Daybook: Packing Edition

Outside My window: The moving sign is still up with orange flags in the ground. Just a few more weeks and we'll be saying goodbye to this little house.

I am thankful for: 3 saturday marching competitions down, one more to go. After next week, Daniel's hours will greatly improve. This is probably the worst time of the year in Daniel's schedule to attempt a move but I'm sure it will all work out in the end.

I am thinking: how tired I am at this present moment. I should really join the menfolk of the household in a little Sunday snooze but my stomach's too full of butter and cod liver oil.

From the kitchen: MMM....I finally have a few new tried and true dishes under my belt. Bernadette made chocolate chip scones from The Almond Flour Cookbook. I made a wonderful mock Shepard's Pie from ........and yesterday I made a batch of pumpkin muffins from Elana's Pantry blog. Everything was a hit so if you're gluten-free, grain free like I am, I heartily recommend the above books and blog. I purchased my almond flour from Lucy's Kitchen Shop which was recommended by Ms. Amsterdam.

I am creating: piles. A pile for give away, a pile for putting back in proper place, a pile for packing. We are going to use the move as an excuse to purge a lot of our belongings. I'm really striving for simplicity which we need to cultivate if our dream of living in a small home is going to be a reality.

I am working on: A doll for Bernadette. There's a bit of a learning curve and mistakes are being made but I'm enjoying the process and I'm looking forward to blogging about it to my sister-in-law on our private craft buddy blog.

I am going: back to work tomorrow. (Boo) I can't wait to put the professional life behind me and get back to being with my children and making a homelife full-time. Yes, even though Fulton gave me two really trying days this weekend.

I am reading: Jane Eyre and the Six Wives of Henry VIII. I picked up Jane Eyre after watching this lovely adaptation. But I can't quite explain the Six Wives book. It's pretty good, I guess. I first saw it at Barnes and Nobel and I was intrigued. Then I needed to find a discreet spot to nurse Fulton at the library and so I plunked myself down in the Tudor England section and found that book again.

I am listening to: Silence as Daniel and Fulton are both sound asleep. And my Bernadette is on her annual Dallas trip to celebrate her cousins' birthdays.

I am hoping: the next 4-5 weeks fly by quickly. I hope to be celebrating Thanksgiving with a full heart and growing belly.

I am praying: That Fulton will soon be "The Middle Child".

Around the house: Everything's a mess as we begin the process of packing with a toddler.

One of my favorite things: The Plan To Eat website along with the new recipes from my current favorite, The Almond Flour Cookbook.

I am loving: Fabric. I just had to break my fabric fast and buy the fat quarter bundles from The Dream On Collection by Urban Chicks and City Weekend by Oliver and S. I also rounded out my Castle Peeps collection by buying the blue colorway. I also bought some of Denise Schmidt's Hope Valley for an advent project I've had in mind. I normally don't buy so much fabric all at once. I justify the splurge on account of not having bought any for months now, at least since my trip to Dallas in the summer.

On our Itouch: A new netflix app that allows us to stream movies. We've been watching The Office Season 6. Sad to say, it does seem to be losing it's charm like other amazon reviewers have said.

We are watching: Fulton is loving his little 20 minutes of t.v time to watch Little Bear. It gives my mom time to do things she needs to do. He always watches it in his rocking chair that Grandma bought for him at Cracker Barrel.

The children this week: Bernadette is FINALLY in Dallas visiting her cousins. I hope she comes back happy to see us. She'll probably start talking non-stop about the fast approaching holiday season coming up. She already told me that halloween will be a bust if I don't make her Fancy fairy costume in time. Little does she know it's already going to be a probable bust because we'll be moving on that date.

Picture Thought:

A few plans for the rest of the week: try to pace ourselves with filling up packing boxes.

Daybook - Wonderful Monday Edition (5/3/10)

Outside My Window: It's late afternoon. The shade has set over my garden box and passionvine trellis. I still can't believe they're right outside my window adding beauty to what was once an eye sore to behold. The boxes are still empty and it still looks great.

I am thankful for: A wonderful Monday. I need to take note of everything that made it lovely. It was mainly initiative on my part to rise earlier than the children and attending to my daily "frogs" before my "pie."


I am thinking: How lovely it is to have a moment to post something.


From the kitchen: Seared porkchops with sauteed onions, sweet potato mashers and buttered green beans.

I am creating: a lovely way to store our Scripture memory verses. I'm creating the idea in my mind right now. I may have to wait on buying the supplies until the next payday.

I am working on: checking off some of my projects off May's project list. I'm very excited about my projects because all of them pertain to living out my mission statement and creating the beautiful homelife I see in my mind's eye.

I am going: To Port Aransas in a week!

I am reading: Child of Wonder by Rachel Carlson. I won it two years ago on a blog giveaway. It's a great resource for suggestions on how to bring creativity in the home.

I am listening to: quiet. Bernadette is reading on the couch and Fulton is taking a late nap. (I hope he doesn't go to bed late tonight).

I am hoping: I can learn how to bind a quilt so I can finish Felicity's doll quilt and move onto projects for an upcoming birthday and wedding as well as projects our dinner table.

I am praying: for Charlotte and Nichole.

Around the house: Everything is clean and orderly. Keeping it that way means being vigilant and eating my "frogs" before doing the things I enjoy. I'm liking my 15 minute daily maintenance routine. Also, I'm thinking I'm going to love my new laundry system because it means no piles of dirty clothes in the laundry room.

One of my favorite things: Sweet potato mashers! We had them at The Woodlands and I've recreated them here at home using baked sweet potatoes, butter, honey and cinnamon...So good!

