Outside my window…it is still light out, despite the fact that we’ve eaten, bathed, and three of four children are already tucked in.  These long days make me lose track of time so easily.

I am blessed…with amazing friends.

I am remembering…how much fun we had today. We are going to miss these friends so much, come the end of summer, when they leave our sparkling city by the sea.

I am thankful…to have finally uploaded my pictures to Walgreens…now to just get organized enough to place an order.

In the refrigerator…lentil soup.  What is it about lentil soup that everyone goes ga-ga over?  Every.single.bowl. is always devoured in record time and I don’t ever find myself saying, “take a  bite.”  Seriously, if I could get away with serving lentil soup every night, I think I would.  Just for the peace.

I am wearing…blue gym shorts and a purple tank top.

I am creating…our plans for next year.  I finally made some choices, ordered books, and now it’s all just sitting there.  Waiting for me to do something with it.

I am going…to get back into planning next week.  My brain has kind of turned to mush these last few weeks, but I know if I don’t get back into the swing of planning, then there will be no plans in place when fall comes.

We are celebrating…birthdays!  Joseph just turned 7 on the 11th and Andrew’s birthday is coming up.

I am inspired…by Sarah Mackenzie’s book Teaching from a State of Rest.  I cannot recommend her book and the accompanying podcasts enough.  Brilliant.  Inspirational.  Food for the homeschooling mama’s soul.

I am reading…Little Shop of Homicide by Denise Swanson…a new series by one of my favorite mystery writers.  So far, so good.  Just finished Thirty One and a Half Regrets by Denise Grover Swank on my Kindle and am anxiously awaiting the next book.  That one had me on the edge of my seat!  Also just finished The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh for book club and am completely mystified by the whole idea of flowers.  Identifying them.  Buying them.  Learning the language.  Seriously, I had no idea how overwhelming the world of flowers could be.

In our learning room…such fun summer plans…plants, Native Americans, the beginning of Christianity and so much more…hoping to share our plans in detail soon.

One of my favorite things…visits with Granny.

A peek into my day…

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

Outside my window…a strange spring storm just blew in and three little boys are running wild enjoying the cool, crisp air.

I am thinking…Katie doesn’t have much hair, but the little she has is incredibly cute…look closely…no, I mean really closely and you’ll get a glimpse of the tiniest mohawk ever.

I am blessed…with a husband who is willing to cut up little earthworms to feed the frog since I forgot to order frog food.

I am remembering…our day trip to Rockport and the ferry ride home (don’t worry…we’re not climbing THE big tree and yes, mosquitoes were already out but so were the beautiful wildflowers!).

I am thankful…for my little helpers.  Joseph and William have helped keep laundry going today and Joseph even loaded a few dishes in the dishwasher.  It’s the little things that ease this mama’s burden.

In the refrigerator…Bill Miller’s BBQ.

I am wearing…shorts and a t-shirt and everything is on correctly.  Last week, I went to take a shower at the end of the day and discovered my shirt was on backwards…yep, you read that right, ladies and gentlemen, I wore my shirt backwards…ALL DAY…yep, even to church and wherever else we went that day.  And there were 5 other people with me who never once told me something looked odd (I guess maybe the kids just didn’t notice, but really Dax, what were you thinking?!)

I am creating…plans for next year.  Please leave a comment and share some of your favorite curriculum choices.

I am laughing…about Joseph’s comment this morning at Target.  We were walking through the store and William (who always feels that he MUST buy something with his allowance at EVERY store we go to) was whining about how he needed to buy something and Joseph said to him, “I’m going to report to the birthday fairy that you are still whining and she may take away your new age…you’ll have to go back to being 4 if you don’t stop that whining.”  Surprisingly, he did stop whining…at that moment about spending money.  He didn’t start whining again until the next store about how since he’s 5, his boots are too small for him.

I am loving…Leap Year…I can’t help it!  I’m a total sucker for romantic comedies!

I am inspired…by Andrew Pudewa.  Really inspired by this guy.  I was going to recommend his talk about Teaching Boys and Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day but really, any of his talks are awesome!

I am reading…A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith for book club and The Living Page by Laurie Bestvater.

In our learning room…the Persians, growth and development, and division.

One of my favorite things…big boxes.

A peek into my day…

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

Outside my window…the hummingbird feeder has been refilled.  Now if only our woodpecker friend would stay away and leave some food for the hummingbirds!

I am thinking…and dreaming up plans for next year.  Armed with great booklists, I am designing our own history and science plans.

I am blessed…with an amazing glimpse into my childhood.  Mom just turned all the old 8 mm home videos into DVDs.  I was one happy baby!  I love that there was not a single laptop, computer, smart phone or kindle in sight in those videos!

I am remembering…our recent trip out to the Alpaca Ranch.  The kids really look forward to our visit each year.  I am always so impressed by Lyn and all of her amazing work.  Her story is so inspiring!  My favorite part of the tour is always seeing how the yarn is made.  The kids favorite part?  It’s a toss-up between feeding the alpacas, petting the dogs and making a craft with Lyn (this year they made felt snakes).

I am thankful…for a visit with Mom recently.  It was much needed and much loved!

In the freezer…homemade ice cream.  Chocolate chip mint ice cream made with coconut and almond milk.  William’s idea.  He wanted to use the mint in the garden and he insisted we use honey as the sweetener.  I’m not a big fan of the ice cream (I’m not a big honey fan) but the kids love it.  William’s persistence paid off.

I am wearing…shorts and a pink t-shirt.  Yep, it’s already weather for shorts.

I am creating…magnetic fishing poles and magnetic fish.  William (once again!) had a bright idea that it would be so fun to take a dowel and add a string so he could go fishing.  When I suggested maybe putting letters on the fish (to review letter sounds) or math facts on each fish, he gave me a dirty look and said that’s not quite what he was imagining.  Can’t say I didn’t try to turn it into something educational!

I am laughing…at Raymond and Debra…I can’t help it…I’m addicted.

I am loving…all these happy, busy children…

I am inspired…by Andrew Pudewa’s Nature Deficit Disorder talk.  I’ve had the book Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv on my shelf for quite awhile…I’ve picked it up and started it multiple times, but it just keeps getting put to the side.  Mr. Pudewa does an excellent job of summarizing Richard Louv’s book and putting his own perspective on the subject.  I highly recommend it!

I am reading…A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith for book club and The Living Page by Laurie Bestvater.

In our learning room…Greek Mythology, the circulatory system, and prepositions.

One of my favorite things…wildflowers in the spring.

A peek into my day…

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