What's Up Wednesday!

Hi!! I am excited to be joining Shay, Mel and Sheaffer for their super fun 'What's Up Wednesday' link-up party!!

What we're eating this week: 

We are leaving for vacation later this week, so we are eating anything and everything to get our refrigerator cleaned out!! I bought the bare minimum when I was at the grocery store this past week and it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to be having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for at least one dinner before we leave! HA!

What I am reminiscing about:  I don't know why, but I have been thinking a lot about when my husband and I first met!  It was seriously one of the most INCREDIBLE times in my life when he and I first met and starting dating.  I just love thinking about how our love story began and where it is now...which is better than I ever imagined!

I had to share one of my favorite pictures of us...we had only been dating for a couple weeks when we took this picture- and MARRIAGE had already been discussed A LOT :)

If you're interested, you can find out about how we met here!

What I am loving: my life :)  I know that sounds cheesy- but it is the honest truth.  I am so acutely aware of the endless blessings in my life.  That is not to say everything is perfect, quite the opposite actually- but I choose look at the life God has given me and my family and just be thankful for it EVERY DAY.  Forever and ever AMEN :)

What we have been up to: This past month we have been up to quite a bit! Between the 4th of July, James' first birthday, a trip home to my parents' house and a week of Vacation Bible School, we have been on the go!  But- we have had so much fun and been busy in the best kind of way :)

What I am dreading: I almost hate to say this, because I don't want to come off as a negative nelly, but I am dreading school starting!! I have enjoyed SO much being on our OWN schedule this summer...it is going to be a little rough getting back into the school drop-off/pick-up mode!  My oldest daughter will be starting first grade and my two younger daughters are in preschool and Pre-k...which means several days a week, I am driving 40 minutes round trip, 3 times a day, to drop them off and pick them up from school.  It is TOTALLY our choice to send them to a Catholic school 20 minutes from our house- so I really can't complain too much about the driving...but just between you and me- it is not my favorite- HA! :)

What I am working on: Last month, my goal was to finish my oldest daughter's yearly photo book AND start and finish my youngest daughter's book as well.  I am SO happy to say that I have done this!! :)  Now- I just need to get James' first year photo book done...and I will be all caught up until my daughter Cora's birthday at the end of August...and then I will need to start her book.  The cycle never ends with someone having a birthday every couple of months around here! :)

What I am excited about: VACATION!! Tomorrow, we are headed to my brother's house in Raleigh, NC for a couple of days and then headed to the beach for a week!! So excited for big, fun adventure before we have to come back and get ready to start school!!

What I am reading/watching: I am not currently reading any books (other than my daily devotional- it is wonderful and you can find it here!), but we have been enjoying watching Rookie Blue and the new shows on ABC, Save My Life and Boston EMS. I LOVE real life medical shows!! Last summer there was a show called NY MED that I was obsessed with! Save My Life and Boston EMS aren't as good as NY MED (in my opinion)- but they are still fun to watch....especially in this horribly boring season of summer TV!!

What I am listening to: One of my favorite singers is Matt Wertz. I have been listening to him for over 10 years now! Lately, when I have been working on my computer or just getting things cleaned up in the kitchen, I will pull up the Matt Wertz station on Pandora. I love how easy Pandora is to use and how it magically plays the best mix of songs!! 

What I am wearing: I have been reeaallllyyy fancy lately. NOT! :)  Since I have been packing for us to be gone for 10 days, most of my clothes are in a suitcase.  I usually will change out of my workout clothes once we get home from the gym...but that has not been the case this past week.  Rocking the sweaty workout capris and tank top allll daaayy long! And if I am being honest, I am kind of enjoying being a little bit more low maintenance!! :)

What I am doing this weekend: This weekend we will be checking into a beach house for the week!! We are going on vacation with my mom's whole side of the family (about 40 people!!) to a beach about 25 minutes away from Wilmington, NC.  My parents generously rented a beach house large enough to accommodate my brother's family, my sister's family, our family and them.  All 8 cousins (on my side of the family) will be together!! It is going to be a blast!!

What I am looking forward to next month: Next month is FULL!  We are on vacation the first week of August, then just a few days after we get home, my oldest daughter has her first day of school.  Just a few days later, my 2 younger daughters start preschool.  We are also celebrating my parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary, taking a trip to Cleveland at the end of the month and celebrating my 2nd oldest daughter's 5th birthday!  We are totally going to soak up the last true month of summer!! :)

What else is new: Not much else is new...other than getting organized and packed for a 12 hour road trip and 10 days being gone from home! Tomorrow I am going to be sharing my strategy for keeping my kids entertained and happy during our long car ride...you should come back and check it out! :)

Bonus Question: What will I miss most about summer? Well- that is SO easy.  I am going to miss the carefree days with ALL of my kids!! I have LOVED having everyone home for the summer. I gained such a new appreciation for summer break after having Charlotte in kindergarten this past year. SO thankful for the past couple of months with my girls and baby boy!!

Just one of my many favorite moments from this summer....celebrating our baby James' first birthday!!

Hope you all are having the best week! 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by my little corner of the internet!! :)