Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... It's muggy humid, and overcast.

I am thinking... about how great it felt to run this morning. I haven't done it in a long time and it felt good!

I am thankful ... for the great weekend we had.

I am wearing... new workout clothes, courtesy of my sweet husband.

I am planning... to get my little kiddos signed up for the Summer Reading Program at our library.

I am creating... pockets of reorganization. I got the playroom and t.v. room upstairs done this weekend. It looks so good and feels great to have some order back up there. Now I'm moving on to my side of the office.

I am going... to really enjoy listening to Joyce Meyer on my iPod (Rick's old iPhone) in the mornings when I run. I found myself not even realizing how much pain I was in because I was listening to her. Good message, too.

I am reading...  Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers, Season's of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson (homeschool play group moms book study), What Your Second Grader Needs to Know by The Core Knowledge Foundation, and More Faith in My Day by Emilie Barnes (daily devotional).

I am hoping... for a great summer just enjoying Rick and the kids.

From the learning rooms... Eli and Brynne will be starting their summer reading assignments today. They will read one phonetic page, read a Saxon reader, and 10 minutes of silent reading out of a book of their choice. We will start our unit on China in a week or two.

Noticing that ... I feel so refreshed and renewed this morning. I don't know if it's because it's the start of something new (summer break) or that I got my upstairs cleaned and organized this weekend or that I got some new clothes or that I was in bed at 7:30 last night. Could be a combination of it all.

From the kitchen... Tuesday ~ Grilled sliders and fries; Wednesday ~ Rick and I are going out, kids are fending for themselves; Thursday ~ Grilled salmon patties and long grain rice, fish sticks for the kids; Friday ~ Ham and swiss stromboli; Saturday ~ Easy chicken cordon bleu and chips; Sunday ~ Slow cooker BBQ chicken and pasta

Around the house... the NOW toy box system is working great! I have had so much less toy clutter around and everything easily goes back into one box when the day is done.

One of my favorite things... The peace and quiet of morning with me sitting in my favorite chair drinking my coffee and blogging, with Eli snuggled on the couch still trying to wake up and Crusoe resting next to him after our run, and everybody else still asleep or off to work.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today we are going to go to the library and I am going to clean the downstairs of our house. Tomorrow we are having our homeschool play group over for a craft and play time. Then Rick and I are going out to dinner and to see "Bridesmaids". On Friday we are going to play at the skateboard park with our whole homeschool coop. Rick's playing golf on Saturday. The rest of the week holds no plans, which is just how everybody likes it. Kyndal works Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

From my picture journal.

The trash that didn't go to a landfill from JUST OUR HOUSE in JUST ONE WEEK! Is that astonishing to anyone else? It causes me to think ... take that times about 30,000 people in just our town alone times 52 weeks a year. Wow. I can't believe that for 10 years I didn't know our city had a recycling center that is very well organized and free. It's right near our library, so once a week we hit both. We are certainly late jumping on the recycling band wagon, but we are on it.

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

The Patriot Cup

With my husband being an avid golfer and over-the-top fan, it was a no-brainer when he asked me if I wanted to go with him to The Patriot Cup golf event at our local golf course, The Patriot sponsored by The Folds of Honor Foundation.

In the last four years, the Folds of Honor Foundation has awarded nearly 2,000 scholarships and raised over $8.5 million for the dependents of our nation’s fallen and disabled soldiers. Though we’ve come a long way in a short time, with over 220,000 dependents that have had a family member killed or disabled while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan—85% of whom do not receive any federal education assistance—we’ve got a long way to go. The Patriot Cup is an invitational golf tournament committed to ensure that no family is left behind on the field of battle.

The tournament pairs military personnel with professional golfers and celebrities.

We weren't able to stay at the tournament for long, because Rick had his own golf game to play this afternoon, but we were honored to contribute to the worthy cause and it was fun to get to see some professionals up close and personal. Next year we will definitely plan to make a day of it. We found the perfect hole to sit at and watch an entire hole played from tee off to putt.

May God bless our military and their families left here on the home front.

Deleted

I had a "humurous" post completed about the silly preparations we took in anticipation of the tornadoes that were predicted to hit our area on Tuesday night.

However, I have just deleted it because I just watched a Live press conference with the family of a little boy who was found dead this morning as a result of the tornadoes in Piedmont, Oklahoma. The family lost their two little boys. They were actually missing for some time. The tornado picked up one of the little boys and drowned him in a local lake. He is the boy they just recovered.

Dear Jesus, please comfort this family and the many families who have lost loved ones. Tragic.

Garden Update

It's time for my garden update!

