Early August Daybook

Outside my window…

It's a mild summer night ... a couple of the girls are playing with a neighbor and I've got two hanging in the school room with me. I love summer nights where the kids can play for a while before bed, but it has done havoc with our bedtimes this summer and we are transitioning.

Giving thanks…



For twelve years of marriage! While our actual anniversary was Sunday, we celebrated on Saturday night. Our niece (the flower girl at our wedding, fyi) babysat for us and the kids had a ball with her. We just enjoyed getting out and hanging out together, just us. It seems like it had been a while since a nice long date night! Dinner at Culver's (with a buy-one-get-one-free deal on a burger!), a little shopping for bedsheets and towels for our bathroom (by year twelve has everyone else's stuff worn out like ours?), and a movie before heading home.

I am thinking about…

Or trying not to ... our homestudy and waiting to hear that it's made it through the review process. We had the chance to proofread it last week and it's a little freaky to read so much about your life written out by a 3rd party that you have only known for about six weeks!

In the Schoolroom…



Mama's fuel for school.

We are back at it! The first official day was on Friday and we kicked it off with lots of donuts and reading aloud. We had a solid Monday (the good and the bad), but we're slowly getting back into a routine of a little reading, writing and 'rithmatic each day. Our CC program doesn't start until the end of the month so we'll have almost four weeks under our belt by the time we add that in.

From the kitchen…





I'm working, working, working on sticking to our meal plan as our fall activities will be starting very soon! I've been checking out a few new cookbooks (thank you library!) and perusing old ones for new crockpot recipes and freezer meals. Tonight we had Pioneer Woman's orange chicken and it was YUM. Monday's are a good day (typically) for me to try a more complicated recipe and this was well worth the extra steps. FYI - some kids here thought the chicken was too spicy, however the adults were passing the bowl back and forth for the last bites.

I am creating…

Much catching up in my Project Life album - yay! Last week (or maybe the week before that?) knowing that we were very close to school starting, I took a couple afternoons and cranked through the first half of 2014. Thankfully, I had been pretty diligent about getting pictures printed almost every week - while the girls have music lessons I usually sort / upload / edit a weeks worth of photos. I'm caught up through our summer trip to Ohio and that feels VERY GOOD. Maybe a PL post one of these days?

I don’t ever want to forget…





The really, really cute stuff that this boy says now a-days. We are all about superheroes right now - "fiderman" is a current favorite. We also like "capan 'merica" a bunch too.

I am working on…

The #shereadstruth plan in Hebrews. This summer has been such a sweet time in the Bible for me and I'm a little sad that I won't have the leisure of so much study time in the morning before the kids get up as we return to a more normal schedule. God has answered a prayer of mine to hunger for His Word and I am eager to get out of bed in the morning to get at it. I also wish I could say I hungered to get out of bed to run several mornings a week, but I'm not quite there yet. : ) I am trying to get up and exercise three mornings a week early - like dark early. I've accepted the reality of life right now that if I don't get up and go before the kids are up, it's just not going to happen later in the day. So early it is.

I am reading…



Well, I'm staring at this. I know I'm not going to want to put it down once I pick it up so I've read only a few pages. Maybe this weekend I can make some headway on it? Since my last post, I've also finished:

• One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (for the Reading to Know bookclub)
• Women of the Word by Jen Wilkins (EXCELLENT book walking you through how to study the Scriptures on your own. I was much encouraged by reading it).
• A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd. Carrie recommended this one and it was delightful. One I'll remember for the girls when they ask for something.
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / Goblet of Fire (mindless re-reading) : )

We also finished The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander - one of our summer read-alouds that took for.ev.er. to finish. This wasn't a great book to stop and start so much because there was a lot of action and unusual names, but we finally got several days under our belt in a row with it and made it to the end. Still recommend it, but not reading it in bits and spurts like we did! We're currently reading Henry Reed's Babysitting Service and laughing our way through it. Henry does not disappoint.

I am hearing…

Right now (because I'm finishing this post two days after I started it) one of the girls and T watching a movie together. N2 asked her dad for a special daddy/daughter after bedtime movie night and the rest of the kids are in bed.

Clicking around…

• Schole Sisters :: a new classical education blog whose focus is "a community of homeschooling moms who believe that teaching is the art of being imitated, who long to teach from rest, and who draw on wisdom from the classical tradition." Am loving what I'm reading there.
• Humming Home Habits from Simply Convivial

Around the house…

Trying to remember to stay on top of daily chores now that we are back in school. The girls have spiffy new chore sheets and they have been working pretty well for the most part. We T did a MAJOR purge in the girls' rooms - decluttering is one of his gifts - and that has been a HUGE help in them being able to keep their rooms picked up during the day. It's a beautiful thing!

