What's Up Wednesday: June 2023 Edition
It's the last Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for What's Up Wednesday with Sheaffer and Shay.
Just like these meals I ate before vacation:
 |
| fruit/yogurt/ granola |
 |
| Salads with chicken and fresh fruit |
 |
| Fresh fruit and veggies with hard boiled eggs or deli meat roll-ups |
 |
| Scrambled eggs in a wrap with clementines |
What I'm Reminiscing About: With Ian deciding to stay home and work I spent a lot of this trip thinking back on all the trips we took when the boys were young. We realized that last year might have been our last true family vacation!
 |
| From trips with just one |
 |
| To trips with 2 (while pregnant with 3) |
 |
| Back to trips with just 2?! |
What I'm Loving: Sadly I have been loving ALL the ice cream and trail mix treats!
 |
| We ate 2 bags of this on vacation-- it is SO good! |
What We've Been Up To: We just spent the last week hiking all over Shenandoah national park (which I'm recapping this whole week) and earlier in the month we spent lots of time finishing up school, hiking with our friends, and relaxing by the lake (when it's warm enough to do so).
 |
| Alec won the excellence in culinary award for the 3rd year running |
 |
| Luray caverns |
What I'm Dreading: Nothing right now! It's SUMMER!!
What I'm Excited About: We have another mini trip coming up in July and then a few college visits with Alec.
What I'm Watching/Reading: XO, Kitty (Netflix), Homestead Rescue (Discovery+), I Carly reboot (paramount +), As a family we started watching Everybody Loves Raymond (paramount +), my husband is obsessed with his new smoker so we've been watching American BBQ Showdown (Netflix), 13 Reasons Why-- after reading the book! (Netflix), on vacation we rewatched ALL the Indiana Jones movies, Vertical Limit, 14 Peaks; Nothing is Impossible,
I've read over a dozen wonderful books this month!
What I'm Listening to: The washer and dryer-- seems like that is always running (even on vacation!)
What I'm Wearing: Our weather has been all over the place so my clothing has been too to match. Some days it's tanks and tees and others it's long sleeves and pants.
.jpg)
What I'm Doing This Weekend: Nothing much at all!
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month: My birthday!
What Else is New: We got a new smoker and Ian bought himself his first vehicle.
Linking up with:
Eating at home after a vacation always taste so good. And yes, why is there always laundry to do? Even on vacation?!?!?! We visited Luray Caverns a number of years ago and I still remember how stunning they were. Looking forward to reading your trip recap! Natasha @ Here's The Scoop
ReplyDeleteIt really does! Even though we cooked many nights at the house we rented and prepared our own breakfast each day it just wasn't the same. We had to do a lot of laundry on this trip since it was supposed to be in the 80's and sunny all week but ended up being quite chilly and rainy-- more than 1/2 of the clothes I packed never made it out of the suitcase.
DeleteIan's new truck is amazing! Good for him for purchasing it. I know what you mean about vacations and the last one where you go with all of your kids. Our last one was probably last summer. It's sad but that's part of life. Have loved your posts about your trip last week. That ice cream looks amazing and I chuckled over your, "sadly, I've enjoyed ice cream..." I have been thinking about my favorite foods lately and have lamented that they aren't healthy ones so I felt your pain, lol. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHe had been planning to come with us right until the week before we were ready to leave and I totally understood his reasoning; hopefully everyone will make the next vacation but I realize with full time jobs and college opportunities that may not possible. I always say that I wish more of my favorite foods were healthy ones but they are not.
DeleteCongrats to Ian on his truck! Love those maxi dresses on you- so so pretty. Glad you are home and settling in again and can't wait to hear about your next mini trip!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I can't wait! Though I am really hoping for sunny, warm weather.
DeleteI love your outfits. I wonder if my kids will stop wanting to travel with us! We've done a few trips with just two when the other has been at camp - mainly when heading out to see that one at camp!
ReplyDeleteIan did want to come with us but he's working on getting his commercial driver's license and decided it was a better use of his time to stay home and work and practice his "big rig" driving. We're hoping to move family vacations to winter once Alec starts college and that should be easier for both Ian and my husband to get time off since winter isn't real busy in sand/gravel/landscaping/ etc.
DeleteThe Shenandoah Valley is one of the prettiest places in America. I love it there and we've spent quite a bit of time there. We lived in Annapolis so not too far to go camping. Plus with our families spread north and south we've spent a lot of time trekking up and down I-81 lol. There are so many things that happen in the life of a family with growing up children that you don't realize up front will be 'the last' until one day you look back and think, wow-that was the last ________. But adult kids are great and now we're doing some of those 'lasts' with our grands for the first time which is a special thing. Happy 4th to you!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind it at all since I love these ages and stages we're in but I definitely did not realize the last one was the last one... though we're talking about Hawaii or an island in the Caribbean and suddenly everyone is on board with working their schedules around that! LOL.