Let me tell you ... the weather around here has been treacherous! But, my garden has LOVED it! All this rain has been awesome! Now bring on some sunshine and heat!

I have picked individual strawberries off my little patch and ate them on the spot. They are so juicy and sweet!

My broccoli seems to be stalled, and my tomatoes aren't doing too well. I just think the garden across the back of the house just hasn't gotten enough sun. Last year it did great! This year, not so much. I do have a few tomatoes starting to show themselves on one of my tomato plants.

My new garden is doing great! I even have a little jalapeno started! My husband loves jalapenos, so I will definitely be canning them. I'm not a big canner, but jalapenos are a different story.

I expect to have some pretty zucchini any time. There are little starts everywhere! My squash finally decided to get with the program and they are coming along nicely.

The real winners in my garden so far, because of all the cool weather and rain, are my spinach and lettuce! I can't possibly eat enough lettuce to keep up with those plants! I do love spinach and have been plucking off leaves to put on paninis and to steam for turkey burgers, etc. I think next year I will plant only one lettuce plant and more spinach.

I'm ready for grilled veggies and fresh tomatoes on my sandwiches! Brynne is anxiously awaiting the moment we can pull some carrots out of the ground.

I love how every year I learn a little more about my garden. Next year I already have plans to move my lettuce and spinach over to my old bed and move my tomatoes to my new bed so they can get more sun. I will also plant more strawberries.

And I have learned a lot about composting and my composting pile has already converted into some beautiful dark, rich soil. It's so cool!

There is some great gardening going on over at The Homeschool Village. Go see.

Our Summer's Shaping Up!

I am a mama who likes to have a plan for summer. I am not a free-for-all type of gal. It makes me so agitated to wake up each day with an open day and no plans! That's because we end up staying in our pj's all day, doing absolutely nothing! There's nothing wrong with doing that every once in a while, but not every day! We don't have to do something every day, but I like to have a general plan to keep us moving.

This summer we have these things to do ....

Mondays ~ This is the one day I like for us to stay home. I tend to enjoy getting all of my housework and laundry caught up to give us a fresh start for the week. This is the day everybody can stay in the pj's.

Tuesdays and Thursdays ~ We have the options of going to our movie theatre for their summer movie program or going bowling for free (one game). While we are in town I also like to hit the library. The other option on one of these days is to go to Tulsa to the water park. We have season passes. And there's also the zoo, of which we also have a family pass.

Wednesdays ~ This year we will have playgroup with a small group of our homeschooling moms and kiddos. I am really looking forward to this because the moms are also doing a book study together!

Fridays ~ This day is usually reserved for the weekly grocery trip and other errands, although we could do any of the Tuesday/Thursday activities if a trip to the store is not needed.

A big emphasis for the summer is good habit forming and reading. Last summer I prepared an allowance basket and gave each of the kids a list of things they were to do each morning before they started their day. The older kids got a $1 a day and the little guys got 25 cents a day, if they did their list without being reminded. Then I paid them at the end of the month.

The idea wasn't to pay them for doing things they should already be doing. The idea was to have the money as incentive to get them to do something long enough for it to become a habit. And, it worked (at least for the little kids). They now routinely put their dirty clothes away and their dishes on the sink after meals without being told, as well as their other personal hygiene items.

This summer I am making it more enticing for the little two because Eli needs to do some reading reinforcement, and I'm going to "use" Brynne to help out with that. If they each read their Really Reading 2 sheet, a Saxon easy reader, 10 minutes in a book of their choice and do their chore list, they will be paid $1 a day. That will add up to a lot of money for a 5 and 7 year old. But, if they form good habits out of it, then the money is worth it! The older kids will have their chore list to do for $1 a day. But if I know them, they'll just forgo the money. The sucky part for them is that they have to do the chore lists anyway, they just don't get paid anything if I have to be the one to make them do it. Last summer they were broke.

We'll have our usual couple of trips to Missouri to see my parents, as well.

And then this summer will be over in a blink of an eye.

The Storm Has Passed

Just wanted to do a quick post to say that the severe weather has passed through Tulsa without any real incidences. There were no tornadoes in our immediate area, just rain, wind and hail. It was a brief storm and we didn't even lose power.

Oklahoma is not out of the woods yet, and they are still asking areas in Eastern Oklahoma to take cover as there is currently a tornado touching down in Wagoner. And, unfortunately, a storm system is headed right for Joplin, Missouri, so please be praying for them as they take on another hindrance to their dire situation.

Thank you to those of you who e-mailed me or contacted me before this storm tonight to tell me that you were praying for the protection of my family and home. I appreciate your love and friendship.