One of my favorite things…



And end of summer cousin day. They have been few and far between this summer - the oldest cousin spent several weeks working at camp, we had travels / swim lessons / camp for our crew and schedules just didn't match up often. We had one last fun day seeing the cheap summer movie at the local theater and then swimming the afternoon away. This gang is full of personality as you can tell and we had a blast all being together for the day. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact the my oldest niece is a junior in high school this year. She has her learner's permit and chauffeured us around as we went to the movies and picked up lunch and I have to say I could get used to being driven around. : )

A few plans for the next week…

Activites and dates are starting to fill up the calendar! Tutor meetings for CC are coming up and soccer practice will start for the little girls in another week or two. We've aged B up an age level in soccer so that she and N2 can play on the same team - yay! - only one practice and game to juggle per week instead of two!

A photo worth sharing...



Quite possibly my favorite summer photo. : )

February Winter Break Daybook

Outside my window...

It's supposed to hit 63* today!! I may have broken out a skirt to wear even though I'll probably be chilly when I go outside. The sun makes me do crazy things!

Giving thanks...

For sunshine. For antibiotics for pinkeye (still trying to get rid of it in some of us). For a couple days of winter break. For girls happily crafting.



I am thinking about...

The faintest glimmers of thought are poking around in my head about next year's school plans. I'm doing my best to stuff the back for a few more weeks! I don't want to wish away the rest of this year too quickly.

In the Schoolroom...

We are down to our last six weeks in CC so it's time for those of my girls that want to test for memory master or memory cadet to get to work polishing up what they do know and working ahead on what they don't.



B and I have added a few lapbook elements into her first grade work and I'm having moments of regret that I didn't start that sooner this year with her. One of those things that got forgotten in my planning. We had a great time working and reading Another Celebrated Dancing Bear. We even made time for tea one afternoon and had brown bread and jam just like the bears in the story.



Truthfully, and just as I expected, my girls were not fans of the strong taste of the brown bread! However, that opened the door for a great discussion on how we act when we go to someone's house and are offered food that we don't care for. And, after that discussion, we broke out some ritz crackers and peanut butter. : )

From the kitchen...

We have had so many evening activities the last few weeks. I have been super thankful that I put the effort into a menu plan this month. I was pretty wishy-washy with what we ate in January ... just the leftover blahs of being tired from the holidays. I've done a much better job this month - lots more veggies on our plates and I've thrown in a few new recipes that have been winners. I haven't had any urge to get out and run of late (shame on me) so having a plan for what I want to eat is even more important or I just graze willy-nilly in the kitchen. Tonight I'm making lawnmower taco ... one of my girls' FAVORITE recipes. (I think someone even asked for it as their birthday meal last year). Super quick and easy.

I am creating...

I finished up two weeks of Project Life last week, and have another one waiting on me in the album. Just need to snatch a few moments to do my writing. Creating a notebook for the last six weeks of CC with all my tutor information (and any worksheets I want my kiddos to do for extra practice). I'm so glad that is something I've added to my prep time this year. It's a little work on the front end, but it was invaluable to be able to hand that off to my sub last week when we had to miss because of eye infections.

I don't ever want to forget...



How excited this little boy is to be potty training. This is not something that I was planning on starting right now, but he was very interested so we jumped on board. He has done really pretty great and we are so proud of him. And, I'm glad that I didn't know that the last time that I bought a box of diapers was probably the last time that I would buy a box of diapers.

I am working on...

Being intentional. Thinking about how much time I spend checking off lists and staring at screens versus playing cards and airplanes and sitting and being still with one another.

I am reading...



After all the reading that I got done in January, February has been slow going. That said, I finished Wildwood Imperium (book 3 in the Wildwood Chronicles) and started Shauna Neiquist's Bread and Wine. I have a feeling that the food memoir may be my new favorite kind of book to read. A book where it is like you are chatting with me over coffee AND your favorite recipes? Yes please! Up next will probably be The Little White Horse for the March Reading to Know bookclub (I'm hosting!) and finishing Pursue the Intentional Life by Jean Fleming. And maybe starting another C.S. Lewis book. Or one of the many, many others on my list that I want to get to. : ) The kids and I are reading These Happy Golden Years aloud right now ... it's been forever since I've revisited this one and I'm enjoying it immensely.

