3 years already

Our sweet girl turned 3 this past week.  Since I wasn't (still not) sure when Brody would arrive, we didn't plan a party.  But we did spread our her birthday as much as we could and tried to make her still feel as special and celebrated as possible!

Clint's mom and husband came over for supper one night and they brought her a "Minnie" birthday and a "black" cake, which is chocolate in Ava's world.

My aunt gave her her present at church the next day.

The day before her birthday, we took her to our local bakery and let her pick out a cupcake of her choice.

We opened presents, made tacos for supper (one of her favorites).

Then it was time to blow out the 3 candles on her "wedding cake" cupcake! 
Clint and I both had to work on her actual birthday, but she opened presents at my parent's house and got to blow out another round of candles. 

I'm pretty sure she had a fantastic few DAYS of birthday celebration. 

After Brody decides to arrive, we will have the family over to celebrate her birthday and see the new man in the family. 

Wow, does time fly.  She is the best kid and we are so blessed to have her in our lives!

Hockey and last of the birthday!

Another week y'all!  I know some are off work today and some aren't.  I am not.  We are working today.  It is totally ok with me, because I only work at my job three days a week anyway!

Let's update ya on the weekend happenings.  It was a busy one! 
I got up Saturday morning and ran 8 miles and then did my 3000 club exercises.
We slowly got ready and had breakfast and then headed off for family grocery shopping.  We made it 2 weeks without shopping and I was proud of us for that.  Talk about having to be creative for meals!

We restocked the fridge and pantry for $135 and were under budget! Whoohoo!

We came home and took a little siesta before the rest of our busy day.

My bosses gave us a gift card to Cantina Laredo like 6 months ago, so we decided to cash it in!

The food was really good!!!! 

We started off with chips and salsa and table side guacamole!

So good!

I ordered 2 cheese, spinach and mushroom enchiladas and Clint had Carne Asada.  Ava of course, picked from our plates.

Waiting on the check, they were putting a puzzle together!

Love these two peas in a pod!

We parked across the river to walk across the bridge to the arena for
OPENING HOCKEY night!!  They have been on a lockout and the season started on Saturday night.

Hockey time in Nashville or Smashville during hockey season!

First Intermission picture!

Second intermission picture!

They lost in a shootout, but we are just glad they are back playing!

Sunday, I got up and did an easy 4 miles and then my 3000 club exercises.

I made a French toast casserole for our Sunday school class.  I didn't try any because we had to substitute teach for Ava's 2 year old class, but everyone said it was great.  There was only one little corner piece left, so it must've been tasty.

We went to lunch at my parent's to celebrate my birthday with my extended family!  We had hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings! So good!

Ava was mesmerized by all of the candles!

We literally lounged the rest of the day.

Great weekend in my opinion!!

Talk to ya soon!!!

31 years

Happy Friday!

I started my day off right by getting up and running a good 3 miles and then doing my 3000 club exercises:

40 pushups, 40 burpees, 150 crunches. 

Breakfast was oats, 2 egg whites and a tablespoon of natural peanut butter that I took to the office!

Yesterday was my 31st Birthday and I couldn't have planned it better!!

Let me back up to Wednesday night though.

While I was at work, Clint and Ava were busy bees. 

I walked up the stairs leading to the house in the garage and saw signs made and taped up by the door!

Aww so sweet!

I walked in and was welcomed to

A "Happy Birthday" sign,

pink and zebra balloons and streamers.

I was so surprised!!

Then I look at the table and they had made quiche, breakfast casserole AND a Lemon Chess pie!

I was overwhelmed!!!  It was the best surprise!!!

Yesterday morning, I got up after Clint left for work and went to go make coffee.

He had scattered sweet notes and words of affirmation ALL over the house!!

Best husband ever!

I had my coffee and started some laundry, cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen (that doesn't stop even if it is your birthday!).

Ava woke up around that time, so I got her settled with some leftover casserole and Cinderella and then I went to get on the treadmill. 

Only to find a new workout band and another note from Clint.

After I finished, I just kind of sat and took it all in. 

I turned 31 years old, am 11.5 weeks pregnant, and ran 8 miles with an 8:54min mile average. 

I was pretty dog-gone proud of myself!!

I showered and ate a late breakfast and then we played with dolls and I combed and braided Rapunzel's hair.  I loved every minute of playing dolls with Ava!

We got ready and headed to visit my parents before we were to go meet Clint when he got off of work.

I RARELY buy donuts. Like EVER!  I love them, don't get me wrong and there are NONE better than Krispy Kreme. 