A Mama and Her Fledglings

On Sunday we found a baby bird that was out of it's nest. Technically it is a fledgling because it has it's full feathers. We thought about trying to do something to protect it, but then saw it's mother (a robin) working frantically to get it food and move it to a safer location. We left them alone.

On Monday morning while walking I saw it nestled down in the grass.

I went up to check on it later in the morning, and it was fine. Then some movement caught my eye a little further down in the yard and I noticed the mama with another fledgling. That poor mama was working furiously to feed and protect them both, even though they were going in different directions. I could feel her stress.

It got me thinking about a scene from my day Sunday. I was doing laundry and looked out the window as Kyndal was driving up the street to go see her friend who is in the hospital. She slowed down and stopped to talk to Dawson who was walking back home from going up to his friend's. He had his best friend, his dog Crusoe and Brynne riding on her scooter. I thought at that moment, "that's my life out there". I've got one driving away, a couple coming home, and one upstairs. They are everywhere and I can't keep track of them all.

I am like that mama bird and my kids are like those fledglings.

Fledglings are either pushed out of the nest by their siblings or decide, prematurely, that they can survive outside the nest, so they tumble out. The problem is, they can't yet fly.

As mamas we know that there are innumerable dangers out there for our fledglings. They are called "fledglings" for a reason ... they are fledgling around, trying to survive on their own. They just don't get how dangerous that world is out there. They think they are ready.

My teenage daughter is like the first fledgling I saw yesterday. She thinks she's ready to handle life on her own. She drives away without a thought in the world of all the dangers that await her. I stand nearby, trying to keep her close, trying to keep her fed with the knowledge she needs to make it. Yet, she keeps walking (or driving) away from me.

At the same time I have another fledgling in the form of a 14 year old boy. He's not quite ready to be too far away from me. He's out of the nest, but he keeps following me around for that protection. It won't be long before he is brave enough to wander a little further away, probably before he is truly ready. And I will stress. I will have one fledgling here and another one there and they will be going in opposite directions and I'll still be trying to keep them close, trying to keep them safe, trying to keep them fed.

I'm doing this all while I still have a couple of babies in the nest. They are at home, needing to be cared for. So, I am chasing that fledgling and caring for the other fledgling and running back to my nest to take care of the ones who are still too young to leave it.

I am a stressed out mama.

Not unlike Mrs. Robin outside my window.

But just like Mrs. Robin, I need to let "nature take it's course". That is easier said than done. But if God can protect the birds of the field, He will surely find a way to protect my children. And I'll just take some Xanax to get me through.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... The calm before a huge storm.

I am thinking... about how I personally know three women who have lost their husbands in tragic ways in the past 6 months.

I am thankful ... that the little robin fledglings in our yard have survived the past couple of days, storms and all. (More on that later in the week.)

I am wearing... cotton capris, an Orange Beach t-shirt and tennis shoes (just got back from a walk.)

I am planning... to get outside and pull some weeds out of our front beds today. The rain brings on massive amounts of unwanted vines!

I am creating... a de-schoolroomed playroom.

I am going... to have to figure out how to watch both The Biggest Loser and American Idol finales tonight, all while we are having projected storms that will likely knock out our dish reception.

I am reading...  Planting Dandelions by Kyran Pittman, I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borten de Trevino (Dawson's read-a-loud), 26 Fairmont Avenue by Tomie de Paola (Brynne and Eli's read-a-loud).

I am hoping... to hear word that a fellow homeschool mom's son, who was accidentally shot in the chest last night, made it through the night and is improving.

From the learning rooms... LAST. WEEK. OF. SCHOOL.

Noticing that ... if I just get my hiney out of bed in the mornings and take that walk/run and get ready for my day before my day gets started that my day goes so much better! Duh! How many times do I have to have that realization before it sticks?

From the kitchen... starting to see some fresh produce from my own garden! So far only chives, lettuce and spinach, but with all this rain, it won't be long until we have some zuccini and squash!

Around the house... are more organized toys. I came up with a system for Eli and Brynne called their "NOW box". These are the toys they are playing with now. They tend to have a hodge-podge of toys they are playing with that end up everywhere, so I just collect them pile them in their room and then they continue to pull out more toys and add to the pile until there are so many of those little toys that I don't even know where to put them. So they have their NOW Box that they keep their current toys in. When it gets so full that they can't put the lid on, they have to take some out and put them where they go.

One of my favorite things... Doing a whole house cleaning on Sunday so that I wake up to a clean house on Monday morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week... We are finishing up school this week and I am deconstructing the schoolroom. On Friday we are going to the zoo to celebrate the last day of school with an A-Z Scavenger Hunt. The older two kids are going to their dad's on Saturday and Sunday. And on Monday Rick and I are going to a golf tournament to see some pros and stars.

