What's Up Wednesdays: Farewell, September!

Today I'm linking up with Shay at Mix and Match Family for "What's Up Wednesday"!

What We're Eating:

Frozen lasagna from Costco! This is so so yummy! We absolutely love it and, even better- it comes in a 2 pack! One this week,  one later on down the road. 

Creamy Spinach Sausage Pasta from budgetbytes! I'm a fan of most one-pot wonders and this one is so good!  "Throw uncooked pasta into the skillet and the broth will cook it" you say? I'm in! We have this dish several times a month. Try it! You won't be sorry. 

Cuba cheese sandwiches. There's a story behind this one. Come back tomorrow when I share the recipe for Recipe Club! 

Ritz Chicken w/ veggies. Thank you, Six Sisters Stuff for your awesome crock pot recipes! I heated up some BOGO frozen veggies and voila. Pioneer Woman, look out. 

Mix & Match Mama's Sloppy Joe Pot Pies. I chose to go the 8x8 pan route since I don't have individual oven safe dishes. This recipe was delicious! My hubby and nearly-2-year-old son thought so as well. My 3 year old sat at the table staring at his bowl and would not touch it for FOREVER. When he finally did eat a bite, he said "mmmm! This is good!"  So see? Do not hesitate to try this!

And for good measure and because I had 3 ripe bananas I made cinnamon swirl banana bread. Yum!

What I'm reminiscing about:

On Saturday, my husband and I will celebrate 6 years of marriage! I'm excited and fondly remember our wedding in my parents' back yard with our reception up the hill in his mom's back yard. A gorgeous gorgeous day.

What I'm loving:

Being a mom! These little guys make the hard days at work worth it when I get to see their smiling faces and hear all the stories and new words!

What we've been up to:

Potty training my 3 year old. This is even on the prayer list for women's Bible study at my church!

What I'm dreading:

Nothing really. (Yay!)

What I'm Working On:

Living out this quote:

I'm trying to remind myself that I don't have to stay busy.  I am learning how to say "no" to myself, first, and come to terms with the fact that I can't do and be involved in everything.  And honestly?  I'm enjoying learning each day how to do less. 

What I'm Excited About:

October!  It is my favorite month and I love when the air gets crisp!  It's no wonder why we chose our wedding date to be in this month!  Here in Alabama, the weather really starts turning "fallish" in October.

What I'm Watching/Reading:

At Ladies Bible Study, we are going though the book Stronger by Angela Thomas.  I am loving every minute of this book. 

I've been watching Cake Boss lately!  I did however, get the privilege of watching Cast Away with Aaron on Sunday night. It was his first time to see the movie, and I loved watching his expressions when certain things happened. 

What I'm Listening to:

At the moment, nothing but the sound of my fingers on the keyboard.  Sometimes in the morning I will listen to Rick and Bubba, and other times I'll listen to KLove.  In the afternoons, I usually have it pretty quiet while I finish up work.  Once I pick up the boys, the talking is non-stop!  And that's ok with me. :)

What I'm Wearing:

I had to. 

"You're Killing Me Smalls" -- I say this phrase all.the.time-- especially to my brothers.  So I'm super excited to wear this shirt on Friday when my older brother visits from out-of-town, and my younger brother and I get to have supper with him. 

(both shirts can be found at Target)

 What I'm Doing this Weekend:

We aren't sure.  Maybe an Auburn game (War Eagle!), maybe a movie (The Intern, anyone?), a fancy dinner (Hello Bonefish Grill on a gift card), etc.  Not quite sure what our final decision will be, but I don't even care.  It'll be fun regardless. 

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month:

Taking the boys to a pumpkin patch.  Enjoying time on our screened porch during the nice autumn weather.  And *hopefully* accepting an offer on our house!

What Else is New:

We have started doing the T25 workouts in the evenings after the boys go to bed, and I'm really liking them!  They last only 25 minutes, so it's definitely a doable time slot for me. 

Bonus Question: What is my favorite Halloween tradition:

I honestly don't have one.  I always attended fall festivals while growing up, so I'm hoping to take the boys to some of those.  My 3-year-old and my mother-in-law made some ghosts to hang from her front-yard trees and they made some bats to stick on her front door.  So maybe doing DIY Halloween decorations each year could be a good tradition?  I'm open to suggestions! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'm anxious to read lots of the link-ups!

Until Next Time, 

Much love, Reba

The Wedding

Over Labor Day weekend, my brother-in-law got married.  My husband and my brother-in-law are from the Seattle area, so the wedding was attended by lots of out of town family and friends.  My new sister-in-law is from south Georgia (where the wedding took place), and she had lots of local family and friends attend.