Well my mom got me a dozen Chocolate covered Creme filled ones for my birthday!  If you have  Krispy Kreme close, you should go soon and try those OR get one right off the line!!

We met Clint and headed to Opry Mills mall, so I could shop!  Hello, talk about fun!!!

Old Nacy had this cute picnic table the kids could color on, so we had to leave our mark!

I got some good stuff at a few stores and then we saw it.....

The Carousel!

Me nor Ava have ever ridden one so we HAD to do it today!

Ava LOVED it!!!  She even got a horse stamp after and kept staring at it on her hand!

We went to a couple more stores and then I was starving!!

Good thing the restaurant we were going to was in the mall!

Great Mexican food without the greasy plate!

Clint had the special(can't remember what it was), I had a grilled chicken salad with avocado, there were a couple of baskets of chips and some salsa in there too.  Ava picked from our plates.

We were too stuffed for dessert, plus we ate an earlier than usual supper.

Clint brought up my "birthday cake" to the bonus room. Ava had fell asleep on the way home so she was on my chest sleeping.

Perfection! 

I only ate one!  But it was the best donut ever!!

My birthday was one for the books!  I couldn't have planned it better! 

Now for the day after birthday blues, haha. Kidding!!  Nothing at ALL to be blue about!

Have a great weekend and I'll talk soon!

Shopping, shopping, shopping

Hey!

Good morning on this hump day!!

Yesterday was a good day for us!

I got up and ran 7.25 miles before Ava woke up! 

She slept until 8:15, which is SUPER late for her!

I got her breakfast and got us both ready for a day of shopping with my mama!

My birthday is tomorrow...the big 31, so I asked my mama if we could just go shop together since I wasn't sure what I wanted.  The drawback of having a birthday 3 weeks after Christmas when you get so much for Christmas!

It wasn't a draw back though!!  I got what I wanted and needed although I won't GET it until tomorrow on my birthday. 

We went to The Shoe Dept to look for some boots.

There was this really neat kid game/time consumer at The Shoe Dept and while my mama looked for her some shoes, Ava and I played on this thingy.

 

Our next stop was next door to Cato.  I love strip mall shopping

First round of bags!

My prissy daughter walking the aisle!

We headed to Kohl's last and finished up some good shopping there.  Kimber Ava's buddy for the trip got to ride in the stroller seat while she stood on the front end. 

(no toddlers were hurt in this stunt!)

The weather channels were calling for some ice and freezing rain, so we cut our trip early without LUNCH and my mom dropped us off.  I was starving when we when got home, so I made a quick lunch of tuna, chips, broccoli and mixed sour cream and salsa for a dip.

It hit the spot.

Clint got hom shortly after and we caught up on Revenge and Grey's Anatomy(so sad) from last week and then he worked out while I did my 3000 club exercises!

Supper was simple and good!

Grilled boneless pork chops

Baked sweet potato for me, regular potato for Clint

green beans

Bath time and more relaxing ended the night!

I did get up this morning and ran 3 miles and did my 3000 club exercises:

50 pushups, 35 burpees, 200 crunches

(all before 5am)!!

I feel so accomplished and proud of myself when I do that!!

Well, of to get some work done!

Have a great day and I'll see ya soon!

(p.s. My birthday is TOMORROW!!! YAY!)

Weekend round up

October!  Wow, this year is flying by! Speaking of flying, look at our witch!

We were playing around in Dollar General on Saturday and she wanted to put this on.  Matches her outfit! 

Before this, I ran 6.25 miles before breakfast and then we stopped by a consignment sale and got her some jammies and a couple pairs of shoes.  The lady said that she was accepting new consignors so I got her number and will take some of Ava's stuff to sell this week!!

About a month ago we bought a pork tenderloin that was on sale and my family was coming over on Sunday, so that gave Clint an excuse to smoke it on the smoker.  He has such a knack for this!!  It turned out amazing as usual.  On my plate was some roasted sweet potato, broccoli, mushrooms and onions with some ketchup and some pork tenderloin as well. 

FANTASTIC meal!!

 

After supper, I prepared for Sunday lunch.  My family was coming to celebrate my mom's brithday.  I made cornbread muffins, cajun rice, a chocolate cake.  This helped a lot to do this the night before. I got up Sunday morning and ran 5 miles and then did last minute house cleaning before getting ready for church.  What is church without snacks, right?!

Chocolate almond milk                          Trader Joe's Veggie sticks

It was special contribution day, so the kids brought their containers full of coins.  Clint went up to help Ava put her money in.  Such a proud mama and wife!

