Weekend Wrap Up: Part 1

Hey, Hey! We had the best Easter weekend! It was jammed packed full of fun, so I'm splitting my weekend wrap up in the next two days! 

Addy's daycare was closed for Good Friday, so our baby sitter came over while DJ and I went to work. We have the best babysitter, and she takes such good care of our kids! We just love her!

While we were working, she and Addy Pearl were playing at the park. 

And then they came home to make dipped pretzels and cupcakes!

Megan had a gardening party on Friday, so DJ and I managed to both make it to her preschool for some dirt digging! 

A few years ago, her preschool teacher wrote a grant, and it was accepted, so her preschool has two little gardening beds and some flower pots. Last fall, the class would water the garden and harvest any vegetables that had grown. 

So, now that spring has rolled around it was time to replant the garden. Megan picked out green beans, corns, and a few flowers to plant in the garden. 

And when the kids were finished, they played a little duck-duck-goose. do you see Meggie running around?

After some serious duck-duck-goose rounds, we had a picnic lunch. 

DJ and I left a little early so we could grab a quick bite to eat before we both headed back to work! 

He had practice Friday night, so the girls and I came home and they immediately ran outside to their new swing set. 

And Addy and I did a little chatting before it was time to cook dinner! 

I recently ordered Eikorn Flour from Young Living and I had been dying to try it out! Since it was just the girls and I, we made homemade pizza using our new flour for the crust, and it did not disappoint! I was a little worried that the crust wouldn't taste the same, but it has a very similar texture to a whole wheat flour. (I used the same flour Sunday morning for our pancakes and just did a little bit of Eikorn with our regular flour and DJ didn't notice a difference!) 

I spent the rest of Friday night working on laundry and cleaning the house. We had a busy weekend ahead and I didn't want to feel like the house was a mess. Saturday morning called for more laundry before heading out to football practice. 

We haven't made it to a spring practice all season, and I can't believe that this weekend is our spring game! It's just gone by so fast! (Which I'm grateful for!)

The girls love watching the players and running around the stands. 

Addy Pearl was a little chilly so she and I snuggled up under the blanket for a bit. 

And Meggie sat on the side and did a few cheers! 

We watched a few plays and then we found the other coaches wives in the corner of the field so we went over to join them so all of the kids could play together. 

We had to leave practice a little early, for some Easter fun! And that's where I'll be picking up tomorrow!!!

Have a blessed day!

Let's Talk: Gee

Happy Tuesday friends!!! I just could not pull my stuff together in time after the Easter weekend for the Let's Talk link up with Andrea and Erika, so today, I'm pulling my head out of the sand and sharing yesterday's topic!

Moms......

You see, I have a pretty fabulous mom, probably the best there is, and I just couldn't not share about her!

I'm not going to chat much today about my relationship with my mom when I was younger. Don't get me wrong, it was great! She was always there and was someone I could count on to give me advice or smart enough to know when I needed to figure it out on my own. 

It wasn't until I got married and moved away, and then later became a mom myself, when I really began to appreciate my mom's in ways that I've never appreciated her before. She became my very best friend. 

Even now, she's my best friend. I don't have to think twice about it. I need my mom more today than I ever did growing up. We talk at least once a day on the phone- I call her every day on my way to work- and sometimes we talk twice, or even 5 or 6 times. She's an ear when I need to vent, a shoulder that I need to lean on, and I can bounce my ideas off of her and she'll give me advice, suggestions, or just listen. We really do have the best relationship. 

I'm so thankful that she was there when all of my children were born. In fact, she was probably the first to hold each of the girls after DJ and myself.

My mom and I were able to celebrate my first Mother's Day together. I'll always remember that weekend in St. Louis and getting to share the day with her.

I'm sure that my mom was a little uneasy when I married DJ, knowing that we could (and have) live all over. Growing up, we always lived close to my grandparents and family, and I'm the one that has gotten married and moved away. When we moved to Indiana, it was so hard. We saw each other just a few times a year. But, I could also count on her to be at Gretchen's birthday parties, visit us in the spring, help me move and redecorate.... when I needed her, she was there. 

I've loved seeing her play with my kids. She's just the best Gee. 

When I was pregnant with Gretchen, my mom didn't want to be called "Grandma." She wanted something a bit more unique, and ended up coming up with "Gran". However, Gretchen couldn't say Gran very well, and it ended up sounding like, Gee (long e sound), and it's stuck. 

And when DJ moved to Tulsa and Gretchen and I were left in Indiana, she made sure that she'd be around for Megan's arrival too. (Thankfully DJ was also there!) But, DJ could only stay for a few days before he had to get back to high school football camps, so my mom stayed behind and helped me adjust to being a mom of two. I am so thankful that she was able to step in those few days. 

Her hands are full, but her heart is not. 

