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Happy Sunday, friends! I hope that everyone is enjoying a nice spring weekend and plenty of Easter fun (for those who celebrate)! It’s time for another Weekend Recap, so here we go!
Keith left town last Saturday for a business trip to Ireland (!!), so I was on my own with my 3 little guys for the entire week. Can I just say that I’m EXHAUSTED?! With the start of a new soccer season and the excitement surrounding Easter, it was definitely a busy week. But you know what?! We all survived, and I’m here to share it with you in pictures.
On Sunday afternoon while Spence was resting (NOT napping…he has decided that he doesn’t do that anymore), the older boys and I dyed Easter eggs. I always kind of dread the mess, the inevitable spills, and the stained fingers, but this year was different! As a happy accident, I stumbled across these “Rad Rainbow” eggs, which were SO much easier (and prettier) than the traditional tablet-in-a-cup-of-vinegar boxes that I have always used in the past.
Each hardboiled egg gets its own plastic bag. The boys dropped the egg in the bag, I squirted a couple of drops of their requested colors (kind of like liquid food coloring that you use for baking), and the boys rolled the egg around in the bag to create unique swirled rainbow effects.
They loved it, and I loved that it wasn’t a huge production with splashed dye all over my kitchen. Wins all around!
We hit the ground running (literally) on Monday morning! Spence and I headed out for a 2.5 mile run/walk-up-the-steep-hills after we dropped the older two off at their schools.
Our route took us over the train tracks in Orange, per Spencer’s request!
It was gray and COLD when we started (I wished I had my gloves), but the sun was shining and it warmed right up by the time we made it back home.
Sweaty sun rays!
We made the trip to Charlottesville to run errands on Monday afternoon, and were lucky enough to meet up with Aunt Barbara for a quick walk. So fun!
After picking up Gibbs from school, we were home for about an hour (homework, snacks, and back out the door!) before we turned around and headed to Gibbs’s first soccer practice of the season.
These two decided that it would be fun to run hill sprints the entire time. They crashed hard that night!
Tuesday morning breakfast that the kids picked out at Target (paired with yogurt, fruit, and milk):
They liked the soft baked protein bites a lot, but it made me laugh when Gibbs asked about the ingredient list because he thought that we could probably recreate them on our own at home! I’ll get right on that (or I’ll just pick up another bag at the store…)!
Outdoor play (watch out for Spencer swinging that metal rake in the background!!):
and an afternoon gym break for me while Hannah babysat! Mark had another killer workout scheduled this afternoon, so in about 20 minutes we managed to flip giant tires, do some more assisted pull-ups, jump rope, and do plenty of other hurt-so-good exercises. Do you ever use the TRX at the gym? It’s a huge component of Mark and Amy’s workouts at Anytime Fitness here in Madison, and on this particular day I was introduced to the Atomic Push-Up. Holy moly…
 Step 1: a push-up on my knees…
Step 2: up to a plank…
Step 3: tuck knees in…
And then collapse! Hah! We did 3 sets of 10 reps…and I was feeling it by the end (big time)!
I also took this pic so that I could show you my new top from Target! Can you see the mesh around the neckline? It’s trendy without being too much. Plus, it’s a great weight for spring and it’s a nice excuse to wear comfy workout clothes all day (which is my ultimate goal, if you couldn’t tell)!? The back is a bit longer than the front, so it works well with leggings since it covers more in the rear!
After the gym I scooped up my boys and we headed back out to the soccer fields for Casey’s first practice of the season! Such a gorgeous evening and a fun group of families!
On Wednesday morning I treated myself to a coffee at my favorite local drive-through stand in Orange. It’s a small town, and I like coffee a lot…so needless to say, the owner and I are buddies. I asked him to surprise me with his favorite flavor, and he served me “The European.” It was great! I made sure to tell him that I didn’t want it too sweet, so he went easy on the syrups…but here’s what it included: English Toffee, French Vanilla, Irish Cream, and Amaretto. Get it…the European?!
It was Casey’s last day of school before Easter, so after a walk/run with Mollie and Amanda,
Keith’s mom joined us for an Easter party and Egg Hunt at the preschool.
Spence just wants to GET DOWN and get after some EGGS!
The kids had a cute Easter Egg snack,
before starting their hunt.
Looking for plastic candy-filled eggs just never gets old!
We made a quick stop at Yoder’s on the way home so that I could grab some turkey, cheese, and rolls for lunch, and so that the boys could visit the baby goats. So, so cute!
Have you ever seen such a big jam selection?!
In addition to the standard flavors, they have varieties here that I’ve never dreamed of…from Corn Cob jam to Loganberry Jam and Bluegoose Jam, and this one that made me laugh: “Traffic Jam!”
I didn’t buy it, but I think it was a blend of strawberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries, and cranberries.
The boys also decorated an Easter Egg Tree (or bush!) outside with Carole in the afternoon!
Thursday was sunny, warm, and quiet around here. Perfect!
I took this pic to send to Keith while he was away…his fruit trees are in bloom!
And I sent this text to my mom mid-afternoon because truly…this never happens! While Gibbs was at school, the house was SILENT for a couple of hours because…
Hannah came over to watch the kids in the late afternoon and even brought some eggs and candy along with her so that they could have an Egg Hunt. #AmazingBabysitter
Meanwhile, I visited Mark and Amy at the gym for about 20 minutes and challenged my barely-there abs with roll-outs like this (among other things)…
and returned home to some fun mail from Aunt Bee!
She went through one of her old files and sent me a few more of her favorite recipes to try, including these Lemon Crisps. So basically it all balances out: I workout and then I get in the kitchen and whip up some classic recipes with cake mix, Rice Krispies, and butter! ? Balance, my friends!
Friday morning spring shoes,
and lunch with my mom at Subway after running errands.
The flowers that Casey gave me for Easter:
and my mom’s gardening assistants! She worked some magic on the landscaping in front of our house (definitely NOT my strength)! ?
On Friday afternoon my mom stayed with the younger boys so that I could help at Gibbs’s school with his class egg hunt and Easter party.
I “hid” 276 eggs, to be exact!
Kindergarteners on the run…
Friday afternoon Easter Snack (thanks to Mrs. H.)!
Plus a double-batch of the boys’ favorite Whole Wheat Banana Bread to use up some overripe bananas. This stuff disappears FAST, and it’s such an easy breakfast for the kids with fruit and milk in the morning.
 Keith returned from his week-long trip in Ireland late on Friday night. By Saturday morning, we were right back into the usual routine with the boys — including haircuts,
and prepping the garden beds for spring planting!
On Saturday evening, Hannah came over so that Keith and I could escape for a much-needed dinner date (more details about our evening coming in a post this week)!
And that brings us to today — Easter morning! We will have a quick Egg Hunt here at the house before heading up north to visit family for the day. Have a wonderful holiday and a great week ahead!
