Response to Comments on Day Three Post

I was going to just write this in the comments but I had so much to say that I just decided to make it a post.  
First of all--love the snacks!  I absolutely have to try the tortilla with mashed banana!  Yum!  Did you make that up?  Chocolate Trinity is amazingly wonderful!  You have to try Publix brand Oh Fudge Oh Nuts too.  It is my all time favorite ice cream hands down.  And Julie--I also love peanuts and M&M's, just the perfect combo of sweet and salty.  Actually, I love everything, that's how I hold onto this girlish figure.
And--about the baggage.  We are flying Northwest.  I think they are one of the ones in major financial distress.  I am pretty sure their policy is $15 for the first bag and $20 for each additional.  I could be wrong but we would probably carry on anyway, we change flights twice and I don't want our luggage getting lost in the shuffle.  
Gotta go, I've been on this computer way too long!

Day Four of Rest-My-Foot-Week

I finished the puzzle today.  I got in my chair about 9 and started on my puzzle (I have it on a big bulletin board that I can sit on my lap) and didn't look up until about 12:30 at which point I realized I needed to go to the bathroom, and getting dressed was probably a good idea and whoo my breath smells, maybe I should brush my teeth.  I also finished my timeline book and now think I should have spaced the pages better.  Oh well.  We won't really be using it much this year anyway.  We have a year of geography before we go back to history.  By then it is likely I will have forgotten that I made a timeline book and will go buy all the supplies and do it again without the mistakes.  That's kind of how I operate.  Dive right in even though I haven't thought it totally through.  Realize about halfway that it isn't quite right.  Finish it anyway because I always finish everything I start even if I don't do it right and then later re-vamp it and do it right.  The good thing is that I did the whole thing in pencil so I could use the same book if I remember I have it and want to take the time to fix it.  Why even think about it now though--that's next year.  This was pretty much my last week of summer vacation at home.  We are out of town next week, then the week we get home is very busy with stuff plus planning and prepping to start school on or around August 18 give or take a week.  Don't you just love homeschooling???  I'm still thinking about coming up with a routine or schedule.  I was looking back at an old spiral the other day to see if I could throw it away and came across lists from the last two Augusts that are almost identical to the list I was just making last week.  A list of chores and a skeleton schedule.  I guess this is my annual August activity.  So far I have NEVER followed through.  Will this be the year?  Not if I don't come up with something here in a week or so.  My sister offered to help but I have to get my act together in order to even be helped.  We'll see...
Tomorrow is my last day of rest and it is really only a half day of rest.  I have some errands to run and packing to do to prepare to leave so I will only be on partial foot rest.  I'll give a report tomorrow if I get a chance.  I'm not sure if I will have internet access on our trip so this may be my last post for a week or so.  

What is Wrong With Me???

Sometimes I think I am just not mature enough to be a mom yet.  Just now for example--Joe came running in here to me and said, "Tell me something you like about me."  Everybody else is sitting down to dinner (mine was served at the computer desk) and Joe must've gotten the special plate.  We have this plate that I painted a long time ago at a local pottery place.  Around the edge it says, "Do you know what I like about you?"  We usually pull the plate out on birthdays but occasionally it will appear at someone's seat.  Then we all go around the table and say something we like about the person with the plate.  Hence, Joe's question.  So, he asks me this and here are the first two answers that popped into my head--"the way you pick your nose" and something about him picking his butt.  I came very close to saying them because it would be funny but then decided to set a good example, be a mature mom and said, "you give the best morning hugs."  So, why do these ridiculous, totally immature, vulgar thoughts enter my head.  I have these sorts of thoughts all the time.  I am well known for talking and laughing about butts, panties, boogers, farts, etc.  Not a good example for my kids at all.  So, I am just going to have to put on my big girl panties and grow up before all this potty humor bites me on the butt.

