The Garden Update for April: Things are a Sproutin' !!!

If you have read my blog for a while you know that I love my garden. It's nothing monstrous, and it certainly doesn't feed us for the whole year (in fact, only Rick and I even eat anything from it). But, I. love. to. take. care. of. my. garden. I think I even like it more than taking care of my kids because my garden doesn't talk back (unless you are my squash this year who seems to be saying, "I'm not in the mood. Thus, I shall not germinate.")

Anyway, I planted the majority of my two raised beds a little over two weeks ago, on April 9th. Everything has sprouted! (Except those naughty squash.)

Here is a photo walk through my gardens:

My new garden

Corn on the cob ~ about 8 sprouts started from seeds

Four green peppers and eight jalapenos ~ started as plants

About 3 rows of carrots started from seeds

Four lettuce plants started as plants

Two rows of spinach sprouts started from seeds

A couple of good rows of healthy zucchini started from seeds. I thinned them down today.

The old garden

Sunflowers, four tomato plants and geraniums

From left to right ~ blueberry bush, strawberry plant, a pot of chives and basil (hoping the bees that love the chives will pollinate the blueberry bushes) and a tomato plant

Lots of broccoli started from seeds in my greenhouse and then transplanted

Cucumbers started from seeds. I thinned these out today.

Blueberries and strawberries

And yesterday I couldn't resist buying some potted tulips and Easter lilies that were on clearance. I know that, statistically, they won't rebloom next Spring because they are forced blooms out of season and they haven't had their 15 or so weeks of 35-50 degree ground temps. But, they sure look pretty right now and, who knows, maybe I'll get lucky!!

I haven't potted my many, many flower pots yet this year because the weather has been a taaaaaaaaadddddd unpredictable! I hope to get all that done next weekend. And here is what is waiting to help me out when I am ready to get started!

My husband bought this for me last week. Let's just say I have gotten lots of things for Mother's Day this year. He keeps saying, "But didn't I get you {insert previously purchased item here} for Mother's Day already?" I can't wait to see what he has for me ON Mother's Day! The pre-Mother's-Day gifts have been awesome!

Hopefully I am eating some fresh vegetables when I post my next update. Until then, you can go salivate over the other gardens at The Homeschool Village's Garden Challenge.

A Rare Night Out

Last Friday night Rick and I went out with a big bunch of friends for our friend Berry's birthday. We hardly ever go out anymore, unless it's just the two of us going out to dinner. In fact, the last time we went out with a group of people was for Berry's birthday last year.

We went to a semi-local Mexican restaurant and just had a crazy time! This group is always up for a ton of laughs.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... After the monsoon, it is currently a beautiful, sunshiney day! We need some sunshine!

I am thinking... about how grateful I know she will be someday that I was her mother instead of her best bud.

I am thankful ... for my mother.

I am wearing... gray sweats and a navy blue and gray striped zip up hoodie.

I am planning... my presentation for the Mother Daughter Banquet on Sunday entitled "Clean" based on Psalm 51:10.

I am creating... a clean house before I leave town for the weekend, caught up grades and lesson plans for next week. I don't want to spend all next week feeling behind!

I am going... to go upstairs to wake up my son to get him ready to start school, to let the dogs in and feed them their breakfast, to walk out and check on the damage to my garden after the harsh rains and then have another cup of coffee.

I am reading...  I had to take a short break from Mrs. Ike: Memories and Reflections on the Life of Mamie Eisenhower by Susan Eisenhower to pick up reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I saw on another blog that someone had read this and enjoyed it, so I requested it from my library. It came before I was done with Mrs. Ike. I was holding onto it until I finished Mrs. Ike, but then saw that The Help is going to be a movie coming out in August. I figured there would soon be a "hold list" on The Help, so I needed to get it read in two weeks since I wouldn't be able to check it out again. I looked online yesterday and there is now a "hold list" of 62 people! That happened in a week! So, I am frantically reading The Help (which is excellent, by the way) to get it done by next Tuesday.

I am hoping... to have a peaceful weekend.

From the learning rooms... Brynne is doing an "Earth Day" week of lessons. Dawson is finishing up his unit on the Age of Exploration. Kyndal has been doing state testing. And Eli is learning about the Oklahoma Land Run.

Noticing that ... a bird was up in our broken down nest in the corner of our back porch. I hope that she is going to build it back up.

