First Sunday of Advent Quick Daybook {November 29. 2015}

I'm still here! Sorry it's been so long. Just too much to get done and of course my favorite thing got put at the end of the list. I thought a quick daybook would be helpful to get back into the blogging habit. I have a few post waiting in draft to finish up in December. Pictures feature some of the Advent decorations we put up today (please excuse the quality since it's dark today).

 

Outside my window it is cold and rainy. It looks to be a colder than average week.

I am hearing Advent music! It warms my heart to hear it and it's been a long wait. 

I'm thankful for time with extended family during the Thanksgiving holiday. It's hard to find time for that currently in this season of life. 

It has been slow going around the house. I was able to deep clean Caleb's closet last weekend. He has been doing a good job of keeping it clean (minus the dusting) but I needed to move furniture to dust behind and sweep under. I also need to locate his scout book that went missing . . . . found it! I need to make my list of cleaning projects to do during Advent.

This week we are back to school. Otherwise it's a very light week and I hope to get some extra projects done.

I'm working to complete our Advent plan and hopefully everything will run smoothly during this time of waiting and preparing anticipation. My list includes a reading list, family prayer time, family Advent activities, preparing the home for Christmas, preparing our hearts for Christmas, shopping for Christmas, and how to keep the season low-key (or a plan to keep celebrations to a minimum until Christmas).

In the school room we are in the last three weeks before Christmas break. We will probably take all of the Christmas season off. I'm still fine tuning the school plan for term 2 while we are living it. I have some post coming up that are all school related.

I am struggling with working in a timely fashion. It seems like it takes me at least twice as long to get things done than it should. Is it age? It seems like my mind is a cluttered mess and it takes a long time to settle into a task and then stay focused until completion. It's a daily struggle!

I'm pondering the homily at church this morning. (We didn't have our normal priest today.) Father Greg kept using the word anticipation to describe how to prepare for Christmas during Advent. I really enjoyed all he had to said. Nothing new but it was refreshing and a great message for the first Sunday of Advent. It definetly gave me some ideas for Advent plans. 

I am reading A Child in Winter (Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany with Caryll Houselander) by Thomas Hoffman for daily devotions. Today's reading had a quote from The Reed of God (p38), "In the season of our Advent-waking, working, eating, sleeping, being-each breath is a breathing of Christ into the world." I like that thought.

Weekend Daybook {June 27, 2015}

Outside my window . . . . 
cloudy today. Much cooler than it was all week. Weeds have taken over . . . . I would pay someone to pull them for me. I had a few minutes to pull weeds while the dog was playing outside and I got a rash. I need to remember to wear gloves! It was the ragweed! I'm allergic to it and get a rash when I touch it.


Pictures . . . .
are from scout camp family night. This was Tyler's first year. They had a crate stacking activity. The pictures are of Tyler seeing how high he could stack the crates. Scott did it too and got 13 high. The other pictures are from Tyler's birthday party at the pool.

What I'm hearing . . . .
not much. It's the last few minutes of being home alone since last Sunday while the boys were at scout camp. There is the sound of Lucy whining a little at the window. I guess a neighbor is outside and she would like to say hello.

Thankful for . . . .
some down time in the calendar! There was nothing outside the home on the calendar this week besides going to family night at scout camp. I really enjoyed staying home. 

I'm very much thankful that Lucy's separation anxiety problems were almost nonexistent this week. I think it was all in the send off. I will have to remember this for the fall weekend camp outs!

Also, I'm thankful for a wonderful, supportive, online, homeschool community who is always there when I need advice or help (just finished my annual planning week). 

Around the house . . . .
My days are normally spent in mostly domestic duties . . . . and I hardly did any those this past week! What a difference when you only have to clean up after your self and the dog. I did maintain the sweeping schedule since that is mostly due to puppy fur. 

With all the rain we've had it has been a reminder that the back yard needs some work to get the drainage under control. It gets put off because it's going to be a big job and we forget about it unless we get a lot of rain. 

This coming week . . . .
Oh! I haven't even looked at the calendar. I'm in denial that I have to go back to the regular schedule. That's not a bad thing but I've enjoyed the "holiday".

