Outside my window…it’s beautiful and sunny, but oh so very hot.

I am laughing…William just hit a button on the keyboard and I can’t get this blog to align properly…so much for presentation.

I am thankful for…a good night’s sleep.

I am learning…motherhood is a job that requires a lot of humility.  Case in point: William managed to break an $80 bottle of tequila at Grandma Nury and Grandpa Larry’s last weekend.  The only things I could offer were a very humble apology and an offer to replace the broken bottle. 

From the kitchen…fresh pesto…lots of basil, some walnuts, some olive oil, a little salt and of course, garlic…mmm, mmm…everybody’s eating it…even picky little William!

I am wearing…jean shorts and a purple tanktop that has a glittery butterfly on it…very teeny bopper.

I am creating…memories.  My favorite one from last week…seeing Don and Ingrid.  Joseph’s still telling stories about his friend Don.

I am going…to the post office to mail some more books for www.paperbackswap.com  Have you joined yet?

I am reading…the Rainbow Resource catalog…yep, it’s that big that I can actually consider it reading material!  Trying to make some final choices about curriculum and manipulatives for next year.

I am hoping…to take the kids to the beach again soon.  Look!  They’re actually warming up to the whole idea of getting wet…

I am hearing…Joseph singing “Father Abraham” with William attempting to hum along.

Around the house…some last minute Spring cleaning (it’s almost summer so I have to hurry!).

One of my favorite things…everything in its place.

Here are a few pictures I thought worth sharing…the Mighty Minds box says “Makes Kids Smarter” and “Keeps Them Busy for Hours.”  I’m not sure if the first claim is true, but the second is! 

Outside my window…it’s beautiful…are you tired of me saying that yet?   

I am thinking…naptime is a blessing.

I am thankful for…cars.  I think it’s annoying to have to load up two kids into their carseats, but imagine if I had to hitch up two horses!

From the learning rooms…this week’s book is The Little Rabbit by Judy Dunn.  Joseph’s more interested in another book he found on the shelf though…Where’s My Sock? by Joyce Dunbar so we’ve been reading that (over and over and over again).  I think this is a perfect opportunity to learn to sort socks and practice counting by 2s! 

From the kitchen…chicken tortilla soup.

I am wearing…gray shorts and a beige top (and thinking that I should at least make an attempt to match my top and bottom each day!).

I am creating…a Shutterfly page.  Usually I post my pictures on Kodak, but I have a coupon for free shipping for Shutterfly…it’s always nice to have options.

I am going…to have to take these little boys out shopping this week…we need sandals and swim trunks…essentials for summer!

I am laughing…because I told Joseph to eat a chip at lunch the other day and he said (in all seriousness), “Actually, Mom, that’s a Frito.”

I am reading…Celebrating the Church Year with Young Children by Joan Halmo.  But I’m even more excited because my copy of Christmas Mosaic by Cay Gibson just arrived yesterday…and I am immersed in a wealth of ideas!

I am hoping…Mom and Cathy get to watch Clean House, eat ice-cream sandwiches, shop at a quilt store (or two or three…), and enjoy late-night girl talks while they’re visiting together.  (Okay, and I am wishing…I could be there, too!)

I am hearing…the hum of the a/c…and it’s certainly humming along…can it really already be this hot? 

Around the house…the books in the playroom are finally organized!  Now for my books…

One of my favorite things…fresh berries…thanks Grandma Nury for sharing with us.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I’m going to try to finish a craft project I’m working on (if only William would stop wandering away with my supplies); shopping for summer essentials; bake bread with Joseph.

Here is picture I thought worth sharing…

Outside my window…the sun is setting.   

I am thinking…it’s the simple things that make life so fun…

I am thankful for…my parents.

From the learning rooms…this week is Goodnight Moon, which is leading us down so many rabbit trails (ie. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hey Diddle Diddle…)

From the kitchen…fresh squash and onions from Grandpa Larry’s garden (even my picky little William is eating the fruits of Grandpa’s labor). 

I am wearing…pajamas.

I am going…walking down at Cole Park tomorrow. 

I am reflecting…on an article I read this morning about how we grow into our roles as parents, becoming seasoned over time. 

I am hoping…Marley has found a comfy place to snuggle, a friend to pass the time with, and a toy to chew on.

I am praying…for the souls in purgatory.

One of my favorite things…reading!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  The house desperately needs a deep cleaning, the laundry needs to be done, and the strawberry plants need help. 

Here is a picture I thought worth sharing…

Outside my window…it’s sunny and beautiful.  It may be extremely hot here in Texas but it’s almost always sunny and beautiful.

