What's Up Wednesday: January

I saw this on Facebook yesterday, and laughed, because oh my gracious, this is SO true!!!! January has been the slowest month eva! 

Thank goodness that today is finally the last day of the month! It also happens to be link up day for What's Up Wednesday! Ya-hoo! So, I'm linking up with Mel, Sheaffer, and Shay for today's post and sharing What's Up :0 

WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS WEEK

Monday night- Grab & Go. We ate out because this is the night we're busy with all of the girls activities

Tuesday- Pork Chops & Veggies

Wednesday- Spaghetti

Thursday- Chicken Fajitas

Friday- Pizza Night

Saturday- Meatloaf & Veggies

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT

This cutie just celebrated her 10th birthday. 

I sweat we just celebrated her 1st birthday. Where does the time go?

WHAT I'M LOVING

These earrings have been on repeat lately. 

Also, i'm obsessed with Young Living's Ecuadorian dark chocolate, and a good glass of wine. 

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO

 The girls started basketball at the beginning of the month, so twice a week DJ takes them to practice, and then on Saturdays, we go to their games. 

We've also been hunkering down at home, because it's been cold! 

And, we spent last week battling the flu with two of the girls. We missed lots of school, and some work, and did what we could do to keep it from spreading to the rest of us. 

WHAT I'M DREADING

ONE MORE MONTH OF WINTER

Seriously, it's been SO cold, and we still have another month.We haven't had any snow, but we've had temperatures dip down to single digits, and I'll admit, we've had a few days of sunshine and 60s, but I'm over winter, and the fact that it could still snow in February. I just want Spring to arrive! 

WHAT I'M WORKING ON

Tomorrow, the Savvy Minerals Makeup Kit launches, and I'm SO excited! I've got some fun things in the works, and I can't wait to grab my own Savvy Kit!  

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

 Valentine's Day is coming, and I need to drag out my decor. 

And college football signing day is next week!!!! Which means, TU will have a new class of freshmen, and DJ and I usually have a date night to celebrate the end of recruiting season!

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING

The girls and I started reading Wonder at the beginning of Christmas break, and we just now finished it! We're planning on hitting up the theater one afternoon to watch the movie! 

Each Monday, I'm tuning in to The Bachelor, and I'm actually enjoying the season more than I thought I would. Who do you guys think Arie will choose?

And, I'm so excited for Super Bowl Sunday, because This Is Us, comes on after the game!!!

You guys, I can't even with this show. Does the Crock Pot really kill Jack?

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

I have Ed Sheeran's Pandora station on repeat lately. You guys, he's crazy talented. 

WHAT I'M WEARING

A few weeks ago, I shared a little bit of what i'm wearing, and I plan on sharing twice a month with more pics. 

WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Both of the girls have basketball games this weekend. DJ has recruiting, and then we're having friends over to watch the Super Bowl. 

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH 

Valentine's day is coming, and I can't wait to celebrate with these girls. We're going to be working on Valentine's boxes and getting their cards together for friends. 

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

I've been back in the gym, and plan on sharing a workout update soon. I'm working on counting macros, so if you have any tips, please share!

We've been doing a lot of baking around our house! Megan and I made snickerdoodles last week while she was home for a sick day. 

MY FAVORITE SOUP RECIPE

I'm looking forward to reading through and finding more soup recipes. I love soup, but sometimes it's hit or miss. DJ makes a killer gumbo, and pot of chili, but if I make soup, it's usually a White Chicken Chili, because I literally just have to throw it in the crock pot and it's super easy! 

I also have a fun Soup board on Pinterest

So, that's a little bit of what's been up around here.

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Birthday Celebrations

I had full intentions of blogging about Gretchen's birthday celebrations yesterday, but our laptop needed to be charged, and I was too lazy to sit in the office and write while it charged. Plus, the Grammy's were on. So, priorities.

Over the weekend, this girl turned 10!!! I cannot believe we are in double digits!

On her last night as a 9 year old we took a few photos. 

Unfortunately, last Tuesday, Gretchen came down with what was likely the flu. We didn't take her to the doctor office to confirm, but she definitely had the symptoms. Thankfully, she was feeling better on her last day as a 9 year old. 

After she went to bed, I set up a little table for her with presents, decorations, and her cards. 

Balloons

Letter board

Wrapping Paper

Salt & Pepper Shakes

Pink Storage Bin

We put a desk in Gretchen's room over Christmas break, but she needed a chair! We picked up this one, and found a cute pillow for it. 

We gave her an American Girl "lego" set for her birthday. 

Our 10 year old ready to celebrate her birthday at school! 

