Simple Woman's Daybook - July 27

For Today... July 27, 2009

Outside my window... the recycling truck just emptied our recycle bin, the sky is blue, the grass is green (and it needs to be CUT!), the neighbor kids with their new bikes

I am thinking... that my oldest son is rather bouncy and excited today :-D [update - he was SO bouncy that I got quite tired of it and sent him out to mow the yard, which is usually his sister's job!]

From the learning rooms... Kids are making cards for their grandfather's 89th birthday!

I am thankful for... sunshine!

From the kitchen... Leftovers for lunch, we picked up our Angel Food order on Saturday AND I grocery shopped so we have lots of stuff to cook with

I am wearing... Pink "Life is Good" tee, jean capris, pink flip-flops, no makeup

I am reading... I am still listening to (and LOVING) The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon.

I've been watching... Frankenstein (2004), Pink Panther 2, and Slumdog Millionaire.

I am hoping... to get a lot accomplished this afternoon - my to-do list is freaky-long!

I am creating... a soccer uniform order for our region

I am hearing... David talking in a fake British accent, a small plane flying over

Around the house... laundry on the line, soccer registration stuff piled all over, a stack of books to give to specific people, stuff to donate to the thrift store, a huge bag of library books to take back

One of my favorite things... Sugar snap peas

A few plans for the rest of the week... Movie in the park, Veggie Tales premiere, getting David all ready for his mission trip, catching up on soccer stuff, and working on WRITING.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you.
The sign says, "One penny for each pin."

Simple Woman's Daybook - July 23

For Today... July 23, 2009
(I meant to do this Monday before we left, but I forgot, so here it is late).

Outside my window...A small blond neighbor child singing tunelessly, James bouncing a red rubber ball, a motorhome parked at another neighbor's home

I am thinking... about how politically opinionated my older son seems to be

From the learning rooms... a "field trip" to Lake Michigan

I am thankful for... free movies in the park and cheap swimming beforehand

From the kitchen... frozen pizza and a cooler of leftover camping food

I am wearing... my NaNoWriMo07 shirt, new jeans (size smaller!), white sox, and hair freshly washed because I jogged before dinner.

I am reading... I am still listening to (and LOVING) The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Wow, she's a master at writing! Finished two books (Bird by Bird, Yes Man) this week while on vacation and have yet to pick up another, but I have a lot to choose from!

I've been watching... Not even one thing, but tonight I'll be seeing Because of Winn-Dixie.

I am hoping... that I don't have to work full-time again (more than hoping - PRAYING and BEGGING GOD)

I am creating... summertime memories?

I am hearing... the girls whining about their kitchen clean-up and the wheels of the van crunching on th gravel of the driveway

Around the house... unpacking from 4 days of vacation and Bob working on repairing a fan that we trash-picked. (Yep, trash-picked, and PROUD of it)

One of my favorite things... hearing my dad's stories (he's recording them!)

A few plans for the rest of the week... We went to Lake Michigan! And there's Beach Day tomorrow and Movie in the Park tonight and on Saturday a wedding and Book Club. Busy but fun!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you.
Me (left) and my three dear friends I went camping with along with all our daughters last weekend.

Lake Michigan - Is this a BEACH?

We have been
enjoying
Lake Michigan
this week.

So,
all you
ocean-goers,
is
THIS
a
BEACH?

Read to me....

From Summer Sun and Fun

Sun and Fun Math

Between July 7-11, I offered double suns for every math page. So, more math got done that week. Here are some photos of all the kids doing their math.

From Summer Sun and Fun

From Summer Sun and Fun

From Summer Sun and Fun

From Summer Sun and Fun

From Summer Sun and Fun

From Summer Sun and Fun

A Big Yellow Hug, or Science Alive at the Library

Science Alive is a great program that our library usually hosts every summer. If you have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it. Mr. Neill from Science Alive visited our library today and brought 5 exciting animals to share - chinchilla, tortoise, armadillo, anteater, and python. Everyone gets to look and touch the animals. Mr. Neill does a great interactive presentation with interesting facts and stories as he brings the animals around to each child.

Here is a slideshow of the pictures. If you'd prefer to click through to the album, you can click on the slideshow or try this LINK.

