Weekend Wrap-Up

It's finally getting warmer around here so I dressed the boys in the finest spring attire for church.  They looked SO cute and like little prep kids.  

Do you see this sweet little face?  It's the face of sneaky and mischief! Ha!  Colton has been keeping me busy lately!  He is into everything and a sneaky little thing.  If I leave the baby gate open he is quit to escape, he wants to walk everywhere and not be held.  He is just a little mess but he sure it cute!

He has decided he is too old for his high chair and has moved to the booster chair at the table.  So now Ryan is in a regular chair.  I had planned to move him soon but he decided on his own it was time, ha!  I am glad to clean up the high chair and store it in the basement. 

We had a great weekend!  Friday night we enjoyed a quit night just the four of us.  We needed to wind down and relax.   And all went to bed a little early!

Saturday night we decided to be brave and take the boys out to eat.  We went to Marion's pizza in Mason.  It was our first time and it was really good.  It's a thin crust pizza.  We all enjoyed it and the boys ate it up.  They were so good we decided to reward them with ice cream.  We went across the street to Menchie's.  It's a self service frozen yogurt place.  It was great and such a fun night with my sweet family.  

These two brothers love each other. They fight a lot but they wrestle, laugh and play all the time.   Ryan was putting his cars on Colton's head and C was just laughing.  Love these sweet boys!

Health/Workout Tips

 Summer is just around the corner!  I put on shorts for the first time this year and wowzers are my legs pale and white.  I need a tan bad.  Like everyone I want to get in shape and look good for shorts and swimsuit season.  

So most of you know that I've lost about thirty pounds in the last year.  It took a lot of hard work and dedication.  I'm linking up with Kelly today to talk about Show Us Your Life: Health/workout tips.  

I've done weight watchers online for about three years now.  I go through periods where I am really dedicated and other times I'm not counting points or tracking.  When I do track and count EVERY point I put in my mouth it works and I lose weight.  Right now I am really happy at where I am but would like to shed the last ten pounds.  I started tracking points again this week and hope to reach that goal soon.  

Also something that has helped me is working out.  I have been working out consistently for the last ten years or so.  I like to have variety in my workouts.  I do a cardio resistance training class three days a week and run 4+ miles two days a week!  I love doing group fitness classes!  They motivate me and push me harder than I would on my own.  I think the resistance training has been so good and what has made a big difference for me.  Cardio is so good but weight training is important as well.  The more muscle you have the better your metabolism.  

(Ryan saying "cheeeeeeze")

I think another tip for eating healthy is planning your meals for the week.  I go to the grocery store on tuesdays so on monday night I make my grocery list and plan out our meals for the week.  It makes it easier when cooking dinner in the afternoon/evening.  I use a lot of recipes I find on thepickypalate.com, skinnytaste.com and my friend Amber at thismommycooks.blogspot.com.  

I'm not always the best at eating healthy but I've learned to eat in smaller portions. I think that's why WW works so well.  You can eat what you want it just the amount that makes the difference.  

What are your top pointers for eating healthy and working out?

 

Random Wednesday

Just some random Wednesday thoughts.  

We have been enjoying the finally warm spring weather!  We have played outside every day this week.  

When I ask Ryan what his favorite thing he did today he always says "playing outside".  

Tonight Matt cut the grass when he got home.  The boys were enamored watching him from the swing set, especially Ryan.  Colton just kept saying "dadda dadda, dadda".  

I have changed out the boys closets and got them all ready for spring/summer.  I am so excited about their "new" wardrobe.  Colton's is mostly hand me downs and Ryan has new stuff. 

Now I just need to pack away the winter clothes that are pilled high on the guest bed.

I have yet to change out my closet.  Hopefully that will happen this weekend.

Not sure why but all of a sudden I feel the need to deep clean my house and get rid of clutter and just stuff in general.  Guess spring cleaning has hit me.  

I'm planning to do some major spring cleaning this weekend.  I've got a list and a mission.

I can hardly believe that Ryan and Colton will turn 4 and 2 in just two months!!!  They are both getting so big and growing so fast!  Time - slow down! 

Chicago Girls Weekend

This weekend I travelled to Chicago with two of my best friends for a girls weekend away!  It was AMAZING and we seriously had the BEST time!!!!  Laura (in the middle) is a sweet momma with two precious little girls Ella (5) and Linley (3).  Kristin (on right) is a fun mom of three - Georgia (5), Will (3) and Caroline (18mo).  We are busy momma's who desperately needed a weekend away to recharge with laughter, fun and some retail therapy!!!

We left Cincy bright at early Friday morning.  It's only a five hour drive but we wanted to get there and get our weekend started! We stayed at the Omni right in the heart of the city and it was amazing!  Beautiful and the perfect location.  

We checked in then headed to our afternoon at the spa!  We all got massages, manicures and pedicures!  Oh yes we did!!!  It was heavenly!  After our pampering we headed back to the hotel, after stopping at a few shops, to get ready for dinner!