A few weeks after Megan was born, my mom headed home and we moved to Tulsa. I remember calling her, crying because the movers had just left boxes in our Tulsa home, and they were piled to the ceiling. I totally thought I could handle a 3 year old, a newborn, and unpacking while my husband was away at work. I called her over-reacting, and crying my eyes out because I just could not do it and I could not wait three more days for her to arrive to help me unpack. She managed to drop everything and arrived the next day to help. By the end of that day, everything was unpacked and put away.

And when I turned 30, she took me on a getaway cruise, because this mamma needed it! 

We toured New Orleans and packed a bunch of us in to a tiny elevator! 

And then we set sail on the perfect little getaway.

It's pretty rare that mothers and daughters are as close as we are.

But, it's also not surprising since my mom is just as close to her mom as I am to her.

My grandmother has been having some health issues as of late, and my mom has stepped in and is practically a super-hero. I know that she's stressed and overwhelmed, but I also know that she's making the best of a bad situation. She has always had a servant's heart, and its showing more now that she is taking care of my grandmother. My heart aches knowing that my mom is watching my grandmother get sicker and sicker, and there's nothing she can do to stop it. But she has a great sense of humor about it, because sometimes the best medicine is to just laugh about things, or vent about them, or cry about them. But I haven't heard my mom do any of those things. She's so strong and she's holding things together with grace and poise. 

I just have been really blessed to know how wonderful this lady is. 

One of my mom's favorite things to do is travel. Whether it's sitting on a cruise ship or getting away with friends, she loves to be with the people that she's closest with. For as long as I can remember, the girls in my family would pack up the day after Thanksgiving and head to Branson for shopping. I'm so thankful that we live close enough that the girls and I can join in on annual Branson trips! 

My parents were divorced when I was about 6 years old. I know I said I wasn't going to talk a lot about my childhood, because my relationship with my mom really grew in to what it is when I became an adult, but thinking back, I have to add that being a single mom she still totally held everything together. I know that I could never be a single mom. I don't have it in me and I'd be crazy stressed! But she worked, cooked dinner, and ran my brother and I to after school activities. I never remember her yelling at us. I remember her spanking us but never yelling! She was just patient and she managed to play the role of both parents remarkably well. 

My mom also loves Jesus. I am so thankful that she raised me in a Christian home and that she dragged me to church every time the doors were open! I'm thankful to know that she prays for me every single day. If it weren't for my mother, I know that I wouldn't have a relationship with Christ. It's her example that made me understand what being a Christian means. 

I mentioned before that my mom was there for each of my daughter's births. My mom works as a labor and delivery nurse, so I knew that she'd be in the room with DJ and I as the girls were born. There's no one else I trusted more with my care and that of the girls. She held me while I received each epidural (I made DJ wait in the hall each time!) and she talked me through every part of the process. Gretchen had meconium when she was born, and she let me know what the risks were and that I may not get to hold her right away, and she managed to not let me freak out about it. She helped me through my natural labor with Megan, because I was too stubborn to get the epidural sooner! And she was there when Addy was born and never left my side. 

Seriously seeing her with each of her granddaughters just minutes after they were born is just so special. 

When I got married, my mom planned this elaborate bridal weekend. As I was planning my speech to each of my bridesmaids and other family members I just couldn't think of the right words to say. How could I possibly thank her for every single thing she has done for me? Sometimes there are just no right words. And even now I have a hard time finding the right words for just how much she means to me. 

Thank you mom for being you. Thank you for being the best Gee. 

Thank you for making my girls pancakes every single morning when we visit. 

Thank you for loving me, for loving DJ, and for loving our girls. Thank you for being selfless and patient and caring and kind. Thank you for having a gentle spirit and for being real and honest. 

You have set the most amazing example of what it means to be a mom. I have a lot to look up to.

I love you!

Friday Favorites: We Need the Weekend Edition

Oh Friday, I am so happy to see you!

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

Last week was Spring Break, so we got all sorts of acclimated to sleeping in, staying up late, and warm weather. And then we went back to school this week and it all just fell apart. I mean, we had so much to do each evening- the girls had dance and gymnastics, I had errands to run, and DJ had spring football practice. We definitely need this weekend to catch up! 

Which, might be a little challenging because we have a lot of Easter fun planned this weekend! I really have to admit that I absolutely hate Easter falling in one of the busiest times of the year for us. I love that Christmas allows us to slow down and really reflect on Jesus' birth, but right now, we've been so busy that we haven't been able to adequately able to reflect on His resurrection. I'm praying that this weekend, I can not only get caught up on our "to-do" list, but that we can also slow down and reflect on the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection and that He came to the world to save us from our sins. I mean, I guess I'll be hiding our resurrection eggs in our laundry just so I can kill two birds with one stone. But seriously, I'm praying that we can all reflect on the Holy Week, and the death and resurrection of Christ. 