From the kitchen... a whole week of grilling (can you tell I love my grill?).

Around the house... is mud and yuck after the heavy rains.

One of my favorite things... Wine Wednesday with my husband. I love it!

A few plans for the rest of the week... I'm just trying to stay on top of things this week before the little guys and I leave to go to Missouri on Friday. On Saturday my mom and I are spending the day together doing a Home Tour in Kansas City. Then on Sunday we are helping host her church's Mother Daughter Banquet, and I'm the guest speaker.

From my picture journal.

Last week's Wine Wednesday tray.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

How Jesus Got to Heaven

Last night while we were eating dinner, we were gathered around our Hill of Calvary Brynne and I made in school. Eli had his yellow helicopter playing with it at the opening of the empty tomb.

All of a sudden he flew his helicopter into the sky and said, with the voice of a helicopter pilot speaking into a walkie, "We have Jesus. We have Jesus. We are bringing Him up to Heaven."

We all started laughing.

Brynne said, with a hint of annoyance, "No, Eli. That's not how Jesus went to Heaven. God brought Him there." Of course she is right, but his version was pretty darn cute.

Menu Plan Monday

The little kids and I are heading back to Missouri this weekend for the Mother-Daughter Banquet at my mom's church (my childhood church). Kyndal has to work all weekend, and Dawson wants to skip the long drive and stay home and chill. Rick will be home playing golf. So the three of them will be on their own for meals this weekend.

Here's what we are having the first part of the week:

Monday ~ Turkey burgers with avocado, oven fries and pineapple (Dawson is cooking this meal which consists only of foods found in the New World.)

Tuesday ~ Flank steak florentine pinwheels and homemade macaroni and cheese

Wednesday ~ Wine Wednesday for Rick and I, and FFY for the kids

Thursday ~ Rosemary chicken kabobs with veggies and rice

Friday to Sunday ~ On their own

Our Easter Day

Since it was raining and dark this morning, the kids slept in until 9:30 a.m. (We took advantage of that!)

When they got up they were excited to peek into their Easter baskets.

A camping chair to use at Drake's baseball games, Starbucks gift card and candy

Xbox Live Microsoft points, ear buds, favorite cookies and candy

Baseball glove, Scooby Doo movie, Halo toy, Bunny Tic-Tac-Toe game and candy

Gardening set, gardening gloves, Marigolds to plant, Halo toy, Bunny dice race game and candy

Then they were ready to hunt eggs! The Easter Bunny didn't want to track wet, muddy paw prints into our house, so he hid the eggs inside this year!

After all the eggs were found, we sat down at the table with our Hill of Calvary and opened our Resurrection Eggs one-by-one to discuss the true Easter story.

We all got ready and then went into town to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel. Yum!

We came home and I put lasagna in the crock pot and a chocolate lava cake into the other one and then went to bed for a nap! Kyndal and I grabbed the three little dogs and climbed in my bed and took a rainy afternoon nap before she had to get up and go to work.

In the evening the kids played and ate the ears off their chocolate bunnies and watched a movie with daddy.

Then we had our Easter dinner.

It was a great day!

From Rain to Radiance

This Easter morning we have awoken to rain and wind. It's dark and dreary. It's not what we want to wake up to on Easter morning. On this day we have visions of sunshine and warmth, spring outfits and sandals, leisurely hunting our eggs in the beautiful outdoors. Instead we will be wearing warm clothes with closed-toed shoes, hunting eggs indoors and dreaming of a brighter day.

I wonder if this is how Mary felt on Easter morning. No, it wasn't physically raining. But in her head, there were many clouds ... in her heart, it was thundering loudly ... and she was crying enough tears to cause a flood. She felt depressed, disappointed, downtrodden and hopeless.

And then she arrived at the tomb. He is not here. He is Risen!

And her dreary day turned into one of hope and joy!

And because of Him, even a cloudy, rainy day cannot dampen the true Easter spirits of those who know Him.

He is Risen!

"Oh My Gosh ... It's Amazing!!!"

Our family climbed out from under the rock where we've been living and ordered Netflix. Finally.

I, of course, had heard about it and started to see it coming up more and more as a useful tool for homeschoolers. But, you know, we just enjoyed paying $3.00 per movie to rent it from Blockbuster, costing us sometimes $20 a week. Then our Blockbuster closed and we didn't have any other options unless we wanted to join another ridiculously over-priced video store or pray that what we wanted was available through the public library (which many are, in fact.)

