Best Friends

Some fun pictures of Esther with her best buddies - her brothers and sisiters!!

Week's Beginning

FOR TODAY March 23, 2009...

Outside my window...Cloudy skies - tiny breeze. I think were having a typical grey Pacific Northwest drizzly day

I am thinking...about what it looks like to be the wife and mother God wants me to be - not what the world expects it to look like or even what the church expects it to be - but what God wants

I am thankful for..The really fun day we had on Saturday!! Such a great time we had!!!

From the learning rooms...Starting our new units on Eyes and Ears and American Folklore

From the kitchen...We just finished buttermilk pancakes for breakfast - I'm finishing my menu for the week next.

Verse for today...Philippians 2: 5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (the part I'm working on)

I am creating...a birthday gift and my wrap - I went into a very fancy yarn shop this weekend - I almost had to ask for a tissue to wipe the drool off my face :0) It did inspire me to find more creating minutes in my day!!

I am going...Grocery shopping sometime today - not terribly excited to go - hopefully it will seem more fun later ;0)

I am reading...Philippians and Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann Ross - silly book

I am hoping...Esther's tooth comes through soon. It's just hanging around just making her fussy at night. I can feel how swollen her gums are - poor thing!!

I am hearing...Ruthie tidying the kitchen - the others getting out some coloring things

Around the house...Tidying up - a bit more cleaning up in my bedroom - a good floor sweeping and maybe if there's time a mopping

One of my favorite things...Long rides that start out early in the morning

A few plans for the rest of the week: A potluck Boy Scout Court of Honor on Thursday evening - I think Daniel has achieved a new rank - if he did, I get a new pin to add to my collection :0) For sure he's earned some new merit badges (sewing for me!!) He's working so hard to get Eagle!!

Here is a picture I'm sharing: another picture of the snow geese we saw on Saturday - the farm was so pretty and that distant line of white in front of it were hundreds more geese!!! I wish my camera could have captured the rugged Olympic Mountains that were behind all that - they were just gorgeous!!!

For more Simple Woman Daybook entries you can visit: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Lovely Day

Our big boys were at a youth convention (Dare 2 Share) today learning to share their faith. A wonderful thing for them to do for sure!!

The rest of us decided to play:

A beautiful church on our drive

As we drove between ploughed and unploughed fields we came across this enormous flock of snow geese - we've never been so close before!! They were incredibly noisy!!! There were at least 500 of these honking birds!!! They will be flying home to the Arctic soon.

We stopped in a tiny town and had hot cocoa and shared a cinnamon roll (a sweet older lady offered to take our picture)

We had to stop and play by the water. The pungent salty smell of the Puget Sound made us all hungry for clam chowder!!A beautiful old barn

We saw many of these magnificent birds!! No wonder they are our national bird - they are amazing!!

More Bald Eagles

The farmers in this area plant huge fields of daffodils and tulips. The color is breathtaking!!! (The tulips weren't showing any color yet - but the daffs were something else!!)

Then finally we came across a field that was the home to about 75 swans - they were beautiful!! So very graceful!!! They also will be flying away soon.

What a fabulous day we have had - God made so many wonderful, beautiful things and it is so great to get out and see them!!!

Six

Turning six years old is a big deal!! And our sweet Abigail has reached that milestone!!

Abigail - my sweet little funnyface has the very best giggle in the world and keeps us entertained daily with the joy she shares with the world! What fun she is and I'm so glad God put her in our family!!
Monkey time

Abbie will make a wonderful mommy one day!! She loves her baby sister!

Happy Birthday, Honey Bun! We are so proud of you and love you very much!!!

Love,

Daddy and Mommy

A Bit O' the Irish

Today we are enjoying all things Irish. We started the day with our once a year box of Lucky Charms. We will be doing more studies of Ireland and St. Patrick.

Did you know he was an English boy who was enslaved by the Irish for many years during which he became saved - after he returned to England he became convicted to return and preach the gospel to the Irish. His obedience to God changed history. The Irish church became so strong that it was the force behind evangelizing all of Europe during the Dark Ages. A very important reason to remember St. Patrick for sure!!

We also are going to make Irish Soda Bread and watch Riverdance. We will top it off with an Irish dinner and green sherbet for dessert. Through all this fun today my message to the kids is that obedience to God's will can not only change our own life but many around us!!!

Here are some pictures of my daughter in her Irish Dance class

A New Week

FOR TODAY March 16, 2009...

Outside my window... Grey rainy skies and a stiff breeze, it's going to be a stormy week

I am thinking...about my morning routine. I think it needs some changes for my days to run smoothly. Spring is a good time to make morning changes as it's starting to get lighter earlier - there's less temptation to stay all snuggled under the covers!!

I am thankful for..This brand new week with a clean slate - to start new. Last week was an icky week!

From the learning rooms...A St. Patrick's Day Unit. Learning all about Ireland - the culture, traditions, history and mapping it. We're also learning all about St. Patrick who was a passionate missionary who spread the gospel over much of Europe. It should be fun and interesting.

From the kitchen...the menu for the week is all planned - Yahoo - today I'm making our yogurt and granola. We're having hamburgers for dinner and tomorrow is an Irish dinner with green sherbet for dessert. Fun!!!

I am wearing...Denim skirt and cozy pink top

I am creating...my wrap with my pretty teal yarn. I haven't gotten very far but I have worked on it!!

I am going...Grocery shopping and to the fruit stand and then birthday gift shopping for a certain little girl whose big day is this week in our home!! (more on her later!!)

I am reading...Philippians and The Darcy's Give a Ball

I am hoping...That I can set a cheerful tone in my home this week. I haven't been very joyful lately and I want to change that. This is my current prayer and the change I'm desiring to to make in my life.

I am hearing...The kids playing with Esther in the living room - and coughing - they are all still a bit snuffly

Around the house...General tidy up and laundry - of course. I want to get my kitchen good today

One of my favorite things...Praise music and Hymns - I love both!!! They both have so much to offer and they both lift my heart and remind where my focus ought to be!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: We have a birthday this week so we are getting ready and then celebrating!!

Here is a picture I'm sharing: We woke up to giant snowflakes falling yesterday - they were just huge!!! - This mini snowstorm was followed by a major windstorm that knocked out our power for a time.

For more Simple Woman Daybook entries you can visit: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I Spoke too Soon

A couple of weeks ago I said I thought Winter was over and Spring was here to stay. When am I going to learn? Never say stuff like that out loud!! (Other things to never say out loud are: My child is completely potty trained and We haven't had any ear infections this winter!! :0)

Anyway, a quick and effective snowstorm swept through our area yesterday and brought Winter back. I almost got out the Christmas music!! It was only about 20* outside last night! My poor primroses are shocked to death (literally) at the change in temperature.


The sun came out today but it's very, very cold.
So today after school the kids spent the day doing this:

And this:

I spent the day indoors. It's just too cold for those afflicted with Spring Fever!! I found a new Honey wheat bread recipe to try and it turned out lovely although I think I could have made it into three loaves instead. This is to go with our chicken soup all filled with yummy veggies from my trip to the fruit stand yesterday. I have never visited my fruit stand in the snow. Since it's an open stand, I froze my tootsies right off and I didn't quite get that wonderful springy, summery feel that I love but the veggies sure made the soup yummy all the same!! :0)

One day down with Daddy out of town. Just a couple more to go. Well, I gotta get off this computer and go finish cleaning the bathrooms so I can work on my Spring (yoo hoo - we're waiting) shawl.