A Juicy Weekend

I haven't been keeping up with my blogging this weekend, as I have been doing this:

Juicing stuff with my new juicer, sitting on the back deck enjoying the sunshine, reading a book that sucked and a book that doesn't (so far). 

In my juice:

• spinach
• cucumber
• basil
• apple
• pear
• ginger
• lime
• JOY.

So, Menu Plan Monday didn't happen.  I don't have a plan yet, but I am sure we will not starve. 

See you tomorrow, if I can tear myself away from the juicer. 

Two for a Dollar?

The Husband:  Tiny, let me see those loose teeth.  I will just give it a little wiggle.

Tiny:  Okay, Daddy!

The Husband:  Hmmmm, let me just give it a little tug.

Tiny:  Okay, Daddy!

The Husband:  *jerks on the tooth*

Tiny:  DADDY!!!

Out came the first tooth.  Proudly displayed gap-grin:

The Husband:  Tiny, let me stop the bleeding and give the other one a little wiggle.

Tiny:  Okay, Daddy. 

*sob*

Tiny:  OUCH!

The Husband:  I think we are all done here. 

Tiny:  *sob*

The Husband:  I guess we better get ready for the tooth fairy.

Crazy little consumer, capitalizing on life's inevitabilities. 

Where is my purse?

Fishing, Roo, and Haircut, too.

Just a little rhyme to start the day.

Sunday afternoon we went out to the in-laws to let the Woolly Mammoth out to graze. 

The girls wanted to do some fishing, and the Husband was happy to oblige.

It was HOT. 

Why is Tiny Love wearing a life jacket when we are fishing on the dock? 

Because Tiny Love is a little unpredictable, and Mom is a little paranoid attached to her.

Someone else is a lot more trustworthy.

Curlyjo caught, with her little Barbie pole, several giant, ugly catfish.

And Tiny Love thinned out the smaller fish population.

It was a good day.

Today is a good day, too.  Why, you ask? 

The Roo is on the couch, contemplating the mysteries of Elmo while trying to focus on Dinosaur Train.  He has already filled his diaper twice, refused four different breakfast options, and guzzled two cups of chocolate milk.  Oh, and stolen my heart.  :)

In other news, I have done it again...I let my hair grow out until it was exactly chin length and at the peak of hideousness, and gave up.  I got it cut.

It looks the same when I get up as when I went to bed...for better or worse. 

I don't know if it looks better, but it can't be worse. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

To participate in The Simple Woman's Daybook, go here.

FOR TODAY:  May 25, 2010

Outside my window...it is a little cloudy and hazy, and it looks hot out there already. 

I am thinking...about my Mom, hoping she will be released from the hospital today. 

I am thankful for...the Holy Spirit, who is speaking to my heart today about my selfishness.  I am so thankful that God doesn't leave me as I am.

From the learning rooms...I am finishing Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss.  The girls have the day off of school today!
From the kitchen...I just had my morning bowl of Banana Oats.  Apparently my breakfast rut is back.

I am wearing...PJ bottoms, t shirt, no socks.

I am creating...laundry piles.  I have four loads to fold and put away. 

I am going...to take Curlyjo to piano lessons today.  I am also getting my hair trimmed today, but I really just want to shave it all and start over.

I am reading...the book of Proverbs.  I need some wisdom (see the above statement).

I am hoping...that through this current trial, my family will be stronger, and I will be less interested in myself.

I am hearing...Curlyjo and her friend giggling upstairs.

Around the house...is the evidence that my mind has been distracted the last few days.  Things are disheveled and making me crazy.

One of my favorite things...fresh strawberries, local and in season.  One of my dearest friends gave me some, and it did just brighten my day.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Catching cuddles from my nephew (who is spending the night tonight),  keeping the garden watered, lunch at the park with friends, missing my sisters (who are traveling to Canada to see my parents).

Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

 

If you see these two ladies at the airport, be sure to tell them that the air in Canada is "so FREEEESH." 

It will make them smile :)

Menu Plan Monday

Whew!  It has been Monday all day, if you know what I mean ;)

So, I did the Aldi shopping this week, and it felt good to leave the grocery store with a HEAPING cartful for $160!  I stocked up on some staple items, too.

Monday:  Grilled burgers, macaroni and cheese, roasted veggies (Brussels sprouts/broccoli)

Tuesday:  Chicken Sausage Pasta, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday:  Chicken Wreath, frozen veggie

Thursday:  Beef Stroganoff, egg noodles, green beans

Friday:  Baked Chicken nuggets, rice pilaf, veggie

Saturday:  Pizza, salad

Sunday:  Leftovers

I will post the recipe for the Chicken Sausage pasta once I am done making it up :)

The Chicken Wreath is a weird Pampered Chef thing that is seriously the Husband's favorite food.  Brother loves it too.  Us girls, not so much.

I have already pre-cooked some lentils and quinoa to have through the week, and I boiled some eggs for a protein source for us vegetarians.  Looks like we will be relying pretty heavily on the beans this week.

I think I will close this post with a couple of random pics that reflect where my mind is right now, because it's my blog and I'll be random if I want to.

Mommy. 

She has been in the hospital (far, far away), and I wish I could get to her.

Tiny Love. 

She went to spend the night with a friend, and I miss her.

The Roo, my nephew.

I just haven't seen enough of his sweet face lately.

Obviously. 

Because--obviously.

Home Sweet Home

Yesterday, while waiting to go have dinner with some of my lovely friends

and heading to a Stampin' Up card making party,

(humidity hair and more black clothing)

I stopped at my house, wandered through it, and generally missed it.

I admired my favorite tree,

reminisced about my children climbing their favorite tree,

I also spent some time wondering why, if we don't live there right now, there is so much junk of the Husband's stuff out by the barn. 

I admired my little herb garden,

which seems to be getting along happily without me.  On the left is thyme, on the right, sage.

I sat on my back steps and admired my irises, which have bloomed in my absence.

And I relished the thought that it won't be long before my family and I (and my parents) will be

home sweet home.

Giveaway!

Let me begin by saying that I have shuddered at the thought of doing a "lapbook" with my children ever since I began homeschooling.  I simply didn't think I could deal with all that detail!  Lapbooks are an awesome why to learn, just not for me.  Until Tiny Love began school.

Tiny Love cannot sit still.  During read aloud time, she must have Silly Putty to play with (or Legos, crayons, something).  She can read, but doesn't like the lack of ACTIVITY that reading entails.  If she could only figure out a way to read while riding her bike, I am sure she would do more of it.  (Someone is just the opposite.)  So, at the homeschool convention, I picked up a lapbook kit by "In The Hands of A Child."  It scared me, but I was brave and desperate to find something to appeal to Tiny.

She loved it. 

She asked to do it.

She didn't know it was school. 

*cue angels singing, clouds parting, sunlight shining on my blessed homeschool*

It totally freaked me out, what with all the cutting, pasting and lack of uniformity in the placement of items in the folder, but such are the sacrifices of a homeschool mom :)

We are all finished now, and Tiny is enjoying playing with her little project, showing it off to family and friends.  And it worked in other ways, too...she can read even better after doing the lapbook!

So, as Tiny is my last "beginning reader," I would like to pass the fun on to another family!

If you have a beginning reader and would like to have this lapbook guide to do with them, just leave me a comment below.  Make sure to include your email address, which I will not publish.  This would be a great summer project for kids who are not homeschooled also! 

 I will choose a winner tomorrow... that is if I have one or more people comment for it!  LOL

I will get an address to mail it to when I have a winner. 

Lapbook, anyone?