What I'm reading . . . .
or what I have not been reading and that would be the boys books for the upcoming school year. I'm not making any progress on this. I did finish Harry Potter this week after putting it down for a while and the boys will be happy to watch the final movie of the series sometime this weekend. I have picked up Charlotte Mason's sixth book a few times. I have a big stack of started and haven't touched books. : (

And they all fell down.

I am working on . . . .
school planning. It's almost done.

I had hoped to clean out the boy's closets but that project remains on the to-do list. More about that below (yes, under the I am struggling section).

In the school room . . . .
Planning season, as I mentioned above, is about done. This is what I did most of the week. I think I wasted a day going back and forth on history decisions. I went back to the original plan in the end. I'm hoping to have the last details in place very soon so that I can enjoy a week (or two) off from all school related stuff before school starts back up. That start date has not been determined yet.

I'll have a post sometime in July with all our plans for the upcoming year. We have switched to Ambleside Online. I usually plan our school from scratch since I'm not good at following other people's instructions.  ; ) AO is different in that regard. Tyler will be doing year 5. I picked to start him there because of the history. Caleb will start AO in year 7 mostly because of the history. This program is well advance and since we didn't use it from the start there is no way we could go in at "grade level". Year 7 is high school level work! More later on all of this!

I am struggling . . . .
with storage and too much stuff. We don't a clutter problem here. I've downsized our house in the past and I'm selective in what I purchase and I always get rid of stuff as soon as it has served it's purpose. I don't have the typical American too much clutter problem. What we have is a small house that can't handle the amount of stuff we need to function. It hard to get all the males in the house people to realize that even though we use all this stuff (or may use it in the future) it doesn't mean that we can keep it. It has to have a place in the house and if you run out of places then something has to give. LOL! And why is it my stuff that always has to give? Our basement is overflowing with camping, hunting, and taxidermy stuff. 100% of it is used.  This is a big struggle at the moment. I am beyond overwhelmed with the lack of organization in the basement. On a related note, does anyone need a tent? I think we have an extra old one. Seriously!

 

I am pondering . . . .
temperament lately after hearing a talk at the KC Catholic Homeschoolers Conference. I got a recording of the teen talk on temperaments and Caleb really enjoyed listening to that. I played it in the car and everyone heard it. Tyler goes around labeling everyone he knows. It's hilarious when he says that so-and-so does that because they are a (fill in the blank with one of the 4 temperaments). So true!

I've also been pondering high school at lot lately. Trying to decide if and what changes need to take place in the homeschool. It seems the popular notion is that high school is a different ball game. I just think of it as the same path as the previous years but a little deeper. It tough to stay focused on that when you feel pushed to make changes.

Day 5 of scout camp. Someone was begging to go home . . . . . and I reminded him that he drove there and had a vehicle and could leave at any time, lol!

Weekend Spring Daybook {April 2015}

Outside my window . . . . .

It's cloudy this morning . . . . expecting rain.

This week . . . . .
Simple days (school, chores, free time, repeat). 

I went through the boys clothes to put away some of the winter stuff, get out more summer stuff, and pull out outgrown and unwanted clothes.

We were able to get out to the family farm for some nature study last Tuesday. Lucy and I walked around the lake, the boys went fishing, and I got to try out one of my birthday presents (portable hammock perfect for reading by the lake). We were greeted by lot of wildlife at the family farm: a Great blue heron, Pied-billed grebe, and a goose.

First catch of the day.

Boys fishing . . . . taking turns since we only brought one fishing pole.

Spring turkey season is in full swing. The boys have yet to get one but Scott got his first turkey of the season. We still have turkey meat from the fall season . . . . must plan some turkey meals.

I am thankful for . . . . 
Spring! Love the green. The birds are nonstop outside the windows. Nature is out and about at our favorite nature study spot. The school year is coming to an end, just a few more weeks until summer break. All things to be thankful for at the moment.

Phlox (wild sweet william) currently blooming out at the family farm.

Wildflower/weed called Yellow rocket (Winter cress) is currently blooming at the family farm.

