For Today, 10/20/08

Outside my Window... it's sunny but chilly... a mere 37 degrees this morning as I drove the kids to school. The leaves are changing and the dew is clinging to the grass. Gorgeous day!

I am thinking... that I'm really cozy sitting here on the couch between my two youngest children, snuggling them while I compute and they watch Nick Jr.

From the learning rooms... I'm so happy we started our newspaper delivery back up. I had missed keeping up with the local goings-on around here. I actually feel smarter after I finish reading the Sunday paper (and I missed the coupons and sale papers, too!)

I am thankful for... my health, my kids' health and my husband's health. I know I complain when someone is sick, but it's usually something minor that will run its course and be gone quickly. So far no one has had a major illness. We're so very blessed.

From the kitchen... I made an apple stuffed French toast this weekend. Actually, I made 4 (one for each of my son's 2nd grade teachers, one for my daughter's 5th grade teacher and one for us to enjoy.) I thought it was awesome, but the kids said it wasn't sweet enough. Oh, well. It used up some bread I had in the freezer (free leftovers from Panera) and some of the (many) apples the boys and I picked up at the orchard last week. I need to make some applesauce today to use up some more apples. I already peeled, sliced and froze some apples for future use. Lots of apples here!

I am reading... It's pitiful how high my stack of "I want to read these books!" is. I never have time to read anymore. I'd love to lay in a hammock all weekend with nothing but a cold drink and my stack of books. Actually, I could alternate between a hot bath and a hammock in a shady spot and just read, read, read...

I am hoping... that I can get some work done this afternoon after Quinn & Lillian go to Nana's (Quinn is out of school today because it's some sort of teacher workday or something... normally he goes to Nana's after school on Mondays, but today Lillian is joining him. I HAVE to get some things done!)

I am creating... clean laundry. Does that count as a creation?!? This Thursday I'm leaving for a weekend scrapbooking retreat. Lots of creating will be going on there!

I am hearing... Dora the Explorer, plus Quinn spelling every.word.he.sees on the TV. I'm glad he's curious, but sometimes I just want him to be quiet for a bit. He's spelling EVERYTHING or asking what certain letters spell.

Around the house... Three loads of laundry to be done. I have the dishes put away and the dishwasher reloaded. I need to wash Lillian's winter clothes (from a bin in the basement), clean out her old winter clothes to remove anything that no longer fits, then put the winter clothes on the bottom rack and the summer things up top so she'll quit reaching for shorts in this chilly weather. I just need the hubs to haul up the bin of size 5s because I'll hurt my back if I try to do that.

One of my favorite things... is being asked to help do stuff at my older kids' school. I need to learn how to say no, but right now I just love helping out up there. It's such a great place, and I want to do all I can to help however I can.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... tomorrow I'm working at the Book Fair at the older kids' school (once at 8:30 and again at 3 pm). During the morning tomorrow I'm helping assemble 80+ bags of dry soup mix for the school's "You Vote: We Cook" campaign. On election day we'll hand out bags of soup mix to any parent that shows us their "I Voted" sticker that they get when they vote. Tomorrow night we're having dinner with some friends we have lost touch with, so that should be fun. Wednesday brings another afternoon at the Book Fair, plus a 9 am meeting and a trip to ToysRUs to get a couple of things for the kids' Christmas gifts. I won't say what since Camryn checks my blog sometimes. Ha! Thursday I'll be off to my retreat after I drop off the kids at school, so hopefully I'll have everything packed and ready to go by then. I'll spend the weekend with my scrappin' buds, then return Sunday evening just in time to go to the Trunk or Treat at church.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Camryn and I had awesome front row seats at the Tour of Gymnastics Superstars that came to town on Saturday. We got some great photographs of our favorite "celebrities" (Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and Jonathan Horton, plus Disney singing star Jordan Pruitt). Jonathan Horton even touched Camryn's hand! It was an awesome evening, and we both had a blast. We giggled like schoolgirls with crushes when the handsome guys came out (whew, there were some major hotties!) and squealed like kids when our favorite female athletes did their routines. Afterward we enjoyed appetizers and desserts at Fatz, where we had a fantastic waitress (named Beth!) who commented that for a mother and daughter we seemed to get along very well. We do, actually, and I have a great time when Camryn and I hang out together. She's such a cool kid!

