Seven Quick Takes

1.  After a long weekend I am actually feeling ready for this week.  I think I need a three day weekend every weekend.  Two days just isn't enough.  I spent many hours of this long weekend getting caught up on scrapbooking.  I've given up on scrapbooking our daily lives, I use Shutterfly or Snapfish and make photo books--anywhere from one to four months at a time.  My shelves are full of these and full of  memories.  I do try to keep up with a few books that I "hand scrapbook" though.  One is a theatre book.  Actually, books, since we are on the third one.  I have scrapbooked every show since Hannah started theatre 6 and a half years ago.  These books are a treasure that get looked at and shared a lot!  I also make a scrapbook out of the Christmas photo cards that we get every year.  It is really fun to look back at these too and see how families have grown and changed over the years.  I have many families that are represented every single year. I love that.  And, lastly, each kid has a book and I do a two page spread each year.  I try to choose pictures that say something about their year and their interests, hobbies, friends, etc.  It's also a great place to capture my favorite pictures of the year.  The last few years I've worked on these scrapbooks once a year--in January.  I get all caught up and don't touch them for another year.  So, that was my project this weekend.  There were lots of other things that didn't get done this weekend but I don't regret one minute that I spent working.  Next time you're over, feel free to look at a scrapbook.  :0)

2.  I'm determined to have a really good, complete school week this week.  There are three things that too often get put on the back burner....Latin, Science (with G and J), and Art.  I'm hoping to tackle all of them this week!  Latin and Science every day and one art project.  My plan for accomplishing this is to....drumroll please....close my laptop.  I am continually drawn in to checking and responding to e-mails, checking FB, blogging, reading blogs.  I do have down time in the school day when all three kids are engaged in independent work but not much and I waste it on the computer.  I'm waking the kids up after this blog post and I'm shutting this laptop until we are done.  I'm not much at self discipline but I'm challenging myself.

3.  Another thing that we don't do enough of is go outside.  The weather is just perfect this time of year and I don't take the time to get the kids out and take walks, bike rides, take our school work to a park...going to work on that.

4.  I sat in on 15 minutes of rehearsal last night and got to see Joe in his solo song, "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat."  He is so cute I just couldn't stand it.  And so confident and so loud and it still just shocks me how he shines on stage.  My introverted (not so much anymore) kid...is a theatre kid!  Craziness.  All of you local blog readers should come see the show.  My three will all be in it on Saturday, March 2.  :0)

5.  When I go to bed at night I can't wait to wake up and drink coffee.

6.  I really, really want to see Les Miserables.  I wish it would hurry up and peter out in the theatres so I can see it in the dollar movie.  I also really want to read the book but it's huge and I don't think I can tackle it at this time in my life.  When I was in college I read lots of classics and loved them.  One of my favorites was Anna Karenina, loved that book!  The thing with classics is that you have to have time and hours and quiet to really get into the story.  They aren't fluff and you have to think while reading (at least I do).  I don't have any of that these days which is why I spend my time reading books that are pretty easy reads with great stories.  Someday I will read Les Miserables though.  Someday.

7.  It's time to wake up the kiddos and head into this day!  Happy Tuesday!