Daybook July 13, 2009

Outside my window: sunny and pleasantly cool. We've had some incredible weather, lately.

I am thinking.......about the changes in our family. AGAIN. Mostly as it concerns the children. I think this year has held the greatest number of changes we have experienced. Some new ones like one son going away for college and another moving out. More of the same for others like getting a driver's licence, a new job, wanting to be the usual teenage socialite :) or graduating from high school and embarking on a new, adult life.
I think what has made me reflect on this is that I am so often out and about with just the youngest 5 these days. And I know it won't be long until Naomi is subtracted from that number. It seems like just as quickly as they all came to us and we were grappling with a house full of little kids, they have collectively *grown* up and have started to move away from us.
I'll admit it does fill me with a bewildering panic at times. Maybe that's a little melodramatic :) I just want to say *WAIT*! Can't we have this is little increments as before?"
But you can't. Life moves along as it will, guided by the hand of Providence.
I hope it reminds me to embrace the time with the current batch of littles.

What I should be thinking about: Dylan's graduation party, which is coming upon us with stunning rapidity!

I am thankful . ..books on cd. They have revolutionized my life these past few weeks! :) A good book, listened to while doing a dreaded chore, makes the time pass pleasantly. ;)

From the schoolroom. . ..I know I should be starting to prepare for next year, but haven't gotten to that point yet.

From the kitchen ...blackberry pie, apple pie for George's birthday. A scrumptious Sunday dinner with a beef tenderloin as the main event. Lovely!

I am wearing . .white capri's, black tunic with red/black print cami under. Black flip flops.

I am creating . . .I found 4 chairs being tossed out while biking the other night. Noah and I went to get them.

I originally was just going to recover them, but in the end decided they needed a good coat of paint. So that was the main project this week. I hope to use them in the dining room as the *B* set. The kids love to do their schoolwork in there, but they are rough on my antique set (ie: at least 3 have bit the dust due to rocking motions while doing math). Problem solved. I hope.

I am reading and watching . . .Listening to "The Education of Henry Adams" on cd. Finished "Jane Boleyn" on cd.

Reading "We Two" and "

Henry Adams is the grandson of John Quincy Adams. He has some really compelling thoughts on educaiton, especially of boys. I've only listened to a couple chapters, but I think this is one I need a hard copy of to underline his many, pithy quotes.

Jane Boleyn

Was married to the brother of Anne Boleyn, the infamous English queen. While it touched on her (Jane's) life, it really was an in depth history lesson on what was going on then with King Henry (8th) her husband, the Church, English goverment , etc. etc. Of course, we all know the *stories* of King Henry, but listening again, it is incredible to ponder the machinations he went through to get what he wanted, most often against the hand of God......

and with sobering results. A cautionary tale.

Watched: "Little Dorrit" by Dickens....which was very long, but very, very good. It became an evening ritual for Naomi and I last week and I miss it. Haven't been able to watch a thing this weekend/week. :)

I am hearing . ..Manny making various hoots, hollerings and yells. Wow, is he loud this am!

Around the house. ..Well, it got a good spring cleaning due to the cooler temps and a scheduled bbq.

One of my favorite things. ...a day at the beach! We found a nice one in Pt Huron. The kids and I had a grand time and as an added bonus, saw many huge barges speeding accross the river/lake.

What will we do this week. .K 4 J VBS rules this week ( how is that for a bunch of acronyms?) Yesterday the saint of the day was Edmund Campion, which is who Jedidiah Campion is named after, so that was a nifty serindipity!. A visit with Aunt Lydia ( holding my breath on that one, it has been fraught with complications on this end, anyway :) Dyl's musical this weekend! He's so geeked about it, and it is very cute.

Here’s a picture I am sharing. Our birthday boy, George Augustine. 11 on 7-11!

4th of July

Celebrating the birth of our Country ( hoooo boy, our front yard looks like an overgrown jungle. The things you don't notice until viewing it in a picture. The story of my life lately ;)

The kids and I decorated their bikes for the neighborhood bike parade.

