Insta Friday

Friday, August 17, 2012

this week’s phone pics

grayden woke up Monday morning and asked me if he could help me make a recipe! i love when he helps me cook!
we made orange julius

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play date with the garvelinks

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laundry day  mishap!

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nap time bed head!

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a new snack:

*small tub of plain Greek yogurt

*2 tbs peanut butter

*1 tbs honey

*dash of cinnamon

grayden loved dipping apple slices and carrot sticks in it.

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sadler couldn’t get enough of aunt Lisa's salad at panera bread yesterday, he loved the lettuce!

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sweet, sleepy snuggles

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fun at the Bethany picnic

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(do they look alike or is it just me!? those smiles!)

last night’s diet disaster! somehow the scale budged in the right way, regardless of 860 extra calories! gotta love that!

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Friday:

play date with zayleigh

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they loved the turtles

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and one i missed from last week:

i spy……………

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hope everyone had a great week and has an awesome weekend!

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Wednesday randoms

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

**A few of you asked for the 30 cal mocha frappe recipe so here it is:

From Undressed Skelton

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  • 1 Packet Truvia
  • 9 Large Ice Cubes
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 1 Serving Sugar Free Mocha Mix

mix in blender

it will be a little liquid-y so stick it in the freezer for 10 minutes to thicken it up!

**Grayden’s Aunt Lisa made the workbooks that I mentioned last week for his gift on his 3rd birthday, the printouts are from here

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**I’m loving Zumba class, my friend Angie teaches it and its so upbeat and fun! I burn approximately 500-600 calories each class so its a great cardio workout.  I go 1-3 times a week, depending on the week and incorporate other workouts on the off days. My weight loss had been at a stand still the past couple of weeks and I have just a few more pounds to go, so I’ve switched my diet and workout routine up a little. Tonight Lisa and I are giving water aerobics a shot! I went once about 4 years ago and I keep sinking under the water, I was so tired I couldn’t swim anymore! My arms and legs were shaking after the class and I was sore for days! The sad thing was my friend Amanda and I were BY FAR the youngest girls there, and the 60 year olds were lapping us!! On top of that, I went to stroller fitness class this morning and got a killer leg workout (despite the fact that I had to keep tabs on Gray while he ran around) and I’m a touch tight yet from that! Needless to say I’m a little nervous! I’m not a strong swimmer so I’m hoping I survive! Wish me luck.

**I have another niece due to arrive any day now! Mindy’s due date is tomorrow and I’ve been pretty patient (helps that time flies during the Summer) up until this week, suddenly I can’t wait another day! Can’t wait to snuggle a little newborn again! Sadler was born 10 weeks after my first niece, Makenna, was born so I didn’t get much time to spend with her as an infant (thankfully I soaked up lots of snuggles during her first few weeks!) before I was busy with my own new mommy duties, let alone auntie duties.

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But this time there is no newborn of my own to require all my attention, just two busy boys! I think Robb and I will have to take shifts when we visit at the hospital so things don’t get too crazy! I’m thinking Sadler will have a little jealousy issues seeing mommy and daddy hold someone other than him :) I’m excited to see Gray with another baby cousin, he was so precious when Makenna and Sadler were tiny and now that he’s even older I think he’ll love his big cousin role even more! And Sadler will probably just want to point out all the baby’s facial features to everyone in case anybody wasn’t sure where her eyes, nose and mouth are, he’ll have that all covered for us! Hopefully, gently!

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**anyone going to the Created for Care adoption conference next year? I was thinking it would be something I’d like to look into but registration started last night at midnight and is already full!! Crazy! I have my name in on the waiting list incase an opening comes up!

Well that’s random for sure, but kind of a nice way to write about different topics in one post! Hope you all are having a great week!

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weekend wrap up

Monday, August 13, 2012

Friday night was rainy and chilly so we headed to Grandville for dinner and a little shopping as a family. We ate at red robin and then stopped at Marshall's, Kohl’s and JC Penny.

Saturday Robb headed into work with the boys for a bit and I went for a jog while they were gone. When they came home Robb mowed the lawn and Grayden and I played outside. We all came in for lunch and then got ready to head to the zoo!

It was the perfect day for it, we kept putting it off because it’s been so hot here that we would have been miserable walking around the zoo, but Saturday’s weather was just right!

I had hoped that the boys would take naps on the drive there but no such luck! I was worried our visit would be a disaster but they did awesome!

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(but they obviously can’t read the sign ;)

Grayden was in his glory, so excited to see all the animals!

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He pointed out the lemurs, a macaw, the otters, and all kinds of animals that I had no idea he knew the names of! Robb and I would look at each other and ask how he knew those names! Thank you Diego and Wild Kratts!

we’ve been to a zoo the past 3 years, its been fun to see their excitement grow as they get older!

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sadler felt right at home at the zoo, although sometimes we think he’d be better suited on the other side of the fence! kidding, kidding!

