McGriffey Vacation 2015

We spent the first week of July in Seagrove, FL for our first annual McGriffey Vacation. Who's McGriffey you ask? It's a collaboration of my parents', ours', and my sister & her husband's last names. I came up with the name when we first started planning the vacation as a joke, and well it just kind of stuck! This was our first family vacation since my sister and I have been married, and the previous family vacation we had was when I was in college. It was Mac's first road trip, and his first trip to the beach. My mom had been planning the vacation for close to a year, so we'd been looking forward to it. Now that it's come and gone seems almost crazy!

Our days were very chill, and mostly spent hanging out on the beach. We'd usually come in mid-afternoon for Mac to nap and then we'd shower and head out to an early dinner because if you waited too late the wait was forever. It was over all a relaxing trip. We all had a fantastic time, and so many great memories were made!

June wrap-up.

Holy Fireworks! Can you believe 2015 is already half way over? June was a busy and exciting month around our house. Mac started swimming lessons, had his first haircut, and took his first trip to the zoo and the Oklahoma Aquarium. We went to a local craw-fish festival, bought new living room furniture, spent lots of time playing outside, and the mr. & I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.

It was a busy month filled with lots of new memories. We're looking forward to July! We're headed on our big family vacation in just a few days, and Mac will be going to the beach for the first time. Until next time, that's a wrap!

Our Summer Bucket List

Last summer, we had a new baby boy so there wasn't too much excitement to our summer. I returned to work in July from maternity leave, so we pretty much were just figuring out what our new routine would be. Now, instead of a new baby we have a busy and active toddler! Mac is a busy boy, and loves to do new things. I decided to put together a small list of things I'd like our little family to do together this summer, and I'm calling it our summer bucket list. 

• Jump waves in the ocean. We leave for our family vacation in just a few days, and I cannot wait to see Mac experience the beach for the first time.
• Build a sandcastle. I'm counting on Mac loving to play in the Florida sand!
• Go to the zoo. Mac has been to the zoo with his daycare friends, but he hasn't been with us. I think it'd be a fun little outing for us 3 to go do. 
• Go to the splash pad. This is something I think Mac would enjoy! 
• Spend a weekend at the lake. Queenie & Poppie's new place at the lake should be ready shortly after we return from vacation. I foresee us spending a few weekends there this summer. 
• Go to an OKC Dodgers game. I want to go spend an evening at the ballpark watching the new minor league team, complete with hot dogs and popcorn! 
• Have a picnic at the park. Mac loves to be outside, and loves to swing. I think he'd like to play at the park and we can end our play date with a picnic.
• Date night at Top Golf. This is something just for mommy & daddy. Top Golf just opened up here in OKC so I want to go see what the hype is all about, and I'm certain the mr. would enjoy it.

So there you have it, our summer bucket list for 2015! There's nothing too wild or crazy we're wanting to do. I just want us to make some good memories and have fun together as a family! What's on your list of to-do's for this summer?

Summer Squash & Sausage Skillet

This recipe idea I got from a friend who shared something similar with me. However, anyone that knows me well knows that I can never fully follow a recipe without putting my own twist on it. It was a quick, easy, and clean dinner that the husband and I both really liked.

ingredients

1 package smoked turkey sausage 

1/2 sweet yellow onion, chopped

2 zucchini squash, sliced

1 yellow squash, sliced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon oregano

instructions

1. In a skillet, pour olive oil and let heat. Add onion and cook until tender.

2. Then add zucchini squash, yellow squash, and tomato halves.

3. Once all veggies are tender, add turkey sausage and seasonings.

4. Let everything simmer for 7-10 minutes, then reduce heat.

5. It can be served over rice, or eaten by itself. Enjoy!

Mac's First Haircut

Mac had been long overdue for his first haircut. Although I knew it needed to be done, I could never make myself take him to get it done. We decided it was time earlier this month. I took him one Sunday afternoon to Snip-Its. It was a kid friendly atmosphere and I had heard good things from other mama friends about it. However, from the pictures you can see that Mac was pretty upset. Note to self, NEVER stay if there's another kid screaming when you arrive. There was an older little boy throwing a fit about having to get his hair cut and it scared our little man. He didn't know what to think about all that was going on, and the screaming from the chair across from his just threw him over the edge. My mom and I both think that's why Mac was upset. He did pretty good though, and came out looking so cute with his new do! He also got a prize after he was finished, and got his first sucker which he loved! Our little nugget is looking more and more like a big boy!

cheers, 4 years!

It was 4 years ago today we stood before God, family, and friends to say our vows and start our life together. It was a magical day, and one I'll always remember. 

Since then, we've had many changes in life. We've experienced the most exciting times of our lives, and we've also gone through times of disappointment. All along the way, we've stood beside one another and taken on this life together just as we vowed to do. I love you to the moon, mr! There's no one else I'd want to share this life with. These past 4 years have been a heck of a ride, and I look forward to what the next 50 years bring our way. Happy Anniversary to us! 

nothing worth having comes easy.

It's often said that nothing worth having comes easy. Sure, we've all heard this a time or two, or three... Before Clete and I were ever married, I knew having a good marriage would take hard work. As I knew this before being a wife, and even have known the work it takes in the 4 years we've been married, I never realized how much harder it gets when you throw a child in to the mix. For the first almost 3 years, it was just the two of us. We could do whatever, whenever we pleased. Then, along came our little nugget! 

I never understood before how couples could be married for many years, and then once their children are grown they split up. How can you be married for 20+ years and then just let that go? I get it now though, it happens because once children come into the picture it's so easy to get caught up in the routine. If you constantly just go through the motions of everyday life and don't make time for your marriage then it will suffer. 

I'll be honest, I'm guilty of sometimes not making enough time for my husband. You might think to yourself, "make time for your husband?" but once you have a child it'll make sense to you if it doesn't already. Being a parent can often times be exhausting. Even though our children are our biggest blessings, they're also a lot of work. Especially a 14 month old who's in to everything. After a full day at the office and an evening of being mama, sleep sounds better than sex. I'm just being honest here.

As we celebrate our 4th anniversary this upcoming week, I look back and see that this past year of our marriage has been the most difficult. It hasn't been bad, it's just had challenges simply because we've had to adjust to having a little one in the house and figuring out how to make time to nurture our marriage. Though it's been difficult to figure it all out, this past year we've grown and learned more about us than any other year. We've learned that it is amazing what good communication and a little time together after the baby goes to bed can do for our relationship. It can be as simple as sitting on the couch and watching a tv show together. We've still got a lot to learn, but we've already agreed we don't want to be those people that don't even know each other anymore after the kids are grown. May we always remember that we vowed to take this journey together. We want our marriage to thrive for as long as we both are living, so we will put in the work it takes to have that. It won't always be easy, but as they say nothing worth having comes easy.