From my picture journal.

Have you ever seen a hummingbird sitting? We have hummingbirds constantly at our feeder by our dining room window. I see them all day. They zoom past each other to eat. But lately I have seen them sitting on this chair waiting their turn. It's so strange to see them sitting still.

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

Menu Plan Monday

Look ... tomatoes!

Things are growing nicely!!

Last night we grilled burgers and used lettuce and spinach from my very own garden! Very exciting!

Here's what we are having this week ...

Monday ~ Skinny spinach angel hair pasta

Tuesday ~ Cashew chicken stirfry

Wednesday ~ Wine Wednesday and Fend for Yourself

Thursday ~ Sub sandwiches and strawberries

Friday ~ Pizza .. It's the last day of school !!!!!

Saturday and Sunday ~ I really don't know. Rick will likely be playing golf, so the kids and I will probably just have soup and sandwiches and hot dogs and such.

So happy this is our last week of school!

*** Don't forget to enter my current Giveaway! I only have four signed up so far, so don't make me beg!! ***

The Dog Ate My Homework

Actually, it was a library book. It wasn't exactly eaten completely, but the spine was gnawed on. And now we owe $17.00 to the library.

I could be mad. But things happen. Honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't happened before now.

I don't feel too bad paying the $17.00 because the library staff at our local library has spent numerous hours this past year pulling books for me that I have requested electronically and putting them on the Hold Shelf. They have helped me out tremendously this year!!! I have at least 10 books a week on that Hold Shelf.

To help with the matter, I bought this little basket at Big Lots last week for $10. It has a cute little chalkboard on the front to label what's in the basket. It now sits in our living room and we "check out" books from it and immediately replace them when we are done.

Update on Hailey

I wanted to give a quick update on my daughter's best friend, Hailey. I posted about her seizures yesterday on this post.

Kyndal spent the night with her at the hospital last night. They had given her 24 hour seizure medication and hooked her up to an EEG. The results today showed that there were some abnormalities in the same side of her brain that was deprived oxygen when she was born, that caused her to have mild Cerebral Palsy.

She had been transferred to a children's hospital in Tulsa last night, and has been doing fine since she arrived there. They are keeping her for observation, trying to make sure they give her an appropriate seizure medication.

Thank you for your prayers. It was a scary and upsetting time for her family and for Kyndal. Everything seems to be stablized now.

Stick a Fork in Us ... We are Done

When the weather starts to turn nice, the teenagers start to come out late at night. As my mama always used to say, "Nothing good happens after midnight." Last year we were tp'd several times (once even by Garth Brooks' daughter!)

When we woke up this morning, this is what we found.

Our yard was covered in about 1500 plastic forks. At least there's no tp up in our trees to have to deal with!

I paid Brynne 5 cents for each fork she picked up. She made $5.65.

Heck, we turned it into a math lesson! We counted the forks by 5's. Then she held her bag and my bag and estimated how much she thought was in my bag and which bag she thought held the most forks.

Then, she said, "Hey, forks are plastic! We can recycle those!" And, we did.

Eli learned a lesson, too. I offered him 5 cents a fork. He said, "No, I'll just get money. Working for money is too hard for me." I told him that, no, he would not "just get money". We had to work for money. He opted out. And Brynne made the dough. She'll get to buy a toy with it if she wants.

Late night yard vandalism ... Oh, the joys of having teenagers! Let the season begin!

** Speaking of forks, I'd love to stick mine into your favorite recipe! Leave it for me in a comment here and you might win a prize!

Please, please be in Prayer!!!

Update on Hailey (4:30 p.m.) ~ Hailey had another seizure at the hospital. They are transferring her to a bigger hospital in Tulsa. Kyndal is on her way there as well. Thank you for your prayers.

Update on Hailey (3:15 p.m.) ~ Kyndal called around 3:00 and said that Hailey's CT scans came back fine and they sent her home. Kyndal went to get her and Hailey some Subway and was going to her house to eat with her. When she got there the ambulance was there and Hailey had just had another seizure and was unconscious again. She has been taken back to the hospital.

Please continue to pray for her!

Today is a rainy day. And it seems that the dreary news keeps pouring in today, as well.

Kyndal received a text from a girl at school advising her that her best  friend had a seizure in class and was unconscious and the paramedics were there. They were in the process of getting her ready to take her to the hospital. Kyndal is headed to the hospital now.

