Outside my window…the birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing and the mosquitoes are biting.  The vegetable garden is planted, the flower boxes are refreshed, and there is a whole new assortment of flowering pots to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  We are READY for spring.

I am remembering…Andrew’s comment at lunch the other day.  He really wanted some more cantaloupe (after two servings of his own!).  Just as I filled up my fork with the last bite and was about to eat it, he shouted, “Stop!  Don’t eat that!  It’s not on the Whole30!!!”  Nice try kid.

Although, on the flip side, when he brought home a box of saltwater taffy this weekend, he was so excited to tell me, “You’re off the Whole30…now you can have a taffy with me!”

I am listening…the kids playing outside…music to my ears.

I am wondering…why it is if I let a child use my phone, I end up with a million selfies of said child…all the exact same...(pretty sure I deleted at least 20 pictures that looked EXACTLY like this one!)

I am going…crazy trying to find the receipt for our air conditioner.

I am thankful…for a fun few days with Mom, including a trip to Goliad to see the battle re-enactments.

Around the house..still trying to clean out the filing cabinet and file away all those lovely receipts and documents that we “keep for tax purposes.”  Please, oh please, why don’t more people see the wisdom behind The Fair Tax??!!

In the schoolroom…It’s Holy Week and thanks to the suggestion from my sister, we are doing Catholic Icing’s Holy Week in Handprints…just perfect for the age range over here (although I’m thankful this school of ours only has 4 students…I can’t imagine hand printing a class of 24!).  We also spent the early part of the week building Jerusalem with blocks and helping Jesus enter the city.  I’m looking forward to the Tridiuum and all of the traditions we follow (including our Stations of the Cross meal inspired by Alice’s Lenten Tea).

In the refrigerator…strangely, it still looks eerily like the Whole30.  Lots of fruits, veggies, meats and good fats.  Not much has changed.  I did try a few bites of peanut butter and I am indulging in a bowl of cereal now and then (no wheat yet, just corn flakes), but aside from that, I’m really only craving Whole30 food.

I am wearing…black shorts and a pink Gap t-shirt with the word GAP printed across the front.  Talk about a walking advertisement.

I am creating…a list of what needs to be planned for next year.  The crazy “I need to get this planned” mood hasn’t hit yet, but I’m making a list now so when it does, I’m ready!

We recently celebrated…St. Joseph’s Feast Day.  Feast days are a huge deal around here.  We celebrate each of the children’s namesake days and it’s a pretty big deal.  There’s a lot of excitement and anticipation as the day approaches.  Special books, a craft or cooking project, songs and prayers are just a few of the highlights of the day.  The book that consistently gets used, regardless of whose feast day it is, is this little gem I have called My Nameday: Come for Dessert.  This is such an awesome book!  It’s full of prayers and songs and stories and ideas for different nameday celebrations.

For St. Joseph’s Feast Day, we used Catholic Mosaic and the book Song of the Swallows (which includes a lovely song), The Childhood of Jesus (I’m including a snapshot of one of the pages that focuses on St. Joseph), The Holy Family and St. Joseph.  After realizing that our St. Joseph stories were rather limited (there really aren’t that many good books that focus solely on Saint Joseph for kids!), I did some searching and next year we’ll add in St. Joseph’s Story and Devotion to St. Joseph: Read Aloud Stories, Poems, and Prayers for Catholic Children.

Saint Joseph’s Feast day is busy and full.  This year we listened to a few songs from The Divine Office app about St. Joseph and then used a few of those prayers as well as one from My Nameday to begin our day.  The kids all colored a picture of St. Joseph and of course, no St. Joseph day would be complete without cream puffs.  Unfortunately, I was short a few eggs, so our puffs were filled with ice cream instead of traditional cream…no complaints there.

Someday I am going to miss…Katie’s obsession with soaking her feet.  She LOVES to have her feet soaked (and she’s extra joyful if I throw in some Lavender epsom salt!).  Sometimes a brother will join her.  Other times she gets the tub all to herself.  Usually it’s right before bed, but on this particular day, we were outside and she kept insisting that she wanted to soak her feet.  So we did.

I am reading…Miracles and Massacres by Glenn Beck.  The reading club is up and running again.  Ahh, good company, a night out, and a friend to share it with…pure bliss.

