Kathryn, Author at kathrynegly.com

1 In 2021/ Free stuff/ Minnesota/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Step inside a $43 million dollar Minneapolis mansion

Did you know if you have a library card, you can get access to museums, plays, and other fun things around town?

When I noticed a complimentary pass to a place on my Minnesota bucket list: A visit to the American Swedish Institute, aka – a historic mansion, I snatched up a ticket and snuck away for a couple hours.

Wow, it was spectacular! I enjoyed walking around and imagining what the owners did to earn the money to afford such luxury, and to think about how they lived, and the lavish parties they’d thrown.

I started doing some research and asking questions to find out about the history of this home – and was surprised by what I found out.

How big is this place and how much was it?

The home cost 1.5 million dollars to build in 1903, but is currently worth over $43 million.

It has 33 rooms and 75,000 sq ft!

What did the owners do for a living?

The owner of this home was a Swedish man named Swan Turnblad and his wife, Christina. They owned and distributed a Swedish newspaper. Swan loved new technology and was one of the first owners of a “color” printer.

How long did it take to build this mansion?

This home took almost 5 years to build. They employed EIGHTEEN woodworkers for 3 solid years to create the beautiful beams, trim and moldings you see through the home:

The magnificent fireplace inside the entrance to the home. Anyone else have a foyer fireplace like this one?

A room in the basement that was originally a “billiards” room

What kind of parties did they host?

Only one! A fund raiser.

They had a lavish ball room with a stage – big enough for a live band, but they never hosted one ball!

The owner’s wife was very reclusive and her closest friends were the servants. She grew up as a servant herself, so related to her staff more than the wealthy women in town.

I’d love to rent this space, invite everyone I know to dress up in their fanciest clothes, and have a big ball. This gorgeous room must be used!

How long did the owners live in the mansion?

The owners only lived in the home for 7 years! Mrs. Turnblad never liked the home. It was way too big and pretentious for her. They left the mansion to live in an apartment above their printing press!

What do I have in common with the original owners?

Only ONE thing (that I know of) – my favorite part of the home was also their favorite part of the home – the LIBRARY!

The home was so big, that they mostly lived in the library. Ted and I could happily live in that library!

Did anyone else live in the home?

Yes, they had one daughter, as well as two servants and their children who lived in the mansion. When the owners left, they allowed the servants and their children to occupy the home!

The children’s diaries were found and the children wrote about the fun they had playing hide and seek in this gigantic home!

What else is special about this home?

The beautiful bathroom with the amazing sky light. This is the original tub and tile. I would love to take a bath here at night and watch the sky.

There are 11 porcelain tile Swedish “stoves” (fireplaces) in the mansion, every one of them is unique.

The ceilings are a work of art:

The original kitchen:

I didn’t take a picture, but the pantry is larger than my entire kitchen.

Who bought the mansion after the original owners moved out?

No one. There was only one owner, and they donated the mansion to the American Swedish Institute. Today it is a cultural center, museum, art center, and gathering place for anybody interested in Swedish and Nordic culture.

What’s new now?

The. basement has been updated with a beautiful children’s play room and classrooms.

2. The Solarium was updated

The solarium (sun room) became unusable. It was too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, and the framing had been destroyed by the harsh Minnesota winters.

It cost almost as much to update this room (over a million dollars in current dollars) as the original owners paid for the entire house at the turn of the century.

I loved the solarium! Next time I want to bring a book to sit in here and read!

3. Nelson Cultural Center

In 2012, a 34,000 square foot addition known as the Nelson Cultural Center opened. It is a gathering place that houses the café, the art gallery, classrooms, and event spaces.

The mansion is a landmark that has been placed on the national, state and city registers of historical places.

Do you want to visit?

Check out the smart pass website by clicking here to see if there are any complimentary passes, or visit their website to purchase a pass.

Thanks for reading!

Click here for the Top 25 things to do in Minnesota!

