My SUV has been in the shop for a vacuum leak repair. Got it back today!
So this week we’ve stayed close to home and have done as little as possible. My 15 yr old daughter has found a ride to driver’s ed class and back. Around the house we’ve read:
Anne Elizabeth’s Diary
The Daring Nellie Bly
A Country Far Away
and we’re trying to finish some chapter books that were begun and never finished.
We missed the library storytime yesterday because of the vehicle situation. No problem! My 7 yr old made a homespun library in a corner of the living room complete with 2 toy computers, coloring sheets for the 3 yr old, a storyhour project, and millions of books! How cool is that!!!
Tonight, my oldest daughter, her friend who has been staying with us, and myself went party shopping for my dear husband’s 40th b-day party and PawPaw’s 79th b-day party. Hubby’s b-day was yesterday (the 28th) and my father-in-law’s is today! The party is Saturday, July 2nd!
We’re having friends and family over for a grill-out and party trays and water slide for the kids! : ) Should be fun!
After shopping we went to see a movie and stopped at *Starbucks* on the way home. : )
I’m going to be keeping a close eye on Julie Bogart’s blog this next week.
Why?
Click here to see why. Italy!
This is where my oldest daughter wants to go on her graduation trip in 2008. If it means an expensive trip with me to a beautiful city vs. a trip to a fun park or island with a bunch of senior pals; hands-down…momma’s packing her bag. : )
We have 3 years to plan. We’re already collecting brochures and information and saving our pennies and dimes.
We can’t wait!!!
Garrett ended his weeklong summer skills camp on Friday. We made his certification program and a scrumptious meal of roast/breast of chicken, green beans, rice dressing, corn, and bread sticks was served.
Saturday my oldest daughter, a friend, and I went to a Catholic conference in Rayne, LA ~ the Frog Capital of the World! Though only an hour’s drive from where I live, I have only passed through Rayne and seen the frog murals under the overpass. I’d never seen all the beautiful artwork found within the city. That’s definitely a field trip waiting to happen—touring Rayne to see all the beautiful frog artwork. Frogs? Beautiful? In the same sentence? You better believe it! These artists put their heart and soul into their work. If you click here you’ll see one lady’s story and some of the pictures around Rayne, La.
I met lots of lovely home educating parents at the conference including “an enthusiastic fan!” Suzanne! and her partner in travel: author Joan Stromberg who wrote a piece found in my book Literature Alive! They are so sweet and we had a grand time visiting throughout the conference and over a delicious supper of pork loin, string beans, veggie salad, and baked sweet potato. Yum!
On Sunday, I slept in then we all made Mass. I stuck a premade lasagna in the oven beforehand so that we could all come home to a nice Sunday lunch without any hassle. Then we went off to my goddaughter’s 7th birthday party. Swim party at her house. What fun! with lots of more goodies to eat.
Monday ~ Today we rest!
Last Thursday my cousin and I took the kids to see Hobey Ford.
Talk about putting puppets in motion.
He even shows the children some neat hand puppet tricks at the end.
And—great quote from Hobey Ford:
“If you’re ever feeling bored—remember—you have a puppet show ready and waiting right there in your fingertips.” ~ Hobey Ford
Btw, we did go see Madagascar .
I’ve seen better, but the kids thought it was great.
Kayleigh has a friend from Texas visiting us this week. I brought the kids to Mr. Gatti’s yesterday then we made Library Storytime. The theme was Pirates and we forgot to dress-up like pirates. Oh, well! Mom can’t remember everything. The kids were given eye-patches and made pirate hats, so they left looking like pirates. : )
Came home and cooked a chicken stew.
Today we’re off to the Aquatic Center to meet our cousins for some water FUN!
Hosted a Mary Kay party at my house on Saturday, June 18th.
Father’s Day, cooked a Velvet Shrimp recipe and had Mom and Dad over. That afternoon we went to my god-daughter’s 7th b-day party.
It was an Aloha Hawaiian Party complete with a truckload of sand spread in the yard to resemble a beach!!! What fun!
Today I picked up Chelsea (she had stayed the night at her cousin’s), dropped Garrett at Summer Camp, went by my grandmother’s for a quick visit, then to the church to sign the children up for CCD.
My cousin stopped by for a visit later in the day and Chelsea went with the neighbor’s for a ballgame.
It’s always something…
My seven-year-old was playing with her three-year-old sister in the hallway the other day. They were playing with magnets when I heard the 7 yr old tell the 3 yr old, “Annie, you don’t need to play. You just want to play. There’s a difference, ya’ know.” : )
I was in a nearby room and opened my mouth to correct her with something like “Yes! children do need to play.” But I quickly closed my mouth and let it go. It wouldn’t have made any sense to her. She hasn’t read all the child psychology and developmental books I’ve read. Not to mention almost 18 years of on-hands parenting. : )
Yesterday (the 13th), we went shopping (booorrring!) then to the dentist for 3 of the kiddos. No cavities! Yea!
Kayleigh and I made and labeled invitations for a Mary Kay Party we’re hosting this weekend for my niece.
At home, I began cleaning out my hallway (the residue of a thorough dejunking of my newly remodeled living room). By 9:45 PM, I was still cleaning, so hubby took my Adoration Hour.
This morning (the 14th), I made my grandfather’s 9th Anniv. Mass, visited my grandmother for a quick cup of coffee, then drove my oldest daughter to work at the church office.
The little girls and I made a Library Storytime this afternoon at the library. It was on Fish Tales. Last week the storytime was on Ocean Stories and the kids made an octopus. Today they had a paper fish globe which they filled with form stickers of fish, crabs, lobsters, etc. We listened to our books-on-tape coming home from the library. My girls love picture books-on-tape.
Got home in time to cook spaghetti, brocolli in cheese sauce, cut up a cantaloupe, and pop some homemade rolls into the oven.