One of my favorite things…squeals of delight over something as simple as an inchworm.

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…it is sunny and in the 70s.  Absolutely perfect.

I am remembering…the laughter out of William on this day 5 years ago when Joseph had the brilliant idea to hide in the closet and pop out…repeatedly.

I am listening…to Joseph and William as they create with Legos and Andrew as he runs back and forth past my window, trying to ask Daxson a million questions.

I am wondering…if she could possibly be any cuter…

I am going…to browse my stack of Scholastic flyers and see if there’s anything worth adding to our shelves.

I am thankful…to see Ted Cruz announcing his presidential bid.

Around the house…cleaning things out.  Like the filing cabinet.  And the abundance of toys.  And yes, even the book shelves.

In the refrigerator…today is the last day of the Whole30 (more about that experience soon!).  There are salmon burgers for dinner which I’ll serve with some roasted sweet potatoes.  I can honestly say I’m a little tired of sweet potatoes.

I am wearing…a skirt Mom made me with a polo Gap shirt.  Pretty sure I match but the styles definitely clash.

I am creating…a list of seeds to pick up at the plant nursery later this week.  I’m dreaming big, but I’m going to have to scale down…my garden is only 4 ft by 8 ft!

We are preparing to celebrate…a visit with Granny.  Lots of time planned for the beach.

Someday I am going to miss…the look of pure adoration my littles bestow on me.

I am reading…(still) finishing up The Little Oratory.  I’m only reading a few paragraphs a day, so I may still be finishing this up for awhile!  The thing that impresses me the most is the depth of the suggestions.  I guess I thought the book would be more of a quick guide on setting up a little oratory in a home with children.  On the contrary, the thoughts the authors share would help any Catholic on their spiritual journey.  The actual steps on how-to set up a little oratory barely takes up a chapter.  The other chapters are full of spiritual guidance, quotes, and suggestions on how to actually USE the little oratory.  Brilliant and very inspiring.

One of my favorite things…the look of pure joy over something so simple as mud.

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…the rain has finally stopped.  Again.  I heard it raining all night long and remembered that Katie left her doll outside.  I thought the poor doll was probably as good as ruined.  I woke up this morning and mentioned to Katie that her baby doll was probably extremely wet.  She took my hand and led me to her bedroom, all the while saying “baby, baby” and sure enough, that baby doll was tucked sweetly into the baby doll bed.  No one admits they brought her in and put her there.  Very strange.

I am remembering…Andrew’s comment this week.  I went out to the school room and brought in some books about bugs for him.  I thought he’d be so excited.  Instead he looked at them and said, “I don’t want to read those.  But if you brought in some dinosaur books, I’d be delighted.”  Really, delighted?  I just love this kid’s vocabulary!  I still laugh every time I remember the time he was looking for something in the couch and popped his head out, exclaiming that he had found “the most curious thing!”

On my iPod…catching up on the Read Aloud Revival and just subscribed to a new podcast from Pam Barnhill at EdSnapshots called Homeschool Snapshots.

I am wondering… how to explain the concept of twaddle to Joseph.  It’s like he is drawn to it.  I’m not saying he can’t read it, but it’s really not what I want his entire reading diet to consist of!  I’ve tried explaining the concept of “good literature” but in his mind, the books he’s choosing are good.  I tried a food analogy (which I thought was pretty brilliant) in which I compared twaddle to dessert.  He’s still not convinced that he should ever read anything that isn’t written by Adam Blade (in his own free time, at least.  He’s happy to read whatever I set in front of him when it comes to school work).  I’m open for suggestions.

I am going…to register for a few sessions at the Well Trained Mind’s online conference.  I’m very excited…the closest homeschool conferences are always at least 2 1/2 hours from me.  This will be a great opportunity to feed my mind and fuel my enthusiasm.  Lots of awesome speakers.  Lots of good topics listed on the agenda.  Now I just have to pick and choose.

I am thankful…for an afternoon with old friends that was long overdue!

In the refrigerator…Whole30 compliant food.  Last night we had a meatloaf and even though it wasn’t covered in thick yummy bacon (since the bacon at HEB has sugar!), it was still delightfully delicious.  I haven’t served bread at dinner in weeks now and I’m pretty sure no one has noticed.

