I finally, after living here for over six months, got my linen closet organized.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Snow!
It's bad when I didn't notice that it snowed until I see the little snow piled up in my email background. Then I peeked out the window and, sure enough, it had snowed.
I'll probably be MIA (even more than usual, since I've been a slacker poster on here) until next week. I'm taking Ally with me to visit some wonderful friends and to meet their daughter who is already 7 months old! I'm so excited for this opportunity to go. Nate and Becca will stay here. Becca has many things planned to do with her daddy. I left her a goodie bag for each day (I got the idea from here) because this is the first time I've been away from her for more than part of a day.
See you when I get back.
It's bad when I didn't notice that it snowed until I see the little snow piled up in my email background. Then I peeked out the window and, sure enough, it had snowed.
I'll probably be MIA (even more than usual, since I've been a slacker poster on here) until next week. I'm taking Ally with me to visit some wonderful friends and to meet their daughter who is already 7 months old! I'm so excited for this opportunity to go. Nate and Becca will stay here. Becca has many things planned to do with her daddy. I left her a goodie bag for each day (I got the idea from here) because this is the first time I've been away from her for more than part of a day.
See you when I get back.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
February goal and project review
I know I said I was going to wait until Easter or something to review how I'm doing on my goals and projects, but I just couldn't wait that long. I need more frequent reviews to keep me focused a motivated.
It's been busy around here. January went quickly between coming back from my parents', Nate's trip to his annual work meeting, all of us (except Nate) getting the flu, and Ally teething and having a cold. So the blogs fell by the wayside. I have a list on each of the girls that I need to blog, just to keep record of what new things they are doing. I hope to get that on their blog soon.
Anyway, onto the review. I'll summarize each goal and project in just a few words to clarify.
Goals:
#1. Be in the Word: We've been playing the ESV Audio Bible at lunch. I usually ask Becca what part of the Bible she wants to listen to and we play that. We don't always listen to everything that is said, but we tune in and out. Becca will often ask, "What is this part?" and I'll tell her what's going on. I have plans to start memorizing scripture. I was going to start with a whole book like Philippians or Ephesians, but I think, instead, I'll start with Psalm 62:5-7, which was the passage we chose for Ally's baptism. I want to have it memorized by the end of February.
#2. Physically active at least 30 minutes a day: Failed. Except for when I went out a couple of days in a row with Becca to shovel and play in the snow. I could hop on my bike on the trainer each day, but that wouldn't help the girls be active. We danced around a little today, and that was fun. There are just so many other things to do that it hasn't been a priority...but it needs to be.
#3. Reading good books to the girls: This we have been doing well. We've read Trumpet of the Swan, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, 26 Fairmount Avenue, Jesus Storybook Bible, Boxcar Children books, and countless picture books to Becca and Ally (Ally is mostly the picture books and the Bible). We're working through By the Shores of Silver Lake with Becca and I think she gets a few things out of every chapter. She could tell me, very generally, one thing that happened in one chapter that Nate read to her when I wasn't there. But she likes it, and asks for more. I'm so happy both girls love books.
#4. Art once a week: The past two weeks have been good. Before that we had the flu and Nate was gone for a week, so I was in survival mode. Mostly it has been painting. Ally has been painting too, with a brush and not her fingers, since she hates things on her fingers. Becca and Ally painted with tempera paints yesterday and last week they used eyedroppers with colored water on coffee filters and then Becca used her watercolor paints.
I hope to do this paper mache project(it's number 5) with Becca and let Ally tear tissue paper for fun, do something with shaving cream like this one with both girls, and do some still life drawings with fruits and veggies. We are getting lots of good ones in our Farm Fresh Delivery bin tomorrow.
#5. Getting up on time: For the last week I have finally been getting up on time (almost, I did sleep in one day and regretted it later). I drag myself out of bed at 6:45am. Spend 15 minutes on the computer checking email, blog reader, etc. Take a shower and get dressed and then get Nate up. He gets his shower and checks his email while I get the girls dressed and then we all get to have breakfast together. The goal is to have Nate to work by 9am and we're getting close. I think he was up there on time this morning. It's been nice to have him at breakfast.
