A Rainy Day Sort of Daybook

Outside my window:
Cold and dreary, rainy sort of day.

I am listening to:
80's Music Choice station and the girls playing a new favorite game they got for Christmas. Flip Over by Thinkfun, and the buzz of the dryer reminding I have chores to do.

I am wearing:
sweatpants, holey t-shirt and ponytail, I am all set to exercise :)

I am grateful for:

~A husband who works so hard for us.

~3 little blonde haired girls.

~A warm house with everything we need.

I am pondering:
When do you say goodbye - the dog is on 3 medicines twice a day, and in diapers or peeing all over my house. She is 12 but seems to be doing well with her meds. I just can't take all the pee.

I am reading:
More Hours in My Day by Emile Barnes I borrowed it from a friend before the holidays but I finally have time to read it.


I am thinking:
I am so ready for some warmer weather! It has been cloudy and bleak for a few weeks now and I am feeling it's affect. Can anyone say Seasonal Affective Disorder, I am so glad we are moving to the "sunshine" state of Ohio, oh wait what, they have even less sun, great.
I think that after school time this morning we will break out the Valentine's decorations. I need a lift in my mood and it can't be food today, so maybe some glittery pink hearts will do it. I am not as depressed as that just sounded it's just so dreary outside it time for a change. Also on the agenda, tag some stuff for the huge consignment sale that is this week! If I don't do it today I won't get it done and I need to carve out some space in out home before we try and sell it.

I am creating
Not a lot right now.

On my iPod
um...haven't used it in a while, but I am putting Awanas CD and the Bears on Hemlock Mountain on Sissy's.

Towards a Real Education:
Lots of hands on in the kitchen, math and reading and lots of picture books about snow!

Five in a Row: Before FIAR: Snowy Day Volume 1: Katy and the Big Snow These were supposed to be last week but somehow time got away from us. No field trip this week.

Ok, that's enough for this week... I leave you with

Picture thought:
Found this on my camera today, I think Sissy took it. Just don't mind the mess, that was from Marshmallow day.

Somethings I learned today...

1. Since my last pregnancy I have let myself get completely out of shape...and the baby is 2 almost 3, this isn't good, I need to get in shape if I am to have anymore.

2. Quite toddlers aren't necessarily a good thing.

That is Little E cleaning her art off the wall, that's what I get for blowing out my hair.

3. I know how to clean but I don't know how to keep it clean.

4. I need to trust my heart more...

5. I have some really good friends here.

6. I like lists.

A Thursday Evening

So I just might have the cutest kids ever. Little E is just so silly and I am soaking in ever last minute of her twoness. Sissy says the darndest things, and goes from being a totally immature little girl to acting like a tiny adult. And the Bean keeps things interesting with her love of all things pink and purple to constant talking, she is learning and growing and so very smart. We are so lucky to have these blessing and I only hope that Lord blesses us with more. Yes I know things are messy and I let myself get over stressed about things that don't really matter, but I love it. I have the best job in the entire world.

We had our Five in a Row field trip today to the NC Museum of Art, the big girls got to take a tour with a docent, while Little E and I got to hang out with some other moms and toddlers. They saw Egyptian artifacts, I had a diet coke in the cafe. They hopefully got cultured, and I got the rejuvenation of talking the ins and outs of homeschooling.

Mollie is still hanging in there, but she is peeing everywhere. She is a good dog but I don't think I can take much more of it.

Christmas

The Sunday before Christmas we had the sisters exchange the gifts they had bought for each other. They had a good time picking out what to get for their sisters and wrapping the gifts up. We did this so that they would remember it is more fun to give than receive and I wanted them to realize that these presents were from each other and not get mixed up in with everything else.


Then Momma put a call in to the big guy and Santa came a few days early. We do not want to have to travel with all the gifts from us and my mom.


They were so happy to get their American Girl Dolls from my mom





So now we know what they want for their Birthdays, more American Girl Doll Stuff!!!!

Daybook

Outside my window:
Clear and cold.