The wedding was at a rustic lodge, with an air conditioned reception area and a large outdoor deck where the ceremony took place.

We left town on a Friday morning and ventured out of state to stay in a hotel over the weekend.  Several months ago, I read a blog post about someone staying in a hotel with their small children and recommending a suite with separate rooms.  That way, the kids can go to bed on time, and the adults can stay up and socialize.  This was important to us because it would be the first time that the boys had ever stayed in a hotel and we were unsure of how they would sleep.  We wanted them to be as comfortable as possible, and that meant having a cool, dark place where they could sleep.  That also allowed us to have some freedom to spend time with family members in the gathering area of the suite after the boys went to bed.  Our room quickly became the hang-out room and it was so fun to spend so much time with family and friends in the comfort of our own room!  I mentioned before on the blog that the boys ended up sleeping like champs at the hotel!  In fact, they slept so wonderfully (both at bedtime and at naptime), that I seriously considered moving into a hotel suite once our house sells.

The hotel had an indoor pool and I was really pumped about this because the boys had never been to a real swimming pool before.  Hey, when you don't have a membership to the Y, and you don't have any rich friends with a pool, the opportunities to swim are limited.  We took advantage of the pool time when we were there.  Michael wasn't so sure about it at first, so he walked the perimeter of the pool and reminded us all not to kick and not to splash (as if we needed reminding).  Noah LOVED the warm water and held onto me and could have just fallen asleep!  He was in spa-land!  Michael eventually decided it would be okay if I held him when he got in the water.  He got comfortable enough to move between me, Aaron, and Aaron's dad.  Being in a pool was such fun!

The wedding was really pretty.  It was kind of muggy outside, but the deck was covered, so it offered shade.  Michael was a typical three-year-old ring bearer.  He looked adorable, but it was a mess trying to keep him quiet.  Aaron carried him down the aisle to me as Aaron escorted his step-mom to her seat.  Michael sat on my lap, but called out the groomsmen names (the bride's three sons were junior groomsmen), swatted gnats on his face while yelling "GOT IT!", dropped his football ring-bearer pillow and said "oops, I fumbled", then assumed that the bride's step-father stole the phone cover from Aaron's cousin (they both had camo phone covers), repeatedly asked to have a flower petal from the aisle, and needless to say-- I ended up carrying Michael into the reception area prior to the ceremony even being half-over.  He did about as well as a three-year-old is expected to do.  I wish I could have heard the whole ceremony, but I watched from indoors where my mom was helping me entertain Noah and then Michael as well.

The whole weekend was so much fun and spending all that time with family was so super great.  We maybe get to see the out-of-state family once a year, so it was a real treat to all be together for a weekend.

Here are some pictures:

Lovely!

Until Next Time,

Much love, Reba

These Days

The promise of fall is in the air!

I am so excited for the change in weather and scenery!  As I'm working, I even have the windows up to let in the cooler morning air.  The afternoons are still warm, but they are a "different" kind of warm.  The kind of warm that's not muggy and doesn't make me sweat.  I love opening up the back door to the porch in the afternoons when I get off of work.  The boys run back and forth between the living room and the porch and I soak in the feeling of the air.  I can just tell-- fall is coming.

At our house, we currently have our brand new table runner on our dining table, a "pie" pumpkin on our mantle, and a "toilet paper pumpkin" up there as well.  That's the extent of our fall decor for the moment.  I plan to get a fall scented candle sometime soon (my fall favorites are the Yankee Candle branch "Kitchen Spice" and "Apple Cider"). I also have an autumn inspired door hanging, but I think I packed it away with my other seasonal front door decor.  It's either in my attic or the storage unit (which is a temporary installment as we have our house on the market).

My mother-in-law has so graciously helped me sort through the boys' clothes this week.  She has helped me remove items from Michael's drawers that he no longer fits into, or that do not work with the ease we need clothing to fit around his Omnipod.  She has also helped me sort through Noah's drawers since he still has some a lot of 12-month items in there.  I've kept most of Michael's things that he has outgrown so that Noah can ease into them.  Some of these items are in the storage unit, so I will be grabbing that bin this weekend so I can complete the wardrobe change for the boys.  Last fall, I overestimate Michael's height, and I bought several pairs of 4T pants for him at my favorite consignment sale.  I actually had to go back to the sale the next day and buy 3T pants. I chose to keep all of the 4T pants because I knew he'd grow into them.  And ta-da!  We are at that season!  It's nice to know that he has a variety of pants he can wear this fall.  He also has some 3T and 4T jacket/hoodies that he can wear on the cooler days.  I will take inventory of any area that the boys are lacking in (pajamas for Michael, 4T shirts for Michael, 2T pants for Noah, coat for both boys for wintertime) and I will get those items at the consignment sale. This fall, the sale is the last week of October.  I'm sure it will be very very cool outside, so I'm glad that the boys have some staples in their closets that they can use until I beef up their wardrobe at the sale.