Then I read on our town info blog that the husband of both my sons' hairdresser, and good family friend, was killed in a motorcycle accident last night. He was hit head-on by a drunk driver driving on the wrong side of a four lane highway.

Please be in prayer for Hailey and her family, and Pam and her two sons. Today is a tough day, and there are many more tough days to come.

Additional Giveaway

In addition to choosing a random participant in my Give Me Your Best and I'll Give Back giveaway to receive a dish towel apron and a recipe book of the recipes posted, I have decided to give away another set of the prizes!

After June 1st, I will make each of the posted recipes for my family. When I have fixed them all I will have my family vote for their favorite. The winner will receive a dish towel apron (made by me) and a bound copy of all of the recipes submitted.

So, Give Me Your Best recipe!!!

Give me your best and I'll give back!!!

For me, each time the seasons change my cooking tastes change. Now that it's almost summer, I am sick of "winter foods" and am ready for "summer foods".

But, of course, each year I go right back to the "same ol' same ol'" summer foods I've always cooked.

So, I had an idea!! I will use YOU to get some new recipes. But, I don't just want easy-to-type recipes. I want YOUR BEST/YUMMIEST FAMILY FRIENDLY SUMMER RECIPE! What is that one thing that you cook that is SO GOOD that you'd be proud to share it?

All you have to do is step up and pat yourself on the back for being such a good cook, and then type that recipe in a comment on this post.

I will give you until June 1st at noon to leave your comment!

Then I will draw a random name from the comments and give the winner a prize ... I am thinking a homemade dish towel apron and a typed and bound copy of all the recipes posted!

Of course I am not eligible to win. But here is a new recipe I came up with that was so, so, so good! So I'd like to share.

Flank Steak Florentine Pinwheels

About 4 very thinly sliced flank steaks

Sliced mushrooms

Fresh spinach

Provolone cheese slices

Steak seasoning of your choice

Toothpicks

Lay your flank steak out flat on a working surface. Layer it with sliced mushrooms, fresh spinach and slices of provolone cheese. Start at one end and roll. Secure with toothpicks. Sprinkle on the steak seasoning of your choice.

Grill until meat is done.

Remove toothpicks then slice in about 1/2 inch slices. They will look like like little pinwheels, and taste like Heaven!

They are good served with pasta or rice, veggies or a salad. And they are so pretty that you would look like a world class chef if you served them to dinner guests!

Okay, now leave your recipe! And be sure to leave me contact information if you don't have a blog.

The Language(s) of Love

Do you know about Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages? It's a concept from many years ago, but continues to cycle around in my consciousness.

Gary proposes that we each have Love Languages ... the way we feel and, consequently, naturally give love. The 5 Love Languages are:

1. Quality Time
2. Acts of Service
3. Gift Giving
4. Physical Touch
5. Words of Affirmation

You can take a series of quizzes to see what your Love Language is and what the Love Languages of others in your life are.

My Love Language is definitely Acts of Service! That's why I feel totally and completely loved when Rick cleans the kitchen after dinner or when one of the kids completely cleans his/her room without being asked. And that's why at the end of the day I feel like I have loved my family to the fullest because I have cared for them all day.

But have they felt loved? That is the challenge. We naturally give our own Love Language to others. The challenge is to love others in our lives according to their Love Languages. The first step is to take the time to identify what those individual Love Languages are. Then the second challenge is to live outside of ourselves and love in ways that may be completely unnatural.

It's especially challenging when every member of your immediate family has a different Love Language. That is the case in my family.

1. Rick's Love Language is Words of Affirmation and Physical Touch.
2. Kyndal's Love Language is Quality Time.
3. Dawson's Love Language is Gift Giving.
4. Eli's Love Language is Words of Affirmation and Physical Touch (yes, he's his daddy's son).
5. Brynne's Love Language is Acts of Service (yes she's her mommy's daughter).

May I introduce to you my Acts of Service Girl.

On Sunday she said, "Can I clean the bathroom? I want to do it so you don't have to." And she was ex.cit.ed. I overheard her telling Eli, "Don't walk on the floor there, I just cleaned it. I have been working so hard." (Can you say mini-me?) She was the one in our household who couldn't wait for Mother's Day so she could take care of me. And she was sad when Mother's Day was over.

There is no doubt in my mind that Brynne is secure in my love for her. I take care of her and do things for her .... she feels loved. But I know that the other members of my little family doubt my love at times. Am I lifting Rick up with my words often enough? Am I sitting with him on the couch (next to him), holding his hand, being anywhere near intimate? (You don't have to answer that outloud, honey.) Am I shutting off the t.v. at night when Kyndal gets home from work and acting interested in all of the silly stories she has to tell about her night? Am I buying Dawson that Monster Java for a special treat when I think about it? Am I telling Eli how awesome he is doing at his Kung Fu moves or his homework and am I cuddling with him enough?