I am wearing…a white skirt and a gray sleeveless top.  It’s so nice to have spring like weather!

I am creating…a library list that is seriously about a mile long.  You should have seen Joseph and I at the library earlier this week.  We could’ve used our wagon to cart everything out…instead you couldn’t even see poor Joseph behind the stack he had to carry!

We are celebrating…Saint Patrick’s Day.  Lots of green, lots of shamrocks, and lots of reading.

Someday I am going to miss…taking Dollie everywhere we go.

I am reading…I am finishing up The Little Oratory, which has been a great read.  It’s full of tons of amazing ideas.  I’m also rereading What Would Jesus Eat, not because I plan to follow the diet, but because I’m just curious about the recommendations and what Jesus really did eat.  Still haven’t made up my mind as to what I’m going to change after this Whole30 is over.

In our learning room…speeding through the first part of Story of the World 2 (again).  Our history journey is such a mess, but I think maybe we’ve found our groove.  (Don’t quote me though…I’ve thought that multiple times in this past year!)

One of my favorite things…long days at the beach…

A peek into my day…ice cream sundaes on Sunday!

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…the rain has stopped leaving behind lots of perfect-to-jump-in mud puddles.  So I bet you can guess what we’ve been doing.

I am remembering…William’s sweet and heartfelt prayer at bedtime recently, “And dear Jesus, I pray for a new baby boy…and a baby girl.  Oh twins!  Yes, I pray for twin babies for us.”

I am listening…to lullabies and enjoying the late night quiet.

I am wondering…how those Paleo people keep up with all the veggie prep…I feel like I’m spending lots of time in the kitchen (although turns out this Whole30 might just be worth it…I’m feeling great and have an abundance of energy these days!).

I am going…to try place our last order for this school year with Rainbow Resource this week.  Joseph’s almost done with his Grammar, so to tide us over until next year, we’re going to add some more diagramming and start with IEW’s Fix-It book 1.  William finished his first Italic book, so on we go.  Plus my littles just love those sillly FLIP crayons, so I need to restock.

I am thankful…for the library and it’s collection of classic Walt Disney movies.  This past movie night?  The Lion King.  The one before that?  101 Dalmations.  All the classics from my childhood.  And I can still sing along with every.single.song. (I amaze my children.)

In the kitchen…chocolate chili (from Well Fed), fried plantains (’cause I’m in love with those little suckers) and a whole lot of sweet potatoes.

I am wearing…black yoga pants (and I actually did yoga this morning!) and a pink Gap t-shirt.

I am creating…a list of things to do with Mom when she comes to visit.  Just how many hours of sleep can the two of us sacrifice to get the list done?  Maybe I’ll just toss the list and enjoy the visit!

We are preparing to celebrate…Saint Joseph’s Feast Day.  Have I ever told you what a huge deal namesake Feast Days are around here?

Someday I am going to miss…being stuck indoors on rainy days.

I am reading…nothing noteworthy.

In our learning room…starting a few new books like Viking Adventure and The Matchlock Gun.

One of my favorite things…watching Katie get her baby dolls ready for nap each day.  There’s an entire routine.  First she lines them all up and lays them down on the pillow.  Then she gives each one a kiss and a nosie-nosie.  Then she covers them with the blanket and says “Ni-Ni, Bye!”  Then she lays down for her own nap.

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…is where I am.  It is sunny and so beautiful.  A little tease by mother nature since tomorrow begins a new cold front with chilly days and lots of rain to come.  So looking forward to spring.

I am remembering…this interview with William almost 4 years ago.  Some things haven’t changed (at least he knows his name on the first try these days!).

What’s your name?  “2.”  No, not how old are you.  Your name.  (a look of ah-ha) “William.”

Very good.  How old are you?  “William.”  No, sweetie, this time I want to know how old you are.  How many years you are.  (another look of ah-ha) “2.”

What’s your favorite color?  “Black.” (he’s signing it as he says it)

What’s your favorite book?  “Black books.”  Okay.

