Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window . . . the ground continues to be covered in white stuff but at least the sun is shining today.

I am hearing . . . hubby and his Dad working in the basement.  They are cutting some baseboards, I think.  We are getting close to being done the basement, but there is a lot of finishing touches to do.  Also hubby hurt his back again so that has been slowing him down.

  

I am thankful . . . for being able to hear Sky and Star perform in the music festival this week.  For a loving husband who watched the little ones while I went. And for the blessing of being able to provide music lessons for them.

In the kitchen . . . hubby made a delicious macaroni salad for lunch.  Mmmm, I really am lucky.  Other than that not much is happening in there.  I'll have to think of something to make for supper soon.

I am creating . . . crocheting a summer top for myself.  I got much of the front done while sitting at the music festival.

I am wearing . . . the usual sweatpants and t-shirt.  I do have a crocheted shawl wrapped around me as it is a bit cool in here.

I am going . . . to town tomorrow to take Sky to her piano lessons.

I am wondering . . . if the snow is ever going to melt.

I am reading . . . not a lot of reading has been done this past week.  I am still reading Raising Happiness by Christine Carter.

I am hoping . . . to get my tomato plants started soon.  I usually have them done by this time but with the weather the way it is maybe it is okay that I am a bit behind.  This is how my garden looked a few days ago and we have had more snow since then. 

I am looking forward to . . . having company for the next couple weekends. Having friends and family around is always a blessing.

Around the house . . . lot's of cleaning to be done as usual and even more so than normal as I have been spending a lot time in town this week for the music festival.

I am remembering . . . that last year when Star had to go perform in the music festival she was a bit disappointed as it was a beautiful, warm day.  We had the kiddie pool out, Auntie Jo was visiting, and a big water fight was underway.  What a difference a year makes.  This year the yard is covered with snow a few feet deep and the night of her performance it was snowing and the roads were a bit treacherous.

A favorite quote for today . . . live with less so those with less may live.

Kid quotes . . . After her performance at the music festival Star was bemoaning a mistake.  I told her it was minor and no one even noticed she had made a mistake.  She said, "Yeah, it is a good thing I am cute, so they didn't realize I made a mistake."

One of my favorite things . . . singing and dancing (with no one listening or watching as I have absolutely zero talent at either but it can be fun).

A few plans for the rest of the week: planting some tomato plants, cleaning the shelf in the kitchen, and organizing the craft/puzzle/game bins.

A peek into my day . . .

Snack time for a couple of cuties

Yarn Along - Afghans

Okay, so I think I mentioned that I am working on some afghans for the older girls but I never said what they were.  For Star I am making the above rainbow ripple using the Neat Ripple pattern by Lucy at Attic 24.  The yarn I am using is Bernat Satin.

Sky picked out the colors for her afghan (below).  Her afghan will be an assortment of different crochet squares. I am following along with little bird knits as she posts a new square each week.  I am using Sheep(ish) yarn for this one.

As I said before these will be year long projects that I will work on here and there as I get a chance.  I hope to give them to the girls for Christmas.

I am still reading Raising Happiness by Christine Carter and for a light fiction read I am enjoying The Tutor`s Daughter by Julie Klassen.

Pudding Painting

I am not sure where I got this idea from but a few weeks ago I let my kids do some finger painting with pudding.  They had a lot of fun.  I just taped some wax paper to the table, plopped a few spoonfuls of chocolate pudding down, and let them have at it.  You will notice that the young ones are wearing very little clothing.  That's because a good follow-up activity to this is bath time.

Sky and LK creating a masterpiece

Star and Lil get to work

Of course some tasting is required.

What a messy face!

Working together

Getting even messier as time goes on.

Mmmm, this paint is pretty tasty.

Daybook for April 8, 2013

FOR TODAY

Outside my window . . . it is clear but cold.  Brrrr -15*C is too cold for April 8th if you ask me.

I am hearing . . . Diego on TV as LK watches his favorite show.  LT is babbling at me from her playpen.

I am thankful . . . for my amazing, wonderful, and oh so adorable children.

In the kitchen . . . I boiled some eggs this morning as we have lot's (the chickens are laying well) so it is egg salad sandwiches for the kids lunches this week.  A roast chicken is ready to go in the oven for supper tonight.

I am creating . . . still crocheting afghans for the girls and enjoying the process.

I am wearing . . . grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt.

I am going . . . to be taking the little ones for a check-up this week and there is band tonight.  Other than that there are no plans to go anywhere.  I like this quieter season.

