The Man Who Taught Me So Much, and Left So Much Behind

The Legacy You Left in Our Hands.

A month ago, we said goodbye to my dad. ❤️

A month later, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you're gone. I miss you, and there are so many things I wish I could tell you, so many memories I keep replaying, and so many moments when I wish I could pick up the phone or spend one more afternoon working alongside you.

You may have been my stepdad by title, but after 36 years of loving my mom and 32 years of marriage, you were so much more than that. You were my dad, and I will always be grateful for the life, love, and memories we shared.

Life Update

 It's been awhile.

Let's take it back to December:

-Ginger had emergency surgery.  She ate one of the little dogs toy and it ended up getting stuck. 

She was miserable.

In the Kitchen

This menu was inspired by the heat wave and not wanting to turn the oven on higher than 350.  It was a week of fun meals as we like to call them.   Plus I have a funny cooking story at the end.

We enjoyed BBQ pulled pork, corn, biscuit, and coleslaw

July Recap

 I didn't manage to take many pictures throughout July.  July was a crazy weather month for us.  We had a lot of rain and thunderstorms along with some high heat.  We learned to swim early in the day to miss the 4pm storms.

We wanted to watch the fireworks from the pool, but all we could do was hear them.  So the kids ran to the front and watched from the road.

Lately May and June edition

 We're just going to jump in and start documenting our summer, which officially began on May 7th.  I've actually had the pictures in this post sitting here waiting for me to add context.  If you'd ask my kids what I do, they'd say I'm busy.  Boy, am I!  It has been one busy summer and although we've already started our new school year, my busyness is not over.  I don't see an end.  But, I'm learning to slow down on the projects and shift my focus.

We decided to test the kids with standardized testing at the end of last school year.  With us switching things up I wanted to see if we were still on track or if we needed to shift things around.  

April through pictures

 We started April with a birthday run around Washington D.C.  As you may have seen from the previous post.

Xander's 14

Just like that, we've had another birthday in our house.  This time my little guy...but not so little anymore!  On his birthday we took a tour around D.C.  It wouldn't have been his first pick on his birthday (not a history buff), but we made sure to go to a museum in which he would love.  Which he did!  We went to the Museum of Illusions for him.  We walked over 7 miles that day going from site to site.  It was a tiring day, but so much fun.

Sterling's 13

Sterling is my wild outspoken child.  Oh my.  She's so fun and inquisitive.  I'm not quite sure how time has gone so fast but I'm loving the older she gets.  She's my mini me.  Always on my hip.  Always willing to learn something new.  She's wise beyond her years.  Watching her grow over the years has been joyful.  From being that little girl that's full of curiosity and wonder, to now, a teenager.  I'm proud of the amazing person she's becoming.

Our Fifth Disney Cruise

 We are back from our spring break vacation and some of us had a wonderful time.  This cruise was for the kids' birthday.  My parents also went on the same cruise and it's always a great time being with them.  Four of us had a great time and stayed healthy, however, Sterling and Nick went down fast!  It was wild and I felt so bad for Sterling.  It was a good thing our itinerary changed because of weather.

My favorite view on the cruise app!

Lately

I'm writing this post walking on the treadmill.  I finally bought a treadmill desk attachment.  There's so much work that I do on my computer that I have a hard time dedicating time to walking.  So, no excuses now, I've got a solution.  I'll be able to plan our school week out, menu plan, put together my grocery list, and so much more.

We've been spending our Sundays at basketball.  Yesterday was the last day and we didn't go, ha.  It's been rainy and neither of them felt like playing, so we skipped.  There are only two teams in the league this time and they don't get a break.  We might try a different location next season.

Homemade Heavenly Hunks

A few months ago I found a copycat recipe for the amazingly delicious oatmeal chocolate chip hunks.  I bought all the ingredients, but then never made them.  Until this weekend.  Oh my heavens...these are better homemade!  

I used this recipe.  Trust me.  Buy the ingredients and make them today!  These will be perfect for our upcoming roadtrip.

 I hope you make them and enjoy them as much as my family.

Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Booked

 Just after Christmas we booked our fifth Disney Cruise and very soon we'll be enjoying the warm sunshine instead of this freezing cold winter we've had.  Oh my it's been frigid!  I can't wait for the beaches!  This is the longest we've had snow on the ground since we lived in Nebraska back in 2016!

picture from the Disney cruise website

December things

As Christmas has come and gone and December closes out, we'll going to do an overload picture post for the month.  We had a relaxing month.  Drank lots of coffee, watched a ton of movies, played a few games, and ate a fair share of cookies.  December was good.  Very good.

I started December wrapping all the gifts we had

 

November Home Projects

Hello there!  November gave us a very busy month of inside projects we've been putting off for too long.  The first project took me to the basement to repaint the room that has been a lot.  It's been our school room, game room, movie room, and Sterling's room.  I had to turn the walls back to neutral to prepare it for its next use.  This room is extra large and has six walls to cover paint with.  It took ALL day!

Sourdough adventures

Happy December everyone!  The month we've all been waiting for.  I'm so excited.  I think I'll be able to actually enjoy it this year.  I've bought all the presents, made a bucket list, and have plans laid out.

I really want to enjoy the benefits of sourdough.  I love bread and have been so determined to get a successful batch of starter.  I have so many gut problems that I NEED this in my life.  I can get it to double.  I can get it bubbly.  I can get it to float.  What I can't get is for it to rise as a loaf.  

Thanksgiving 2024

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had an enjoyable, relaxing day.  I caught an uncharacteristic moment between the kids.   It rarely happens nowadays, but it warms my heart so much.    

Lately

Hey, hey!  We're going to get right into it.  I've rounded up all my pictures from the past couple weeks.  Last week my MIL asked for me to send pictures of the kids.  It got me scrolling through my camera roll and I didn't have any to send.  We're at the stage in life where they're not wanting their pictures taken and sent or posted.  So I have to respect that.  The random pics that I do get, if they approve it, I'll post.

It could be quite possible this is the reason for the lack of pictures, ha!

Food Lately

I made our first batch of pumpkin muffins in September and they were delicious.  Sterling also made pumpkin bars last week.  It's been so nice having her in the kitchen with me.  Her confidence has grown and she's loving the ownership of the meals or treats she's making.  I love that she's taken the torch!

Life Lately

A little bit of life lately...

At the end of August, Nick and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary.  

What's for Dinner

I thought it would be fun to share our weeks menu this week.

I'm still undecided for Sunday's dinner.  What's for dinner in your home?