What’s your favorite sport?  “Baseball.  They hit the ball with the baseball bat.”  (he swings his arms like a bat as he says it)

What’s your favorite thing to eat?  “Bread.  Bread.  Bread.”  (frantically signing it as well)  Bread?  Got it.

What’s your favorite fruit?  “Blackberries.”

What’s your favorite vegetable?  “Raspberries.”  That’s not a vegetable.  Do you like vegetables?  “No.”

What’s your favorite thing to do?  “Go outside.”

What do you like to do outside?  “Play in the mud.”  100% boy.

I am wondering…if I could make it through a GK Chesterton book.  Sometimes I read a quote of his and am so inspired but I haven’t actually read anything of his.  Any first time Chesterton suggestions?

I am thankful…for this treat that Daxson whipped together for me last night.  As he handed it to me, he proudly proclaimed, “Whole30 Compliant.”  I am absolutely thankful to have such unwavering support.

I am looking forward to…spring.  Sunny days.  Warm days.  Play days.  Beach days.  Picnic days.  You get it.

I am considering…what I am going to do with Andrew for school next year.  I’m revisiting all of our old preschool curriculum, trying to find the right fit for him.

In the refrigerator…Day 10 of the Whole30.  I am learning lots of things about food and myself.  Redefining the definition of treat and waiting for the sugar demon to completely release his hold on me.

I am wearing…a black knit skirt and a blue fitted t.  I’ve got this adorable hairband in (made my Mom, of course!).  Andrew looked at me several times this morning and finally said, “Why are you wearing two hairbands (my hair is in a ponytail so he was counting the rubberband and the cloth hairband)?”  I said, “So I look beautiful for you.”  He replied, “Oh Mommy, you do.  You really do.  You are just so beautiful!”

I am creating…a pot of silky zucchini soup.  Seriously, Melissa Joulwan has created a masterpiece with such simple ingredients.

We are celebrating…a warm day.  I just saw a kid run by in nothing but underwear.

I am reading…Hold the Dream by Barbara Taylor Bradford and still working my way through The Little Oratory (such a wealth of awesome ideas!).

In our learning room…finishing up our grammar books already (how did we manage that?!).  Trying to decide if we move forward or find a supplement to finish out the year.

One of my favorite things…helpers in the kitchen.  Andrew asks to make applesauce every week.  Very faithfully.  And it’s oh so delicious.  Just apples and cinnamon.  (See, already we’re learning to appreciate nature’s sweetness…no sugar added!)

A peek into my day…Katie went through a Dixie Chicks phase.  She kept asking to watch their video Ready to Run.  Then she saw these ballerinas.  Now she’s on a Taylor Swift kick.

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…lots of cheerful noise…birds, lawn mowers, and kids.  A lovely cacophony of sound!

I am remembering…lying on the picnic blanket after lunch, relaxing.  And then these two curious creatures interrupted.

I am listening to…Sparkle stories these days as we drift off to sleep.  Here are some free ones for Valentine’s Day!

I am wondering…how we are already seeing mosquitoes around here…it’s only February!!!

I am thankful…for the week we took off.  Much needed.  Now we’re ready to move forward.

I am looking forward to…our next trip to the beach.

I am considering…grammar options to supplement our IEW writing lessons.  We’re currently using First Language Lessons by Jessie Wise.  We’re very happy, but I’m wondering what comes after level 4…any suggestions?

In the refrigerator…meatloaf, roasted veggies and mashed potatoes (simply so I can make Mom’s mashed potato pancakes).

I am wearing…jeans and a red shirt with red heart socks (okay, you caught me…I’m writing part of this Daybook on Valentine’s Day, but I probably won’t finish it until the day you see it posted…I write in short spurts, as kids, I mean time, allows.)

I am creating…the plans for the last 12 weeks of our school year.  We’re getting ready to enter the 2nd half of the year (so our 4th six weeks) but I like to get a little ahead on my planning so it doesn’t sneak up on me!

We are celebrating…Valentine’s Day, of course!  I know this is a little late to offer, but I love the suggestions of gifts for the 5 love languages here.  We got lots of ideas from here (Joseph was inspired by her ideas and even made his own list of clever sayings!) and each of the kids chose which one they like best and then they got busy and made their Valentines.  I found these adorable plates and cups at Pottery Barn Kids and transformed our dull, ordinary meals on Valentine’s Day into extraordinary meals.  I even got away without having to offer dessert…sweet!