I am praying...

For decisions that we are making as a family. For a friend and her husband with some big medical needs.

I am struggling...

With exercising! It has just been so cold that I can't get excited about heading out the door in the dark to go exercise before the kids get up. And, I have been managing my time very poorly of late so later-than-normal bedtimes have also had a big effect on the getting-up-and-out-the-door situation as well.

I am hearing...

A movie playing behind me. (It's winter break after all). One of the girls is at the dentist with her dad right now and I'm thinking that when she gets home and we've had some lunch, we'll get outside for a bit. It's going to be in the mid-60s today after all!

Clicking around...

Rest Begins with Acceptance from Sarah @ Amongst Lovely Things
34 Gift Ideas for the Brand New Mama from Elise @ EliseJoy // so fun to read her list as a first time mama and nod and agree
What are We Doing to Our Boys from Circe Institute

Around the house...

Floors are crying out for attention, but I've been on a serious decluttering mission of late and in general, it's not too bad.

One of my favorite things...

Photos. Instagram. Savoring the days and stages of my kids in film. I haven't taken many pictures the last few days and while it's good for me to put the camera down every now and then, when I need a picture and end up scrolling through my files on the computer, I'm always amazed and thankful at the memories we have captured.

A few plans for the next week...

A well-check for a girl. A playdate later this week. A grown-up dinner out with friends.

A photo worth sharing...



These two make me smile.

Happy Tuesday. : )

Thankful Daybook

I made the mistake of looking and it has been May since I've done a daybook. I love this snippets of what has been going on here and miss the record of things that have happened. Here's to catching up a bit...

Outside my window...

It has been a cold, wet, drizzly day today. Pretty perfect for November. Although I wouldn't have complained if I'd seen some afternoon sun. I do love a grey day - perfect for blankets and comfy clothes. Especially when it's our family pizza and movie night and we're hunkering down for the evening.

I am thinking...

That I need a teacher's inservice day. A day to look at the calendar and map out the next few months. Trying to figure out to make it happen ... may mean a movie day for munchkins but I'm sure that won't be a problem for them. : )

I am thankful...

that we have reached our holiday break. Almost every activity has wrapped up for the year with just a couple of exceptions and I'm reveling in the chance to get caught up on lots and lots of things. My list is probably overambitious, but it's been such a busy fall, I can't help myself.

In the kitchen...



Nada. It's pizza night tonight so no cooking for me! The photo above is from the Pioneer Woman's chocolate sheet cake which I made last weekend for a dinner. There is something about making a cake from scratch that I kinda like.

I am wearing...

Black maxi skirt, light pink tshirt, darker pink hoodie and slippers.

I am creating...

Some plans for December. Lists of Christmas books I need to reserve at the library.

I am going...

to hopefully get a bundle of errands crossed off my list tomorrow. Our schedule this year means that I don't have much time during the week to get out and run errands, grab a few groceries, etc., so tomorrow is catch-up day. I've realized that one child has no tennis shoes to speak of and another doesn't have a winter coat so that plus the few groceries we need will fill our afternoon.

I am wondering...


I am reading...


We had quite a successful run at the library today. And my Thanksgiving reading plans are quite optimistic. And laughable. : ) Seriously, though. I need to do a book post soon! We have read some really great read-alouds this fall and I don't want to forget them.

I am hoping...

For a restful break next week from school. I've been running on empty for a few weeks now (a couple little people have gotten in a bad habit of getting up during the night for random reasons) and I need a break from that. Or a nap. Or both.

I am looking forward to...

a Christmas tree. We are getting on this year. A real one. We've made-do the last two years with a mini tree - with a cruising 1 year old, then a 2 year old boy, it seemed the thing to do. But I so missed a bigger tree full of lights. Please don't hear that as a complaint because it was the season of life we were in ... but I'm excited about a big tree this year.

I am learning...

Lessons in where I am and am not spending my time wisely. Changes are afoot, but implementing them. That's where it gets hard!

Around the house...

Not too shabby, but the first two days of our break next week will involve some detail work in a couple of the kids' bedrooms. Nothing bad, but just some straightening and organizing that I can't get to and do school and feed people and mop the kitchen and ... so on. : )

Clicking around...

Teaching from a State of Rest
A Ministry of Openness

One of my favorite things...



This dude. He keeps me on my toes.