None of those things are natural to me, and take work.

But the work is worth it.

 ¹ If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. ²If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. ^3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... Bea - u - ti - ful !!!!

I am thinking... about how relaxed I have been lately, enjoying gardening and reading.

I am thankful ... for the little group of homeschool moms and kids we will be having a small group with this summer.

I am wearing... a layered t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes.

I am planning... Eli and Brynne's summer reading schedule.

I am creating... Homeschool notebooks and book lists for next year.

I am going... to clean the upstairs today and start disassembling our schoolroom that we don't use.

I am reading...  Planting Dandelions by Karyn Pittman, I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borten de Trevino (Dawson's read-a-loud), 26 Fairmont Avenue by Tomie de Paola (Brynne and Eli's read-a-loud).

I am hoping... that I get an adjunct teaching position for fall.

From the learning rooms... TWO MORE WEEKS! We are certainly winding down!

Noticing that ... my vegetable garden is coming along nicely! But, my tomatoes don't look too good this year.

From the kitchen... lots of yummies. Last night we had grilled pork chops, italian veggie packets, and long grain and wild rice. Yum!!

Around the house... are happy and colorful birds and butterflies.

One of my favorite things... Fast cars and hot men. Just kidding! See Why I Love Vin Diesel post. No, really, my new wireless printer is my favorite thing this week. AWESOME!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Not much today other than a trip to the library. Tomorrow night Rick and I have our Wine Wednesday back porch date. On Thursday I am taking Dawson and Brynne to Philbrook Museum to look at the Italian Renaissance paintings and pick up discounted zoo passes at Mathis Brothers Furniture. Nothing is on the agenda for this weekend. Yea! Kyndal is working a lot this week, Dawson is playing loads of xbox, Eli and Brynne are playing Power Rangers Samarai (their new passion) and Rick will be playing golf, I am sure!! I'll be doing my usual.

From my picture journal.

The first edible from my garden. I ate it on the spot!

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

Menu Plan Monday

Monday ~ Grilled pork chops, long-grain rice, and pasta for the kids

Tuesday ~ Popcorn chicken and fries for the kids, popcorn chicken salad for Rick and I

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

Thursday ~ Baked ham and asparagus rolls, homemade macaroni and cheese

Friday ~ Paninis and steamed broccoli

Saturday ~ Calzones (a family favorite) ... pepperoni for the kids, veggie for Rick and I

Sunday ~ Grilled burgers and chips

Why I Love Vin Diesel

Last night my husband and I went to the movies to see Fast Five starring Vin Diesel (my choice). I. love. him. It is true love. If I was ever to leave my husband for another man, it would be him.

I actually really enjoy the Fast and Furious movies, which my husband thinks is so bizarre. If you know me well, I think you would agree. If you read my Daybook every week, my "favorite things" typically consist of coffee, my back porch, gardening, my grill, my home, my family, vacationing with my husband, hummingbirds and the like. Not once have you ever seen me list fast cars or hot men.

So why do I love Vin Diesel??

1. He makes the wife beater tank top an acceptable clothing item!!

2. He solidifies why I am attracted to bald men.

3. His fast driving ways take me back to the rebellious me of my past who loved guys who loved cars.

4. His deep voice.

5. He's sexy.

6. He's hot.

7. He's sexy.

8. He's hot.

9. He's sexy.

10. He's hot.

That pretty much sums it up.

Oh, and honey, since my chances are pretty slim of ever meeting Vin and being asked to run away with him, I think our marriage is safe.

Unless, of course, Tim Gunn ever decides to stop by and take me to lunch.

Clean

The Sunday before Mother's Day I had the privilege of speaking at the annual Mother Daughter Banquet at my childhood church, the church where my mom still attends. It is a small church in a small town, but we were thrilled when over 60 women showed up to the banquet this year! And it was even raining, so we thought our numbers would be low.

The theme of our banquet this year was "Clean" and our focus verse was Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." I used analogies between the different types of crumbs found in a toaster and the various types of sins in our lives, and what we need to do specifically to clean them out.

We decorated the tables with small pastel colored cleaning buckets and filled them with a bottle of cleanser, a sponge, a rubber glove, a devotional book and a pot of flowers sitting on a Bible.

My mom and I also made refrigerator magnets with the Bible verse printed on them for the ladies to take as door prizes.

I am bummed that I didn't think to take pictures of me and my mom and Brynne, but we were just really busy with helping organize the event.