June 4, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Book Review

Five good books I finished in May: Reviews and Recommendations

Here are the books I read in May:

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

Rating: 10/10

Review: I loved this book. It’s a great story to read from a front porch swing or your back deck. Read it slowly and enjoy the story about the life of Jayber. You’ll feel like your listening to your grandfather describe his life from a beautiful, bygone era. This would make an excellent book to read this summer!

Buy this book and take it on your next vacation.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 9/10

Review: This was a very interesting story that gave me new insight on the French Resistance – how the citizens of France were invaded by the Germans, as well as how families and lifelong friends are torn apart. The book showed the fear, the love, and the sheer bravery of how people got through those devastating years. I recommend the audio version of this book. The narrator does a great job with the accents and really makes the story come to life.

Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin

Rating: 10/10

Review: This is an excellent book! I listened to this audio book and highly recommend it. The author has a British accent and a soothing voice. She earned her PhD from Cambridge and explores 12 questions. The four that stood out to me were:

How can you take the Bible literally?
Isn’t Christianity homophobic?
How can you say there is only one true faith?
Hasn’t science disproved Christianity.

The author does a FABULOUS job answering these questions!

Habitudes by Dr. Tim Elmore

Rating: 9/10

Review: This book is full of stories to inspire a person to be a better leader. I read it with my two older sons. The book was a little advanced for them, but since we were reading it together, we could talk about how the topics related to them. I’d recommend this book for someone in college and older. Overall, it’s easy-to-read, but talks about the best ways to ‘oversee’ others and didn’t exactly apply to my boys, but had some good lessons.

Here are a few points my 13-year-old pulled from the book:

All people have value and deserve respect no matter their role. Don’t treat the janitor different than the principal.
Value being ‘interested’ over ‘interesting.’
People are more like chess than checkers. In checkers, you play every piece the same. In chess, every piece is unique. People are unique. Strong leaders get to know people and find out their individual strengths.
There are different types of listeners. Sometimes I’m an “impatient listener” – meaning I finish people’s sentences and want them to finish so I can speak.

Who was Frederick Douglas? by April Jones Prince

Rating: 9/10

Review: I read this book with one of my sons. It gives a brief, but good overview of Frederick’s life – his bravery, intelligence, and fight to be free!

Want more recommendations? Click here to read my top ten favorite books of 2020!

Please subscribe!

May 31, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Inspiration/ Raising boys/ Saving money

Six Super Simple and Budget-Friendly Gifts for Teachers!

Most teachers deserve a million bucks and an all-expense paid trip around the world.

What I WANT to give my sons’ teachers, and what I’m able to give them are two different things.

You don’t have to break the bank to show your child’s teacher some love and appreciation. As a former teacher, it’s often the least expensive things that are the MOST appreciated!

Here are 6 simple gifts ideas. Perhaps you could give your child’s teacher one item every day on the last week of school? Or one item each day on the FIRST week of school. No matter what you give and when you give it, your teacher will enjoy a simple surprise.

1. A special drink

Get your teacher hydrated:

2. Candy or gum

What teacher couldn’t use a little sugar boost most days?

Click here to order chocolate bars.

Click here to order peppermint patties!

Click here to order gum 12 packs of gum for $10:

3. Special hand soap

Teachers are always washing their hands, so some fancy or pretty smelling soap comes in ‘handy!’

Click here to read some benefits of hand washing.

4. A healthy snack

Clark heard his teacher talk about her love for Brussel Sprouts, so he insisted we bring her a bag – and she LOVED it.

Another teacher loves protein bites, so I’ll send some to help her get through the last week of school. Click here for recipe.

5. Lunch

Whether you make it or buy it, your child’s teacher will LOVE not having to eat their sack or school lunch for a day.

Just send a note to school letting your child’s teacher know that tomorrow’s lunch is on you. Send a menu to a local restaurant and ask them to circle what they’d like for you to order, or let them know what you’ll be making! Either way, this will be a SPECIAL treat and they will LOVE IT!

6. A hand-written note

Most teachers would LOVE to know they are making an impact – so write and tell them how they’ve made a difference in your child’s life!

