Sunday night daybook

For tonight Sunday August 30, 2009 tomorrow is the 18th anniversary of mine and Mike's first date (I know that's grammatically incorrect, but it doesn't really sound right any other way)

Outside my window...it's dark...it was really nice out this evening right up until the mosquitoes came out.


I am thinking...about the Take a Chance Challenge books that I have read and not blogged about, I need to get to that eventually!

I am thankful...that Madi's CCD got switched to Sundays (this happened in part because I agreed to be the 6th grade teacher) so now she can do AWANA too!

From the kitchen...we had London Broil on the grill tonight, but I burned it a little trying to make sure no one got bit by any of the black widow spiders that have made their home in the bikes in our garage (it's always something!). For the week ahead...tacos, spaghetti and meatballs, and the shepherd's pie we didn't have last week.

From the learning rooms...Jake will start Mr Gumpy's Motorcar for Five in a Row. Jonathan and Madi are both loving their science and Jake's wanted to have science experiments everyday as well...he used a lot of food coloring last week. I'm very excited by the History that Jonathan and Madi are using, (Middle Ages) I was able to get some really good Church History books to line up with what we are doing.

I am reading...The Secret Garden (I had this as a child and would you believe I NEVER read it?!) Sadly I dropped it in the hot tub tonight though, so now I have to wait for it to dry out (like I said it's always something!).

I am praying...for patience, for my kids to get along, and for a good report from the doctor tomorrow.

Here's a quote to ponder..."Faith is much better than belief. Belief is when someone else does the thinking".~R. Buckminster Fuller

I am listening to... Madi practicing for Once on this Island...they get parts this week.

Around the house...there's still an awful lot of noise considering I thought everyone was going to bed!

In our yard...we saw two hummingbirds tonight...one almost flew into Mike!


One of my favorite things... Once on this Island.

I am "googling"...a lesson plan/ calendar/ schedule...we'll see what I come up with.

I am going...on a cruise in less than 3 months and probably won't lose any weight beforehand!

A few plans for the rest of the week...back into the usual routine including schoolwork, babysitting, etc...etc...

Some picture thoughts...mall fun and a little controversy...

Where were you...

I just found this on a blog, and I had to stop everything that I was doing to play along (this is right up my alley)...I hope you will play too!


…when 911 happened? Talking to OBM on the phone planning to pick up "Scott" to take him and Jonathan and Madi to Publix for a Mom's Club field trip...she was home with 4 day old TJ.

….when Kennedy was shot? Not born yet.


….when Elvis died? Watching the Brady Bunch in our house on Main St in Voluntown (it was the episode where Greg was going to have a record contract because he fit the suit).


….when Princess Diana died? We had gone on Aunt Lucy and Uncle Ray's boat that day, we were in our apartment in Danbury, Mike's grandmother was staying with us.


….when OJ Simpson verdict came down? In the hospital with 1 day old Jonathan.


….when Michael Jackson died? Having a bonfire in Mike's sister's front yard...it was the first big news even that I learned about through facebook.


….when John Lennon died? I didn't find out until the next morning, I'm pretty sure I was laying on my mother's bed when she told me.

….when Waco Branch Davidian cult complex burned down? No idea...living in Charlotte maybe...when was that?


….when Challenger space shuttle blew up? In Spanish Class sophomore year in high school...Cindy was there too!


….when JFK Jr.s plane went down? Living on Stratford Lane.




Where were you?!

Relaxation...

...or should I say Relaxa-SHE-own!







The dog we called Peanut butter, we found out on the last day that her name is actually Layla.







Last morning on the lake...



Our first stop in Atlanta was Bread beckers where we could get wheat berries and not have to pay the outrageous shipping charges (granted it weighs a ton!!). Two of the buckets were for OBM and three for us.


The Coke factory in Atlanta. Madi wasn't with us because she had already gone back to FL with my parents. Mike wasn't with us because he was "working" (golfing).

Daybook --back to school edition

For today August 24, 2009--I am 39 1/2 today!!

Outside my window...it is a beautiful day.


I am thinking...that my head just might explode as I try to get us into some kind of school routine. For the most part I have three different kids doing three different things and it is a little over stimulating for me!! We are getting quite a bit accomplished though and the only one who's come close to a meltdown is me.

I am thankful...that all three of the kids are eager to learn.

From the kitchen...yummy left-over sweet and sour meatballs for lunch. I think chicken tetrazinni for dinner, shepherd's pie will be another night; pampered chef party tomorrow will include buffalo chicken dip, artichoke dip, sunhine cake, and we will be making potato chowder and chocolate lava cake.

From the learning rooms...Jake has finished his math, language, and reading already. He has Faith and FIAR left...he is doing When I was Young in the Mountains for FIAR and it is in the back of Mike's car right now (Mike is at work).

Madi is writing about her science experiments involvoing the loss of energy. She had to bounce a ball and see how it would eventually come to rest and also make a pendulum out with a ball and string, hang it in the doorway and see how when she brought it up to her nose and let it go it would swing away and back to her, but not hit her nose again.

Jonathan also had a science experiment involving a glass of oil, water, and corn syrup...he had to pour in the oil first then water...the oil floated to the top, then he poured the syrup in and that went to the bottom, next he had to put different things in (cork, grape, ice cube, rock) and see where they would end up.

I am in between books right now, but I'm confident I'll be reading something by the end of the day.

I am praying for...patience.

Here's a quote to ponder...Everyday is a gift, thats why they call it the present.


I am listening to...Jake and Madi talking.

Around the house...my mother helped a ton yesterday and now the house is as good as it is going to get for the party tomorrow night.

