The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today ~ June 30, 2008

Outside my window...it's actually hot!  Western Washington is known for its temperate weather, but once in a great while in the summer we have days in the high 80s or even in the 90s.  The good thing is the humidity is nothing compared to Michigan.

I am thinking...that it's only 11:30 and already I've gotten a lot done today.  That's a good feeling.

I am thankful for...a husband who's handy.  I love that Mike can fix almost anything.  This weekend he repaired our washing machine, which is good because nothing puts me in a bad mood like having to go to the laundromat.

From the kitchen...comes the sound of Baylee's chatter.  She's telling me that her new doll's name is Libby Louise.  Apparently it was between that and Lilac Louise, but the doll weighed in and said she doesn't prefer such a flowery name.  Baylee and Libby:

I am wearing...olive green shorts and a white t-shirt.

I am creating...a healthier body!  I started a 12-week walking program which takes a person from walking for 15 minutes, which is a little over a mile for me, to walking for an hour.  I hear that an hour of walking works out to between four and five miles.  I'm excited!  I've already got six days under my belt.

I am going...to the pediatrician's office after lunch to pick up a copy of Drew's immunizations.  He needs to have that for camp.

I am reading...Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer.

I am hoping...that Drew has a wonderful time at camp next week.  This is his first year.  Zach and Baylee could've gone, too, but Zach tried the whole camp thing when he was 9yo and just didn't like it much.  As for Baylee, they have "half sessions" for kids her age and even younger, but I'm not ready to give her up for even that long yet.  Six is awfully young still. 

I am hearing...the kids playing with their friend Matt, who's here for a couple hours while his mom goes to a doctor appointment.  He's a nice boy.

Around the house...it's clean!  That's the good thing about someone dropping their child off here in the morning.  It forces me to do what I would've done anyway, but earlier.  lol

One of my favorite things...is laughing so hard I cry.

A few plans for the rest of the week...include going as a family to see a play tonight (A musical version of Lady and the Tramp.  Some friends of ours have a couple kids in it.); volunteering on Tuesday morning, along with Zach, Drew, and Baylee, to help make props for the VBS skits; Bible study on Thursday; karate on Saturday; and in between that stuff shopping for Drew for camp, writing his name in everything, and packing him.  We'll be bringing him on Sunday.  As far as the 4th of July, I don't know what we're doing yet.  We might just have a slow and easy family day.  

Here's a picture thought I'm sharing:

Happy 4th!

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Weekend with Grandpa and Other News

This weekend we're enjoying Mike's dad's easy going company.  Yesterday we took him over to Edmonds, which is only a stone's throw from here, where we met his sister Betty and her husband Barry at the ferry.  We all hung out at the beach (One that has actual sand instead of rocks!) for a bit then went out to dinner at a Mexican place.  It was a good time with family.

Today Mike and Zach are on their father/son bike ride with a group of friends.  They're not home to report yet, but I bet they're having fun.  I love that Zach is starting to make friends with other teens, and Mike and I are pretty much willing to do anything to support that, even if it means hauling old bones onto bicycles.  *grin*

And...let's see...oh, yeah.  Drew joined Baylee in karate, so now they both go on Saturday mornings.  Since Drew did Tung So Doo back in Michigan, he surprised the teacher today by being  a very "quick learner."  lol  I think he'll get promoted a belt or two here pretty soon so that he's working where he's actually at skill-wise.  Baylee, on the other hand, doesn't care much about karate at all, but loves to go because of her girl friends there.  When they're told to run laps, they do it holding hands.  [insert eye roll]  She may never get out of her white belt, but whatever.  She's having fun.

And finally, it was a very last minute thing, but Drew is attending summer camp this year!  He's leaving in a week and he'll be gone for a week.  He's about as excited as a kid can possibly get. 