But now, oh now, we can instantly watch lots and lots of movies, educational shows and even entire television series at the touch of a button! Rick and Dawson got our first month's money's worth on the first day. Eli came upon it on Sunday and said, "Oh my gosh ... it's amazing!" My family is thrilled!

I love it because there are so many educational shows on it that we can use with homeschooling. I will totally be using this tool next year!

And I've always wanted to watch Army Wives, but am several seasons behind. So, this summer, when nothing is on, I can start at Season 1 and work my way up to the present.

I do think I'm going to pay the extra $2.00 per month so that we can get dvd's as well. You can only have one at a time, but I have found many movies that do not instantly stream and are only available on dvd. It will be worth the $2.00.

I recommend Netflix, if you are one of the three people left in the United States who don't already have it.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... The sun is shining and the wind has died down a bit since 5:00 this morning when I was taking one of the puppies out to potty. It's supposed to rain for about 10 days straight. Yuck.

I am thinking... about the remainder of this school year, and next.

I am thankful ... that Kyndal made it home from Missouri without running out of gas. Hilarious story!

I am wearing... a pair of denim capris, a green plaid shirt and moccasins.

I am planning... our Easter activities.

I am creating... a stink-free house. You know how you come home from a long weekend, or more, and the second you walk in your house it just stinks! I could smell the remnants of a year with four puppies (now dogs) and it grossed me out. Rick and I threw away EVERY SINGLE AREA RUG in our downstairs and went and bought new ones. I have mopped and steam cleaned with vinegar and bought new air fresheners. I guess we are just used to it, but I feel sorry for anybody who comes over for a visit! I am a woman on a mission!

I am going... to go fill out the documents to have Brynne tested for the public school gifted program (at the recommendation of the school) so that if we should decide to put her back into public school in the future, her testing will already by complete.

I am reading...  Mrs. Ike: Memories and Reflections on the Life of Mamie Eisenhower by Susan Eisenhower,  Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss and the Book of Psalms (daily devotional), The Swiss Family Robinson by  Johann Wyss (Dawson's read-aloud, almost done), and lots of Easter books with Brynne.

I am hoping... that I find some useful and cheap books today at the Used Homeschool Book Sale.

From the learning rooms... Only six more weeks of school until our summer break, and we are feeling it!

Noticing that ... Kyndal is all-of-a-sudden a completely different person. She grew up overnight.

From the kitchen... still doing lots of grilling.

Around the house... are more pretty additions ... new couch pillows, new rugs, new chairs and pillows for our patio set. Love it!

One of my favorite things... my back porch. It's that time of year again when I just can't get enough of it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today I am going to a used book sale hoping to snag some good deals. Tomorrow Quincy has a "spa" appointment. On Friday Eli has his egg hunt at school and Rick and I are going out to dinner with some friends for a birthday. Saturday is Free Land Fill Day, so we will be doing some extreme purging! (That would be a fun reality show!) And Sunday we will celebrate Easter.

From my picture journal.

This is only one of the sweet little guys occupying a nest in our tree.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Menu Plan Monday ~ Behind the 8 Ball

We had a fast but fun trip to Missouri to see my parents this weekend. Kyndal got her first car, my mom and I made refrigerator magnets for door prizes for her upcoming Mother-Daughter Banquet, and we just hung out.

As much as I love that kind of weekend, today is Monday morning and I am behind on everything! I haven't gone to the grocery store. I haven't planned lessons for this week. The house is dirty. I need to go to the library.

I'm doing a bit of winging it this week (which I absolutely hate!) And that includes my meals. I have a couple of things we didn't get to in the past couple of weeks, and I brought home some leftovers from my parents'. I'm going to try to get away with not going to the store until this weekend. So, here's what we're having ...

Monday ~ Pork, rice and broccoli casserole (made with leftover roast pork I brought home from Missouri)

Tuesday ~ Italian chicken melts with pasta salad (brought back from Missouri)

Wednesday ~ Wine Wednesday for Rick and I (with cheese and fruit), Fend for Yourself for the kids

Thursday ~ Baked chicken, party potatoes and grilled corn

Friday ~ Calzones for the kids, Rick and I are going out for a friends' birthday

Saturday and Sunday ~ I'll go to the store on Saturday morning, so I'm not sure what we're going to have yet. Sunday is Easter and we go out for a big lunch, so we'll do something easy for dinner.