I was really honored to be asked back to speak again this year, and I think the message was fun and a clear word from God. It just feels so nice to be able to give back to my childhood church and to serve God in a way that uses my talents and gifts.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... It's a little cloudy and cooler this morning, but is supposed to warm right up to 90 this afternoon.

I am thinking... about the summer and next school year with my kids. It's going to be a busy, but fun time.

I am thankful ... That Kyndal was able to get her exhaust fixed for $80 (not so lucky on the oil leak .. she's going to have to save for that one.)

I am wearing... a gray plaid shirt dress with skinny jeans and black flip flops.

I am planning... preliminary ideas for science units for next year based on the kids' interests. So far we have The Human Body, The Solar System and Weather.

I am creating... Teacher Appreciation gifts for Eli's teacher.

I am going... to enjoy my life (and I'm still going to lose those 6 pounds).

I am reading...  Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok and I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borten de Trevino (Dawson's read-a-loud).

I am hoping... that the oil struck on my mom's family's land yesterday will yield profitable results!!

From the learning rooms... Brynne and I are still learning about Great Britain and The Royal Family (yesterday I saw her playing with one of Eli's castles and calling it Buckingham Palace). Dawson has started a unit on The Renaissance Period and it will be full of art history from that era. He is going to be focusing on Diego Valazquez. Kyndal just wants to get this year over. And Eli is thrilled to only have 2 1/2 more weeks of school left. Is it just me, or are my public school kids sick of school and my homeschool kids still engaged?

Noticing that ... the hummingbirds are in abundance this year, fighting over our feeder!

From the kitchen... it's an easy week of sandwiches, primarily.

Around the house... are full flower pots!!! That was a big job but I am always thrilled with the results!

One of my favorite things... Gardening ... all kinds of gardening.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today is Eli's IEP meeting at school. There's lots to talk about. This weekend the carnival is coming to town, so we will be taking the kids to it some time. Rick's playing golf on Saturday and I'll just be doing the usual. It's going to be a cool, but nice, weekend, so there will be lots of outside time.

From my picture journal.

My purse full of goodies and tea bag from Eli at the Mother's Tea.

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

Happy Birthday, Sis!

I'd like to give a Happy Birthday shout out to my sister, Kristen! 

(She's the hot one on the left. This was just before our "girls day" in Pensacola.)

I hope that you have had a wonderful day today!! Here's to you inching closer to 40!! Misery loves company!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday ~ Leftovers!!

Tuesday ~ Stuffed peppers

Wednesday ~ FFY, Rick and I out to go to the movies

Thursday ~ Chicken and noodles

Friday ~ Egg sandwiches and chips

Saturday ~ Grilled hot dogs and brats

Sunday ~ Daddy's on his own because the kids and I are going to The Renaissance Festival

My Perfect Day ~ Mother's Day 2011

It all started with me getting to sleep in until 10:00 this morning ..... ahhhhh!!!

The puppies hung out with me. 

Then Rick and Brynne served me breakfast (my special donuts) and coffee, with my flowers Eli and Brynne got me yesterday.

I laid in bed and finished my book.

And got a foot rub.

Then when I couldn't stand laying in bed any longer, I got up and potted all 25 of my flower pots. Brynne helped me for a bit.

After I finished working hard I sat and enjoyed my flowers. These are the ones Kyndal and Dawson bought me. They picked out the flower pot themselves. Perfect!

Then I retreated back to my bedroom to watch some t.v. and do lesson plans from the comfort of my bed.

I got lots of hugs and kisses and "Happy Mother's Day" wishes and "I love you" lovies. This was my perfect Mother's Day!

Lessons Learned from a Self-Proclaimed 'Old Lady' ... a Tribute to My Mom on Her Birthday

I was 19 years old when my mom said these words to me: "Well, my life is half over!" It was her 40th birthday. I said, "Well good grief, Mother, you've got lots of life to live. Why don't you dwell on the negative."

That was 20 years ago. Today my mother turns 60 years old. And this year I will be 40.

Do I feel like my life is half over? I don't think I look at it that way. But, it does make you stop and consider the life you have lived and the life you have left.

This is especially true if 20 years has gone by in a blink of an eye and your mother's life is now "three-quarters of the way over." If you follow her logic I only have a short 20 years left to enjoy her. (Not trying to put you in the grave yet, mom, just following your logic!)

I would say that my mom and I have always been good friends. Sure, I was a teenager and she was a mom. And she was the mom of a teenager who didn't like to be told what to do, so that made it hard. And I don't rely on her as much as I should because I am now an adult who doesn't like to be told what to do, so I don't seek help most times when I need it.