Here's a picture of Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin starting the show:

For Today... 10/13

For Today...

Outside my Window... it's gorgeous and sunny and cool and the sky is a beautiful blue color.

I am thinking... that I have the best husband in the world. Quinn is home sick today with a stomach bug, so instead of picking Quinn up from school and going on their usual Monday Daddy Date, my sweet husband picked up the older children from school so I wouldn't have to. He's such a sweetheart.

From the learning rooms... I am learning how to be more frugal and get better deals. ; )

I am thankful for... stomach bugs that don't last for days (Quinn seems much better... he'll probably go back to school tomorrow!) I'm also thankful for a sweet daughter. Camryn was reading Proverbs 31 last week, and when she finished she told me that the woman in the passage reminded her so much of me. I was floored and humbled. To me the woman in that particular passage is just a superwoman. I strive to model myself after her, but never have I ever considered myself worthy of being (favorably) compared to her. I was touched that my daughter thinks of me that way.

From the kitchen... Tonight I'm trying a new recipe that I found underneath one of the may Campbell's labels I trimmed last week (I'm the Labels for Education coordinator for my older kids' school...lots of label cutting going on in my house lately!)

Glazed Pork Chops

2T cornstarch
1/2 c. water
1 T butter or
margarine
6 pork chops, 3/4" thick
1 can Campbell's French Onion
soup
2 T. packed brown sugar

Mix cornstarch and water. Melt butter in skillet. Add chops and cook until browned. Add soup and sugar. Heat to boil. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes, or until done. Remove chops and keep warm. Add cornstarch mixture. Cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens. Serve over chops.

I am reading... Google Reader. Lately that's my obsession and all I have time to read!

I am hoping... that I can get my to do list done this week.

I am creating... Quinn's scrapbook, plus looking for ideas for centerpieces. Got any ideas?

I am hearing... the older kids coming in the door, Little Bill on TV and Quinn playing Battalion Wars (think he feels better?!?)

Around the house... laundry left over from the weekend... I cleaned out the laundry room cabinets today and made room for some of my cheap finds from my shopping spree yesterday.

One of my favorite things... is opening the windows on cool fall days. It makes the house smell so good, and it lowers the electric bill.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... a meeting tomorrow, Fisher's Orchard with the boys (Aiden on Wednesday, Quinn on Thursday), take the kids for flu shots on Wednesday evening (Oh, Boy!), host a sleepover on Friday (a brother, sister and sister that my two older kids are friends with), and take Camryn to see the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Champions on Saturday. I don't know who's more excited about seeing that: me or Camryn. We have front row seats! Sunday I plan on working on my Secret Sister gift and the goodie bag gifts for a scrapbooking retreat I'm going to next weekend. Hopefully I can get those things marked off my list before next Monday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... (click the picture to go to a live Webcam shot.)



That's the view from Table Rock, which isn't too far from where we live. The leaves are changing, though not as spectacularly as past autumns. We had a long, dry summer, so the colors aren't as vivid this fall.

For Today...

Outside my Window... It's sunny. After a week of mild, 70 degree days, we're back up in the 80s. It's supposed to get cool again later this week.

I am thinking... that I should take Lillian to the Goodwill Store since she's the only kid I have with me today. I love hunting for "treasures" at Goodwill.

From the learning rooms... I'll be honest... I got nothin' to write here.

I am thankful for... restful Sundays.

From the kitchen...We're having salmon tonight. I've had salmon at restaurants twice in the past 10 days, and I finally broke down and bought some. I've never prepared it at home before, so I'm nervous to try.

I am wearing... the tie dyed shirt I made with Quinn's class on Friday, a pair of jeans and my Athens Crocs (flip flops).

I am reading... a lot of blogs lately. Google Reader is so good about recommending blogs I might enjoy, and I've added a bunch of new ones this week.