Day Three of Rest-My-Foot-Week

I didn't post yesterday because I had nothing to post.  I honestly have nothing to post today either but I'll try to think of something.  So, I've been sitting in the chair in the living room for three days now.  This should be a dream come true.  I love to read so you would think I would be reading like crazy and plowing through book after book.  NOT SO.  For some reason I can't get into reading much at all.  I did finally finish a book yesterday, one I had been reading for well over a week.  I usually finish a book in a week at most but I just haven't been as into reading as usual lately for some reason.  I got a bunch of DVDs from the library last week in preparation for this and none of them are all that interesting.  I have almost finished my timeline though.  And I did half of one of my new puzzles today, it's a hard one but fun.  I've played lots of cards with the girls.  We are all really in to Phase 10 now.  For some reason I thought the girls would be too young to really get it but I was wrong.  They are both loving it.  We will be taking it next week on our trip.  I think the fam will really get into it.  I do have good news to report though--I have walked a little and my ankle is really feeling a lot better.  I think I'm on the mend.  I'll definitely continue my foot rest until Friday and then take it easy next week.  I'll have a good excuse to be really lazy on vacation.  :0)  Ollie's mom is bringing me a few good mysteries.  Hopefully I will be back to my normal reading self.  We started packing today.  We are only taking carry on luggage so it didn't take long.  Each child packed a bag with about 4 outfits.  Did you know that you have to pay for every bag you check?  I think it's $15 or $20 per bag.  Crazy!  So, we are packing light.  There is a washer/dryer there so we should be okay.  It's actually nice to not have to try to bring everything we might possibly need.  We are just going with the basics.  
Well, that is truly all I could think of to write.  BORING!!!  Sorry.  Maybe I will spend my day tomorrow trying to think of a good blog post.  I can always think of blog post ideas when I'm not at the computer.  I'll end with a question and everybody has to comment and give me something fun to read.  
What is your absolute favorite snack?  Not meal--snack.

Joe

Joe went with Ollie to the grocery store yesterday and brought home a dragon fruit. We ate it tonight and it wasn't that good. Oh well. Dragon fruits are like papayas, they can be really good or really bad and you can't tell from the outside. When he came back he was talking to me and said, "We were going to get some chips but they were either too expensive or they were the kind that would kill you so we didn't get any." Wow. Chips that can kill you. I'm assuming he meant that they had trans fat in them. Funny.

Day One of Rest-My-Foot-Week

Well, I've made it through my first day of footrest. I am such an active person that this really is hard for me. I have enjoyed just being lazy though and not feeling pressed to get a ton of stuff done like I usually feel. Having meals served to me hasn't been half bad either. The girls spent all day making potholder purses. Hannah had to make 10 potholders and Grace 6. They can make the potholders on their own but need help "dismounting" off the loom. So I dismounted 16 potholders today and assisted in threading needles and untying knots for the purse making. The purses turned out cute, dontcha think? I did a little reading aloud while they worked. We are reading "Eight Cousins" by Louisa May Alcott. I also read some books to Joe. We watched a movie and I read my own book and did a little knitting. Tonight the girls and I played cards again and Hannah built a huge fort in Joe's room. She built it just before bedtime so they haven't had a chance to play in it yet. That should keep them busy for a good portion of the day tomorrow. All in all not a bad day and I'm happy to report that my right foot--the one with plantar fasciitis--isn't hurting at all. The other one is still swollen and hurting but I've only really been off of it for 24 hours. I am hopeful. I've got my camera right next to my chair so you may be seeing more pictures than you want to see this week.

Pictures from the Beach

Just what you've been waiting for, pictures and my report from the beach. The pictures below are in no particular order nor do I feel like putting them in any particular order so I will narrate as I go. There were seven of us for the weekend. My mom, my aunt, my cousin, my cousin-in-love, my sister, and my sister-in-love. It was a good group and we all had a great time. Lots of laughing and a little bit of swearing. Funny swearing though. None of us regularly swear so that made it all the funnier. We watched the entire season 1 of the Jamie Kennedy Experience and laughed even more. We went out for seafood both nights and ice cream both nights. I loved it but by Sunday my stomach was ready for some lighter fare. We walked around St. Augustine after dinner one night and I had the best peanut butter and chocolate ice cream ever. The next night we went to Bruster's after watching some JK and then played Phase 10--a really fun card game--until way too late. I actually spent about an hour or two at the beach (more than last year), watched 3 movies and just relaxed. It was great fun. Enjoy the pics.
This is my cousin-in-love, Jill, married to my cousin Phillip. They are expecting their first baby in October. This picture was at Bruster's where I had some awesome ice cream.

This is my mom and my Aunt Donna. My mom is the one in orange. Aren't they cute?

This is Jill again, she's a nut!

Here we have Mandy, my brother Ryan's wife, my sister Cheryl, and my cousin Ashley. That's my chair next to Ashley, the closest you'll get to a picture of me in a bathing suit.

Cheryl playing Phase 10. Is she befuddled or what? She makes the goofiest faces and will probably not be terribly happy this is on my blog. But, what's she going to do about it???

Cheryl and Mandy at Bruster's. I love that place! I wish I could go right now.

Here's the crew minus Ashley. I look as pregnant as Jill--ugh! I'm not. My girls dressed me up--straightened my hair and put makeup on me. Those of you who see me regularly wouldn't have recognized me.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook for Today...July 28

Outside my window...I really wish I had something new and different to report but I don't. It's bright and sunshiny and really hot.

