::Outside My Window::
It is such a neat day...the wind has been gusting - hard - all day. But it's not too chilly. It's beautiful.
I have also been keeping track of the puppy-making progress in the kennel outside my kitchen window. It is very interesting to watch their mating behavior. They seem to have a special connection during mating season. But I think they had a lover's quarrel! At one point, Max was in Maggie's face barking loudly and repeatedly. He usually only barks at intruders and small animals in the yard. Weird.
::I am Listening to ::
Chanticleer Christmas. (Caiden who recently woke from his Sunday nap and is working on his kung zhu with a huge screwdriver and bemoaning the fact that he threw away the instructions. He is not impressed with my relaxing music.)
Caiden: "What is this?"
Me: "It's called Chanticleer"
Caiden: "I call it crazy music!"
::I am Thankful For ::
This season of calm in my life.
:: I am Remembering ::
Grandma Parsons. It won't be right that she won't be at Luke's wedding. Stinging tears behind my eyes, just wishing for her to be with us - it was her favorite thing, being together. Planning on taking a big box of Russell Stover chocolates for the family to share in the hotel in her honor. : ) She knew how to celebrate life, that's for sure. Bummer. Now I'm crying for real.
:: I am looking forward to/Dreaming of ::
My trip to Missouri on Friday! My cousin Luke is getting married in Springfield. Rachelle is coming to spend the night with us Thursday night, then the kids and Chelle and I leave bright and early Friday morning. I have been loving this season of normalness at home - but I'm ready for a road trip!
:: Some of what I've been reading::
I cannot recommend Simplicity Parenting enough. I am almost giddy with happiness at the affirmation of the lessons God has been teaching me over these years.
::From the Kitchen::
I've actually had a more interesting cooking week. Especially Friday - we cooked up a storm. I tried some new recipes.
Karissa and I made a double batch of these and froze them in pans. Then I put them in a ziploc (to get my pans back and save space.) Just pull out what you need for dinner, let them raise to double, and bake for 10 minutes!
Loved this! My kids and husband are not fans of the texture of celery and carrots in recipes, but I left them in on purpose. They cooked up so tender the kids didn't even seem to mind. I also used white velveeta instead of yellow. This soup was very rich and cheesy. It was good warmed up the next day, too.
Pulled up these two recipes, then sortof made up my own. I used both sausage sauce and marinara. And hamburger. I meant to make 2 lasagnas, one for now, one for later. But somehow I ended up making one monster that was too big for our family, so I wrapped it and froze it for company or giving away or a tired day...
Some not-new stuff:
Enchiladas: I also made up an extra pan of (not new) enchiladas when I fixed them for dinner one night and froze them for later. I just follow the recipe on the back of the enchilada sauce can. Small whole wheat tortillas. Extra sauce. Lots of cheese on top.
Blueberry Pie (frozen double pie crust & 2 cans of blueberry filling. Brush inside & top crust with eggwhite. Sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar on top crust for browning. Poke slits in a pretty star design in the top. Cover edge of pie crust to avoid burning. Extremely easy and gorgeous.)
Pumpkin Bread (from a box mix!)
We used our cool heart-shaped tube pan for this loaf.
::I am Thinking::
That we need to work harder at truly getting the kids in bed with lights out by 8:30 instead of 9:00.
::I am Creating::
We are tickled pink with our new table chalkboard.
- Buy an old picture from goodwill.
- remove glass from frame
- clean glass with alcohol
- paint the glass with a spray primer (that says on the can it is okay for glass)
- let dry thoroughly
- paint several coats of chalkboard paint (I used the spray kind from walmart)
- chalkboard markers work really well and are visible.
Someday I might paint the frame white, but we it like this for now. We like having it so much, we are thinking of making another one for another part of the house. I painted the back of the girls' door with chalkboard paint awhile ago and they love it. I would like to have one for family messages, schedules, chores, etc. I am thinking of trying out the chalkboard contact paper.
I am hoping (like an idiot) this week to sand and finish painting the boys' name letters and get them up on their wall. But it's no big deal if that doesn't happen this week. Packing is a priority. (Now that I've made my schedule for the week I am cracking up that I even dreamed of doing this.)
:: Towards raising hungry learners::
Seriously doubt if we'll even be very good practicers this week, much less anything else too creative.
::Towards Rhythm and Beauty::
Did I mention that you should read Simplicity Parenting? Excellent information about the power of rhythm in your home.
I have quite a lot of traveling coming up in the next few months before baby Christian arrives in early Jan. For some reason, traveling is one thing that seems to mess up my rhythm and get me behind. I have analyzed and nailed down some of the reasons for this and some things I can do about it. Lord, help me to do them well and keep us in a fairly smooth rhythm as we finish out 2012.
::To Live the Life ::
I have been thinking about sounding ungrateful in my communication.
