Karla's Daybook

Outside my window...     the world is waking up.

I am thinking...     "Wow.  It's really quiet early in the morning!"

I am thankful...    for my wonderful husband who works hard to provide for us.

I am wearing...    my Eskimo Joe's T-Shirt and jammie pants (yes I'm still in my jammies!)

I am creating...    another to-do list because the other one is full and I'm not actually going to do any of that stuff anyway :)

I am going...      to have a productive day if it kills me!   

I am reading...    through Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series chronologically.  ♥

I am hoping...    to get a good start on catching up on the housekeeping today.  It's a wreck!  Don't worry, there will be a picture below ;)

I am looking forward to...    moving to a house in a few months (God willing).  I really need to start purging stuff in preparation.  

I am learning...    to be brave.

In the kitchen...    there is stuff piled all over the counters that is keeping me from cutting up the chicken that I really need to prep and put in the freezer today.

Around the house...    are legos and toys that seem to come from nowhere.

One of my favorite things...    used to be to lay in bed a long time after waking up and just be; but now it seems to be to get up when I wake up and get something done.  What happened to me!

A favorite quote for today...    from Ethan: so in that song when it says "All the other boys try to chase me" are they really trying to chase her because they like her, or are they just trying to creep her out? 

A few plans for the rest of the week...    are to hire a real estate agent and start looking at houses.

A peek into my day...  

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The Importance of Routine

I think routines are something most people use, whether aware of it or not, in daily life.  From your morning routine of get up, make the bed, brush your teeth, get dressed...etc.; to your nightly ritual of a bowl of ice cream during TV time.  Routine is what carries us through our days.

I know some moms who prefer schedules.  They plan each task to a certain time of the day, and that's fine.  I'm sure that works well for some moms.  I tried that when my twins were babies.  It made me feel constricted and I focused too much on the when and not enough on the what.

3 of my whats.

I then realized that I might not get everything done in a day, and that's OK.  As long as I was able to get a few main things done I still felt like I accomplished something for the day.


I then sat down and made a list of the tasks I felt absolutely needed to get done every day (or every other day) just to keep my sanity the house in order.  For me, these were meals, dishes, laundry and budget.  Everything else could be forgotten for even a few days.  These things are my base routine.  I gave myself a break and decided that if I maintain these four tasks, everything else is cake.

As a homeschool mom, I know first hand how important routines can be to getting anything done at all.  My routines keep me on track with meals, chores, school, budgeting...  the list goes on and on.   And I don't have just one all-purpose routine.  No way!  I have several to mix-and-match depending on the day.

My fancy handwritten routine that hangs on the front of my fridge.

Now don't you already feel better about yourself when you look at the fancy routine I have hanging for all to see on my fridge!  The way it works is simple.  I do a task in each box and then start over, picking a different task the next time round.  This way I don't get burned out by doing one thing for an hour.  And if I find myself walking in circles, because I can't decide what to do next, it's right there on the fridge.  There are permanent tasks written in sharpie on the paper, and temporary tasks, written in dry-erase on the sheet protector.  I can easily slip a new task into my routine at any time.

Not written out is my School routine which goes like this:

• Bible
• History
• Geography
• Science
• Math 
• Spelling
• Seat Work

I keep the books we are working from in a crate near our table.  They are kept in order of our routine.  I work from right to left (I've always been a little backwards!)  And when our new Latin book comes this week, I'll add it to our routine by sliding it in with the other books.  That way it won't be forgotten because I didn't get to that shelf which is what happens to our art curriculum on most days.

Believe it or not, there are some days that I wake up and just cannot get into my routine.   But that's the beauty of having a routine.  It doesn't matter what time we get up.  It doesn't matter if we have a play date at 1pm or a doctor's appointment at 10am.  We can just pick up right where we left off in the routine.


Do you prefer schedules or routines?  Do you display your routines; what visual cues do you use?  What have you found that works best for you?

Simple Steps: A Healthy Energy Drink!

I didn't get to sleep until 3am last night.  Not because I wasn't tired, but because my husband drank his Cinch Energy Tea at work when he needed a lift. 