Clicking around . . . . .
Some of my favorite things on the web that I read this week.
Why Voldemort Hates Homeschooling from Haley @ Carrots for Michaelmas (goes along with the current struggle of the government trying to take away the rights of parents and just the fact we are reading this series right now)
Exploring with Small Boys from Erin @ Seven Little Australians & Counting (this is true with big boys too!)
The Use and Misuse of Charlotte Mason's First Principle  from Brandy @ Afterthoughts (I think I could talk Charlotte Mason all day!)



Around the house . . . . 
New doors were installed last Saturday. Just a little finishing touches are needed (like painting the front door and trim needs to be recut to fit). It was a little weird having holes in the house. Lucy was in heaven to go in and out as she pleased. The weather was good for the project.

Lucy wanted to help. Or was just thankful all the loud noises had come to an end.

Painting is next on the list.

A peak at my day . . . . 
Our days have been pretty much school, chores, free time, repeat. Simple days are fine with me, but I'm looking forward to a little change of pace this summer.

I am working on . . . .
getting ready for a garage sale for next week.

I'm hoping to get started on a meal planning project. I get bored with our meals. I need more variety. I'm thinking of a seasonal rotation. I also need to plan meals with turkey and deer leftover from the fall.

Lucy's introduction to a fish.

Planning ahead . . . . 
I sat down with the calendar on Friday and planned out the upcoming week. I love being able to do this. I don't handle stress well so doing this prevents stress and makes me happy. I also spent a long time on the phone rescheduling appointments to make the calender less stressful.

In the school room . . . .
Three more weeks until summer break! I'm ready to be done. The boys have been working hard to stay ahead. We are counting pages and days to make sure books get finished. I'm thinking ahead to summer planning, summer reading for the boys and myself, and summer education opportunities. All good stuff!

Still no goslings at the family farm.

A March Daybook

I know it's been a while since I last posted. I'm still here. No excuses for not posting. Just the end of winter and motivation is all gone.

Boys and puppy working on a snowman earlier this week. Lucy had to be on leash or otherwise there was no chance of getting the snowman made.

Outside my window . . .
It's still winter here and cold but expecting warmer temperatures over the weekend and next week. We actually saw the sun today and I think it will stick around for the next week. It's been a bit of a winter roller coaster ride here in central Missouri.

I am reading . . . .
~Meredith's Homeschooling Highschool: It's Not As Hard As You Think Go buy it!

~Start Here by Brandy Vencel which I'm enjoying and wish I had more time to go through and read all the suggested readings. I'm especially savoring For The Children's Sake which Brandy has you reading.

~Currently on book 5 of the Harry Potter series. I wish Tyler would slow down! He has finished it and I'm not that far along in it and I'm not sure where Caleb is in it.

~Also, trying to keep up with the boys school readings and previewing some books for next year . . . . this is hard for me to do!

I am thankful for . . . .
my husband who has been doing some of the cooking lately. That has allowed me to finally get a blog post done and some school planning.

Boys who are a joy to be with during the day. I wish I could show my gratitude more for that instead of just telling them about the things they have done wrong during the day.

The online homeschool community who have provided much needed support during this last month. The end of winter can be a trying time and everyone has seemed to encouraging and giving during this time.


Clicking around . . . .
~I'm really enjoying the Refresh Conference from Homeschool Connections.

~The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast have been awesome too.

~See Me Homeschool Blog Hop which was interesting to see inside fellow homeschoolers day-to-day life.

~I've admired Erin @ Seven Little Australians & Counting and appreciated her Aussie Not Back to School Blog Hop. She recently had a reader survey and I asked for more homeschooling post and she provided.  : )

I had some more thing I wanted to share and can't remember at the moment . . . ugh!

 
Celebrating the liturgical year . . . . 
Bringing Home Lent with Saint Therese  is being used and enjoyed this Lent. The boys and I start off with this in the morning (during Morning Basket) along with the daily gospel reading. There are a few other books in this series so we will be able to continue this in following Lent seasons.

I've been enjoying Sweetness & Light Spirit of Lent emails. (I couldn't find a link to sign up, sorry!

Sweetness & Light along with Harrington Harmonies and Forever, For Always, No Matter What are hosting Walk With The Saints Link Up.

It's time to start thinking ahead to Easter! 

