Life with a 16 month old.

This week our little nugget turns 16 months old. He's growing up right before our eyes, and some days it doesn't seem possible that over a year has gone by. Mac is Mr. Independent! He is so much fun, but can also be quite the handful at times. Getting to watch him learn new things, and grow is one of our greatest blessings! He is in to everything, eats like a big boy, and can say lots of words. At his 15 month check up, he was in the 90% for weight and 95% for height. He is a growing, busy boy!

Being a mama to an active toddler some days is just flat out hard. At 16 months, he knows exactly what he wants but just doesn't know how to always tell us. This little boy can have quite the temper at times, and knows how to throw a mean fit when things don't go his way. He understands everything we say, but doesn't always make the best choices. Discipline has been challenging, but we're learning what works. He tests his daddy and my patience almost daily, but is the funniest little. He runs fast and screams loud. We've had to fully "child proof" our house, as he is in to everything. He's now tall enough to sit things on the counter tops, and just recently learned he can open doors; so he keeps us on our toes. He is quite the ham, and is ALL boy!

Mac, we love you to the moon! XOXO

July Wrap-Up.

HOLY MOLY! Is it just me, or is 2015 literally FLYING BY? It's now AUGUST, which means that this year is more than half way over and we're getting closer to Christmas. ;) WOW! However, I am just about over these 100+ degree temps and I'm getting the itch for fall to get here! But enough about all of that... let's talk about what happened in July.
July was a busy and exciting month around our house. We started off the month with our first annual McGriffey family vacation. We spent a full week in Seagrove, Florida and we're all already looking forward to going back again. Lots of great memories were made, and we all had tons of fun! You can read the full details of the trip on this post.

After we got home from vacation, Mac started a new school (daycare center) closer to our house. It was a little bittersweet leaving his previous daycare, but he's now in a class with several other littles his age. The friends he's making now he could go to school with once he gets older, and we feel like it's in his best interest for the years to come. The first couple of weeks were definitely an adjustment, but he's adjusting well and really likes his new friends and teachers.

It's been HOT here in Oklahoma this summer, so we've spent a lot of time around the water this summer. Mac enjoys the water, and when it's so hot you might melt the only way to be outside is in the water.

Mac completed his first year of ISR swim classes at the end of the month. I cannot say enough good things about ISR, and would highly recommend. Our instructor, Marcy, is awesome! It was dedication and commitment for 8 weeks of lessons, 5 days a week, but I now am completely comfortable with Mac being around the water. If something were to happen and him fall in, he knows exactly what to do!

That's a wrap on how July went down around here!

A Letter to Myself...10 years later

This year, 2015, marks 10 years ago we graduated high school. Tis the season of reunions, so I wrote a letter to my high school graduate self. 

Dear Lyndi,

You just finished high school, and you feel like you have accomplished one of the biggest goals in life. Yes, you have as graduating high school is major milestone. There were days you thought you'd never not have to see the walls of Muskogee High but those days are now gone. You're on the verge of opening a brand new chapter. The days ahead of you will bring home sickness, sleepless nights of studying, and new friendships. On the days you want to move back home, just listen to your mother. You're getting an opportunity of a lifetime and you should cherish every minute of it.

If you knew today what I know now, you would be way more appreciative than you are today for the opportunity you're being given. There are other 18 year-olds that would give anything to be your shoes.

In 10 years you'll look back and think about how fast the time went by. You'll be in at a place in life you never imagined you'd be in just 10 years. You and Clete are married for over 4 years, you have a beautiful home, and the most adorable little toddler boy. Your heart and home are filled with joy, and lots of love!  You earned your degree from OU in less than 4 years and now have a successful career in the world of accounting, I know it sounds bizzare.

There will be days that you ask God, why me? And there will be some decisions you make that you'll question if they were the right ones. But you'll later learn that someone out there is always fighting a bigger battle than you are, and heartache and hurt are just a part of this life.

There isn't anything we would change. All the things we've gone through are what have made us who we are today.

So when the days get hard, hang in there! There are better days ahead, and great things in store for you. "You can do all things through Him that gives us strength."

XOXO

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!