Our Week - The One with Brian’s and Olivia’s Birthday Celebrations

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Last week was full of rain, car troubles, nursing Brian back to health after pulling out his back, and cake for two of our favorites.  It was very busy and a little bit crazy, but it was still great!  Here’s the recap.

Monday, February 17

You may remember from my last recap that Brian had thrown his back out on Sunday, and Monday he was in no shape to go to work.  He could barely get out of the bed so he ended up taking the day off and staying home on the couch all day. 

I got up first thing and rushed around like a madwoman since B wasn’t able to assist with getting the kids ready for school.  We still managed to make it out of the house on time, though, so that was a big win in my book! 

I headed straight to the gym after dropping the kids and then I ran a couple of errands on the way back home.  I spent the rest of the afternoon working and waiting on B hand and foot.  Haha.  It was nice having the companionship all day and it was nice to have someone to eat lunch with, too.  I even convinced him to try avocado toast for lunch and he obliged!  He wasn’t impressed but he didn’t hate it either, so there’s that.  Haha.

Despite the rain, Jacob’s baseball practice wasn’t canceled since he was in the batting cages, and I was on my own to get him there.  I usually drive him over and stay until B gets off of work, and then once B arrives, Olivia and I go home so she can shower and I can cook dinner to have ready by the time the boys get home.  Well, since B was down, I stayed with J for his whole practice and then he and I picked up Chick-Fil-A for dinner on the way home since I had no time to prepare anything else.  Good ol’ CFA always saves the day!  ;o)

Tuesday, February 18

Tuesday B wasn’t doing much better so he took the day off of work again.  I got the kids off to school on time again and then I headed straight to the mechanic in the pouring rain for an oil change.  My car wouldn’t crank a couple of weeks ago so I had it serviced, but a couple of days after it was serviced, the engine light came back on.  B checked my oil and coolant levels and he said that they were both low, so I thought that could be the reason why the engine light kept coming on.

The oil change ended up taking FOREVER (not even sure why since I was the only person there) and the check engine light was off when I got back in.  Woo hoo!  The rest of the day was spent working and hanging out with B.

Tuesday evening I attended my first book club meeting and we had so much fun!  We had some wine and snacks and then we discussed our book, which was City of Girls.  I’d had that one in my wish list since last summer so I was excited that the ladies had chosen that one.  With regard to the book, I thought it was a little slow in the beginning, but about halfway through it picked up and then I couldn’t put it down.  I do recommend it, but just keep in mind that it takes a little while to nail down the actual plot. 

Wednesday, February 19

Wednesday morning I met with some of the other Home & School Association ladies to start pulling stuff out of the school’s storage unit for the spring event.  The event is in April so we’re trying to get our ducks in a row now.

Brian stayed home yet again but he was feeling a little better, so he was able to work from the couch a bit.  He and I had lunch together again and then I worked for the rest of the day. 

It rained all the live long day for the 87,456th day in a row so baseball ended up being canceled and we were able to have a nice, quiet evening at home… the only good thing that is coming from all of this rain.  Ha!

Thursday, February 20

Thursday morning the kids made a quick stop at the mailbox before school because Olivia wanted to mail something to her bestie who moved away back in December.  We have their new address so the girls can be pen pals.  :o)

Thursday was Brian’s birthday and he was finally feeling well enough to go back to work.  I had loads of errands to run so I was gone most of the day – at the gym, ordering Olivia’s birthday cake for the weekend, and picking up cupcakes and beer for Brian later in the day.  It poured down rain ALL DAY LONG which made running errands interesting to say the least, but I got everything done that I needed to with time to spare.

Olivia had ballet immediately following school, and then we drove straight to our favorite Mexican restaurant by the kids’ school to have dinner with B for his birthday.  Cheese dip and margaritas are always the way to go for your birthday!! 

The kids’ annual art show at school was at 6 so we headed straight there after dinner and the kids found their creations among the sea of paintings (Olivia’s is on the bottom in her picture and Jacob’s is on the top in his picture).  We bought them and then headed back home to finish celebrating our birthday guy.

Once we were home, B opened his gift.  He had casually (and kind of jokingly) mentioned back before Christmas that he wanted a Nintendo Switch.  By the time he said that I had already bought his Christmas gifts, so I decided to grab one for him for his birthday instead.  I was a little worried because I wasn’t 100% sure that he really wanted one, but based on the look on his face when he opened his gift, I’d say it was a good choice.  ;o)  He’s incredibly hard to buy for, so it’s always rewarding when I’m able to surprise him with something that truly excites him.

He opened his cupcakes and let the kids dig in and then he and I ate ours after they went to bed.  There were so many good flavors this time that I had a hard time narrowing it down to just four, so I bought six instead – funfetti, blueberry lemon, strawberry, orange dream (by recommendation of the employee who assisted me), hummingbird, and key lime.  All were amazing, but strawberry and blueberry lemon were my favorites. 

Friday, February 21

Friday morning started out great.  It was Friday, the sun was supposed to come out later that day, and I was feeling particularly good.  I had to stop for gas on the way home and when I went to crank my car after I filled up, it cranked and then promptly died.  Sigh.  Luckily, I was able to get it to crank again, but it shuddered a bit, so I was nervous about getting back on the highway to get the rest of the way home.  Fortunately, I made it home, and I immediately called the Honda dealership because the engine light was back on AGAIN.  Sigh.

