SO far behind....... DR Day 1

I am so far behind on posting and my friend Lyndsi told me I needed to update it and prepared herself for a large photo dump! She might be the only one who reads this so here you go Lyndsi! :)

Way back on Thursday, December 6th we packed up the girls, did an early dinner and then dropped them off at my parents house for 6 days. Friday morning we got up at the butt crack of dawn and headed to the airport to leave for the Dominican Republic for Brandon's wedding! It was nice that so many of Steve's high school friends were going, so we were excited and knew it was going to be a good time. After a little delay leaving Des Moines, changing our connecting flight before we landed, we finally got to our resort, The Royalton Punta Cana about 4 pm that afternoon. We had all upgraded to the Diamond Club, so we got appetizers and drinks when we arrived as they got our rooms and luggage ready, almost all of us arrived within an hour or so from each other, so we were able to visit and then got the tour of the resort on the way to each of our rooms.  We had a view of the ocean and pool area, the room was nice and big. It was awesome!

For dinner we just did the buffet which was actually pretty good compared to the one we were used to in Mexico.

Steve and I had been off of carbs for the most part for 2 months. So I totally carbed up while we were there. It was so good.

After that we all just hung out together and talked. We were all exhausted but while everyone did a later dinner Steve and I walked around the resort.

We strolled over to one of the other bars. It was so nice b/c it was so open to the outside and the bartenders, who we came to know very well over the next 5 days were awesome! Oliver (who we ended up calling Nuggie) and Papi Papi.

 We met some people from Maryland, so Steve gave them a hard time about football.

Then the stragglers came over and met us there.

Then for some reason we actually went to the Disco and there was dancing. Yes, almost all of us 40 yr olds were dancing to mostly Hispanic music.

We made it until midnight....which was really only 10 pm Iowa time! But we had got up at 3 that morning! We all went to bed and got some sleep to enjoy the sunny 85 degree weather on Saturday!

Random

 - So we have been doing Keto since the beginning of October.....I got to my lowest weight the morning of Thanksgiving, down 13.4.....well now I'm down 11.8 (damn Thanksgiving weekend!) but I'll take it! I know I could've done better but I am so much happier than where I was before.
Steve however has lost 24 lbs!! So proud of him! and we have had our cheat meals and such so it hasn't been THAT hard! But believe me, I would love pizza or a jelly-filled donut right now! And I will probably gain it all back on vacation.

- I haven't done Christmas cards in a couple years. I feel guilty. It was just too much to try to get them done in time and then I just didn't want to spend another $50 this time of year. I just hope that people continue sending us their Christmas cards even though they aren't getting one from us!

- Work. I do not like it. I know I have probably mentioned this before but it is bad. I am hoping by January I will actually have work to do b/c I have hardly worked all year. I should be thankful that I'm getting a paycheck for reading, talking and walking all day!

- Kids. I do not want my kids to drive. Knowing the distractions and attention spans of kids, I can't imagine putting them behind the wheel of a car. And I believe car crashes are the #1 cause of death for teenagers! Scary!

- Kids. I do not want my kids to have social media. I know I can't keep this from them forever, but man social media is hard for everyone and as a teenager when you question everything, judge everyone, worry about everything. It's just another layer of crap that I don't want to deal with. When/if they get social media accounts, I will have complete access to it! No question about it.

Catching up

Last week gymnastics on Monday, watching Piper in her class is so fun. She hangs in there with girls that are 1-5 yrs older than her!

Thursday I had some extra time before wine making so Amy met me at Eatery A for dinner and drinks beforehand. Then I made wine and was home in time to help put the girls to bed!

Friday Steve went to go watch Iowa basketball so Samantha and the boys came over. They all just played and laughed and it is so fun to watch them play.

Presley and Boston were wrestling which was really funny, they were very even during this match! Sam and I were talking that it is sad that in a couple years they aren't going to even want to touch each other. Sucks they have to grow up!