The Culmination of Hard Work

Teaching Kyndal the lesson of working to receive something has not been an easy one, especially as she has sat by and watched friend after friend receive pretty-darned-new-and-super-nice cars on the day they turned 16 without having to work one moment for them. What 16 year old wouldn't prefer to get their car under those circumstances??

We required Kyndal to have a job before she got her license. We required her to save enough money to pay for her own insurance and roadside assistance and online defensive course (to save her insurance money) and gas. We were actually wanting her to save some money toward a car before we, and others, helped her buy one.

Her grandparents recognized how hard she had been working, with a good attitude, and wanted to reward her. So they bought her a 1997 Mitsubishi Galant as her first car.

It's not a brand new car. But to her it couldn't be any better.

And you know what? She is so proud of herself for how hard she has worked to receive it. It's hers! She doesn't owe anybody anything (but gratitude). She is proud of herself because she already has enough money saved to pay her insurance through the end of the year. And now any she makes through the end of the year is hers to spend as she wishes.

I am so proud of her. Seeing her drive away for the first time last night was surreal. But I was so excited for her!

I know that she will appreciate what she has received because she has worked so hard for it. And that was the whole purpose of this lesson. I know that it is a lesson she will take with her through her lifetime. Unfortunately not many kids have to learn that lesson anymore, and we wonder why our society is that way that it is.

Making Peace

It's been a little over a year since we added four dogs to our cat-only home. We have had Clifford the Big Gray Cat for 10 years. Last year we turned his castle upside down by adding three Chi-Poos and a Border Collie.

He took pretty quickly to the little guys and now, in fact, he sleeps with them in our bed at night and even lets them lick his ears clean. But he has not cared for Crusoe, and the feeling is mutual.

For over a year Clifford has lived in our bedroom. His food and water are in our bathroom and he has even trained himself not to go potty until evening when we put all the dogs down for the night and he gets free reign of the palace again and to go to his throne in the laundry room.

He NEVER comes out during the day! And if he does, he is very cautious making sure Crusoe is nowhere to be found!

Well, here recently they have come to some sort of an understanding. Crusoe has agreed not to chase Clifford up into the bathroom sink and Clifford has agreed not to claw Crusoe's eyes out with his back claws.

On Wednesday they even sat in the exact same spot on the back porch within seconds of each other. They cohabitated in the kitchen and living room for quite a while.

Hopefully peace has been restored in the kingdom.

Because this castle doesn't have room for all these kings.

Wine Wednesdays

 Source

Four kids, housework, four dogs, Rick's golf passion, yard work, my t.v. schedule, the fact I can't stay up past 9 p.m., and so on ... it doesn't make for a very good date night schedule for Rick and I!

My friend Jen at Frugal Fabulous posted an idea yesterday called "Wine Wednesday".  She told how her and her husband set the kids up with a movie and popcorn every Wednesday evening and retire to their study with wine and cheese for some alone time.

It occurred to me that we make an absolute point to make sure our family has donuts and chocolate milk for Sunday morning. In fact we will make a special trip into town to get it if we haven't already. So there isn't any reason why I can't make it a priority on Wednesdays to go into town to get Rick and I a special treat of wine and cheeses.

So that's what I did today. I went and bought us a sweet red wine, some artichoke and garlic hummus with pita chips, mediterranean cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese, and some strawberries. When he got home from work we told the kids we were going on a "back porch date" and went out, alone, to enjoy our wine, cheeses and fruit. We talked and laughed!

It was a short date. My neighbor came out so we could discuss our two youngest daughters, I needed to get the kids in the bath and Rick needed to get to mowing.

But, it was nice to intentionally make time for each other.

And the wine wasn't half bad either.

Random Thoughts About My Kids

When we moved into our house, almost four years ago, I told Dawson that in the amount of time we had lived in Owasso (6 years at that time), that Kyndal would be graduated in that same amount of time and leaving us. It truly feels like he and I had that conversation a month ago. It was four years ago. Kyndal will be graduating in a very short two years. It seems so unreal.

