Daybook: Three Words

Outside my window...  Slush and wind!

I am thinking... dinner smells good.

I am thankful for... my awesome husband!

From the learning rooms... well deserved weekend

From the kitchen... chicken, yam, salad

I am wearing... jeans, sweater, smile

I am reading... Tolkien, Tolstoy, Fitch

I am hoping... spring comes soon.

I am hearing... kids.  Always kids.

One of my favorite things...  I took this.



A few plans for the rest of the week... work, rest, grow

Sunday Daybook

Outside my window...  grey clouds and white snow

I am thinking...  It has been nine years since my first homebirth.  Having Thomas at home helped and healed me in ways I may never fully understand.  Happy birthday, Thomas!

I am thankful for...  this restful Sunday afternoon

From the learning rooms...  I am back in charge of schooling, and our first week back in full swing has gone very well.  I am also thankful for that!

From the kitchen...  The kids had pancakes and blueberry syrup for breakfast; my breakfast was a smoothie made of blueberries, banana, spinach, and a raw egg.  For lunch I turned some leftover mashed potatoes into a soup I called Corn Chowder.  Thomas requested homemade pizza for his birthday dinner, so we are going to load it down with veggie toppings and serve salad on the side.  His birthday dessert will be Hot Fudge Pudding Cake and chocolate ice cream.

I am wearing...  navy blue scrub pants, my blue Mass City hoodie, and long underwear!

I am reading...  The Hobbit

I am hoping...  this week will be as productive and quick as last

I am hearing...  Thomas, Mary, and Lucy engaged in conversation about what makes birthdays fun.  General consensus: presents, cake, and talking to Grandma

One of my favorite things...  my to-do list!  I gave up using the one on my Tablet and went back to old fashioned paper in a little spiral.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  school, cleaning, cooking, laundry, exercise; nothing special, just daily life.

Daybook for Today

Outside my window... sunshine, rain puddles, chickens, and a 6-year-old boy who took the initiative to work on moving a pile of firewood.

I am thinking... this might be the last daybook before Baby arrives. :o)

I am thankful for... the yummy smelling late lunch/early dinner that is almost done.

From the learning rooms... planning summer school (mainly math) for Robert and Raechel; also looking ahead to next year.

From the kitchen... homemade corn tortillas, taco meat, Mexican corn, and homemade bread for later.

I am wearing... shorts and a tank top- I changed after work.

I am reading... nothing right now, actually.

I am hoping... we don't have to wait much longer to meet our newest blessing.

I am hearing... my noisy family.

One of my favorite things... having the perfect excuse to be "tired" at any time of day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: work on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and next Sunday afternoon; grocery shopping on Thursday; midwife appointment and Mass on Saturday; or maybe I'll just have a baby.

God bless!

Daybook for today.

Outside my window... snow and clouds. My answers to this first question are getting pretty monotonous.

I am thinking... about when Thomas was born, six years ago today. He was my first homebirthed baby. It started out as a difficult labor because he was posterior, but then he turned and everything happened amazingly fast after that. February 24, 2004 was Mardi Gras, so we celebrated his birth with beads and King Cake. I asked him this morning what it feels like to be six; his answer, "about the same as five."

I am thankful for... Mary having fewer and fewer "accidents". I strongly dislike potty training, so it's a relief to have the process done... until next time.

From the kitchen... Last night we made 15-bean soup, and it was wonderful. It soaked and then cooked over wood heat for a day and a half before it was ready, but well worth the weight. I didn't use their packets of "seasoning" but just salt and pepper. The only problem was that the giant lima beans really were giant, and they somewhat resembled grubs. I ate them anyway; it is Lent afterall.

I am wearing... blue jeans and a green t-shirt.

I am going... to work in less than an hour. It's snowing pretty heavily, so I bet it will be a quiet night.

I am reading... a daily devotional booklet called "One Bread, One Body" from Presentation Ministries. I'm also still reading St. Faustina's diary.

I am hoping... I remember to bring home coffee tonight; we are almost out.

I am hearing... the usual household noise.

Around the house... big improvment, if you ask me. I'm spending about half an hour to an hour in a room, just doing whatever I feel needs to be done in there. Maybe by Easter I'll have most of my spring cleaning done.