A few plans for the rest of the week/weekend:

Errands on Saturday + work in the kitchen. Church Thanksgiving service + potluck on Sunday. And I believe Monday is going to be a day of rest (+ laundry).

A peek into my day...



Photo added on Saturday.  A few kid-requested kitchen treats.

An End of the School Year Daybook

Outside my window... it’s warming up. Mid-eighties today and my girls (one in particular) have mentioned how they are dying in the heat. August is going to be a rude awakening.

I am thinking... up summer plans and routines (and fall curriculum choices and book lists). The opportunities to make fun plans and lists never ends thankfully!

I am thankful... for park days with our Classical Conversations friends. Truly, it’s a struggle to get going most of those Tuesdays to get a picnic packed and out the door when I have piles of laundry and lists of things to tackle here. However, I always come home with cheeks sore from smiling and laughing with the other mamas and very tired and dirty kids. It’s a good thing.

In the kitchen... scraping by until Saturday and I can make a massive grocery run. I may have have to make a quick Aldi run for a few basics (like sandwich bread and lunch meat) but hope I can get through to the weekend with what I’ve got. Dinner may get very creative.

I am wearing... my red jogging capris pants and a white t-shirt.

I am creating... thinking of creating a summer mini-book like I have used for December Daily in the past (something similar to this). Surely I have enough scraps and bits that I can put this together from my stash. I’m excited about this summer and the two months that we will be breaking from “formal” (home)schooling and want to record it in a fun memorable way, outside Project Life. As far as Project Life … I am dreadfully behind. DREADFULLY. I have been getting pictures ordered and tucked into the album, but the journaling is laughably absent. I miss working on it and need a big catch-up day pronto.

I am going... to watch the oldest’s first softball playoff game tonight! Seriously so excited for her and her little team. They had a great season and it was so neat to see my girl blossom and improve out on the field over the past several months. She has really, really enjoyed playing this sport and I can’t say enough good things about the dads that have coached the team. So very encouraging to her who had really never picked up a softball before.

I am reading... hahahahaha. Reading? What is that? That has slipped TOTALLY off the radar of things I can get done in a day of late. When I sit down in the evening and prop my eyes open for 2.7 seconds, I usually peruse a blog or two, but I haven’t picked up a book in weeks. At the beginning of the month, I read Kimm Crandall’s Christ in the Chaos and it was a wonderful parenting shot in the arm for me.

 

As for other reading, the list of what I think I want to try and read this summer is somewhat laughable. This is just the stack that is beside my bed and doesn’t include stuff stacked on my desk or loaded on my Kindle. On the top of my list that I want to try and hit: a slow read-through of Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson; The Wind in the Willows (because I’m leading the Reading to Know book club in July on this one!); Animal, Vegetable, Miracle which has been on that nightstand for over a year I do believe and needs to be read. And so many more.

I am hoping... to wrap up our school year this week. We’ve got all our days under our belt, but N1 has a handful of lessons that she needs to finish in her 3rd grade math book – easily knocked out this week – that we want to tackle so we can enter June with a clean slate. She and I will be spending much time this summer with some multiplication flashcards and get those suckers committed to memory but, otherwise, she has finished well for this year. However…

I am learning… about struggles in reading with one in our home. What I hoped last fall was a personality struggle with learning to read due to general busy-ness and energy has turned into some legitimate clues that I may have a munchkin that has some bigger struggles than previously thought. This summer will consist of switching up her reading with a new game plan and bag of tricks to help her process letters in a way that helps her more. New territory for me in our “classroom” and am praying for much wisdom in this area…

I am looking forward to... our Classical Conversations practicum next week – three days of encouragement in the world of classical homeschooling and time with other mamas that I love as well as meeting some new ones.

Around the house... over the last two weeks I have snuck in a little purging and hope to hit most of the rooms in the house over the summer. The kitchen (and pantry) was hit hard one day last week during lunch (i.e., a can of shortening – never opened! – from 2010 made its way to the trash. Eww). The boy’s room was cleaned out of many of his little baby toys that he’s really too old to play with (sniff, sniff). It was time, but it’s never easy, that’s for sure.

I am pondering... and realizing that I may have a diaperless house within the next six months. Hard to believe that we are almost at the end of this season of parenting. A certain someone has absolutely no interest in actually wearing the cars underwear that we have in his dresser, but we sure do talk about them a lot. : )

One of my favorite things... Sally Clarkson. : ) I may have mentioned her once (or a hundred times) here. I had the chance to hear her in person at the Teach Them Diligently conference in Nashville last week and it was just wonderful. I went to three of her sessions, took copious notes, and was most encouraged in my journey as a mama in how to parent as well as encourage other mamas in the journey. Good, good stuff.

