Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ~ May 10th 2010

Outside my window...rain is pouring down. We woke up to a nice spring thunderstorm.

I am thinking...what a nice Mother's Day weekend we had. The entire family together in Illinois.

I am thankful for... grace.

From the learning rooms...we took a couple days off with the trip, so will try to do a little extra this week. It shouldnt be hard. Phonics & reading is super-easy for Ashleigh and she has been enjoying math - money & telling time.

From the kitchen... popcorn snack to go along with a rainy day veggie tale's marathon.

I am wearing...black scrub pants & a track t shirt

I am creating... this week's menu plan.

I am going...to not think about how much I would love to take a nap right now!!

I am reading...the Old Schoolhouse's new "Homeschool 101" that I downloaded for FREE.

I am hoping...for some nice days this week so the wild things can go outside to play!

I am hearing...Logan and Ashleigh playing with his "new" matchbox cars. My older brother passed down his collection. They havent counted them yet...but there is a ton! Most from the late 70's.

Around the house...luggage that still needs unpacked, laundry to washed.

One of my favorite things...Crayola's new Window Markers. We bought a set for the trip and the kids loved getting to color & draw on the car windows while riding along. Wipes right off with a damp paper towel.

A few plans for the rest of the week: planting some herbs & making some upside down tomato planters.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... my sister's flower bed. Reminds me of Grandma's.

This blog is part of http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Our Branson Vacation part 1

Touring the Titanic Museum

Ashleigh & Logan playing at the resort

View from our patio - Table Rock Lake, in February

Ash & Logan plus 7 friends - out front of The Landing


Taking a break with our friends - the Staver family

Our Branson Vacation part 2

In front of the huge-normous aquarium wall at Bass Pro

Shopping at The Landing - here comes the Trolley!

Auntie Anne's Pretzel break


Playing at the fountain

Me & my Sweetie :)

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Check out The Simple Woman's Daybook and take a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those of us who are focusing on simplicity...the beauty of the everyday moments around us.

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ Feb 23rd 2009

Outside my window. . .its a cheerful, sunny almost-spring afternoon. Ashleigh is running around the front yard...jumping rope with little friends.

I am thinking. . . about what a great weekend-getaway we had. 2 days & nights in Branson.
From the learning room. . . well, we didn't get to school today. Unpacking and catching up on laundry! Maybe tomorrow?

From the kitchen. . . meatloaf with a new seasoning mix I picked up at the Amish Country Store. Trying to decide on how to fix the potatoes....probably baked. Corn on the cob sounds good :)

I am wearing. . .volleyball t shirt and yoga pants. Stretchy & comfortable...will be needing maternity clothes soon!

I am going. . .to plan a Comedy/PJ night for next week's MOPS meeting. We'll have pajama contest, popcorn, and I'm trying to get a hold of Anita Renfroe's new dvd.

I am reading...emails, and The Simple Woman's Daybook blog

I am hoping. . .to have enough energy left this evening to get on the treadmill.

I am hearing. . .the ice cream truck coming down the street! How am I supposed to convince my kids it is TOO COLD to eat ice cream?!

Around the house. . . suitcases still need unpacked.

One of my favorite things. . .a store we discovered in Branson - Bath Junkie - where you pick from hundreds of essential oils and they mix up whatever bath-type product you want...in your fragrance & color.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . . making a menu-plan for the rest of the week, grocery shopping, starting a new book, our church's 30-somethings get-together where we will create amazing and crazy hamburger toppings (kinda like a Fuddrucker's theme)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... while in Branson, we visited the Titanic Exhibit. The tour was about 90 minutes long and very, very, neat. Brought history to life. Was fascinating and sad at the same time. I will say, I had a very emotional time getting through the tour! sigh...pregnancy hormones :)

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ November 3rd, 2008

Outside my window. . .its a dark & starry night.

I am thinking. . .all that lays in the balance for our country tomorrow.

From the learning room. . .schooling has been slow, as far as book-work goes. We'll have plenty to do on cold winter days when we have to stay inside. Right now, Ashleigh wants to just play outside. Logan is picking up on the alphabet song...and learning shapes & some colors.

I am thankful for. . .the right to vote.

From the kitchen. . .homemade italian sub sandwiches...and these yummy caramel rice krispy haystacks my husband made!

I am wearing. . .sweats, t shirt.