But, we do share the same interests and love of family. We had a great day this past Saturday where we went to Kansas City and hit some subdivision garage sales and then toured model homes in the Kansas City Home Tour. We had lunch, went and bought some flowers and came back home. And we were alone. I don't remember the last time me and my mom did something alone ... together. It was a great day!

Her comments about the length of her life, and my realization that there is some truth to that, have me taking an "enjoy myself" day today. I woke up this morning to my printer not working, which means that very little planned schooling can occur today because most things needed to be printed. It's a beautiful, sunny day. This afternoon Eli's class is honoring their mothers at the Mother's Tea. I am currently sitting on the back porch (my favorite spot this side of Heaven), watching the dogs soak up the sun and drinking a cup of coffee. Does life get any better than this? (Well, I guess if I was in Bermuda with my husband, that might qualify.)

The point of all this is: Life is short. We should enjoy it. We don't know how long we have to live on this earth, so putting off enjoying life is a ridiculous thing to do.

This is a lesson I have learned from my mom. It's a great lesson to learn.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Just smile.

Thank you, mom, for being a wonderful mother! Have a Happy, Happy 60th Birthday! (And here's to another healthy and active 40 years, not 20!)

Word-filled Wednesday

What can be more delightful than to find harmony of opinion

in those we love, when a great and momentous decision has to be taken? 

~ The Swiss Family Robinson

I loved this part of The Swiss Family Robinson. After being stranded on a deserted island for in excess of 10 years, the opportunity arose to leave the island and return to England. Neither the father nor mother wanted to admit to the other what their desire was, for fear the other's desire would be the opposite. When they finally agreed to reveal their decisions, they were delighted to realize that they were in complete harmony. And a great relief washed over them both.

Truly joyful moments in my marriage occur when this happens. When a big decision is to be made, it's such a relief to have the total agreement of your spouse and other family members! It allows you to walk forward with less fear and more freedom and joy.

My parents, I believe, have experienced this in their decision to sell their home and buy a smaller one, and in purchasing their home in Pensacola, Florida. They don't see eye-to-eye on many things. But they are now entering the next phase of their lives in complete harmony as to where they will spend their days. Happy 42nd Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!

Do you have any experiences with this you want to share?

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... Sunshine? Is that sunshine? YES!!!

I am thinking... about the insulting e-mail from Chick-fil-a to our Homeschool Coop president telling her how they will NOT honor homeschool moms in their upcoming Teacher Appreciation Day.

I am thankful ... for the time I got to spend alone with my mom on Saturday. It was a great day!

I am wearing... jeans, silver tennis shoes and layered long-sleeved t-shirt.

I am planning... the month of May. It's going to be a busy one!

I am creating... flower pots full of flowers (this weekend).

I am going... to lose 6 pounds.

I am reading...  The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

I am hoping... that the oil leak and exhaust problems in Kyndal's car are an easy (and inexpensive) fix for her.

From the learning rooms... Brynne and I are launching into a four week study of London, the British Monarchy and Royal Family, princesses and knights. Dawson and I will be starting the Rennaissance period in a couple of days. Kyndal is doing End-of-the-Year-Instruction (EOI) testing. And Eli has a busy rest-of-the-year.

Noticing that ... the yucky area rugs in our house were the stink-problem and now our house doesn't smell like dog pee anymore.

From the kitchen... a week of kid-friendly and easy meals, courtesy of Dawson's requests.

Around the house... are suitcases that need to be unpacked from the weekend and LOTS of organization projects I want to get to!

One of my favorite things... Spring temps and sunshine (before it gets so blasted hot!)

A few plans for the rest of the week... Not much is going on until Thursday. That afternoon Eli's class is having their Mother's Day Tea. On Friday both Brynne and Eli have their Track and Field Days for school. Dawson and I are going to 'divide and conquer' to attend both. On Saturday I am planning to get all of my flower pots planted. I can't wait!!! And Sunday is Mother's Day and I am certain it will be a day of relaxation for me.

From my picture journal.

This just makes me happy.

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

Menu Plan Monday

This is another unorganized week following being out of town for the weekend. I put together my menu this morning and am running to the grocery store this afternoon.

It's going to be an easy, kid-friendly week.

Monday ~ Meatball subs and chips

Tuesday ~ Rosemary chicken kabobs and veggies with rice (didn't get to this last week)

Wednesday ~ Wine Wednesday for Rick and I and Fend for Yourself for the kids

Thursday ~ Tacos

Friday ~ Spaghetti with leftover meatballs

Saturday ~ Pizza dippers for the kids and Veggie Calzones for Rick and I

Sunday ~ Chicken and noodles