Hello Monday!

Hi friends!!

Happy Monday! 

How was your weekend??

We had a really good one. The kids were off on Friday and we were watching my friend's daughter- so I kept the kids busy ALL.DAY.LONG. We went to the store, got a car wash, went hiking, had a picnic lunch and ended our fun Friday by going to a super fun event our downtown sponsors the night before home football games. There was a Zac Brown Cover band playing and it was seriously SO fun!

Saturday, we went on a little road trip to check out a lake a couple hours from us. We checked out the area and had a picnic lunch. Then on the way home, we stopped off at Medoc State Park- and went hiking on two different trails- and had a GREAT time. We did a lot of driving around and exploring and the kids were troopers. 

(Obviously there was whining and complaining and a lot of "I'M STILL HUNGRY- but overall they were pretty great!)

Sunday morning we went to church and once we got home and everyone had lunch- I did some baking! I am taking a big dinner this week, to one of our local missionary groups that guides and loves on high schoolers in our town and I wanted to make sure they had some yummy treats to have after dinner! I made a big pan of brownies and two types of cookies- oatmeal chocolate chip and good ol' chocolate chip!

 My girls spent all Sunday afternoon preparing for our annual "Spooky Dinner." I think we have been doing this dinner for at least 4 years now! The girls plan the menu, decorate and make dinner! I took care of dessert :)

 They each made something special for every table setting. Celine wrote everyone a poem. Cora wrote out everyone's menu and Charlotte colored everyone a My Little Pony Halloween picture :)

It's so neat to see how excited they get and how much they love to have their "own" project. And it's especially fun for me, because now that they are older- they are SO much more independent and I have to do less helping!! :)

 I had to really force myself to get a meal plan together for this week...I always have a harder time in the months where there is technically 5 weeks- I just feel like I have run out of ideas! HA!  We've got some easy- but yummy meals on the menu- and hopefully there will be little to no complaining from my crew about what's for dinner. HA!

Here's what our family will be eating this week!

MONDAY: Chicken strips, mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli

TUESDAY: Shredded chicken tacos, refried beans and corn

WEDNESDAY: Cheeseburgers, chips and green beans

THURSDAY: Grilled cheese and potato corn chowder

FRIDAY: Pizza!!

SATURDAY: Dinner out- our friend is visiting!

SUNDAY: Skinnytaste Chicken Enchiladas, black beans and side salads- you can find the recipe HERE!

It's going to be a full week for us...as I am sure it will be for you too- with Halloween on Thursday night!

Here's a few goals I am setting for myself in the midst of all the craziness:

1) Exercise everyday and stay on track with my nutrition. I have had some headaches lately...not sure if they are hormonal? I've been pretty congested the last few days..so that could be a part of it too. Either way- I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to help kick those darn headaches to the curb by drinking plenty of water and eating GOOD, CLEAN food. 

#stayawayfrommehalloweencandy - HA!

2) Stay on top of household chores and laundry- we have a friend coming to visit us on Saturday and I really don't want to be scrambling around on Friday night doing all the things I should have done throughout the week!

3) Every day- write down my "Top 3" I MUST get done. Don't sweat the other 20 or 100 little things I need to do. I can get so bogged down in little things I need to accomplish that I miss my window of opportunity to get DONE what I really need to DO. 

Tell me I am not the only one like this?!? HA!

4) Give each of my kids a bear hug every day and look them in the eyes and tell them I love them. I will be very honest and say is not something I do regularly. I tell them I love them and I give them hugs- but...not always very intentionally. I want to press PAUSE for just a minute and make sure they know mommy SEES them and loves them!!

SO simple and SO important and it's something I am committed to making a habit! :)

What are some goals you are hoping to tackle this week??

I hope you have the BEST day and a wonderful start to your week!!

Linking up with Heather, Johannah, Tanya and Lindsay!