We went to MK for dinner.  It was off the beaten path but according to the travel channel, it's a not miss when visiting Chicago.  I was a little unsure at first since I'm a picky eater and didn't see a whole lot on the menu I liked.  I was blown away at how amazing everything was.  From the chicken, to the brocollini, to the desserts, it was all amazing!!

Laura had some questions about some soup and the chef came out early in our dinner.  He was so gracious and nice and brought her two samples of the soups and some fried oyster appetizers.  Then he came out again laughing saying he didn't think we ordered enough dessert, since we only ordered one, and brought this spread of yummy goodness with a special dessert wine.  We were floored!  It was all wonderful and I would highly recommend MK to anyone visiting Chicago!

We left the restaurant and cabbed it back to our hotel.  We changed into our pajama's and got ready for bed!  We all pilled into bed and spent the next few hours laughing til our belly's hurt!  We talked and laughed and shared stories for hours.

Saturday we slept in - which was glorious by the way - then headed out for some coffee and shopping. We stopped in at Gino's East for Chicago style pizza for lunch.  Laura and Kristin chickened out and got the thin crust pizza but I got the deep dish and it was yummy!  It was good and very filling!  Not something you want to eat all the time but it was good and different. 

We did some more shopping after lunch.  Kristin was so excited to buy her first Louis Vuitton handbag!  

We ventured off the beaten path and found some upscale consignment shops and other boutiques.  We all scored something at the consignment shop.  We shopped and shopped until it was time to head back for dinner.

Of course we had to stop in at Garrett's Popcorn.  It's world famous and was on Oprah's favorite thing list a few years ago.  There was a major line out the door but totally worth the wait!  I brought some home for the boys too.  

We went to Adobo Mexican Grill for dinner.  It was good and we left stuffed to the nines.  

 Sunday morning we took our time getting up and ready.  We headed out for a little more shopping before we had to go home.  We stopped in at the world famous Sprinkles Cupcakes for breakfast!  Yes, we all three had a cupcake for breakfast! And it was Amazing!!!! So yum!  (Sprinkles was also one of Oprah's favorite things a few years ago).  We picked up some extras for the kids as well!

I got the triple cinnamon which was divine!  I can't wait to have another one after dinner tonight!

Did you know they also have an ATM at Sprinkles?  You can order a cupcake, any time you want, from a vending machine right outside their door. 

The kids loved us - bringing home popcorn and cupcakes from mommy's girls trip!  Yes, please!

We had the best time in Chicago and cannot wait for another girls weekend!  So thankful for a wonderful husband who took care of the boys all weekend by himself!  Thanks sweetie!  

I missed my boys tons and though I am very tired, I do feel recharged and ready to get back to my regular job of taking care of my family and running the Deepe house!  I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!!

Thankful

We have all been somewhat out of sorts this week.  The boys and I have been battling this nasal sinus congestion all week.  I'm not sure if its allergy related with spring and everything in bloom or a cold.  It has all made us a little more fussy and cranky.

Colton is discovering his independence and while I admire that it is hard and requires a lot of patience!  Lord, help me to have patience to get through this phase.

This morning while doing my daily devotional I was reminded to be thankful!  Thankful for their little lives.  Thankful they are growing and thriving.  Thankful I can stay home and spend every day with them!  Thankful for the good days and the bad days.  

Some days I cannot wait for Matt to get home so I can get a little "break".  Even if just to have a partner to lean on when the boys start complaining and not eating dinner, fighting over toys, Colton getting into everything including the pantry and pulling everything out, or just being wild and energetic boys!

This is a short season in my life and I don't want to waste it or look back with regrets.  I want to treasure my children.  They are such a joy and a blessing!  Love them so much!  I want to study them and get to know the little people God made them.  God has given me and Matt the greatest gift in raising these sweet boys to love Jesus and love others.  

Strawberry Cake

 In the spirit of SPRING and recent Easter holiday I'm posting this delicious Strawberry Cake recipe.  Strawberry cake is my favorite cake hands down.  I made it this weekend for our Sunday Easter dinner.   It was so yummy.  Definitely a must try cake recipe for this spring or upcoming summer.  

Strawberry Cake

(by Paula Deen)

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1 (3oz) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
1 (15oz) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (10oz) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract
7 cups confectioners' sugar
Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin.  Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.  Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  (Mine took about 27 minutes to bake)

Let cook in pans for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

For the frosting:
In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the strawberry extract.  Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.

Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake.  Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries!

Go Reds

 

Yesterday was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds.  It's a pretty big deal around here.  People take off work and take their kids out of school to go to opening day parade and first ball game of the season.  

Matt grew up as Reds fan.  His grandpa and uncles were always watching or listening to the games.  Matt's grandpa even took him to a world series game back in 1990.  Pretty cool!

Ryan yelling - Go Reds!  

We have talked about taking Ryan to a game this summer but I'm not sure he would find it all that interesting.  I love baseball but it's not all that exciting.  Maybe Matt will take him just for the experience. 

Ryan went back to school today after being off last week for spring break.  Everyone was glad to be back at school, except maybe the teachers.