daybook 5/29/09

I often see these Simple Woman's Daybook posting on other mom blogs and enjoy reading them so I thought I'd give it a try too.


For today...

Outside my window...it's green!

I am thinking...about my 'To Do' list today.

I am thankful for...my hard working hubby.

From the kitchen...nothing exciting is coming out of my kitchen this week. I haven't even been to the grocery store this week. I'm making one of Scott's favorite meals for him tonight though - shredded pork sandwiches with coleslaw. All I have to do is get the roast going in the crockpot.

I am wearing...jeans, t-shirt and cardigan. It isn't warm enough here today to wear cute summery clothes.

I am reading...the latest issue of Life Beautiful magazine. I just recently heard about it. It's a beautiful magazine that is similar to Martha Stewart Living with lots of inspiring articles and scriptures throughout.

I am hoping...I can run today. It's been a couple of weeks now since I ran because my hip started hurting so bad. I've rested it and have started going to the chiropractor again and it's feeling better.

I am creating...a beautiful flower garden. Or at least trying to. I planted 10 Day Lillies in my hill garden last weekend. I love those plants. They are so hardy and pretty. I also did a plant swap with a neighbor. She wanted some Black-eyed Susans so I swapped her some of mine for Hostas, Blazing Stars and Tiger Lillies. I love looking at my garden and knowing that so many of the plants are from my friends and family. My mom gave my garden a good start when my yard was just a sandpile. She came up to visit in the spring and brought several plants from her garden and most of them have thrived!

I am praying...to be a more patient mom.

Around the house...daily life is in full-swing. The washing machine is running and there is a load in the dryer that needs folding. I hear the kids upstairs arguing about something. Hence the need for lots of patience. :)

One of my favorite things...this song.

A few plans for the rest of the week...This weekend we are going to keep plugging away at the shed and I think there is a chance that we just might get it done!

A picture from the week...

See what I mean about the green?!

memorial weekend 2009

We had a great holiday weekend! BBQ's with friends, lots of progress made on the shed, more flowers planted, a little laying out in the sun, our first boat ride, and relaxing in the evenings.

Ava loved the boat ride. She sat up in the front with Thomas and Elle and said 'Faster Daddy!'

new record

We finally got another day in the 80's today! It was great, even though it was really windy. Elle has been talking about how she wanted to break the record for the earliest date any of us have ever jumped in the lake so when she asked if she could jump off the dock this afternoon I told her to go ahead. Thomas couldn't let his little sister be the record holder so he jumped in with her. May 20th, that's the date to beat now!


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Brrr!! Both of them swam to the ladder on the boat as fast as they could only to do it again, and again, and again!

yes, that's a toilet on my blog

I never thought I'd be posting a picture of a toilet on my blog. Since this blog is a scrapbook of sorts though I have to include this picture to remember the time Ava overflowed the toilet. I went outside for a few minutes to tidy up the patio. When I came back in the house I heard water running in the bathroom but it didn't sound normal and the light was off. I walked around the corner into the bathroom just as the water was reaching the doorway. I quickly turned the water valve off and ran to get lots of towels.

Ava admitted to going potty by herself. We've caught her doing this before and I've saw the amount of toilet paper she unrolls! Hopefully seeing the big mess will help to convince her to always ask for help now. (Ha!) After I got the bathroom all cleaned up I decided to tape the seat shut. I've noticed the toilet runs and runs sometimes and that plug thingy in the back needs fixed. I think that contributed to the big overflow but then again I know nothing about plumbing so maybe not. Either way I'm not taking any chances with it until Scott takes a look at it tonight.

One thing is for sure, between markers, science kits, toilet paper, and her being really, really good at hide and seek (the only time she can be perfectly silent) she keeps me on my toes.

I do want to point out that I realize how quickly this situation could've turned from bad to really, really ugly so I am very thankful that I happened to walk back in the house when I did. I don't even want to think about if I'd been outside for more than just a few minutes.

a new project

Scott started a project today that I am so excited about.

A utility shed! I cannot wait till I can start cleaning out and organizing the garage after this baby gets a roof on it!

Normally I'm not that excited about cleaning out the garage but I just can't take the mess anymore. It has been the catch all for everything.

See what I mean?!!

wearing mama's shoes

Ava loves wearing my shoes. She came to me the other day looking like this and said she wanted to go outside and play. Notice how the flip flops are between the wrong toes, and on the wrong feet. :)

This morning she came down in my boots or as she calls them 'her high heels'. I wish I would've had my camera nearby when she put these on the other morning while she was still wearing her footie pajamas!

a happy sight

I love seeing beach towels drying on the porch railing. We completely ignored the To Do list today and spent the afternoon outside soaking up the 70+ degree weather. An afternoon that includes laying out in the sun, reading a good book (my current read is this), orange Kool-aid, sunscreen and watching the girls spray each other with the hose and wash their bike/trike is my idea of a good afternoon!

a fisherman's breakfast

Thomas was up bright and early this morning. He left a note for Scott (he knew I wouldn't be up for awhile yet!) letting him know that he would be out on the dock fishing. He came in around 7:30 and decided to make himself an omelet.

I'll let him tell you his 5 star recipe. He plans to post it later at his blog.

I don't know if it's the longer hair or what but he is looking so grown up to me!

My fisherman's eyes ended up being bigger than his stomach! He ate about half of his omelet, cleaned up his mess, and then went right back out to try to catch another fish. There were strawberry muffins warm out of the oven when he got back in an hour later so he ate 2 of those. :) That fishing must really work up an appetite!

testing is done

And they did great! We went to DQ to celebrate!

school

The kids put in a little extra effort this week to finish up their math workbooks. They are seeing the benefit of not taking a spring break this year now that they are getting done earlier than usual! Several of their subjects are completed now. Both of them have science to do yet and we plan to continue with spelling, math drills, and our history reading for the entire month of May. Ideally I'd love to continue with those all summer but I that usually doesn't happen. The standardized tests arrived in the mail yesterday so we will be taking those next week and then it will be time to start thinking about next year!

Now that they have more time, Thomas has grand plans of building a fort out in the woods and Elle has been clearing rocks from an area in front of her playhouse and plans to plant a vegetable garden to tend to all summer. Lots of hands-on learning!

get your grill on

I'm so glad that it's no longer too cold to get the grill going! We use a charcoal grill and Thomas is happy to have the responsibility of getting the charcoals going in the chimney thing. A chance to use matches!

This one of our favorite chicken meals on the grill. The kids eat it without the salsa. All the more for Scott and I!

Cilantro-Garlic Marinated Chicken Breast
with Avocado-Mango Salsa

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
6 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced white onion
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 1/4 cup olive oil
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

To prepare the marinade, place everything except the olive oil in a blender or food processor and puree. Then gradually add the olive oil. Place the chicken breasts in a ziplock back and then pour the marinade over them. Seal bag and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours, turning occasionally.

Salsa
2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
1 large mango (can also use papaya) peeled and diced
3 Tbsp diced red bell pepper
2 green onions, finely sliced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste

To prepare salsa, place all ingredients in a bowl and fold together.

Grill chicken until done. Serve with the salsa. Be sure to set out a bowl of tortilla chips to have with the salsa too! Yum!