Let's Look...

Here we are, half way into January! I've made it past quitters day (yay!) and I'm hoping that these low level goals stick for the remainder of the year.

I'm linking up with Shay and Erika to share some low level goals I have for myself this year...

 

I will say that my word of the year, focus, is my main goal. I think making lofty goals are unrealistic and also why does January 1st mean we have to put the pressure on ourselves. Here are a few things I really want to focus on this year...

My family. I'm so fortunate to stay home with my kids. However, I want to focus on the time I have with them. I want to treasure the time I have with them. Spend time in their classroom. Have meaningful conversations in all the time we spend together in the car. Take time away from things that "need to be done" and play with Charlee while it's just the two of us in the afternoons. 

My husband. This year we have been married for 10 years. I want to make sure that Travis has no question that I'm still head over heels for him. I want to focus on him when we're together! 

My health. I'm on a health journey that I need to focus on to better my own health. I want to be able to show my kids that it's good to workout and put healthy things into our bodies. I want to be able to run and play with my kids without getting tired. I want to be able to go on vacation and hike without feeling exhaustion. I want to feel good about this body I have, since this is the only one I'm getting. And, I want to do it the right way by working hard and focusing on how I'm taking care of it. 

Friends. I'm a true believer that quality is better than quantity. I have some really amazing friends so I want to focus on those friendships!

What are some of your low level goals you have for yourself this year? 

Let's Look: Evening Routines

 I'm linking up with Shay and Erika today for Let's Look..

Our evenings are crazy busy right now! I am lucky to feed my family and get them to bed before nine. With fall sports and dance, we just don't have much normal to our routines right now.

I always try and clean up dinner and put my kitchen "to bed" so that in the morning, it's ready for breakfast, lunch making, and I walk into a clean kitchen. This doesn't always happen, but I'm always thankful when it does.

I always set my coffee to brew. It brews at 6:00 am so that when I walk in from the gym, it's hot and ready for me. This is a key to a successful day.

I'm not the best about taking care of my skin but washing it and adding a serum is simple and a night time routine I can manage. I buy my face wash from Young Living and I make my own serum.

The kids' bedtime routine is short and sweet. I know that someday I'm going to miss putting three kids to bed but right now, I'm exhausted when it's time. We do baths, potty, prayers, and bed!

There you have it; a couple night time routines that help in our home!

Let's Look: Date Night Ideas!

 Happy Wednesday, friends!

It's the April edition of Let's Look on Shay and Erika's blog and so I'm linking up with them today!

So today is all about...How you plan and do date nights!

In all honesty, this is what most of our Saturday nights look like. We have three kids. We don't go on a date every weekend. But that doesn't mean we don't still carve time to be together.

I love going on dates with this guy. Looking back to find pictures for this post, most of the pictures we have together are on vacation. What do I love more than a date night...a weekend away. Preferably watching some kind of sporting event and in Denver.

We live in the same town as family. Our kids have both sets of grandparents and my aunt who always are kind enough to watch our kids. I can't tell you the last time we got a sitter. If we do go out on a date, we grab dinner and normally head home. We've seen a small handful of movies together but love just visiting with each other over dinner without being interrupted a dozen times by our kids.

Last year, we were fortunate enough to travel to Denver a handful of times and we enjoyed baseball games and drinks on the different patio restaurants. Those are my very favorite weekends. An entire weekend with just the two of us, or even another couple. 

Whenever there is an event that we're attending, it's 100% considered a date night. Even though we may be in a room full of other people, we are getting adult time, spent together. We attend the Rotary Youth Auction each year and have the best time. Unfortunately, it's been canceled the last two years but we're looking forward to attending this year.

Another activity we really enjoy is golfing together. We golfed regularly on a couples league before Colson was playing baseball, but we still enjoy going out together and playing a few holes.

Going out with friends is so fun too! This was taken in San Francisco but even just dinner locally is great! Most of our friends have kids so it's not always easy, but it's so fun when it works out! We even just have friends over for drinks so we can hang out. We love concerts and things we can mark on our calendars way in advance in order to plan. But we also love a last minute date!

Anytime I'm spending with Travis is my favorite! I love our weekend trips away, our last minute dinner dates, or just time spent together after the kids are in bed. I will say that making your marriage a priority is the most important thing. I want my kids to know that their dad is my number one. I want them to know how much we love each other and support one another. I think it's so healthy for my kids to see us happy and showing each other love. So even if we can't have an elaborate date night, those conversations while sitting on the couch after we put our kids to bed are just as important!

I hope you have the best Wednesday! I'm headed to watch Colson play baseball in the snow!

 

Let's Look: Thanksgiving Menu

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Shay and Erika today to share our Thanksgiving menu... It looks the same, most years...

