Too cute NOT to share

My favorite place for printables, Jones Design Company, just posted a beautiful little thank you note you can print for FREE. You will love it (not that I'm telling you what to do). Notecards always seem a little less daunting than regular cards to me. I think, "I have a few minutes to jot someone a note." Silly, I know, since they are technically the same size. I've ordered notecards from JDC before and I've never been disappointed!

At last

Well, we made it through the night with no throwing up- a first since Saturday. The kids had the weirdest virus (?) that caused the boys to wake up at 12:30am on the dot and throw up. Three nights in a row. But they were fine during the day. No fever and no signs of slowing down. After two nights we got serious and made everyone sleep with towels under their pillows...and we were pretty careful about what they ate for dinner, knowing we might see it again shortly.  But I'm happy to say that we all had a full night of sleep and I think things will return back to normal.

My 16-week appointment with the midwife was uneventful, except that it took her forever to find the heartbeat. Three tries and several nervous minutes- or was it hours? My ultrasound is in a few weeks, and I am  anxious to name this baby. I've felt so good this time that I often forget I am pregnant. I still look down at my belly sometimes and think, "Suck it in!" Of course, it all comes back to me when I'm getting up several times a night to tromp to the bathroom. Or if I try to roll over in bed. But most of my previous ailments have been non-existent this time. I have such a strong negative association with being pregnant (not my attitude, just my physical state) that it's hard for me to believe I could feel good and be pregnant at the same time.

School is going along swimmingly. The kids seem to love Saxon Math 1, and both are keeping pace. I've taught Saxon Math for the early years many times over (pre-marriage), so even though it was a little more expensive, I bought it used and I will use it for years to come. The Phonics Museum has been SUCH a pleasant surprise, but I will save that for another post. This was also purchased used, and I was expecting to sell it after this year, but I may change my mind before the used curriculum sale comes around. We are doing some poetry memorization, and then reading aloud for about 45 minutes to an hour. Usually some fact about what we read ends up on the timeline and the map. This week's book is on Blaise Pascal. I keep asking the kids if they want to stop and switch to something easier, but they are into it. It's taken a lot of improvising on my part because the vocabulary is way beyond them, but I guess that's good for me, too.

I tend to thrive on order and a good (reasonable) schedule, so despite the fact that between chores, school, exercise, and lunch I am busy until 1pm, I still find myself getting more done. I think I have to be more purposeful about my limited afternoon "free" time. Ha...free nothing. Free to do chores, organize winter clothes, etc. I've yet to work in "hobby time" for me, but I'm sure that will come as I get used to our new format. Or not...this may not be my season for hobbies. But all the winter clothes are sorted and ready to be worn on chilly days, so perhaps I could just call that my hobby for today.

Warning: I am having a hair crisis (again). You will hear about it tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks:

Math- I'm delighting in the fact that it's still considered a fun part of school. I know it will not always be so!

Our time in Charlotte gave us a short (too short!!) visit with some dear friends.

Waffle breakfast, courtesy of Aunt Ashley. Such a sweet time with family.

 

For most of the summer, this is how my counter tops looked. The tomatoes and green beans are mostly finished, and the peppers make their appearance at a slower rate. I'm appreciating the seasons more than ever this year!

Week #4 of 52 Bites

So much to say, so much puked-on laundry to wash and fold. My update post will have to wait, but this week's challenge, led by Lea, was too good to pass up. Wait a second, that sounds like I haven't done the challenges on other weeks. I have, it's just that the other weeks didn't pinch me like today's challenge. So I thought I should get this in writing before my determination falls by the wayside.

This week's bite: Week 4 is to establish an evening routine. pick 5 things to do before you go to bed. little things that you will be glad you did in the morning.

Oh, how I need this. I have been dissatisfied with my lack of an evening routine for a while forever, but I always have a good excuse. Others have excuses...I have my reasons why. Yes, I like folk country. So here are my five things to do- not TRY to do- but really DO, before bed. I promise I'm not just copying Lea's list, although they do favor each other. It would be an honor to favor Lea.

1. Put away the laundry and leave the dryer empty. I am not good at this.
2.  Make a to-do list for the next day. I usually start this about 8:30am, and it would be more motivating to know what I needed to do ahead of time.
3. Look over Scripture memory. Work on verses while I do my physical therapy exercises in bed. I don't always fall asleep quickly, and this would be a nice multi-tasking and Biblical use of my time in bed. The Scripture, not the exercises. See how I worked two into one? Over-achiever that I am.
4. Get in bed by 9:30pm- light's out by 10pm. There are a lot of people who just have to go to bed early to be happy, and I'm realizing that if I want to have any hope of a nice morning routine, this is key. I can not be both a morning person, and a night person. So I'm ditching the night me (who is not very productive anyway).
5. Clean up my room/clear off the desk (also in our room).

Obviously not in that order. Are you in need of an evening routine or do you already have that down? What's on your Top 5 List?

Back to the regularly scheduled laundry.