Saturday Steve had to work and the girls and I went to lunch with the family for Holly's birthday! I was good and had a cheeseburger, no bun and a side of cottage cheese....but then I did have a piece of cookie cake and it was SO good!
We got home and decided to decorate the Christmas tree! The girls are always so excited to open up their box of ornaments to hang up! Then we headed to the library for their holiday party. We made reindeer snacks, they got to decorate cookies. We looked at the gingerbread houses that were in the contest (which are VERY impressive!) and looked at Santa from afar! No talking to Santa for my children. After that we headed to Barntown Brewing for dinner b/c we really like that place. We had a good dinner and then once we got home the girls and I headed over to Sarah's to hang out! The kids played really well, Sarah and I talked and talked......and I have no pictures from anything.

Sunday we had another day of nothing. Steve worked on a project in the garage, I did laundry, worked out and read my book. The girls played and fought and played and fought. :)

THIS week has been busy just preparing for our vacation! More to come on that later! No kids for 5 whole days, but I am going to miss them!

Two weeks gone by......

I can't believe that I haven't posted in over 2 weeks! And I really don't have a good reason why!

The Wednesday of Thanksgiving we all met at Reclaimed Rails for our 3rd annual sisters family get together. We drink, talk, the kids play and play and it is just a nice relaxing time to catch up.

Thursday we got up and went to my parents house for Thanksgiving lunch. Since Steve and I have been doing the keto diet, this was our weekend to splurge and enjoy and we did! Oh MY, carbs are SO good!!!!! We hung out there until about 5 and then headed home.

Friday we decided to go to The Hall to watch the Iowa Hawkeye football game. We brought everything we needed to keep the girls occupied plus they have games there too. They were just whiney and annoying. We drank and ate a little, the girls colored, ate candy and had some ipad time and fought. We decided we didn't want to listen to them all night, so I texted Brittney to see if she was home for break and looking for something to do! She was more than happy to come babysit! We got home about 2:30 and she came over at 4!
Since we had no real plans we headed to The Boat House, had a couple drinks and played a couple games of pool and then went to El Mariachi so I could indulge on cheese dip. And it was good!  After that we headed to Fletchers in Ankeny. Royce Johns was playing there and my friend Amy met us there too. A good spur of the moment night out!

Saturday we didn't do much in the morning and then got ready preparing food to take to Earlham for the Goodrich Thanksgiving. Again we ate too much and felt like crap but all the food was so good! It was actually a very laid back night, it was almost like everyone was tired. There was a lot of talking, drinking and eating, the kids played well but no pool tournament this year.

Sunday I'm pretty sure I didn't leave the house. We put up some of the Christmas decorations but not the tree. Steve ran a couple errands and other than that, just chilled out!
Of course, I have random pictures from some of these things but I have been slacking on pictures too! What is wrong with me? #addictingtoreading

Random

- Piper and I were talking about Christmas yesterday and Jesus. Since we don't go to church it is hard to explain the 'religion' and stuff behind it. I told her it is the season of giving, in hopes she will want to 'give' more.
   Piper : What does Jesus look like?
   Me : What do you think he looks like?
   Piper: I don't know! Jesus and God are in my heart, how can I see what they look like?
   ***my heart melts!***

- Piper rec'd a goody bag from the birthday party she went to on Saturday afternoon that had some candy in it. Including 3 Hershey's Hugs (the black and white kisses). She ate two of them and Presley was just constantly annoying her by pretending to take her candy. On Sunday afternoon Piper runs into the room and asks "Mommy, can Presley have my kiss? Pretty please!!!! I want her to try it so can she have it?"
Me being confused by this niceness "You want to give Presley your kiss?"
Piper : Yes! I had two and she wans to try one! Can she have one please??!!!"
Me : Yeah okay...…..but Piper? Don't EVER stop being so sweet!

- We found out today that Presley was chosen as 1 of 2 girls in her class as a 'role model' for a 'friendship group'. There are 4 girls in the group and 2 of them are 'troubled' and Presley and Amelia, for lack of better words are the 'good girls'. They had to talk about their families, one of the other girls has 11 siblings (real and step! I can't imagine the chaos and inconsistencies she has grown up with!) I think this group was formed in hopes to give these other girls a peer to befriend and look up to?! I am so proud that she was chosen for this and I really hope she can learn from this experience and learn be kind to those less fortunate than her.