I am thinking...that I need to make an effort to really enjoy this week of rest instead of focusing on all I cannot do.

I am thankful for...Ollie for being willing to do absolutely EVERYTHING around here including getting us all ready for vacation so that I can stay off my feet entirely and hopefully make progress in healing.

From the kitchen...whatever Ollie serves me. Last night it was Pasta Alfredo with salmon and a smoothie this morning. I could get used to this.

I am creating...with all my downtime I will be working on a timeline book this week. I've taken the timeline off the wall and I am using a large sketchbook to make a timeline book. One spread per 100 years or something like that. I have to do a little research.

I am going...nowhere until I go to the airport on Saturday. Can I stand it??? I'm such a goer (is that a word?) but this will be good for me.

I am wearing...pjs. Why get dressed?

I am reading...a lot I think! Trying to finish The Guardian and then a new author but I can't remember the author's name or the title of the book.

I am hoping...for my ankle to heal!

I am hearing...the kids arguing over something silly.

Around the house...the girls are making potholders like crazy, they are going to make purses out of them. Joe is really into a new computer game "Lord of the Rings," and the girls and I are playing lots of card games. Ollie is busy taking care of all of us.

One of my favorite things...a weekend at the beach with the family, we really have a lot of fun together!

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...I think I've already covered that.

A picture thought I'm sharing...

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I'm Back

I'm back from my weekend getaway.  I had a blast and feel rested and refreshed.  The vacation is just starting though.  Ollie is home all this week and I have been ordered to STAY off my terrible, aching feet.  So, I have a stack of books, DVDs, and a new puzzle plus three kids to keep me entertained.  Then on Saturday we leave for our trip to Wisconsin.  Please pray that this week of rest for my feet will be just the thing to pull me out of this flare up.  I would love to go to WI with healthier feet.  I have more to write and pics to post but I just can't get my brain around it right now.  I'm functioning on about 5 hours of sleep after a rousing game of Phase 10 that lasted for almost three hours last night.

Just Call Me the Weathergirl

When I was in college as an education major one of my teachers shared this poem with me:

“I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.”  Haim Ginott

For some reason I was remembering this tonight and it struck me that this totally applies to mothers as well as teachers.  Actually, more so to mothers.  This was very convicting to me tonight because lately the weather around here has been partly cloudy with a good chance of thunderstorms.  Where did my patience go?  Where oh where is that gentle spirit I long for?  I have been (not just lately but like for the last two years or so) been getting so annoyed by the LITTLEST things.  Last night Gracie asked me for her wallet about 5 times at this play we were at, all within 10 minutes of arriving.  It wasn't a good time to give it to her because we were walking in the door, buying tickets, finding our seats.  By the time we sat down I was downright mad at her, retrieved the wallet, and thrust it at her, and even muttered an expletive under my breath.  Did I really need to get so annoyed about this?  It was annoying but really, I do not need to take things so seriously.  I truly think that some of my symptoms that I'm dealing with--flare up of arthritis in my finger, swelling in my ankle, etc. has to do with stress.  I know that our bodies can only take so much stress.  The thing is my life really is not that stressful.  I make it stressful because of my impatience and being so quick to anger.  It is truly my goal to slow down, relax, and not get so worked up or at least prevent myself from getting to that point.  If I had just taken a minute to bend down and tell Gracie kindly when I was going to give her the wallet (when we get settled in our seats) then she wouldn't have kept asking because she is an obedient child and I could have pleasantly given her the wallet.  I can move my butt out from in front of the computer instead of putting my children off while I'm trying to read one more blog.  I am always getting aggravated with them when they are wanting my attention and I am "almost done."  If they had a penny for everytime they've heard that they'd be quadrillionaires.  So--my new goal (I always seem to have something) is to not get to the angry/stressed out point so easily and to take steps to prevent getting there.  Give the kids attention, breakfast, and listen to them then get them involved in something--THEN go to the computer.  Take time to correct them before I blow up.  STOP the yelling.  Just stop it.  It does none of us any good and I think the one it upsets the most is Grace and she's seldom the cause of it.  I need to go to Yeller's Anonymous and get some help.  I didn't use to be a yeller but that was before I had three kids who could talk.  Actually, I use to be pretty calm.  Maybe pretty soon I'll be able to say that I've conquered this (with God's help of course).  I vow not to yell at anyone for anything for the next three days.  This should be a reasonable goal.  I only have to make it until 10 am tomorrow when I drop my kids off at Leisa's and head to the beach until Sunday afternoon.  I definitely need the R and R.  I'm meeting the ladies of my family there for some fun in the sun.  Until then....

We're Rich, We're Rich,We're Rich!

