The Great Backyard Bird Count.....

Okay so next month is The Great Backyard Bird Count! We know it is coming every year but we always forget out about it! But not this year! WE are so particpating. We are buying 3 bird feeders this month and putting them out so birds will start coming here! WE are cleaning out our bird wash and getting it ready for the little birdies to bath! WE will be ready!

We are getting all our bird books out to help with identifying and we will chart all the birds that come!

The Wonder Years Blog is also going to particpate in the Great Backyard bird watch and has some great tips! Go check them out.

If you partcipte come back and link up on Feb 28 and let me know your total count! I will have a give away for the person who has the most birds!!!


So please little birdies... come on by!

Princess Day...

Well Matt was off with Mom having a special "day". Kate is going on a trip with Mom and Amy in February so mom is doing something with Matt and Emily this week and next. But today was Matt's day, he choose..Chuck E Cheese (just to play), Red Lobster for lunch and then strangely enough he choose to go over to Mimi's to spend private play time with his "cuz"! Actually for Matt it isnt a weird choice, I wasnt that surprised, but he could have picked just about anything!



Anyway, so Matt was away having fun and we decided to have an all day Princess Day. The girls and I read The Princess and the Kiss and we worked in the guide that goes along with the book. We worked on a scripture verse,

" I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31: 3b

We talked about preparing our hearts. How God hows his LOVE through providing for us and guiding us. We talked about God wanting GOOD for their lives even when you doubt what HE has for you. It was a wonderful time.

Later we read the Princess and the Pea did all kind of princess activities!!! Plus Kate wrote a short story and did MATH. Emily and I did a phonics lesson on blends and read a bit.

We had read the story of Hansel and Gretel last night so today we started the day by making a Gingerbread House! The girls had so much fun! They were busy for quite a while!

I also if you noticed by the girls PRINCESS pics that I finally got around to playing on PICNIK! Which I love and must absolutely pay the extra 24.95 for because I wanna change eye color!!! It is SOOO easy and awesome! I will be messing around more later when I have extra time!

Possibility vs. Reality

We all see possibilities in life...

Possibilities of a better relationship
Possibilities of a better financial situation
Possibilities of a new baby
Possibilities of a vacation, or new car

Than reality hits!

The possibility of a better relationship is stifled because one spouse is working on the relationship and one isnt (I dont mean you dear hubbie)
The possibility of a better financial situation is ruined because of a loss of income or a job change, higher insurance or doctor bills.
The possibility of a new baby is taken away for health reasons.
The possibility of a vacation or new car is put on hold for LIFE's bills.


This is the same for everyone... I mean it might seem like someone has it all, a better financial situation, a vacation to Disney and a new car, but their relationship is bad. Or someone might have a great relationship but not a baby. Or someone might buy a new car but than lose a good financial situation!

We ALL have trials! We all have reality to live with!

We are currently looking for a new house, well not new just different! We are wanting to rent and of course need "x" amount of square footage to fit our family of 5! We want to be in a certain area of town and have a particular budget. You know the drill. A nice house, that is big enough that you can afford!

Well in steps all of our possibilities!

A house that has square footage vs. location.
Or a house that has price vs. square footage.
Or a house that has a locations vs. price!

IT moves the rent house from possibility to reality. WE cant have it all. WE have to compromise. WE have to accept reality.

I want everyone to get what they need in life... I want people to live blessed lives and be joyful and at peace. But what is it that gives them joy and peace?

A house.
A relationship
A job.
A vacation.
A location.

No.

It is God.

As we drive around looking for our possibilities... we in reality want what God has for us, and that is what Dave and I are striving for. That is what we are praying for. Literally driving through neighborhoods praying that God will show us the house HE has for us!

What in your life is a possibility but what in reality does GOD want for you?


Carrie in Texas

Updates...

Okay...

I have loads of stuff to update! But first I want to say this...

Can you believe that it is January 25? Does it not seem like it was JUST Christmas!
Almost 1/12 of 2009 is already gone! Have you been keeping your resolutions??? Well on January 31 I will have a post with Mr. Linky up to recap all of our resolutions and to give an update on how we are doing.
It is the Accountability Club! So write your post and come post it to Mr. Linky!

Okay update. At the beginning of the week I posted my list. This was awesome. To be honest it was for the most part more than I could actually do BUT, I could have really gotten 90% of it done if I had worked a little harder! For instance, I could have vacuumed my room. I just kept putting if off and than life would happen and than it was already the next day... see what I mean?

So anyhoo... what this list did was make me accountable, because I just knew my bloggy friends would check back to see what I had accomplished or maybe not accomplished? So I WANTED to accomplish things. It was also a constant reminder of what needed to be done. I woke thinking...

