Just Our Thoughts

What follows are the highlights of progress made on my 101 list. Check out this post for the whole list and more updates.

Start the kitchen renovation. (5) Well, although this is not started, nor completed, the thinking process has started. We’ve been debating and thinking about what to spend our income tax return on. I need to have some dental work done and I need new glasses. So that was our first thought. Now, though, the more we think about having a kitchen on the main floor, the more we are leaning toward that decision. And then there is always my student loans that need to be paid off. I guess there is always a place for the money to go.

Savings. (8-13) Due to DH’s job situation we’ve used up most (there’s less than 100$ there now) of our savings and we have been unable to add anything to that. L We are sad about that, but there is really nothing we can do at this point.

Walk three times a week. (14) Spring is here!! And we are getting out walking more often. I bet within a week or so we’ll be up to three times a week.

Write snail mail letters weekly. (22) I wouldn’t say that I’ve modified this one but rather as a step in the right direction I have started buying all the birthday and anniversary cards for the month at the beginning of the month. Then I send them all at once. So sometimes the birthdays at the beginning are a little late but the ones at the end are there in lots of time.

Read an adult book a week. (15) See this post to see what my reading list consists of for the spring. Also look at the bookshelf on my sidebar for other books I want to / plan to read. I will be adding things there (the bookshelf) as I find more I am interested in.

Get the wood furnace in working order by winter 2009. (37) We have had an initial inspection done on the installation of the furnace. There are a few things to be modified and completed, then a second or follow-up inspection. By next winter we should be able to use the furnace to supplement our natural gas unit.

Bible reading (40) I am sad to say that the progress I was making on this has come to a complete halt.

TV time (41) See above note. The same applies here.

Clean out front porch area. (81) We did this!!! We moved the fridge to clear an area for DH’s woodworking area. We are one step closer to getting that kitchen area in place!!!

Build or obtain shelving for the basement. (86) WOOHOO! I have started filling and organizing my shelving that has been built in the basement!!!

It's confession time.

By some (a lot of) standards, I think that I would receive a failing grade on reading books. Both to my kids and on my own. I don't read to my kids. I very very rarely read to my kids. I know! It's terrible. I'm a homeschool mom. I love books. My second job ever (and my longest held job) was in a library. I loved it!!! I still love to be in a library surrounded by books. So why don't I read to my kids? Why don't I take the time to read and enjoy a book on my own? I guess it would be a matter of priorities? Or lack of priorities. Whatever the cause I want to change it.

On my 101 Things in 1001 Days List I have reading to myself and reading to my kids as items I want to have established as regular activities in our home, by the end of the 1001 days. I think April is the month to start this. I would like an hour of shared reading happening in our home each day. Then (and I know this is getting a little lofty) I'd like another half to one hour of individual reading. That's too much for the month of April, so I'll take it one step at a time.

In April, we are going to read together. I will get each child to pick one book. I will read each book aloud. On average I can see this taking about a half hour. Then, as long as they are interested I will get the older two girls to read to us too. Now that they know how they need to practice. Another suggestion or option for this hour is for us to continue on with The Magic Treehouse series.

As part of this month's focus watch for posts such as Book It On Friday and Spring Reading Thing 2009 - here and at Callapidder Days.

I'm sure I learned something this week.

The webcam makes me a little self-conscious. You are more careful about what you do. You can't pick your nose when the webcam is running. And you have to make sure you are fully clothed. And nursing, is just like nursing in public, you can't just whip it out, you gotta be covered. It's very different than being on the phone. People can see you. Even if you can't see them because Firefox is running in front of ooVoo or skype.

My oldest two are reading everything! I learned that learning happens even when I don't sit down and make it happen. In fact, it probably happens quicker and easier without my interference sometimes. We had a trip to the neighboring town's public library for a homeschool activity and we got a bunch of books that are beginning reading books. And some board books. Our library is small, but we are a small town and that's expected. (I love our library and the ladies that work there are incredible.) This library though is in a bigger town and as more immediate hands-on-look-at-me books. It was very nice to visit there again. (We used to live in the neighboring community and would go to the library regularly just like we do here.)

I learned that my girls can grasp difficult concepts quite quickly. The homeschool activity that we went to was a Science in a Crate activity called Wading through Wetlands. Being that the activity was for a grade 5 level and my children are all under the age of 8 I was surprised at my girls' interest and understanding. Of course, they were "done" before we were done going through all the stations, but they did well.

I hate when the television stations change things up. I don't watch my program if it's not on it's normal night. I missed most of Survivor because it was on Wednesday. I just couldn't get into it.

