Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, friends!  I hope this last week of September has been good to you.

Did you catch my blog posts this week?

7 Simple Dinner Ideas - #2 was my favorite.

Swap Out Those Knobs - the easiest DIY!

Ideal Chores for Kids Ages 3-10

 

Now onto my favorite moments of the week:

1. Happy Fall!

We've had the prettiest sunrises and sunsets lately.  I snapped this picture as I was waking up the house one morning - opening curtains, turning on lights and enjoying the farm view! 

2. Spirit Week

The kids had themed dress up days every day this week for college week.  They were pretty easy to do so I appreciated that.  They had a camo/safari day and college competition days.  They were happy to wear IU and UE and finished the week with dressing up for the career they wanted when they were older.

3. Fall flowers

Aren't these the prettiest Fall planters??

I was tempted to buy them, but my planters all still look pretty good.  I think I'll just buy a few fall plants to pop in my existing planters using this picture as Fall flower inspiration.  I tend to invest in my Summer flower pots and then spruce them up a little bit for Fall.

4. Playground Twins

Leo's BFF invited him to play this week and they both showed up at the playground in matching outfits with matching bags of monster trucks.  They are the cutest!!  The moms chatted while the boys played.  Win-win when you can find the combo of mom and kid BFFs.

5. 2nd Grade Rocks

Meet Fletcher's desk pet named Fluffy.  He lives in his desk and is the cutest.  Fletcher is so happy to be making all A's, swinging at recess and doing his classroom job.  His teacher adores him and he's learning so much.  Everything about 2nd grade is our favorite.

6. Rainbows in the mail

One of my favorite people sent me a rainbow post card this week.  It brought me so much joy to find a rainbow in my mailbox!

7. 5th Grade Rocks

Olive won a trophy (that her tech teacher 3D printed for her!!) for completing her typing program.  It was a big deal and she's super proud of her achievement.  She also has been working and crafting to prepare for 5th grade market day.  She made pom pom pets and these darling bracelets.  The kids have been earning classroom dollars to spend and learning all about how to create a business.  She was so excited to buy and sell at Market Day.  She also works in the library every morning.  She's so helpful that the librarian told me Olive could be the librarian sub for the day and keep the whole school running.  She is shining with all of these new responsibilities!  Everything about 5th grade is her favorite.

8. Sick Days

Poor Leo had several sick days this week.  We cancelled plans and I spent my days pushing popsicles and snuggling him.  He's so busy that any time I get to snuggle him is sweet.  Thankfully, he's back to feeling 100% now and that's my favorite. 

9. Movies in Bed

The kids love hopping in our bed after showers and watching part of a movie before bed.  I surprised them with candy corn (popcorn topped with their favorite candies) and enjoyed the snuggles.

10. Story time

Leo and I have faithfully been going to story time and it's so fun.  He gets to play with different toys and learn new things every week.  His newest skill is drawing a smiley face.  He's so proud to be able to do it!  He'll draw shapes, the O in Leo and now smiley faces.

11. Shopping with Mom

I took Olive shopping to find some Fall pants and Fall outfits.  She was thrilled.  Took her time.  Browsed and excitedly tried on all the outfits.  We came away with some cute things, options for picture day and she can't wait to go shopping again.  Any time we leave the boys at home and hang out together she is thrilled.

Then I took Fletcher shopping the next day.  He was all business.  Try on as few pants as possible to determine his size. Joggers for life.  Buy one of each color of his favorite joggers.  He's hoping I never ask him to go shopping again and will order the rest of his things online.

It cracks me up that shopping is so fun for one kid and torture for the other.

12. Baked Bacon

I know.  I'm LATE to this baking bacon game.  

My family loves thick bacon.  I don't love frying bacon.  So I was motivated to try baking bacon for breakfast for dinner this week.  It was life changing.  I'm not exaggerating.  You preheat your oven to 400.  Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.  Lay out your bacon and bake it fro 20-25 minutes or until you get your desired crispiness.  I laid the crispy bacon on a paper towel and drained the grease off of the parchment paper.  Clean up was a breeze - just throw away the parchment paper and there was zero grease mess in my oven.  You've got to try this baking bacon trick if you haven't already.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  We have a busy weekend ahead.  See you back here on Monday!

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