The Simple Womans Day Book

Outside My Window: It's been strange weather this weekend. Sun, Rain, then Sun again. It's sunny as we speak.

I am hearing: Ratatoulle-We're all piled on the couch dog included, watching this movie for the 50th time. At least it's not Pokemon or Animaniacs, I think I could deal with out those two for a very long time.

I am thinking: It's going to be a pretty lax low key day.

I am hoping: That I can convince the hubs to go to the lake. We live less than 2 minutes from the lake and have yet to actually go to the lake.

From the kitchen: The hubs made the menu plan for this week.
Monday-Burgers on the grill
Tuesday-Chicken broccoli rice casserole
Wednesday-Spaghetti
Thursday-Tilapia
Friday-Hot dogs at the school carnival

I'm reading: I read The Lovely Bones earlier this week. That was a good/interesting read about a girl who is murdered and the story is told from her point of view from heaven. She tries to help her family and friends become consoled as well as help solve her murder. I am now currently reading Bridget Jones's Diary, it's ok for a light fluffy quick humorous read. I may post sometime this week of why/how I choose the books I read. Oh yes there's a special formulated list involved.

I am creating: Thanks to all of your suggestions for the Daniel Boone apparal. I went with Camille's suggestion of making a paper bag vest with fringe. I have to admit it worked in a pinch and doesn't look to shabby. Pics to come when the coon skin hat comes in. I'm also planning BB's birthday. We're doing his party this coming weekend which really means just cake and presents with us. He wants Legos for his birthday so I decided to take it one step further and do a Lego birthday. BB was not particular on what theme birthday he wanted, which shocks me for a 5 year old.

Around the house: Nothing major really, just the usual

Plans for the week: No major plans this week other than celebrating BB's birthday early. Then Friday is the school carnival. We are a exciting bunch, we are.

One of my favorite things: Sweet green tea with honey and ginsing. You can buy it by the gallon (which works for me). Oh, and a freshly mowed lawn right before it rains while the oldest trims the edges. I'm really going to love having boys around to do the "manly" jobs.
Have a great Memorial Day everyone!
A Picture Thought: I has no picture thought as I haven't taken any pics recently.

The Simple Womans Day Book

Outside My Window: Would you believe more rain? We actually had a beautiful sunny day yesterday afternoon. I took the kids to the park and not a soul was there. Maybe everyone has forgotten what a sunny day feels like. All hope for Spring is lost again though.

I am hearing: The pattering of the rain on the window, a kid shuffling boxes around making a race track.

I am thinking: I have really got to get back to a normal bed routine. I was up tossing and turning all night, even though I went to bed at a decent time. I then didn't help matters by laying back down after dropping off the kids. It's bad when your kid is trying to have a conversation with you and you say two words, doze off and he's yelling at you again for a response to another question. Rinse and Repeat

I am hoping: That the rain will clear off, and we will actually get some Spring before Summer hits us like a freight train.

From the kitchen:

Monday: Roast

Tuesday: Tostadas

Wednesday: Dijon Chicken

Thursday: Talapia

Friday: Unsure were going out of town more on that.

I am reading: I finished The Mysterious Benedict Society and loved it. I stopped by the library Thursday to grab another read as I can't go to long without reading something. I checked the availability of the Host, figuring it would be checked out. The computer showed their was one available. I scoured the shelf with no luck. I asked and the librarian was very hesitant that it was actually in. She scoured the back and I scoured all over for misplacement and it was not to be found. Someone's reading it at the library and has it well hidden, I'm sure of it. Anyways, I'm sure you didn't care to know this but I grabbed The Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz.

Those of you who are keeping track of my read books (of course you are) would say; but Jean you haven't read The Curse of the Spellmans yet. Right you are friend, right you are. I figured as long as I read the first I should be good. It was one of those mad dash I can't remember what's on my to be read list grabs. I love her writing style and she gives me a guilt trip through out the book- that if I didn't read Spellman 1 and 2 it's readily available in paperback. That makes me laugh and feel like I'm breaking the law. :)

I am creating: I just haven't been that creative lately

Around the house: Yeah I was going to do that experiment with the clean house last week. None was really needed as the moment I cleaned 5-10 minutes later you would have never known. At least the effort is there...sigh.

One of my favorite things: Spinach salad with raspberry vinegrette. Yum, I've been eating it like crazy. I also love getting a card for mothers day from my mom and finding a sweet little check in it. Totally unexpected and really not necessary, that's my mom for ya.

Plans for the week: Gameboy has a 4th grade perfomance, and Friday we're headed up North as my parents got us tickets for the Lion King on broadway this weekend (bet you can guess what next weeks WW A to Z will be-perfect timing) oh and also Saturday is this little thing called my anniversary, 11 years my friends...11 long interesting years.

A Picture Thought: Mother's Day Out Take

The Simple womans Day Book

Oustside My Window: I'm longing for the sun to return again. We've gone for days with storms and gloom and it's really putting me in a funk.

I am hearing: A 4yr old boy making car sounds and crashing sounds. Music to my ears.

I am thinking: I've got to buck up and get stuff done today.