So that's just a few things I learned this last week. What did you learn? Go over to Musings of a Housewife for more lessons learned.

First, a quick review of the year so far:

January - Get up at a decent hour - continued success.

February - Fold and put away one basket of laundry daily - success is coming.

March - Do dishes daily - success.

Side Note: How do you determine success? For me success is doing better than I was when I started the habit. So even though I'm not doing each of these everyday, I am successful in that I am doing these things more often than I was at the beginning of each month. That being said, let's review March.

I started out the month with a counter right full and piled high of dishes. I kept plugging away at them, and making a dint. Then one day in early March DH and I spontaneously got a sitter and went to the neighboring town. When I returned my dishes were all done, sitting drying on the counter!! (For more of this story, click here.) So, she gave me the head start that I was wishing for on March 1.

I'm happy to say that as I sit here and type this post that only lunch from yesterday and breakfast this morning are sitting soaking in the sinks. I know that seems like a lot to some people, but to me, it's a HUGE step in the right direction. Usually there are 4 or 5 meals worth of dishes waiting for me (supper, breakfast, lunch and supper). Through the month there were times when this pile was there, but I always managed to get the counter cleared and wiped and the kitchen tidied within a couple of days instead of a couple of weeks.

I struggled through this month to keep those dishes done as well as keep on top of the other habits I've been establishing. I am pleased with the way March went. Honestly, I did better than I thought I was going to. So, stay tuned for April's Habit of the Month coming soon!

This month of March has been work-on-the-office month in Regina Leed's One Year To An Organized Life. This month has been a sticker for us who are working on this "program". My fellow blogger, Marie, has taken this month slow too and is currently working on week two. I got a little further than that. (See here, here and here.) But this last week was a doozy. I think the month kinda overwhelmed me. Those that know me or have been following regularly know that this month is the annversary of our son's birth and death. So I spent a lot of time away from home or with friends and family. I didn't blog very much. I didn't read books. I just did the bare basics.

I didn't read Week 4 yet, which is what "should" have been done March 22-28. However, if I get on it, I can read and re-vamp my filing system yet before I "have to" start Week One of April. I plan to use April 5-11 as the first week of April.

What did I accomplish in the office? Well, I reorganized my four drawers. I decluttered magazines. I changed the pile of stuff to a neater pile and a book section. I got all the trash off my desk and I have an in and out system. ( I haven't read Regina's suggestion yet, so it might change.) My "in / to dos" are on the left-hand side of my monitor (between my monitor and my speaker) and the "done / out" is on the right-hand side. I still haven't moved that phone, but I think I will to give myself a little more space. But even if I don't get to anything more in the office, I will be happy to maintain what I have done.

Also, I wanted to comment about the calendar I use. I have used Flylady's calendar for the last few years and I love it. But in conjunction to that, right now I am using CoziCentral. I like the wall calendar because it is easy to see and is very handy when I'm checking something while on the phone. But I like Cozi because I can list my blog post plans there without cluttering up the calendar everyone sees. Plus Cozi will send reminders to other devices. Check it out. You might enjoy it too.

More pictures:

April is bathroom month in One Year To An Organized Life. Our bathroom has MUCH to be desired. I don't know if I can get pictures. I've tried before and they don't turn out. But I'll describe it to you, next month.

Is your day to day life seeming to kick your butt? Are the kids climbing the walls and driving you around the bend? I've had my fair share of days like this recently. I so feel Amber's pain. My little guy is so full of energy and always into something.

For example, today we were painting some t-shirts (a Christmas gift from Aunt Tammy) and I could not keep track of the four oldest. Thankfully, Baby R hasn't been feeling well (I'm not thankful she's sick) and has been sleeping a tonne. So she slept through this activity. Thankfully.

Moving on.

There were about 12 little bottles of paint, four children (ages - 7, 6, 3, 2), four t-shirts, and ONE me! Needless to say there were many outbursts of: "Grab that bottle!" Where's W?" W, no, stop. Put that down." "OOOHhhh, W, that's CJ's shirt. No. No. No. Not nice, W."

We accomplished the craft though. Each child has a t-shirt. Baby R has 3 diaper shirts and we even did one of Daddy's white shirts up with hand prints!!

So, have you had "one of those days" lately?