Of all the ‘teacher gifts’ I received over the years, this is the one that I’ve kept through many years and many moves, and it STILL makes me smile:

A heart-warming note from a student who struggled in school.

All these gift ideas would be great for the bus driver, the specialists, the school nurse, the custodian, the principal, as well as the office staff!

Would you like a few more ideas? Click here for what to give and what NOT to give!

Thanks for reading, please consider subscribing!

May 24, 2021 By Kathryn

1 In 2021/ Book Review/ Things to do in Minnesota

Read the Book or Watch the Movie? Part 2

You may have seen my last post on “Which was better? The Movie or the Book.”

Here’s Part 2:

Catch Me If You Can

The book:

Frank Abagnale’s autobiography was fascinating! Before he turned 21 – Frank posed as a Pan Am pilot and traveled the world, he then passed the bar and became a lawyer, he forged transcripts and was a doctor for an entire year in Atlanta, then taught summer classes at Brigham Young University (his students loved him and the University asked him to come back). He lived large on stolen money. He finally got caught and spent years in jail. After he got out of jail, he couldn’t find anyone to hire a ‘criminal,’ so he created his own line of work – teaching banks and other institutions how to identify fraud and to keep others from doing the same things he did.

I really enjoyed this book, but would have loved for the author to share more about the change that happened on the inside, that caused him to change on the outside. I know he became a man of faith, is married and has 3 sons. Overall, this was an interesting book to read.

The Movie:

The movie tells the story of Frank Abagnale, showcasing a few entertaining scenes from his life, but leaving many out. It was a good movie – but not appropriate for young viewers.

The Verdict:

Watch the movie (without kids) to see how interesting this man was…then read the book if you’d like more details about his life!

Jackie Robinson

The Book:

I decided to read this book after seeing the movie “42”. There are a few biographies about Jackie Robinson, but I wanted to hear the story from the man himself. The beginning of the book was fascinating, as Jackie Robinson shares stories from his growing up years, then breaking into Major League Baseball. The story slows down once he transitions away from baseball. I respect Jackie Robinson, and his fight for civil rights!

The Movie: 42

Excellent family movie with great actors!

The Verdict:

The movie.

Queen’s Gambit

The book:

This is the story of an orphan girl who is a chess genius, but also struggles with addiction. The book takes you on a journey through her life. Highs and lows. Wins and losses. Sobriety and addiction. Friendship and loneliness.

The show:

Because I do not play chess, it was hard for me to imagine the games as they were described in the book. It was much more enjoyable to watch the games and observe the people and their surroundings. The show had a fantastic storyline and excellent actors.

The Verdict:

Watch the show! It’s on Netflix, at your local library, or you can purchase it on Amazon.

The Glass Castle

The Book:

They say that truth is better than fiction, and this book is the PERFECT example of that. The author had me hooked from the very first page. She does an excellent job of recreating her childhood so the reader feels like they were there. I could feel her pain, joy, and disappointment. It’s an incredible story of survival, perseverance and resilience by four children being raised in the midst of poverty. Her story surprised me constantly – from how smart her parents were in some aspects, to absolutely dysfunctional in other areas. What an interesting story!

The Movie:

The movie was hard to watch. Good actors, just a bad retelling of the story. No depth.

The Verdict:

THE BOOK. Skip the movie. The book was hard to put down. The movie was hard to get through.

An EXCELLENT book I’ve read was Redeeming Love. The movie should be released this year and I’m really looking forward to watching it! If you are looking for a good book to read this summer – I highly recommend Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

Have you watched a good movie or read a good book recently? Leave a comment!

Click here to read my last “Book or Movie?” post!

Thanks for reading and please subscribe!

Need more recommendations? Watch this:

Thanks for reading and watching – I’d love for you to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

May 14, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Peek into our Week

Peek into the last few weeks: April 2021

The simplest Easter

This was the most laid back Easter we’ve ever had. George came down with a cold the night before Easter. His incessant cough kept him (and Ted and me) up most of the night. We stayed in our comfy clothes, watched church online, and stayed close to home all day.