I am thinking…Daxson and I have almost been married 7 years (come this Sunday) but that’s nothing compared to the 38 years my parents have been married.  Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad…here’s to many more!

I am thankful for…the sacrament of marriage.  Feeling disillusioned about marriage?   Read Holly Pierlot’s article on Happily Ever After.  (In fact, if you haven’t already, read Holly Pierlot’s book A Mother’s Rule of Life…perhaps, like me, you’ll find it a welcome compass in a chaotic world.)

From the learning rooms…just finished Blueberries for Sal…amazing how many things we can think of to drop into a bucket so we can hear Kurplank! Kurplink! Kurplunk!

From the kitchen…this afternoon, when Joseph wakes up from his nap, we’re planning to make homemade applesauce…some things in life just aren’t the same when you buy them.

I am wearing…jean shorts and a coral colored t-shirt.

I am creating…a list of books to look for next time I go to Half Price Books. 

I am praying…for Cathy and the healing she needs. 

I am remembering…how last night when I crawled into bed with Joseph and William, I heard Joseph mumbling in his sleep.  I looked over at him and he was signing in his sleep.  Isn’t that extraordinary? 

I am hoping…that I am setting a good example for my children.  Actions truly do speak louder than words and I know I have so much room to grow. 

I am hearing…the beef sizzle on the stovetop.  Mom’s making The Barefoot Contessa’s homemade beef stew and it smells delicious!

One of my favorite things…staying up late with Mom to watch shows like Clean House or What Not to Wear.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I think we’re going to try to visit the Wildflower Gardens tomorrow…wildflowers in Texas this time of year?  Remarkable. 

Here is picture I thought worth sharing…

Don’t forget to visit Peggy’s blog for more daybooks!

Outside my window…it’s breezy and sunny…a perfect day for a picnic, which is exactly what we did with our friend Marjorie…nothing beats the simplicity of pb & j sandwiches, chips, and fresh, sweet strawberries (thanks Marjorie!). 

I am thinking…childhood is so sweet. 

I am thankful for…running water.  It’s always the simple things we take for granted.

From the learning rooms…Started using the Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading, which Joseph loves…he looks forward to each new one-liner to add to our sound poems; picked up Saxon Math again; and this week is Katy No Pocket for Before Five in a Row, which of course is leading us down many rabbit trails. 

From the kitchen…planning to bake brownies with Joseph this week.

I am wearing…jean shorts and an indigo tank top.

I am creating…a healthy home.  We’re now including exercises into our morning routine (made exercise cards on cardstock and laminated them; Joseph chooses from the pile and we all hop, skip and reach to the sky amongst other things; plus made cards with each Itsy Bitsy Yoga exercise and Joseph randomly chooses 5 of those each morning); I’ve been sneaking all kinds of delicious goodies into our meals like flax seed, lentils and sweet potatoes; the house is spotless courtesy of Shaklee’s Get Clean line. 

I am going…crazy trying to choose a curriculum for Joseph for next year.  There are so many choices…I am completely overwhelmed!  How do you choose?

I am reading…The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society by Beth Pattillo just for fun and Final Harvest by Wayne Weible…another book about the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje…incredible.

I am hoping…that Daxson takes some time off after this April 30th deadline is over…he deserves it!

I am hearing…Joseph tell William not to stand on the chair and not to bang his head.  I am getting a little tired of saying it so it’s nice to hear someone else say it! 

Around the house…still organizing toys.  It’s taking awhile…here’s why:

One of my favorite things…cute little cousins all dressed alike (courtesy of Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Gary). 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  My week is almost over since I’m late posting this, so we’ll just school and read and play for the rest of the week. 

Here is picture I thought worth sharing…

Don’t forget to visit Peggy’s site for more daybooks!

Outside my window…it’s cloudy, but not raining as was predicted.

I am hoping…after I finish this blog, to have a little time to read before the kids wake up from their naps.

I am thankful for…Daxson offering to run to the grocery store for some fruit and milk.

From the learning rooms…The Little Red Hen.

From the kitchen…anything that William can eat…I’m tired of cooking multiple meals!

I am wearing…khackis and a brown t-shirt.

I am creating…all kinds of new educational manipulatives, from lacing cards to sequence cards and tracing cards to felt stories.

I am going…to have to get Joseph some more map puzzles.

I am overwhelmed…by the realization that Joseph is only limited by me…he is just a big sponge and the more I offer, the more he learns.

I am praying…along with Wayne Weible in his Medjugorje Prayer Book.

