The Queen’s Chronicles {2}

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Any week that starts with a holiday is A-ok by me!  The week flew by and we had an extra day at home together which left me feeling super prepared for the week.  
 Breakfast may be my favorite meal and I love enjoying it without feeling rushed.  I’ve been slightly obsessed lately with Ezekiel bread topped with either peanut butter or avocado.
 I left the selfie stick unattended for just a brief moment but I’m not sad to say I’m so glad she’s not shy about taking selfies!  I loved finding this on my phone!  We had lunch with my mom at Jason’s deli before she headed home.  
You can’t tell by the looks on their faces but these boys had the best day fishing some local ponds. 
 I was able to meal prep these egg cups which made quick and easy breakfasts for me all week long.  1 pkg Jenni-O turkey sausage, 5 eggs, 10 egg whites, pico de gallo and some chopped mushrooms

 These two were enjoying a game of Jenga…..I love how much she loves her dad and I love that he will play games like this with her.  We were talking about how different dads are this week and she says “yeah, dads are just so free spirited and not uptight”.  Wait…who’s uptight??

 Seriously you guys….I have been so stinkin’ good since January 4th and I showed up to a meeting on Tuesday only to smell these the entire time!!  I did finally cave and had one donut hole AND I was honest and logged it in my fitness pal….AND if I’m being honest it really didn’t bring me the joy 52 calories should!  
On Wednesday I hooked up for a little friendly working lunch with my pal Katy.  We host the Queen Bees linkup each month and are changing things up just a bit so stay tuned!  
 We had a work social Wednesday just after work and this was seriously the best dirty martini I had ever had!!  I didn’t realize how many calories were in it before I drank it thankfully.  Wine is safer….just saying.  
 Am I the only one with this issue….obviously running out of gas does not frighten me!!  
So this picture was NOT taken on Wednesday night but I stole it from my daughters IG from her weekend.  Wednesday night Keith & I finally got to have a double date with her and her new beau and really meet him for the first time.  I feel like I gave fair warning that I have a blog so I can post him here right?!!  They were adorable.  I did have to crack up because they were talking about watching the bachelor and he said since fantasy football is over they actually had a bachelor draft for the girls.  I think this guy fits in just fine with our crazy family.  
 This day was a total fail.  Y’all…I have been uber good….like no sugar other than natural sugar (and that one damn donut hole) and I do feel better (which should be enough) but after logging every morsel I stuck in my mouth for 3 weeks the scale has not budged.  I drowned my sorrows with a Jason’s deli chocolate chip cookie at a workshop and then this…this platter of fried crap (shared with Carly Jo) that tasted so good.

Thursday & Friday were both super windy and cold but this girl and I ventured out to have some chicken chili at Jason’s (copycat recipe linked in my Souper Thursday post).  It seems to be on my mind a lot lately!  We both celebrated our work anniversaries this month which also means we are celebrating our friendaversary….we became friends almost immediately upon meeting at work a short 22 years ago!!  That’s a lot of history folks.  

 The boys headed for some duck hunting Saturday morning and, again, he had more fun than his expression is implying!  It was super cold! 
 Sunday was National Peanut Butter day and who am I to skip a celebration especially where food is involved!  I added a little apple and it was delicious.

This one was not feeling so chipper after a birthday party sleepover Saturday night but dad’s snuggles made it better.

Terrible pic but I will take what I can get!!  I have so enjoyed having this boy come to town each weekend.  He will be off to spring training soon and it will be a long 7 months without him around here.  I’m not sure I have mentally prepared for that yet.  