George teaches me a life hack:

Put your chips in a bowl and your salsa in a wine glass…VOILA!

Luke starts t-ball

Outdoor Adventures

Wrigley: The Million Dollar Dog

Clark: If someone offered you a million dollars for Wrigley, would you take it?

Mom: Yes.

Clark: WHAT!? I can’t believe you’d give him away.

Mom: Well, if someone paid a million dollars, they’d take good care of him. We could buy one of his cousins, and still have close to a million dollars.

Clark: Nope, it’s still not worth it to me.

Spotted Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore at the boys’ school!

Other highlights:

**Wrigley loves water and tries to jump in the tub when Luke is taking a bath.**

**When Wrigley see water – he runs right into it and soaks himself.**

Click here to read reviews of the books I read in April.

Click here to read what we were up to in March.

Thanks for reading! What have you been up to? Leave me a comment!

May 11, 2021 By Kathryn

4 In Memories/ Motherhood/ My Journey/ Raising boys

The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day was approaching and as a mom of busy little boys, I was wishing for three things:

A clean house,
A little pampering,
A good night’s sleep.

I planned in advance so that Mother’s Day would be the best ever:

I scheduled someone to clean my house a couple days before Mother’s Day.
I invited a couple friends to meet me at the nail salon to get our nails done.
A good night’s sleep was very unlikely, but a girl can hope and dream, right? (pun intended)

Little did I know that it would be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Mother’s Day/week.

Thursday morning a cleaning lady was to arrive at my house at nine am. I LOVED the idea of having a clean house for Mother’s Day weekend. I’d be able to play with my kids while someone else cleaned the toilets – YAY! What a gift.

The morning came and went, and no one showed up. I called and they had forgotten to add me to the schedule. No one would be coming.

I wasn’t going to have a clean house for Mother’s Day.

That’s okay…at least I’d get some time that night with some girlfriends and get my nails done!

Ted would take care of the boys after a busy day at work. He would put them to bed so I could have the evening with my girlfriends.

Well, traffic was really bad that night, and Ted got home late. The minute he walked in, I passed him the baby, and headed out the door.

I rushed into the nail salon and found my friends already getting their nails done. I sat in an open chair next to them.

“I’m sorry ma’am,” the manager said, “we are closing in 15 minutes and aren’t doing any more nails tonight.”

My heart sank. No pretty nails for Mother’s Day.

I chatted with my friends while they finished getting their nails done, and we walked out together as the salon closed. We weren’t done talking, and it was cold and raining outside, so I suggested we sit in my car to carry on our conversation. We chatted for another hour and then I tried to start my car – it was completely dead.

Unfortunately, none of us had jumper cables and we could not call our husbands to help. They were all home with sleeping children.

We looked around for a kind person who may happen to still be out on this cold, dark, wet night. We spotted one person. I asked him for help and miraculously (like an angel!?), he came over with jumper cables, started my car, and we all made it home safely.

Friday morning I got up early. I had a Mother’s Day Tea to attend and wanted to have time to take a shower and put on nice clothes. I got myself ready, then got each of the boys ready. As I was putting our baby into his carseat to leave… he spit up all over me. All through my hair, down my shirt, my skirt, and onto my shoes.

I frantically searched my closet to find another outfit to wear, quickly wiped the spit up out of my hair, and raced into my first Mother’s Day Tea … just in time.

Around 3 AM on Mother’s Day morning, I woke up to the sound of Clark crying. I went in to check on him. He had thrown up – all over himself, his pajamas, and his bed.

This wasn’t the Mother’s Day morning or good night’s rest I had hoped and wished for.

In fact, I decided it was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Mother’s ~~Day~~ … week!

I lifted Clark out of the messy bed, gave him a warm bath, and put him in clean pajamas. I changed his sheets, tucked him back into bed, said a prayer, and rubbed his back until I thought he was asleep.

