Monday

Our Florida Meals

1. For breakfast every morning, the kids had some variation on cereal, milk, yogurt, and fruit. I had a Kashi GoLean instant oatmeal and a banana every morning.
2. The first night, we stopped at Senor Tequilas on the way from the airport. It was not good. I had bean nachos.
3. On the second night, we ordered Papa John's pizza so that we could just be at the house and let the kids swim. There were also strawberries.
4. Tuesday night, we were driving back from visiting my husband's grandmother, so the kids had a "supper" of peanut butter crackers, apple slices, and animal crackers. I had a late night egg sandwich when we got back to the house.
5. For lunch every day, we packed it and took it to the beach/club pool. It was usually some combination of PBJs, cheese sticks, grapes, egg sandwiches, pretzels, juice boxes, or carrots and peanut butter.
6. Wednesday, we cooked. There was grilled tilapia, baked sweet potatoes, salad, chips and salsa, and the kids had grilled cheese sandwiches.
7. Thursday, we went to Doc's Beach House for overpriced, mediocre dive-bar food. I had an egg salad sandwich and chips. The kids loved picking out an ice cream bar from the cooler for dessert.
8. The last two nights we went to TGIFridays (dorky families alert!) because it is so easy and cheap to eat there. I had a spicy black bean burger both nights. They were delicious. On the second trip there, I got crazy with a Blackberry Long Island Iced Tea.
9. On the last morning, we stopped at Bread Co. for breakfast (Panera for the non-St. Louisians out there). I had an iced chai tea latte and we all shared some cinnamon crunch bagels, which is one of the more coveted treats at our home.
10. Lauren and I had Bella Sera Pinot Grigio each night and there may have been handfuls of pretzel and peanut butter M&Ms involved.

Sunday

What's In My Fun Bag For The Airplane

1. Magazines- US Weekly, People, and InStyle
2. My iPhone
3. Chapstick
4. Headphones
5. Christmas cross-stitching
6. Kind bar
7.Sour Cherries
8. Sunglasses
9. Wallet
10. Stickers and blank books for the kids

Friday

What I've Been Eating A Lot Of Lately

1. Salty chips dipped in greek yogurt
2. THESE Field Roast apple sage "sausages"
3. Luna Peanut Honey Pretzel bars
4. Tacos
5. Kale chips
6. Frozen yogurt (we've been to Chill a lot lately)
7. Chili
8. Spinach, mushroom, and black bean quesadillas
9. Mushrooms
10. Cereal and almond milk as my night snack
11. Smoothies

Tuesday

The Kids "Fun Bags" For The Plane Ride

1. Ring pops
2. Coloring books and crayons
3. Calculators
4. W has a math workbook, and R has an activity book
5. Activity pack
6. Memory cards
7. A deck of cards

Monday

Our Teachers' Christmas Gifts

(spread out over 5 days, because of our trip and stomach flu, the kids only had 5 school days in December)
1. A little bag of festive things from the Kitchen Store in Conway- a cute little bird magnet, Caramel Praline Toffee hot chocolate canister, and some strawberry jam.
2. Panera gift card
3. Starbucks gift card with a Christmas clip clipped on and their favorite Starbucks coffee that morning
4. THESE apples and caramel cream cheese toffee dip (I used Heath bars instead of Skor because where in the world can you buy Skor bars). They turned out so cute and delicious!
5. A pair of earrings and a Christmas ornament tied on the gift bag
6. Their head teachers are also children's book collectors, so they each got a book- Mrs. B received Iggy Peck, Architect and Mrs. H received The Birds of Bethlehem.

Sunday

What's In My Wrap

1. Whole wheat tortilla shell, 365 brand
2. Dijon mustard
3. Baby Spinach
4. Kale
5. Alfalfa sprouts
6. Red pepper flakes
7. Avocado
8. A leftover Gardein strip, cut up into little
9. Orange bell pepper

Friday

Today

1. First of all, this heartbreaking shooting. I can't even talk about it. Some coward- walking into an elementary school with guns, himself wearing a bullet proof vest- he just destroyed so many people's lives. I can't even imagine.
2. My daughter did a great job at chapel this morning as part of the "heavenly host". She said her line! So proud.
3. We went to Nordstrom Rack afterwards and found her some sandals (perfect for our trip) for $5, and a blouse that I saw for her a long time ago at Nordstrom, but didn't buy it because it was too expensive. Found it today for $7. Win.
4. I forgot about my dog's grooming appointment, and had to race him over there to just get a bath. The kids and I picked out some things for his stocking- a cookie, a dog toy, and a new Kong.
5. I saw this quote this morning that said, "Do More Of What Makes You Happy," and I've been thinking about it all day. What makes me happy? I spend so much time worried about everyone else being happy. I need to work on that.
6. We have a freshly-baked pan of chocolate chip banana brownies. Perfect for 2 days before a bikini.
7. I want to go to bed at 7:00.
8. I have to work on getting the stains out of a load of laundry that was washed with a green crayon. I am armed with ammonia, WD-40, Oxyclean powder....I'll try anything.
9. The last of the Christmas presents are coming today-my husband's-via Amazon. Thankful for Amazon Prime this holiday season.

Thursday

R's Stocking Stuffers

1. A whole bag full of Squinkies
2. 3 bigger race cars
3. Some big woods-themed Schleich figures (moose, wolf, grizzly, elk, can't remember the last one)
4. A Spiderman t-shirt
5. A Mickey Mouse cereal bowl
6. Stuart Little movie
7. A deck of cards

Wednesday

What's Coming Up That I Am Thankful For

1. Number one, beach vacation next week with our friends! We haven't been on a family vacation since our car accident, so Feliz Navidad to us!
2. W's class is leading chapel at school on Friday. She is an angel and has the line: Now we don't have to live in darkness anymore! I'm going to be the proudest momma.
3. Obviously, Christmas...celebrating God sending his son, and JOY, to this world. (Cue my favorite Christmas song!)
4. Celebrating the holidays in Arkansas. One of the most precious things to me is my children's relationships with their cousins. It's going to be all ten of them for the whole weekend, and wildness will ensue.
5. Christmas Break from school. We need it. Mornings are so insane during the school year. I will be thankful for a bunch of relaxing mornings, pajamas all day, and not having to leave the house.

Tuesday

What Is In W's Treasure Basket

1. Her 3K photo album
2. Her photo album from her zoo day with her teachers and 3 friends from last summer
3. One Razorbacks pom pom
4. A pink quartz
5. A blue rock that her brother brought back for her from Petit Jean
6. A Minnie Mouse plastic ring
7. A Bible verse cut-out on a ribbon
8. Her last summer pool pass that has her photo on it, so she calls it her drivers license

If You Are A Sick Kid At My House

1. You get to eat whatever you want (can, really)- today W has only chosen smoothies and Cinnamon Crunch cereal.
2. You get to watch Looney Toons and Tom & Jerry all morning (my kids love that slapstick humor)
3. I make you a little pallet on the sofa and bring you books.
4. I will play as many games of Go Fish and War that you want.
5. You fall asleep, and I carry you to my bed for a nap.
6. I let you take a bath and fill the water up all the way to your neck and put in a little epsom salt.
7. You get a lot of back scratches and leg rubs and I might pat your back until you fall asleep.
8. Pajamas all day!
9. You can eat your lunch on the sofa under your blanket.
10. You can play on mom's otherwise off-limits phone.