Throwback #8

Here is my throwback #8. A few pictures of Brody at age 1:

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Brody and I at his first birthday party
December 2011

Day 28

I am thankful for the gift life. God has given me this great gift of life, and for that I am forever grateful. I have so many blessings to be thankful for. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 27

I am thankful for all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Sometimes I might go months without seeing them, but whenever we get together we are always able to pick right back up and have a great time!!! Love them all!

Day 26

I am thankful for my faith in God. Our God truly is an awesome God! I have seen miraculous mircles created through him--especially within these past three years and for which I am very grateful!

 

Day 25

I am thankful for my grandma. Today is her 80th birthday, and I am so glad I have her in my life! I am also glad that my boys have gotten the chance to know their Great Grandma Mary. She is a very special lady to all of us. Happy Birthday Grandma Mary, and we love you!

The boys and Grandma Mary eating ice cream.
This lady is the reason why I am addicted to ice cream!

My sister, Grandma, and I
Date Daten: August 16, 2013 at my sister's rehearsal dinner
 

Weekly Meal Plan #2

Here are meals I have planned for this week:

• Monday- Homemade breakfast buritos--I will be at a fundrasing event for Iowa Central, so Brandon will be cooking for him and the boys.
• Tuesday-Chicken Stir Fry
• Wednesday- BLT's
• Thursday- Turkey Day--Happy Thanksgiving! Lunch will be at parent's and supper will be at Brandon's parents
• Friday-
• Lunch- Thanksgiving left-overs
• Supper- Spaghetti and garlic bread
• Saturday-
• Brunch- Panacakes and sausage
• Supper- Eat Out
• Sunday-
• Lunch- Homemade pizza
• Supper- Baked chicken and asparagus

Creative Spirits

Last Thursday evening I got to have a girls night out with a bunch of great co-workers. We had a painting party from Creative Spirits in Okoboji at a friend's house. I never knew painting could be so much fun! I had blast, and I can't wait to have another night of painting!
 
My play by play...



TA DA!!!

Darci and I

Bridget and I

Brooke and I

Day 22, 23, and 24

So I kind of fell behind on my posts about being thankful, so here are the past three days that I missed.

Day 22: I am thankful that my children have a great father in their lives. Brandon is a very hands on dad and is always there for them. I love watching all of them play and interact together--just warms my heart!


Bedtime stories from the other night. What a great Dad!
 

Day 23: I am thankful for all the extra amenities I am able to afford--TV, internet, cell phone, etc.

Day 24: I am thankful for my winter coat, gloves, hat, and scarf. It was very cold today running errands, so I am thankful for all the extras I have to keep me warm.

 



Throwback #7

Since Brody's 3rd birthday is in three weeks (I know I said 3rd birthday...crazy!) I thought for the next three weeks I would post pictures of him over the past three years. Gosh, I could cry thinking about him turning three....why does time go so fast?



This is at 4:30 am on Monday, December 6, 2010 right before we left for the hospital to be induced

What can I say...awww! This is Brandon's first father-son picture ever!
This is Brody right after he was born-Tuesday, December 7 at 10:22 am

I wasn't able to actually hold Brody for about 3 hours, so this is right after I was able to actually hold onto him.

Day 21

I am thankful for my friends and the great friendships I have made throughout my life-new and old! Tonight I'm having a girls night out, and we are having a creative painting night. I am not a painter at all, so this should interesting--but also a great time with a great group of gals! (Pictures to come later!)

Day 20

I am thankful for my kids' giggles. I love hearing their little giggles; I can't help but smile and giggle myself. It completely brightens my day! Just thinking about it is making me smile :)

Day 18 and 19

I am thankful for my co-workers. I have great co-workers that I get to work with on a daily basis. They are my extended family while I am away from home. We all work very close together and have great communication, and are here for another one another!

I am also thankful for my vehicles to transport my family from destination to destination, especially on cold morning like today.

Weekly Meal Plan 1

Each week I try to plan out our meals, so I thought I would start sharing my meal planning with everyone. I find this is a great way to stay organized, and it helps on our grocery/eating out budget. I try to plan out our meals before I go grocery shopping, so I only have to make one trip a week.

• Monday: Green beans, chicken, and red potatoes. This a great recipe I found on Pinterest. In a 9x13 pan place green beans, chicken, and sliced potatoes. Add butter and italian season and bake at 350 for 60 minutes.
• Tuesday: Enchiladas, chips, and salsa
• Wednesday: Frozen pizza (I work until 9 pm, so Brandon will be cooking for him and the boys)
• Thursday: Mac and cheese and hotdogs (I am having a girls night out, so again it will be Brandon cooking for the boys)
• Friday: Baked porkchops with green beans and italian seasoning and a dinner roll.
• Saturday:
• Lunch- Toasted turkey sandwiches with baked chips
• Supper-Left-overs
• Sunday:
• Brunch- Pancakes and sausage
• Supper- Eating out

The Weekend: November 16 and 17

 I had a great weekend with the boys! Lots of good quality time with my two little angels. Brandon had a conference over in Iowa City for work, so Friday night my mom came down and we had a slumber party. On Saturday, we did some Christmas shopping and went to Iowa Central's Food and Beverage Expo which is put on by the Culinary Art students. There was a lot of great food to test taste, the boys decorated their own cookies, and mom even won a cake at the cake walk!!