One of my favorite things... stretching sore muscles. I went for a walk/jog outside on Monday, and it gave me a decent pair of shin splints.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I already mentioned I work tonight. Tomorrow I will do laundry, cook a couple of meals and make sure the kids do their chores, spend some time cleaning the bathroom, do my exercise, have two people over for "choir practice" in the afternoon, and work in the evening. Friday will be mostly the same as Thursday, but I will spend my cleaning time in our bedroom. I'm not sure whether we will try to run some errands Saturday morning or not, but we have Mass in the late afternoon and then we are going to have dinner at some friends' house. Sunday I work in the afternoon, and I plan to do as little as possible in the morning.

That's all I have time for right now; with all the interruptions this took "forever". I'm not even going to check for spelling or typos. ;-) God bless!

courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook

Daybook for Today

Outside my window... snow, sun, and temperatures that are almost above freezing

I am thinking... These days it is difficult to think of anything except the baby in my belly... especially when s/he is tickling me with little jabs and kicks.

I am thankful for... the season of Lent and the opportunity to grow closer to Jesus.

From the kitchen... Robert made the most awesome King Cake day before yesterday from Mardi Gras. We can't stop talking about how good it was. :o)

I am wearing... sweats today- dark blue sweatpants and a light blue hoodie

I am creating... a plan that will get our home and entire life more organized and again running smoothly. Really. I mean it this time. Honey, why are you laughing?

I am going... to permanently banish stuffed animals from the house.

I am reading... Saint Faustina's Diary; actually I'm only starting it today. I've never read the entire thing cover to cover, but maybe I'll be able to this time.

I am hoping... spring will not be too much longer. Fat chance.

I am hearing... Joseph, Daniel and Mary are in the kitchen eating apples. The boys are coming up with silly phrases for Mary to repeat. "Batman likes cantaloupe" sounds completely adorable coming from her.

Around the house... I just started my Lenten cleaning project yesterday; I don't want to look around too closely yet.

One of my favorite things... my darling, precious, wonderful, handsome, kind, loving and completely lovable husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Maybe I should start doing these posts earlier in the week, LOL! Tomorrow I work; Saturday we have errands and Mass; Sunday I work in the morning and then we will celebrate Thomas' birthday a few days early. I also plan to keep up on meals, laundry, daily chores, exercise, and my little house-cleaning project. I figure that will be enough to keep me busy.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing.



God bless!

courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook

Daybook for today...

Outside my window... clouds in the sky and snow on the ground, a typical February morning.
I am thinking... we really should be able to get breakfast cooked, eaten, and cleaned up earlier.
I am thankful for... God's patience with me.
From the learning rooms... may not seem to be much, but the children are all reading, writing, and drawing- working on their own things these days with a bit of Mom-imposed math drill here and there.
From the kitchen... a simple stove-top rice pudding for breakfast, and I'm craving a smoothie.
I am wearing... my 'mom' uniform- comfy pants, yesterday's t-shirt, a quilted flannel. I'll have to clean up before going to work this afternoon.
I am creating... a new human being- how awesome is that!?
I am going... to have to learn to just accept things as they are and make the best of them- usually I'm pretty good at this, but it isn't always easy.
I am reading... a paperback novel called Dear John that my boss gave me. I am so not into romance novels, but this one is clean and I feel obligated to read it in case she asks.
I am hoping... spring comes early this year.
I am hearing... Robert clunking around dishes in the kitchen, Thomas teasing Mary over an ice cream bucket lid (I have no idea why), Raechel humming to herself, Joseph humming a conflicting tune to himself, and the dog taking a drink so slurpy you would think she just crossed the Gobi Desert and not the living room.
Around the house... too much clutter waiting for me to take care of "someday" when I have a minute. I'm not looking!
One of my favorite things... still planning that awesome smoothie I'm wanting for lunch.
A few plans for the rest of the week: This week is almost over, and as far as I know we don't have anything unusual going on for the weekend.

God bless!

courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook

daybook for today, the day before Thanksgiving....

Outside my window... wet and grey, but no snow. Is it really November?

I am thinking... since I'm feeling pretty good right now I really should be up and busy, but here I sit and type.

I am thankful for... the usual list- my faith, my family, my health, my precious hubby who wakes me up in the morning by setting a steaming cup of coffee on my bedside table.