I am loving: An orderly home and time spent outdoors with the children watching them play in the water.

Life Learning: Fulton is walking on his own! I knew this day had to come and even though he's a late walker, it still seems like it came too soon! Our baby is not a baby anymore. He's a toddler. I wish I could convey in words what my heart feels watching his lovely face concentrating on the task of walking and then the look of accomplishment on his face knowing he did something huge.

On our Itouch: Pandora radio. Love it. I've been listening to Lionel Richie radio and rarely do I have to fast forward or give a thumbs down. I guess I'm an 80's girl.

We are watching: The Young Victoria. It was a great a great movie that I've been wanting to watch for quite a while now. I love historical movies and books. The last historical show I watched and loved was Wives and Daughters. I tell everyone who loves Jane Austen to watch Wives and Daughters. I'm also still enjoying old episodes of the Office as well.

The children this week: Bernadette and Fulton have been spending more time outdoors now that it's warm enough to add water to their play. Fulton prefers to explore the waterhose while Bernadette sits and plays in the sandbox that we converted to a swimming pool. It will suffice while we wait for Grandma's and Grandpa's big pool to be ready.

Picture Thought:

His And Her Swimming Pools

Our dogs' old water dish is just right for water exploration.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Continue checking off my projects. Also I'm waiting excitedly for a rather large shipment of First Communion materials from Catholic Heritage Curricula as well as a much-anticipated sewing book from amazon. The end of the week has us heading to Port Aransas!

My First Daybook (April 8th 2010)

Outside my window: The early sun is rising and mourning doves are cooing their calls as they begin their day.

I am thankful for: A full weekend of having Dan home and my Mom who will be coming over
to help us with moving furniture and shoveling dirt for our backyard.


I am thinking: How lovely it is to be the first one awake on the weekend.


From the kitchen: Nothing yet, though I have huge plans to look through all my Martha
Stewart magazines to come up with four new dishes for the upcoming week. The plan is to get to
the store some time today and then prep the meals as much as possible so that all I have to do is pop them in the crock pot or oven.

I am creating: A plan to organize all of the projects that I have dancing around in my head. I have so many I don't know where to begin, so I'm hoping that by organizing them on paper I can actually see where to start.

I am working on: getting the house cleaned and organized this weekend so my mind can completely focus on my children throughout and their needs throughout the weekdays. Sometimes it's hard for me to let go of the messes and be in the present moment. I'm hoping this will help.

I am going: to a home show tomorrow with Dan and Mom. Bernadette is NOT looking forward to the event but we got free tickets to go so...were going. I'm sure she'll have a good time once we get there.

I am reading: Again, here's another area in my life where I have so many books to read that I hop around and never feel like I'm actually reading anything. In my bookbaskets I have Martha Stewart magazines and books about urban homesteading. Lately, I spend my free time reading my latest discovery: The Google Reader. (I know, I'm slow).

I am listening to: Early morning sounds of my family slowly rising. They haven't startled me with their stretching noises yet so I still have time.

I am hoping: I can complete all the housework goals I have so I can start Monday with a clean slate and begin my weekly chore routine.

I am praying: For all the pregnant women I know in all the different stages of pregnancy. I pray for the joyful arrival of new wee ones who will grow up to love and serve Our Lord.

Around the house: Things are looking good. Bernadette's room was rearranged by Grandma last night and I'm hoping to do the same in Fulton's room today. There are children's books piled up the whole length of our hallway that I plan on paring down today. The plan is to put them on paperback swap or sell them to Children's Orchard so we can get more books. Vicious cycle, I know.

One of my favorite things: My mom gave me one of her handmade wedding quilts! She gave it to me 2 weeks ago and I have yet to grow tired looking at yet. It makes whatever room it's in cheerful and bright. I've wanted it for so long but it needed to be repaired. God Bless you Aunt Lucy for all the hard work you put into bringing it back into our lives!

I am loving: A very simple arrangement of flowers on my desk next to my computer. I'm loving having said desk in our bedroom underneath the window. Bernadette brought the flowers home from Bill Schupp park.

Life Learning: Bernadette brought home another caterpillar from Grandma and Grandpa's house. This is her 2nd caterpillar this year. She named him Stripey. There were a whole bunch of them munching on butterfly weed but she said she chose a small one this time because she wants to see if it will molt.


On our Itouch: Daniel recently downloaded a few Taylor Swift songs. Bernadette likes them because they remind her of her Dallas cousins. Taylor Swift in our house really is a seperate blog post.

We are watching: I'm re-watching favorite episodes from The Office. Dan and I first started watching these back in November and finished seasons 1-5 in three weeks. I can't believe how long it took me to jump into this series. I think it's the funniest show on television right now, possibly ever. I've been streaming them on Netflix since we don't have cable so we haven't seen the 6th season yet. Hopefully, netflix will have that up and running soon. Bernadette received Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeuel and laughs her head off...oh and sings songs she thinks the chipmunks made up, like that song by Beyonce.

The children this week: Fulton is still not walking on his own although he can if he wants to. He also got his first haircut yesterday! He looks SO cute. I was warned that he would stop looking like a baby, but he's still looks like a babe to me albeit a clean-cut one. I love his new look! Pictures are forthcoming. Bernadette got her bangs cut last week and I'm loving the do. On Monday, she received the Cecily Mary Barker fairy chapter books that we had hoped to give her on Easter Sunday. She loves them and we've been enjoying reading them together each night. In fact, she's very eager to get rid of some of her old books so she can get more in the series.

Picture Thought:

Taken by Uncle Bill next in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Begin some of the
new projects that I've had in mind to do but have been to unorganized to do them thus far.