DeleteSuch a fun month! I lived in Virginia for a while & loved King's Dominion. Ice Cream is always a must in the summer - especially in July. And that ice cream looked so good so it was def worth it haha. Hope you have a wonderful summer!
ReplyDelete- Morgan @mommyaboveall.com
Oh they definitely were worth it! LOL.
DeleteI can't believe how many books you read this month! That is a lot of reading! And congrats to Ian on his first vehicle! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised too but with what amounted to a 20 hour car ride I had plenty of time to read a lot. I keep telling him I need a ride in it; but I might need a boost up!
DeleteI've been enjoying ice cream this summer too! That is a beautiful truck. Congrats to Ian!
ReplyDeleteThanks! He is so happy with it.
DeleteSummer is looking good for you - and you read SO much! Also WOW to that first truck for Ian! That's a huge milestone!
ReplyDeleteIt really is! He had to get his own insurance and everything too.
DeleteSuch great family memories made on some fun trips!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
DeleteI know what you mean about the family vacations! We squeezed in that 4 day trip to Vancouver because it was the only time when everyone could go. Family time gets more precious as the kids become adults!
ReplyDeleteIt sure does!
DeleteCongratulations to Alec for his third win! And, congrats to Ian on the new truck! We didn't realize the last family vacation had happened until the years after. I'd still like to get all of us together and go somewhere if only for a long weekend. But, everyone's got such busy schedules.
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you!! We are so proud of both of them.
DeleteSounds like a lovely trip and I look forward to reading all about it next week. Congratulations to Alec for his award and Ian for purchasing his first vehicle, both very exciting! We went to see the latest Indiana Jones film last night and I really enjoyed it but I wished I had rewatched the others first.
ReplyDeleteRuth@playworkeatrepeat
We binged watched them all in preparation for going to see the latest movie this weekend!
DeleteYou're a July baby too? So is my husband. We try to celebrate all month long!!
ReplyDeleteXOOX
Jodie
Yep! It kind of stunk as a kid since all my friends were always off on vacation and I rarely had anyone showing up for a party but I love it as an adult.
DeleteI'm also always craving for a lot of veggies after a holiday. Congratulations to Alec!
ReplyDeleteI like that BBQ showdown show too! Nice your husband can try his hand with the smoker. Just yesterday I had some smoked brisket in a sandwich, so good. I have been enjoying your trip recaps!
ReplyDeleteThank you! He's having so much fun learning to smoke.
DeleteHi, Joanne - Thank you for linking up with us at #What'sBeenOnYourCalendar? It looks like you have had an excellent month (and that ice cream looks divine), I look forward to reading about your hiking adventures at Shenandoah National Park.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was a lot of fun.
DeleteWhat a great time you've been having. Your hikes look wonderful, and congratulations to Alec. We also always come back from a trip craving fresh veg... Thanks for linking up with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHow lovely to look back at holidays with the boys growing up - it's great to be able to have all those memories. You don't always realise when that last family holiday is going to be!
ReplyDeleteYour hikes look so pretty - you visit some great places.
I have found that with all those parenting moments; you never really realize "the last" until it's gone by.
DeleteI relate to the food eaten on holidays Joanne! I'll be going home and getting strict with myself that's for sure. You had a great month of activities and hiking with the family looks great fun. Thanks for joining us for WBOYC :)
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteHi Joanne what a fun post for What's Been On Your Calendar? The food looks delicious and I know on our recent cruise to PNG it was difficult to resist the three course meals. I'm sure you enjoyed the family hikes. I enjoy bush walking with my grandsons. Always great to have you contribute to WBOYC? and look forward to seeing what you do in July xx
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteShenandoah National Park is on my bucket list. It looks amazing. And I know what you mean about indulging in treats on vacation and looking forward to getting back to eating more sensibly. By the time I get home, I'm usually very ready to eat home-cooked food.
ReplyDeleteWe walked in the door around 5 pm and I honestly would have been fine with heading right back out to pick up groceries (I didn't even eat dinner that night since everyone got take out and there was nothing at all that I felt like I eating!).
DeleteSometimes you don't realize it's the "last" family vacation until afterwards :-/ I find myself missing vacations with the whole family, or even most of the family! Congrats to Alec on his award! I'm late in commenting on WUW posts but I hope your July is off to a great start!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
Delete