I am reading…Home in Carolina.  My brain needs a break.  Although putting the link here, I just realized this is just one in a series…which would explain why I felt like such an outsider when I first started reading it!

In our learning room…back to school this week.

One of my favorite things…this hair.

A peek into my day…Joseph and Katie reading together.

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…the sound of the basketball hitting the ground…repeatedly…thump, thump, thump.

I am remembering…our ride in the car yesterday.  Andrew managed to get in with no pants and no shoes.  We were just going for a short ride to get Katie to take a nap, so I didn’t pay much attention.  We passed a park and Andrew asked if we could stop to play.  I told him no, you don’t have any pants or shoes.  The other boys started to blame him for not being able to go to the park and before I could interfere, Andrew exclaimed, “It’s not my fault!  There was an invisible force and it blew my shoes and my pants off.”  Hmmph, hard to argue with that.

I am wondering…what was going on in each of the boys’ minds as they took their first horse ride…(Thank you, Mrs. Montesano, for being such a wonderful hostess at Glenoak today.  The spark was already lit, but today the fire was ignited…the world of horses is now ours to explore!)

I am thankful…for pink.  After all those years of blue, there is much rejoicing in pink.  And that face she’s making?  That’s her smile when she sees the camera…nothing like the smile she offers when she first sees Andrew each morning or the smile she delights us all with as she laughs at the boys’ silly antics, but a frozen, bottom-tooth-only, smile offered only for the camera.  (Thank you, Stephanie, for the beautiful, hand-made gifts!)

I am looking forward to…tonight.  Wednesday has become pizza and game night around here.  While originally I envisioned game night to mean board games, it’s kind of morphed into Hide n Seek night.  Whatever…at least everyone can play, everyone is happy, and everyone is doing something together (except when we’re hiding from each other, of course!).

I am considering…finally watching Food, Inc.  But I know that once I cross that line, there’s probably no going back.

In the refrigerator…all the fixings for pizza night…Italian sausage with veggies, sliced black and green olives, freshly shredded cheese.

I am wearing…jeans and a black t-shirt.

I am creating…Lent plans.  Simple.  Very, very simple.  Here they are…they’re so simple, that I don’t think they even warrant their own post!

1.  Bury the Alleluia…we do it every year.  We have these beautifully painted wooden letters that spell out the word.  The day before Ash Wednesday, we sing it, we say it, we chant it…we get it out of our systems.  Then we bury it and we fast from it.  For those of you who don’t know…during Lent, as a Church, we do not say the word Alleluia.  At all.  Alleluia is meant to be an Easter word.  And so for 40 days, we bury it and we don’t let it slip…then on Easter morning, there is much rejoicing as we reclaim the missing word….we are literally filled with joy as we proclaim Alleluia on Easter!

2.  Stations of the Cross each Friday.  Sometimes we use the DVD to pray the stations, sometimes we pray the stations that line our hallway, sometimes we visit the cemetery and the stations there.  We almost always use the book The Story of the Cross to aid us in our devotions.  However we do it, we make sure we do it because it is a deeply rooted tradition that allows us the opportunity to meditate on the Way of the Cross and really, is there any better devotion than that during Lent?

3.  The Good Shepherd Parable and the Jesus Tree.

4.  Our family devotions…this year, we’re going to be using Bringing Lent Home with St. Therese of Lisieux by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle and as a read-aloud for the older boys, Amon’s Adventure.