I am hoping: We signed up Game Boy and Bossy Boy for football. I'm stressing out about it. Game Boy has never played before but is dying to play. I know that he's going to be behind par for the course but the hubs believes it will be good for him and with time he'll do fine. (I'm hoping that he does fair well when the coaches see him for position selection.) Bossy Boy playing pee wee football seems adorable and yet I know he's the baby and will probably act like it at first. I'm hoping he will act big and not come crying to momma at every fall. I told the hubs I have no desire to watch them be sized up during position selection. I'm not sure how well I'm going to bare through this at first. A football mom, me? Mmm...

From The Kitchen;
Monday; Chicken Fried Rice
Tuesday; Burgers on the grill
Wednesday; Catfish
Thursday; Olive Garden Soup Recipe
Friday; Frozen Pizza

I'm now reading: I'm reading Little Women for my Classics Read challenge. At first I thought it was going to be too cheery and plum cheeks "oh marmee" full of to much sweet tooth achy goodness. It is, but my heart of stone has turned to mush and I'm enjoying it(yes I read it in high school but that was earth lifetimes ago). I should have it done by tonight and The Mysterious Benedict society awaits on hold for me at the library. Finally!
I just need to be reassured of something and hope you guys do the same. When I read a period piece such as this one, the way they talk runs through my head all the time and I almost feel compelled to speak the way they speak. I did the same with Red Tent and Thousand Splendid Suns, thinking in my mind I could speak Afgahni (whatever their language is, Arabic maybe?) and the foreign words stay in my brain like a song stuck in my head. This happens to you right? Just shake your head and nod.

I am creating: I'm thinking of doing an experiment, you know me and my crazy whims, well... I want to time how fast it really does take for my house to go from prim and properly clean to disaster. I'm thinking of documenting for your displeasure. I know, aren't you excited? Maybe we could place bets or something.

Around the house: Clean house and see how long it takes to go from mildly disheveled to complete chaos. Your probably saying wouldn't it be best to clean up when it gets to the mildly disheveled state, but what's the fun in that? I give it less than 8 hours.


One of my favorite things: Uhm lets see, winning 5th place in the kids photo entries at I heart faces is a start. Something I never thought I'd see. Being nominated for a Mom's Tweet The Darndest Things Contest. I knew Twitter would come in handy for some day. The weekend was a red letter day if I do say so myself. Reading almost all weekend due to the rainy days was also a fave of the past few days.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Signing up Bossy Boy for kindergarten (sniff), nothing else really interesting.

A Picture Thought: Just in case you forgot, here is the winning (in my book) 5th place shot.

The Simple Womans Day Book

Oustside My Window: Finally a nice sunny day minus extreme wind.

I am hearing: The dryer going and something thudding around in it...a rock maybe, a coin?

I am thinking: Nothing special really. My mind is at peace for the moment.

I am hoping: We get our tax return in soon..as in this week.

From The Kitchen; Nothing to inspiring this week. I'm raiding the freezer and pantry in hopes I can skip grocery shopping until Thursday.
Monday: Meatloaf. (I had meatload at first, made me chuckle)
Tuesday: Chicken breasts used in some form or fashion, got any suggestions?
Wednesday: Tilapia and rice
Thursday: Unknown at this time.
Friday: Ditto from Thursday


I am reading: I finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Good quick Childrens book, with very awesome pictures. The book is hugely thick and daunting but 90% of it is pictures/drawings and the rest is story but the font is really large. I read it in a couple of days. My oldest kid didn't seem too interested, I think it had to do with the overwhelming thickness. I think it would be a great read aloud book for older kids.
I'm now reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. If you ever wanted to read more random than what I put out here for the blog, Dave is your man. I'm not sure if it's a memoir or some kind of crazy crossed nonfiction fiction. He drags you into his head and makes you read every thought that goes through his mind. It's frighteningly entertaining. His humor and wit are right up my alley...just check out his preface and table of contents, hilarious. He does go through several bouts of sheer random ramblings..although I can relate completely, it does get a bit tedious, and you wonder where he's going with it. The funny thing is, he warns you in the begining that there are certain pages you should out right skip. I need to find out if this guy has a blog. He could be my alter ego.

I am creating: I am so not creating anything this week or the next. I'm taking a much needed break.

Around the house: As I mentioned above, I'm just gonna do the basic necessities to do the next few weeks and nothing else

One of my favorite things: Having one of my besties come down for a visit and laughing our heads off at our kids and crazy things from high school.

A few plans for the rest of the week: The extent of my plans for the week is grocery shopping and library visiting.

A Picture Thought: I thought I'd do something different and post a random pic that was posted this day/week last year just to see what was going on at the time.

Last year at this time, I was going through a much needed position change. Though I was completely terrified of moving on, it was the best decision ever, I can't understand now why I had such a problem with it. Anyway this pic, one of my faves of all time actually was nominated at 5 Minutes for Mom as a finalist. Though I didn't win, I was thrilled to just be nominated. Last year this time was a very eventful week. I had no idea. Now I'm rambling just like Dave.