Daybook Style (but with lots of pictures)

From Hannah's camera...I really like this one on top--ponytail holders and puzzle pieces with a partially finished puzzle in the background. I love popping her SD card into my computer and seeing what she's got on there. She finds the most interesting things to take pictures of.
Outside my window...well, right now it's cloudy and muggy but when I started this post a few hours ago it was pouring rain with a cool breeze blowing into the windows. It seems dumb but I was excited to fill in the "outside my window" part but now it's not nearly so nice. Fall can't come soon enough around here!!

From the kitchen...I made chocolate zucchini muffins today and they were so good! I used coconut oil, my freshly milled wheat, and flaxseed meal and they had zucchini so they were semi-healthy. Other than these muffins I have been pretty uninspired in the kitchen lately. I absolutely can't wait for soup weather. We'll be having soup and fresh bread or biscuits practically every night as soon as it cools off. Speaking of fresh bread, I really want to master making our own bread. I haven't even really tried but now I have it in my head that I want to learn and teach the girls while I learn so that we can all successfully make bread. Ollie's brother made the best bread while we were at Madeline Island this summer and he totally inspired me. Of course, I've yet to do much with that inspiration but I'll get to it.

On my iPod...I just recently bought a whole Sara Groves album and my favorite song is "How is it Between Us." It's all about feeling stressed and crazy and then evaluating how things are between yourself and God. One of the lines is "when did I talk to You last and what has happened since..." I just love it. Her songs speak right to my heart.

What I'm reading...I just started a Jodi Picoult book that I've avoided in the past. The title is "Second Glance," and it's all about ghosts. The idea of ghosts freaks me out which is why I've avoided this book but a friend recommended it and brought it to church so I decided to read it. So far it's great, of course. Jodi Picoult is awesome. Just before reading this I read, "Shadows of Lancaster County," and it was very good, I highly recommend that one.

What I'm reading to the kids...We read for about an hour every morning. First the Bible, then something from The Book of Virtues, and then one or two other books--usually at least one just fun chapter book and often something related to history. So, we just finished up Pippi Longstocking and we've been reading various books of Greek Myths for a few weeks now. Today we started Augustus Caesar's World and I'm really excited about it. I've heard great things about those books and it goes right along with our history. Once we finish the Greek Myths I will start reading a classic novel--probably Wizard of Oz. Our reading time is the best time of the day for me and I hope for the kids!

From our homeschool...we just finished our third week of school. So far, so good but I'm frustrated with myself for once again letting outside distractions encroach upon our school time. A couple of days this week I found myself distractedly schooling or rushing in order to finish and skipping things because we ran out of time. So far my calendar for next week is mostly empty. As you can see in the picture towards the bottom of this post I scrawled across the week, "Just Say NO!" and reminded myself of some things I'd like to have time for and the only way that will happen is to stay home and focus each and every day. I am happy with our curriculum and all three kids seem happy with it as well. The big thing I changed this year was our language arts curriculum and we started Rod and Staff. I love it! It's very thorough and takes things step by step. My only complaint is that Virtual school takes so long. I don't recommend taking three classes at a time unless at least one of them is an academic class. It really is alot to do each day/week.

Around the house...it's tidy but in desperate need of a good, deep cleaning. One of these weekends I'll get motivated and git 'er done. Until then, well, it's tidy. I'm looking forward to doing some fall decorating. There are a couple of neat craft projects in the latest Family Fun magazine that look fun. Hoping to make time for them next week...

Some picture thoughts...
I spent much of my free time last weekend completing the puzzle in the picture above. I just did a big puzzle the week before and really didn't have time to get into another one but Joe is all about puzzles right now and he got started on it and I couldn't resist. I refuse to get sucked into the one below though. I had not even finished the Coke one before he got this one out. I'm trying not to even look at this button one until I am more caught up with stuff around the house. I'm curious how much Joe will end up doing on his own. I confess that I did do the full edges for him though and got it set up nicely.

We spent Monday at a free homeschool day at our local science center. I am waiting (patiently I might add) for pics from Amy. These are the only ones I got because I asked Hannah to pack my camera and she packed it in some obscure pocket of the backpack and I didn't find it until the very end of the day.

Tuesday night I got to meet a cyber friend, Cindy from Monkey Boy Adventures, in person! It helps that she is Julie's childhood friend and came here to see Julie and visit Disney World. We met at the cutest little coffee shop and brought Hannah and Madi along as well. They loved sitting at their own table and choosing their own dessert and paying for it with their own money (don't think they loved that part). They were very thrifty and shared a piece of cheesecake and each got hot chocolate. After dessert they played a game of Yahtzee and helped take care of Landon who was along for the ride while his mommy and daddy had rehearsal at the theatre right next door. Julie and Cindy and I also had a great time eating and chatting and all that stuff that ladies like to do.

Above is my calendar that I mentioned above. See how full this month has been--and to end the month we get a nice, calm week! Now I just have to keep it that way.

And, finally, a picture of Joe with his latest obsession--setting up his cajillion Star Wars guys every day in dozens of different scenarios.