Tuesday was the last mom2mom meeting this semester. {Boo!}
We read The Power of Blessing by David Timms, which took us through the Beatitudes. While a good portion of the book went over my head, or I didn't quite follow how some of the stories related to the specific beatitude, I really enjoyed the conversation that it brought at our small group.
My group has some amazing ladies who truly love the Lord and it was great to hear/discuss their perspectives and discuss this important section of scripture!
I made a super yummy Cobb Salad for dinner the other night. But before we could toss it, I had to scoop out Dylan's portion, avoiding the egg, tomatoes & avocado. {Talk about boring!} Then I had to avoid the avocado for Payton's plate. How my California born babies ended up NOT liking avocado is beyond me . . . but guess what - they LOVE guacamole. Strange? Yes. I don't get it at all.
Anywho.
We all devoured this dinner and I'm not sure why this isn't already in rotation for my meal planning. Its easy, tasty and {somewhat} healthy.
Cobb Salad Serves 5
2 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
3 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 avocado, cubed
1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
Homemade Vinaigrette
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
salt & pepper to taste
Pour all the ingredients into a small jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to incorporate.
I also made some homemade croutons to go on top of the salad.
I cubed 1/3 loaf of Everything French Bread. Broiled on low for 3-5 minutes {on the middle shelf of the oven}. Flipping the croutons and broiling again for 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy. Everyone kept sneaking bites of the croutons, so I will make more next time!
~ Linking up at: Momfessionals Our Pretty Little Girls Made From Pinterest
Sunday I had some cute selfies on my phone from each of the kids.
Payton was feeling better after having the stomach flu yesterday. She hadn't eaten much which meant she could do this cool trick.
Can you hear it?
~
Monday I kept Payton home from school just to make sure she was okay. Then Chris came home early from the office because HE had gotten it.
Then Dylan got off the bus and collapsed on our grass. #3 down!
UGH! ~
Tuesday Dylan was staying home from school {obviously} when Ry woke up acting weird and then {yup!} yacked.
This became my best friend.
I was holding out praying that I wouldn't get it!
Ry seemed okay after that episode but the day was still filled with a lot of this:
And this:
Kind of a bummer day for it being Ry's LAST DAY of being TWO!
I tucked him into bed and prayed for him, thanking God for blessing our lives with this sweet little Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle & Pider-man {Spider-Man} loving boy.
You can hear about his "best birthday ever" {here}.
~
Thursday I had a reading buddy during my early morning quiet time. I loved everything about this picture. The bedhead, the old kindergarten t-shirt, the mismatched striped leggings with one leg scrunched up, and her reading Diary of a Whimpy Kid {because Dylan loved those books}.
Rylan will line up anything that you give him. Today it was Jenga blocks {and yes, his shirt is on inside out and backwards}.
He hasn't mastered the bounce ball from Uncle Thor & Auntie J, but he Supermans over it all. the. time.
Early afternoon I started to feel off. I quickly finished my work, made dinner for everyone besides me {a tell tale sign I'm not feeling well - I love food!}, and then Chris sent me to bed. I wasn't as lucky as I had hoped I would be and ended up with the stomach flu. I'm sure glad no one had it on Rylan's birthday though!
~
Friday Chris was SuperDad getting the kids off to school and watching Ry {working at the same time} while I was still in bed. Fortunately {praise God!} it was a quick sickness and I was out of bed feeling SO MUCH BETTER by the afternoon!
~
Dylan came home with another free shirt from school {this is #3 this year - which would have never happened in California!}. They had a big Nukem tournament in PE that had been going on for weeks and they made it to the Championship Round where they played against the teachers.
This morning I took the kids to the Main Street Festival in Downtown Franklin. {Chris had to work. Boo!}
I had 3 kids, by myself, and didn't need a stroller. This is a huge milestone! My babies are growing up!
The Festival was awesome as usual. Chobani was there giving out free yogurts! The kids each got 2 tubes of strawberry yogurt.
And I tried Chobani Oats Apple Cinnamon for the first time. It was FAN.TAS.TIC. I thought that the oats would be mushy but it was actually steel cut oats so it had a great texture. The kids kept stealing bites of mine.
I'll be buying this again. Go try it!
~
I caught a sweet brothers moment.
And we took a break to drink lemonade and eat some kettle corn.
Back at home, the family that exercises stays together!
I made some more taco seasoning. It reminded of me of the sand art at the festival this morning.
I took the kids to their school's Spring Fling tonight.
There was a race car out on display right as we were walking up. Dylan got to get in it {which he said was awesome} and then he took off with his friends. I didn't see him again until it was time to go. #preteen
Payton & Rylan bounced in the bounce houses,
and they played carnival games.
Ry couldn't throw the ball into the hole so he tried to kick it in. #totalboy
And then there was candy.
I looked over at Ry and he was doing this . . . #sugarrush
Payton LOVED seeing all her friends. #socialbutterfly
And then there was the reminder that we live in the South. The "Toilet Toss" was where the kids tossed a roll of toilet paper into the open toilet seats. #classy LOL!
Then we played on Payton's playground.
Each of kids classes created a class project that was up for auction. Here was Dylan's class (his hand is the top left):
And Payton's class (she worked on the black and white heart):
It was a fun time. The school's PTO did a great job!
The back cover mentioned she was from California {yay!} moving to New York and she wanted to live out her Christian morals {double yay!}.
It was a quick light hearted read that I finished in 4 days. It reminded me a LOT of the movie The Devil Wears Prada. I wouldn't classify it as a "Christian" book but it DID show {a little bit} how difficult living out your faith can be when you don't surround yourself with other believers and like minded people. It was a fun "chick lit" read.
Well, he did it. Rylan went ahead and turned THREE even though I begged him not to. My baby is getting so big. {tear}
First thing in the morning, he came down stairs with ALL of his blankets, and stuffed animals. And yes, I'm that horrible mom that starts taking pics right away.
He LOVED his "Happy Birthday" sign and flag banner and showed them to everyone who FaceTimed with him.
We started off singing "Happy Birthday" with his breakfast muffin.
And Auntie J FaceTimed early to watch him open their present {one of those big bounce balls!}.
After the big kids went to school, we went for his well check.
He's 33 lbs & 36.5" tall.
~
Ry finally fit it to a shirt that was Chris' when he was a little boy. So cute, right?
I L.O.V.E. this kid.
He is so much fun. He makes us laugh every single day.
Which is good, because he also gets into everything, and pushes the limits.
So I guess you can say he's a typical 3 year old boy.
We FaceTimed Auntie D to open their gift.
How cute is this hoodie? Perfect for my TMNT loving boy.
He wanted to play TMNT Pop Up {just like Trouble} right away.
He got a little creative with pushing the dice.
Then we got to FaceTime with Papa & Sasha who sent him a Toys R Us gift card. He's excited to go shopping!
~
As soon as daddy got home we went to Rylan's favorite restaurant for dinner, McAlister's {which just happens to be a favorite of mine too!}, and Payton gave him a present.
The right says "I wish you a Ninja Turtle birthday."
She had made him a Ninja Turtle at school. Isn't that the sweetest?
Ry always orders Mac & Cheese and Cheetos "like at Papa & Sasha's" {they always have Cheetos on hand when we visit for my kids!} I call it the ORANGE dinner.
Then back home for cupcakes and ice cream.
And opening more presents.
We got him a more sturdy scooter, which he seemed to love.
Then he climbed into his hamster ball he got from Papa Nutt & Gigi.
All day long Rylan kept saying "This is the best birthday EVER!".
I sure hope it was buddy. We all love you very much. Now please, stay 3 for me.