When he got home 2am he was still wired and ended up keeping me awake while he watched the Olympics. Talk about an unexpected side effect! He promised he'd drink his tea earlier in his shift next time.

I used to lecture him on how his energy drinks would make him fat and were really bad for his health in general.  I can't even get the pleasure of lecturing him now!  And I'm tired and cranky and really want to. Cinch Energy Tea is made with natural ingredients and has only 5 calories per serving.

I'm so pleased that I can replace something that he normally uses with a healthy alternative!  And it is works better than those other energy drinks that are loaded with tons sugar or high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors and colors.  Who can be mad at that! 

Where do you get your energy?

Karla's Daybook

Outside my window...    it's dark so I can't see, but I don't think anyone's out there!

I am thinking...    that I'm really good at wasting time!

I am thankful for...    my wonderful family.

From the learning rooms...    we're getting ready to start a new school year next week.  July is going to be a busy month so I'm not sure if we'll be able to stay on track.  We might have to carry some of July's work into August.

From the kitchen...    I was supposed to fillet a bunch of chicken breast today so that it would be ready for meals this week.  I managed to fiddle around being OCD about this blog's format long enough that it got to be too late.  I'm really good at that.

I am wearing...    a t-shirt and capris.  I should be in my jammies right now.

I am creating...    stress for myself, because instead of doing what needs to get done I have been zoning out on the computer all night ;)

I am going...    to go to bed in about 10 minutes.

I am reading...    nothing today.  Yesterday I finished The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie.  It was her first published novel and featured Hercule Poirot.  I have decided to read through all of the Poirot stories in chronological order.  I have several books requested from the library as a means to this end.  I'm really looking forward to getting them and hope they come in soon.

I am hoping...     my lovely daughter will be coming to visit this week.  We are all anxious for her to get here.  We have lots of fun planned.
 
I am hearing...     people shooting off early fireworks.


Around the house...   I have managed to clear out some tubs of clutter this week.  It feels  good and I plan on doing more next week.

One of my favorite things...   is Reese's' Peanut Butter Cups.  They are so yummy!  Ethan shared one with me today.  I couldn't resist.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

• I need to order some school materials (Latin & Life of Fred)
• We need to make our bi-annual trek to the mall (YIKES!)
• My birthday is Tuesday.  I'm holding on to 29 for another year.   
• I need to post items for sale on Craigslist this week.  I've never bought or sold on Craigslist and I guess I'm a little nervous about it.  Everyone says is super easy.  I've been putting it off and I guess I'd better just do it.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

This cicada was on the landing of the stairs today. So amazing!

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Karla's Daybook

Outside my window...     all is dark and quiet.

I am hearing...     my husband talking to his buddy on the phone.

I am thinking...     that I am ready for some peace.

I am thankful for...     this moment.

From the learning rooms...     summer reading programs just started last week and I am already behind in logging their reading times.  I'm usually on top of this kind of thing, but I've been so overwhelmed with car hunting that I haven't had time to think about it.

From the kitchen...     Maia made a pineapple/cream cheese spread today.  Someday she can take over for me :)

My current project is...    de-cluttering the kids' rooms.  It is never-ending.  I will hopefully get it done before I run out of momentum.

I am going...     to make time to get my hair cut tomorrow!  It's been at least 6 months since I cut my hair myself and over a year since I've had it cut by someone else.  Tomorrow I plan on going to the nearby cosmetology school and crossing my fingers ;)

I am reading...     I just finished the 1st part of the 39 Clues series which I was reading with Maia. Now I'm taking a break to go to bed earlier and get more sleep.  I'm not sure what I'll read next.  Maybe something classic.

I am hoping...     for a productive day tomorrow.  So many things to get done!

Around the house...     I need to get a lot more de-cluttering done.

One of my favorite things...     the wonderful hugs my children fill my days with.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

• sort the boys' tubs of clutter
• check into getting raw milk 
• start the elimination diet I've been putting off for 4 months.

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The Voice of Adventure

A friend posted this on Facebook today.  I don't want to loose it so here it is :)

The Voice Of Adventure

There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it.

Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe.

Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure.

Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference.

Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.

Sure it isn’t safe, but what is? (Max Lucado)

Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. ~ Luke 17:33

Babies Don't Keep

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton