Aren't there limits.........

to how much of a sports fanatic you can be?
This is what my crew came up with to deal with the fact that the Piston's and Red Wing's were on at the same time on the same night.
Groan.............................................

Memorial Day fun.....

actually I think it was the day before Memorial Day fun! ;)

A- George is always thinking about his homework :)
B/C- Gabriella is really hamming it up for the camera, Manny enjoys bonding with his plastic alligator.

Off my checklist.........

Funny, I just read a great blog post from my very favorite insightful mom of a large family :) Kim @ Starry Sky Ranch http://starryskyranch.typepad.com/starry_sky_ranch/ If you happen to read it you will see why it ties in with this post :) However, I will say that it wasn't kids that were ignored while I was busy as a bee this past weekend as much as the house. (DH decided to take everyone out of the house for several hours again on Monday, for instance :) Ok, Ok, I will learn someday!
Out door chair covered.
Dresser painted ( and while I was on a roll I painted another side table and bench this color. I wasn't too sure of it at first, but then I saw how it picked up the color in the comforter I am trying to make work together. I love when that happens! ( the other piece of fabric is the curtain I am planning on using for the room).

These are two of the pieces I once again fished out of somebodies trash. :) They were a bit too rustic even for me, but I think they look alright with this green paint. The tins I found at the Dollar store and they fit perfectly ( well, almost........good thing tin does bend a bit :). I think they will look lovely with some gerbera daisy plants or the like. I just put some wildflowers from our backyard in them for now ( only had enough for three containers, though :(.

Timeless marital advice....

from 1740 :)

1. Never to contradict my dear Husband without it being quite necessary and then with the greatest good nature I am mistress of.

2. To serve God more sincerely than I have done in the state I am now about to leave and to lead a life suitable to the Blessed calling of my Husband.

3. Never to fret or fall into a Passion about small matters but to have always a cheerful heart, knowing my blessings much exceed any troubles that can possibly befall me, and in all dangers to commit myself and family to an All-Wise Providence, and then to be easy about the event.

4. I likewise resolve to lay aside all fondness for dress but to be always neat and clean.

5. I resolve to be very active and never for the sake of saving myself a walk to neglect anything, though it be never so great a trifle.

6. I resolve to be very frugal and never to put my Husband to any needless expense.

7. I resolve to be very kind to my servants, as well to their souls as to their bodies, and always to give exact orders and never to be in a passion if they not be executed.

8. I resolve to treat my friends kindly, but not extravagantly, and to be full as glad to see his relations as my own.

Mary Christian
28 April 1740
written the night before she was wed
(Taken from: Fragile Paradise; Fletcher Christian of HMS Bounty)

and another...........

http://babble.com/content/articles/features/dispatches/granju/overparentingcrisis/

The Over Parenting Crisis

A change of mind....

http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com/

Great article!

For this week........

FOR THIS WEEK...5-19 to 5-25

Outside My Window... Looks a rain- free week. Sunny, a bit cool, but very nice.

I am thinking...about how to arrange my days so I can get all the projects I want to get done, done.

I am thankful for... Flowers, I am so glad God created them :).

From the kitchen... I made some home-made crostini this weekend. It was very good and quite simple and felt very nice to use up stale bread and have it turn into something so yummy. I'm also thinking you could chop it up a bit and use it as croutons and I also crunched it up and made breadcrumbs with it. I am also trying a new recipe tonight....slow cooker meatballs. ( Our oven is on the fritz so my crockpot is becoming a new bff.)

I am wearing... jean capri's, a white undershirt and long sleeve blue t-shirt. a baseball cap ( need a shower) no shoes right now :)

I am creating... an appealing yard, I hope. The paintbrush is coming out this week since it looks dry. I found some wooden pieces in the trash that I think will make interesting planters and boxes for a patio garden, but they need a little sprucing up. I am going to try white (green?)washing them with green paint.

I am going... to Jackson's Spring concert tonight. Naomi's on Thursday.

I am reading... mostly Laura Bridgman right now. It is turning into a fascinating book. A lot on how the mind processes language. More on that later.

I am hoping...for a productive Memorial Day weekend.

I am hearing... Gabriella giggling, Jed and Manny shouting ( they are playing together but they are so darn loud!)

Around the house... I finished one couch ( recovering). I did get the laundry room mostly cleaned this am. Otherwise I am trying to ignore inside work to go outside :)

One of my favorite things...one of my favorite things is laying in bed for about a half hour before I fall asleep and reading. It is just a satisfying and peaceful time. I can fully relax and enjoy it. I'm done worrying or thinking about doing anything else. Funny, a good bit of the time I have knocks on the door ( I actually try to leave it open but sometimes I forget after I get into my pj's to reopen it) and visits from a few kids who know they can find me there and not moving :) but that is also a sweet feature of that time of the evening as well.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Sanding and painting my flower boxes. Finish planting my flowers. Finish cleaning up the backyard. Perhaps start on painting the laundry room or Al's room. ( if Noah comes through and tapes/spackles for me :)