According to an article in the paper yesterday at least. Ollie's hobby is growing tropical fruit trees. We have a backyard full of them. One of the trees we have is a Miracle Fruit Tree. It produces thousands of these small berries that don't taste very good but are very unique. When you eat one it makes everything you eat after that taste really sweet. You can pour yourself a tall glass of ice cold lemon juice, eat a fruit, and then drink the lemon juice and it tastes just like lemonade with too much sugar. I had heard that there was actually a restaurant in Japan that sold desserts with no sugar with a miracle fruit on the side. Well, there was an article in the paper yesterday saying that these little fruits are becoming quite popular. They are selling for about $2-$3 or more a berry! Apparently there is a guy in Florida who sells them frozen for $90 for about 30. We probably have a bag in our freezer now. The small tree produces tons of them and we hardly eat any. Sometimes we freeze them just so we can pretend that they are not totally going to waste. Of course, they just sit in our freezer. When the tree fruits again I'll sell them to all my friends for $1 a berry. Go ahead and put in your orders. Or you can just come over and I'll give you a bag out of the freezer.

Water Play Day at the Library

We had our annual water play day at the library with the local fire department. This is one of the kid's favorite events of the year. Along with running through the water from the fire hose, they also get popsicles!

Wow!! That was a mess!

So, I did it! I fought, I won, and have lived to tell about it. As you can see from these pictures Hannah's room was really a mess. Once we got everything out though I could see why she couldn't keep it clean. Her crap, I mean stuff filled up our ENTIRE living room. It was crazy and overwhelming. Our neighbor's are having a garage sale mid-August and Hannah spent some time filling a trash bag or two with things to sell at the garage sale. Then I set the kids up with a movie and went to town. Honestly, this is the way to do it. Get it all out and go from there. I talked to Hannah before I did it and told her that she wasn't being punished. I was going to help her learn to take care of her room and with that much stuff in it it was just too hard. I told her to see this as a positive thing. She wasn't thrilled but she was okay with it and I think a little bit excited about having a cleaned out room. I told her that in three months we would get everything out again and go through it and see what she wanted back and what we could get rid of. The one funny thing she said as we were clearing it out was, (in a dramatic voice of course) "my stuff, my beloved stuff, taken out of it's natural environment." She was funny. Enjoy the before and after pics.

Those are not all her books although a lot of them are kid's books. It just so happens that Hannah's room is the weird room in our house. We put up a wall (with a lot of help from some friends) in our very long dining area. One wall is a built in bookcase--love it!, one wall is a window to the outside, and one wall is windows into the Florida room. No closet, no window that opens to the outside. Odd little room. She likes it though.

While we were emptying out Grace's room she was begging me to do the same in her room. She is like her mom and likes a tidy room. So, maybe we'll tackle that room tomorrow.

Random Thoughts

Thank you to everyone for all the great advice.  I think I have a plan now.  For Hannah's room specifically.  Step 1--take everything out of her room and sort it.  Step 2--Give away some stuff and put away (temporarily) most everything else.  When she is able to consistently keep her room picked up she can earn back what has been put away.  I have a feeling that most of it won't be missed.  And of course, a designated time each day for a room pick up and check.  I really can't wait to get started so I think I'm going to do it as soon as I'm done with this post.  I am also going to go with the bulletin board idea and a clear tote for special things.  
One question--it sounds so simple to make and follow through with chore charts.  Why oh why can I not do this??????  My goal for myself is to do this and follow through.  How hard can it be?  
Yesterday we were playing a charades game and the thing I had to act out was "wristwatch."  I pantomined looking at my wrist and wondering what time it was.  Hannah yelled out clock and phone but could not get "watch."  Wow.  I guess watches are old-fashioned.  I know plenty of people wear watches but I don't and neither does my husband.  If we need to know what time it is when we are out we just look at our phones.  So, she didn't even think of a watch.  Crazy.
I went to Barnes and Noble today to spend my $30 gift card.  I LOVE books but when faced with a huge bookstore I cannot decide how to spend my money.  I am very thrifty so I knew if I was going to spend this money it had to be on something that I would want to have forever.  I generally just borrow books from friends or the library and never read a book twice.  So, what did I get?  Two puzzles and I treated the girls to a special Starbucks Frappucino with the remaining.  Not terribly exciting but I can't wait to do the puzzles.  I think I will take one on vacation.  It's always fun to talk and catch up over a puzzle.  What vacation you ask?  We are going to an island on Lake Superior and meeting Ollie's family there.  A week of fun in the sun with the fam.  I don't know about everybody else but we can't wait.  The highs will probably only be in the mid-70s unless they have a heat wave.  
I think that's it for now.  Sorry for the boring post!