A few plans for the rest of the week… softball playoffs most nights if they don’t lose! Cleaning up the school room and packing things away for the summer! Swimming if it’s warm enough! Fun summer things. : )

A peek into my day...

Hello summer 2013. We are ready for you!

Hello May Daybook

Outside my window... the day is starting around our neighborhood. I hear birds and the sun is up. It’s supposed to get up into the 80’s today and I’d love to be able to get some of that sunshine on my skin.

I am thankful... that the end of our school year is in sight! Spring fever has hit all of us and we are in the homestretch! We have approximately 15-20 days left (depending on what girl) and are looking forward to a nice break from formal school days in June and July. N2 has completely all of her 1st grade work and has started on her 2nd grade material and N1 is not far behind … our 3rd grade math is what we are buckling down on right now.

In the kitchen... lots of baking for end-of-the-year gifts for the munchkins’ different teachers. Nutella peanut butter cookies and chocolate coconut granola were whipped up this week and I have had to use all the will-power I have to stay out of both of them. Those nutella/pb cookies? Can’t say enough yummy things about them and so super easy. I actually even made an easier version by buying a bag of peanut butter cookie mix from Target to whip them together. So so good.

I am wearing... my grey capri pants and two tank tops from Old Navy. Will add a cardigan to the mix before I leave the house today!

I am creating... time in my schedule to catch up with Project Life. I have been printing pictures … and that’s about it. Time to catch up.

I am going...grocery shopping. It’s a new month and I have the empty fridge to prove it. My fresh stuff has been slim pickings so I’m excited to restock over the next couple days. There will also be a last minute run to Target today for some tights that a girlie has to have for a choir/dance rehearsal this evening. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

I am reading...

• Christ in the Chaos: How the Gospel Changes Motherhood by Kimm Crandall
• Just finished The Strictest School in the World (book 1 in this series) by Howard Whitehouse. Super fun and can’t wait to read book two.
• Reading aloud with munchkins The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare.

I am hoping... and praying for a friend who’s husband was in a serious accident a couple weeks ago. My heart is so heavy for her and I have had her on my heart and mind so much.

I am looking forward to...life slowing down just a wee bit this week. Last weekend was the official end of soccer, although B has one makeup game this coming weekend. We had our end-of-the-year celebration for Classical Conversations last night and now that is on hiatus until fall. This Friday is our last Bible study of the year, Sunday is our little girls’ choir concert, and next Wednesday wraps up Awana. I’m looking forward to some breathing room in our schedule!

Girl with the game ball!

I am pondering... these two posts on living big, living dangerously and doing the hard thing that you are wanting to do. Lots of pondering and maybe… some doing.

A favorite quote for today...

Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:18-19

One of my favorite things... I hesitate to admit this … but running is quickly becoming a favorite thing. Right now I’m sneaking out of the house three mornings a week to go run at our local rec center and it is becoming addictive.

A few plans for the rest of the week… I think I mentioned all the wrapping up of all the things this week / weekend? That’s where I’ll be. And the grocery store to feed people during all of said wrapping up.

A peek into my day...

She can’t put these books down. This is where I insert “I told you so”. : )

Currently ::: An April Edition

Outside my window... a grey day. It looks like rain and they are talking storms. Typical spring for us. But, with all this rain, come the blooms. (And the spring allergies, but I’m not going to go there). : )

I am thankful... for an unexpected morning off of school. The oldest is taking a standardized test as a nearby church and when I was doing a recent check on our days of school we’ve completed, the little girls have enough extra days that I decided they could have the day off. We took N1 to her test, stopped and picked up coffee for Daddy and delivered it to him at work, and have had a nice easy morning around the house. It wasn’t something that I had planned for but we are thoroughly enjoying our slower pace today.

In the kitchen... I’ve been craving any and all things Mexican lately. Last night I made these crunchy black bean tacos (using taco shells instead of corn tortillas because that is what I had) and they were super fast and good before we had to run out the door to Awana. Over the weekend, I made not one, but two batches of this Mexican Caesar salad and even tinkered with the dressing to make it healthier (subbed non-fat Greek yogurt for the mayo and you can’t tell the difference). So good.