A little slideshow of our day yesterday:

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Super Nano

I don't watch very much TV.  At the moment the only show I really love and keep up with is Lost and I always wait until that comes out on DVD.  It's much more satisfying watching it that way, what with being able to walk away from it at any time to get snacks.  Oh, and let's not forget the fun bonus features.  That said, though, I do have a weakness for the occasional reality show, and lately I've been hooked on Super Nanny.   It's on too late for the whole family to get  into it, but usually Zach and often Mike watch it with me.  Both Mike and I are in total awe of Jo's ability to walk into any house, even those homes which should have "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" stenciled above their door frames, and make a drastic change for the better.  She's incredible. 

So.  I've been thinking.  I think Jo needs to know about my newfound technique for stress-free parenting.  It's this:  Use an iPod.  No, not on the kids, on yourself.  Put in your little earbuds and turn the music up, and voila!  All the high pitched talking and yelling and screaming and laughing and playing and fighting and "It's summer and I'm bored!"ing fades into the background.

Today the boys were arguing.  I have no idea what about, though, because I was happily listening to Evanescence.  I walked by the two kids several times just smiling, nodding my hellos, and avoiding, through sheer deafness, any and all attempts to be drawn into their bickering, and pretty soon they gave it up and became friends again.  Hmm.  Almost makes me wonder how many of their issues I make worse with my meddling.

Anyway, here's to good music, low blood pressure, and ideas worthy of television!

Sue

The Dangerous Book for Boys

Last year for Zach's birthday we got him The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Hal Iggulden.  He and Drew thumbed through it a bit, but for whatever reason the whole concept of "this is a really cool book just for you boys" never took off.  That is, until recently.  Some sort of "all things boy" lightbulb switched on in Drew and suddenly he can't get enough of that book.  He takes it to bed with him at night and reads it for hours.  He tells me all about what he learned of treehouses and go-carts and how to make cloth fireproof.  In short, he's fascinated.

Yesterday I looked out the window and saw the boys with these:

They're homemade bows and arrows.  It was another thing Drew learned how to do in The Dangerous Book for Boys and, of course, had to show his brother.  They played outside all afternoon with those things, and what's kind of funny is they actually work to some degree!  They shoot arrows (ie sticks) a good thirty feet or so.

I love it.

Sue

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today ~ June 23, 2008

Outside my window...our little street is covered in sidewalk chalk.  The kids spent several hours the other day making a basketball court, hopscotch grids, and four-square games all over.

I am thinking...that I'm glad I've got a few days without much planned.  Last week was filled with standardized testing for the kids and this weekend will be busy with a visit from Mike's dad Wayne, but for right now things are slow and easy.

I am thankful for...summer!

From the kitchen...comes the noise of kids on break.  Instead of being busy with school they're eating "second breakfast" (name that movie) while still in pajamas, and calling to me that the song Even Flow is on the radio.  Yup.  That's what we get for playing Guitar Hero.  We recognize stuff on the radio now.

I am wearing...white cotton lounge pants with little peach colored roses all over them, a white t-shirt, and a gray hooded sweatshirt.  Okay, yes, I'm still in pajamas, too.

I am creating...a list of things I hope to accomplish this summer.  Actually it's already created and a few things have even been crossed off.

I am going...to be helping in the Pioneer Girls ministry at church this upcoming year.  Someone approached me about it last week and I gave her an evasive answer, then I spent several days arguing with God about why I shouldn't do it.  I gave all my selfless reasons:  1.  I'm not really into teaching as a ministry in the church.  (Yeah, I know. Weird coming from a homeschooling mom, right?  But it's true.  I can teach and I think I'm even good at it, but I don't enjoy the nitty-gritty details of it...the attendance lists and discipline issues and CE meetings.)  2.  I really loved having Wednesday nights alone with Mike while the kids were at their church functions last year.  We came to use it as a date night, going out to grab dinner or dessert and just talk and reconnect.  It was great.  3.  I'm scared!  I have my friends in the church, but I still don't know tons of people.  Yet, in spite of my objections, God didn't give me a sense of peace about it, so when I was asked by a different person this Sunday I said I'd do it. 