They participated for all of about 5 minutes, when.............


a certain young man came running into the house hollering. He fell off *his* bike.
The poor fella broke his wrist and had to have surgery to repair it. A 4th of July to remember, although perhaps not the way we might wish. :)

Daybook June 28th, 2009

Outside my window: Cloudy and cool. Was it just a week ago that we were sweltering?

I am thinking.......I'm having a hard time getting my motor running lately.

I am thankful . ...for so many things during the power outage. A cool headed babysitter, water that was still on, a little bit of power for a day, a willing sil and an empty freezer, my refrigerators and freezer getting a good cleaning, the same appliances not being filled from a recent grocery store trip, candles, flashlights, cool weather...

the list goes on and on. :)

From the schoolroom. . ..hmnmm. There has been a great buzz in blogland over a certain lady posting pictures of her newly organized school room. Yes, they were beautiful. And for a moment my mind was racing with ways to try and replicate her ideas. Then I came down to earth. That's the madness of blog surfing. Most of the time you are inspired, or get a laugh or are informed. Other times you feel very inadequate and discontent. I had to sit myself down and think seriously about the reasons my schoolroom will never look like hers. And it's OK.

From the kitchen ...blueberries rule! 2 Blueberry buckles and 2 dozen blueberry muffins made yesterday.

I am wearing . .black knit bermudas, gray print hoodie, gray tennis shoes. It's cold this morning.

I am creating . . .mostly just some sewing repair projects

I am reading and watching . . .read "Wicketts Remedy" by Myla Goldberg. I really enjoyed this one, as much as you can use the word *enjoy* about a very sad subject. I'll have to think about that. About a young women during the Spanish Flu outbreak who lost her husband and brother to it and then decided to become a nurse to help. I heard about it on NPR.

Listened on cd to "Resilience" I happen to see this at the library the night the power went out and thought it might be a good idea since we were without tv, internet or radio ( well, I did get batteries, eventually). I've always though Elizabeth Edwards was a decent sort of woman. She doesn't disappoint in this thought provoking work. I don't know if she wrote all this herself or with help ( didn't read the cover) but she has a very eleoquent way of describing her thoughts and emotions during the most difficult things she has faced ( and there have been many). I especially was moved by her journey after the death of her 16 yo son. Her voice is soft and raspy at times. You can tell she is not well ( she has terminal breast cancer). She doesn't claim to have all the answers, and you are left feeling she is still grappling with coming to terms with her cancer ( which I found very honest) still you can't help but be moved by her courage.

Naomi and I have been trying to watch "Our Mutual Friend" by Dickens. It sure is a long one. I keep dozing off. :) Not that it isn't interesting, I just can't seem to sit or lay on my bed motionless and not zonk out, which is why I usually iron or fold clothes or putter about when I am watching something, much to my husband's dismay.

I am hearing . ..Jed making "shhhhhhhhhewwwww" sounds. I don't know what he is playing in his mind.

Around the house. ...Going to keep hope alive that the garage WILL be cleaned today even though it is drippy and drizzly.

We did it! ( and I use the word *we* loosely ;)

You know, I had a hard time getting started, and there was lots of grumbling and exasperation in my head ( and probably visable at times) but with a little praise music on my cd player ( don't snicker, Sissy!) it was at once a religious experience and an energizer.

Did *some* painting repairs....but many more on the docket.

One of my favorite things. ...a clean garage. ;)

What will we do this week. . Monday we had dentist appointments and re-filling the refridge shopping. Tuesday we went to Pt Huron for a field trip at the Thomas Edison museum and a tour of a lighthouse ship called the *Huron* I think. Meeting for Dyl's Nicaragua trip that night. Not sure what we will do on the 4th, thinking about heading up to the thumb (Just seems too cool for that). There is a neighborhood bike parade that we went and got supplies to decorate the kids bikes for at the Dollar Store. :) Sunday, belated Father's day dinner with mom, dad and nan.

Here’s a picture I am sharing. Our little ham.