I am creating. . .16 flannel receiving blankets for Crisis Preg Center

I am going. . .to an election watch party tomorrow night.

I am reading...am actually in-between books, haven't had time to start a new one!!

I am hoping. . .I can get my kids back into schedule, the 1 hour time change has messed up bed times & then they wake up too early.

I am hearing. . .the David Crowder Band - live in concert - in my living room! (dvd)

Around the house. . .sorting thru closets. Hanging new family pictures.

One of my favorite things. . .when Logan brings me a book and says "story, mommy!". I love how he wants to snuggle in and hear a story over & over.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .VOTE!, set up MOPS, election party, fieldtrip to JumpMania, library storytime, get house ready for ladies book club.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . . from our Texas vacation - Ashleigh & Logan helping Daddy show off their first day's catch.


On the boat at sunset.

To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to find the list of participants in this week’s The Simple Woman’s Daybook. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Vacation time

We're on vacation...on the lake in Texas with in-laws. Good to get away. Kids are having a ball. Here are a couple of pictures, catching crappie.
Will be back to posting regularly hopefully next week :)

Living History

I recently had some one ask if I loved "living history". As I begin to give it some thought, I realised how much I do! I had just never labeled it as such.

While on vacation at the grandparent's last week, one of the places we went was Abe Lincoln's New Salem log village. It was actually where my parent's had their first date back in the late 50's. My mom made ham salad sandwiches and my dad told her she was going to marry him someday. They will celebrate their 48th anniversary this fall!

I grew up pretty close to there and we visited a lot. Instead of being the little girl who loved pink ballerinas and sparkly princesses, I was the little girl who fell in love with long simple dresses, aprons, & bonnets; rag dolls, and covered wagons. Even as a child, I loved the simple life and wanted to live there.
Later on, as a teenager, my younger sister and I, worked there as historical interpreters. Dressing in the 1830's garb, pretending we lived in a cabin, cooking over a fireplace, churning butter, tending herb gardens, spinning wool into yarn....all to show and teach others how life was in those days.

It had been several years since I had been there. There are no words to explain my emotions and how amazing it was to take my daughter (and of course Little Toot) there for her first visit.

Ashleigh checking out Honest Abe

Entering the village.

Ashleigh loved the schoolhouse.

Logan loved the animals.

Being regaled with stories from a historical interpreter.

My Road-trip Top 10 List

I decided this would be a good week to drive up and visit my parents and family in Illinois. My husband is going to be busy all week with work and our almost-finished new church building.
So I packed up the kids, loaded the car, and set off on a 5 hour roadtrip with the kids.

Alone.

By myself.

Now, we have never bought one of those portable dvd players. We have always borrowed one from generous friends whenever we were taking a very long trip. This time, however, we weren't able to get it.
I was considerably concerned. Hoping I would finish this trip with my sanity (and theirs) intact.

I tried to creatively pack things that would keep their interests. I did forget the bible story tapes though.
They listened to music. First hers - Hannah Montana. Then his - Wiggles. Then hers - Jonas Brothers. And then his again - Veggie Tales. (musical whip-lash for mommy)
They looked at books. They munched. And colored.
I drove. Listened to them. Answered questions. After resorting to playing the licence plate game by myself (my kids are too little still) which is not much fun, or competitive at all; I begin to make a mental list of the things around me that I was thankful for. Here is what I came up with.

My Road-trip Top 10 List

1. clear sunny days. I'm not fond of driving interstate in the rain.

2. leak-proof sippy cups

3. rest stops - for when the 4 yr old suddenly yells "I have to peepee Mommy. Right now!"

4. magnetic farm animals and cookie sheets

5. Teddy Graham Trail Mix

6. music, singing, radio, and cd players

7. personalized licence plates - its like a guessing game for me, trying to figure out what it supposed to say, and why they would want to say that on their plate, and who picked it out - man or a woman

8. (supposedly)washable markers....and Shout stain remover

9. teddy bear & binkie....nuff said

10. caffiene - to keep mommy alert, aware, and calm

I was actually quite pleased. And pleasantly suprised. Not once did Ashleigh even ask about a movie and why we didnt have one with us.
We only had one little mishap - she was using a little spray bottle of water to mist her dolls hair. Apparently she kept doing it over and over and over and very generously. So ended up soaking the entire front of her shorts. Right at the same time, Logan's diaper somehow? came undone on one side. So he ended up soaking the entire front of his shorts too!