1. Not only is Hayes’s birthday this week, but it’s also our anniversary week. I can’t believe how quickly the years have passed! We will celebrate with a yummy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.
2. My mom gets here tomorrow to celebrate Hayes’s birthday with us. I’m SO excited to see her!
3. We went to the zoo on Sunday afternoon. We have zoo passes so we like to go as often as possible. I think it was about 95 degrees, but it was worth it just to be outside. I get really excited for the weekends. I love getting out and doing things with the boys when Todd is around. It’s nice to have an extra set of hands, but it’s just more fun when Todd is with us! Hudson loves the zoo and gets really really sad when we leave.
4. Insurgent by Veronica Roth came out today. I finished Divergent a few weeks ago and I’m so excited about the follow up book. I’m hoping for long naps from the boys today so I can get a good chunk of it finished!
5. I started week 1, day 1 of Couch to 5K today. Maybe I can stick with it? Who decides to start running when the summer comes? This girl, apparently. But it really is amazing how much better you feel after spending some time outside.
6. Still no updates on the house selling process. Fingers crossed!
7. Hudson loves to sing. And he loves to talk. And I’m pretty sure that there is constant noise in our house when he’s awake. About 90% of the time he is making a joyful noise and it just makes us laugh so much!
His latest thing when we drive somewhere and arrive at our destination is to say, “Here we are! We made it!”
I really need to do a new “Hudsonisms” update because I am constantly typing funny things he says into the Notes app on my iPhone.
8. Our meal planning had gotten a little bit boring, so Crist came to the rescue again. She has a really great food blog and she shared a bunch of her marinade recipes with me. Last night we had mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and this chicken marinade recipe. It was so good!
What exciting things do y’all have to share this week?
I’m hoping to meet a friend from Charlotte at the Columbia Zoo this summer!
They pick up on the funniest phrases at this age! Nate says “we made it!” too. Funniest one recently was I was explaining something to him and he put his arm around me and said, “We’ll see, Mommy. We’ll see.” Ha!
Hope you have a great week with your boys!
I got an advanced reader copy–from the publisher–of Insurgent a month ago and it is FANTASTIC!!! It is adventure from the first page. I know you’ll love it!
I wish it was 90 degree’s here in Scotland! We’re still in the 40’s. The hottest it has ever gotten here in the 4 yrs I’ve lived in Scotland is 72F. For 2 days. Heat wave!!!!
That is a great idea to put them in the iphone. I am going to start doing that! I have a terrible memory when it comes to things T is doing and saying.
I heard a really good quote yesterday that would apply to your 5K. “A goal without execution is nothing more than a good idea.” I am trying to do the 30 day Shred for 30 days and it is kicking my butt–but this quote is helping me get through a few really hard days! Good luck–I know you can do it!
I’m doing couch to 5K as well. I’ve been doing it for like 12 weeks and I’m not done yet because I’m staying with week 7 for awhile since I’m not quite consistent with the longer running stretches yet. I feel so much better since I started it and I’ve lost 12 lbs 🙂
I’m finishing up Couch to 5K and I love it! My best advice would be not to take more than 2 days off in between runs. I found it hard to get back into after taking longer breaks. Also, if a week seems especially hard, don’t be afraid to do it again. You can stretch it out for more than 8 weeks. Like I said though, I love it. Good luck!
Aww! Those boys are just *too* cute!!
I totally squealed last night at midnight when I got a notification on my phone that Insurgent had been added to my books!! I forgot that I pre-ordered it weeks ago! Now I’m trying to finish up the third Shades of Grey book so I can start that one!
oooh erin, you’ve done it again. i’m GONNA pull myself outta the dumps for a few minutes and challenge myself to post 7 things i’m happy about too.
(1) i started ice skating again. i got busy with wedding planning and then married life and (with the exception of our wedding reception – which was on ice!) pretty much stopped skating 5 months ago . a dear friend got me back on track 3 weeks ago. he has been so good about calling me, scheduling twice a week skate sessions and even picking me up to take me to the rink. he also makes me skate the entire session – usually 60-90 minutes. left to my own devices, i skate 30-40 minutes and then hit the nearest target store…lol! it is so exhilerating and is the only exercise i’m getting lately. now i just need someone to drag me back to the yoga studio….
(2) i’m making great strides on my home organization notebook. i couldn’t find the exact printables or systems with the exact schedules i wanted, so for the last few weeks i’ve been combing the blogs you linked and pilfered ideas here and there. i think i finally have a routine that works for us. i’m going to run with it for another week or so and if it work, i’ll print it up and put it in a notebook. i’m excited to have basic routines in place *before* we move into our new place. i think it will make the transition easier.