Brayden and his cookie he decorated

On Sunday, we headed west over to Ida Grove for our niece's 6th birthday party. Aubrey had a roller skating party, and it was so much fun! I haven't been rolling skating in years, so it brought back lots of memories from when my friends and I use to have roller skating parties. We tried getting Brody to roller skate, but he didn't like how heavy they were on his feet. So...I thought I would try putting them on Brayden to see what he thought--he LOVED it!! The first time we went around Brandon and I held onto his hand, but after that he didn't want anyone helping him. Such and independent little boy...Anyway we had a great time at the party--Happy 6th Birthday Aubrey!



Brody's cookie he so proudly decorated!

Go Brayden Go!!

A snap of the sun setting on the way home from Ida Grove

Day 16 and 17

I am thankful for having a dishwasher. We use to not have a dishwasher, and yesterday I did two loads of dishes, so for that I am thankful for my dishwasher!

I am very thankful for my education. A lot of people don't have the opportunity to get an education, but I am thankful that I was able to get an education which lead to great job that provides for my family. I am very thankful for all of my education--preschool through college.

Throwback #6

I'm a date late on this one...sorry about that. I was looking through pictures on my phone the other day and I came across this picture of the boys lounging around in their underwear. I can't help but laugh at this when I look at it--just cracks me up. My silly boys--love them!

Not too much of a throwback this week- Date of picture 9-1-13

Day 14 and 15

I am thankful for being able to workout. I try to workout on my lunch break as much as possible as well as early in the mornings on the weekends, and it gives me a chance to relax (me time). :)

I am also thankful for sunshine. Today is a beautiful day, and I just love when the sun is shinning!

Day 12 and 13

I am thankful for my home and heat. These past few days have been extremely cold, and I'm very thankful that I have shelter and heat to keep my family and I warm throughout these cold nights.

Day 11

I am thankful for all of our veterans out there who are currently serving as well as our past veterans who have served and protected our country. Happy Veteran's Day to all soldiers, and thank you for all you do and have done!

Day 9 and Day 10

I am thankful for food on the table and hot showers!

Day 8

I am thankful for my sister. I have so many memories from my childhood, and many of memories include my sister. I am thankful that I have not only a sister but a friend to confide in when I need advice, and also someone there who will make me laugh and share memories with!

Day 7

I am thankful for my job. There are millions of people out there without jobs right now struggling to provide for their families. I am very thankful that I have a job to go to every day that helps me provide all the necessities for my family and myself.

Throwback #5

With the cold Iowa weather here, I'm already wishing it was summer. With that, I decided to pull out this picture from our honeymoon trip to Cancun. I just have to sit back, close my eyes, and imagine that I'm sitting here on the beach with my toes dug into the nice warm sand and the hot sun looking down on me while listen to the waves crash into the beach...aaaahhhh.

Cancun, Mexico July 2008

Day 6

I'm thankful for a wonderful daycare provider. We have been going to Sam since Brody was about 15 months old, and we could not be happier with her. The boys absolutely love her, and so do Brandon and I! She goes above and beyond for my boys, and I couldn't imagine going to anyone else.

Day 5

I am thankful that my family is healthy. Both boys have asthma and bad allergies; however, we can keep things under control for the most part, so I am very thankful for our health.

Day 4

I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my children. Being a full-time working mom, means that I have limited time with my children since I am at work all day, so I am very grateful for the time I do get to spend with them and make the most of it. Yesterday, was a great day with my kids. We played with play-doh, colored pictures, built castles out of blocks, played outside, watched football and basketball, read books, and of course had lots of snuggle time! I am very thankful for my time I get to spend with my kids and the memories we make!

Halloween Week

Halloween Week 2013:

Our week of Halloween was very busy. Sunday started off with us trick or treating in Laurens as
well as some pumpkin carving. Tuesday evening we had trick or treating at the Crossroads Mall, and
then on Wednesday night we lit our pumpkins up and made some cookie ghosts. Then on Thursday, Halloween, we passed out candy to other kids. We had a great week, and we hope everyone had a spooktacular holiday like we did!

Trick or Treat "Murray" (Murrary is Brody's name for Hilary...we still haven't figured that one out yet)

Pumpkin carving time! This has a been a tradition with my dad since I was probably six months old--love this tradition!

Hugs for Great Grandma Mary- love you!

Nana and Zoe!

Trick or Treat Grandma Cheryl!

Get Go and Brayden!
(Brody calls Brandon's dad Get Go because that's how he use to pronouce the word motocycle. The nick name Get Go has now caught onto Brayden)

My little Buzz

Trick or Treat night at the mall with the Bangert's
Adelyn, Brody, Avery, and Brayden

Making cookie ghosts with my little pumpkins

TaDa!

Passing out candy to other kids. Bridget and I thought it would be fun to dress up as well--and it was!

Day 3

I am thankful for our family, and also that we live close to them. They have always been there for Brandon and I, and especially when we have needed help with the boys. Yesterday, Brandon and I both had to work so we were thankful that my mom was available to watch the boys. Both kids have such a great bond with both sets of grandparents.

Day 2

I am thankful for my wonderful husband and best friend. I love this man more and more every day. He is the best father two little kids could ask for, and I couldn't be more blessed!

Day 1

Since it is November, and the season of being thankful, I thought I would try to post on a daily basis from now until Thanksgiving of what I am thankful for.

Every night at supper Brandon and I make the boys say at least one thing they are thankful. I really like doing this because it makes us reflect on our day as well as our life and how we have been so blessed.

Day 1-- I am very thankful for my two little angels that God has blessed me with. I couldn't imagine life without them, and I just love giving them kisses! They truly make this world a better place :)