Around the house . . . .
Just the same day-to-day stuff. But, I have been dreaming up some home improvement projects though. ; ) I need to budget out the tax refund and see how realistic my plans are going to be. Those windows, doors, and paint that has been on the list for awhile MUST get done. I'm dreaming about new flooring and new living room furniture too. I think the furniture will be put off . . . . remember we have a new puppy. She likes to chew on the couch, so that dream is on hold. Even with being strict with the puppy it is surprising how many things have been torn up! If we can figure out how to put the flooring down ourselves then that dream may happen. (Whispering-I also dream of a few kitchen updates, but that most likely won't happen since it's not a necessity and everything is in working order and I think the budget it maxed out at the moment. But, I like to dream when the Menard's weekly ad comes out!)

I'm also working to improve the bread recipe I use for the new bread machine we received at Christmas. The recipe in the owner's manual is simple but the bread is too dense and bland. I got some ideas from Mary @ Better Than Eden and can't wait to make the next loaf. I'm switching out half of my flour for the whole wheat white and some of the water for coconut oil. The last loaf I made I did use oil but I didn't have the flour yet. I'm not a big bread eater, so I'm really doing this for the family (healthier bread options). I'll see how it goes.

A peak at my day . . . .
I have been enjoying our winter hibernation! Not getting out too much and not too many activities has kept stress levels down during winter.  I think this is a must for winter survival.

I did completely reschedule our school days. Caleb asked for a change and I don't blame him. This is nice during the seemingly long winter months. A nice change of pace. Tyler wasn't too thrilled but that is just his personality as he isn't up much on change. He did just fine and he was happy with it, as long as Keyboarding was first on his schedule. I made sure of that!

I'm enjoying this season of not needing to work with someone constantly through out the day. I have some breaks or should we call it opportunities to get other domestic duties done! The boys have greatly matured since July and are able to handle more independent work. I never thought this day would come!

Planning ahead . . . .
Lots of school planning is going on here. I had to go to great lengths to hide in the bedroom and spend a few uninterrupted hours making subject and book list for Tyler. I'm happy with this list and hoping not many changes will be made. I do want to make a separate book list to keep an eye out for used books and good deals. I don't think I will do my shopping until May/June, but I want to be on the look out for savings.

I still need to sit down and do this for Caleb and work up a potential 4-year plan for high school. I actually sat down to do it now, but I realized my blog needed some attention!


In the school room  . . . .
I mentioned a lot above. I'm hoping to put together a What's working Now post in the next week. Things are going well. A month ago I could not see a happy end in sight and now I can see it. (Just look down your road and you can see the end of May waving at you!)
 

I am working on . . . .
focusing my attention and trying to stay on task. An hour long task will take me all day. There are so many interruptions (laundry, cooking, puppy, text, emails, etc.) and I can't seem to focus. I've had some improvement and I admit it was tough! I was constantly telling myself not to get up. It also helped to get all the "other" stuff that needed to be completed in the day done early which gave me free afternoons. Then moving to the bedroom and closing the door helped greatly too.

Upcoming plans . . . .
Nature hike tomorrow if the weather is twenty degrees warmer than today and I can find my rubber boots (there is going to be a ton of mud!). Otherwise early next week since it's suppose to be in the 50s. Hoping for two walks in the next week.

Tyler crosses over to Boy Scouts on Saturday. This was reschedule from last weekend (snowed out).

I MUST read through the owner's manual of the camera and get it figured out! I want to take pictures and those that I do take need some help. Just need to figure out all the settings!

A picture . . . . 
The boys had a scout camp out two weeks ago that was very close by. Scott came home and picked up Lucy. She ran with them on a 2 mile hike. She came home covered in mud. After a bath she was cold and exhausted. I wrapped her in a blanket to warm her up*.

 *It should be noted that I'm not a dog lover and the blanket was washed afterwards and I also have stopped sitting in the recliner since she has claimed it. Also, just because I turned the heat up to warm her, searched every store in town for made in the USA raw hides, and bought her a new toy today, we are still not friends. I made sure she understood that before giving her the new toy.  ; )

A January Daybook {2015}

Remember when I said that I needed to do less of these type of post? Well, it's all I got at the moment. I'm trying to keep it to once a month . . . . starting in February!