"Hmmm, what can I get done on my list today???"

That is a great feeling. For instance on Friday I was supposed to go to lunch with a friend, well I messed that up--sorry again jennifer! But since we were already dressed to go out, we left the house! I took the library books, Kristals present, the clothes to donate and went to the bank and Target!

YEAH! I would just honestly not done all those things if they hadnt been on the list!

So here is the link back to my list post from Monday, go check out what all I got done!





Update on yesterday's post...


I can say- and HUBBIE confirms...


that I did for the most part have more of a meek and quiet spirit when dealing with the kids.


I mean I wasnt perfect, but I did so much better.


I was praying A LOT.


I tried to THINK before I spoke.


I tried to BREATH instead of BLAST!


and I did. I will continue to pray my prayer daily...


(Karly I do not still have the answers but you are welcome for coffee anytime!- I will keep you up to date on my progress)

Update---Jennifer I did make this...YUMMO! and the ganache was so simple!

Hubbie says, "Got Milk..."

My new prayer...

So I have been struggling dealing with an issue basically since my children were born!

Discipline...

I now you all do! I am sure none of you have it figured out! If you do, I'll buy you a cup of coffee if you will just TELL ME!

We have tried this and tried that. We are fairly consistent. We dont let the kids "get away" with stuff all the time...

But yet, we do not have obedient kids!

Now I have good kids compared to some, but I am not comparing! I want obedient kids.

I know BIG DREAMER!

But really I do want obedient kids, I do want to trust that my kids will do what I ask or other people ask. I know every parent wants that.

I used to get really irritated when a parent had "given up". Do you know who I am talking about? They couldnt MAKE their kids obey so they just stopped trying! What is that about?

Well I just dont give up very easy! So I keep trying different techniques to attempt to curb my kids disobedience! That is not working.

I know BIG SURPRISE!

So I am looking to scripture... now that is not to say that I havent looked to the scripture before but I am going back to some roots. I have a big problem. I dont obey the scripture so how on earth can I expect my kids to! I am told in the scripture to have a

meek and gentle spirit

Well I dont.

I yell. I raise my voice. I am ugly. I blast people.

I dont want to be this way, I have tried so many times NOT to. But I cant seem to help myself! If I as a grown adult cant control my actions why should I expect that of my kids???

So my morning prayer is looking like this..

Dear God,

I pray for peace over my family. I pray for YOUR quiet spirit to lead me in all my actions today. I pray that you will keep my tongue from saying things that you would not have me say. I pray that my actions will show you and that they will allow my children to see YOU through me. I pray that you will bring to my mind the scripture that will help me in each and every situation I come across during the day. I pray that you would give me wisdom in dealing with my kids. I pray that you would send them gentle reminders to choose obedience each and every time. I pray that you help ME to show the same grace that YOU show me every day! I pray that you instill in me a meek and quiet spirit. I pray that as I seek to know You more that I will learn to have self control and to think on good things. I pray that you will be in charge of our household and in all decisions we make.

In Your Precious Name,

AMEN


Feel free to ask me throughout the day if I am being meek and quiet, and if I am being an example of HIM.

Fitness Friday

Okay so Brenda at The Family Revised gave us our assignment.

GOALS

I have goals.

I have plenty of them.

I have big goals.

I have small goals.

I have unattainable goals.

I have detailed goals.

I have goals!

My problem is rarely making a goal! My problem is keeping it! I just dont usually manage to accomplish my goals. Now this is not me whining... this is just keeping it real!

goal- drink water
goal- lose weight
goal- eat healthy and sensibly in order to accomplish goal 2 and be healthy
goal- be careful with finances
goal- be careful with time
goal- travel
goal- read good books

Now these are some of my present goals, not all of them just a few!

Let's break it down...

Drink water- supposedly I need to drink an ounce for every pound. That's a lotta water ladies! I wont even tell you how many! But that a lot!!! I probably at the most drink about 10 cups (80 oz) I will work on this! I promise to up today to at least 13 cups!!!

lose weight- well I am losing a teeny, tiny, itty, bitty bit! But I am also NOT gaining so there you have it! I will watch my portions and my choices. I know the drill!

Eat healthy- I am cooking at home mostly which helps that some, I an incorporating some more veggies into the kids meals and trying really hard at this. It is a process!

Be careful with the money- we are totally meeting this one. Not perfectly but we are doing really well! We are paying off debt right now! FUN! Also we are saving for various situation coming up!

Be careful with my time- I am working on this... It is hard when things are already set in stone, but I am working on it and making the changes I can. One of those things is outside activities... we are getting better and I am staying home more!

Travel- this is important and we will do a little bit this year but right now travel money is mostly going toward debt! WE will travel later!!!

Read good books- I have a list of books I want to read this year. I will post it when it is complete. I am going to my first Adult Book Club club on Sunday night, I am very excited. I have never gone to one!

Matt and Daddy at the Airport Museum---Wings and Wheels Show

Last Saturday Dave took Matt to the Airpost for the Wings and Wheels show. My Uncle Joey was supposed to fly his plane in but it was to windy at the airport and he had to turn his plane around. But while they were there the boys checked out some planes! Matt took most of these pictures btw...with my NEW CAMERA! yeah!

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

This is from a while ago but she fell sound asleep this way!!!!!

Respectfully your, Mr. President...

Part One...

No matter if you like Bush, started out liking Bush, dont like Bush...none of that matters as of today!

He has done a GREAT service to this country.

George W. Bush and Laura Bush...THANK YOU.

Thank you for putting YOUR entire life on HOLD for 8 years. Thank you for giving up any personal time, any privacy, all you normal activities for the past 8 years. Thank you for placing your self in the care of the Secret Service and in harms way in order to Serve this GREAT NATION.

WE honor you and truly appreciate you for serving.

WE know that any decisions...right or wrong

Were made with your very best intentions in mind and we thank you.

May God bless you and KEEP you as you venture into this new part of your life...

Thank you Mr. President,

Respectfully yours,

And Respectfully Yours, Mr. President...

Part Two...

As we say Goodbye to one President...

We welcome another.

Barack Obama...we welcome you.

I will pray for you each and everyday that God will bring you closer to HIM, that you will seek God's will for this country.

I believe you want the best for this country and I will pray that God leads you in every decision you consider and make.

Thank you Barack and Michelle Obama for the willingness to serve our Nation.

We thank your daughters for any sacrifices that might come up in the next four years.

WE pray for safety for you and your family...

We pray for the selection of people around you...

We pray for your secret service.

We pray for your Vice President, for your cabinet, for the Senators and Congressmen...

We implore you also to SEEK God everyday and to place your decisions before the THRONE or the true President of this country...

We remind you that the Presidency is a position...and appreciate that you have stepped into that position with dignity and poise and grace...

Thank you and Respectfully Yours Mr. President,

So many things to do, so little time...

Updated: Okay I am going to write in red behind what I did! I think I will keep updating this particular post all week long! I tried putting this on my side bar but it is so narrow that things were jumbled up!


I have so many things I want to get done this week!

I am very, very determined to put a bunch of little check marks down my list!

So I am hoping by putting pen to paper-or finger to keyboard will help make me accountable to someone (you know like the entire bloggy community- well at least the part who reads me!)

• laundry 3 loads- totally done!
• clean two dresser drawers Done
• clean out bottom of closet Done
• take clothes to resale or DAV DONE!!!
• reorganize photo folders on computer DONE
• return library books DONE!!!
• vacuum room
• finish Valentines banner only need to tie ends on!
• bake a cake/ or cookies bakes cookies!
• clean out middle shelf of pantry Done + I made a list of items IN the pantry
• organize coupons- trash expired ones done, need to buy larger organizer though
• wash bedding (Matt's and Kate's)
• start matt on 2's times tables DONE, started on 3's times tables!
• decorate kids savings jars
• decorate bulletin for unit study
• take cloths that need fixing or alterations to shop
• return matts pj's
• clean out suburban done!!!
• dust family room and my bedroom Dusted my room
• clean out pan and Tupperware cabinet
• go through fridge for expired condiments
• clean up back porch
• keep updating blog tags started workin on
• take Kristals package to post office DONE!!!
• work on Emily's Time Lapbook
• clean upstairs bathroom
• change Bob's mulch in cage
• paint girls nails DONE
• set up Club Penguin for Kate Done
• explore piknic!
• organize and weed out scrap booking stuff
• hang picture HUNG!
• check DVD's for ones that are too scratched!
• set up dvr for next few weeks Did it for this entire week
• start going through upstairs storage...one box at a time!
• clean out school closet
• print out coupons for this week
• go to YMCA
• send emails for BSCH, AHG, misc dates, Chinese New Year, worked on this some
• pick biography to read for this month
• catch up on my Bible reading list!
• plan a lunch date with a friend! DONE, Jennifer see ya tommorow!
• take the kids to the park with scooters
• look into saving accounts for the kids
• take the kids over to Granny's
• download new songs from Itunes
• craft! made stained glass pictures with kids for unit, and made broken glass jello with kids
• play pirate game with Matt and Kate
• go through board games
• clean out inbox Done, wow I had like 19 pages of EMAILS and I am down to 3
• laminate and put up kids chore chart
• clean trash games
• replace air condition filters
• replace batteries in fire alarms

I FULLY understand that I will not get all this done this week, but I do intend to get as much of it done as possible! Monday--- I got quite a bit done today plus I cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner! I did two loads of dishes, went through mail and worked on the budget some and finished planning for BSCH camping trip!

