I read the directions for making the Tabernacle model yesterday and was so annoyed. I should have read it a week or two ago. I need 2 two quart milk or juice cartons to make this, along with various scraps of specifically colored fabrics.
I never buy the paper carton containers of anything - too small for our family. I would have if I had known I would need them, but like I said, I didn't read the directions far enough in advance.
I guess we'll have to do the Tabernacle in a week or two so I can go buy some cartons of something and use them up. Grrrrr.....!
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Whatnot
It is a lovely day. Cool and crisp outside, bright and sunny. School flew by this morning! Laundry is done, the children are happily occupied downstairs, baby is asleep. Sigh...lovely.
Now for some long overdue updates:
We found the house of our dreams and put in an offer. It's a short sale, so the homeowner gets to pick which offer is sent to the bank. She picked us!!! She said she really wanted the house to go to a family. Plus Nathan dropped his car in the fish pond, and Olivia flirted with her! I knew those long eyelashes would come in handy someday! Anyway, the house: it's 2200sf on 1 acre in Auburn. Has a pool. The homeowner did some incredible, top of the line upgrades about 6 years ago. We are now waiting for the bank to get around to responding to us - we figure sometime end of Dec, beginning of Jan.
Eureka - we've been spending lots of time in Eureka this year upgrading that house. It now has new windows, new roof, new sliding glass door, and updated electrical system. We will be making another long trip up there this month to refinish a hardwood floor, replace the bathroom lino, hang a ceiling fan, and a few other misc things. We really wanted to replace the kitchen countertops, but I think it's going to be too ambitious. I think the plan is to finish all the small projects up this trip, then put the house on the market. I think. Maybe. We'll see...Michael acknowledges that this would be best financially, but it is his childhood home. He's such a sentimental softie!! I love that guy!
In preparation for hopefully moving sometime in February, I am beginning deep cleaning projects on our rental. I have been quietly purging small stupid toys (think McDonalds Happy Meal junk), stuffed animals (I swear, they reproduce!!), and anything that looks broken or is unidentifiable. Closets have been purged of unnecessary clothing as well, and seasonal things are packed and out of the way. I need to get out to the garage this week and find 2 specific boxes in the half-a-garage-full-of-boxes-stacked-floor-to-ceiling. I hate that garage.
I have also picked through baby boy clothes and set aside the 0-3 months stuff for easy access. While I was at it, I packaged each size into it's own bag/box. I just hope I can find them when I need them. I have lots of stuff for size 18 months and up, but just a few things for each size below that. Will certainly need a baby shower this time!
Well, I need to wrap this up for now. I want to clean the bathrooms real quick, then hopefully vacuum. Have a great day, everyone!!
Now for some long overdue updates:
We found the house of our dreams and put in an offer. It's a short sale, so the homeowner gets to pick which offer is sent to the bank. She picked us!!! She said she really wanted the house to go to a family. Plus Nathan dropped his car in the fish pond, and Olivia flirted with her! I knew those long eyelashes would come in handy someday! Anyway, the house: it's 2200sf on 1 acre in Auburn. Has a pool. The homeowner did some incredible, top of the line upgrades about 6 years ago. We are now waiting for the bank to get around to responding to us - we figure sometime end of Dec, beginning of Jan.
Eureka - we've been spending lots of time in Eureka this year upgrading that house. It now has new windows, new roof, new sliding glass door, and updated electrical system. We will be making another long trip up there this month to refinish a hardwood floor, replace the bathroom lino, hang a ceiling fan, and a few other misc things. We really wanted to replace the kitchen countertops, but I think it's going to be too ambitious. I think the plan is to finish all the small projects up this trip, then put the house on the market. I think. Maybe. We'll see...Michael acknowledges that this would be best financially, but it is his childhood home. He's such a sentimental softie!! I love that guy!
In preparation for hopefully moving sometime in February, I am beginning deep cleaning projects on our rental. I have been quietly purging small stupid toys (think McDonalds Happy Meal junk), stuffed animals (I swear, they reproduce!!), and anything that looks broken or is unidentifiable. Closets have been purged of unnecessary clothing as well, and seasonal things are packed and out of the way. I need to get out to the garage this week and find 2 specific boxes in the half-a-garage-full-of-boxes-stacked-floor-to-ceiling. I hate that garage.
I have also picked through baby boy clothes and set aside the 0-3 months stuff for easy access. While I was at it, I packaged each size into it's own bag/box. I just hope I can find them when I need them. I have lots of stuff for size 18 months and up, but just a few things for each size below that. Will certainly need a baby shower this time!