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after the zoo we had planned on getting dinner, and then head to a whitecaps baseball game. But since we were working with 2 boys and no naps, we knew our limits and ditched the game.

we stopped at vitale’s for dinner and then went home and took a quick bike ride before putting the kids to bed at night!
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since the boys went to bed early, Robb went out to rent a redbox for us.

it was a great day!

Sunday we went to church and then headed to the cottage for lunch and a pontoon ride.

At night, we met some friends at a park and grilled out for dinner. Always a fun time!

 

Hope you all had great weekends as well!

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insta friday

Friday, August 10, 2012

first off, thank you so much for all your sweet comments on my blog post yesterday. it means so much to know i have a network of fellow moms to vent to and go to for help! prayer is a wonderful thing and I started my day off with this one:

Source: fitnessandfaithfulness.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest
now onto our week in phone pics! this little boy loves to eat!

Grayden went to see his first play on Tuesday with grandpa and grandma, he loved it!

homemade mocha frappe, only 30 calories! gotta love that!

sadler wants to be just like his bog bro and swing like a big boy! he scares me but he loved it and did it over and over again!

stroller fitness class,
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friends at the park
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gray’s first trip to the dentist, he did so well!
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isn't this place too pretty to be a dentist’s office?! love it!
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sadler’s face when we pray! love him!
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you {don’t} make me happy when skies are Gray

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Its a gray and rainy day here today in west michigan. Rain is looming and my patience is draining. And it has prompted this post.

Gray has been pushing me to the limits lately.

We’ve been struggling with him more days than not. He never listens, he’s moody, he’s bossy and has major attitude. it’s hard and exhausting. I sound like a broken record repeating myself 100 times a day ‘gray, listen the first time”, “that’s not a nice way to treat your brother”, “you don’t talk to me that way”! Three is hard, whoever made up the term ‘terrible two’s’ must not have had a 3 year old!!

Grayden is a sweet, loving and polite boy, but this ‘stage’ we are in can pass anytime now. I know it’s all part of being a parent, but I hate having to punish him all the time and take away his dessert or favorite toy. It makes me so sad when he’s naughty and reminds me how it makes our heavenly Father must feel when we sin. Heartbreaking.

I need some book recommendations or advice from anyone who knows what we’re dealing with here, I'd appreciate it, and your prayers too!

In closing, I want to be clear that Grayden is one of the biggest blessing in our lives, we love him more than words can say and want the absolute, very best for him. Most importantly, we want him to be a follower of Jesus and grow up to be the best man he can be.

I love this quote I found on pinterest and need to be reminded of it daily

Gray, I know God has BIG pans for you and we want Him to use you to further His kingdom. He’s given you many gifts and many great qualities that make you such a special little boy (and I have another post on that coming)! I pray He uses this trying time in our journey of parenting you to help us grow as parents and in our relationship with you and God. We’re doing our best buddy, God gave us an important job when He gave us you, and that is to do our best to raise you as a godly man.

Now please just listen to me!

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Weekend wrap up

Monday, August 6, 2012

Friday night we went to Robb's parents house to celebrate his grandpa’s 82nd birthday.

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Saturday morning I went to zumba while Robb took the boys to work with him for a little bit.

When we got back we headed to the cottage.

On a whim, I decided to try skiing again after not doing it in 6 years, I got up the first try and hung on for dear life while Robb took me for a quick ride around the end of the lake!

I was a touch sore on Sunday, but it sure felt good to know I still got it, ha! I was hoping Gray would think I was cooler after that!

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At night Robb and I went out on a date! We did some shopping downtown and ate at the Curragh, an Irish restaurant downtown, it was delish. The hummus appetizer was amazing.

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After dinner we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart to get candy and pop to bring with us to a movie (we’re so cheap and never buy a $4 box of candy at the theatre!) We saw The Watch, it was so dumb and had horrible language, so I’m not recommending it in case anyone asks,  but we were in the mood for a comedy, and it did make us laugh for sure!

It seemed just like old times, we didn’t even get diapers or groceries like we do every other time we go on a date! So fun!

The boys had fun with Grandpa and Grandma R. while we were out!

 

After church Sunday morning we met Robb’s family at a park to celebrate Dad’s birthday. The kids were ‘in a mood’ so it was nice that they could play and run around!

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I worked in the nursery during the evening service and we were invited to friends’ house after church for pizza!

The boys had so much fun playing with the triplet’s cool toys! Grayden didn’t want to leave, he told us to ‘pick me up in a few days’

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sadler has been rockin’ this cheesy smile lately, and I sure do love it!

so thankful for a fun weekend with lots of friends and family to share it with!

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insta friday

Friday, August 3, 2012

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daddy’s helpers digging up a big rock

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choc chip frappe, a treat to myself for 15lbs lost (it was worth every sip!)

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splash park fun with drew

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picking berries

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seriously?

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future Olympians :)

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fun at grandpa’s new business open house

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gray loves his work books, as long as i leave him alone when he works!

 

have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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