#6. Staying in touch with family and friends: I've not been so great on this, though I did talk to my parents a ton this past month. We hope to be setting up a weekly weekend Skype call between the girls and each of our parents. I don't know if we'd talk to them then, but at least the girls would get to. I want to make an effort to call both of my grandmothers once a week during the day. I'm going to email or send a message via Facebook to my brothers and sisters-in-law and my close friends at least once a month.
#7. Prayer: I've found spare moments, but I'm not always prayerful during those. There are a number of prayer requests that are frequently on my mind and those are prayed for at least weekly, if not every other day or so. When I receive a prayer request in person or over email or Facebook, I try to pray for that immediately. Oh Father, help my fellowship with you in prayer to grow.
#8. Serving my husband: Nate says I'm doing a good job at this. :) If possible, I try to give him his En Gedi, at least 20 minutes to sit and read or unwind when he comes down from work. I'm glad he feels I'm doing well in this area. :)
Whew...now for projects.
#1. Ally's baby book: I decided to make a non-digital one instead once I read that the iPhoto books only have glossy pages. Plus, I already have a scrapbook and paper to use, so I just had to spend a little for the pictures, saving lots of money. I'm hoping to make it very simple. I'll do all the journal areas by hand and not have any complicated layouts. The pictures are ordered as of yesterday.
#2. Catch up on photo albums: waiting until done with Ally's book.
#3. Wedding album: Nothing done.
#4. Garden: I have been researching composters. I had considered an indoor composter, but after reading reviews and thinking about it, I'm going with an outdoor one. Not sure which one yet. Reading the online instruction manuals has been most helpful too in determining what I want. I know I want a tumbler, not a bin.
A friend from church also asked me if I wanted to go in with her and some others on getting our seeds through a co-op. I'm excited, since picking out seeds is overwhelming to me and she is an experienced gardener. At this point we want to do tomatoes (heirloom, will buy a plant and transplant it), basil, zucchini, spinach, lettuce, swiss chard, cilantro, bell peppers, green beans, radishes. This could definitely change. :)
I hope to buy the materials to construct our square-foot garden this month. I also hope to figure out how much of the mix I need in order to fill our garden.
#5. Landscaping: I've done nothing on this. I've considered just planting a tree to the left of our porch and being done with it. :)
On a side note, I couldn't bear not to do any sewing projects, so I'm working on making some longies out of some wool sweaters I bought at Goodwill. I might also make mittens and hats with the felted body of the sweater.
I know I said I was going to wait until Easter or something to review how I'm doing on my goals and projects, but I just couldn't wait that long. I need more frequent reviews to keep me focused a motivated.
It's been busy around here. January went quickly between coming back from my parents', Nate's trip to his annual work meeting, all of us (except Nate) getting the flu, and Ally teething and having a cold. So the blogs fell by the wayside. I have a list on each of the girls that I need to blog, just to keep record of what new things they are doing. I hope to get that on their blog soon.
Anyway, onto the review. I'll summarize each goal and project in just a few words to clarify.
Goals:
#1. Be in the Word: We've been playing the ESV Audio Bible at lunch. I usually ask Becca what part of the Bible she wants to listen to and we play that. We don't always listen to everything that is said, but we tune in and out. Becca will often ask, "What is this part?" and I'll tell her what's going on. I have plans to start memorizing scripture. I was going to start with a whole book like Philippians or Ephesians, but I think, instead, I'll start with Psalm 62:5-7, which was the passage we chose for Ally's baptism. I want to have it memorized by the end of February.
#2. Physically active at least 30 minutes a day: Failed. Except for when I went out a couple of days in a row with Becca to shovel and play in the snow. I could hop on my bike on the trainer each day, but that wouldn't help the girls be active. We danced around a little today, and that was fun. There are just so many other things to do that it hasn't been a priority...but it needs to be.