Her party was Saturday, and we had it at a local bakery, All Things Cake. Gretchen loves to bake, so this was right up her alley! Each guest received a dozen cupcakes, and they decorated 6 of them according to a given theme- cupcake wars style. 

After their "cupcake wars" were over, they had time to decorate the remaining 6 cupcakes! 

A prize was given to the team that had the best decorated cupcakes, and a prize was given to the 2nd place team too! So, all the girls went home with a dozen cupcakes and prizes! 

The party included a cake, and it was adorable! I just told them her favorite colors, and they took care of the design! 

After cake, Gretchen opened her presents. 

Adalyn was right nearby to help!

We are so thankful for sweet friends that came to help her celebrate! 

We're also thankful for our 10 year old! She's such a wonderful daughter and big sister and we just love her so much! 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!!!!!

And, Happy Birthday Gretchen Rose!!!! Today you turn 10, and I'm bawling my eyes out!!!

We're so proud of you and we love you so freaking much! You are a smarty pants; you're helpful, and you're super passionate. We can't wait to see you grow and what the next 10 years has in store for you! 

I'm linking up today with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favorites. 

First up, a favorite moment between these two sisters. While big sister was at speech, we snuck off to Panera for cookies and juice, and they totally had a Lady & The Tramp moment. 

Also, I'm totally obsessed with these Kate Spade earrings lately.

My monthly wellness box came in this week and it's always a favorite when it arrives! This month, I grabbed the 5 day Nutritive Cleanse set, lots of goodies for friends, some Savvy Minerals make up, and a few freebies! 

Want to know what's not my favorite?

The flu. 

And two of our girls have had it this week. 

I used these oils in a roller bottle to help boost their little immune systems. 

And we've all been drinking a concoction of Ningxia Red, orange juice, and Elderberry Syrup. 

This morning, our birthday girl is waking up to a fun little surprise. We're having her a party on Saturday with her friends, and she's so excited! Also, how adorable is this wrapping paper. 

Earlier this week, I shared What I'm Wearing, and a few of my favorite outfits. 

And, I also shared about our crunchy journey, this week too. 

Also, can we chat about This Is Us for a minute. Who watched Tuesday night's episode? Who is counting down until Super Bowl Sunday, only because This Is Us will be on right after the Super Bowl? I mean, that game better not go in to over time. How do you guys think Jack died? Is it the fire? Did he go back inside for the dog? Was it another event after the fire? What are your theories?

This is 10.

Tomorrow, on January 26th, Gretchen Rose turns 10. 

10.

I cannot even believe that we are entering double digits. It feels like yesterday that she was a baby, and I was figuring out how to be a mom. It feels like yesterday that she was dancing around in her dress up clothes and singing a song while playing her toy guitar. It seems like yesterday, I was walking her in to the door to kindergarten.

The days are long, but the years are short.

Gretchen likes to remind me that she will be a teenager in just three years. And in six years, she'll be driving, and in eight years, she'll be graduating and heading to college. 

That's all the time we have left. And the reality is sinking in that we're halfway done raising her and letting her fly on her own. 

I know that she'll always need me. I'm 35 and I still need my mom every day. But, the needs will be different. The mother-daughter relationship will grow in to friendship, long chats on the phone, talks about her dating life, planning her wedding. And, i'm so looking forward to all of that. 

But, this. This is what I want to wrap up and not let go. This is what I want to capture and hold on forever. This little time that we have left. 

I let her know the other day that I refuse to let her grow up. I told her I had full intentions of locking her away in her bedroom and never letting her out. 

I only wish I could. But, the truth is, and we all know this, is that I can't. I can't keep her locked away. 

But, the truth is also that I'm looking forward to seeing her grow during her teenage years. To watch her really become who she's meant to be. 

Ever since she was a little girl I've prayed that God will use her for His will. That she will follow His plan for her life. That when He says "go". She'll "go"

Gretchen is so brave. She's so determined. She soaks up knowledge. She loves to learn. 

I can't wait to see what she does with that passion for learning.

And while I'm so looking forward to all that's to come, I'm also dreading all of the hardships she will face. For today, is so unlike our teenage years. I dread the words she will hear. The hatred that girls tend to have toward another. I dread the heartbreak. 

I have no idea how to be a parent of a pre-teen, let alone a teenager. I'm going to need all the prayer and advice from my own mother to get us through this. 

Gretchen and I have always had a very open and honest relationship. I have always been straight forward with her, and in the years to come that will continue. I feel like if we can establish this now, it won't be so difficult in those teenage years. I want to be there for her. To help her. To let her cry on my shoulder when she needs to, and to also cheer her on, because I know she is going to do amazing things! 

I'm so proud of her. 

Gretchen Rose, we can't wait to celebrate you tomorrow and this weekend. 

We love you.