Tuesday---Today I also had American Heritage Girls and we went to the nursing home to deliver out blankets! The kids and I cleaned up the family room and we spent ALL morning watching the Inauguration of our New president!

Wednesday- was at Amy's all day helping her out! Still got lots done at her house!

Thursday- the door installation took a lot of time, but I got a fair amount on my list done, I got some school done, laundry and 3 meals cooked! I also did my menu for the next week and made a grocery list!

My day, the complete run down...

6:30 woke to bunch of doors, cant go back to sleep, checked email.
7:00 still laying in bed wishing I was one of those people who can go back to sleep!

7:30 Get up, finally cuz I am not going back to sleep and I might as well get up and do something useful, like CHECK MY EMAIL again, cuz surely something happened between 2:00 am 6:30 when I replied to Margaret's email (wonder why she wasnt sleeping?)

7:45 Get dressed, leave my room!

8:00 talk about starting breakfast but keep sitting down doing nothing chatting with my brother who spent the night last night!

8:30 start breakfast finally, but I burned the biscuits... turn off oven.

8:37 wonder why in the world the second batch of biscuits I am cooking wont get done already!

8:38 Um turned the oven off!

8:50 Finish breakfast- managed to turn out a pretty great fried egg over easy for Allison! Yeah- I usually break the yoke!

9:15 kids rose- make Hubbie get up

9:50 clean up breakfast, check email for like the 10th time today---Hey, important people talk to me!

10:00 send hubby on his way---To BUY MY NEW CAMERA!!!

10:20 get call from hubbie that camera is not on sell at Office Max they dont know what I am talking about....um it's Office Depot I respond sheepishly

11:00 Dave and matt get to Hobby Airport for special plane show, my uncle is going to be flying in into hobby in one of his planes, this is a big deal. Hubby spends 15 dollars to get him and matt into the show.

11:20 get phone call from Uncle that he cant land at Hobby today, the wind is to high, he is turning around. Hmmm. wasted 15 dollars!

12:00 made lunch (grilled cheese)-- all burners and my brain firing properly so they get cooked No problem!

1:30 clean up lunch, finish watching movie with Hubbie!

1:45 make chocolate chips, burn first batch, do okay with second batch, vow to cook no MORE today!

2:00 left to go get receipt for boots that somehow dont fit me even though I TRIED them on in the store!

2:45 left to go return boots, stopped am McDonald's to eat little snack! Drive forever to get to the outlet mall on 290.

3:20 get to outlet mall, wont let me return boots because even though I have the receipt I dont have the credit card they were purchased on originally (awesome MIL bought me them for Christmas!) So they had to be returned with in 6 business days from now and I wasnt going to get back to the outlet mall within that time with MIL so I took the store credit, but was advised to use it now? HMMMM? Decided to use it now, cannot find ANY boots, or shoes or purses! Finally decided on ver cool brown bag that I am going to use as a library bag- it is rocking. WEll it is onsale and I have 16 dollars credit left!

3:45 still nothing in the store that I can buy for 16 dollars, tell next person in line Merry christmas and happy New year you just got 16 dollars!

3:50 left the store in front of a very happy costumer!

4:00 Have to get Very far across town in one hour to meet BRett, Amy and Kirsten to see Hotel for Dogs...

4:20 not very close to destination because Dave took a "shortcut".

4:44 still not close to destination because The Beltway was down to two lanes! called Amy to make other plans.

5:00 after reevaluating situation we decide to meet at closer cinema to see movie at a later time and have dinner.

5:30 Matt feels really bad at dinner, we send him home with Dave (later find out he had temp! poor baby!)

6:00 Having spent more on dinner, more on tickets (cant use discount I have at different cinema) am a little bummed out, I had also previously bought snacks and cokes to take into AMC - WHICH IS ALLOWED at some please call manager of your AMC to ask! So messed up financially wise but letting it go!

7:15 go into movie (btw- pretty stupid, it gets like 2 and 3/4 stars just for being slightly funny)

9:10 get out of movie go meet Matt and Dave at Amy's house to drive home together.

9:45 run into CVS to get my sales since it ends at 10:00!!!! Spent 11.76 on over 25 dollars worth of STUFF I USE!!!