I am wondering . . . what kind of spring we are going to have.  Is it going to be really wet?  Or once the snow finally melts will it be reasonably dry?

I am reading . . . Raising Happiness by Christine Carter.  I also recently finished The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin which I enjoyed but it wasn't particularly deep or life changing.

I am hoping . . . keep up with my exercise routine this month.

I am looking forward to . . . being able to hang my laundry outside.

Around the house . . . I am trying to get some cleaning and decluttering done so that when it finally gets nice we can spend a lot of time outside.  The basement reno is coming along all the rooms are painted and the ceiling is up.

I am pondering . . . divine mercy.  I listened to this with the kids last night for Divine mercy Sunday and it was really quite beautiful.

A favorite quote for today . . . The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.  -Jill Churchill

One of my favorite things . . . watching Lil as she tries to imitate everything that we do.

Kid Quotes:  Noticing a scratch on LK's leg I asked him what happened.  He looked down and said, "Oh oh, it is broken, need's a kiss."  and he bent over and gave himself a kiss on his leg.

A few plans for the rest of the week: cleaning and organizing, playing with kids, and just trying to keep up with everything.

Pictures from the past week . . .

Easter Morning

On the old bales

 Jumping off

 And climbing up 

 Bales are a farm kids playground

 Easter Treats from Grandma T 

Happy first day of spring.  Ha ha ha, spring, that is funny.  It is -10*C outside with a windchill factor of -20*C.  There are snow drifts taller than me out there, and it is blowing so hard I can't see across the yard.  Happy spring indeed.  Oh well spring will come when it is ready, I guess.

Anyways I thought I would share a little about my afternoon yesterday.  I was in the bedroom folding laundry and when I poked my head out to check on the kiddos I discovered LK trying to cut LT's hair. After a stern lecture (which I'm sure did absolutely no good) I encouraged him to cut some paper instead.  But as he had cut a bunch of paper that morning he wasn't interested.  So I gave him some of my scraps of yarn to cut.  He did try that a bit but they were a little hard to cut.  Then I printed some pictures of sheep and decided we would decorate them by gluing the yarn on the them. I let him paint the glue on the sheep and then add the yarn.  He was more interested in the painting then and so moved on to painting a bunch of pictures.  LT, of course, was right in the middle of it all and joined in as well.  Needless to say I still have laundry to fold.

PS.  This morning as we were cuddling in bed LK was playing with my hair and said "cut hair mom?".  I don't think he has gotten this idea out of his system yet so I will have to keep a close eye on the scissors.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window . . . the landscape is snow covered but the sun is shining brightly.

I am thinking . . . about spring coming and whether I will be any more successful at having a garden this year.

I am thankful . . . for healthy children, a loving husband, and a nice house to live in.

In the kitchen . . . the children are eating cupcakes. A menu plan still needs to be made for this week. 

I am creating . . . crocheting a couple of afghans for my older girls.  I suspect this will be a year long project.

I am wearing . . . just the usual sweatpants and a T-shirt.  A fashionista I am not.

I am going . . . to band tonight with Star.  But no skating today.  The girls had their skating carnival last weekend and did very well.  Now skating is over for the season so we may have a little more time on our hands.

I am wondering . . . how long the snow will last.  I am guessing it won't be disappearing any time soon.

I am reading . . . The Star Garden by Nancy Turner and for some Lenten reading I am going through Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots by Scott Hahn.

I am hoping . . . to remain at peace.

I am looking forward to . . . spring.

I am learning . . . to take each moment as it comes.

Around the house . . . hubby continues to work on our basement reno.  Today he is mudding some drywall.

A favorite quote for today . . . "The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty" (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)

One of my favorite things . . . smiles.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Lil gets her 18 month shots tomorrow, piano lessons for Sky on Thursday.  Other than that I am not sure.

Some pictures to share . . . LT and LK playing outside.

Yarn Along: Car Case and Airplane

For LK's birthday the older girls and I made him this little tote to keep his matchbox cars in.  Last Thursday the buses didn't run due to a windchill factor of -45*C so they got to stay home from school and do some crafting.  We loosely followed this tutorial to make the car case and LK seemed to like it.

And here is the completed toy airplane I crocheted for him.

That`s all for today.  Oh I am re-reading A Mother`s Rule of Life and getting a lot out of it.  Even if you don`t create a formal Rule for yourself there is a lot of good info in there.