(3) i’ve been a cleaning, organizing and decluttering fool. i’ve also been implementing everyday cleaning and laundry routines. everybody is happier. my stepdaughter arrived tonight and is thrilled to bits with the bathroom deep clean/mini re-do (new shower curtains, new bath mats, de-clutter) i did last week. her joy and appreciation caught me off guard and made me really, really happy. excuse me a second while i straighen my “nice stepmom” tiara 🙂
oh, another happy bonus i’ve also discovered is this: when there is relative order, it makes days when you are ‘off’ or tired or otherwise overwhelmed by life (like the final move from my bachelorette apartment yesterday…sniff sniff) easier. if you skip a day or two of routines, things don’t fall apart. because of your hard work in prior days, you find nice surprises…like…yummy leftovers in the fridge and bow-tie fiesta in the freezer, plenty of clean clothes and towels for all and real treasures – like a stack of assorted greeting cards and stamps you bought in a sane moment. even if you can’t get off the couch (or are in bed eating now and laters – like i am tonight), birthday cards can get mailed on time!
that brings me to item the next item to celebrate
(4) my move (or the move: part one as i like to call it) is OVER. my keys have been turned in and all my belongings are in storage – ready to be used in our new home when the entire family moves to our new home at the end of the month (the move: part deux).
(5) i started a list of things that i am looking forward to about our new place. today i added my exitement about a big bathtub to the list. i love a good bubble bath and the tub in my last apartment was too shallow. the tub in my husband’s apartment is a beautiful vintage one, but the plumbing is so old in this rickety building. the shower is barely a trickle. i tell myself we’re conserving water. anyway…consequently, i’m afraid to to fill up or drain the bathtub here. ohhh…modern plumbing. i’ll add that to the list. lol!
(6) i’ve also started a list of geat DIY decorating and craft ideas/projects that i’ve found on various blogs. i can’t wait to decorate our place with refurbished thrift and antique store finds. i adore crafts and projects.
(7) i think i’ve found a devotional. i read a blog post about a book called “the love dare”. there is a devotional by the same authors and i think i’m going to order it. i’m excited (more like relieved really) about seeking the Lord’s help in my marriage and with our blended family. i can no longer do it in my own strength. i’m scared. i stumble so much. i feel hopeful that He can restore the peace and security this situation has robbed me of lately.
i did it. 7 happy things! yay! thank you erin. and your rosey cheeked boys are SO beautiful!
oops, you had 8 things. well, my number 8 is: a quiet time for stepmommy night tonight. i just needed some down time, you know? – where i wasn’t trying so hard to “keep on keepin’ on” and could just BE. i sat in bed reading blogs and drinking sparkling water. i ate now and later’s for dinner (!).
i kept getting visits from my stepdaughter and husband who both kept coming in to show me some dance moves or to share a funny story, to see if i wanted a snack, or to tell me what an amazing job i did on the bathroom.
i think they love me.
Got my fingers crossed for the house for you. ps- I started running for a couple of weeks too and then this week has just been blah. I need to get back out there! And you’re right, it totally changes how you feel about a lot of things.
Hi Erin,
Such a cute post! Glad you had fun at the zoo. The boys are growing so quickly, and they somehow manage to get even cuter as they grow!
Would you mind sharing the link to Crist’s food blog if she wouldn’t mind? I also need some help at times when it comes to creativity with our meals! I feel as though I make the same thing…over…and over again. Thanks so much.
Happy Anniversary to you and also Happy Birthday to sweet Hayes! I can’t wait to see party pictures. That Dijon marinade looks divine, I’m going to have to try it!
I started couch to 5k Monday! Good luck hopefully we can both keep it up. I started it once before and only did 2 days. I’m doing it to help lose weight and I’m very motivated so I’m going to try very hard to keep at it.
My sisters birthday is also this week 🙂 hers is the 5th. What day is Hayes?
I’ve been doing Couch to 5K for about 10 weeks now (I generally do each day twice) – lost 10 lbs, and can’t believe how great I feel running now. I’m ready to start Week 6 and love it!
Keep us updated with how it’s going.
Hi Erin! I just love your blog- your boys are the cutest!!
I am about to have my 2nd baby and they will be 18 months apart. Do you like your double stroller, and what kind is it? I’ve been debating on a side-by-side stroller, but don’t know how I’ll get around with one that wide 🙂
Hey Erin 🙂
Well I’m behind as always, but let’s see..
This week my inlaws came to visit, from FL. They got us the new iPad and I’m in love!
We went to the Splash Pad bc it was so hot yesterday, and are doing margaritas and homemade taco shells with fixins’ tonigh for an early cinco de mayo with friends tonight