What's up Wednesday? JULY!

July is almost over.  That means that both my kiddos are almost another year older.  Sheesh!  This summer sure went fast!!

I am joining this fun (and final) "What's up Wednesday" link up on the last Wednesday of the month with some of my FAVORITE bloggers.  Mix and Match Family, Pinterest Told Me To and the Larson Lingo.

What we are eating this week...

Monday - Out to Stroud's for my dad and Charlie's birthday dinner!

Tuesday - Grilled chicken and asparagus

Wednesday - Boys to Nordstrom cafe with Grana and the girls had snacks (our fav!)

Thursday - Chicken Thai noodles (from Hy-Vee freezer meal prep I did last week)

Friday - CHARLIE'S BIRTHDAY!  Pizza at the pool

Saturday - Out at Kenny Chesney concert

Sunday - Probably grill out after Charlie's birthday party!

What I'm reminiscing about...

My sweet boy turning THREE on Friday.

I just posted this tonight because he was just too cute to handle tonight.  I love this boy so - it's hard to imagine he was ever this little newborn baby!

What I'm loving...

Time at home with my family and a changing attitude.  

I'm prioritizing things that are important to me in an attempt to find slightly more balance...but needing to figure out how to get more hours in day.  I'm missing spending time with my old friends and catching up!  A few of my best friends are pregnant and I've been horrible at supporting them during this exciting time of their lives - so I'm turning over a new leaf and I'm excited about it.

Also loving?  That Toby is back HOME!!!  SO happy the backyard is almost DONE

What we've been up to....

What haven't we been up to??! SO MUCH!!!

In July we celebrated Maddie's birthday on July 4th.

Went to the lake with Jimmy's whole family for a week (full recap on that coming soon!)

Finally got the backyard done and the playset up!  So exciting!

What I'm dreading...

Hmmm...there is actually not much I am dreading right now.  Is that weird?

What I've been working on....

How about what "we" (in a loose way) have been working on?

OUR BACKYARD.

Oh my goodness.

It's so so close to being done.  But here are a few pictures in the meantime.  Jimmy and my dad have worked their butts off finishing all the little details (and some big - like laying all the sod) that our contractors didn't get to because they apparently only like to work when it's 85 degrees outside.  Let me just say that Jimmy and my dad are the best and hardest workers that I know.

What I'm excited about...

Helping my sister with wedding planning!

She's already got the date, the venue, the church, a videographer and DJ!  Did I mention she plans events as her day job!?!?  I'm so excited for them I cannot stand it!!!

What I'm watching/reading...

Did you watch the Bachelorette finale?!

(people article here)

I missed out on the bachelorette party this week, but it was fun watching it with Jimmy (he's obsessed too).  I am very interested to see what happens with Kaitlyn and Shawn!

I'm very excited for Bachelor in Paradise as well!!!  And with fall come new fall TV - AH!

Reading!

I just ordered this book from Amazon and cannot wait to start spending some quiet time with Him in the morning and work on being a better mother as well. 

What I'm listening to...

Country, country and more country.

Getting ready to go see Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean this weekend, so I have had my pandora station at work alternating between Kenny Chesney station and Zac Brown Band.

Love Kenny and his KC shirt!!!!

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What I'm wearing...

Is it fall yet?  It is just SO hot.  

Regular work clothes and then immediately into shirts and a tank top every night.  

I'm on the hunt for some new tennis shoes.  I kind of like these Nike shoes from Nordstrom.  Too bad they aren't in my size - but I need some new shoes and work out gear to help with my motivation!

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What I'm doing this weekend...

This weekend is JAM packed and I cannot wait!

Friday night is Charlie's birthday and we are going to the neighborhood pool for some swimming and pizza with some family and a friend.  How fun is that?

Then Saturday we are off to the Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean concert at Arrowhead stadium with two of Jimmy's brothers and their wives and some of our friends!  Plus, Charlie is going to see the Minions movie with my sister and her fiance...his first movie and he is going to LOVE it!

Finally, Sunday - is birthday party day for our third birthday!!!!  We are having some school friends and other friends over (and some family) and going to enjoy our FINISHED backyard.  It's supposed to be HOT so the kiddos are going to run around in some sprinklers and play some fun water games.  I can't wait!  And it's a Minion theme - so even better, right?  Luckily, Minions are all the rage right now - so Pinterest has been VERY helpful.

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What I'm looking forward to next month....

Oh August.  I'm looking forward to lots of things!!  Since it kicks off Saturday, all the fun stuff this upcoming weekend and then lots of birthday celebrations, birthday parties, Jimmy starts football season (oh my!) and my 30th birthday.  

What else is new...

Just already busy looking at our fall calendar and thinking of all the people I want to have over to enjoy our new backyard (sorry - this project has gone on FAR too long and the anticipation is FAR to high!)

Bonus: What will you miss most about summer?

The pool.

(ha this is not our pool - but Charlie LOVES swimming!)

Except just like every year summer is crazy and I feel like we aren't at the pool nearly as much as we should be.  I'm going to try to force us to play catch up and get there several times next week during the weeknights and then on the weekends when we can.  It's such a great neighborhood pool that we need to use more because our kids (and we) love it!