 We took Dutch to the dog park for the very first time and THIS is what he thought about it.  The little stinker stood by our side for the longest before finally finding a dog he was interested in playing with.  
On our way home we stopped to see my friend Lallah’s new golden doodle, Stormy, and she is just the most precious puffy pup I’ve ever seen!  Dutch tolerated her a little and thankfully he is now sound asleep!  
While most of our week was normal, on Friday morning we received the tragic news that our cousin, Ryan, had passed away unexpectedly.  His wife, Kate, is Keith’s first cousin and they are a precious little family with 4 little girls.  Ryan actually performed the service marrying Keith & I and their family is so special to me.  As you can imagine they are hurting in ways none of us can know unless we have been there.  Please keep Kate, the girls and their parents, brothers & sisters in your prayers as they prepare to say goodbye this week.  
I will be hugging my family a little tighter and noticing the little things a lot more than usual this week for sure.  
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26 Comments

  1. Oh my goodness Shelly! I am so so so sorry for your loss and your cousin Kate. God bless her and keep her and her 4 girls in his arms during this time of sorrow. I can not even fathom their loss. Prayers to you all.

  2. I am so very sorry to hear about your cousin. Ryan, Kate and their entire family are in my thoughts and prayers.
    And – oh my gosh Shelly I feel you on the scale thing!!! I have been pretty much completely avoiding carbs, sugar, etc. Really eating well – lots of veggies, fruit, protein, avocados and nothing. One week the scale actually went up two pounds but now I am just back to where I started. When one of my besties and I were out walking yesterday I was griping about how much harder it is to lose weight at 45/46 than it was in my twenties or thirties…

  3. Truly so much harder! I try so hard not to step on the scale and just go by how I'm feeling but it' so ingrained in my brain. I feel so much better especially around the middle so I know cutting the carbs and sugar is so worth it but I really hope to see that scale move a little this next 3 weeks. 🙂

  4. I am so sorry to hear of your family's loss. They are in my thoughts and prayers!
    Today is the day I a starting good eating, and all that and it's not even 7 am and I am already crabby about it. Ha! Have a great week

  5. Prayers for your family during a time of loss. Can I just say the only thing that resonates with me is that your boys got to go fishing? I'm over here in watching snow melt and DREAMING of spring when we can be at the river….ahhh Texas may be in my future lol! Have a beautiful week! xo Amanda

  6. Meal prep for the win – I have to say those are the best breakfasts!! I'm so sorry for your loss- thinking of your family during this time! xo, Biana

  7. I am so sorry about Ryan, what a tough loss!! I love how you turn a hard situation into a positive reflection and holding your family extra tight! And in total randomness, I love Ezekiel bread too! Love and hugs by friend! xo

  8. Any guy that will willingly watch The Bachelor is pretty great! My husband actually wrote in his vows to me that he would watch one episode a season with me. Of course, he confessed that he thought the show would've been cancelled by now. He keeps his word, though!

  9. So sorry to hear about your loss :(.

    I also laughed at the plate of fried crap. I am sitting here repeating to myself over and over that I shouldn't go eat a piece of candy. Your post was just the motivation I needed.

  10. I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin, that is heartbreaking.
    This post made me hungry… between those yummy (and healthy!) looking egg cups and the yummy (and not so healthy) donuts. It may be night time but now I want breakfast!

  11. I'm so thankful I love eggs Shea…they definitely make it easier to get protein for the day. The egg cups were so easy but I will definitely use some tin baking cups next time because I don't think I'm ever going to get my pan clean…bummer! Have a great week!

  12. Oh no! I kind of want to get one of those silicone muffin pans–I think it would make clean up so much easier. (I hate cleaning those dang things too!) Thanks you have a great week too!

  13. I must have missed this post originally, but came back to see about the funeral you referred to in WUW. I'm so sorry about your loss. He was too young!

    I haven't been brave enough to take Albie to a dog park lately for the opposite reason. He is SOOO enthusiastic I think he would knock the other dogs over. And Dillon looks so tall in that basketball pic!

  14. Way, way too young Tanya. It has been an emotional week. God is good though and that sweet wife and momma is feeling all the prayers and his strength has sustained her day by day.

    Dutch seriously was being such a toot! There were plenty of dogs like you describe Albie..they were running all over the place! Dillon is almost 6 foot tall…its so crazy how much he grew this past year!!

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