Meadows and Reeds: military life

Friday, November 15, 2019

Fashion Friday

Hey folks the countdown has begun and I'm already losing my mind. I need all your helpful moving tips. You're road trip hacks for the kids. Give me all the info! Overload me because I'm a planner and I need to make my plans so I can have some illusion of sanity. I know there's gotta be some new hacks, new devices to help with the transition, help with travel for the kids. Anything to give me so peace.

Thank you in advance!

P.S those super cute leopard shows are from Walmart!!

Walmart for the win!!

Fashion Friday {Back to school}

We are back in school. I got one kid home and one in school. Only two days this week but it's made a difference. I never really realized how much I thrive on routine. While I hate having to set my alarm again it's not all bad.

I got together with all my mom friends for brunch to pray for all the kids at school. If you don't have something like that I highly recommend it. Such a great thing to have! A group of great women to hang out with, eat with, and who will pray for you, your kids, your marriage etc.

Back to that mom life. I'm planning play dates until I hear if little man got into preschool or not. Getting activities sorted out until we get told we are moving. Living that military life where you area always in some kind of limbo.

My fellow military spouses know exactly what I'm talking about.

You would think after all these years that I would be used to the unknown.

We thought we knew exactly where we were going next and when. We started to get excited. We started researching and of course getting our hopes up. Only for it to completely change and now we are back to having no clue. I guess we have to practice that living day to day life. That "live like there's no tomorrow life". I'll let you know how that turns out.

Happy Friday!

{Apple Picking} 26 weeks pregnant

I know I know I've been M.I.A again lately.

As you can see in the picture below or if you follow me on instagram @ashley.reed

You can see that I had a little incident.

Yep! Last week I attempted to take my daughter to a "Science expo" at her school and proceeded to slip on water and fall right down on my knee. NOT ON MY BELLY of course that was the major concern! Baby boy was all good still kicking around like a crazy man. I however was in excruciating pain. So now we get to add this to our "things to NOT do when you are pregnant" list. It's a pretty big list. I'm afraid to go anywhere now. I've been hopping, scooting along and using crutches. Which by the way despite popular belief are not comfortable! They are extremely painful to your hands, armpits and a little pregnancy weight and bam! You got a miserable mama!

So I had a week of being a couch potato watching some reality home makeover shows. Trying not to be bored. But the same scene gets old after awhile.

So when it was sunday and it was the day of our little family tradition in New England. I demanded we go. I didn't care of the pain I didn't want us to miss out. Apple Hill farm has done an awesome military appreciation day every year and I did not want us to miss it this year.

So we got me in the car with my crutches drove up to New Hampshire just in time for the festivities to start. But we didn't have very long so we had to cram in things {well the husband and Riley did} I was stuck on bench. But hey at least I was outside and it was a nice fall day. We got a bag of apples for free. Riley got to paint a pumpkin. I didn't get my apple crisp but the hubs said he will buy me a pie :) {music to a pregos ear}

Overall it was a nice family day.

BABY UPDATE:

He should be over a pound and 1/2 now. Approximately the size of a scallion. He can hear us now.

We like to play this game of telling him not to kick us and then watch him kick away. Pretty amusing to me.

I'm finishing up my baby registry and nesting as much as I can. After all once halloween hits the months go by extremely fast. I only have 98 days/14 weeks left til my due date!

Thing I'm Loving

This last week was the first full week of Ri's new schedule.

I'm getting used to her being gone all day. It can get kinda lonely though. So now it's time for cleaning/nesting and projects to be done.

She also started her dance/gymnastics class this week. She was soo excited and so cute too!

Another big deal this week! I finally made my first purchase ever at an H&M!! I know isn't that nuts. I've never really spent time in the store before. I was on a mission for decent maternity jeans because it's getting cold really fast here in New England. I needed to get prepared. There's rumor that we are in for a bad winter too! Yikes!! We went to the biggest one near us. Ri of course fell in love with the store! It's now her absolute favorite! I walked away with a few pieces to continue to get me through this pregnancy.

Oh and I'm on the cover of renew magazine's latest issue

Until next week.... :)

H & M Clothing Haul

H&M <span>Vests</span>
H&M <span>Maternity Jeans</span>

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program.................