#3. Reading good books to the girls: This we have been doing well. We've read Trumpet of the Swan, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, 26 Fairmount Avenue, Jesus Storybook Bible, Boxcar Children books, and countless picture books to Becca and Ally (Ally is mostly the picture books and the Bible). We're working through By the Shores of Silver Lake with Becca and I think she gets a few things out of every chapter. She could tell me, very generally, one thing that happened in one chapter that Nate read to her when I wasn't there. But she likes it, and asks for more. I'm so happy both girls love books.
#4. Art once a week: The past two weeks have been good. Before that we had the flu and Nate was gone for a week, so I was in survival mode. Mostly it has been painting. Ally has been painting too, with a brush and not her fingers, since she hates things on her fingers. Becca and Ally painted with tempera paints yesterday and last week they used eyedroppers with colored water on coffee filters and then Becca used her watercolor paints.
I hope to do this paper mache project(it's number 5) with Becca and let Ally tear tissue paper for fun, do something with shaving cream like this one with both girls, and do some still life drawings with fruits and veggies. We are getting lots of good ones in our Farm Fresh Delivery bin tomorrow.
#5. Getting up on time: For the last week I have finally been getting up on time (almost, I did sleep in one day and regretted it later). I drag myself out of bed at 6:45am. Spend 15 minutes on the computer checking email, blog reader, etc. Take a shower and get dressed and then get Nate up. He gets his shower and checks his email while I get the girls dressed and then we all get to have breakfast together. The goal is to have Nate to work by 9am and we're getting close. I think he was up there on time this morning. It's been nice to have him at breakfast.
#6. Staying in touch with family and friends: I've not been so great on this, though I did talk to my parents a ton this past month. We hope to be setting up a weekly weekend Skype call between the girls and each of our parents. I don't know if we'd talk to them then, but at least the girls would get to. I want to make an effort to call both of my grandmothers once a week during the day. I'm going to email or send a message via Facebook to my brothers and sisters-in-law and my close friends at least once a month.
#7. Prayer: I've found spare moments, but I'm not always prayerful during those. There are a number of prayer requests that are frequently on my mind and those are prayed for at least weekly, if not every other day or so. When I receive a prayer request in person or over email or Facebook, I try to pray for that immediately. Oh Father, help my fellowship with you in prayer to grow.
#8. Serving my husband: Nate says I'm doing a good job at this. :) If possible, I try to give him his En Gedi, at least 20 minutes to sit and read or unwind when he comes down from work. I'm glad he feels I'm doing well in this area. :)
Whew...now for projects.
#1. Ally's baby book: I decided to make a non-digital one instead once I read that the iPhoto books only have glossy pages. Plus, I already have a scrapbook and paper to use, so I just had to spend a little for the pictures, saving lots of money. I'm hoping to make it very simple. I'll do all the journal areas by hand and not have any complicated layouts. The pictures are ordered as of yesterday.
#2. Catch up on photo albums: waiting until done with Ally's book.
#3. Wedding album: Nothing done.
#4. Garden: I have been researching composters. I had considered an indoor composter, but after reading reviews and thinking about it, I'm going with an outdoor one. Not sure which one yet. Reading the online instruction manuals has been most helpful too in determining what I want. I know I want a tumbler, not a bin.
A friend from church also asked me if I wanted to go in with her and some others on getting our seeds through a co-op. I'm excited, since picking out seeds is overwhelming to me and she is an experienced gardener. At this point we want to do tomatoes (heirloom, will buy a plant and transplant it), basil, zucchini, spinach, lettuce, swiss chard, cilantro, bell peppers, green beans, radishes. This could definitely change. :)
I hope to buy the materials to construct our square-foot garden this month. I also hope to figure out how much of the mix I need in order to fill our garden.
#5. Landscaping: I've done nothing on this. I've considered just planting a tree to the left of our porch and being done with it. :)
On a side note, I couldn't bear not to do any sewing projects, so I'm working on making some longies out of some wool sweaters I bought at Goodwill. I might also make mittens and hats with the felted body of the sweater.
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