I am hoping... to figure out how I'm going to get myself to the Skyline retreat next month. I thought I had a ride, but now I don't.

I am creating... that darn Disney scrapbook... still! I'm on the last few packs of pictures, so hopefully it will be done by this time next week.

I am hearing... "Go, Diego, Go!" Lillian likes to come in my office and watch TV in the morning.
Around the house... The playroom NEEDS to be cleaned and toys culled from it. I have laundry left from the weekend, and there is a load of clean dishes to be emptied from the dishwasher and more dirty ones to be loaded and run.

One of my favorite things... is television. I'm so happy my favorite shows are back on. I watched too much TV this week!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Meetings at the older kids' school, a doctor's appointment tomorrow (for me), wash everyone's comforters (something I started doing once a month after all our sickness this summer...), get ready for Lillian's birthday party on Sunday, errands, laundry, help with homework, etc.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



That's an iPhone 3G. I desperately want one, but alas, we do business with Verizon and hubby doesn't plan on switching to AT&T just so I can have the iPhone. He's been with Verizon since it was Bell Atlantic and we have an awesome plan that doesn't even exist anymore (we've kind of been grandfathered with this plan...) I think he'd feel like he was cheating on Verizon if he even thought about switching service. So I pine for the iPhone. ::SIGH::

For Today, 9/22/08

Outside my Window... I see grass that needs to be cut. I wonder when Mr. Fred is coming back to cut it?

I am thinking... that these Pringles are stale.

From the learning rooms... hmmm.... not sure I'm learning anything right now... at least nothing I'm conscious of learning.

I am thankful for... cooler weather!

From the kitchen... I need to BBQ something this week, because hubby just found my stash of Tony Roma's BBQ sauce that I ordered from Amazon for almost nothing. He didn't see the box of German Chocolate cake mixes on the floor, but I need to start using those up, too.

I am wearing... jeans (yea for it being cool enough for jeans!) and a dark brown shirt that says "Sweet & Southern" on the front and "Sweet and Southern just like my tea" on the back.

I am reading... The Gettysburg Diaries by Mark Nesbitt and Song Yet Sung by James McBride.

I am creating... my Disney scrapbooks... still not finished, but not for lack of trying. I have to cut back on the number of pictures I take on our trips, but it's so hard! I want to remember it all!

I am hearing... "Go Diego, Go!" on the TV and the hum of the computer's CPU.

Around the house... laundry. Always laundry. I need to clean the playroom, too. I emptied the dishwasher and reloaded it before I took the kids to school, so it was nice to come home to an empty sink. Sometime soon I will need to go through the kids' closets and switch out the winter and summer clothes, make a list of what the older kids need for winter and find the boxes of clothes in the basement for the younger kids to wear. It's always such a chore and I put it off as long as possible.

One of my favorite things... is being able to open the windows instead of running the A/C. I love the way the infusion of fresh air makes the house smell. I love the smells of fall.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... take Lillian to the doctor for her 4-year checkup, clean the playroom, See You at the Pole at the older kids' school, picture day for the older kids, FINISH the December 2007 Disney scrapbook, watch lots of TV (it's premiere week! Woo hoo!)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



Lillian, in the birthday hat that her teacher lets all birthday boys and girls wear on their special day.

For Today...

Outside my Window... It's overcast.

I am thinking... of easily prepared things that are good with ham for supper tonight.

From the learning rooms... I heard about an article on Dave Ramsey's radio show today, and I want to go read it. It's supposed to be a really good reflection on the collapse of Lehman Brothers. I think I'll print it out, because I hate hunching over a desk to read stuff on the internet.

I am thankful for... schools that my children enjoy attending. All 4 of the kids love school and I credit the schools for providing great curricula and for the awesome teachers that love my kids and inspire them to learn. The kids soak up a great deal of typical school knowledge at their respective schools, but they also acquire a lot of Biblical knowledge as well as interacting with teachers who love Jesus and model his love. I really can't ask for better situations for my children. God has been very good to lead us to these schools.