Outside my window~
It's a nice spring day in the dead of winter! It was yesterday too but the wind for horrible. It should last another day and I'm hoping to do some nature study at our favorite spot tomorrow afternoon.  

I'm hoping to see the arrival of all my boys outside my window very soon. They have been on a scout camping trip all weekend. I'm pretty sure the puppy is going to go nuts as soon as the garage door opens.

I'm thankful for~
a free weekend to work on some projects. A few days of sun. 

I am reading~
Still working through the Your Questions Answered: Narration by Sonya Shafer. I highly recommend this book to every homeschooler. I wish I had this a few years ago.

I finished the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series. I'm not sure when I will get to continue to the next one, but I wish I had read this series as a teen. 

We have been on a Harry Potter kick and I've read the first three books of the series. Caleb just finished the second book on Friday and Tyler is already in the third. We were needing some excitement but not a heavy read and this fits our needs. I do believe I will put off the fourth book a while since it's a rather thick one. We have been watching the movies after reading the books. I actually never liked the movies because I couldn't figure out what was going on. Now I know why! The movies are missing a ton of important details. Since I read the books now the movies are making sense. 

Pondering~
My roll in scouts. We are coming to the end of our Cub Scout career and I'm completely burned out. I know that I will need to take on a leader postion with Boy Scouts I think I will have to say no for a little while. I'm going to need some down time!

Lots of homeschooling things. I'm always pondering those though! They are still at front in my mind on most days.

I'm not a dog person. Never will be! Now I'm living with one. She has been constantly requesting my attention to play with her. I just can't bring myself to do it. I feel bad for her. I talk to her constantly and she isn't one for conversation. (You know the cat loved to be talked to!) There will be a whole week this summer when the two of us will be home alone. Will I be able to properly take care of her and give her the attentions she needs. I'm worried!

Clicking Around~
I've enjoyed some older post from my favorite blogs that have shown up on my Facebook feed lately. Do just one thing from Sweetness & Light and Toward Understanding the Moral Imagination from Amongst Lovely Things have been great refreshers. Lots of things to ponder from those.

The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast over at Ed Snapshots look interesting! I listened to one and it was enjoyable. Looking forward to listening to the rest.

A Peak at my Week~
Just the usual grind for us this week. Looking forward to some nature study though. The local homeschool group is having a book sale this week so that will be fun.

I need to make plans for a 14 year old birthday party. Yikes!

Around the House~
I did purchase new towels and went with a gray color. Not what I truly wanted but they match and aren't falling apart.

I tackled Tyler's closet over the weekend. I feel good about it and cleared out a lot of stuff. I'm not sure how he will feel about it once he gets home.

I did some major books sorting! I filled up a trash bag of twaddly books to donate. I feel bad giving them to someone to read as there is so much out there that is better to read. Yet, my recycling cart is overflowing and pick up isn't for a few days. I need the books gone before I'm discovered! ; )

I'm pretty sure my house will be destroyed and all new furniture will need to be bought after surviving the puppy stage with a lab! Taking donations now! Everything that is on the floor or within reach of her jumping as been set up higher. I have piles of stuff sitting in random places. And I don't have a lot of stuff or clutter in the house. Mostly book baskets, rugs, remotes. Nothing can be left on the floor! This is worse than baby proofing.  I lost two books this weekend. Still usable but missing a corner on each of them. I don't leave her alone either so she is destroying fast!

Life With Boys~
Scouts! My baby will cross over to Boy Scouts next month. He got to go on his first camp out with them this weekend. I begged him to stay home and he was determined to go!  ; ) The oldest turns 14 later this month and boy does it hurt. I think it hurts every year once they are school aged. Slowing down time would be much appreciated at the moment!

I am Working on~
Morning wake-up time. I'm not a morning person and I really have to push myself to wake when the alarm goes off.

I'm also working on getting a little more exercise into our days. Tough to do with our weather in Missouri (hot summers and cold winters).

A Picture~
This is what happens to a puppy when all her playmates leave her. She was moaning and groaning around the house most of the day. Then she took out her grief on everything in her sight. We are counting the minutes of the return of the boys! She is hiding under the couch in the picture.