I am listening to:
The sound of my girls playing, the washer humming and the dishwasher swishing.

I am wearing:
Capri yoga pants and John's T-shirt, (hot, isn't it)

I am thankful for
We are all healthy today

I am pondering:
How to get Lillian caught up with schooling...We struggled so much at the beginning of the year and now it is like a switch went on and she "gets it". But we are not as far a long as my "well laid plans" would have us, but she just couldn't go any faster earlier this year.

In the Kitchen:
Needing to add more fresh fruits and veggies back into our diet. Baking Banana Bread today.

I am thinking:
I really need to get up with a lot of things, cleaning, blogging, scrapbooking, organizing, etc, etc.

I am Creating:
Clean areas in my house

On my Ipod:
Toby Mac

Towards a Real Education
Getting back to it after a long Christmas Break. Starting Bella down the Alphabet path and "Rowing" which ever book I get from the library first.

Toward Rhythm and Beauty:
Reinstating nap time for the U-5's in the house, Lilli and I need the quite to get some math and reading done.

I am Hoping and Praying:
For grace and patience for me and for my girls to find the love of the Lord and show love to one another. There has been a lot of time indoors and it is starting to show, can't wait for warmer weather.

In the Garden:
The backyard was flooded last month and it is still icky out there. Thinking of relocating the garden for this spring to get more sun.

Around the House
Decluttering 2010 has begun!

On Keeping Home:
The downstairs is once again livable and it is onward and upward! Time to get the bedrooms in order.

One of My Favorite Thing:
My hubby completely spoiled me this Christmas :)

A Few Plans For the Rest of the Week:
No Music Makers this week. Friends house on Tuesday. Bowling Thursday with our homeschool group. Lillian has a sleep study Thursday night, keep her and John in your prayers while there that she will be able to sleep and that there will be no significant findings.

Funny things over heard at our house

Bella: "Why didn't you name me Pretty Sparkles?"

Ellie: "Mill(milk) - hoppy in dere" (think of the Nesquik mascot)

Lilli: "I think I've had enough of those lettuce balls!"

Where did November go?

I have no idea where the whole month of November went. We had a fun Thanksgiving at our friends house and then a second one on Friday (If you don't cook it, you don't get the leftovers!)

We had company for a long weekend too, it was fun to show Ruthie and Shane all around Duke's campus.

The girls have been keeping me very busy.

Lillian was getting behind on her math and we have tried to buckle down and get it done, but she just doesn't like it. But she is progressing well with her reading and science. She has also been enjoying her Girl Scout meetings and playing with the neighbor girl.




Bella had her first violin recital, it was so cute! Bella showed off her terrific violin posture and then her teacher played "All Around the Mulberry Bush" and Bella would pluck the E string for the "POP". Very cute. I finally gave Bella her first hair cut, it isn't very even but she only allowed me one snip, you would have thought I was hurting her, I think she has a lot of self-identity in her hair and doesn't want short hair. I took the back and twisted it then one snip and we were done, she cried for about 30minutes after. It looks a lot better and is still hits her mid-waist.





Elliana is adding to her vocabulary and cuteness everyday. We have tried a new sleep training technique that seemed to be working, until she got sick again, she was up twice last night.


There were also 2 field trips, one to Agapé Center for Environmental Education

and to Falls Lake. We also had our homeschool groups family event. It was a fun time outside with lots of food and games. The theme was based on the book The Gullywasher. So we took a Mexican theme with it. I made the girls skirts so that they could look like the American Girl Doll Josefina. But then it was cold that morning so I also cut some fleece ponchos for them. We also took Carnitas with cheese and tortillas and a bean and corn salad that I want to make again. I was also in charge of the sound discovery/make your own instrument table. Thankfully one of the other mothers made everything and I just had to "man" the table. My camera died half way through the day so not many pictures...






I guess that is November in a nutshell.
We are having a good start to the Advent Season, the girls are relearning the Christmas carols, the tree is up, most of the shopping is done and hopefully I won't get as far behind this month.

Jasmine