I am reading...a book called Living in a Foreign Language, by Michael Tucker.  I'm really enjoying it.  It's made me laugh and crave good Italian food.

I am hoping...that Zach's sessions at the Learning and Language Clinic, which start in July, give him the tools he needs to move forward.

I am hearing...the boys talking back and forth as they  watch a show about "Tape Worm Diet Pills" on the Discovery Channel.

Around the house...it's pretty messy after a weekend of doing not much.  I took Baylee and Drew to karate and then I went grocery shopping on Saturday, and we all went to church yesterday, but that's about it.  Today my job will be to catch up the laundry and clean this joint.

One of my favorite things...is coming home from the library with a handful of good books.

A few plans for the rest of the week...include gearing up for Wayne's weekend visit.  Also we've got our Thursday night Bible study and it's my turn to bring the main dish.  I need to give that some thought.  Oh, and on Saturday Mike and Zach are going on a father/son bike ride with several other people.  It's a birthday thing for one of the boys in Zach's youth group, Brannon.  (The same boy he got to know on the hike he did last week.  Brannon's a great kid from a really nice homeschooling family, and he happens to be the cousin of Zach's good friend Ben from back in Michigan.  That's what happens when a denomination has one Bible college, and people go to it from around the country and then marry each other.  You end up knowing, knowing of, and/or being connected to just about everybody.)

Here's a picture thought I'm sharing...

Saturday Night Sunset from our Front Porch

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I lied.

Today Baylee had something really cool done.  She donated her hair to Locks of Love.  I was so proud of her, and I think she looks adorable with her new little bob. 

Sue

Okay, this is it for awhile. Really!

I know I've been posting a ton of pictures lately, but it's because we were on vacation and took a ton!  Now that life has returned to normal my manic blogging will slow down.  lol 

I have this one last set of pictures from Mike and Zach's hike.  They went with a group of friends this past Saturday to a place called the Chuckanut Mountains (I don't even want to know.) and walked a five mile trail.  The pictures remind me of the phrase "the forest primeval," as everything is huge and awe inspiring.  Anyway, my guys had a great time.

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A Summer Story

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What Happens When You Let a 10 Year Old Boy Borrow the Camera

Why, yes, I did dress myself today...

Why do you ask?

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic Mountains

I said I was going to share pictures of Mike and Zach's hike and I will, but not today.  Today I want to talk about what we did yesterday after church.  See, Mike really wanted to take my mom and dad up into the mountains because it's quite the Washington experience, but by the time the weather sort of cleared up last week we were all too tired for such a big undertaking.  Yesterday, though, was Mike's last day of vacation, so we decided to visit Hurricane Ridge, just the five of us.  It took awhile to get there, as we had to ride a ferry and then drive up, up, and more up.  Everyone's ears kept popping over and over.  But oh. my. gosh.  I can't even describe to you what it was like when we finally reached the summit.  It was the most breathtaking postcard picture of snowcapped mountains you've ever seen, but for real and right in front of you.

I'm starting to love this state.

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Bye, Mom and Dad!

Well, my parents are home by now.  They got up at the crack of dawn this morning in order to catch their plane, and as it turned out Mike and Zach got up super early, too, and so did I since this is a small house.  We're talking 5:30am here, people.  The reason my two guys got up at that ungodly hour was that they left for a day hike in the mountains as a special time out with dad/birthday thing for Zach, but I'll talk more about that probably tomorrow.  Today I just want to say that we enjoyed having my mom and dad here and had fun showing them our new life in the Pacific Northwest.  I hope they get some good rest in the next couple days!  lol  I ended up taking a five hour nap this afternoon and I feel almost normal again.

I only have one other set of pictures from the visit.  These were from Thursday, when my mom and dad came over for a few hours around lunchtime, then went off to have some quiet "just the two of them" time.  The rest of us took advantage of Mike's vacation and went to see a local sight we'd not visited before, the Ballard Locks.  We also had supper at a famous seafood place down there on the waterfront.  Actually, it turns out that it's a favorite restaurant of the guys from the show "The Deadliest Catch."  As a matter of fact, they filmed part of the series from our exact table!  (Does that make us famous, too?)  Afterward we went to the beach to watch the sunset, dig in the sand, and mess around with a frisbee.