For instance, I am unbelievably grateful to be expecting another baby. I am immensely aware that there are many women who long to be pregnant ONE time - much less 5! But to be honest, pregnancy is a fairly miserable experience for me from beginning to end. I do it for the babies that result. : ) And if you talk to me for any amount of time, chances are the pregnancy, due date, etc. will come up at some point. I talk about pregnancy because it is part of my world. And I'm a pretty real person. I"m not saying I bellyache and carry on and on, but I talk about what is real in life. I'm not too comfortable talking about "the weather" for too long. I'd rather go home and do my dishes than talk all sweetsie surface stuff. But I am aware that in the process of talking real, I can sound ungrateful. Like I'm complaining about one of the most amazing blessings a woman could ever have.
The same idea applies to my house. I'm not gonna lie - it has taken me years of hard work to learn to sort and toss and organize to fit the 6-7 of us into a home that is completely adequate but small-ish for our size family. And that is part of my real world. So I talk about it and blog about it! But I am daily grateful for what I am learning, and I absolutely love the fact that we are all together no matter where we are in the house. I am unspeakably glad that God placed us here in this cozy house with the humongous yard and sunsets over the cornfield. (I know I'm gonna miss it someday!) But an acquaintance said something the other day about me "complaining" about having a small house. It hurt my heart. I am not likely to change into someone who doesn't talk about real life, but I very, very much want to be someone who communicates the gratitude that I feel every day.
I don't have all the answers to this, but it is something that is rumbling around in my brain. I want the words of my mouth to be acceptable to my Abba.
::I am Hoping and Praying::
That Uncle Danny's body will be strong enough to accept and use the strong treatment he has started for Lyme Disease.
:: In the Garden::
Mom Fry is coming tomorrow to plant my mums in the ground! Aren't I spoiled? I usually don't get around to it and they just die.
::Around the House::
I love flylady zones....for several reasons:
- It helps my brain to deal with the constant checklist of all the things that need to be done around here below the surface. I can pass an area that needs focused attention and relax a little knowing that it's zone will be cycling back around soon.
- It tells me exactly what to focus on and when.
- It helps me to not get in the very easy rut of keeping busy with the daily cleaning & maintaning without ever getting to the deeper cleaning/decluttering/organizing that makes the daily cleaning easier.
::One of My Favorite Things::
Windy Autumn days with the leaves blowing everywhere and speckled late-Sunday-afternooon sunlight. Corin didn't know what I was typing, but he just came over to me and said...."Mommy...yook at the yeaves falling!" He knows magic when he sees it, and often brings our attention to a beautiful sunset or some other pretty wonder.
::The Kids::
David and I got home tonight from church (across the parking lot) later than usual after talking to friends. The kids had created a restaurant. They baked frozen Jack's pizzas, break-n-bake cookies, and had drink options and chips. It was fun. They took our orders as we came in, put a napkin on my lap, refilled our drinks, the whole works. They even left us a little pocket of money hanging on the door to cover our bill. We did get a laugh over the one starving 6-year-old waiter who looked hungrily over our shoulders after our food had been delivered to our table and moaned, "Oh...I wish I could HAVE some." We discussed that it may not be a good idea to do that if he were really working as a waiter. It was hilarious.
:: The Man of the House ::
Is doing his final talk on Israel in church tonight. I have enjoyed so much learning from him. I always learn from him.
:: Love this Quote! ::
Miay Someaway {im awsome in piglatin}(I've been hacked in piglatin by Kayla) I was trying to squeeze a blog into the moments on a Sunday and left it open on the computer.
::A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week::
YIKES! It's a travel week, and it's gonna be a doozy....I should seriously be in bed right now getting ready for this! I will absolutely, positively NOT get all of this done, nor in the time scheduled. But my brain always needs a dumping/planning session to feel like I have a basic plan to work from. I take my basic daily & weekly tasks, then figure out where I can add the "extra" stuff that needs to happen....like packing and van repairs. There's something about getting it all out there on paper that helps me organize my thoughts. This becomes a checklist that I highlight. Stuff that doesn't get done can be moved to the next day or just skipped.
MONDAY
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TUESDAY
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
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FRIDAY
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Desk Day
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Errands Day
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Laundry/Clothes
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Pack/Clean
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LEAVE!
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Zone: Kitchen Windows & declutter
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Wash kitchen Cabinet fronts & walls
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Kitchen drawers
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Clean out fridge
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Pack cooler
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Import CD’s/file
sort papers
Call Mr. coleman – chapel piano Wed.
