What's Up Wednesday: September 2017 Edition

Hey ya'll! Cooler temps are supposedly on the way, and dare I say it's finally fall?! Like FINALLY?!  Over, the heat. OVER. IT. 

I'm back today to share another round of What's Up Wednesday -- where we catch up and answer these questions ....

What We're Eating This Week: Uhm BBQ. We had the fan bam over Monday night to celebrate this month's birthdays and I overestimated the consumption just a wee tiny bit. So, I've been packing everyone in the family lunch, adding smoked chicken to avocado toast and serving mac n' cheese to Lainey (it's her favorite) for nearly every meal. I'm not gonna lie though, I'm pretty excited about eating out tonight with my gal pals (for yet another bday celebration) and munching on something other than smokey meat. Ha!

What I'm reminiscing about: My birthday ... because even though I'm one year older ... birthdays are always fun! I mean when is waking up to presents and having your kiddos spit all over your birthday treat NOT the best day ever ?! :) Plus, I had a total "me" day had my nails did with my bestie, and even got my hurr did at drybar!

For some reason I can only find the "before" selfie I sent MaKenzie .... but the after was cute too. I had a little braid and curls -- let's be honest though ... it looked exactly the same as my hair does nearly ever day - HA!

And when Bruno Mars comes to town on your birthday ... it's NEVER a bad day!

What I'm loving: Watching my big guy play sports. We're officially in the thick of soccer season and flag football started last weekend, and little man is LOVING it. Shane and I were both athletes growing up, and we love watching him play all the games. "Soccer mom-ing" is my jam. 

Flag football and daddy is the coach

 He thinks he's so cool with his little mouth guard :)

What we've been up to: We have been SO. STINKING. BUSY. If it's not school, it's a meeting, if it's not a meeting it's a dinner, if it's not a dinner it's a party, if it's not a party, it's a game. Whew! Some days I struggle to keep up!

We celebrated my birthday with Shane's family at the LouCity game ... and Sissy even called ahead and brought homemade cake to the suite! Score!

We agreed to a Build A Bear stop on a random Saturday .. complete with stuffing fill,

 warming up our animals hearts.

 giving them lots of happy thoughts,

 making a big wish for their future,

 and giving them a big kiss with lots of love,

 and of course baths.

We've attended birthday parties + had our faces painted ...

What I'm dreading: Still November. November is going to be a HUGE visit (PET scan, CT scan, MRI of the abdomen, MRI of the brain, blood work, derm visit) THE WORKS. And there are a couple of really subtle spots they've been watching for a long time and we think this visit will kind of determine a decision one way or another (if they've changed). Sooo ... while it's still a while away - I'm dreading it. It's been heavy on my heart. 

What I'm working on: Would you believe me if I told you I'm getting ready to tackle ANOTHER construction project :) ?!! I know, I've officially lost my mind. But I met with the contractors last week to go over plans and we've filed for permits - so I'm crossing my fingers and diving in head first. More on that at a later date ... but let's just say I'm nervous and excited to the Nth degree. However, the use of these old doors as makeshift walls is totally an idea I'm stealing for this new little space and I think it's so great.

What I'm excited about: The mail :) ha! I've got some goodies on order and I've been checking the window to watch for the mail lady like a hawk. My blinds are also being installed today, so I'm also really excited to finally take my temporary accordion paper blinds down! Also, I'm excited our little guy is starting to eat some new foods! About a month ago we put our foot down and had a big family chat - BENNETT IT IS TIME TO START EATING! - And we all agreed he would try one new food every night at dinner. We decide what it is, and it's lots of things. Sometimes we choose things we know he'll love (like a donut) so that it's not miserable ALL the time ... but other times we choose black beans, it's a give and take but either way it's PROGRESS and I'll take it! He also has started to use band-aids (he used to hate them for some reason) .. and the other day he took "I'll wear band-aids now" to a whole new level. And that made me smile. He told me he was a zombie, so this was the only face he would make.

What I'm watching/reading: THIS IS US! It returned last night and I'm so excited about fall shows being back in the lineup! I also just wrapped Shauna Niequist's book, Present Over Perfect, and it was such a breath of fresh air in this busy little life of mine.

What I'm listening to: Game of Thrones - if I'm at my computer (which seems to be a lot lately) I"m streaming Game of Thrones. 

