Auntie moved and needed someone to take a trampoline off her hands.  Fun new diversion for us

Try to ignore Miss A’s less than glamorous pants…we don’t really dress up for our backyard.

I’ve been meaning to share one of our fun book club days for awhile.

We had some friends over for a Dr. Seuss day, and read The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs & Ham.  Then we played this game, which was a bit challenging with so many little ones, but they did enjoy it.

The highlight of our gathering was lunch.

We didn’t have any ham, so we improvised with fried hot dogs (so healthy, I know) …no one seemed to mind too much . 

The eggs were an issue because I just couldn’t bring myself to dump a pile of food coloring into the eggs when it’s something I normally try to avoid with my kids. 

Luckily I own this cookbook and it contains a totally healthy recipe for green eggs.  I’d never tried it before because  I just really didn’t believe that you could dump a pound of spinach in your eggs and not taste it (as the book claims).

However, although you could taste it a little, it really did blend in a lot better than I expected.

Apparently the kids agreed because they all gobbled them up, and a couple even had seconds. 

I was just thrilled my kids were actually eating spinach! 

Thank you, thank you Sam-i-am.

I saw this series online last night and decided it might be something nice, as well as helpful to participate in. 

The theme this week is “morning routines”.

I used to have an amazing routine.  Everything in my home ran smoothly and on time and it was perfect.  I don’t know what happened.  But this is definitely NOT the case anymore.

My mornings tend to be very lazy for the first half, and frantically rushed for the rest.  It seems like lunch time is here before I know it and nothing is done. 

I never used to be much of a list maker, but as I’ve learned from my cleaning schedule , a list can be very helpful in getting things done. 

So here is my list of five things I plan to get done each morning (aside from the obvious things such as, you know, feeding my kids).  I’m keeping it really simple here so hopefully I can experience success.

1. Tidy up my bedroom.

2. Start a load of laundry.

3. At least half of our planned school lessons for the day.

4. Tidy up the kitchen. (dishes can wait, but at least make sure there’s a clear counterspace!)

5. Bible time for me and the girls.

Okay, that’s my list.  It doesn’t look like much, but honestly if I could check all of these things off by noon each day, it would be a HUGE improvement over the way things have been.

What about you?  Do you have a morning routine?  Or if not, could you use one?  Share your thoughts.

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For Today… March 23,2009

Outside my window… hazy sunshine…I think there’s still some dust hanging in the air after our day of outrageous wind yesterday. 

I am thinking… Princess Darling better show up this week.  (FYI the counter is now showing how many days LATE she is)

From the learning rooms… the basics, and some much needed cleaning and organization of our learning tools.

I am thankful for… my allergies easing up.  And a fun time with friends last night.

From the kitchen… last night I tried this recipe for the first time.  It is AWESOME! so good and so easy

I am wearing… pajamas…and I would say I’m basically “wearing” a four year old as well.

I am reading… blogs, magazines, things that take no time and minimal attention.  Very scholarly, I know.

I am creating… a new approach to our school lessons…taking my fancy purchased lesson plans and tweaking them to work for us (instead of being a slave to them as we have been).

I am hearing… the hum of hombre’s computer.

Around the house… repainting water stained window sills, contemplating painting the kitchen….I can’t decide if it’s too big of a job to do with the kids.

A few plans for the rest of the week…  hopefully spending time with some friends visiting from out of town, show and tell on Friday if the wind doesn’t return.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

This is what showed up in my backyard a couple of weeks ago….our first (and hopefully last) encounter with a snake!  I’m trying to focus on the positive…it’s not a dangerous one.   

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