I crept out of Clark’s room, thinking about how tired I was, and that I’d probably only get another hour or two of sleep before the baby woke me up, when I heard the sweetest words:

‘Happy mudder’s day, mama.”

In spite of Clark being sick and tired, he somehow remembered that it was Mother’s Day.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that my FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS had blinded me to my FIRST WORLD BLESSINGS!

In spite of how bad things are going, we can find something to be grateful in every situation.

My house may be messy, but it’s warm and it’s ours.
My nails might not be painted, but my hands are strong enough to hold and care for my children.
My car might have died, but I have a car to take my kids where we need and want to go.
My kids are healthy. When they spit up/throw up – I have extra clothes and sheets – and a washing machine and dryer to clean the laundry.
I have a husband who cares for me and our boys so that I can get away to be with girlfriends.
I have friends that sit and chat with me. Then they stayed with me, in the cold rain, until my car got started again! And bonus – they are friends who encourage me to be a better wife and mom. (PRICELESS!)
And the biggest blessing of the week…I GET to celebrate Mother’s Day because I have children!

Now that I look back on all my Mother’s Days…this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Mother’s Day, was actually my favorite one. It allowed me put things in perspective and see the gifts and blessings I so easily take for granted.

When I began focus on my blessings, I realized that this was a …

WONDERFUL, fantastic, so good, very blessed Mother’s Day!

Don’t let 1st world problems make you forget your 1st world BLESSINGS!

And by the way, while I tried to plan the perfect Mother’s Day week – Ted planned a really sweet Mother’s Day.

He got me flowers. He had the boys color me pictures. He picked up some delicious food so I didn’t have to cook. He told me to get away for a few hours to read and relax.

While I was gone, not only did he take good care of the boys – the house was clean when I got home!!

It really was a WONDERFUL, fantastic, so good, very blessed Mother’s Day!

What about you? What gift might you be taking for granted? Do you have a favorite Mother’s Day memory? Leave a comment.

Please consider subscribing.

Thanks for reading! You may be interested in this related post: Finding Joy in the Motherhood in the Mess

May 7, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Book Review/ Product Recommendations

Four books I finished in April: Book Reviews and Recommendations

Here are a few great books I finished this month.

The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus

Rating: 10/10

Review: This book was so good that once I started, I could barely put it down. Erwin shares one phenomenal story after another, connecting what God teaches in the Bible to real people putting that into action, and the POWER that action has had in their lives. Here are a few of my favorite points from the book:

You need to act like your life depends on it because it’s never just your life involved. The world desperately needs everything you can bring to the table.
Don’t allow your weakness to define who you are.
You will never sustain greatness or fulfill your God-given calling if you see people as an obstacle to your destiny rather than as essential to fulfilling God’s purpose in your life. An old African saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We are more powerful when we walk together, and we are more vulnerable when we walk alone.
Fear is like a leprosy that eats away at us. Fear will lead us to build fortresses that look like security and safety. Fear convinces us that we have locked out the dangers, but it hasn’t locked the world out at all. Instead, fear has trapped us inside. It was never a fortress, it was a prison.
I do not believe anyone is born average but I do believe that many of us choose to live a life of mediocrity. To be above average demands a choice. Average is a safe choice and it’s the most dangerous choice we can make.
Do not lose sight of the fact that just because it’s time to move forward, the things in the past did not have great value for the time in your life. Appreciate the past, but live IN the present and FOR the future.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 5/10

Review: This is the story of a military family, the wife goes off to war and comes back with a missing leg and PSTD. I didn’t connect with the characters or find the story believable. I would recommend The Nightingale over this book! A much better story and excellent character development.

Help Club for Moms : The Wise Woman Believes

Rating: 10/10

Review: The Help Club for Mom’s Bible studies include mom tips, recipes, activities to do with your children, journaling pages, and practical devotions for mom. The book takes into consideration your home, children, faith, and marriage. The studies are uplifting and perfect for any mom.

