, instead of filing them on my shelf.  I also got her book "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" and just finished reading it.  I loved it.  

Sliders - Potato Skins

FOUR  Why oh why are there so many good sales, AFTER Christmas, when we are trying to really watch our spending???  I have been barely skimming my hotmail account (where all my store/ad/sale emails go), so I'm not as tempted.  I did find a great sale on some new tennis shoes for Lyle.  He had outgrown his others, and I got these on sale at Finish Line for $14!  That's cheaper than you can find not name-brand ones most of the time.  I went ahead and got another pair in the next size up!  They still have their sale going on, and I'm sure there's adult sales too, I just resisted looking!  

Finish Line

FIVE  A precious Lyle picture to top it off! :)

Photo credit goes to my brother-in-law Shawn Swander.  He gets the credit for the gift of bubbles too! :)

Five on Friday: Dates, Laughter, and Mud

I am linking up again with some fabulous ladies for Five on Friday.  Join the link-up and share your top five for the week!

 

1.  Zach and I had dentist appointments yesterday, and since we get up with Wichita BY OURSELVES almost never, we made a date night out of it.  We went to The Warren IMAX and saw "Ender's Game."  My poor husband had not been to a movie since my birthday in July.  That long without going to a movie is like 20 years to him.  Sorry babe, we'll try to do better.  It was really good, especially since I knew nothing about it before we went.  We did a little shopping, picked up Chipotle, and headed home to tuck the little man into bed.  It's funny how easy it is to forget how fun a date night can be. 

 

 

2.  I decided to try to make Christmas stockings this year.  The first year we were married, I bought stockings with our names for Zach, Charlie, and I.  And now it just seems strange that our dog has a matching stocking, but our son does not.  I ordered the patterns and fabric....and I'm hoping I didn't overestimate my sewing skills.  We'll find out soon enough! :)
 

A couple of the fabric choices

 

3.  I have Monday off of work for Veteran's Day, making this a fabulous 3-day weekend!  Whoop-whoop!  We are going out to dinner for my mother-in-law's birthday tonight, and I am so looking forward to it!  And Sunday night Zach and I have tickets to see Brian Regan.  His show was great last time, and this will make, hold onto your seats, TWO date nights in one week.  Oh my, we are getting crazy over here!

 

4.  The colder the weather gets, the more chapped my lips and hands get. (Let's be honest, my hands are always awful from washing them at work 50 times a day, but they are especially bad in the winter.)  These are my favorite chapstick and lotion.  Anyone have different favorites that work miracles? 

 

We discovered this in Hawaii and it is beyond amazing.  The banana is the best (but don't worry, it doesn't taste super banana-y).  I haven't seen it anywhere around here, but you can order it online. 

 

The best for your hands and it smells so good!  From Bath and Body Works

5.  And because most of my readers REALLY care about Lyle the most.... one last picture to get you through. :)

Who can make this sweet muddy boy stay outside?? Jumping in mud puddles is the best.

 

Five on Friday

1.  Painted nails. I have painted my nails twice this week. Write it down in the records books people.

2.  Lunch and shopping. I am meeting my mom and sister tomorrow to go out for my mom's birthday. We are leaving the kiddos at home, and I can't wait for some girl time!

3.  Friday Morning. We had an immunization conference for work two days in Wichita this week and I ended up with some overtime. So I am staying home this morning, and heading in after lunch.  A morning full of drinking coffee, bible study, sewing, and catching up on Grey's Anatomy.  That's my kind of Friday!

4. Gifts. I have been "Pinterest Inspired" lately! I am starting to make a list of projects...some to get done quickly and some to make for presents for Christmas. So excited! Maybe I'll make a stop at Hobby Lobby on my way home on Saturday! 

5.  Our small group is doing the Beth Moore study, "Esther."  This is my first Beth Moore study and I have always heard good things.  Excited to get going!

Enjoy your Friday!!!!

Five on Friday

"It's Friday night and I just, just, just, just, juuusstt....got paid! money money money money money"

Hah! Anyone else remember that N'Sync song?  Sometimes it just gets in my head!  As all Backstreet Boys and N'Sync songs tend to do from time to time. :)  ANYWAY...It's Friday and I am ready for the weekend! 

