Daybook: March 30th, 2010

Outside my window... it's still chilly, but it's supposed to be almost 60 by this afternoon. Then it just gets better and better all week. By Friday-- 80 --I can't wait.

I am listening to... the boys working on their economics lesson. Alright, alright, they're playing monopoly. Same thing.

I am wearing... I'm almost embarrassed to say that I'm wearing the exact same thing as last week. What can I say? It's Tuesday again, a day for staying home, catching up, and housework. It's a comfortable outfit.

I am thinking... about that housework. So far this morning I've done a good job of avoiding it. I plan to immerse myself in dishes and laundry when Isaac goes down for his nap.

I am looking forward to... Easter. I appreciate Lent for what it is, and am so grateful for our Liturgical year. We need these times in the desert in order to appreciate the Alleluias. Still, I'm ready for Easter. New beginnings and fresh starts.

I am thankful... for Mr. Smith. I've bitten off way more than I can chew lately and he's picked up my slack without complaining. Let me tell you, he makes a mean batch of banana pancakes (that was dinner last night).

I am praying... for Isaac. At 21.5 months he still isn't speaking. Not a single word. His doctor is concerned, and ordered an evaluation for speech delay. They do this at 2 years, so we have a few months of praying for improvement ahead of us.

I am creating... a baby. Truly exhausting work.

I am going... to get to work finalizing our Holy Week plans. I have a pretty good idea of what we're doing already, but I only want to make one more trip to the store before Easter. So I need a good solid list before I go.

One of my favorite things... is being involved in things at church. When I was a kid I never felt like I was a part of the community, I guess because we didn't attend with any regularity. It would never have occurred to me that you could have a conversation with a priest. It is so different for my kids and I am so happy about that. On Friday, Blake and I will be part of the women and children at the eighth station during the living Stations of the Cross. It's a really beautiful production and I'm glad we were asked to be a part of it.

Around the house... hmmmm. Well, it's not pretty, but I refuse to reference housework any more in this post.

From the kitchen... Tonight- chicken and broccoli stir fry. Then lots of special foods for Holy Week. I'll try to post as we celebrate.

From the school room... just the basics right now. We have a few lap books that we need to wrap up, but we've been taking it easy for awhile. We'll have to get back on track after Easter.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
-homeschool gym
-piano lessons
-finish the school room makeover
-COFFEE OUT WITH A DEAR FRIEND (special attention completely necessary on this one)
-Holy Thursday Mass
-Stations of the Cross
-finish Easter shopping
-Easter Sunday celebration

A picture thought to share...

before:

after:
Baby's first haircut. :o(

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more daybook entries.

If you blog it, they will solve it.

It was 4:00 this morning. The thing was beeping. I was squeezing my eyes shut, hoping to get back to sleep and forget I had been disturbed.
That's when Mr. Smith went barrelling out to the living room (in his unmentionables), determined to put an end to it. Straight to the toy box (I was right). He picked up a hand-held electronic sudoku game. A game I had held in my very own hand just hours earlier, an offering of busyness to a fidgety 21-month-old. He pressed a button. The beeping stopped.
Never in a million years would I have thought that that game would have an alarm on it. Why would you need an alarm? To remind you to play your daily sudoku?
Mystery solved.

The Mystery of the 4:00am Alarm

There's something in my house. It's an alarm. Or a watch, or toy, clock, stopwatch, or electronic device of some sort.
For approximately one week it has been going off in the vicinity of 4:00am. The vicinity of it's location, however, is completely unknown. Mr. Smith was certain it was under the couch, but a thorough search yesterday evening proved otherwise. I thought (and still think) that it's in the toy box or surrounding area, but we haven't been able to pinpoint it.
The problem is that at four o'clock in the morning we are all too asleep to track it down. It beeps for about a minute and then stops, and I go back to sleep, vowing once again that today is the day I will figure it out.
I thought I had it-- this morning I determined, in my half-asleep state, that it was the same beeping sound my kitchen timer makes. The boys assure me that there is no way to set that timer to go off at daily intervals. I concede.
There's no telling how long this could go on.

Daybook: March 23rd, 2010

Outside my window... after last night's cold rain, it promises to be warm and sunny today. I can just see the sun trying to peek through the clouds.

I am listening to... children talking about spring. We've got the fever over here.

I am wearing... black yoga pants, berry-colored maternity top. Mr. Smith got me a gift card for Christmas and I walked out of the store with this top in four different colors. It's comfy and perfect for everyday, I just rotate my way through the colors. Does that make me really practical, or lame and boring?

I am thinking... that the snowflake cut-outs on the windows in front of me need to go. Maybe we'll do some butterflies today.

I am looking forward to... warm days. We have an enclosed porch on this tiny house, and being able to leave the front door open feels like it doubles our living space. The boys go out there to build legos or play board games or marbles. It's been too cold, but the day is coming soon, very soon.

I am thankful... for healthy pregnancies. It's hard enough without complications. I've been feeling so good lately I can't help but be thankful that I've been blessed with fertility and health.

I am praying... for so many, but right now, for us. That God's will is clear, that He leads us where He wants us to be. For secure and fulfilling employment for Mr. Smith.

I am creating... a baby blanket. It's a simple, knitted, yellow blanket, and I'm about halfway through. Oh, and I started it when I was pregnant with James :o). Hoping to finish it before this little guy comes.

I am going... to a store. Sigh. The sleeves on Blake's spring jacket hit his arms somewhere between the elbows and the wrists. He's also outgrown all of his underwear and socks. Mr. Smith and I are noticing that suddenly there seems to be another adult in the house, in lots of ways. Sigh.

One of my favorite things... organic coffee.

Around the house... we've been here almost six months. It's time to finish up a few things. I spent Saturday sewing curtains for the porch. I need to turn the white cloth that's draped on the window above my kitchen sink into a proper curtain. And there's really no excuse for the three boxes of books and odds and ends still sitting here.

From the kitchen... still preparing every. single. thing. that this family of seven puts into their mouths. Giving up fast food and carry-out of any kind for Lent has proven more difficult than I had anticipated. 12 days to go. (note to Mr. Smith- No need to comment on the fact that I do not actually make your lunch for you. And yes, you made dinner for me on Saturday, thank you.)

From the school room... oh boy, the school room. Yikes. After a few crazy weeks of lots of appointments, group activities, out of state traveling, feast days, and more, we're really playing catch up. We need a total overhaul of the books and learning supplies, and a fresh outlook for our last two months of schooling.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

-homeschool gym

-piano lessons

-school room makeover

-first walk to the park for the season

-trip to Target

-well visit check-ups for two boys

-homeschool group moms' meeting

A picture thought to share...
I got nothin'. Maybe I'll get Blake to pull the vacation photos off of his camera.

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more daybook entries.

Quick Question

Does an eggplant really weigh 25 lbs.?

Huh.

I never knew that.