I decided that I could be chattier if I switched back to a Daybook instead of Monday Musings. Sometimes Mondays are not good, but other days are, and with my Type-A personality the “Monday” thing was kind of like painting myself into a corner. And I *ahem* borrowed Sarah’s Dayboook format without asking, but 1) she isn’t awake yet and 2) she’s 37 weeks pregnant with twins. I think I can take her. Anyway, she is very generous, so I don’t think she’ll mind sharing.


Speaking of those twins, I am on baby-watch for sure. Every time my text beeps, I am just sure it is the news that she is on the way to the hospital. Any day now… New babies are so exciting.

Outside my window:

Rain, rain, rain. Which is good, because apparently we have been under drought conditions for years now (when does it not become drought and it is now the new rainfall norm?). Our summer has been blessedly mild so far as well. Much cooler than normal, though the humidity is not taking a break.


I’m thankful for:

My husband. He goes along with almost all of my crazy schemes, and he works two jobs to make it all happen. He went back to work last week — no small adjustment I am sure after having been away for over a year. Please add him to your prayers.

I’m thinking about:

purging. As in lots and lots of purging. I recently read this article and it resonated with me greatly. In fact much of what she says there I read in Simplicity Parenting a few years ago. It made sense then too, I just didn’t act on it enough. Toys are a bit like mold, though. Even if you get rid of them, they start creeping back in. (How do you tell loving relatives to get your kids experiences and not stuff?) 

I do think having fewer toys allows kids the freedom to play. Too many choices typically overwhelm. I also think we would all be calmer and happier with much less to clean up. BUT I am not angry enough about it to take drastic measures, so I am going to get the kids to help me work on the project, and we are going to slim down a lot even if we don’t reach the levels in the article. I won’t lie; there are a few things that are just going to disappear never to be heard from again…

From the schoolroom:

The learning space is almost finished! I have been working diligently and the list is now down to just a handful of things to do – light fixture (not me), paint (on hold), wall art (waiting on funds), timeline display (this one I can do — I think). I hope to finish my part this weekend and then I’ll get that post up! In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek.



From the kitchen:

Watermelon. Man they are good this year! And buffalo chicken salad. This one is super-easy. Put chicken breasts or chicken tenders in the crockpot. Sprinkle on about 3TBS ranch dressing mix (I make mine from this recipe.) and then about a cup of hot sauce. Cook until done. I then chop it into bite-size pieces (which I probably should do before cooking come to think of it) and serve it over a romaine salad with carrots and blue cheese dressing. I don’t care for celery, but if you do, then by all means add it. All the flavor of hot wings in a low-carb, low-fat version. Yum.

Games! My kiddos love learning with games and we need to refresh our stash. Some of our old favorites are worn out and we just need some new ones as well. Do you have any games for learning math facts, etc that your kids love? We are always looking for good ones.

I am creating:

Lesson plans! For home and for co-op. Home is done, for all intents and purposes. I’m just finishing up those games. The work for the first day of school (one week!) is already on the clipboards. My goal is to only spend about an hour a week this year getting ready for the week. I think that is doable. I love it when things are planned enough that the schooling runs on autopilot. I think we’re there. Details coming soon to a blog near you.

Now I am gearing up to finish the co-op plans before we begin there August 6. So exciting and so nerve-wracking at the same time. 

I am reading:

Still working on A Mother’s Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul. I got sidetracked by all the lesson planning and purging.

I am praying: 

For my husband. For Sarah. For extra graces.

I am listening to:

Toca Band The kids love all of those Toca apps, and I downloaded this one this week. (It’s free right now!) Add that to our collection of Toca hits. We have a ton of them. They are quirky and silly and really promote creative play (such as it is on the iPad). My favorite is Toca Kitchen Monsters. No matter what you do to that food, those monsters always appreciatively gobble it up. 

Clicking around:

Screen Rules :: In the Heart of My Home
On Teaching From a State of Rest :: Amongst Lovely Things
Speed Cleaning :: Living Well, Spending Less

Around the house:

Updates to cleaning lists and chore lists for the new school year routines.

One of my favorite things:

The Remote app for the iPhone. We are having our cable cut off this week. Since Apple TV is part of our replacement plan it was rather annoying that the teeny tiny remote was always getting lost or the buttons would stick. In googling for a replacement, I stumbled across this app which will control the device from my phone. Cue angels singing now! Putting it on all the devices in our home, thankyouverymuch. No more searching for that blasted remote.

Plans for this week:

The big kids are going to pioneer camp! This means they will be out from 9-2 Mon-Wed. They are also slated to spend the night Thursday night. Two concerns: 1) Wow they are going to be gone a long time those days! and 2) Will they really spend the night or will I be making a mid-night run to pick up one of them (who shall remain nameless)?

A photo:

Olivia was in her very first play this week. She spent the week at our local community theater’s summer camp. At the end of the week they do a small production. She played Amy, Huck Finn’s girlfriend. She did a fantastic job. Very proud of that girl! I also think she had a blast doing it.