This week, we're tackling potty training hard.  I had the idea to potty train both Michael and Noah at the same time.  I hoped that if Michael saw Noah using the potty, that he would get inspired to use it himself. Michael is quite the stubborn 3-year-old, and has very little interest in using the potty.  Noah has no qualms with sitting on the potty-- and a lady at our church potty trained all FOUR of her kids by the time they were 2, so I know it can be done for Noah.  Michael's success is an "every other day" kind of thing.  He will happily sit on the kiddie potty for minutes at a time, and he'll be successful multiple times that day.  But the next day, he will begrudgingly sit on the potty and will not tee-tee in it at all.  Noah sits on the potty pretty happily anytime you ask him to, but we've never caught him in the act of actually going.  It's a process, but for the first time, I feel like we're making progress.

We've started up a ladies Bible Study on Monday nights.  We are going through the book "Stronger" by Angela Thomas.  It's a video once a week at the actual study time, and then throughout the week, each lady has her own copy of the workbook, and has a daily devotional.  I can tell you-- this is my jam.  I LOVE to write, so I thoroughly enjoy reading someone's thoughts, then reading a Bible passage, and then writing my own thoughts in the book.  I do better with a structured study than if I were to tell myself "Okay, find a passage to read and try to get something out of it."  I prefer guided studies like these and I LOVE fellowshipping with these ladies in our church! This past Monday was the first meeting, and I'm looking forward to the next 7 weeks!

I am a coach for our church's Upwards Cheerleading.  I coach the kindergarten (the Sparks) and 1st & 2nd grade (the Blaze) teams in practice.  On Saturday, I lead the Sparks in their cheers with a "cheer mom" and we have two other "cheer moms" who lead the Blaze in their cheers.  I am having a blast!  I was never a cheerleader in high-school, but I am enjoying myself to the fullest.  Each girl is so precious and I enjoy being a part of a godly program like Upwards.

Aaron and I have started a new exercise program.  We have done P90X3 a few times and were actually just about to start it again on Monday when my mother-in-law offered to let us try out T25-- which is produced by the same company that produces P90X3 (BeachBody).  We've done T25 this week and I LOVE it!  I love the intensity and the short amount of time that I have to do it each day.  I'm already feeling my muscles ache, which is good!

That's a little check-up on what we've been up to lately.

Until Next Time,

Much love, Reba

Show & Tell Tuesday: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Today I'm linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals for Show & Tell Tuesday.  The topic today is "Which 5 People Would You Invite to a Dinner Party at Your Home?"  

1. Sandra Bullock

I love all of her movies and I love the philanthropic things she does with her excess money.  She's funny, talented, and seems like she is a down to earth person.  I think it would be fun to hang out!

2. Leigh Anne Tuohy

For those of you who don't know who she is, let me show you this picture:

Sandra Bullock played her in the movie "The Blind Side."  Leigh Anne Tuohy cracks me up!  She is a fireball and so, so funny!  It would be a hoot to have her over for dinner!  She tells it like she sees it, and she is not afraid to fight for what is right.  She'd be an awesome dinner party guest. 

3. Candace Cameron Bure

Yep!  DJ from Full House!  I admire Candace so much for her portrayal of her faith.  Her Hallmark movie "Christmas Under Wraps" is an absolute favorite of mine, and I think it would just be really fun to sit down and chat with her!

4. Rick Burgess

Radio-show co-host, Rick Burgess, would be a hoot and a holler at a dinner party.  His testimony is outstanding and his humor is right on par with mine!  If you live in the South, you've probably heard his radio show "Rick and Bubba."  I LOVE it! It's a nationally syndicated show, but I haven't heard of too, too many people who listen to it outside of the southern states.  Check it out here, if you haven't already heard of it.  Rick actually hosted Leign Anne Tuohy on the show a couple of weeks ago and it was the funniest thing.  Rick would be an asset to any dinner party because he would definitely keep the conversation going, and he would keep it real.

5. Ryan Reynolds

Why?  I don't know.  Why not?  I enjoy his comedy movies and I think he could at least benefit from what the other people at my dinner party have to say.  So, why not?



There you have it-- my dinner party guest list.  Of course in attendance would be my husband, who is my best friend and a FANTASTIC cook.  I count us as co-hosts of this get together.

Such a fun topic!  What about you?  Who would you invite to your dinner party?


Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba

Friday Favorites

Hello all! Today, I'm linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals for Friday Favorites!