Simple Woman's Daybook - July 13

For Today... July 13, 2009
Outside my window... a light breeze is ruffling the leaves on the tree outside the window. I can see three bikes - two are lying on their sides and 1 is upright using its kickstand (as it should be!). Sidewalk chalk drawings decorate the sidewalk.

I am thinking... about how best to help Bob prepare for his interview on Wednesday!

From the learning rooms... soccer camp for the little ones this week and a library program.

I am thankful for... the prayers of my faithful friends and family.

From the kitchen... Bacon and frozen waffles for lunch, sloppy joes and bagged salad for dinner

I am wearing... denim shorts, lilac shirt, barefeet, a light dusting of powder and eyeliner

I am reading... I'm still reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (for book club) and One Tough Mother by Julie Ann Barnhill. I'm also reading The Complete Book of Running and I am finally listening to The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon again. LOVE IT.

I've been watching... The Other Boleyn Girl, Northanger Abbey, and What Not to Wear on DVD. Saw The Proposal in the theater - very funny!

I am hoping... that God will grant my heart's desire which is to remain at home with my children again this coming school year.

I am creating... a list of co-op class descriptions and a coach list with uniform colors.

I am hearing... Kids across the street, a car driving by, the clock ticking.

Around the house... A sleeping bag that needs to be mended, laundry hanging on the line, a TON of library books, coupons that need to be cut out, and Bob is painting a metal thing that's going to be a BIKE RACK. We've needed THAT for about ten years!

One of my favorite things... Seeing a movie with friends and then hanging out afterwards.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I have two soccer meetings, the little ones have soccer camp, and the girls have a rustic campout this weekend and I am going along. Bob has an INTERVIEW!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you.
My kids with my sister Denise's kids.

Unexpected Soccer

So, here's something unexpected. David is going to be playing soccer again this fall!

I've been encouraging him to play and he had three options - the AYSO U-19 division (he could play free, since I'm on the board now), a rigorous and well-established (but far away and fairly expensive) homeschool travel league, and a brand new homeschool team starting up (also a travel league but less expensive and based much closer to our home). He chose the new homeschool team.

I'm actually quite shocked he chose to play at all, although as I mentioned, I've been pushing it for a long time. He played soccer for eight years and then decided not to play last year, stating at the time that he'd never play again. Recently it seemed to me that he actually enjoyed soccer as a sport, but there was something about the last team he played on that didn't quite work for him. So, I'm glad to see him give it another go.

Simple Woman's Daybook - July 6

For Today... July 6, 2009

Outside my window... Leaves ruffled by a brisk breeze, a pale blue sky dappled with puffy white clouds, grass grown way too long, and a tent up at the neighbors

I am thinking... about spiritual disciplines after hearing Dr. Mark Weeter speak several times last week. I'd love to take his class at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, but for now I'll content myself with reading some of the books he recommended.

From the learning rooms... Double Suns this week for Math pages

I am thankful for... the excellent teaching we heard at Family Camp last week! Morning and evening rallies for kids and adults. Our family took full advantage of this resource!

From the kitchen... French toast for lunch, no idea for dinner. Really need to get to the store.

I am wearing... Khaki shorts, brown tee, bare feet, hair down, no makeup.

I am reading... Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich is waiting for me at the library! I'm reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (for book club) and One Tough Mama by Julie Ann Barnhill. I also need to read Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange since it is overdue and I can't renew it!

I've been watching... just about nothing, since I've been camping for 9 nights. Last night when we came home, David and I watched 2 episodes of NCIS, but I'm still on Season 1 of that.

I am hoping... that I feel better tomorrow, since today I feel like ca-ca. Sniffles, coughs, headache.

I am creating... a grocery list and not much else.

I am hearing... Suzy whining about books (not being able to read them), a motorcycle on the main road one street over, birds chirping, and wind in the leaves.

Around the house... a LOT of laundry. Sleeping bags that need to be aired out and a camper to unpack. Bare cupboards (thus, the grocery list)

One of my favorite things... Family Camp!

A few plans for the rest of the week... grocery shopping, optometrist, editing, meetings, beach day, wedding shower, movie in the park.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you.

James is holding.....

I never told you what James is holding, did I?















It's a Milky Way bar that he mashed up into a ball.

What? You never thought of doing that?

Your life has been boring, hasn't it?