Quiet weekend

Saturday morning we had Boston over so Samantha could get some stuff done. He came over about 8, and then he and Presley headed to the basement at 9 and we didn't see them again until noon! Those two play SO well together! It's crazy and awesome!

Piper and I played some games and hung out. She helped me make some low carb biscuits were turned out okay.
We ate a little lunch and then Steve took Piper to a birthday party and I took Presley to her friend Addie's for a playdate. Sam came and got Boston about 2 and then I did some laundry and lounged around until it was time to pick up Presley at 4. However, by the time I got there they had decided that they were going to the 6 o'clock showing of the Grinch and that they were going to have a sleepover at our house that night! Well okay then! So I left without Presley.

That evening we picked up and I worked out and enjoyed the quiet of not having the girls fight! Presley and Addie were dropped off after the movie at 8 and did some playing and then camped out in the basement for the night.

Sunday Addie's dad came and got her about 9 and then we hung out. Steve took Piper to run some errands and I actually got a ton done around the house, from dusting, cleaning bathrooms, bedrooms, doing laundry and putting it away, working out, playing games with Presley, doing some reading, plus getting ready for the week ahead....I actually felt very productive, which is rare for me!

When Steve and Piper got home, the girls played pretty well off and on throughout the afternoon. We got some of the Christmas decorations out, Steve made some pretty cool coasters for a Christmas gift (though we kind of want to keep them now!) and then he made a really good low carb chicken taco soup, basically for me. :)

We had a good, busy, productive weekend which should put us in a good position for the long holiday weekend ahead!

Week in Review

Last week I had Monday off for Veteran's Day. A day to myself and I really didn't get much done. I wanted to but things just didn't work out that way. I was going thru clothes to take to Once Upon A Child, I heard they were picky about some of the stuff they take so I went thru our 9 bins and picked out the name brand clothes or those that were in really good condition and the rest of the stuff am going to take to the Johnston Partnership for local families that might need it.

Anyway.....Once Upon A Child was closed for the holiday also, so that didn't happen (Steve did end up taking my 2 bins of clothes later in the week and we got $25 and it didn't look like they hardly took anything out of them. Oh well). I ran to Hobby Lobby to get some xmas shopping done, then ran to Price Chopper for a couple things, then grabbed McD's and went to have lunch with Presley!

I headed home, did some stuff around the house, worked out, showered, met Steve at TBH for one drink before picking up the girls for gymnastics! Presley was not feeling very well so by the time we got there she decided she didn't want to go to class. Steve came and picked her up and I stayed with Piper for her class. She got moved up another level, so now she is only one level behind Presley!

Tuesday Piper had her last Spanish class! I think she enjoyed it and we have been practicing her colors. It's cute!

Thursday made wine with Sarah. We met after work and had dinner and drinks at Eatery A. They do have the best happy hour with half price bottles of wine and pizza!

We each had a pizza and a bottle of wine and then headed to make wine! It is just a fun learning experience if any one is interested in joining, let me know!
Then we headed to Wisco to see some of the Packer game! The waitress actually remembered me from Sunday and we got 2 jello shots while we were there due to Packer touchdowns.

We didn't stay long and were home by 10. That doesn't happen with us very often! :)

Friday we had a sitter to go out with some neighbors and friends. We decided to go throw axes at Ironside. OMG. This is so fun and totally worth it! https://www.ironsideaxeclub.com/
I didn't even get the ax there on my first throw but it doesn't take long to get a hold of it!

Wendy got the bullseye throwing the shovel! They had hatchets, ninja star things, axes and the shovel. It was very therapeutic to launch these things at the wall!

The gang...Wendy, Jason, Crystal, Kyle, Kyle, Sarah, Steve and me!

We threw axes for 2 hours and then headed to Docs for a while. There was a great 80's band, the boys played pool and us girls did some chatting. We saw quite a few people that we knew there but then headed closer to home and went to TBH for a final drink before heading home and relieving all our babysitters! :) A very fun Friday night!