In the schoolroom...  we are trucking along. N2 finished up both her 1st grade math and handwriting this week and as far as her materials go, she’s technically done for the year. However, there is that pesky matter of another 35 or so days that we still need to get in the next month and a half. So, on to her 2nd grade work it is! B is still plugging along on her reading lessons – there are good days and bad days – but we are taking it nice and slow and I’m encouraged about the progress I am seeing. She’s a very different girl from her sisters and that makes her B in all areas including how we approach her schooling.

I am wearing... blue skirt, white tank top, blue cardigan. Spring clothes.

I am creating... schedules, menu plans and lists to get us from here to there for this month. We are full into both soccer and softball and most of our evenings are spent soaking in the sunshine at one field or another. This is when I am so very thankful for our homeschooling days which make the many evenings out seem easier to manage. That said, I’m trying to come up with portable dinner ideas that aren’t sandwiches every night and don’t involve a drive-thru. Takes more planning on mama’s end.

Dinner at the ballpark on Tuesday.

I am going... to pick up my biggest girl from her test in a bit and a soccer practice for another girlie tonight.

I am pondering... on friendship. Pursuing, cultivating, tending, encouraging, coming alongside … all that.

I am reading... No Name for the Reading to Know bookclub. I’m a little over half-way through the book and though it’s slow going, I’m eager to get back to it every time I get a spare minute. N1 picked up the first Harry Potter book last week and is now on to book two. I’m driving her nuts asking her where she is in the stories and what is happening. : )

I am looking forward to... time with old friends that are in town for a quick trip this weekend. Time to catch-up and marvel over how big each other’s babies are.

I am learning… lessons in kindness, most especially from my husband.

Around the house... lots of spring purging. I went through all the kids’ clothes when we were on spring break last week and we’ve handed down what we can to siblings and friends and the rest is gone, never to be seen again. The little girls’ room also got a major overhaul by daddy and we’ve cleaned out quite a few things that they have outgrown. For several years we have had a wonderful wooden kitchen in their bedroom that has been well played with. We definitely got our money’s worth out of that toy! However, my little girls have asked for desks for their bedroom and therefore the kitchen has to go. I love that they want desks (I can certainly relate to that), but I’m a little sad that one of our well-loved toys is a thing of the past. This growing up is hard.

A favorite quote for today... this verse from my Bible study last week:

The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Nahum 1:7

God knew this was one that I needed to be made known of on a week that I saw several friends hurting. God is good to give us His scriptures!

One of my favorite things... Classical Conversations and what a blessing it has been for us this year! We have our last tutorial this Tuesday and have finished our year minus some memory testing that two of the girls have chosen to do and our year-end celebration. We have loved getting to know the other families in our community and I’m very excited about our parent practicum (three-day training) that’s coming this summer where I get a chance to get inspired and encouraged for next year. (If you have wondered about CC and what it’s about, Monica at The Homespun Heart has been doing a blog series on CC that is very thorough. Part one and two are here with part three still to come. Worth a read if you are interested!)

A few plans for the rest of the week… soccer practice, softball practice. Soccer games and a softball game on Saturday. A concert at our church on Saturday night to raise money for a well in Guatemala. Friends in town to catch-up with. And the normal things of life like making sure we have food to eat and clean uniforms to wear.

A peek into my day...

He is such a boy.

A President’s Day Daybook

Outside my window... sunny and breezy. It was in the upper 50’s when we were out earlier and just almost warm. The sun felt so good on our arms!

I am thinking… about school curriculum and plans for next year. Too soon? I always find it amusing that when I’m slightly burnt out on what we are working on now, I’m super excited to figuring out what is coming up. It’s a sickness.

I am thankful... for a day off. It hasn’t been entirely unproductive either, which is nice, although none of my productivity has managed to touch any house cleaning. A-hem. A project I had do was checked off my list, a well-check for one child accomplished, and soccer shoes procured for N2 at a very reasonable price. I feel fairly accomplished for today! : )

In the kitchen... marinated Greek chicken skewers are on the menu for tonight (minus the skewers since I don’t have any). Since we have had a day off today, I have a little bit more time to play in the kitchen. Ergo, new recipe night. : ) T and I have been working hard on changing some of our eating habits and we are seeing progress so that’s been encouraging. My new breakfast of late, besides my favorite sweet potato latkes and eggs has been a banana pancake. Just to be clear … it does NOT taste like a pancake. : ) It’s sweeter because of the banana, quicker to make than grating sweet potatoes, and extremely filling. I take one banana and one egg and mix it really well with my immersion blender. Mashing it with a fork doesn’t get it smushed enough. Then I pour it in my frying pan and cook it until it’s firm and I can flip it. A tablespoon of peanut butter gets smeared over the top when it’s done.