A Christmas Daybook

Outside my window-
COLD! with some flurries. I'm seriously regretting not getting some new windows and doors that were suppose to be put in this fall. Walking by them and feeling a cold breeze was a horrible reminder of how priorities out mixed up this fall in what needed to be done around the house.

I'm thankful for-
a wonderful Christmas and time to relax and pondering.

Christmas Prayer Table with Jesse Tree with 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments that I got for Christmas.

From the kitchen-
. . . . . I've been pretty lazy in that department. I even sent Scott to the grocery store with no list and said to just get some stuff. We received a bread machine for Christmas. So maybe I will buy some ingredients and make some bread.

I am reading-
Finishing up the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series. I can't wait to read the next one. I finished Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition which is one of the best books I've read while trying to educate myself on education. 

I've started Your Questions Answered: Narration from Simply Charlotte Mason, and I'm glad I bought it. There was a series of emails/blog post on this and I got lost in the length of it all. The book is perfect though. Short chapter for quick readings between other things. I'm getting a lot out of it!

I'm hoping to pick up some of the boys school books to read this week. I also made a list for library books but I can't remember what I'm getting to read. ; )

Our Nativity with the new Three Wise Men that my parents gave me for Christmas. We received this set as a wedding gift from my aunts and I don't know why I never got the Wise Men. But, now we have them!

Pondering-
I've been all about homeschool high school the last couple of weeks! My goal was to get a possible 4-year plan on paper and possible course ideas. I've made a little bit of progress.

I got really depressed as I was reading so much about "playing the game". Everything I was reading was all about the goal of getting into a good university with lots of scholarships. Now this is something you want to happen but that it not the goal of high school. I hate that utilitarian view of education! Our goal in high school (in short) is to develop the person. I finally pulled out my Navigating the High School Years DVD from Simply Charlotte Mason and it was just a relief to finally here something inspiring that matched our goals for high school! I am so thankful for my friend, Lynne, who reminded me that we needed to watch it.

While sick (really just fighting a cold that my body said take a hike but the cold just kept trying to invade aka I'm exhausted but not too many cold symptoms) I started planning out books for the next school year (yes! 2015-2016!!). Even though it's too early it was good use of my time because I really had no brain power but I wanted to get something done. I made a good list for Tyler's sixth grade year. Now to just let that sit until late spring.  : )

Clicking around-
In my high school research I relied heavily on the following resources for some encouragement and ideas.
Meredith's Homeschool Highschool (and I'm excited her ebook will be out later this month!)
Jen's Homeschool High School Post (awesome encourgement here!)
Homeschool High School Carnival (all kinds of different ideas here!) 
I know there were more but that is all I can recall at the moment.

The Three Wise Men and their camel take a trip around on our house until the Epiphany. Looks like they made a rest stop. I guess the camel got thirsty.

A few plans-
This is our last week of Christmas break. I'm hoping to work on getting us back on a school schedule by the end of the week. This will make our first week back much easier.

I still have a few projects that I want to complete. We were a little sick last week and didn't get as much done. The woodwork in the kitchen could use a good scrubbing and I have an impossible closet that is giving me a headache.

I have a plan to hit JCP for new towels. Almost all of the towels in our house need replacing so I'm planning on using some Christmas cash for that. The original towels still usable after 15+ years were all from JCP so that is why I decided to shop there. I love Target but their towels just don't last! (Of course I probably bought the cheapest they had.)

Boys playing the Wii on New Year's Eve and one tired puppy. And a look at my leaning Christmas tree. As I say every year, maybe next year we will get a new one next year!

A Thanksgiving Week Daybook {2014}

Outside my window . . .
today was nice! Breezy but in the 50s.

I'm thankful for . . . 
a much need break, money to purchase Christmas gifts, visiting family, healthy boys, not having to cook for Thanksgiving, a sister-in-law who is willing to take (free) family pictures for us, new clothes, a full frig and freezer, a reasonable schedule, a hard working husband. Or the shorter version, I'm just thankful for all of God's everyday gifts.

I am pondering . . .
Advent plans! Christmas gifts! 

From the kitchen . . . 
lots of cookies in the  near future! I stocked up on all the ingredients for sugar cookies. We will make these for St. Nicholas Day, a cookie exchange, and sometime during Christmas we will use our Nativity cookie cutters set.