Kid's Bedrooms

I really wish I had taken pictures of my kid's rooms before I put them to bed.  They would help illustrate my point.  My kid's bedrooms are out of control.  Granted I had 5 extra kids here today that contributed to the mess but all of that has been cleaned up.  Hannah's room is the worst.  She is such a messy child and her room makes me crazy.  About once a month I go in and help her get it all really clean and organized and she can keep it that way for a week or two but then the messes start piling up and she just can't or won't keep it under control.  I've decided that probably tomorrow I will be taking almost everything out of her room for at least a month.  She can't mess it up if  there is nothing in there.  Any other suggestions?  What do you do about all their special things--cards, drawings, papers, etc.?  I have yet to find a system I like.  Help!  Give me some advice ladies.

A Great Quote I'd Like to Share

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

And, from God himself--"My mercies are new every morning."

Praise God for a new day!  

A Simple Woman's Daybook

A Simple Woman's Daybook for July 21, 2008

Outside my window...it is dark and I hear crickets, I am getting a head start this week. I want to be first on the list! Can you say overachiever?

I am thinking...that I need to get to bed soon. I WILL get up early for quiet time and prayer before I start my day tomorrow. I have proven day after day lately that I am not doing so well in my own strength. I have been so grumpy!

I am thankful...for a good day with my family. Hopefully it made up for yesterday--I was in a mood all day and could not snap out of it for anything.

From the kitchen...I finally went to the grocery store so we will have real meals this week instead of whatever I can pull together from the remnants of the cabinets. I am most excited about trying a new Indian recipe--Butter Chicken. It's actually a British "Indian style" recipe.

I am creating...some notecards made from the kid's art.

I am going...maybe to Barnes and Noble tomorrow depending on how my feet feel. I have gift cards and the kids have reading lists that they can exchange for a new book.

I am wearing...pjs!

I am reading...The Guardian by Dee Henderson

I am hoping...that my feet will get better!

I am hearing...not a whole lot.

Around the house...laundry needs to be folded, I still have all my scrapbook stuff piled on a table in the living room waiting for a couple of hours so I can wrap up what's left from Friday night.

One of my favorite things...Advil

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...our favorite summer activity--water play with the fire station. They come out to the library lawn and let the kids play in the water. There are also water balloons and popsicles. What's not to love! Hoping to make it to Barnes and Noble and Portrait Innovations. I go to the beach on Friday with the ladies in my family! No kids, just ladies. I have a busy week ahead!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing...another oldie but goodie.

If you want to participate in the Simple Woman's Daybook, click here.

Question

How do I get a picture to come up next to my name when I comment on other people's blogs?

A Joe Funny

Aunt Harriet and Uncle Billy sent some toys home with the kids the other day. Toys that at times have been known to cause HUGE fights. So, the toys came home with a warning attached--any fighting and they go to the Goodwill. About 10 minutes after they started playing I could hear a possible fight brewing and so I reminded them about the Goodwill threat. Joe said, "Ohhhh, I thought you meant if we fight WE had to be taken to the Goodwill." Poor kid, did her REALLY think that I would drop him off at Goodwill????

Learning to Read and Yahtzee

After four weeks off of school Grace and I are back to working on learning how to read. I am trying to teach more to her learning style--kinesthetic (I think). Which means she needs to do more than just hear and see the words and sounds. She needs to "do" something with them. So, I bought her a little white board and some magnetic letters and she is working her way through some sight word flash cards. She reads the word, makes the word with magnetic letters, and then writes the word. So far, I would say it is working. The words that she has worked on are truly becoming sight words for her instead of words that she is sounding out. I'm also letting her "doctor" a couple of flash cards. She has such a hard time remembering the word "do." I've let her add an o to the end to remind her that the o says oo. Hopefully this will help and not mess her up in the long run. I have also let her pencil in an e under the "ai" in the word "said." Another one she struggles with. We'll see if these mnemonic devices transfer to seeing those words in books. Hannah and I have really gotten into playing Yahtzee. I had forgotten how fun that game is. Any other Yahtzee fans out there?