From the kitchen... I have so many peaches, because my husband stopped at the local produce stand on Saturday and bought a huge basket of the gorgeous, good smelling fruit. I also have an abundance of Yellow Delicious apples, because they were 99 cents a bag last time I went grocery shopping. I need to slice and freeze the peaches and do something with the apples before they rot.

I am wearing... a navy blue top that has a keyhole that bothers me (it shows too much cleavage if it falls too low, but it's super comfy other than that), some khaki shorts and a pair of Target knockoff Rocket Dogs.

I am reading... nothing right now. I need to finish Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend and plan on starting Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson.

I am hoping... it rains like the weather guy has claimed it would for the past week.

I am creating... a scrapbook from our December 2007 Disney trip. I spent yesterday organizing pictures and embellishments for last month's trip plus the one my husband and I took alone in May. That's a lot of Disney, but I would go back tomorrow in a heartbeat. Love that place.

I am hearing... My iPod on shuffle. Right now it's playing "Down To The River To Pray" by Allison Krause.

Around the house... dinner to be made, dishes to be unloaded from the dishwasher, dishes in the sink to be loaded, a load of laundry in the dryer, 2 baskets of laundry in the den to be folded and lunches to be made for the boys.

One of my favorite things... is going to the movies. Today Lillian and I went to see Wall E. I hadn't seen it (hubby took the kids to see it earlier in the summer). It was so cute, and Lillian and I had a blast on our Mommy date. We shared popcorn and had Cokes and I even treated her to a Nerds Rope ('cause I wanted Raisinets to go with my popcorn). I am looking forward to seeing more movies by myself this year; I'm especially intrigued by "Burn After Reading (the Coen Brothers ROCK), "The Duchess" (one of those fluffy Keira Knightley period films with gorgeous costumes), "Eagle Eye" (with Shia LeBeouf), "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" and "Nights in Rodanthe" (because I really, really like Diane Lane... she's gorgeous and timeless). I love the dark theater, escaping into a story for a couple of hours and then walking out into the blinding sun. It's a great way to spend my time. I saw several previews for movies I know the kids will enjoy, too. "The Tale of Desperaux" (based on one of Camryn's all time favorite books), "Bolt" (the hamster is adorable) and "Madagascar 2: Escape from Africa (the clip made me LAUGH OUT LOUD today! I like to move it, move it!)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Tomorrow a nurse is coming to the house to do a health profile for new life insurance. Always love those. Tomorrow is also Camryn's teacher's birthday, so I'll go out there sometime tomorrow to take her gifts and a chocolate chip cookie cake thing. I have a room mom meeting on Thursday, which is the same day I have to pick up my check and leftover clothes from the bi-annual consignment sale I participate in. I'm hoping for at least $300, but we'll see. I just don't want to have a lot of clothes left over. Saturday is Lillian's 4th birthday, and I still haven't put together a party. I guess she'll have to celebrate next week. I'm awful about planning the kids' parties. In between all that I'll have more laundry to do, dishes out the wazoo and lots of helping with homework and cooking dinner. It never ends.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



This is Lillian in her strawberry gown. She inherited the gown from Camryn, so it's a little pilled and small. I took a picture of her wearing the gown because I remember how Camryn looked in it, all clean and fresh from a bath. I always called her "My Strawberry Girl" when she wore it, and I do the same for Lillian. Lillo's about to outgrow the strawberry gown, which means it will be put in a bag bound for Goodwill. Maybe some other little girl will find it and her momma will call her Strawberry Girl, too.

Simply Monday

For Today...

Outside my Window... It's overcast and muggy. I know it's muggy because I opened the window (1) to get some fresh air and (2) to warm up because the air vent is right over my head and it's FREEZING me to death. I know I should adjust the thermostat, but opening the window is easier right now.

I am thankful for... my kids' schools. I'm grateful that I have places that I trust where I can send my kids to be educated spiritually and academically... that there are kind, loving teachers at both schools that are willing to care for my children and nurture them while they're there.

