Olive & Ivy: biting edition
Author Archives: Jen
Friday Fave: nice grass!
If you don’t think walking through nice grass is something to love, then you are spoiled and you’ve never had crappy grass to walk on!!
The high school band practice field isn’t top-of-the-line grass but it’s green and soft and feels great to walk on!
Band camp performance!
For only having practiced together for five days, I think they did amazing!
After the performances they called friends and family on the field to practice marching steps! We opted to stay in the bleachers to watch!
A dog in a wagon!
Katie tried to put the dogs in the wagon to pull them around the house. They weren’t thrilled…but then afterwards we found Ivy in the wagon!
And then a few hours later…
She was calm until she heard….
Tom coming down the stairs!
When she wants up it’s hard to say no.
It’s that time, ladies!
Consider this your reminder to go get those girls squished! It legit took me 5 minutes! And honestly I’d rather do this than go to the dentist!!
I know mammograms aren’t usually a fave thing to do but seriously it’s NO BIG DEAL. GO DO IT NOW!
One of nine company-wide!
As of August 1, I was one of only nine people in our entire company who earned three bonus sets of free products!
Band camp!
WTHS Band Boosters have been posting band camp pics on Facebook this week. Can you see Owen?
That dang scale though.
Up close with tongue!
They hadn’t seen him all day!
This is what happened when he came home from band camp!
Follow me!
If you want to follow along on my new weight loss journey, give me a follow on Instagram. I’m keeping it real. No filters. 100% honesty. (Even days without makeup and looking a hot mess!)
I need the accountability to stay motivated!!
New driveway: Day 2
Lots of big machinery and trucks!
Friday Fave: Then & Now recreations
Admission: I loooooove then and now photo recreations!
I do them with my kids…and my entire family! I think this is the one I did with the biggest year spread—22 years!
A friend’s birthday at Hurricane Harbor
Brandon (left) was one of Owen’s first friends in third grade. He’s so awesome—he wanted to go to Six Flags for his birthday but since he knows Owen doesn’t like rides, they went to the water park instead!
New driveway: Day 1 demo
Adulting. Booooooo. But now the driveway will be good for the next 20ish years. It was shocking how quickly the whole thing came up!!
Fingers crossed.
It’s official. Tom and I have started yet again. Hopefully for the last time.
I’m tired of feeling like shit after gaining back almost everything I lost back in 2015-2016.
I’m beyond tired of being tired and having everything hurt and never having any energy to do anything.
I’m tired of hating myself in every picture.
I’m tired of getting winded walking up a flight of stairs.
I’m tired of buying clothes when I literally have an entirely new wardrobe in my closet. (And I hate staring at a closet full of clothes I can’t wear.)
So even though I absolutely love food and sugar (and margaritas!) and I have zero energy for exercise…and even walking makes everything hurt…I have got to do this. Got to.
I’ve figured out some reasons why it was easier the last time… One, I was younger. But two, and most importantly, we didn’t really see friends that often for meals. Huh? Why would that matter? Well, it was easier to just have our little meals and use our timers and everything. When we did have a party or dinner with friends, it was one night of debauchery.
These days? We usually eat dinner with our best friends anywhere from 2-5 nights a week. Sometimes with apps and always with drinks. SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. And we go out for dinner probably 2x a month. Is it any wonder I’ve gained it all back?
I’m not sure how I’m going to do this going forward because I’m not sure if I’m strong enough to do all the right things all the time… But I have to try. One day at a time.
Fingers crossed.
Goodbye Agate Harbor!
Our annual “Oh crap we forgot to take a group picture all week so let’s do it as we’re getting ready to leave” group photo! Under the porch because it was pouring!
And our ride home…
Agate Day 5
The only day we headed to the beach — and it was super hot and sunny!
Agate Day 4
ESRAY PARK OUTING — The kids love coming here—climbing the rocks, playing in the water, finding creatures…
Agate Day 3
Agate Day 2
Anna co-opted Olive for a bedtime snuggle
Miss Ivy up north!
Ivy has to be touching Olive.
Same lap, different house.
Olive’s introduction to Billy Bass
Friday Fave: Thimbleberry margaritas
This is something I only get one week a year — and ONLY if we pass through Calumet while Carmelita’s is open!
Thimbleberry Margaritas
The thimbleberry is a berry unique to certain areas of the US — and the upper peninsula is one of them. And they’ve gone and turned it into a delicious drink! (They also make jam but give me the margarita!)
If you’re ever in the area, please stop by and try one! We even get two pitchers to go to enjoy throughout the week since it’s an hour round trip to get them!
If we’re going through Calumet…
We have to stop for Thimbleberry margaritas.