Caramel Macchiato Madness

I went to an all afternoon into the evening scrapbooking "party" today/tonight.  This is really the only way to scrapbook.  Just knock it all out in an evening!  I picked up a Caramel Macchiato on my way and I made it through about 4 months of pictures.  I am almost completely caught up.  If I could have had another hour or two I would have been done!  I have written off working on my hobbies at home until I feel like I have my house more under control and feel like I'm spending adequate time with my kids.  However, I had about 300 pictures already printed that I really wanted to get scrapbooked.  So, I got almost all of them in albums tonight and and will probably break my "no projects in July" rule and spend a couple of hours tomorrow and totally finish all the pictures I already have.  Then--they are having another "party" in August and I can scrapbook the Wizard of Oz pictures and our vacation pictures.  I am going to limit how many I print though.  I definitely had way too many this time.  I would love to do something like this once a month.  I've toyed with the idea of quitting scrapbooking completely but I really do love it and so do my kids.  Going away once a month for the afternoon and evening and scrapbooking would be ideal.  I'd stay caught up but it wouldn't be hanging over my head all the time.  Plus, it's much more fun to scrapbook while enjoying the fellowship of other adults than it is at home being interrupted constantly.  Not one person asked me to take them to the potty tonight or fix them a drink.  It was kind of nice.

Thrifty Thursday (on Friday)

Another blogging buddy had the idea of sharing money saving ideas on our blogs on Thursday.  Here are my money saving ideas for today.

• Use half the recommended amount of laundry detergent.  You will not notice the difference, I promise!
  
• Use half of a dryer sheet in the dryer.  Again, you will not notice the difference!
• Turn your panties inside out for a second day of wear. You will not notice the difference!

A Really Full Brain

My brain is so full of thoughts I can hardly think.  So, I thought I would "empty" my brain here on this blog for your reading enjoyment.  Maybe in the "emptying" I will have some breakthrough in the action stage.

I am again feeling the need to come up with some sort of schedule/routine to govern our days.  Not so much now but once we start school.  Joe starts kindergarten this year and I know he would do so much better if there was some structure to our days.  I think he did so well in preschool because he always knew what to expect, what was coming next, etc.  So, I am going to TRY to step out of my comfort zone of no order, fly by the seat of my pantsedness and come up with a routine (I hate to use the word schedule) that we can stick to.  I have done this half a dozen times with no success but I am going to try again for Joe's sake.  My idea is to get something on paper this week and do an abbreviated version the next couple of weeks to sort of get our feet wet, see what works and what doesn't, etc.  Instead of scheduling in school I will schedule in reading time, game time, craft, movie, etc.  I also want to get them doing some regular chores and get myself doing some regular chores.  For those of you gifted in these areas you are probably thinking, "what's the big deal?" For some reason I just really struggle with this sort of thing.  So, any advice would be appreciated.  

I need to decide how to proceed with teaching Grace to read.  She is at about a mid-first grade level and going into second grade.  She is not reading fluently at all.  She sounds everything out and if it is one of those words that doesn't sound out she's lost.  She can never remember "do" for example.  I had her evaluated and was given some good ideas and strategies and I'm ready to implement some but also trying to decide what else to do.  I am going to use "The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading" with Joe for sure and I'm thinking about just starting at the beginning with Grace as well.  She will move a lot faster than Joe but still he will probably catch up to her fast.  He just seems to "get" how to read in a way my other two haven't.  I can see now how some people can say that their child just learned how to read with almost no instruction.  That would be Joe.  I don't want to discourage Grace by having her little brother exceed her in reading.  I am just going to have to talk to her about it ahead of time and remind her of all her talents and the things that she doesn't struggle with.  This is heavy on my mind as we approach the new school year.

My feet are another thing taking up brain space.  I am finally committed to doing my plantar fasciitis exercises 2-3 times per day.  I would say that it is already helping I think.  I am also really staying off my feet as much as possible.  I have done a doozy on myself these last 6 months or so with not taking care of this.  I don't remember how many times I walked Disney this winter and spring.  I'd just take advil all day and go even though I knew I shouldn't.  That's just one example of how I've abused my poor feet and not given them time to heal properly.  So, I'm getting serious about taking responsibility for my health.  There is no miracle drug/cure/operation for plantar fasciitis, I just have to take care of myself!  Not easy for me at all.  Self discipline and consistency are not high on my aptitude list.  

Another thought--which is better--being able to walk in the morning or being at risk for a bleeding ulcer?  I am trying not to take all the different pain relievers that help me do what I need to do each day.  I take Aleeve, Advil, Excedrin, and Tylenol--not all on the same day but those are my pain relievers of choice and I do take something almost every day.  I am trying to just stop taking them.  For one thing--they can cause liver problems, kidney problems, and possibly a bleeding ulcer.  For another thing, when I don't feel pain I tend to do more than I should.  So, by taking pain relievers I'm allowing myself to overdo it.  So, I'm not taking anything most of the time but I'm considering taking 2 advil before bed each night so that I can sleep better (my hips bother me) and walk to the bathroom in the morning.  Mornings are by far the worst and some mornings I can hardly support my weight (which is on the hefty side--another thing I should work on) when I first stand up.  Any thoughts?