 We normally start our morning with cinnamon rolls and coffee.......

While the kids and I watch the Macy's Day Parade. 

Travis is off duck hunting so I like to keep things easy.

Sometimes Nana and Papa join us too!

In the afternoon, we go to my in-laws for dinner.

We have appetizers. I usually make a cranberry dip and caramel Heath dip. My brother in law usually brings shrimp. It's simple but we get to snack while waiting for the main dish.

My in-laws make the most amazing dinner spread. We have a traditional meal, turkey, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce, with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Who can forget the pie! Pecan and pumpkin is usually on the menu.

And my favorite part of  Thanksgiving...the leftovers! They truly are the best!

I'm really looking forward to baking and of course enjoying Thanksgiving with family in just a couple weeks!

Let's Look: Meal Plan

 Happy Wednesday, friends! Today's post is going to be short and sweet because we basically eat the same meals each week, in the same order! ;)

I'm linking up for LET'S LOOK! Today, we're sharing meal planning.

During the busy months, which feels like every month, we do quick and easy dinners...

In the spring, summer, and fall, I love things that I can stick on the grill and eat quickly while on our way out the door to practice or golf. 

On Mondays, we always eat orange chicken and rice. Always. It's Travis's favorite and any Monday that I make something else, he asks why I didn't make orange chicken and rice.

I buy the orange chicken at Costco and then just make my own rice because my family like rice and fried egg but no veggies.

On Tuesdays, we have tacos. Every Tuesday. Usually its ground beef tacos but occasionally I will pick up one of these trays from Costco. They are so amazing!!!!

On Wednesday, Travis golfs and Colson has practice so we usually have brats from Costco. We can eat them on the go or quickly before running out the door.

On Thursdays, Colson has practice and Travis has bowling so it's another quick meal. I love blts because I can prepare everything and then cook an egg to through on right before we eat. It's quick and everyone loves them!

Friday means PIZZA at our house! Everyone looks forward to it and it starts our weekend off right!

Saturday and Sunday, I like to take more time in the kitchen. Maybe grill steaks, make finger steaks or chicken strips. I feel like we have more time to enjoy dinner on those nights.

During the fall and winter months I use my crock pot a lot! I love putting everything in and coming home to a cooked meal. Or smelling it all day while I'm home!

If you can't tell, I like our meals to be quick and easy. Costco is a must and we don't changed things up very much!

I hope you have the best Wednesday!

Let’s Look At: Our Summer Bucket List

Happy Wednesday, friends! Today is the June edition of Let's Look with Erika and Shay!

Today we are sharing our summer bucket lists!

Yesterday, the kids and I made a list of all the things we want to do this summer and then we picked the top 13 to put on our bucket list!

Every year we add a couple of the same things...swimming lessons, Cascade, make s'mores...

But this year we also added some new things to our list!



I should probably add, learn to take a good picture with three kids. I think it might take longer than the summer to accomplish that though. :(

This year we are taking the boys to Silverwood so we added that to our bucket list! The boys have also been asking Travis and I to take them to car races so that made the list!

Colson and I are going to run a 5K together this summer! 

Hopefully an easy one that we can both finish!

We have it hanging on our fridge so it's easy to see and mark things off! As you can see, we've already marked off tie dying, but they want to do some more. We shall see...it's messy!

Have a great Wednesday!

Let's Look {Perfect Night In}

Today we're sharing what a perfect night in would look like. Let me just start out by saying...a perfect night would be a summer night so we could be outside!

It would include all of these people.....

This guy would be grilling us up something yummy to eat! 

Doesn't this just look perfect to you? Playing out in the yard...

Of course this is how it would end. Kids in bed...and Travis and I enjoying the fire together with a glass of wine or a beer. Yes, please!!!

It doesn't take much. I love summer nights at home.

 

Let's Look At...Easter

Today I'm linking up with some of my favorite bloggers to share what Easter looks like at our house.

I can't even tell you how disappointed I am that Easter is going to look drastically different this year.

I love Easter Sunday. I love what it represents, and I know that doesn't change.

We always having fun coloring Easter eggs! The Easter bunny (Dad) hides real eggs while we're at church!

The kids and I start our morning with church. My favorite service of the year.

And apparently, I always wear a denim jacket on Easter.

We come home to Easter baskets....

And then we have brunch with my family at our house! 

 

Followed by the egg hunt! We wait until my niece is here to hunt for eggs!

 

Then, we head to my in-laws house for an egg hunt and dinner.

I'm sad that we won't be attending church this year or having all of out get togethers with family.

But, I'm thankful for my own family and the real reason that we celebrate Easter, Jesus!

I hope everyone is looking forward to Easter Sunday!