From the kitchen... I need to clean out the fridge today. We're leaving for vacation tomorrow, so the fridge needs to be purged. Leftovers tonight for sure.

I am wearing... My pajamas, because 7:30 am came quite early to this lady who's been accustomed to rising after 9 am all summer. I still need to pack for tomorrow's departure, and I hate to get all sweaty doing that, so I'm holding off on the shower and clothing change until the packing's done.

I am reading... nothing right now, but I did read People magazine and Soap Opera Digest over the weekend. How's that for educational reading material?

I am hoping... to get the packing done before I have to pick Quinn up from school at 1:45. Should be easy if I can force myself to get off my behind and get to work. Easier typed than done.

I am hearing... Spongebob Squarepants. I've heard him too much this summer. The kids L*O*V*E Spongebob. I'm rather sick of him, and will not miss him when the kids finally get back to school. I'll still have to hear him occasionally, but I can deal with that.

I am creating... nothing much today. Too busy getting ready for vacation. In fact, I've not been in my scrapbook room in days. Too much going on around here.

Around the house... laundry to be folded, clothes to be packed, house to be tidied, dishes to be done. See why I shouldn't be sitting here typing this? It's called AVOIDANCE.

One of my favorite things... Philosophy's Amazing Grace fragrance. It just smells so clean and I love catching a whiff of it during the day. I use the body wash/shampoo and the conditioner. I love how it makes my hair smell. I got a free bottle of the fragrance this summer using my Ulta reward points, but I keep forgetting to spray myself with it.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Tomorrow I have a 9:30 am appointment to drop off my consignment items, and then we'll get on the road headed to Orlando, where we'll spend a week at Disney World. Despite the wet weather forecast, I know we'll have a blast. We always do!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Quinn started kindergarten today. Here he is with his teacher on his first day. Quinn has the same teacher Aiden had for kindergarten, so I suspect he'll be called Aiden quite a few times. He should respond to either name, because he's so accustomed to being called one of four names at home.

The Simple Woman

I discovered The Simple Woman on one of the blogs I peeked at this week. She does her "For Today" entry every Monday, but since I just found her I'm doing it today. I think I might move it to Monday and make it a habit. Here goes.

For Today...

Outside my Window... It's sunny. I'm hoping any praying that we get some of that precious and much needed rain from Hurricane Fay. We're parched.

I am thankful for... being healthy for the past 8 days. I hope the worst of the tummy troubles is behind me. I'm taking my Cipro, eating my Activia (not with the Cipro, of course) and trying to stay healthy. Praying, praying, praying to stay well.

From the kitchen... I think I'm going to make a homemade dessert today. We have a few overripe bananas. I think I'll make a few loaves of banana bread and take a couple out to the kids' school tomorrow. The teachers are busy getting their classrooms ready! Aiden's been begging for some potato salad, so I might stop by the produce stand and buy some potatoes to make that for him tonight.

I am wearing... Comfy black lounge pants and a t-shirt.

I am reading... The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson.

I am hoping... to be able to finish my to do list today while the kids are at their Nana's.

I am hearing... the TV, Elvis on my iPod, and Lillian telling me something about The Little Mermaid.

I am creating... lists, lists and more lists. Much to do before our Disney trip!

Around the house... boys playing computer games, kids getting ready to go have lunch with Daddy, laundry to wash, laundry to fold, clothes to get ready for consignment...movies to watch and be returned to Netflix...a dirty house waiting for Kim to come clean tomorrow.

One of my favorite things... this summer my favorite thing has been taking the kids to lunch with their dad and having him drop them off at his mom's. I've really enjoyed my Wednesdays this summer. One of my other new favorite things is our fish tank. My back and behind hurt from sitting on the squatty stool we've placed in front of the tank. It's totally engrossing.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... wash, hang and iron winter clothes for my appointment at the consignment store, make packing and grocery lists for our Disney trip, wash the kids' laundry, wash our laundry, pack for Disney, take the kids out to their school to drop off their school supplies and meet/reunite with their teachers

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...





In a week I'll be checking into that hotel for a glorious end of summer vacation. I cannot WAIT.