Okay--I feel sufficiently emptied of all these things plaguing my thought life.  I think I'll go try my hand at that schedule, I mean routine. 

Goodwill

I hit the jackpot at Goodwill last week.  I found 6 skirts that I liked!  Four of them were half off so my 6 skirts plus one book was $16!  Love it.  Here's a picture of my treasures. I actually had one more as well but gave it to my sister because she loved it and I already had plenty.  My favorite is the denim one, it's so soft and worn in.

Reading Meme

I found this on another blog and I had to play!  It's about my favorite things--books.  


1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I've loved to read for as long as I can remember.  My dad likes to read too so maybe I got it from him?

2. What are some books you read as a child? I loved, loved, loved all of the Childhood of Famous Americans books.  I read dozens of Bobbsey Twins. All of the Fudge books by Judy Blume and the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.  The All of a Kind Family Series, Anastasia Krupnik.

3. What is your favorite genre?  That's a tough one to answer.  I like almost everything but not fantasy or romance.  I love a good mystery.  I like some christian fiction but it can't be hokey.  Probably drama would be the genre I read the most.

4. Do you have a favorite novel? how about a favorite series?  Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

5. Where do you usually read? Almost always on my bed.  It's always coolest in my room and I've got a great fan blowing right on me.  I ALWAYS read before bed.

6. When do you usually read? at bedtime and in the afternoon (usually results in a nap)

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? Not usually.  I prefer to read only one book at a time.

8. Do you read non-fiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? nope!

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? I mostly get books from the library or borrow them from friends.  I seldom buy books for myself because I seldom read a book twice.  My house is full of kid's books though!

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy?  If I buy it that means it is one I want to keep otherwise I do not buy it.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?  the Ramona books, the Fudge books, All of a Kind Family Series, Chronicles of Narnia, Little Women, this list could go on and on.  Most of the books I read to my kids are not ones I read as a child.  

12. What are you reading now?  Just finished a mystery called Penumbra (excellent!), working on The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias (boring but informative), up next is Dee Henderson's O'Malley series and Rose In Bloom by Louisa May Alcott.

13. Do you keep a TBR (To Be Read) list? No lists but a big stack next to my bed.  

14. What's next? I already answered that one.

15. What books would you like to reread?  Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliott, No Ordinary Home (author?), The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliott, The Anne of Green Gables series (those books give me warm fuzzy feelings).

16. Who are your favorite authors? Ted Dekker, Francine Rivers, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Fannie Flagg, John Grisham, Randy Alcorn, Jodi Picoult, George MacDonald, Jan Karon, Karen Kingsbury, Charles Dickens, Patricia Cornwell, Nicholas Sparks, Cynthia Rivenbark (hilarious author), I know there are more that I can't think of right now.

That's it! Feel free to be tagged!

Some Pictures from Wizard of Oz

Simple Woman's Daybook for July 14, 2008

Outside my window...I seem to write the same thing every week. Nothing has changed, it's sunny and hot.

I am thinking...how happy I am to have no plans for the week and how I can keep my over busy, over ambitious self from making any plans.

I am thankful for...Aunt Harriet and Uncle Billy for giving me a much needed break for a few hours today.

From the kitchen...pinto beans in the crock pot for tostadas tonight for dinner.

I am creating...a plan for helping my feet--exercises, rest, and dieting.

I am going...nowhere!

I am wearing...tank top and shorts--standard summer uniform.

I am reading...Just finished a great book called Penumbra by Carolyn Haines, an awesome mystery and just starting the learning styles book I mentioned last week.

I am hoping...to succeed in my plan to help my feet.

I am hearing...the fan roaring in my ear.

Around the house..it's messy after a busy weekend, games everywhere, clothes everywhere, amazingly I'm not letting it bother me too much.

One of my favorite things...a new Starbucks gift card (got one today--thanks Lisa!)

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...not a whole lot!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

I've been going through old pictures of Joe in preparation for someday making him a scrapbook--not in July though. :0) He was around one in this picture and had been eating Cheetos.

If you want to participate in the Simple Woman's Daybook, click here. You can participate even if you are not a "simple woman." I am certainly not!

Joe Again

Tired of These Yet?

Hannah practicing the Lullaby League.

Wizard of Oz

If you look towards the left, the little guy with the lollipop is Joe and next to him is Jake.

And More

More Wizard of Oz

This one is also of Grace.

The First of Many Wizard of Oz snippets

You can see Grace as Toto in this one.