I just have to add that the first picture is of my mom teaching Baylee to knit.  You've never seen such a proud 6 year old with her new found skill.

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Sue

Zach's a Teen!

Actually, he doesn't turn 13 for a couple more days, but we celebrated it today in order to include the grandparents.  My mom and dad went with us across the Puget Sound to the little town where Mike grew up.  There we visited with Danny, Mike's stepdad, and showed my parents around the home and property of Mike's childhood.  Then we drove to Mike's mom's new house.  She just moved into a darling little home that's very artsy and suits her to a tee.  (The first couple pictures of the slideshow show her front yard.)  While we were at Patty's we grilled steaks at Zach's request and had a nice birthday lunch, then we took a "foot" ferry (The kind that's just for people and not for cars.) over to the waterfront next to the Puget Sound Navel Shipyard.  They have a nice park over there and we were able to get some good pictures.  Finally we all went back to Patty's for cake and ice cream.  Whew!  A long but fun day.

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My Parents are Here!

Yay!!!  They were a day later then planned, because they had a terrible time getting out of Michigan.  Flights were being canceled left and right due to bad storms.  But they're here now, and we're loving it so much!

Today we went to Seattle and had fish and chips, then spent the afternoon roaming around Pike Place Market and the waterfront.  It was rainy and overcast, but fun nevertheless.  On the way home we went to this really odd but cool place called "the troll under the bridge."  For some reason somebody made a gigantic troll out of cement underneath an overpass.  You'd never know it was even there unless someone told you, and to stumble across it is surprising and weird and delightful.

Most of all I'm just so glad to see my mom and dad again.  It's been a long time.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sue

Well, what do you know.

We've been doing a lot of listening to the song "Holiday" by Greenday around here lately.  Zach heard it somewhere and begged to have it, so we bought it for him from iTunes for 99 cents.  I know, I know.  The message of the song isn't the greatest.  Luckily, you can't understand a word they're saying.  Case in point, the song has been playing in the background of our lives for about a week now, and finally today I decided I really should look up the lyrics.  Can you believe they weren't saying, "I beg for chips and dip from the hall of rice?"  I know!  Weird, right? It sounded just like that and that's what I've been singing for days!  Apparently what they're actually saying is, "I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies."

Tsk.  That's so not as much fun.

Sue

My Mother's Day Gift

Since I mentioned what Mike did for me for Mother's Day in my last entry, I thought I'd show a few pictures of it.   I love my new and improved front yard!

A lot of what's in our yard already existed when we moved in, but it was completely overgrown.  This area, for instance, was totally filled with grass and weeds.  Mike said his foot still hurts from pressing down on the shovel to dig out the sod that was four inches deep.  Anyway, he got it all cleaned up and then filled it with beauty bark.  Zach helped him quite a bit.

The rest of what he did was along the front of the house.  He weeded, then planted flowers in this little flowerbed and in the two flower boxes under the living room windows.

He also put down more bark, installed the hardware needed to make the hose hang there nicely like that and laid down the walkway so it can be reached easily, and transplanted a wild rose bush which was growing out of control in our backyard.  Hopefully it'll live.  The boys found the trellis and the little welcome sign in the shed and put them up in front as a surprise to Mike.  I think they look good there!

And here's the rhododendron tree in bloom, and the lavender bushes.  They were already there, but just needed a little TLC and more bark.

And that's that!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Sometimes, when I have a few spare minutes, I browse random homeschooling blogs, and through doing that I've discovered a really neat site.  It's called The Simple Woman, and it's written by a mom who takes joy and finds beauty in the simple things in life.  Specifically, she does something neat called The Simple Woman's Daybook, where she gives people a glimpse into her day and invites other women to do the same.  It was so fun and interesting to read everyone's response that I decided to join in.