5.  A Calendar Countdown.

6.  Our individual sacrifices.  We don’t eat meat on Fridays…that’s called for by the Church, but considering the fact that my kids eat whatever is served to them, it doesn’t feel like much of a sacrifice over here (not even to Daxson or I, who usually eat fish on Fridays year-round), so I also ask each of the kids to give up something that’s a big deal for them for the duration of Lent…it could be as simple as juice with dinner or syrup with breakfast.  I like it to be tangible, though.  (When they make sacrifices like “I’m going to quit whining,” it’s a little hard for kids to “see” that and therefore, they tend to forget about their sacrifice over the course of Lent and they lose sight of the purpose of making a sacrifice…which, of course, is rooted in the idea that Jesus willingly sacrificed his life for us…surely, we can suffer a little during the 40 days of Lent in our own small ways in an effort to grow closer to Him.)  Making these small sacrifices is actually a big deal in the spiritual life of children…it forces them to call to mind how incredibly blessed they are each time their sacrifice is repeated.  Even though it feels small, to us who are overindulged and spoiled, the act of giving something up…anything, no matter how small, rewires our thinking and makes us grateful for all the many blessings in our life…even the small things in life…juice with dinner or syrup with breakfast.  I also ask the older kids to make one positive change in their lives during Lent (this is a sacrifice, too!  Changing habits is hard!)…this is usually a little more intangible…maybe to commit to exchanging a good habit for a bad habit or making a commitment to do something that makes them a better person (or a better brother or a better son, etc.)

We are celebrating…another missing tooth!  And he lost it at the beach…again!

I am reading…Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (you have got to read this series!) and It Starts with Food by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig, along with Well Fed 2 by Melissa Joulwan…totally excited about the Whole30 (which is part of my Lenten journey).

In our learning room…it’s our week off (we’re Sabbath schooling this year…6 weeks on, 1 week off…seriously loving it).  We’ve done a whole lot of nothing…well, maybe not a whole lot of nothing…just a whole lot of things that might not be considered productive, but all very nourishing…lots of reading, beaching, and picnicking.  And we’re keeping up with our reading streak.  So all is good.

One of my favorite things…having children old enough to help out.  I came in the other day and found the table all set and ready to go (thanks Joseph!)

A peek into my day…we call Granny a lot these days.  I’m not kidding.  A LOT.  And the conversation usually goes like this…

Katie: (very breathy) hi

Granny:  Hi Katie!  How are you?

Katie:  goo

Granny:  Good?  (thank goodness Mom can infer what she’s saying!)  Oh, I’m so happy to hear that!

Katie:  loyou

Granny:  I love you, too!

Katie:  (very clearly) Bye!

Granny: Okay, bye!

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…the rain has finally stopped.  Yesterday it seemed like a constant drip.  Today, even though cloudy and wet, turned out to be a perfect day for outdoors.  Lots of swinging, running and chasing.  This weekend should be in the 70s.  Perfect.

I am remembering…last week Andrew was all ready for bed, in his Batman pajamas.  He was doing something that he wasn’t supposed to and I commented that Batman would not do that.  Joseph said, “I think you’re missing the point…he’s BADman, not Batman.”  Even Andrew found that comment hilarious.

I am listening…to Daxson as he reads to William and Joseph.  So melodious.

I am wondering…why we don’t spend more time at the beach.  It’s sunny and warm here 75% of the year and the beach is serious food for our souls.  Every kid is happy there.  Enough said.

I am going…with the boys to the Cathedral on Friday for a grand tour.  Joseph asked our priest a few weeks ago if he would have time to take us on a tour.  Our priest said yes.  Joseph is thrilled…his top two interests…the altar (“he’s really going to let me get close to the altar?”) and the choir loft (“how in the world do they get up there…I see the stairs, but I don’t see a door at the top”).

I am thankful…for modern dentistry.  Katie managed to chip three teeth (No, not one.  Not two.  Yes, three.  Count them.  One.  Two.  Three beautiful little chipped teeth.)  two days ago.  She had her hands in her pockets and took off running after Daxson.  Clearly, she inherited my clumsy gene…she tripped and landed on the concrete, maybe hitting the gate as she went down.  Three chipped teeth.  One very jagged tooth.  Two nights of painful nursing.  So today we headed to our wonderful dentist, where he was able to file the rough edges off.  Pretty little princess again and happy nursing mama.

In the refrigerator…homemade granola.  I love the recipe on the back of the Let’s Do Organic Coconut bag…sometimes we add extras like pecan pieces or craisins, but no matter how we make it, it’s always a hit.

I am wearing…black “lounging pants” (yep, that’s what they’re called on Old Navy’s website), a blue shirt and socks.  The socks are not because it’s cold…it just is so dreary outside that I figured it must be a sock day.

I am creating…a horse unit study.  The boys are thrilled.  It’s filled with lots of Billy and Blaze books, a few classics (like Misty and The Black Stallion), and tons of awesome nonfiction books (booklists and plans coming soon!)