Cow Appreciation Day

My mom arrived this afternoon with my dog-brother Okley. We were all excited and I was doing my normal--asking a million questions about her trip. Then the doorbell rings again and I answer it and guess what--my sister and nephew are here too! They surprised us, I truly had no idea she was coming. We were just sitting around talking and I was starting to think about making dinner and remembered that it is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-a, if you go in dressed like a cow you eat free. So, I proposed that we come up with some cow costumes and go out to dinner. We made a call to Chick-fil-a to find out the "rules" and went for it. We cut out lots of black and white cow spots, located some brown, black, and white clothing and taped spots all over us including our faces and legs. The rules were that you had to be dressed head to toe like a cow. Here are lots of pictures of our fun!

Cheryl and Hannah did the prep work--thanks girls! You can see Okley's head in the corner of that picture.

Here we are working on our costumes. We made some fine cows let me tell you.

Harrison even joined in the fun!

We all thoroughly enjoyed our free dinner. My kids ate their whole kid's meal, they never do that!

We were even visited by the Chick-fil-a cow! Hannah was unimpressed.

When we saw this sign we knew it was a Kodak moment. Only mom didn't make it in the picture, she got to be on the other side of the camera.

Tonight's Recital Pictures

I was too busy taking video to get any pictures but there is a slide show of pictures here if you want to go see.  There are some cute ones of Grace.

Hannah and Madi do a Peter Pan skit

Mom, You Can Leave Your Shower Shoes at Home

My house has really been a wreck lately and I have not been in the cleaning mood. My mornings have been busy and the afternoons are just too hot and the evening is family time. My mom comes tomorrow and I warned her that more than likely the house would be a mess. She asked, "Do I need to bring my shower shoes?" My answer was , "yes, just in case." Well, two Dr. Pepper's at dinner has really helped to light a fire under my big butt and put me in the mood to clean. I love to clean when the house is quiet and I can do it completely uninterrupted. So, I"ve uploaded videos and cleaned for the last 2 going on 3 hours. I've cleaned the kitchen sink and the counters (haven't done the counters in at least 3 months) and the top of the stove. I've decluttered my kitchen table and the living room and finally cleaned out my second junk drawer. I did the first about a month ago. I can't remember if I've posted about the great junk drawer organizers I got or not. I went to Target one night for soap or something like that and ended up coming home with about $50 worth of organizational stuff--baskets, plastic three drawer cart things, and my favorite find--junk drawer organizers complete with little sections and everything. So, with receipt in hand I humbly told Ollie what I had done finishing with, "I have the receipt, I can return it if you think I spent too much." He was okay with everything except--the junk drawer organizers. My favorite purchase. I was bemoaning this to my sweet sister later the next day and she said--don't take them back. I'll send you a check for them and that can be your birthday present. I couldn't have been happier. And, she actually did send the check! We are forever doing what she and my mom call "high financing." We say we'll send the money and forget until the other owes us money and then we start with--you owe me $25 from last year when I bought dad the Father's Day present but now I owe you $28 so just buy me a coffee next time I'm in town and we'll call it even. I really doubt we are ever even. I know I am always forgetting to send her money when I tell her I will. Anyway--my drawers are now organized. I think I'm going to tackle the Florida room--just a quick pick up and it's off to bed. I will be so happy to wake up to a clean house. Nothing better! I know caffeine is terrible for me and I really should stay away from it but I love being able to get so much done once everyone is in bed. The morning will be rough though, but my house will be clean!

Now For Grace...

Grace played Molly in an Annie skit. It is hard to see and hear but if you really love her you'll watch the whole 2 minutes and 12 seconds. She is the first one to talk saying, "Mommy, mommy." Enjoy!

Joe's Turn

Joe's class did a few numbers. Due to how long it takes to upload video I will only be posting one of his songs--the cutest one. He's in brown and Hannah is next to him, she helps with the Little Theatre. Don't laugh when he falls down, that wouldn't be nice. A hearty chuckle is okay though, just don't tell him.

What Time is It?

Time for LOTS of pictures and videos for a few days. The kids had their summer camp recital tonight and Wizard of Oz is this weekend. Tonight was fun, the kids did acting scenes and dances. I will probably post all the little videos I took. Enjoy!

This one has only Hannah in it. Don't try to find Grace, you'd be wasting your time. :0)

The Wizard of Oz

This weekend is Wizard of Oz--the show that the kids have worked the last 4 weeks on. It's sure to be a great one! You know the drill--if you live close enough and don't come then I will really know you think I'm fat. Don't try to get out of it, just come! You'll love it, I promise!

This is Hannah's first costume--she's in the Lullaby League in Munchkinland. She has three costume changes in this show!

Here's Grace as Toto! She is Toto on Saturday night and then in the ensemble on Sunday. Is she cute or what???