Sunday lunch was a huge success and my mom loved her gifts!!  They all left by 1:30pm, so we lounged around the rest of the day and Clint and Ava switched out having good naps. 

All in all it was a great weekend!! 

I got up this morning and did a Bodyrock workout and ran 2 miles.  All before 5am!!  Great way to kick off a Monday rainy morning.  Although, I much would have rathered snuggling Ava in Clint in bed all morning!  Working out is the next best thing!! 

Have a great day and see ya soon!!

Another day down

Yesterday mine and Ava's day consisted of taking our 4 month old puppy for a walk before it got hot.  He is getting big.  I think he weighs about 45lbs right now.  I'll tell you, he just about broke my hand though!  I had his leash wrapped around my hand while I was pushing Ava in her stroller and he saw a bird.  He was raring to go after that tweeter! 

We came back and we played outside a bit before it was time for me to go run inside on the treadmill.  I got 5 miles in and called it a day.  We had a few errands to run and Ava finally took a wee little nap on the way.

Clint and my dad are smoking pork shoulders on their smokers for Ava's party and I was the lucky one to get to pick these up.  It looked like someone whacked off a pig shoulder!  I know that is what really happens, but geez.  I much rather prefer it cooked.  Although, I just learned that because pigs are scavengers, their bodies don't metabolize things well and they are more inclined for parasites!  Um, yuck!

Clint got home and he went to work out in the garage while Ava and I did a little house decorating....



In her house that is.  Yep, I am in the house.  It is an awkward thing to get in to, but we fit quite nicely.  Although, if she decides she wants daddy in there too we are going to have to up the square footage!

On the weekly menu for supper was Chicken Enchiladas.

My healthy version....

Ingredients:

2 cooked chicken breasts chopped

1 cup salsa, divided

1/4 to 1/2 light sour cream

1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided(can use mozzarella, but cheddar was what we had)

4 large torillas

Directions:

Put a little salsa in the bottom of a baking dish.

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix chopped chicken, salsa, sour cream and about 3/4 shredded cheese in a mixing bowl.

Take about 1/4 cup of the mixture and put down the center of the tortilla.  Roll it up and put the seam side down in the baking dish. 

Repeat process for remaining 3 tortillas.

Add 1/2 cup or so of salsa on top of rolled tortillas.

Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of salsa.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*Clint approved these!!

After supper, I had on my menu to make muffins for the next couple of morning meals.  Brown sugar muffins were on the list.

Recipe is at The Happy Housewife's blog.

Get ready for party pictures!!  Ava's birthday party is Saturday afternoon!  Have to get party-ready!!!

2 on Tuesday

Tuesday, Yesterday was this girl's 2nd Birthday!!  Everyone needs a birthday hat right?!

Ava and I ran errands for her party this week and groceries for us.  I have a begun for the past few weeks of having a $50 budget a week for groceries.  How do I do this??  Well, on the weekends I look at sale ads and look at recipes and I make a menu.  I usually pick 4 suppers and 2 breakfast ideas.  I check what we need in our pantry and I make a LIST.  I do have the luxury of having time to go to different stores to get the best deals.  Oh and I ONLY use the cash I have on hand.  Throughout the store, I add up our purchases on my calculator and if I am getting close to going over budget(tax included) I analyze the NEEDS and the WANTS.

Today, Ava and I went "shopping, shopping, shopping" at Kroger, Dollar Tree, Aldi's, and Walmart.

My budget was a little higher this week because of the party we are having for Ava on Saturday.  I still on spent $80.38!  I was pretty excited because look at all of this stuff!

When Clint got home, I went and wrapped Ava's presents and she got to unwrapping them.  We love our daughter but we do NOT go overboard on her with gifts monetarily.

I traded some books I had for some brand new books for Ava.  (FREE)

I got her some sandals on sale at Children's Place with free shipping for like $3 and change.

I upcycled a bench that I got at a yard sale.  

That is some strong tape!

We found this house, a refrigerator/kitchen, ironing board, and play food for $75 on Craigslist.  This all retailed for about $250.  Look at her, already taking groceries in the house!

Peek a boo!

I got the Bread maker out and made homemade dough and pizza!

I used the Breadmachine Diva's recipe and it did not disappoint.  Even my pizza experts loved it.

 

 Ava wanted cookies over cake, so I got Eat. Laugh. Run's recipe off of Pinterest and tried it out.

 We won't buy Chips Ahoy anymore!!!!  So good!

Oh yea, I did run 6 miles yesterday(haha)!

It was such a great day.  We are so blessed to have Ava!