From the learning rooms... not much this week; we're taking our "Morning Sickness Break".

From the kitchen... breakfast was boiled eggs and hot cocoa; lunch will be boiled potatoes; dinner will be... something easy. I've got to start Thanksgiving dinner prep!

I am wearing... A hoodie over a t-shirt, but oh, the shame! I'm still in jammie pants!

I am creating... really, nothing. I need to get something going in that department.

I am going... to try making a cole slaw or similar salad for Thanksgiving dinner this year. Don't know why bother, all we really want is stuff that goes under gravy anyway.

I am reading... excerpts from Saintly Solutions; Advent ideas from A Year With God; and the mail.

I am hoping... nobody gets sick at least until after the first of the year. Is that too much to hope for?

I am hearing... Mary singing to herself while she stirs her cocoa with a spoon, Daniel whistling, Robert going outside with his bow and arrows; Joseph coming inside, also singing. Never noticed we have such a musical family!

Around the house... Oh, my what a wreck! Nothing else to say about that...

One of my favorite things... Popple- their music is just great!

A few plans for the rest of the week: I think this year instead of a too-huge dinner on Thanksgiving Day, I might try spacing out the celebration throughout the four-day weekend. I mean, why have four desserts on Thursday when we can have a pie on Thursday, a pie on Friday, a pie on Saturday, and cake on Sunday? Why should I make both a sweet potato casserole and a green bean casserole on the same day when one would be enough? I've been wanting to make a German Chocolate Cake for a while, so even though that's not usually on our traditional list of desserts, it will be this year. I never realized that there were only four pilgrim women and two teenagers to cook that first Thanksgiving meal for about 95 people. No wonder it took them three days to celebrate!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Daybook template courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook

daybook for today...

Outside my window... blue skies, white clouds, green grass
I am thinking... I should have done more laundry today.
I am thankful for... having a really good morning at work; I waitressed and we were pretty busy for a Monday morning.
From the kitchen... Dinner tonight is spaghetti, steamed broccoli, and a salad made of lettuce, tomato, sprouted lentils, cucumber, and whatever greens I can pull from the back yard.
I am wearing... old Levi's and a pink t-shirt.
I am reading... Gone With the Wind I've read it before, but I found this copy at St. Vinny's and needed a dose of Southern culture.
I am hoping... to go swimming sometime this week if it warms up.
I am hearing... the wonderful, chaotic, familiar, comforting noise of my family.
Around the house... Flies! My goodness there have been so many houseflies and fruit flies the last few days! The kids are buzzing around (ha, ha) with fly swatters, regular serial killers.
One of my favorite things... Almost the end of another good day; soon the kids will be in bed and Chuck and I will have a few hours of quiet time.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Not much is going on this week. I'll work just a few days, we celebrate Robert's Baptism Day on Wednesday, and sooner or later I'm going to have to catch up on laundry!

God bless!

Daybook for today...

Outside my window... the kids are playing and the sun is shining.
I am thinking... I am so glad to be home.
I am thankful for... God's providence over the last few months. We have been so blessed!
From the kitchen...I adapted this recipe to suit some lamb loins. It was really yummy! I should add my crock pot to the list of things I'm thankful for. :-)
I am wearing...blue jeans, my work shirt, and the odor of french fries.
I am reading...The Turn of the Screw and a book I picked up at the thrift store about the end of the oil era in America.
I am hoping...Chuck's job will be rewarding for him, and that we will be able to make our schedules work around each other.
I am hearing...screaming from outside, but I'm pretty sure they are just playing.
Around the house...my goodness it is so cluttered here. I used to be so good at keeping our "stuff" under control, but I'm not sure what's happened the last six months. ;-)
One of my favorite things...after I'm done here I'm going to go change clothes and go outside to take laundry off my clothesline. I seriously love folding laundry that still smells of the clean outdoors. Putting it away is another matter.
A few plans for the rest of the week: This week is almost over. I work Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning at the restaurant. I am, however, really looking forward to playing organ again at Mass on Saturday evening. That's one thing I forgot to mention in my previous update- I have a permanent 'gig' at St. Mary's in Rockland as organist and cantor. I've never played organ before, and it is a totally different creature from piano! But I think I'm catching on; maybe I'll eventually even learn the foot pedals! :o)

God bless!

courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook.