1 – I’ve been on a kick this week to get up early and get my shower before Matt leaves. Of course the kids are getting up soon after, so it is not getting me any extra morning time alone. The kids have also been screen-free before 4:00PM for most of this week. That means that I am greatly reduced in my own screen-time. It is going well. I am getting more accomplished during the day and spending more time focusing on them. They, on the other hand, are still in withdrawal stage. I am told it will improve after a week or two. I need to bottle how good it feels to be accomplishing something so I can remember it when the temptation to slack off starts setting in.

2 – We have been pretty low-tide for a while here, but I am starting to think about planning some things out for us. I am thinking of ways to have something of a plan, but also lots of flexibility. We will do Logic of English (reading, handwriting, spelling), poetry memorization, and Spanish daily. We will also work in our world cultures basket about an hour daily (read alouds, music, art, cooking, science and geography are all included in this). Everything else I am thinking of putting on a loop schedule. On the loop you list out all the topics you are going to loop and then work through each one before looping back and starting over. So our loop might include: faith, math, writing, BFSU, a game, a video. We would most likely get to two of those each day. Some days we may get to more, or if we get involved, we might just focus on one for a day. Next I am thinking of using something like Sarah’s checklists for ideas of things for us to do in each topic. We can work straight down the list or jump around or even leave spaces at the bottom to write in some other topic for the day. Still pondering this…

3 – Speaking of our world cultures study, I would love, love, love to hear your favorite picture books for various continents. We will study specific countries, but name any you know of, because we will also read any great book from each continent when we study that one. Pretty please?

4 – Look who started following my Downton Abbey board on Pinterest this morning. What a riot!

5 – John has been dying for me to play his new Kirby’s Epic Yarn (called Kirby Strings at our house) Wii game with him. I finally got up there to do it this afternoon and struggled mightily with the controller. I couldn’t figure out why I needed to push the top and bottom buttons to move horizontally instead of the side to side ones. John was absolutely no help, impatient and constantly frustrated with my ineptitude. Finally I kind of gave up and went through the motions while watching him play. I came downstairs complaining to Matt and bemoaning the demise of Frogger and Donkey Kong. When I explained what was wrong, Matt asked why I hadn’t simply turned the controller sideways. Doh! I felt really blond in that moment. Of course then he shared that John had been the one to suggest it to him. The little fink let his mama struggle along and just got impatient with me.

6 – While at the convention last weekend I stupidly put a bottle of water in my purse with my iPod Touch. Of course, there was a slight leak and apparently it was just enough to totally mess up my machine. It has been in rice for a few days and has made a partial recovery. Everything seems to work on it except for the wifi card. That means that I can use it for about 40% of what I normally would. I am so, so bummed. That thing has been an extension of my arm since right after Thomas was born. It was an invaluable companion through all my hours of nursing. I am trying to decide if I want to leave it as is (it would make a perfect little kid machine for music and books with no wifi) or see if one of Matt’s IT buddies can crack the case and clean the corrosion off the wifi card. It’s interesting — I also weaned Thomas this week. There is something about the fact that both things were ending at the same time.

7 – Speaking of weaning, he is taking it well. I was gone for four days and then he’s asked about once a day since I returned. I always offer to cuddle or rock instead and except for a couple of early mornings he has taken it well. In fact, I don’t know that he asked today at all. I myself am incredibly sad. I almost came to tears today in the park talking about it with a friend. I also think it upped my baby-fever dramatically as well. I may have to go lurk over at Sarah’s some more. Isn’t Posy just so cute?

Head on over to Jen’s for more Quick Takes!