 

I am wearing... brown leggings, brown dress with white t-shirt under it. Almost-spring-like weather attire.

I am creating... a Valentine’s Day banner. Two days after Valentine’s. Not so prompt this year, but I love it so it will stay up for a while.

I am going... to have a quiet start to my week and then it will pick up around here. We had a doctor appointment for N2 today – her 7-year well-check and found out that the girl has grown three inches in the last year! We don’t have anywhere we have to be Tuesday or Wednesday (until Awana on Wednesday evening) and I’m super excited about that. It’s been weeks since we’ve had a stretch of days in a row to be at home. I get so excited when a string of them pop up on the calendar.

I am reading... The Scarlet Letter. It’s very. slow. going. right now. I need it to pick up the pace sooooon.

I am looking forward to... my night off tonight – sort-of. : ) Normally on Monday night’s I have Classical Conversations prep to do after the girls get in bed. However, this week is our mid-winter break and the reason we have tomorrow at home.

I am learning… lessons in buckling down and getting the job done. I’ve been wishy-washy about some things and it’s been affecting my parenting and school. 

Around the house... T and N1 cleaned the kitchen yesterday afternoon. It looks fabulous and I hope it stays that way longer than 2.9 seconds. N1 is trying to earn money for something she spotted on Amazon and we’ve been paying her $3 every time she helps mop the kitchen floor. I love this deal.

I am pondering...

 

When I forgot that the afternoon bath was therapeutic for mama and baby. I really can’t remember the details of the day but it had been a long one. When we finally got to a point where I felt like we could be done with school for the day (because it was one of those days) I asked the boy if he wanted to take a bath and he was all over that idea. I sat on the floor next to him and watched the sun shine. I need to slow down like that more often. 

A favorite quote for today... this verse from Jeremiah that I underlined yesterday during Sunday School:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

One of my favorite things... date nights. We had two last week. Unheard of! : )

A few plans for the rest of the week… school, Bible study on Friday, birthday party for one of the girls to attend this weekend. Pretty normal and fabulous.

A peek into my day...

It was clean for a couple of hours. : )

The Very Cold Daybook near the End of January

Outside my window... it is dark. And cold. The dog and I went out very quickly this morning!

I am thinking... of what a nice day off we had yesterday. MLK Day always sneaks up on me because we’ve just finished with a big Christmas break. I went back and forth numerous times over whether or not to do school yesterday because T was off and ended up compromising with the part of me that knows we don’t have much wiggle room for extra days off in our schedule. T went out for a bit in the morning and we got some basics done – a little language arts and math for the big girls – and called it good. I gave B a day off entirely. She had her first friend sleepover (where she went to a friend’s house by herself) over the weekend and it wiped her out.

A shot of winter sun streaming in yesterday.

I am thankful... for T. He provides for us so well and is so constant.

In the kitchen... things are a changing. We have been looking at what we are eating and ramping up our veggies. And, I don’t think this is just a January phase that we are going through (at least I hope not). I have long felt that white flour / sugar / excess carbs and I have needed to come to a parting of the ways and I’m slowing working on eliminating a lot of them from my diet. Just in the last week, I can see a wee bit of energy return and some brain fog lift and I like that.

I am wearing... jammies. Must get moving as we have CC today.

I am creating... hmm. Nothing exceptionally crafty right now. Project Life is happening. I’ve been in listy mode (when am I not?) and have been making all sorts of them.

I am going... a fairly light week this week. I’ll be saying that for about six more weeks and then soccer will start for two girls and then it will get busy I predict! Classical Conversations today and, depending on how tired the boy is after a big morning of playing while we do school, we might go to the library. Tomorrow and Thursday look relatively free and Friday is Bible study.

I am teaching… Earth Science is the hot topic at the moment. It’s our memory work focus for CC and we have been reading through Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space and it’s just the right fit for us right now. We are also working on an Earth lapbook from A Journey Through Learning that I was sent to review. This is the first of their lapbooks that I’ve used and so far, I’m impressed. More soon. I always loved Earth Science as a kid (maybe because I had a Dad and Grandpa that were very into maps) so science has seen more school action that it has in a long time which is good. : )

I am reading... nothing right at the moment. I fizzled out on French Kids Eat Everything … it was good, but I felt like I got the gist of what she was saying and didn’t need to press on. Hopefully I haven’t missed something life changing later on the book. : ) I need to put together some February reading goals and that should get me excited to pick something up. I’ve also been spending much too much time on the computer perusing a few new-to-me homeschool blogs. I love the online inspiration, but it does take away from the written page.