I am hearing…the hum of the computer and the sound of lullaby music from the bedroom.

Around the house…trying to rotate toys, so I’ve been cleaning, organizing and sorting.

One of my favorite things…Lucky Charms…yep, it’s true…I love those little multicolored marshmallows and cereal.  Yum.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Organize, sort, rearrange.  Color, laminate, cut manipulatives.  Clean.  Play.  School.  Not in that order.

Here is picture I thought worth sharing…

Outside my window…sunny and beautiful.

I am thinking…sometimes all you can do is laugh.

I am thankful for…beautiful, healthy children.

From the learning rooms…working on fine motor skills with clothespin activities.

From the kitchen…Easter leftovers (there’s even a little cake left!).

I am wearing…black shorts and a t-shirt (yep, it’s already warm enough for shorts).

I am creating…clothespin games.

I am going…to have to go back to the grocery store this week…I forgot the creamer and the chicken.

I am reading…Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.

I am hoping…for beautiful weather this weekend to celebrate William’s 1st birthday with.

I am praying…for grace and all the beauty that comes with it.

In the garden…a little red strawberry!

One of my favorite things…reading in bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Spanish with Grandma Nury, playdates with Walker, a visit from Auntie Leslie, Uncle Dustin, and Alex and William’s 1st birthday on Saturday!

Here are a few pictures I thought worth sharing…

Don’t forget to visit Peggy’s site for more daybooks!

Outside my window…it’s dark.   So very dark because it’s so very late.

I am thinking…it would be nice if I could add a few hours to my day…or maybe it would just be nice if I could function on a little less sleep.

I am thankful for…sunny days. 

From the learning rooms…patterns galore this week…pattern blocks, teddy bear counters, snap cubes, anything we can find that we can make into a pattern!  Our book this week is The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss…since Spring has sprung and planting seeds just seems like the spring thing to do. 

From the kitchen…cinnamon rolls (yes again!) for Grandma Nury’s birthday breakfast and what a surprise…Grandpa Larry joined us too!

I am wearing…comfy pajamas.

I am creating…a book about the story of Easter to go along with my own version of Resurrection eggs…and looking very forward to our Easter egg hunt. 

I am sharing…this exciting news…William is walking!

I am reading…still reading How to Grow a Young Music Lover by Cheri Fuller.  I’ve been too busy taking Cheri’s advice and dancing and listening to music with the kids to read but I plan to finish it this week! 

I am hearing…the deep sigh of a sleeping baby.

Around the house…You’ll never believe it…I found the remote (do you remember that story?)!  What a cause for celebration.  It turns out I’m not the only mindless one…I found it in the side of William’s swing in a pocket.  Daxson didn’t know the pocket existed so he didn’t put it there.  I actually forgot there was a pocket (probably because I’m mindless) so I didn’t put it there.  Turns out even the littlest people in our house are a little mindless sometimes too…Joseph is the only one who could have put it there but everytime we asked him if he remembered where the remote was, he simply said it was on the table.  So let that be a lesson to each and every one of us…focus, focus, focus and be ever present in the moment.   

One of my favorite things…listening to the laughter of two little boys chasing each other around the house.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Taxes (deep sigh).

Here is picture I thought worth sharing…

Don’t forget to visit Peggy’s blog for more daybooks!

Outside my window…it’s still dark. 

I am thinking…William will be walking by the end of the week…I mean really walking, not just taking a few steps and falling like he’s been doing for the past few weeks. 

I am thankful for…Signing Times…I know I’ve said that before and I’ll probably say it again, but I love that William can already communicate.  Today he signed “play”. 

From the learning rooms…started Before Five in a Row last week…what a beautiful, gentle curriculum!  And we fell in love with Jesse Bear.  Joseph asks me every morning now, “Mommy Bear, Mommy Bear, what will you wear, what will you wear in the morning?”

From the kitchen…Joseph and I are going to bake brownies for Grandpa Larry’s birthday.

I am wearing…my pajamas.

I am reflecting…on something Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can with what you have right where you are.” 

I am praying…for peace in my heart and gentleness in my spirit…plus tons of patience because that’s something a mommy always needs. 

I am reading…Busy but Balanced by Mimi Doe and enjoying some of her tips.

I am hoping…Larry has a very happy birthday! 

I am hearing…quiet…ah, silence is golden, it’s true.

Around the house…look at that…the siding is up and all the new windows are in!

One of my favorite things…snuggling.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Make manipulatives for our new music theory program, Keyboard Capers; play, play, play.

Here is picture I thought worth sharing…

Don’t forget to visit Peggy’s blog for more daybooks!