Remarkable by Brady Boyd

Rating: 10/10

Review: Brady Boyd has done it again with his masterful, engaging and meaningful writing. This is all about how Christ-followers can live ‘remarkable’ lives that make a positive difference in the world. Here are 5 things that stood out to me:

Every person is created in the image of God – regardless of color, creed, gender, socioeconomic status or citizenship. When you disagree with someone, ask: “Help me understand your perspective. What am I missing?” or “Tell me your story.”
Acceptance, kindness and forgiveness are the trifecta of a gracious life. “May we exude graciousness at every turn, remembering that we too, were lavished with grace. May we radiate the warmth and compassion of Jesus, who once took in our messiest messiness and said, ‘You are welcome here.'”
Inviting God into our painful places is when healing begins to seep in.
The first step in obtaining wisdom is admitting that I am not the source of wisdom. (Do I stop and seek God for wisdom before I make decisions or answer questions?)
Stay plugged in to the unparalleled power Source.

What are you reading?

Here are my favorite books for 2020

And my top ten from 2019

May 1, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Guest Post/ Motherhood

What do teens and trees have in common?

Today I have an amazing guest post from my friend, Robin Blonsky. Robin and I have been friends for over 20 years. Recently, we sat down and chatted over coffee. I had tears in my eyes as I listened to her share so vulnerably about what she’s learning about being a mother to teenagers. I asked her to write something for me to share with you … and I am HONORED that she said yes.

Craig and Robin Blonsky – Craig was a best man in our wedding and my husband was a best man in their wedding.

Here’s Robin’s powerful story:

Spring was beginning to bloom in Oklahoma and I couldn’t remember when I had anticipated a season more. I was looking forward to seeing the first leaves emerge on the new Tupelo tree in my front yard.

Inside of my home however, my relationship with my 16-year-old daughter Grace, was growing dormant.

Grace and I had been misfiring in our communication for well over a week. I could tell that our relationship was off and it seemed that she knew it too. However, coming off of a difficult few weeks myself, I honestly felt that I had no energy to deal with whatever was going on with her. We continued to drift apart with more misunderstandings and frustration.

Sure, I prayed over the situation, and over our family as I usually do, and then I did what any responsible mom would do…I tried to wait her out. After a few more days, I went to bed angry one night after being fed up with it all. I truly had no interest in initiating a ceasefire, but, I knew I needed to put my big girl panties on and be the parent in this situation. So, I started turning the situation over to God little by little as I drifted off to sleep, inviting His wisdom and timing into the equation.

I didn’t sleep well that night, but the next morning I woke up with a calm knowing that I needed to talk with Grace, starting with an apology for my part in being intense and nit-picky. She was stuck and I needed to help her get unstuck. And I needed to err on the side of mercy. Yay.

After I spent my quiet time with God, that’s when I had peaceful confirmation. In my devotions, I came across a passage that talked about how when children are the most unlovable and exasperating, that is often when they need love the most. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me, and then went on with my day.

When children are the most unloveable, that is often when they need the most love.

While I was out running errands, I picked up a special decorated cookie for daughter from a beloved bakery in town. My husband and I have been making more effort to celebrate any wins in our family with small rewards. The treat was for going on her first job interview recently.

The day flew by and before I knew it, my girls were home from school. I let them get settled and then approached Grace. She was parked at the kitchen table, working on her laptop. Her demeanor was frosty, and the leave me alone signal was strong. I approached her anyway and began the conversation in a relaxed manner. She shared about how her frustrations with me had accumulated into a big ball. I offered my apologies for being intense and critical when all I really wanted to do was connect.

As the frost began to melt, the cookie appeared along with a cold glass of milk. I started to speak life over her as the words tumbled out from my heart. How much I loved her, believed in her, was proud of her for facing her fears, how incredible she is as a person, and that I see her as a capable young woman. As we continued talking, she became pleasant again. As soon as we finished the conversation, we both moved on.

Friends, I certainly miss it some days, just as any of us do, but here’s one thing I am learning as I walk with God. When I bring my struggles to Him and seek His wisdom, He always meets me where I am at. If I will wait for His grace to act, His timing is just right on when, and how, I am to respond.