Around the house... I need to do a little maintenance. It’s not terrible because overall it’s fairly picked up. But I’ve taken a few too many days off of running the vacuum for my taste. (How do stairs get so dirty looking so fast? I don’t get it…) The laundry monster has been calling my name as well.

I am pondering... Doing things well. Where I am, where I am not, and where I can start changing. It’s not enough to want to change. The work has to be done to get there. (Easy to type, hard to do).

One of my favorite things... winding down in the evening. Working on new routines of NOT falling asleep downstairs, but winding down with hot tea. A blanket. Usually a little dog curled under one arm. Writing on my gifts list. I don’t manage it every night, but I’m getting better at it.

 

A peek into my day...

This girl. This dog. They make me smile.

First Daybook of 2013

Outside my window... a grey, rainy morning. I’m thinking there will be lots of coffee and reading aloud done today.

I am wearing... pajamas. Must get moving on some real clothes here in a moment.

I am thinking... about abiding, my word for 2013. I was reading John 15:9-11 yesterday morning and listing the many benefits that we gain from abiding in Christ and His word. So many found in just those three verses. That’s probably a whole ‘nother post. Good stuff.

I am thankful... for my morning hours alone. This morning I had a little girl waken earlier than she was supposed to and she came in and sat with me. My quiet time didn’t happen, but little people getting up early with me is more rare as they are sleeping a bit later. She sat quietly with me and read while I wrote some emails and it was fun hanging out with just one girl in the quiet.

In the kitchen... I’m trying to make it to Saturday before restocking the cupboards so we have been making do on some things. : ) I think I expended most of my creative kitchen energy getting us through our school break and company visiting. However, strangely, these people still insist on eating. On my list of things to make are these chicken enchiladas as well as fish tacos. (I made up my own recipe the other night and they were super yummy in my opinion, however this recipe looks good),

I am wearing... jammies. That won’t last long though as I hear little folks stirring.

I am creating... I am working on my 2013 project life album. Pictures are printed for week one (Dec 31 – Jan 6) and I hope to get the journaling done later today after we are done with school. This year, I’ve decided to run my week from Monday through Sunday so that I can group my weekend days together. That is taking some getting used to in thinking about my layout as well as when I work on it. When I wrapped up my week on Saturday, I had Sunday afternoons to work on my album. I guess I can still do that, though I might not have a Sunday picture at the time. Tweaking the system for 2013. : )

I am reading...

• French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters. Very interesting!
• One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces (One Thousand Gifts Journal) in the evenings (and working on the habit of counting my gifts)
• Jane of Lantern Hill. Reading this aloud with the girls. Revisiting Jane and remembering how much I love this little book.
• lots of pictures books to the two littlest lately! The boy has discovered this “dine-toors” books that one of his sisters brought home from the library for him. He LOVES them!

I am hoping... for a healthy baby to arrive soon for a friend!

Around the house... trying to get back into the routine of a little housework + homeschooling. It was a lot easier to keep on top of the house when we were on our Christmas break from school. Coincidence? I think not. : )

A favorite quote for today... or a blog post instead? This one on goals v. to-do lists. Nothing earth shattering, but good, timely for the beginning of the year with a blank calendar in front of me.

One of my favorite things... a blank calendar in front of me. : ) The year ahead has such possibility before me in January, does it not? (That sounds like a very Anne-ish thing to say, but it’s true!)

A few plans for the rest of the week… It’s quite obvious that we are back to our regular schedule! CC started up this week, as did Awana, our Friday Bible study, and the girls’ Sunday night choir. On top of that we have not one, but TWO birthday parties on Saturday. It seems like birthday parties go in spurts – we either have none on the calendar or we get back to back to back invitations. We are looking forward to catching up with friends as we get back into our routines again!

A peek into my day...

I’ve started reading lessons with this one again and it’s going a bit better than in the fall. Pondering how I can help her and maybe the need to switch to something else (I have been eyeing All About Reading and think it might be a good fit for her because of the manipulatives). She is SUCH a different girl than her sisters (and I wouldn’t want it any other way) and we are still trying to find our way this year in some areas.

Happy Wednesday! It’s time to get moving on our day and get some little folks moving towards breakfast and clothes.