The weather has finally been shaping up in Pittsburgh and it’s giving me life. Any time the temperature hits 80 degrees and above, I feel like yes, this is what I was made for. Jimmy and Niva on the other hand? They get a little sulky. They both prefer a chill in the air. 😉

The past week was full: an ENT appointment for Dakota, time spent on a trail, I made peanut butter pasta (yep, you read that right), we pet sat our neighbor’s dog, and more. Join me as I share all about our antics!

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Pet Sitting 🐶

Our neighbors went on a trip and asked if we could watch their bulldog! I’ve actually pet sat quite a few bulldogs (I can think of three off the top of my head!), so I knew what to expect. Our neighbor’s dog, Benny, is probably the youngest bulldog I’ve watched. At around two years old, he has a lot of energy!

Every day, we would feed him and then bring him over to play with Niva until he got too hot. Pet sitting is so different with kids in the mix! I used to do it full-time before having Sadie and loved it! I asked Jimmy the other day, how did I do this all the time?! But then I remembered I didn’t have three little humans to look after when I was doing it full-time. 😉

We found out Benny and our cat, Malcolm, weren’t fans of each other. There was an altercation. Involving our curtains. RIP curtains. 😅

Thankfully nobody was harmed! We fulfilled our pet sitting duties and had fun doing it!

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Peanut Butter Pasta and Pie 🥧

I mentioned in a recent post that Jimmy gave me spicy peanut butter for Mother’s Day. He knows I love spicy food and eating peanut butter straight from the jar. But eating spicy peanut butter straight from the jar is a no-go. I learned the hard way. 🥵

I wasn’t sure what to do with the peanut butter, so I combined it with soy sauce, maple syrup, and rice vinegar and used it as a pasta sauce. I’m calling it… peanut butter pasta! Very original, I know. 😉

I wasn’t sure what to think about peanut butter + pasta… but Jimmy and I both loved it! I felt that it could have been spicier, but Jimmy said it was just right.

I also baked a pie over the weekend. There’s something so comforting and homey about having a pie in the oven.

As per usual, I used my favorite easy pie crust recipe. I think I could make it with my eyes closed at this point. It only has four ingredients: flour, salt, oil, and milk! Plus an egg wash and sprinkling of coarse sugar. 😬

Other recipes I want to make soon: cranberry orange granola and marbled chocolate pistachio bread. Have you baked or cooked anything good lately?

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Time on the Trail ☀️

We hit the trail on Friday night and it was so lovely! Sadie and Mordecai rode their bikes to the creek and Dakota was pushed in the stroller.

Once we stopped at the creek, everyone unloaded from their wheels and played!

Have you been on any trails lately?

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A Visit to the ENT 👂🏻

Dakota went to the ENT for her ear tubes surgery followup appointment!

I thought it was pretty funny she was studying the ear infection poster in the office. Girl could have written that poster just a few months ago. 😆

The doctor peeked in her ears, and what do ya know, one of her tubes was clogged! I had a feeling because her one eye was glassy and that’s usually her telltale ear infection symptom, ha. Thankfully we know how to treat it: antibiotic ear drops! Easy peasy.

Looking back on the ear infections and tubes during the first year of her life, I am so glad we went through with the surgery! I honestly wish we would have done it sooner. It has been a game changer in the best way!

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Everything Else 😊

On Saturday night, we were going to go fishing but the weather was kind of iffy. It was sprinkling on and off and the thought of all the mud kind of put us off! We plan to go soon, though. We stayed dry at an outdoor shopping outlet.

We went into the Crocs store and let each of the kids pick one charm for their shoes. Mordecai picked a Spiderman charm, Sadie picked a shark that changes color in the sun, and mommy picked out a cat for Dakota. 😬

Whatever phase you call the above picture, we’re in it. I didn’t have the heart to stop her because she stayed busy making this mess for quite a while. 😂

And this is the phase we’re in with Mordecai! He likes to decorate his bedroom door.

I’m in the fold-laundry-outside phase and loving it! Especially when miss Niva keeps me company!

Mordecai got sick again. He is edging out Dakota for having the weakest immune system ever. He was feeling off on Saturday and not eating much. On Sunday, he was coughing really hard and not himself at all. Poor buddy! I enjoyed the extra cuddles, though.

I also got some abbreviated snuggles from Dakota. She is so go-go-go, it’s tough to get her to sit with me for more than a minute or two!

Dakota still gets her leg out of her booster seat when she eats! I don’t know how she does it!

What has everyday life looked like for you lately?

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Other Notes and Thoughts 📝

• Scripture I’m loving: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18 🙏🏻
• Spring cleaning is so satisfying! A few tasks I did this week: washed our walls with a magic eraser, changed our curtains (see dog/cat fight above), dusted our ceiling fans, cleaned our grill with this spray, and scrubbed mud off the casing of our back door. 🧽
• I bought summer passes for our local swimming pool for the kids and myself. I’m equal parts excited and nervous (Dakota is all. over. the. place.)! Last summer, getting to the pool felt impossible between Dakota being so young and Mordecai still napping. It’s wild how much changes in a year with little ones. ☀️
• How is Memorial Day coming up so quickly?! Do you have any plans? It’s always so wonderful to have a long weekend. 🌭

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Alright, I am going to end this post here! I have more to share (Sadie is officially a second grader!), but I have to get my day started! Bye until next time. 😊