Daybook-Birthday Edition

Outside My Window -a sunny day. It's not too hot and there are some clouds, but I don't think it will rain today. I must remember to remind the boys to water the garden. Although we've had a lot of rain this summer, it's beginning to taper off now.

I am listening to- quiet. I nursed Tessie to sleep. Luke is upstairs eating his lunch while listening to a book and Sammy is sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch. He's seems to be talking to himself.

From the learning room-not much. I'm rather behind with my plans for the quickly approaching new school year.

I am thankful for- another year of life. Today, I am 37! How did that happen? Seriously, how did that happen???

From the kitchen- I am not cooking today!!! I made the normal lunches for the kids. I did not even make breakfast for the kids I am ashamed to admit. Instead, I loaded up the kiddos and drove to Starbucks for muffins. They were out of muffins and I bought brownies instead. I know, I'm horrible.

I am wearing- jeans, flip-flops, sky blue tank-top with a light green button-down shirt.

Holiness in the everyday- trying to pray without ceasing.

I am creating- a room for Tess. Paul painted her room a glorious pale blue with a hint of lavender. I'm thinking of sewing a twin-size quilt for the extra bed in her room (like I need another quilt project). Her room has been motley storage until now. I can't wait to put it all back together. I have two prints by two American impressionists, Frank Benson and Edmund Tarbell to hang in her room. I've been waiting to hang these prints for over three years! I'll add images of the prints to this post.

I am reading - too much! I'm determined to go back to reading just one book at a time (although I just downloaded five books to my new MP3 player). I am about to start reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I've moved it to the top of the stack on my nightstand.

One of my favorite things- Sunflowers! Paul just brought me a bunch of sunflowers for my birthday.

Plans for the rest of the week- finish knitting this hat. I only have a few rows to go and I'm just about to begin the decrease rows. I also need to put the house back in the order after the painting adventure.

My little sunflower

Lately, my blog has been all about pictures. I realized that I haven't really written anything this summer and I have so many things I want to share, but Summer has been so full that I haven't had time to sit and focus on writing. I've neglected my daybook entries again. I compose entries in my head, but somehow they just don't make it to my blog. Sometimes, I write them out on actual paper and I still don't copy them to my blog. What's up with that?? I can't wait to share some of the things happening around here like the tree house project, my knitting, the boys' garden and my curriculum plans for the Fall, but for now, here's Tessie in her little knitted sunflower dress. No, I did not knit this. My aunt Rosie, avid knitter, discovered that sunflowers were my favorite flower and sent me this beautiful handknit sunflower dress for Tess. If my sunflowers in my garden don't bloom, I won't be disappointed because I have this little sunflower girl! Thanks Aunt Rosie for this gorgeous dress.

8 Months

Miss Tess at 8 months

Wildflower Hike

We joined Mary over at Mt Falcon Park last week for a fun hike. I can't believe we've never been there before since it's not that far away from our house. We're having a great year for wildflowers since we're getting so much rain this summer. I carried Tessie in her front carrier and Sammy claimed that his empty backpack was too heavy, but we persevered and identified several wildflowers. If you look closely, you'll notice all kinds of things!

For MaryG

MaryG, Tess is finally big enough to wear your present! I never thought she would get so big so quickly. Thank you again for knitting this for her.

Your brothers wanted you to have this...

when you were old enough.

13 on the 13th

Today is my 13th wedding anniversary and I'm home after having a nice unhurried dinner with my husband. I took my time and I didn't have to cut up any food into little bites today. That's a pretty big treat right there.

I got up this morning and did the things I normally do. I made breakfast for the boys (oatmeal with brown sugar and cream), I balanced the checkbook (to the penny) and I washed the dishes.
Then, Stephanie called me and asked if I wanted to have lunch with her and her girls in Evergreen. So, we did and I did not have to make lunches (peanut butter sandwiches) today. As I was eating lunch, I remembered that Steph was my maid of honor (I didn't actually forget. I guess I was marveling about how different our lives are now, being mommies, but we're still doing so many things together) at my wedding and I guess now, I take it for-granted that we are next-door neighbors and we see each other nearly every day. I know that's a rare thing.

Overall, my day was rather routine until I went out to dinner with just Paul. It's so rare these days that we are alone and I savored just us as a couple, but of course, we talked about the kids (a lot). That's the happy life we've created.

We ended the evening with our annual ritual of sharing a slice of a delicious carrot cake since our wedding cake was carrot cake.

Here's to another wonderful year!