Was today a "bad" day because it had a number of those moments? I don't think so. I really had a good day. We went for a walk. The big girls visited with the neighbor. I got to talk with family on the webcam. I even got a bunch of dishes and laundry done. No one really lost it, ok, maybe a little. Poor W just wanted to paint. :(

Oh, I've had much worse days than today. This certainly isn't my worst day! So why link to Amber's post? She got me thinking. :)

I think a "good" day and a "bad" day are determined by our attitude and our outlook. I was really starting to get frustrated with the kids and with Baby R being so clingy. What did I do about it? Most days like this I get angrier and more frustrated. Most days we haven't been able to go outside. Today was warm so I bundled Baby R up, put rubber boots on us all and we went for a walk. We went to the Minimart to grab a coffee (french vanilla) and a lollipop for everyone.

We had a "good" day. How do you determine a good or bad day? Can you change the course of your day halfway through if you see it "going south"? I encourage you to try. It was not all that long ago that I wouldn't even try to make the day better. I'd just follow it down the drain.

(If you watch Just For Laughs, you'll know exactly how to read this post's title!)

Okay, so the Ultimate Blog Party is over. I had so much fun reading so many blogs. My little blog never had so many comments and so much traffic. I have over stuffed my follow list. I don't know that I'll be able to keep following everyone. If I did, my dh and children would suffer! And my house who come down around our ears. We would be unkempt, under-nourished and YTV-ed to the tilt! But, here are some highlights from my party "travels".

MamaArcher - a mom of many with lots of insight on many levels.

ABC and 123 - here's their description of the site: "A place to collect & borrow teaching tools, share & receive inspiration, explore & review professional resources; for those who love to learn & teach, those with lots of time & those with limited time to invest in their children. Our goal is to COOPERATE with you, our friends & readers, to create a valuable LEARNING resource." I've already won a giveaway from this site!!!

Crazy Bloggin' Canuck - Canadian living in the US, mom to dd4 and ds2.

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee - a comfy place to settle in for an afternoon of visiting with a friend.

Miss Stacey's Bookshelf - a place to discover books to that will engage your children. She has been a help to me already in finding books for my very beginning readers!

My Life as a Trailer Park Mom - a brand new homeschooling mom. Read and enjoy their homeschool adventure.

Mumma's Place - Ruby's tagline: Random thoughts of a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and sinner saved by grace.

Wasted Textbooks - a great homeschooling resource blog. At least for me. I hope to use it for new ideas, reminders to check sites that I've always wanted to check but forget to go to.

The Art and Flair of Being Domestic - I dream of a beautiful house (which is what the church project is striving for) and doing beautiful things for my family. It was this post that hooked me.

small town louisiana girl - I explored this blog a little more than some of the others. Here's one of the posts that had me looking around a little more.

Simply At Home - a homeschool mom that thinks like me.

No, I Wasn't Sleeping - a blog about saving money. We are just starting Dave Ramsey's Financial Planning University and this blog caught my eye.

Nanny Deprived - a mom who talks about being a mother, nit about her kids. I found it to be unique and interesting.

There you have it. A list of some cool blogs that I've been reading. Go check them out; leave a comment; show 'em some love!

Here is an incredible idea for hospitality. Jennifer, if you are reading this, I am so inspired. Hospitality is one of my dreams, or gifts, or strengths or talents; not sure what the word is. And I don't nearly use it enough. I talked about hospitality quite a bit over on my "old" blog, but haven't carried that theme here. I think that's about to change. (I'll copy and paste those hospitality posts to this blog.)

This is how I envision this scenario at our home:

We'd invite two or three families over to our church-house for a meal. Maybe lunch, maybe supper. Maybe lupper. Lupper? I digress. Two or three families, with kids, for sure. We'd cook, maybe bbq. (The fire fighters like to bbq.) We'd have blocks in the corner for building towers. We'd have a book corner too. (Because we already do.) And just like Jennifer from Halving It All suggests, we'd have them bring steaks or bbq sauce or frozen hashbrowns for the next time. I know we couldn't handle hosting this "event" often, but I think I could do 6 times a year. The same people wouldn't be invited every time. The donations would be a pay it forward type deal.

And so, I ran this scenario by my man. He thinks it's a great idea, just not right now. So I'll be thinking about this, and tentatively planning the first one for late April, or early May. Maybe we could do it in conjunction with another couple. Hmmm. Now my mind is a-thinkin'!

MamaArcher is a busy, homeschooling mom of many and I found (re-found) her blog through the party. I was over reading her blog - MamaArcher's Blog - and I found this post. MamaArcher's middle child and I share the same birthday. I thought that was really cool!!!!

MamaArcher is having a giveaway, but you better hurry. It's only open until March 31. Or. Well. You could just. . . Stay away from her blog, cuz then I have a better chance at winning.

What is the giveaway? Here's a brief overview from MamaArcher's blog:

These are “singing science texts”. The complete program includes the text, tape or CD, and reproducible workbook. Each chapter in the text begins with a song. Memorization of scientific terms and concepts should be fairly painless as students sing such memorable lyrics.

Go check it out.

I've seen this on a couple of blogs and I've resisted. But I got thinking about it. It's not that big of a project and I know it will make someone's day. I like to make people happy!!!

You make something, anything, for five people and they have to pass it on. Here are "the rules":

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
- What I create will be just for YOU.
- It will be done this year (2009).
- It will be something made in the real world and not something over the internet.

In return, all you need to do is post this text into a blog of your own and make 5 things for 5 other people.

So leave a comment letting me know you want to participate, then go and post it on your blog too. Keep it going.

There you go. I'm jumping in and getting out of my comfort zone. Oh, one thing I should mention is that I may get my kids involved in this too! Just to prepare you a little. I have no idea what I'll be making, but . . . . . Happy Gifting!

The theme this week over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage is RANDOM. I like the random ones best. :)

1. I'm thankful for the last 29 years of my life and all the experiences and people that helped to make me who I am today.

2. I'm thankful for family and the technology to get to visit with them. I got a webcam for Christmas and it arrived today, via my littlest brother.

3. I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day and I can get back on track with my cleaning and stuff.

4. I'm thankful that we are getting rid of a bunch of trash from our porch area. Decluttering makes the house so much more inviting.

For more thankfulness, click here.

I made a statement (a status) on facebook yesterday about my dh and how he didn't do anything for my birthday. I don't know how it came across, but I didn't mean it badly. I don't expect anything for my birthday. I know that he loves me and he's not stingy through the whole year. If there is something I need or want he generally will get it. Birthdays are not a big deal to J. Neither are anniversaries or other holidays. Except Christmas! That being said . . . . there is a part of me that loves a party.

So I decided I was going to plan my own. There is another homeschool family that we get together on a sporadic basis but that we wish we could get together with more often. Her birthday is the day before mine. So I sent her a facebook message and we decided to have a birthday dinner with our two families preceded by a sledding party, if there is still snow then. I had just confirmed these plans when . . . .

We went to our (or what I thought was) Financial Peace University group (the first meeting, or so I thought). T-L had planned a surprise birthday party!! I suspected a tiny bit that she would have cake or something in addition to our "class" but nope. It was a party with food and cupcakes and gifts and a song. The song - not sung by the whole group but very spontaneously sung by two very fun and funny men in our group! We had a great laugh and a wonderful time visiting.

T-L reads my blog. And she's sneaky. And I like that about her! Remember this post about the things I needed to purchase for my office?? T-L purchased a good chunk of the office supplies I needed. I love new office supplies (thanks S and T-L). I got chocolate too (thanks Pastor W and M). And homemade cookies (thanks N and K, yummy; because I don't have an oven to bake them myself). And a lavendar massage kit thingie (thanks M and C, I need to relax more!). And many birthday greetings and wishes. I felt very important and very blessed to be part of such a group of people. I look forward to getting to know them better over the course of the next 13 weeks as we go through Dave Ramsey's Financical Peace University.

What else went on yesterday? It was a normal day - laundry and dishes and meals. But we also took a trip to the neighboring town to get some wood and a saw for J. He's got some more ideas of things he could build and sell. It's great to see him excited. If you could pray for him, to keep that excitement and not get so down on himself, thinking he can't do it. He knows he can and I know he can and he just needs to do it. Even if it doesn't make us enough to live on, he enjoys working with his hands so much that it's a great hobby that could make us a little extra.

I love spending time with my kids and I was so glad that we decided to take them with us to Home Hardware. I got some comments about how busy I must be but I was thankful that for the most part the kids all behaved quite well. (Just some running and shouting that was quickly dealt with.)

I forgot to mention in my What I Learned post, that I learned that sometimes you have to plan your own party. And that's okay. So have a piece of cake and enjoy reading some posts.

I learned that (remembered that) today is my birthday!

I learned that sometimes babies just need to cry. Not little little babies. And then they need to be held. And that's okay. Sometimes I need that too.

I learned that when I start to get irritated at silly things that I have a headache coming on.

I learned that my kids love love love listening to books on tape/cd/whatever.

I learned (re-learned) that I love to blog! I need to make and carve out time for it.

I learned that I am loved by my church community.

I learned that I can get sick of chocolate and coffee.

I learned that I need structure and routine or I don't do well.

I learned that just because you get caught up on the laundry, doesn't mean you can stop. It means if you do stop you get behind again!

Come check out the other lessons learned at Musings of a Housewife.

I was so "off" last week. I just did not function well. When that happens the housework suffer, starting with meals, dishes and laundry. At least that's where we notice it most! (For example, Sunday morning - undergarments were missing from drawers; found on the bottom of Mt. Washmore!) On to this coming week's menu:

Lunch:

Monday - grilled cheese sandwich
Tuesday - mac and cheese
Wednesday - tuna sandwich
Thursday - eggs and bacon
Friday - perogies
Saturday - mac and cheese
Sunday - leftovers

Supper:

Monday - Sloppy Joes
Tuesday - sweet and sour meatballs with rice
Wednesday - chicken stirfry
Thursday - spaghetti and sauce
Friday - Tacos
Saturday - spud soup
Sunday - steak and potatoes

For more menus and ideas visit Laura.

For directions on how to participate click on the button above or go here and here. This reading thing is hosted here at Callapidder Days. Here are the simple instructions (taken mostly from the Callapidder Days blog):

Here’s a brief recap of how to be a part of the Spring Reading Thing 2009:

• Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this spring. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)

• Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to Callapidder Days linked above.

• Get reading! The challenge goes from today, March 20th, through June 20th.

• Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!

• Write a post about your challenge experience in June, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how the Spring Reading Thing went for you. Oh, and if you don’t finish your books, or if you change your list half-way through, or if you only read two books…it’s OKAY. This is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun. As long as you do some reading this spring (and enjoy it!), that’s good enough for me.

So without further ado, here is my list of books:












I plan to listen to this one on mp3


on mp3


on mp3


this one is on-going

In this post, I commented on this phone that I really don't like having on my desk. The phone came with the church when we bought it in 2007. There are only 2 phone jacks in the whole building and so the phone kinda has to sit on my desk. But the more I think about it, the more I want to move it to the other phone jack, which is in the basement, in the kitchen. The one that is in the kitchen could go on the wall by my desk as was suggested by Sarah Mae from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. (I found Like a Warm Cup of Coffee through the Ultimate Blog Party 2009.)

God is always there, no matter what. God not only provides the strength that we need, but the friends to be that support too. We've had both.

Just some disjointed thoughts on the chapter.

I read this chapter with growing excitement. I love to plan and to organize. So I have a plan. Well, I have a really good system already. I just need to tweak it and use it! Still have to do a quick paper declutter.

I got to some more organizing today. I have a desktop now. Just a few more surfaces under and around the desk to tackle. More pictures coming by the end of the month!

My favorite quote from this chapter:

Files are storehouses of the active information we need. They are not meant to be paper cemeteries.

Things to get rid of:

• old magazines and catalogs
  
• old bills
• invitations
• outdated coupons
• junk mail
• holiday cards

My Shopping List:

• printer cartridges
• paper clips
  
• rubber bands - never have but always need
  
• pens and pencils
• paper shredder
• stapler - mine just fell apart this week
  
• tape - always need to buy tape!
  
• paper
• printer table - gonna ask J to build me one
  
• paper tray - asking J about building this too!
• in and out boxes - I have a system, but am willing to try Regina Leeds (I'll find out more about it in the next chapter.)

I love my filing cabinet. I don't have too many gadgets at my desk; I only have my desktop computer and a 3in1 printer (scanner, photocopier, printer) and a telephone (that I hate having on my desk but can't find another home for!).

Looking forward to reading and doing the plan next week / remainder of the month.

NO!

It is the

K and CJ go through spurts in their learning. For a long time all we ever did was MATH! Math, math and more math! Then it was games. Then it was computers. Now it's phonics. And it was CJ that started this spurt! She "gets" phonics, where K doesn't so much, but she's getting there. So last week CJ pulled out this Phonics book and was doing a few pages here and there and I could tell it was clicking. Well then K had to get in on the action. :)

This morning we pulled out the BOB books again. Well, K has read all 12 books in set one with very very little help! I'm so excited for her! I just have to find her passion now to get her hooked. She claims she loves horses, so maybe there is an easy reading series about horses that I can get through our library.

CJ didn't get a chance to try set one, but we'll get there. I can see reading will come easy to her, so I'm not too worried.

From March 20th to 27th, I will be blog hoppin' as part of the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes For Moms. Check back here for my introduction post on Friday, March 20th. I look forward to "meeting" lots of new friends in the blogging world. I'm guessing my housework just might suffer next week! ;)