BIG NEWS ALERT

Word is in on our next duty station! I know you have read my many complaints about the cold and the snow and what not. It's just hard for a California girl to be put in two very cold places. First Colorado now Massachusetts! It's never been my favorite. So after 5 1/2 years of cold, brutal winters. We are moving to HAWAII!!!!! At first I was nervous about having the choice. It was the only spot open for us at this time. They said we could take the chance of getting whatever they give us, or taking Hawaii now. After weighing all our options we took the plunge and said yes. Now we get to have an super long extended vacation. Sounds pretty exciting to me! Can't wait to be in this beautiful place!

{Conversations with a five-year old}

Riley: Daddy what do you do at work?

Daddy: I sit at a desk and call people to get them to join the Army.

Riley: That's all you do?

Daddy: Haha yeah

Riley: We got tooglers Mommy!

Mommy: Tooglers?

Riley: Yeah it's red and it's strawberry

Mommy: Twizzlers?

Riley: Yeah!

Riley: Look it's a bomb..right mommy?

Mommy: A bomb?

Riley: Yeah

Mommy: You mean ambush? {I said ambush earlier}

Riley: Yeah! ........ That's an ambush! {Pointing to the track team running towards us}

Daddy: What color are your eyes?

Riley: Blueish green like yours! We have the same eyes!

Daddy: What color is your hair?

Riley: Blonde like yours! We have the same hair! .........but not the same pajamas.

{Getting Ready for School}

Riley: Mommy! I'm tired of wearing leggings all the time! I just want to take a break from them!

Mommy: Well what do you want to wear then?

Riley: A DRESS!

Conversations with a five-year old

Daddy: Are you ok Riley?

Riley: Yeah! Because my mint is naked!

Daddy: Your mint is naked?

Riley: Yeah it's not wearing any clothes! {giggles}

Riley: This my favorite song!......What is it?

Mommy: ........Hotel California

Riley: Yeah! {smiles big}

Daddy: You're just curious right Riley?

Riley:.....and Bored!

Daddy to Mommy: That's what you get when you mix boredom and curiosity. You get a lot of questions.

Riley: {After being in trouble starts talking to her friend from the window in her room}

Izzy I need to see you so I know you're okay!

Riley: Mommy, you're so derble

Mommy: Derble?

Riley: Yeah der a ble.

Mommy: Oh I'm adorable?

Riley: Yeah!

Mommy: Thank you. You're adorable too.

Riley: I can't watch anything inappropriate.

{Family Vacation} Part 2

Sorry that it has taken me so long to get this trip blogged. I finally had some time to get it done.

Our second day in Florida was all about Disneyworld! Knowing that Riley was only five and only interested in princesses. We made our plans to spend the whole time in the Magic Kingdom. One day still wasn't enough honestly. Last time I even went to Disneyland was about 9 years ago for grad night. That's a long time! {I feel old} I remembered they had the fast pass. Which is completely different now. You only get 3 or 4 rides or attractions for the entire day you can use it for. I wish it was for the whole park. Those lines are outrageous! Most of the time was spent in lines. I wish we could've done more. However, since Riley didn't know any better. She was in absolute bliss. She was so starstruck when she got to meet the princesses. Most importantly Ariel. She told me she was sooo nervous about meeting her. She's so sweet! I can't wait to tell her that when she's older.

Our two favorite things of the day

{1} At Belle's interactive reading. They chose people to act out parts. They chose Riley to be the Beast! She was so excited and gave her best RRROOOOAARRRR. I was so proud and impressed she wasn't nervous at all. She just went up there and did her thing in front of everyone! She even got to dance with Belle! So sweet!

{2} At the end of the night they do the lights show. I didn't realize what it actually was. Some guy told us about it when we were getting ice cream. It didn't sound that exciting. We got a good spot and waited for the show. They played scenes from all the movies on the CASTLE! I was picturing like a outdoor drive-in movie setting. But they formed the scenes to the castle it was so awesome! Oh and Tinkerbell flew above us too!

Conversations with a Five-year old

Photo by Kristen Booth

I am constantly amazed at the interesting things that come out of this little girls mouth. She is one smart cookie!

Riley: I have a disk in my brain that writes down everything I eat.

Mommy: Really?

Riley: Yep!

Mommy: Do you how you get to heaven.

Riley: You die

Mommy: haha I mean before that. You believe in Jesus and accept him into your heart.

Riley: Right...then you die.

Mommy: haha Yes

Mommy: How much do you love me?

Riley: {opens arms big}

Mommy: That's a lot! Don't you love me more than that? I love you more than anything.

Riley: I love you more than grass!

Mommy: Grass hmmm?

Riley: More than houses, more than signs.

Mommy: I sure hope so!