Call Tami – appt. for car guy
Call insurance - roadside
Put money in envelopes
Find Medicaid Cards
Start packing (pick out outfits)
Pick up van part motor
Take van to huffers for repair
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10:00 – CALL MEGAN finalize wedding photography schedule
Finish & print wedding schedule
Take wedding info clipboard to Jonelle
Walmart: milk & cereal for david
Library returns
Video returns
Take dinner to Janice Brown between 5-6
1753 E. Washington
659-2202
BBQ chicken
Potatoes/corn/rolls
Pumpkin caramel dessert
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Straighten basement
Take van to jail for detailing
Me time
House hot spots
Text students – remind no lessons tomorrow
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Finish Packing
Pack Van
Clean House
Kitchen floor
Dust
Bathroom
Entryways
hot spots?
vacuum
Check Laundry
Kid baths/wash & curl girls hair
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PACKING LIST:
Girls clothes (4 days)
Wedding Clothes
Girls socks/shoes
Girls pj’s/undies
Curlers/Hair stuff
Boys clothes (4 days)
Wedding clothes
Boys socks/shoes
Boys pj’s/undies
Pull-ups & wipes
My clothes (4 days)
Wedding Clothes
Socks/shoes
Pj’s/undies
Hair/purse/shower bag
Book to read
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6:30 Make bed
Devotions
7:00 Kid am Cheklsts
Breakfast
7:30 kids out door
My breakfast
Start laundry
8:00 clean/Dishes/floor
8:30 Switch Laundry
Fold Laundry
9:00 DESK DAY
10:00 Zone (kitchen)
11:00 Corin read/nap
11:30 Start packing
12:30 lunch
1:00 Pick up van part
2:00 take van to
huffers/walk home
3:30 Kids home/snack
4:00 Kid checklists-aft
Practice with kids
5:00 Make supper
6:00 Eat Supper
Cleanup, dishes
7:00 Kid cheklists-pm
8:00 Evening devotions
8:30 kids to bed
9:00 Make Lunches
House boogie
Prep for tmorrow
9:30 Bath/read
10:00 Bed
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6:30 Make bed
Devotions
7:00 Kid am Cheklsts
Breakfast
7:45 kids out door
My breakfast
Start laundry
8:00 clean/Dishes/floor
8:30 Switch Laundry
Fold Laundry
9:00 Zone (kitchen)
10:00 Call Megan
Finish wedding stuff
11:00 RUN ERRANDS
1:30 Put away groceries
2:00 Corin read/nap
3:30 Kids home/snack
4:00 Kid checklists-aft
Practice with kids
5:00 finish supper
5:30 supper to Janice
6:00 Our Supper
Cleanup, dishes
7:00 Kid cheklists-pm
8:00 Evening devotions
8:30 kids to bed
9:00 Make Lunches
House boogie
Prep for tmorrow
9:30 Bath/read
10:00 Bed
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6:30 Make bed
Devotions
7:00 Kid am Cheklsts
Breakfast
7:30 kids out door
My breakfast
Start laundry
8:00 clean/Dishes/floor
8:30 Switch Laundry
Fold Laundry
9:00 Clothes/basment
10:00 Zone (kitchen)
11:00 Corin read/nap
12:30 lunch
1:00 Me time
2:00 take van to
Jail for cleaning
2:30 House Hot spots
3:30 Kids home/snack
4:00 Kid checklists-aft
Practice with kids
5:00 Make supper
6:00 Supper
Cleanup, dishes
7:00 Kid cheklists-pm
8:00 Evening devotions
8:30 kids to bed
9:00 Make Lunches
House boogie
Prep for tmorrow
9:30 Bath/read
10:00 Bed
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6:30 Make bed
Devotions
7:00 Kid am Cheklsts
Breakfast
7:30 kids out door
My breakfast
Start laundry
8:00 clean/Dishes/floor
8:30 Switch Laundry
Fold Laundry
9:00 Zone (kitchen)
House Cleaning
10:00 PACKING-clothes
11:00 Corin read/nap
12:30 lunch
1:00 Finish Packing
2:00 pack van
3:30 Kids home/snack
4:00 Kid checklists-aft
Practice with kids
5:00 – Make supper
6:00 Supper
Cleanup, dishes
7:00 Kid cheklists-pm
8:00 Evening devotions
(curl girls hair)
8:30 kids to bed
9:00 Make Lunches
House boogie
Prep for tmorrow
9:30 Bath/read
10:00 Bed –
Rachelle Here!
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DVDs/Player/cords
CDs/AUDIOBOOKS
Kindle/cord
Headphones for kids
Books for kids
Paper/crayons
Few cars for Corin
Snacks/trip lunch
Drinks
Cooler
Stroller
Jackets
Medical Cards
Lumix/cords
Videocamera/cords
Ipod/sync/cord/mic
Money
Get emergency credit card from David
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:: A Picture from our world::
We had so much fun this week on our field trip to the corn maze/pumpkin patch.
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| So many fun things to play in and do at Exploration Acres! |
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| It was FREEZING all day! |
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| On the bus trip back to school, Corin conked out with his little pumpkin that he picked out of the pumpkin patch. |
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