We are preparing to celebrate…Lent.  Keeping it very simple this year.

Someday I am going to miss…conversations like the one we had last week on the way to the beach.  William said, “Hey, Mommy, you know what I’m going to be when I grow up?”

“No, what?” I asked.

“A daddy, a fisherman, and a spa person.” (he loves fixing my hair and massaging me…who I am to judge?)

Joseph piped up, “Well, I’m going to be an author and a daddy.”

I asked Andrew, “And you?  What do you want to be when you grow up?”

He replied, very matter-of-factly, “A puddle.”

Hmm, how do you respond to that.  “What kind of puddle?”

“A mud puddle.”

Both Joseph and William murmured approval, “That sounds interesting.”

Then Joseph again, “Oh I forgot. I’m also going to be a game maker.”

Andrew, “Yep, I’m going to be a game maker, too.

William, “Really, Roo.  How can you be a game maker when you’re a puddle?  You just can’t do both.”

No one and I mean no one here seems fazed by the idea that Andrew wants to be a puddle when he grows up.  I guess I’ve done my job…my kids truly believe they can be anything they want to be when they grow up.  Anything.

I am reading…It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig.  Yes, I am going to do the Whole30.  Yes, I have looked in the mirror and I know I don’t need to lose weight.  I want to break the sugar addiction.  I’m tired of my food ruling me, instead of the other way around.  Sarah MacKenzie’s story inspired me.  I’m on board.  Whole30 will rock my world beginning February 23rd.  You may want to avoid me for a few days while I weep over the loss of chocolate and sugar.

In our learning room…finished our first experience of rock tumbling.  Absolutely amazing what a rock tumbler can do to a bunch of dirty old random rocks.

One of my favorite things…pulling out old pictures.

A peek into my day…”Smile for the camera, Katie!”

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Outside my window…the sun is shining, a breeze is blowing and four happy little children are running around, chasing one another.

I am remembering…our conversation this morning:

William: I’m going to be a geologist when I grow up.

Me: Oh really?  That would be an interesting job.

Andrew: Ask me what I’m going to be.

Me: What are you going to do when you grow up?

Andrew: Oh, I’m going to be a dinosaur.

Pause.

Me: Do you mean a scientist who studies dinosaurs?

Andrew: A paleontologist?

Me: Yes, is that what you mean?

Andrew: (giving me a very strange look and speaking slowly) No, I’m going to be a T-Rex

I am wondering…we made the switch to cloth napkins about a year ago.  Yesterday I caught myself about to throw away a cloth napkin…I guess old habits are hard to break.  Now I’m wondering if Daxson or I have mindlessly thrown any cloth napkins away by accident.  Think it’s time to revisit this post: something lost, something gained.

I am thankful…for another little book lover.

In the refrigerator…our farmer’s market finds.

I am wearing…black yoga pants and a burgundy Express t-shirt.

I am creating…Advent plans.  Tossing around the idea of a Christmas Around the World plan.  Any ideas you’d like to share?

We are celebrating…my birthday!  The boys dressed me up (hence the purple bow), treated me to a special spa session (this spa uses A LOT of lotion), and humored me while decorating cupcakes with ice cream and toppings.

I am reading…The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma and I am thoroughly enjoying it, however it is taking me FOREVER to finish…I am embarrassed to admit that I have a new addiction…the show Once Upon a Time…I’m on episode 12 of Season 2 and I just can’t kick the habit…I was hooked after just one episode.  Every night I wait for all the kiddos to be sound asleep and then I flip the switch on my Kindle and lose myself in Storybrooke, Maine.

I am thinking…about November Grace.  I am especially reflecting on this thought, “Can we follow the example of G. K. Chesterton, who wrote: “ You say grace before meals. Alright. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” Grace in everything. Gratitude all the time, without ceasing.”  Hmm, grace in everything.  Surely I can find that.

In our learning room…finally moving into the Middle Ages…so many exciting things to come…knights and castles, King Arthur and the printing press.  Finally broke out the watercolors for nature study again…long overdue.

One of my favorite things…storytime with Grandma Nury.

A peek into my day…

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