Well, I need to wrap this up for now. I want to clean the bathrooms real quick, then hopefully vacuum. Have a great day, everyone!!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Today
It is 8:23am, and today is looking pretty good. Breakfast is done, kitchen is tidy with dishwasher going, Bible/journaling is done, and I'm just about ready to get 2 little girls out of the bathtub. I have a confirmation for a field trip that I've been trying to organize for 2 months (relief!!), and now I've updated my blog. Whew!
I've promised the children a visit to the thrift store if they can focus and get math, language and piano done without whining.
I've promised the children a visit to the thrift store if they can focus and get math, language and piano done without whining.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Not sure how that happened...
We have had an amazingly productive day. We have complete ALL schoolwork, plus did our devotions and piano practice this morning. And I popped out to go to the drug store for cold meds because half the family has colds (including me). And I also got a sizeable chunk of homeschool business done - filed my affadavit, made some phone calls regarding a field trip, emailed by local group about a couple items.
A very satisfying day indeed. Hope your day was great as well!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
All is well
This week I have purposed to be less stressed and more organized and less frustrated. To that end, I have severely limited out-of-house activities and focused on getting the 3 R's of school done by 11am. Also, I have put us on a schedule of up by 7am, breakfast along with Bible journaling at 7:30, morning chores from 8am - 8:30. School starts about 8:30 (9 at the latest) and goes until the 3 R's and piano practice are done for the two older ones - usually about 10:30 or 11. Then we take a break for lunch and clean up, and back to school stuff by 12:30. So far this week, we finish up school about 2pm. That's only because Daddy does science with them in the evenings!
So far this week (mind you, only 3 days now), I have succeeded in being more peaceful. With a firmly stuck to schedule, my stress level goes down quite a bit. I think it's working!
On a delightful note, we had a very intensive ultrasound on Tuesday afternoon (because I'm so old and because the blood test was funky). We are excited to share that we have a very healthy, very active baby boy in there!! Girls 3, boys 2! They're catching up! Michael and Nathan were so happy. I caught Nathan singing to himself something like "God has given me a blessing, our new baby is a boy!" Precious!
Have a great day folks!
So far this week (mind you, only 3 days now), I have succeeded in being more peaceful. With a firmly stuck to schedule, my stress level goes down quite a bit. I think it's working!
On a delightful note, we had a very intensive ultrasound on Tuesday afternoon (because I'm so old and because the blood test was funky). We are excited to share that we have a very healthy, very active baby boy in there!! Girls 3, boys 2! They're catching up! Michael and Nathan were so happy. I caught Nathan singing to himself something like "God has given me a blessing, our new baby is a boy!" Precious!
Have a great day folks!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Time...
My days are slipping past me so quickly. Everyone up by 7am, breakfast at 7:30, then morning chores and settle down to 'school' by 8 - 8:15ish. Two hours of school, break for a snack and everyone does their 'household chore' for the day. Another hour of school, and break for lunch about 11:30 - 12. Run any errands that need doing, back home for another hour of school stuff. Then free time until late afternoon chores and dinner needs fixin'.
Busy days. We go merrily (and sometimes not so merrily) along through each season. We are really enjoying learning together. In my fourth month of pregnancy now, and expecting to feel great until January or so. There are so many things that I'd like to do...I need to finish knitting Nathan's blanket (maybe by Christmas?), then I'd love to start on one for our newest little one. It would be lovely to have one done by the time he or she arrives at the beginning of March. I've promised Hannah a knit 'thing' as well. And oh my, do the kitchen cabinets need to be scrubbed and oiled. Ah well. Each thing has it's season.
How are your lives bubbling along?
Busy days. We go merrily (and sometimes not so merrily) along through each season. We are really enjoying learning together. In my fourth month of pregnancy now, and expecting to feel great until January or so. There are so many things that I'd like to do...I need to finish knitting Nathan's blanket (maybe by Christmas?), then I'd love to start on one for our newest little one. It would be lovely to have one done by the time he or she arrives at the beginning of March. I've promised Hannah a knit 'thing' as well. And oh my, do the kitchen cabinets need to be scrubbed and oiled. Ah well. Each thing has it's season.
How are your lives bubbling along?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Winding up summer
Nothing overly exciting today, my friends. It's just after noon. The children have all been fed and the eldest 3 are splashing and squealing in the new plastic kiddie pool I purchased this morning. Olivia Jewell was dipped, dried, and put down for her nap. The water was just too cold for an almost-18 month old princess.
I have ordered our new school curriculum. It arrived earlier in the week, but I know if I open the box I will be lost for several hours. I must wait until I have the time and brainpower to process, plan and enjoy. In the meantime, our summer 'school' consists of math, reading and a unit study of the state of California. The unit study should be done by the end of next week. I will then take a 2 full weeks 'off' of school, and start the new year on Sept 7th. That's the plan anyway.