What I'm wearing: Hopefully the last of my summer wardrobe. Did I mention I'm OVER the heat? Because I am. We all adorned summer attire at the Company picnic this weekend and I am hoping that was the last social function of the year that we have to wear those threads! Bring it fall.

What I'm doing this weekend: I can't believe it, but we have a relatively low key weekend! We've got soccer and flag football of course - and we're toying with some Friday night plans - but the forecast is calling for fall temps and we're planning to finally spend some time around the house (garage, basement, etc) and tackling some tabled projects we've been putting off since we moved in. 

What I'm looking forward to next month: Ahh FALL! Pumpkins, apples, family photos, more football, Halloween, I really really like October. 

What else is new: We're starting to plan a little bit for Spring Break and some items that are on the horizon -- but other than that we're just working to tack our to do lists!

And that's about it folks, what's up with you this Wednesday?!

Five on Friday: Seven Straight Mondays

Do you ever have weeks that feel like 7 straight Mondays? It's been one of those weeks for me. It has been jam packed with events for both me and hubs - which has had us all crazy - topped with I had a touch of the stomach bug for the better part of Sunday-Tuesday. So, to be honest I'm not really sad to say goodbye to this week and move on to the next. A week of Mondays for me, a day when GoGo doesn't answer Lainey's FaceTime call for her :)

However - before the week of said Mondays - we did have some really great things to add to our Five on Friday. 

 One: The Louisville Zoo

Last year for Christmas Shane's Aunt and Uncle gifted us with an annual membership to the zoo and it's such a great thing to have. We have a pretty decent little zoo here in Louisville, and it's great to pop in for a few hours (especially in the cooler temps) and spend the afternoon. We picked up B from school last Friday and headed straight to play with the animals for the afternoon. And ride the carousel of course.

Talk to the Gorillas.

 And eat all the dippin' dots.

 Watch the bears swim.

 And hit up the carousel one more time before we left.

 Two: Soccer

Bennett had his first soccer game last weekend and it was so fun to see him play. He's officially played basketball and baseball, but this was his first soccer team and HE LOVED IT. It's truly the first sport he was super excited about, talked about a lot, and keeps asking when his next game is (t's tomorrow). We've got him in a flag football league that starts this fall too - and Shane is the QB - can't wait to report how that one goes!

 His biggest fan made sure to have a front row seat on the sidelines.

 He scored a GOAL too!

Three: Anniversary 

This past Sunday Shane and I celebrated 11 years together and 6 years married :) after Bennett's soccer game we loaded up the car and headed to Cincinnati for a celebratory weekend. We have a home there in Dayton, KY, so we dropped the littles at the house with supervision - and headed straight to West Chester for a full adult day to celebrate 6 fabulous years together!

First stop - Starbucks. Second stop: Ballard Design / Grand Iron Road / Frontgate Outlet Shopping! Yay adulthood! (thanks wind for giving me that supermodel hair flip - HA!)

 Third stop: IKEA - complete with Swedish meatballs, because IKEA duh.

Fourth stop: Top Golf!! Ya'll SO FUNNNN. They're only in select places, but if you have a chance to go to one - GO! It was a blast (and I'm not even a golfer really) and I totally recommend it! (sorry for so many annoying selfies and italic side comments today) It's kind of like bowling, but with golf and really yummy food and drinks and just all around good fun.

Four: The Bengals

We woke up Sunday ready to cheer on our favorite team, and popped some bubbly to celebrate the Anniversary and have some WHODEY in our life at the first game of the season. 

 Then we headed to tailgate with all of our peoples.

 Playing catch and eating snacks - we're good at all of the above!

 I love these pictures - my dad and his brother cheering for the hall of famers at half time. They grew up in this city with these guys as their players -- and it's neat to watch them remain loyal to a team that sometimes makes it hard to be a fan :)

Five: This week's Shenanigans 

My parent's are in Seattle and I'm jealous. Hubs and I were supposed to go there for our anniversary last year, but due to all of my health business we had to put it on hold. Hopefully one day we'll get a chance to finally make our way out there. 

And for a traditional Friday confession ~ My dear husband of 6 years still does terribly horrible things that make me cringe. Like leaving dirty crinkled up socks on an end table in our home. WHYYYYY?!?!!?

 Lainey is still silly cute and keeps us laughing - ALWAYS.

 And Irma has brought us a good amount of rainy and cloudy days and we are slaying the lazy movie game. But, I'm ready for some sunshine ... and a Friday after a long week of Mondays.

 Have a great weekend gang!