...........................................................................................................................................

Last week, we headed to Silver Dollar City for a few days. SDC is one of our favorite vacation spots! It's perfect for a quick get away. You can read about our trip here and here. 

We arrived home last Saturday and since we were busy unpacking and wanting to veg out after our trip, I made on of the easiest dinners of all time. And then I was scratching my head wondering why I haven't done this sooner!

I purchased several gourmet cheeses from our local grocer. I filled a platter with the cheese, carrots, grapes, and apples, and then I filled bowls of ranch and peanut butter for dipping. 

I made some little smokies, and put out crackers and pretzels, and y'all, the girls ate this up! I mean, it was like the best dinner ever. And they even came back to finish it up as a late evening snack. I'm totally making this a once a month meal because it was such a favorite. 

So, when we got home from Branson, we had a huge surprise for the girls! We kept all of the blinds closed and had them stay inside even though it was nice out and they really wanted to ride their bikes and scooters. After we had our cheese dinner, we surprised the girls with their new present! 

Gretchen was ecstatic! Addy followed suit and screeched just like her big sister! Megan wasn't so thrilled because she really enjoys going to the "swinging park" but now we have swings in our back yard, and she eventually warmed up to the idea! This surprise was a favorite!!!

They have a little playhouse. 

And a princess tower. 

A see-saw. 

And a little picnic area. 

And a rock wall. 

A big serious thank-you goes out to Gee and PaPaw for buying the girls their swing set! This was the best birthday present ever for our girls!

Sunday morning we went to church, and it was freezing cold and drizzling, so we didn't get any Sunday pictures, but we did go to Los Cabos after church and we had a serious tic-tac-toe competition going on. 

Addy and I were digging the chips and queso. 

Once we got home, Addy went down for a nap and the big girls broke out their brownie popsicles from their Foodstirs box. Their Aunt Mandi and Uncle Danny bought the girls two Foodstirs boxes for Christmas and we decided to save them for a snowy day, but it never snowed this year! So, we filled in our Sunday afternoon by making brownies. 

Our popsicles didn't look picture worthy, but they tasted yummy!

Foodstirs might be my new favorite go-to for birthday gifts and more!

Sunday night, Meggie watched some t.v. upstairs and told us she wanted to sleep on her pallet, but she ended up sleeping in her bed ;) 

And, DJ brought Bailey home from the kennel. Adalyn was SO excited! She even came downstairs to give Bailey kisses before she went to bed! The entire time we were in Branson, she asked about Bailey and wanted to know where Bailey was and when Bailey would come home. In fact, she was quite upset when we couldn't pick Bailey up on Saturday because the vets office was closed. Bailey is her favorite!

My favorite oil this week? Tangerine! First of all, it's super yummy in your water and it helps with the digestive system and metabolic process. But, did you know that Tangerine EO is a cytophylactic? It helps to grow new cells and promotes the heart and repairing of damaged or worn cells in the body. I love all of the benefits of these oils! If you'd like more info on essential oils, you can message me here. 

Megan went to let Bailey out before school, and I found her swinging on her new swing set! The girls have been in the backyard playing as much as they can right now! In fact, I came home Wednesday night, sent the girls outside, unloaded groceries, and cooked dinner, and I wasn't interrupted by whiny kids wanting to eat, wanting a snack, or wanting to be held. It was in this moment that I really appreciated the swing set and the gift that my parents gave us!

Yesterday I shared our favorite t.v. shows! You can check that post out here. 

Addy had her Easter egg hunt at her preschool on Thursday. Her school is closed for Good Friday so all events were yesterday. I wanted to take her picture before school but she was not cooperative! So I promised her a gummy bear and it didn't help. 

Only standing beside and holding her daddy's hand helped! 

And then I gave her a gummy bear and she was all smiles! 

Gummy bears have been our favorite little reward for the girls lately! They even cleaned their room last week for gummy bears! 

I wasn't able to attend Addy's party, but thankfully her teacher shared some pictures. She's in a class full of girls! 

When I picked Adalyn up, she showed me all of her eggs and was so excited! She told me they were all on the playground which thrilled her!

And showing off her eggs! We went through them after dinner and she ate a little bit of the candy, and was so excited about her bubbles! 

So I learned this week that if you send a basketball emoji to a friend on Facebook messenger, and then tap the basketball that this little game will appear! DJ and I have spent lots of time challenging each other this week! And, that 20 is MY high score! I'm pretty sure that it's the highest either of us earned!

Whew, so that catches us all up with my Friday Favorites!!! I'm so glad you stopped by today!

I hope you will all enjoy this weekend and spend time with your loved ones, and most importantly take time to reflect and remember that Jesus death and his resurrection was done to save you. I'm so full of imperfections, but Jesus, is perfect, and his death allows me to have everlasting life and I know I'm so undeserving of His love.