One We have been flu shot giving fools at work this week.  We have done a ton of outreach clinics giving shots at the schools for the teachers, Zach's work, and senior meals.  We still have to make trips to the nursing home and assisted living.  But other than being at work earlier than normal, they are usually pretty fun!  And there is no lack of jokes from the middle age men pretending to cry for their friends or wanting their shot in their bum.  Maybe boys never grow up?? :)

Two  We had a group of the MYF kids to our house Wednesday night for a meal, and their devotional time.  It was so fun!  I made Easy Cheesy Enchiladas, fruit salad, cilantro lime rice, chips and salsa, and brownies.  It was so fun to host at our house, and get to know a few of the new kids this year.  Easy Cheesy Enchiladas are a staple at our house.  They are originally from my home church's cookbook, but I included the recipe below!
 

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup milk
• tortillas
• shredded cheese

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Brown your hamburger, drain off grease.  Add enchilada sauce, soup, and milk.  Heat until warm.  Warm your tortillas, and roll each one with cheese.  Place in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  I usually fit a whole package of 10 in one pan.  Pour rest of ingredients on top  of tortillas, and bake for 15 minutes.  Top with salsa and sour cream.  Enjoy!
   

Three  Saturday we are going to Zach's company picnic.  This year it is at All Star Sports.  They had it there six years ago, and I went with Zach on probably our second date.  It is so fun to think back to those first few dates, and how awesome life has been these past six years! :)

 

 

 

Four  Our new iPhones came yesterday and I am so stinkin' excited!  Hooray for things like Siri (our old models were pre-Siri), a home button that works, battery life that lasts longer than half a day, slow-motion videos, and panoramic pictures!  Plus, it's so pretty!

Five  This boy makes me laugh everyday.  If you ask him to make a silly face he will stick out his tongue and shake his head back and forth.  It cracks me up! 

 

 

There's my Five on Friday update!  Join the link-up and share in some Friday love! :)

Five on Friday

It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday!  Other than it being completely impossible to get out of bed every morning, this week has been a pretty good one!  Here are my top 5 from the week/upcoming weekend.

 

1.  Tonight we are heading to Hesston to watch one of our former youth group kids play volleyball.  Who knows.  Maybe we'll get crazy, stay up late, and head to Newell's afterwards.  I can hear cheese fries calling my name.

 

2.  Tomorrow morning, Lyle and I are going to meet my sister and kids at Botanica.  Tomorrow is Museum Day Live! from Smithsonian Magazine, and you can get free admission to tons of different museums.  We picked Botanica, well because we both love it, but it has a great kids area, and we weren't sure we had the energy to wrangle two toddlers and a baby in a real museum.  I can't wait!

 

 

3.  Lyle was sporting these jammies last night, and I am absolutely in love. 

 

 

 

4.  I ordered my new phone a week ago, so it should be arriving any day!  My current iphone is about 2 1/2 years old and recently has been doing all sorts of weird things.  My current mission is to find a case I like.  I like to be able to take my phone out of the case to put it on our ihome, etc. without it breaking the case.  Any suggestions of cases you love???

 

 

5.  What's more happy on a Friday than a cute picture of this guy! 

 

 

 What are your 5 on Friday???

 

Five on Friday...the Rough Version

 

I love doing Five on Friday posts, and maybe I should be focusing on the good and blessings this week.  But sometimes I feel that I (and most bloggers) post only the good things (the pictures where we are all put together, the projects we accomplished, the fun activities) and not the parts where we struggle.  That's where I am today, so here is my "not so happy/rough version" of Five on Friday.

 

1.  Tomorrow I am going to the funeral of one of my good friends from church during high school.  After being diagnosed with cancer in high school, and being in and out of remission, he finally lost his battle.  He always handled his cancer with such grace.  Even when it seemed so unfair to have to deal with that at such a young age.  I honestly can't remember him complaining once.  He just found joy in what surrounded him.  I will never forget a substitute "prom night" with dinner and bowling in dresses and tuxes when he had chemo the week of his own prom, trips to the zoo, eating out after church, movie nights, and youth trips in the summer.  I am so sad to lose a friend so young, but grateful once again that this is a "See You Later" moment.  