Just days later, I noticed that the leaves of my new tree are now appearing for the very first time! They only come out of their protective buds after testing the air to make sure the frost is gone. Just as my tree responds to climate conditions, so do our children as we set and protect the atmosphere of our homes with warmth and love.

Just as my tree responds to climate conditions, so do our children as we set and protect the atmosphere of our homes with warmth and love.
Robin Blonsky

April 26, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Memories/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our Weeks (March 2021)

I know that it’s nearing the end of April … but here’s a look back into what our family was up to in March!

Checking off an item on Paul’s Bucket list

We had a free day and it was COLD outside…so we made a visit to the REPTILE and AMPHIBIAN Zoo. It’s a small place but we enjoyed watching the staff feed several of their reptiles. Paul was able to check something off his bucket list: Hold a giant Boa Constrictor. (Paul has all kind of UNIQUE things on his bucket list!)

Checked off “hold a giant boa” from Paul’s bucket list

A Real Date Night

Ted and I have a favorite date night spot and it’s been closed for most of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. We were so excited to get a real in-person date night when Colita re-opened! Quarantine date nights were sweet, but it’s so nice to finally get out of the house and go to an actual restaurant!

Classic Clark

Clark comes in each night banged up and usually muddy. I was looking at his legs in astonishment and asking how he has so many marks and scars on his legs. This was his response:

A ‘shell’ of a tradition

When I was a child, my mom came home from a trip to Florida with a bag of white seashells. Together we painted them and gave one to each person in my class.

On a recent trip to Marco Island, I spotted the same white shells and happy memories flooded my mind. I knew I had to carry on the tradition. The boys and I had so much fun painting shells and giving them away!

An afternoon at Como Zoo with a bunch of boys

We spent a few hours at Como Zoo and Conservatory (click here to read about it), then played at the park across the street. We stopped at DQ on our way home.

School Daze

The boys are finally back in school full time. I’ve been teaching and had so much fun getting to be in their classrooms! I taught Clark’s class and was Luke’s reading teaching. Next week I’ll get to be Paul’s teacher. I’m grateful that the boys get excited about me teaching. It gives them something to look forward to, and I look forward to it as well! BONUS: Shields are no longer required.

Wrigley Updates:

Who needs a pillow when you’ve got a Wrigley?

Muddy March

This is our first spring with a dog and WOW – puppies get DIRTY!!!! Dogs gravitate toward the mud more than boys do! We’ve been giving Wrigley baths daily, sometimes multiple baths each day. Wrigley likes bath time ALMOST as much as he likes to play in the mud.

Wrigley had his first visit to the groomer and he looked SO different that we thought the groomer may have given us the wrong dog. The boy decided to ‘test’ Wrigley to see if it was really their dog. They watched to see if he’d respond to his name, then made him do all the tricks they taught him. After he passed his ‘test,’ they were finally convinced we had the right dog.

A visit to Oklahoma

We visited family and friends in Oklahoma for spring break. I’ve got the world’s best in-laws who open up their beautiful home to us and take such good care of us when we visit. It’s also so fun for me to be with my sisters and let the boys play with their cousins. We also got a night out with some old friends.

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe if you’d like to follow our adventures!

April 20, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Food/ Recipe

Delicious & Simple Crockpot Thai Chicken and Rice

I like simple dinner ideas and thought you might like one too! All you need is 4 ingredients and about 4 minutes to get dinner in the crockpot for your family.

Ingredients:

1 jar of Thai Style Coconut Curry Salsa

1 can of Coconut Milk

4 lbs of Chicken (frozen or thawed). You can use chicken tenders, thighs, or chicken breasts.

1 cup of Rice – I used Jasmine rice.

Directions:

1. Add chicken, salsa and coconut milk to crockpot and stir.

2. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or cook on high for about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. These times are APPROXIMATE and I encourage you to check on and stir your chicken regularly.

3. When chicken is finished cooking, remove it from the crock pot.

4. Add a cup of rice to the remaining liquid and cook on high for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.