We've had quite the busy week, but it's been so fun!

This past weekend, my brother-in-law got married!  The wedding was out of state, so we packed up the boys,  made a Starbucks run, and hit the road!  We stayed in a hotel (call me weird, but I LOVE staying in hotels!!!) and the hotel had an indoor pool!  This was the first time either of my boys have been in a pool.  Michael walked the perimeter of the pool for about 20 minutes before deciding that it was safe to get in if I held him.  Noah chilled out as I held him, and he acted like he could fall asleep!

The boys slept so well for nap time and overnight, that we might a well move into a hotel once our house sells!

The wedding was beautiful.  It was held outdoors at a rustic venue.  Aaron was the best man, and Michael was the ring bearer and did about as well as a 3 year old can do.  I'll include more wedding pictures in an upcoming wedding post.

Aaron's aunt MADE (read: MADE) the wedding cake to include all of the flowers and she matched the teal color perfectly.  Aaron and his family are from the Seattle area, so it's no wonder that my brother-in-law chose an edible Seahawks decal to put on his groom's cake!  Many happy wishes to the new couple!  It was a fantastic weekend to spend with out-of-town family who we already miss so much!

I'm easing into working from home and I love every minute of it.  See what I mean?

This was my lunch "dessert" today.

Another favorite is the organizational fire that Aaron and I are both feeling right now!  We are super motivated to clear the clutter and we started last night with our junk drawer.  Now, it looks like this!

And I'm all about accessories these days.  I have found a few statement necklaces online that I liked pieces of, so when one of the necklaces arrived, I altered it so that it fit my taste a bit more.  This necklace started out with four different chains all attached to the top of the necklace.  It was too busy, but I liked the tassle part of the necklace and I knew I could make it work for me.  So, I used pliers to remove the three chains that I didn't like so much.  Here's the finished product.

Happy Friday, friends!  I hope your weekend is wonderful!  We will be busy with Upwards Flag Football & Cheerleading tomorrow (it's my first time as a Cheer Coach!) and we'll catch up on Auburn football (War Eagle!) and celebrate my father-in-law's birthday!

Linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals. 

Until Next Time, 

Much love, Reba

Michael Turns 3!

Michael turned three and we had two parties to celebrate.  One party was while my older brother and his family were in town.  The other party was the following weekend when my brother-in-law and his family were in town.

Party Number One:

I bought some Caution tape online, and made a "3" on the inside of our front door and surrounded it with printouts of the characters from one of Michael's favorite shows: "Bob the Builder."

Aaron and I could justify buying a new extension cord, since we knew we'd use it later on.  Aaron wound the cord in a daisy chain pattern, and we zip-tied it together to create a wreath. 

I bought the garland at Hobby Lobby and was quite impressed with the quality.  The construction cones and "Fun Ahead" signs are held together by pretty black ribbon-- and I was expecting cheap plastic, so Hobby Lobby gets an A+!

Little brother awaiting party time. 

The cake that Aaron made and decorated himself. 

Chips thrown in the back of a dump truck.

Forks and napkins accented with another dump truck. 

One of the only pictures I have of Michael during the actual party time.  

I took this picture after all the family had gone home.  I gave Michael, Noah, and Cousin G each a plastic hard hat to wear during the party.  This is Michael showing off his. 

And model Noah. 

Party Number Two: 

The day started with Michael enjoying his Prize bag selection from his pod-change the night before. 

I consider this picture a success.  It's rare that Michael will sit down for a picture these days. 

I asked Michael these questions for his Birthday Interview.  I'm pretty sure the book is made up. The "game" he mentioned is actually an xbox game that Aaron plays-- Michael has never actually played it.  My favorite response is what he says to the last question. 

Smiley Noah ready for some fun!

For this cake, since more people would be in attendance, we ordered a cake from Costco and we put the construction vehicles on it ourselves. 

The tablescape at church, where this party was held.  We served chips, cake, cherry limeade punch, and sugar-free lemonade.  I hung up the birthday interview so that everyone could read it.  I wrote the answers on a sheet of scrapbook paper meant to look like wet paint and I hung it askew from a piece of scrapbook paper meant to look like dirt.  The sign by the drinks says: "Safety First, Quench Your Thirst." I wrote it on the same type of wet paint scrapbook paper, and it is hung askew to a sheet of scrapbook paper that looks like wood boards. 

Happy boys and a happy mom. 

I realize my pictures of the actual party are lacking, but I was too busy having fun!

I will leave you with these two photo gems taken last week. 

First, we have a goofy daddy playing with two little boys. 

And then this happened:

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday!

Until Next Time, 

Much love, Reba