Speaking of Kyndal. I am so very proud of her. She is working hard at Sonic and being so responsible. She is getting her car this weekend, that she worked hard to prove that she deserved. She is showing such maturity in her relationship with her boyfriend, and with us. Now that she is driving she is constantly keeping in touch and making sure I know where she is. She hasn't been late even once. She is showing me what a great young lady she is.

It was very surreal to go to the insurance office today to get her car insurance set up. It made me realize the level of mature experiences she will be having from now on.

Especially as a homeschool mom, I want Dawson and Brynne to read a wide variety of literature. It "seems" important. And I set up a time schedule for Dawson to read every day. Then he gets a book from the library that he is interested in .. based on Halo, his favorite video game. It's a 350 page novel. When he was going up to bed tonight he came down and picked up his book to read. The level of literature grit just doesn' t matter to me when I see him reading just because he wants to.

Seven years ago I was very pregnant with Eli. I was laying on the couch and I yelled up the stairs for Dawson to take his bath (he was seven at the time). Kyndal had already taken hers. At that moment I thought, "What in the heck am I doing? I've got these two kids almost self-sufficient and I am getting ready to start over!" Tonight both Eli and Brynne gave themselves baths. I'm finally on my way to having a second round of self-sufficient kids. Again, it goes by so fast!

My kids don't fight. Sure, they have disagreements, occasionally, but they don't fight. We have never allowed it and because of our expectations, they have lived up to them and show us such a maturity in their abilities to navigate their relationships with each other. They make me so very proud! Our home is peaceful, and not chaotic. I never hear those "outbursts" upstairs because two of the kids are going at it in our home. They tell each other please and thank you and they are considerate to one another.

A couple of days ago I wasn't feeling very well. Yesterday Brynne asked me if I was feeling better. I told her I was better, but still not 100%. Eli said, "Mommy, you're 1000% because you are perfect."

I have the best kids in the world. I am blessed and I hope and pray that I take advantage of each and every moment, because what I am realizing is that those moments are becoming fewer and fewer.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... The sun is shining so brightly, and it's going to be a beautiful day!

I am thinking... about summer activities.

I am thankful ... that my brother and sister-in-law are recovering from their miscarriage and taking steps of healing.

I am wearing... a pair of denim capris, flip flops and a pink t-shirt with a panda on it.

I am planning... what I am going to say when I speak at the Mother Daughter Banquet at my mom's church next month. The theme is "Clean".

I am creating... ideas for Brynne and Eli's birthday parties that aren't until August and December! Yes, psycho, I know.

I am going... into town today to get my nails done. They are WAY overdue.

I am reading...  Mrs. Ike: Memories and Reflections on the Life of Mamie Eisenhower by Susan Eisenhower,  Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss and the Book of Psalms (daily devotional), The Swiss Family Robinson by  Johann Wyss (Dawson's read-aloud, almost done), and lots of Easter books with Brynne.

I am hoping... that the easy-going-ness of my family right now just continues on forever and ever.

From the learning rooms... We are just continuing with what we were doing last week. Brynne and I are outdoors a lot, going on nature walks as part of her Easter studies. Dawson is learning about Explorers and the Ocean. Eli is so ready for summer to get here! And Kyndal, too.

Noticing that ... my dogs are yelping out in the pool house because they want me to let them in and feed them their breakfast.

From the kitchen... not much is happening because the grill is working overtime outside on the back porch!!!

Around the house... my garden is planted, the ornamental gardens are complete, and dandelions are everywhere .. urgh!!!

One of my favorite things... is my new barbeque grill. This is the first time I have had one and I LOVE it! I have been grilling up a storm.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today is Kyndal's boyfriend's 16th birthday. Happy Birthday, Drake! So she is spending the evening with his family. We will be just hanging out at home, as usual, until Eli's afternoon program on Thursday. We are all going to see him play the caterpillar in "A Caterpillar's Voice". Kyndal works two nights this week. On Friday at noon the kids and I are heading to Missouri. Kyndal will be picking up her very first car! And then her and Dawson are driving on to their paternal grandparents' to help them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The littles and I will spend the weekend with my parents. My mom and I have refrigerator magnets to make for favors for the Mother Daughter Banquet. Poor Rick is staying home with all four dogs. Thank you, honey! You guys can all just snuggle to keep from missing us too bad!

From my picture journal.

This could be one reason why we have dandelions everywhere!

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.