 

2.  Lyle has been running a fever the last couple of days, poor guy.  Whenever he has a fever he is just not himself.  I can't tell if it's just from teeth coming in, or something else.  Whatever it is, has meant a lot more tears and a lot less sleep for everyone!

 

3.  I have been trying to get in the habit of doing devotions every morning before I get ready.  I hoped that once I got in this habit, adding some type of exercise to the routine in the morning would happen as well.  This week I completely failed and overslept (by a lot!) every morning.  Oops.  

 

4.  Lyle's favorite new word this week is "no."  While most of the time it really makes me laugh, it also makes it hard to tell if he really doesn't need to go to the bathroom, or if he just likes saying no!

 

5.  My allergies have been driving me crazy this week!  As long as I remember to take my allergy medicine (oops! forgot that this morning too!) I am usually okay, but for the first half of the week I had to wear my glasses because my eyes were too itchy to wear contacts.

 

 

So there is the truth to my week!  I am extremely grateful that this is a long weekend.  I also am counting my blessings that in truth, many people's weeks were much much worse than mine, and that I have a Heavenly Father I can go to at anytime.  And here's to a better week next week!  :)

P.S.  As I went to read today's "She Reads Truth" devotion on a break today, I read Psalm 143.  Verse 8 is my prayer today.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

Five on Friday

1.  A weekend at home.  The only plans we have this weekend are to go up to church with my sister for my nephew's dedication.  Otherwise it is time to clean, organize, and play!  After busy weekends for the past month, this is just what we need!

2.  I was working on Lyle's 1 year photo book on Shutterfly last night.  I cannot believe how much he has changed since he was a triple chin-chubby face baby!  He even looks crazily different than at his one year pictures.  I guess that means it's time to take more pictures!  Shawn, want a new subject to practice on??? :)

 

About 2 months old

3.  New music.  I ordered a couple of new CD's with an Amazon gift card I got for my birthday.  I get tired of the same songs on the radio, and love something different to listen to! 

I know, I know.  Pitch perfect is ridiculous.  But it makes me laugh and remember high school singers.
 
4.  I ordered Lyle a few new Melissa and Doug toys, during a sale on Zulily.  I can't wait for them to get here!  Although I haven't decided which he can have now, and what gets saved back for later. 

5.  Lyle learned a knock-knock joke this week.  This is how it goes:  (Lyle) knock-knock, (me) who's there? (Lyle) MOO!!!!!  Haha.  He kept telling it to me over and over and laughing every time.  I found out last night, that his friend Eli has learned the "interrupting cow" joke and this is Lyle's version of it.  I love it.

 

Five on Friday

Today I am joining these great girls and sharing five things on my mind....

1.  This has been a much busier week than I was anticipating, but we made steps forward on several things.  Monday we met with our church's Outreach committee to plan activities for the fall (handing out pies at the fair, a BBQ cook-off during our church's anniversary celebration, outreach dinners, and trunk-or-treat!) I met with another girl on the preschool committee on Tuesday as we furthered plans for the preschool that will open at our church in January, and planned a fundraiser breakfast.  Wednesday I took a meal to our pastor's family and new baby.  And got some good snuggle time in with little Levi!  Thursday we were ready for a night at home. Whew!

2.  Lyle's best friend Eli is turning two tomorrow, and we are heading over for his birthday party.  Eli's mom watches Lyle while we are at work, so I can't wait for some time to celebrate with our "extended family!" :)

3.  I started working on this project last weekend.  Hopefully I can finish it this weekend!  I am enjoying having a project to work on. 

Instructions here

4.  I bought Lyle a pair of TOM'S this week, when I found them on sale on Zulily.  I have been dying to buy him some since he was born.  So stinkin cute!

5.  A happy boy playing in the mud! 

Hope you all had a great Friday!  Here's to the weekend!