An Anniversary to remember......

but not for the reasons you might think! ;)
Tim and I had big plans to do a belated 25th Anniversary celebration this year and go away for a night since I am not nursing anyone ( was it really only a year ago I was nursing a baby? It seems much longer).
But since that wouldn't work out this weekend, we decided instead to just go out to lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant and stop for a Cold Stone afterward (of course!)
We put the littles down for a nap and left Naomi in charge. We knew Noah would be home from work in a half hour to back her up. As we were leaving the sky looked a bit menacing, but I had just checked the weather. It said there was a severe thunderstorm watch but when I looked at the hourly forecast it only gave 20 or 30% chance of rain.... which was puzzling, but not all that much for Michigan. (My friend Donna backs me up on this one :)

As we drove throw dowtown MC, we were suprised by the hoards of people down by the river. A couple signs on the corner tipped us off to the reason "No saving spaces for fireworks until 3PM Thursday". It was right at 3 o'clock and everyone was descending upon the riverfront to "save their spot" :)

By the time we reached the freeway it was sprinkling. By the time we reached the restaurant it was pouring. By the time we sat down to eat the sirens were going off.
We called home to a panicked Jackson. Tim gave him a pep talk and called Naomi. He suggested she go downstairs, so she dutifully woke up the babes and took everyone downstairs, cool as a cucumber. We sat watching the tv, seeing "Severe Thunderstom Warning" on the news, wondering if we should chance dashing home, making frantic phone calls to Noah and Dylan.
Both got home, and we finished eating and got some ice cream

Upon arriving home we realized the power wasn't entirely out but wasn't entirely on, either. Just enough for a little light and some fans. No laundry, no vacuuming, etc. Rats! ;)
We woke up the next morning to the same situation. Some bike rides around the neighborhood alerted us to the reason why. A tree had completely uprooted (one of many, we later learned) and downed two power lines on the street over. But we made do. We did errands, went to the park, came home and ate dinner. The refridgerator was losing coolness rapidly, so a call to Neana solved that problem. She had a nearly empty freezer AND power. Thankfully, I hadn't gone big grocery shopping lately, but once we cleaned out our three freezers, I was amazed at how much was actually in there. ;) Still, we loaded a bin full and gratefully headed over to drop it off.
That evening was the fireworks, so we headed downtown ( sort of ....we try not to go right down by the river with all the kids..too crowded) and had a grand time. As we were riding home through our neighborhood we noticed a house that was lighting a coleman lamp in front of their window. And it looked very dark. It was very dark. No power at all now.

It was really very cozy lighting candles. Your house looks so much different in the candle light and dark in a pleasant sort of way. The weather had cooled considerably which was another blessing, so we didn't even miss the fans.

The next morning I called the electric company again. Their original estimate had been between 11-1 am the night before. Now it was between 6-8 pm today. I wasn't sure if I should believe them.
Really, things weren't too bad. There were a few grumpy people because of lack of internet access or tv :) but I was overall enjoying it, trying not to think of the growing laundry pile or grungy carpet. My concern was feeding 10 people out of a little cooler. I guess there are worse problems in the world than running to the store to get supplies for every meal. I was really starting to think this was going to be a long term situation.
But, just as we were finishing dinner on Saturday the lights came back on. Naomi and Ella and I had taken a walk earlier and finally saw the crews working on the power lines. It gave us hope things would be back to normal soon, and we weren't disappointed. It's funny how your grumbling toward a certain entity turns to wanting to hug them once they fix your problems. :)

So that was our powerless adventure. Somehow, I have much fonder thoughts about it than the one we had several years back. Probably because it was so darn hot during that one and NO WATER.
Boy, we are spoiled. I know it.
And thankful for all the little blessing interspersed in this now seemingly trivial inconvenience. :)

Double Decker

Yesterday it was forecasted to be a hot one. Probably the hottest day of the year yet. I decided it was time to take the kids to the squirty park at Metro. It hasn't been all that warm this summer so far, and since we don't have a/c ( besides window units) and it is often 10 degrees cooler by the lake ( especially on the days you DON'T want it to be, ie: psuedo spring days when it feels nice enough to want to be outside and you think "Let's go drink in the beauty of Metro!" only to find it is still winter there :)
Well, it wasn't. Cooler that is.
And we finally made it there at the height of heat and sun.....12-3PM. Serindipitously, even though it was uber crowded, we walked into the park just as someone else was leaving a shady spot so we set up shop there and the kids went in and out of the squirting water. Naomi ran (????) and George biked his heart out. We ate our picnic lunch but by 2:30 or so the heat was wearing on us, even in the shade, so we headed home.

We did a little reading, a little *States Game* playing ( Jed's new favorite....fun, but only so much fun after you've played it 10 times in a row;) a little laundry ( can't put that one on the back burner, even when it is hot) and dinner eating ( chicken gyro's).
At 7:30 we decided to head back since the sun was somewhat less intense. As I was unloading the bikes, strollers, kids and other paraphenilia from the van I noticed a wallet sitting on the pavement in the next parking spot.
We walked it over to the park office, and when I handed it to the attendant a man sitting next to the desk jumped up with joy. I guess he had been there filing a police report. It was nice to help someone out like that. I know what a nightmare it is to lose your wallet.

Unfortunately, and unbeknowst to me, the squirty park closes at 8. Bummer.
Still, we were able to go and play at the playscape for another good hour and then stopped on the way home for Mc Donald's 1.00 cones. :) By then some cool showers helped get us ready for bed.

When it gets hot like this in the first days of summer I always think how it doesn't seem that long ago that we were dealing with ice and snow. And it probably won't be that long until we are again. So no complaints, a/c in the house or not. We will enjoy all of summer. The heat, the mosquitos, the sticky popscicle messes, the wet bathing suits left all over the house ( does anyone change in their rooms or bathrooms? :) Precious days.

Daybook: First Day of Summer & Father's Day 2009

Outside my window: bright and sunny. The first day of the new season and it appears to be the quintessentially summer day.

I am thinking.......I'm still waiting for those lazy, hazy days of summer. Crazy, we got. :)

I am thankful . ....that I have an excellent father and that my husband is an excellent father and I had an excellent father in law.

From the schoolroom. . ..trying to make sure Jed reads every day so as not to lose his skills. Finishing up math with the rest. (Ditto) Hopefully we'll start the library reading program this week.

From the kitchen ...I think I will try a pecan pie today. Never made one, but the father of the house has been dropping hints.

What I could take a break from making for the next 6 months: chocolate peanut butter squares. I'm sure I've made about 100 dozen in the last few weeks. They are the potluck favorite. ;)

I am wearing . . grey sweat capri's and a blue and silver metallic t-shirt. grey flip flops

I am creating . . .Well, I just finished some curtains for my canopy bed. I jinxed myself, though. While I was sewing away this morning I was thinking about how wonderfully the whole project was going. I *had* the curtains to match my new duvet, just needed to re-work them. ( IN other works, I didn't have to go searching the various thrift stores for new goods) I found a workable way to hang them, and it all was working out technically. I even had a quiet morning to myself with no littles up and about.

Then I started breaking needles one after another which precipitated a store run. I tried Walgreens, but no luck, so I had to go to Meijer. Tim and I love Meijer, and it's so close, but the problem is, just walking into the store is a huge time commitment and I knew I was working with limited minutes left in my *alone time* allotment . Thankfully, I was able to breeze in and out at a pretty good clip and somehow managed to finish up without breaking any more....

I am reading and watching . . . three diet books ( oops, I'm not supposed to call them diet books....."nutrional books".

Love on A Diet by Wendy Jeub

This was a quick read and pretty inspiring. I mean, when a lady with 15 kids writes a book on how she looks so great you want to know her secrets. I think it boils down to she hit a *crisis* with her weight and appearance and decided to do whatever necessary to change. Isn't that the bonafide secret to all *changing your eating habits and losing weight" books? You've got to want it! :) I like the fact that she didn't stop eating regular foods, mostly just less of them and has a few helpful hints.

I thought it was a little humorus when she wrote "If I can do it, anyone can!" I know what she was trying to say but I can just see the general public thinking "Well, you have 15 kids and homeschool them, so it is obvious you can do a lot of things I would never imagine trying. " and set the book down.

The Beck Diet for Life

This one goes into the more psychological reasons for overeating which I liked. It was written by a woman who believes/practices cognitive therapy ( which is changing your thoughts to change what is wrong in your life) which I think highly of as well. The *diet* itself is sound and not too low in calories ( which she advocates). She has you write out cards with reasons why you want to lose weight to read every morning and charts to fill out everyday to check off various behavioral exercises she wants you to do. I don't doubt the benefit of all that, and maybe that is an area I am failing in and need to take the time to do, but I sort of shy away from doing things like that because I forget or don't want to be bothered.

But by far my favorite is:

Unleash your Skinny Girl by Bethenney Frankl

She has all the reasons for me to write her off. She has no children and has never been pregnant, she is single, she has her own *healthy cooking* company.......but she mixes a good bit of humor with "get a hold of yourself! you're not a 2 yo" in her writing. Her ideas are commonsense and she, like the aforementioned book have helped me see ( which I was starting to suspect) that I have a very immature attitude when it comes to food. I THINK I should be able to eat what I want and shake an angry fist at the gods for not being able to ( which mostly means I just eat what I want anyway...and then complain that I am getting chubby. ;)

For some reason I picked out three Henry James novels to screen Dvd's at the library the other day. Didn't do it on purpose...it just happened! I watched the Masterpiece Theatre version of "The Turn of the Screw" yesterday at ironing time, which I thought was well done.

Naomi and I watched "The Mayor of Casterbridge" which was also good, but left me scratching my head a little. I just don't know why the daughter was so fond of her stepfather/father/in the end, not related to her at all. I remember reading the book, but I couldn't remember all the details, so I am wondering if re-reading it might shed a little light or if the movie just didn't really do the story justice. This is one book with a MULTITUDE of twists and turns in the story line.

I am hearing . ...Jed and Manny giving their breakfast requests to George.

Around the house. ...THE GARAGE MUST BE CLEANED!!!!

One of my favorite things. ...a warm summer night.

What will we do this week. . lunch with Neana to try and figure out Dyl's grad party. Sigh of relief!

Homeschool meeting, someone's 26th Anniversay, but I don't know how that will be celebrated, a belated Father's Day dinner on Sunday with my parents and Nan.

Here’s a picture I am sharing. .My two gradutes! Dylan (High school) Jed (Kindergarten)

Blogging while waiting for my nails to dry.......

Too tired to do much else.
The day started with some early morning floor mopping, bathroom cleaning, laundry loads and dishwashing.
All because two teenage girls were coming over. I don't fuss about a clean house as much when boys are coming over, but I think since they are female, perhaps messes bother them like they do me.
We zipped off to the 9am mass to pick the girls up. Armed with our extra doses of estrogen we came home. I grabbed Manny and went to visit Noah at Value Center :) I love having him bag my groceries.
After we unloaded the goods we re-loaded the car with kids, scooters and bikes we headed to Sonic ( the girls had never been) and took it all to George George.
Boy, it was crowded there. It didn't dawn on me it was the last day of school-school. I suppose everyone thought it was a good idea to go and celebrate the finish of the school year.

I laid on the grass and read while the littles played at the park. The sun was dancing through the trees. The man behind me was talking on his cell phone in French. A cool breeze blew. Ahhhhhh, a perfect summer day.
Too soon, it was time to go. Off to Dyl's graduation practice. When we walked in the room was a whirl of activity. Teens practicing Pacobel's Canon. Mom's carrying potted plants, men and boys setting up tables and chairs. I think it will be quite a ceremony. I'm sure very emotional. It is nice to be in a group of collectively proud parents. Very dear.

A mad dash home to toss a greek salad and cut up a pan of cookies for the basketball banquet. Finding out Jed wasn't feeling so well, I stayed home. A trip to Walgreens to get some nailpolish remover and fresh paint. Gabriella and I had a little girly time doing our nails just before Jed decided to lose his cookies in the very spot we had been sitting.
So the night finished off by cleaning up that mess, but at least with nice looking nails. ;) Tried to get to sleep, but tossed and turned knowing that there would be emotional messes to deal with in the morning ( The. Wings. Lost.)
Wondering now if I should try to get back to sleep or just get started on a new day.
It's been a busy, but lovely week.