For today ~ June 3, 2008

Outside my window...it's raining hard today, which is actually unusual.  It rains a lot here, but normally it's a light drizzle.  Today the skies are gray, the rain's coming down nonstop, and water is rushing down our road.  I also see my hummingbird feeder hanging in the blooming rhododendron tree.   I filled it with fresh nectar this morning, but no hummingbirds have visited yet.  I guess they're not going to brave the downpour.

I am thinking...about how nice it is to be on summer break.  We started yesterday.

I am thankful for...my mom and dad.  They're coming to visit us here in Washington for the first time since our move a little over a year ago.  I can't wait!  They'll be here in less than a week.

From the kitchen...comes the sound of our trusty dishwasher doing its work.  It's quiet and clean in the kitchen right now, but soon it'll be busy with supper preparation.  Tonight I'm making homemade macaroni and cheese (one of Mike's favorites) and green beans.

I am wearing...jeans, a white t-shirt, and a light blue hoodie.

I am creating...a home filled with more framed photographs lately.  It's been fun to put some of our most meaningful pictures into just the right frames, and then give them places on bookshelves and the mantle.  Mike's been creating a very nice front yard for us over the last few weeks.  He's been weeding, planting flowers, and laying down bark.  I love the way it looks and the fact that he did it for me, for my Mother's Day present.

I am going...nowhere today, and it feels great!

I am reading...a book my sister recommended called A Great and Terrible Beauty.

I am hoping...that next week when my parents are here it doesn't rain the whole time.  We want to take them to a few cool places like Pike Place Market and Mount Rainier, and it would be a lot more fun if it wasn't all wet.

I am hearing...the kids and their friend from down the road, Jacob, playing in the living room. 

Around the house...things are tidy and the laundry is caught up.  I love that.

One of my favorite things...is looking at home school catalogs and websites.

A few plans for the rest of the week...include taking Zach to youth group tomorrow, going to our family Bible study on Thursday, bringing Drew to a sleepover on Friday, taking Baylee to karate and Drew to a Sunday School end-of-the-year party on Saturday, and in between all that making the final preparations for my mom and dad's visit which starts on Sunday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

From Lying Down to Standing Up in One Second Flat

Tonight the boys and I were sprawled out on the couches together watching Little People Big World, when Zach decided to get up and get himself a glass of orange juice.  The way he got up, though, made me do a total double take.  In fact, I thought I saw it wrong, so I made him do it again a few times, then I finally decided it's too good to not have on video.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sue

Timber!

Our whole neighborhood has spent the better part of the last two days fascinated by the goings on directly across the street from us.  "What could it be?" you ask.  "A drug bust?  A crime ring?"  No, even more action-packed than that...wait for it...a tree was cut down!  Not too long ago those same people trimmed the bottom branches of a big fir tree and I thought that was exciting, but I was naive.  That was nothing compared to the excitement of cutting down an entire tree.  I'm telling you,  people came out of the woodwork (so to speak) to watch.  Dog walkers stopped and stared.  The owners of the house invited friends and family over and lawn chairs were set up.  There was even a barbecue.  Tonight all that's left is a stump and fond memories.

And, yes, I am making fun of this whole neighborhood for being so easily amused, but you better believe I'm including myself in there.  I was glued to the window and have the pictures to prove it.

I wish I would've thought to get pictures the first day when there was a real party atmosphere.  This is the second day.  All the branches are gone now.  As Baylee said, "That poor tree is naked!"

The part on the ground there is actually the very tip top of the tree.  That alone is probably about 20 feet long.  It was pretty amazing when it fell.

This picture gives you some idea of how tall the tree really was.  There's the guy who cut the top off.  After he got that part all squared away he proceeded to chop the rest of the tree into two or three foot sections as he worked his way down.  The entire operation was completely controlled and never even came close to damaging property, although Mike did grumble a bit about the layer of sawdust on our car.

Pretty cool, huh?