Inta Friday In The Hood

Hello Friday before a three day weekend! 

It's been an exhausting week.

So that nasty cold of Brody's last Friday

 landed us in the doctor's office by that afternoon.

It wasn't just a cold.

It was Croup. 

I've never experienced Croup until this week.

And all I have to say about it is:

Croup is the devil. 

The Devil I tell you.

 

AJ earned a new Lego set last Friday

and surprised me with this little kit for us to put together.

 

I thought it was an awesome surprise. 

 

I mean Halloween Legos.

That rocks.

Abby and AJ went to Nana and Papa's last Saturday to spend the night.

Andy had a big date day planned...

all three kids were suppose to spend the night at Nana & Papa's...

there was going to be indoor sky diving, a couples massage, a manicure for me, dinner out...

But remember Brody caught The Devil...

so instead we spent the day with sad, sick Brody.

We had a casual lunch and did a some shopping.

I got a fabulous pair of boots for the fall...

which is way better than massage or a manicure if you ask me.

Lasts longer anyway.

And I got to snuggle love Brody a lot.

A lot...

as in all night.

Many nights.

The older kids were getting kinda needy.

One afternoon we tried to make some chocolate doughnuts as a special treat.

Total bust.

Stupid doughnuts.

But I kept smiling.

And snuggle loving a very sick little boy.

And loving the family dog...

even when he did stuff like this...

after I had not slept a full night all week...

because of The Devil sickness.

I finally put away the laundry I kept folding and just setting in neat piles.

Because the kids were running out of pajamas.

I started a new book over some cold root beer and apple chips, but kept falling asleep.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

I think it's going to be good.

I did some cutting and gluing for AJ's teacher.

I have to admit when AJ's teacher asked me to stay for a minute one day after school...

I thought...

Oh shit.  What has he done?

Or said?

But she just needed me to cut out some bears and glue them to construction paper.

Whew.

Those moments that she was dismissing the other students 

before she talked to me 

were nerve racking.

I got to doll Abby up for school pictures.

I love polka dots.

I love the classic look of black and white.

I love korker bows.

I love sparkly shoes.

I love that little girl.

And I love my father-in-law that sends Andy home with

amazing homemade peach pies.

It was much needed after this week.

Insta Friday

Hey!
This week was kinda a blur.
Looking forward to the weekend. 

 We rocked it at the Bike Rodeo.

Let's not talk about the training wheels drama.

 Because it's worse than potty training drama.

And my eye is twitching just thinking about it.

We decorated license plates,
 mastered the obstacle course a few hundred times,
 washed bikes in the bike wash,
washed our balloon in the bike wash...

Ya know, did the kinds of things you do at a bike rodeo.

I tried some sock bun experimenting.

I'm still undecided on this one.

Hint: use damp hair.

Trying to do it with dry hair will only result in frustration levels 

similar to trying to teach a willful, terrified of falling 6 year old to ride a bike without training wheels. 

Damp hair friends.

Learn from me.

Yes, I am a Hunger Games fan.

Don't be a hater.

It is more than just kids killing kids.

We celebrated a BFF's birthday.

So pink & girly.

So fun.

We indulged in some doughnuts as a fam.

We are suckers for that Hot Now sign.

Their fountain Dr. Pepper was bad.  

I should have gone with the chocolate milk.

Next time.

I gave Girlfriend my childhood Cabbage Patch doll.

It was love at first sight.

It was awesome.

She changed her name to Anna.

I'm cool with that.

I also passed down my old doll clothes.

Some, I bought with my own money as a kid.

Some, my mom had made for me or my little sister...

like those knit electric purple stirrup pants.  

Classic.

Some, my grandma Mimi had made.

Some, myself or my brothers and sisters wore as babies. 

I love when things can be passed down.

So nostalgic.

This momma needed all the help I could get this week.

And there must be a back up plan for when the coffee does not get made.

I made a crock pot roast this week.

I love roasts.

I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl.

 I love that the work is done early in the day.

I love that the house smells amazing as it cooks.

I love the veggies.

I love that I'm not scrabbling at 4:30 to figure out or prepare dinner.

Inspired by Crafts By Amanda we read a book about snakes and made toilet paper snakes.

It felt so well put together...a book and a craft about the same thing.

Girlfriend said she LOVES snakes when we were done.

I said let's not get crazy here, real snakes are still creepy.

I enjoyed a salted caramel shake with my BFF over some girl talk before

roaming around Barnes And Noble.

It was a fabulous evening.  

AJ wanted to decorate his teddy bear for school as a clown.

Personally, I think clowns are creepy, but it was his clown.

School projects are hard for me.

The control freak in me has a hard time letting go.

He colored the whole thing.

He picked the creepy clown theme.

I did the hot gluing.

It turned out more cute than creepy.  

I think.

I spend my days picking up after Mr. Curiosity.

Really I call him The Destroyer, 

but Mr. Curiosity sounds less vampiresque for an 11 month old.

Whatever you call him...Mr. Curiosity or The Destroyer...

it is sad when he is down and out with a major cold.

So I am spending today snuggle lovin' a boy that doesn't feel so hot.

And I would rather be picking up after all his messes.

Poor guy.

Fall Bucket List

I made our Fall Bucket List today!

 

Did I forget anything?! 

Help me think of more fun fall ideas!

Rolo Stuffed Snickerdoodles By Rachel Schultz

Inspired by Rachel Schultz I made

Rolo stuffed Snickerdoodles today, and

oh.my.goodness

they are fabulous!

Click on her name to get to the recipe. 

Super fast.

Super easy.

Super yummy. 

Fall Decorations

I love fall.

I mean I really, really love fall.

I love everything about it. 

So I'm always a little eager to decorate 

and start getting ready for hay rides, pumpkin patches, pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters, jeans, Halloween...

I could go on and on... 

This little banner greets you as you walk into our entry way.

Polka dots, stripes, apples, and leaves...

Such a fun little welcome.

Love berries and fall foliage.

So warm.

Lots of lil' pumpkins sprinkled about.

So cozy.

More berries...in my fave mint julep glasses.

So classic.

Rustic blocks.

So country chic.

Loving this mantle and this leaf garland.

Such a happy little guy.

Brody Bear

Broderick Allen 

You were our little surprise.

We didn't know it,

but we needed you.

You complete us.

And bring us so much joy everyday.