Here is a picture of Olivia being a helper. Big sister sweeps the kitchen, and baby sister likes to 'help'. We have revamped our daily housework schedule, and each child has a chore or two assigned for each day (me too!). This seems to be working well. I don't feel like I have to do every little thing around here, and the children are learning housekeeping skills and responsibility. It also helps fill up their free time, which keeps them from bickering so much.
Ah, children bellow from poolside. I must go and tend to the complexities of who splashed whom and who did it first.
I have ordered our new school curriculum. It arrived earlier in the week, but I know if I open the box I will be lost for several hours. I must wait until I have the time and brainpower to process, plan and enjoy. In the meantime, our summer 'school' consists of math, reading and a unit study of the state of California. The unit study should be done by the end of next week. I will then take a 2 full weeks 'off' of school, and start the new year on Sept 7th. That's the plan anyway.
Here is a picture of Olivia being a helper. Big sister sweeps the kitchen, and baby sister likes to 'help'. We have revamped our daily housework schedule, and each child has a chore or two assigned for each day (me too!). This seems to be working well. I don't feel like I have to do every little thing around here, and the children are learning housekeeping skills and responsibility. It also helps fill up their free time, which keeps them from bickering so much.
Ah, children bellow from poolside. I must go and tend to the complexities of who splashed whom and who did it first.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Mother's Day
What a delightful Mother's Day we had here. My hubby and son planted eight 6-packs of pansies in the front planter box. Eight! And hubby has a bad back. He is so getting the Husband of the Year award!
We had a lovely family dinner for local family members. All told there were 12 people in attendance. A small gathering, true, but it seems the family is branching out in other directions. The cousins mostly all had their babies ages ago and those babies are all coming of age and doing things in other parts of the state. So the gatherings dwindle a bit each year.
But that's okay. In about 10-15 years, my little tribe will be branching out and those family gatherings will grow again. Exponentially! The thought gives me warm fuzzies.
So, now a few items for your reading pleasure:
1. I have decided to let my hair grow. Less work that way. Wash, towel dry, put up in a bun or braid, done. Someday when I have time again, I'll do the cut, style, dry, products, primp thing again.
2. The garden is planted. In pots. Romaine, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber and basil. Salad at the Begley's!
3. One small flowerbed in the backyard is almost cleared of rocks and weeks. About 2/3 done. The done part is planted with impatiens and lobelia. Perhaps the other 1/3 will happen this week. Who knew rocks could reproduce?!
4. Planning a trip to Eureka next week. The house needs new carpet, new linoleum, refinishing 2 hardwood floors, a fan in the bathroom, insulation, a new roof and one more window. And if that doesn't keep us busy, we'll prep the outside for painting. Anyone have a random orbit sander we can borrow?
5. We finish our unit study of Australia this week. Next week there will be no school for the Eureka trip. Or rather, school will consist of learning 'life skills' like sanding, hammering, stripping old lino, etc. Then 3 more weeks of school, for an estimated finish around June 10th. Summer studies will consist of Ancient Egypt, various animals, and how to entertain a 16 month old while Mommy bakes bread...
We had a lovely family dinner for local family members. All told there were 12 people in attendance. A small gathering, true, but it seems the family is branching out in other directions. The cousins mostly all had their babies ages ago and those babies are all coming of age and doing things in other parts of the state. So the gatherings dwindle a bit each year.
But that's okay. In about 10-15 years, my little tribe will be branching out and those family gatherings will grow again. Exponentially! The thought gives me warm fuzzies.
So, now a few items for your reading pleasure:
1. I have decided to let my hair grow. Less work that way. Wash, towel dry, put up in a bun or braid, done. Someday when I have time again, I'll do the cut, style, dry, products, primp thing again.
2. The garden is planted. In pots. Romaine, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber and basil. Salad at the Begley's!
3. One small flowerbed in the backyard is almost cleared of rocks and weeks. About 2/3 done. The done part is planted with impatiens and lobelia. Perhaps the other 1/3 will happen this week. Who knew rocks could reproduce?!
4. Planning a trip to Eureka next week. The house needs new carpet, new linoleum, refinishing 2 hardwood floors, a fan in the bathroom, insulation, a new roof and one more window. And if that doesn't keep us busy, we'll prep the outside for painting. Anyone have a random orbit sander we can borrow?
5. We finish our unit study of Australia this week. Next week there will be no school for the Eureka trip. Or rather, school will consist of learning 'life skills' like sanding, hammering, stripping old lino, etc. Then 3 more weeks of school, for an estimated finish around June 10th. Summer studies will consist of Ancient Egypt, various animals, and how to entertain a 16 month old while Mommy bakes bread...
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