In our yard...the grass is green, but we still have too many weeds. At least we seemed to have some good rain while we were gone.


One of my favorite things...learning about history with Jonathan and Madison.

I am "googling"...the usual-- quotes and activities for Jake's FIAR book.

I am going...to take the kids to the new splash park this afternoon if we get through school without too many problems.

A few plans for the rest of the week...PAMPERED CHEF PARTY tomorrow at 7...please come...I always seem to have a weak turnout at these things!

Some picture thoughts...of our trip will be the next thing I will blog.

Home sweet home

We are home and tired, but I wanted to do a quick post. Like all kids, my kids can come out with some pretty funny sayings, and like most moms I foget them about 10 minutes later. I wanted to get a couple on here before I forget them. Yesterday we were sitting in the car waiting for Mike to be done with his client golf outing and Jonathan said, "How much of this car do you think I could take apart with a screw driver?"

Today at a typical Cracker Barrel stop on our ride home, I bought a little yarn cross stitch handiwork activity for Jake. It was for ages 6 and up and only $2.
I sat with him in the backseat to get him started on it. I was telling him how it was a good idea to do some work with his hands that wasn't a video game. He was less than excited but humored me a little. When I realized we wouldn't be able to do it in the car because we didn't have scissors he did is usual fist pumping "YES!" and said to me, "Mom you don't know my life, you just know your life." He later explained that I didn't know his thoughts only my own. I thought it was quite profound though and it really made me think. I want my kids to love books and crave reading because I do and because to me that is the mark of a good homeschooling family. I want them to spend time doing useful things like handiwork, house work, yardwork etc. I want Jake to be nice to people and to care what they think because I am a people pleaser...this doesn't matter to him one lick. He's got tons of gifts, but pleasing other people is just not one of them. The gifts he has will be useful in "his life" and he is right I don't know his life (his future). He will be the Jake that he is meant to become, the one that God created, not the one that I am trying to create. I'm not going to stop trying to get him to be nice to people and he will do that yarn-work, but I am also going to try to give him a little more space to grow into the person he is meant to be.

Madi went home from Georgia with my parents on Thursday. She's coming home tomorrow...I miss her. It was weird going into a restaurant and just needing a table for four. I felt like I wanted to tell everyone that we saw (all strangers) that we have another child too. When Jonathan was 2 years old and I was pregnant with Madi I worked a few nights a week at a store in the mall near where we lived. The store sold products for babies and young children. I was pretty far along in my pregnancy so it was evident that I was expecting. I felt bad for Jonathan though because while everyone could see I had "one on the way" there was no visible sign of the one I had at home. I often felt the need to tell people, "I have a two year old!" Why do I always feel like I need to explain myself? The other day a facebook friend who happens to be a girl that I used to babysit for (she's now 30 and a mother of 2) posted that her 16 month old kept waking up in the night. Many people commented that he was "manipulating" her and that she needed to let him cry it out. I felt the need to go out on a limb and offer another option (a more attachment approach), but I was sure to include the fact that my kids are now almost 14, 11 and almost 7. I also think I was commenting not just for my friend, but for all her friends who were so sure about themselves and the crying it out. I don't like the idea of a 16 month old crying alone in a dark room, but I sometimes question my motives...was I really doing it for the toddler or to prove to these young moms (which I don't think I am anymore) that I know what I'm talking about?

I think I'm getting incoherent here so it's time for bed...good night!

daybook vacation edition

For today August 19, 2009

Outside my window... Madi, Meme and Grampa Carlie, are on the deck, Jake is fishing from the dock, Jonathan is in the canoe, we are at a cabin in Georgia. We've made friends with a dog whom we are calling peanut butter, we aren't sure where she actually lives, but we're all having fun with her. She can climb up the ladder on the dock...I hope to get video of it.


I am thinking...about getting in the floaty chair and reading my book.

I am thankful...relaxation.

From the kitchen...eggs, bacon, and toast this morning, hot dogs on the campfire for lunch, spaghetti and salad for supper...and lots of snacking.

From the learning rooms...swimming in the lake, fishing, and canoeing, plus reading, games, and puzzles. Monday is the official "first day" for Jonathan and Madison, Jake will be on his 21st day!!

I am reading...The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman.

I am praying for... Mike's mother...besides the breast cancer (for which she hasn't had her surgery yet) she had knee surgery yesterday.



I am listening to... everyone talking...Madi: "Jake broke the fishing pole?" and "I'm gonna go in the canoe by myself", Jake: "Shoot I only unlocked Darth Vader" (he's gone from fishing to the gameboy). Jonathan: "I had to run up the hill, then back down to help Daddy unlock the lock on the canoe, and now I have to go to the bathroom".

Around the house...home...I'm trying not to think about it.
...here...cozy!

In our yard...here...we have a shady, rocky hill down to the beautiful, swimmable lake.
home...I think the weeds are making a comeback...also trying not to think about it.


One of my favorite things...relaxing.

I am "googling"...yesterday I googled the new stars for this season's Dancing with the Stars.

I am going...down to the lake momentarily.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Meme and Grampa Carlie leave in the morning, as of now the plan is for Madi to go with them. The rest of us stay here until Friday morning and then head to Atlanta where Mike has a work meeting (golf) and the boys and I plan to get much needed haircuts, and then get wheat berries at bread beckers, then we head home on Saturday.

In addition to starting school on Monday, I need to prepare for my Pampered Chef party which is Tuesday night...please come!!!

No pictures yet...maybe next time.

Millie and Robin Hood

Good Morning Baltimore

Some pictures of the last few weeks...