They scheduled me for first thing Saturday morning and I spent the rest of the day holed up at home because I didn’t want to drive it more than I needed to.  I took the city roads (AKA the loooong way) to get the kids from school rather than the highway, and I made it there and back home without incident.  Whew. 

The sun managed to peek out for the first time all week on Friday afternoon, and even though it was only for a minute, it was just so wonderful!!!!  Y’all, I love a good cloudy, moody day, but after weeks and weeks of it, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all OVER IT!  Our local weather people said that we’ve had almost 10 inches of rain in February alone and we’ve had over TWO FEET since December.  I mean, if anyone so much as mentions a drought this summer I’m going to smack them.  Hahahaha. 

The kids and I met B at the Honda dealership when he got off of work and then we all met my father-in-law at our favorite pub near the kids’ school to celebrate Brian and Olivia for their birthdays. 

We went back over to my FIL’s house afterward and my sister-in-law and my two nephews (the ones who live out of town) arrived in town and met us over there for the evening.  Brian and Olivia opened their gifts, we had cookie cake, and it was a great evening celebrating two of our favorites!

Saturday, February 22

Saturday morning was GORGEOUS – so cold, but perfectly sunny with the bluest skies!  Finally!  Jacob had baseball practice early and I hadn’t originally intended to go, but ultimately decided to just so I could spend some time out in that gorgeous sunshine.  I was so glad I did.  It was nice to get out and get some fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun on my face and legs.  I also got to spend some time with my little lady and do a little bit of reading, too.  Aaaahhhh. 

The four of us had lunch at Chick-Fil-A after practice and then we stopped to get Jacob some new cleats and pick up Olivia’s birthday cake on the way home.  The rest of the afternoon was spent doing laundry and getting some things done around the house and then we had to pick up my car from the Honda dealership.  Unfortunately they couldn't figure out what the problem is, so they manually turned off the engine light and told me to bring it back in again if the light comes back on or I have anymore trouble.  Sigh.  If Honda can't figure out the problem, then who can??

We headed to mass at 5:30 and I helped out with Children’s Liturgy again.  It was my second time so it’s all still a little new, but I feel like I’m catching on pretty quickly and I’m enjoying it.

My whole extended family (mom, dad, bro, grandmother, several aunts and uncles and cousins) all went out for dinner at the newish pizza place that we’ve been loving, and then it was back home to get the kids in the bed and watch Better Call Saul.

Sunday, February 23

Sunday morning was lazy.  We caught up on Lego Masters and I meal prepped and made a grocery list for the two weeks ahead.  I finished Olivia’s birthday chalkboard and then we had a little photo shoot for her before heading to my MIL and step-FIL’s for lunch.

They cooked a delicious spread as always and then Brian and Olivia opened their gifts and we had more cookie cake.  So. Much. Cake.  Haha.

The sun had already disappeared, but the rain hadn’t settled in again just yet, so the kids got some good time outside playing kickball.  It was such a hoot to watch Olivia run around in her frilly pink dress with all of those boy cousins of hers.  Haha. 

Sunday afternoon Jacob had baseball practice again but Olivia and I opted out since the weather was yucky again.  I needed to prep for the week ahead and she wanted to play with her new arts and crafts that she’d just received for her birthday, so she and I stayed home while B took J. 

We ended the weekend with one last birthday celebration at my Momma and Daddy’s.  My momma made spaghetti per Olivia’s request, and then Brian and Olivia both opened gifts from my family.  We had birthday cake from our favorite bakery for dessert, and everyone oohed and aahed over it.  It was just precious.  She requested a “ballerina cake with a pink tutu, brown hair and blue eyes just like me, rosy cheeks, and lipstick.”  Done and done.  Haha. 

And now, since it’s the last week of the month, I’m adding in my currently section that I love so much…

Currently Reading

I’m still working on Christmas Shopaholic, but it was put to the side this past month so I could read City of Girls for my book club meeting.  As I said earlier in the post, I enjoyed it, but it did take some time to get into it.  Last week I borrowed Jessica Simpson’s new memoir Open Book, and it’s fantastic.  I haven’t been able to put it down so I already finished it last night.  Maybe now I can finally finish Christmas Shopaholic??  Haha.

Currently Watching

Still working on Shark Tank, The Bachelor, This is Us, Modern Family, and A Million Little Things, and we also started watching Lego Masters.  It’s such a fun show and it’s family friendly for all ages!  B and I also started Better Call Saul season 4 since it was finally added to Netflix last week.  We finished Gossip Girl this past month and I LOVED IT SO MUCH.  I’m sad it’s over and I’m probably about to start watching it all over again in my office while I work.  Haha.

Currently Listening To

As I type this I’m listening to my favorite Pandora station, Jazz for Studying.  My dad and I discovered it a year or so ago and it is my absolute favorite Pandora station.  If I could only listen to one genre for the rest of time, it would be jazz.  It’s cozy, it’s happy, and it just makes me feel good.

I’ve also downloaded a random assortment of songs this past week and the kids have been requesting them on repeat – Better Place by Rachel Platten (makes me cry every single time), You Say by Lauren Daigle (also makes me cry), If We Never Met by John K (love him!), Yummy by Justin Bieber, Good Vibes by Chris Janson (such a feel good song!), 10,000 Hours by Dan + Shay, Roxanne by Arizona Zervas, and Beer Never Broke My Heart by Luke Combs.  Hahahaha.  So random!  Got a little bit of worship, pop, country, and hip hop all in one place!  Eclectic just like the rest of my music collection!

Happy Thursday, y’all!  It’s almost the weekend!