Conversations with a five-year old

Photo by Kristen Booth

At first I wasn't sure if I could keep this up. But Riley just surprises with the little gems that come out of her mouth. I don't think we will be having a problem at all!

Mommy to Daddy: You should have your "I'm bossy" {by Kelis} as your ringtone.

Riley: I'm Poppsy

Mommy: No, I'm Bossy

Riley: You know who's bossy?

Daddy: Who?

Riley: Daddy!

Daddy: Because I'm the boss. You can tell everybody.

Riley: .....not my friends at school.

Riley: My farts are silent that means quiet.

Daddy: What did you say?

Riley: None of your business

{Riley playing outside with the neighbors}

Mommy: Riley I can't see you.

Riley {yells back}: Don't worry

Riley: What's wrong mommy?

Mommy: I just miss daddy. I wish he could spend more time with us.

Riley: Here look at this picture that will make you feel better. {points to picture} That's Daddy.

Mommy: Thank you Riley. :)

Conversations with a five - year old

Another new post that I will be doing from time to time. {Conversations with a Five- Year old}

Photo by Kristen Booth

I think we can all agree that "kids say the darndest things". I've always known that. But now I get to live with my own mini comedian to make me laugh. Ask weird, sometimes interesting questions. It's amazing the things that come out of her mouth.

Riley: I know what Goldfish {crackers} are made of.
Mommy: What?
Riley: Cheese and crunchiness.
Mommy: You are absolutely right!
Riley: And spicy sprinkles to make it taste better. {a.k.a salt}

Riley: What are you doing Mommy?
Mommy: Fixing the lines on her belly {photoshopping Maternity Photos}
Riley: How did she get those?
Mommy: From the baby. When your skin stretches.
Riley: How do you get a baby?
Mommy: Uhhhhhhhhhh
Riley: Maybe, when I'm older?
Mommy: Yes! Hahaha

Mommy: You're an expensive date you know. {on our random starbucks date}
Riley: You're the one spending the money here.

After eating a ham steak for dinner.
Riley: {having a meltdown} I need to tell you something
Mommy: What's wrong?
Riley: I ate the fat. I don't want to turn into a pig!
Mommy: You're not going to turn into a pig honey. Where did you get that from?
Riley: What was it? Was it the cheek?
Mommy: No no no. Don't worry about it nothing is going to happen to you.

{Kiss the Cook}

Another new weekly post I wanted to share. I am always trying new recipes out from the internet. Some are awesome, some not so much. Here are a few new recipes we have tried as of late and my reviews on them.

Baked Chicken Stuffed with pesto and cheese

Recipe from kalynskitchen.com

This one was mainly for the hubby. He loves pesto and so I thought why not. I didn't have the right crumbs for the coating so I just used Italian style bread crumbs instead. I wasn't a huge fan with the end result. But Evan loved it. Not sure I will make it again since we weren't raving about it.

Caprese stuffed turkey burgers

Recipe from brokeandbougie.blogspot.com

I recently searched for clean eating recipes on Pinterest and came across this recipe. I had a ton of ground turkey so I chose this one to try out.

It was pretty easy to make too. The only thing was cooking it a bit extra to make sure both sides of meat were cooked all the way through. I didn't have the right cheese either so I just substituted the cheese with whatever we had. It didn't really matter.

I also made this again for my parents and they loved it too. And I figured out that it taste good with ranch dressing to dip in.

What's your favorite recipe you think I should try?

Sara comes to New York

This is a day we had been waiting for. A trip we had been planning for years. More like dreaming I guess. It's hard to get away for a girls weekend. When so much life gets in the way. Jobs, moves, husbands, weddings, deployments, kids etc.

Thank goodness we now live only a few hours away. It made it easier to make this trip happen.
It's crazy that no matter how many times you come to New York. There's always something new to see and something new to do.

Even Sara got pulled into a street show. Which was hilarious! But cost us like $15. Can you say hustled??

This trip we went to the 9/11 Memorial, Trinity Church, Ice Cream at Dylan's Candy Bar {not pictured} Central Park, Times Square and we braved the New York Subway. We had used it once before but with family who had lead us around. This time we were all on our own and I wasn't as nervous or scared. We had practiced a few times in Boston using the T. I definitely feel more and more like a grown up every time I use it. It's so hard to do things in one day. Just because there is still so much to see. Central Park is huge and could possible spend a whole day there. Statue of Liberty, Coney island. So much more to do and we are running out of time before we move.

What are your favorite things to do in New York?