I am reading . . . 
Not much right now, but hoping to do more during Advent. I've slowly been reading Consider This. 

Clicking around . . . 
Since I've been pondering books and Advent, much of my clicking around involves that!
I've been enjoying all of Erin's book lists on Seven Little Australians & Counting.
Jennifer at Family in Feast and Feria has many links for Advent!


A peek at my week . . .
No school this week! Monday I did some deep-cleaning in the living room and lots of laundry. I'm now ready to decorate for Advent come this weekend. Tuesday we ran errands in town. Wednesday was laundry and planning the last two weeks of the school before Christmas break. Thursday we gathered with extended family for a Thanksgiving meal. Today we had breakfast at my parents. We then went to take family pictures. I did a quick clean of the house this afternoon. I've also done some online Christmas shopping.

A few plans . . .
Finalize Christmas shopping plans and get the shopping completed next week!! Top priority! Decorate for Advent on Saturday/Sunday. Which means I need to finalize all Advent plans.

Around the house . . .
I'm struggling with the fact that I didn't get the painting projects done that I wanted to this fall. My dining room walls are bare and I have plans in my head but can't move ahead until the painting is done. I think I'm dragging my feet on spending the money on this project and the fact that Scott doesn't like my paint choice. 

A picture . . . 
Tyler with his cousin on Thanksgiving Day.

 
 

A Tuesday Daybook {October 28, 2014}

Outside my window . . . .
it was a beautiful autumn day.  The past weekend was hot(the air condition had to be turned back on for a short time)! Cooler temperatures are wanted but it is a little of a shock today after such a hot weekend.

I’m thankful for . . . .

a busy late summer/early fall season being over. Now just back to normal busy. This week is ideal and we only have one activity planned in the evening. 

 

A two-night getaway with Scott last week at our favorite spot. We went to celebrate our 15th anniversary, which was in September, and Scott's 40th birthday which occurred while we were away. 

 

I’m thinking about . . . .

a shopping list. I need to go shopping and I'm struggling with that list.

 

Advent . . . is it too early? I would like to work on a book list and decide on what traditions we will do this year. I need a new wreath since I didn't like the new one we had last year. I would like to get those shopping list made too and get the shopping started and done before Thanksgiving.  

In the schoolroom . . .

We started term 2 this week and the first two days have gone well. I'll be posting our term 2 plans later this week along with Learning Notes sometime over the weekend.

 

From the kitchen . . . .

I planned beef stew, homemade pizza, and taco casserole this week. The rest is being filled in with some type of frozen meat and veggies or leftovers. I made the pizza tonight and didn't have any sauce . . . . there goes thinking the menu was organized this week.

 

I am working on . . . .

attitudes and habits. Not just the boy's but mine. New term with a new schedule and it's time rid the house of the complainers and talk-backers. I could use a mentor!

 

I am reading . . .

I finished A Mother's Rule of Life and I thought it was wonderful. I need to catch up on reading some of the boys books for school. I've been listening to Anne of Green Gables in the car with CDs that I got from the library. The reading is not the greatest, but I'm enjoying the story and I know this is the only way I will get to "read" it. Next in my pile to read is Holiness for Housewives.   

 

Around the house . . . .

do you hear crickets? My project from my last daybook are still not done. New windows and doors really should be on a priority! We are still dragging on feet on the painting.

A few plans for the week . . . .

School, catching up on some project put off for less busy times, hopefully enjoying some fall nature, youth deer season, and scrapbooking. I haven't made any plans for All Hallows' Eve or All Saints Day,yet. I would like to do something special on Friday since Saturday is booked.

 

Life with boys . . . .

Cross country season ended last Wednesday and the boys haven't ran since then. I think they decided to run once a week through fall and winter (if possible). I need to get this activity on their calendar.

 

The boys have been spending their free time building in the backyard. We have a pile of blocks (those used to make a retaining wall), some tin pieces, and a few odds and ends building supplies that they are using. I'm hoping animals don't decide to make it their winter home!

 

Pictures . . . .

A few from our trip.

 

View from our room!

Squirrels were enjoying fall at the lake too.