10:30 come home, check my email

11:00 start writing this very long, probably boring to my readers post!

11:27 HIT PUBLISH POST---with Dave snoring loudly in my ear, while waiting up for it to be long enough to give matt a second dose of meds!

What a DAY! What did you do?

A bloggy award for little ol' me...

I was pleased and surprised to recieve a comment from a fellow Fitness Friday lady who not only left me with kind words, but with a blog award also!!! Laura lee fror Wasted Textbooks, thank you so much! Now this is an award meant to be shared with others so I will choose five of the dearest blogs I read to recieve this award!

jennifer @ The Copling's Hobbit Hole

Bree @ Unfinished Thoughts

Lara @ Overstuffed

The Other Carrie Thompson @ Thoughts, Ponderings and Musings

And last but not least a new read...

Julie @ Living on less

Pass it on ladies!

Fitness Friday...

Okay, so today is Fitness Friday.

Number one I did awful this week, I dont really know why but I did AWFUL! So I must do better next week! But enough of that... on to our assignment!

I got Brenda's assignment a few days ago and have thought about it off and on all week long! It was a hard one to be honest! I know that Brenda is attempting to inspire herself to be more feminine and assumed that her wardrobe change would be to that effect. Now I have worked on being more feminine all year- 2008, not really to the point of wearing skirts, but wearing makeup, dressing up, wearing jewelry basically just not wearing jeans and a polo every single day!

So I will show you me and said polo and jeans and than I will show you dressed up how I like to generally go out and you can vote! Yeah!

HMMMM.. Now feel very honored that I even put that picture up! I had to search for about 15 minutes just to find one because you know that I am always taking the picture because I always look like picture number two!!! Yuck. I think I look like, well I think I look awful and feel SOOOO much better when I look like picture number one! Seriously gotta throw away the polos! I also gotta keep my hair highlighted! I love when I wear jewelry. My hubbie does too! HE NOTICES! When I am dressed like number one I almost always get a "wow, you look nice" there is lots of emphasis! When I am dressed like number two...nothing! I dont blame him one bit! Yes dh you are reading this and thank you for loving me all the time! I promise to continue in my attempt to be more feminine and to take pride in what I wear and accept that even though I am overweight it does not mean that I can only wear polos!

Also ladies please take note of said stupid smile! Hmmm... It is like a half smile? I dont know why I do this and these are better shots than usual!

Updated: I thought I had finished this post but I asked hubby if he thinks I dress feminine. He said not most of the time. I said you mean when I wear polo's. He said yes. I said do you want me to dress up everyday. He said well I like to see you dressed up but if you arent going anywhere all day I hate for you to dress up just for me to get home at 6:30. I said do you want me to wear skirts an dresses. He said No, you dont really seem like a skirt and dress kind of gal.

HMMM.... So conclusion is I guess I dont have to wear skirts and dresses but I will make a concentrated effort to rarely EVER wear polo's and to try to be dressed when he gets home if possible!

Update on the update: He didnt really say the phrase "kind of gal" I kindof paraphrased that!

A 10 Interesting Things About Yourself Meme...

Okay, dont know if anyone will respond or want to pick up this tag but if you do here goes...

This is 10 Interesting Things About Yourself Meme...


1. Who is the person you you most want to meet at this time of your life?

I probably think the person I would like to meet the most is Michelle Dugger. I know that sounds weird but I think if I would meet her than I would really get a feel for who she is. I see her on TV and I read their book but I just want to sit down and talk with them! I know that is silly!

2. Where in the world would you most like to visit?

I know this is what everyone says but, for me it's true I want to see everything. I might have some place listed higher than others but I still want to see the other places!

On the top of my list would probably be...Paris, Rome, London. I want to see specifically the pyramids in Egypt, the Cliffs of Dover, Åkershus Castle in Norway, Victoria Falls in Africa

okay this could go on for a while! Oh I want to go to Alaska!

3. What has been the most life-changing experience you've ever had?

The birth of Kaitlin. I grew up.

4. What is the most spontaneous thing you've you ever done?

wow, thinking! I am not very spontaneous because I love planning! So I guess the most spontaneous thing I have ever done is...I really cant think of one. If you know me IRL please let me know something I have done!

5. Who's had the biggest influence on your life?

Well lots of people have influenced me in how I live and the choices I make

but if I break it down to what their influence would bring about in my life it would be

Joanie- who showed me home schooling as a lifestyle

Margie- who told me saving my self did not just include the act of sex.

Because of these two women's influence I home school and my husband

is the first and only boy I ever kissed!

6. What thing that you haven't yet done would you most like to do? (in no particular order)

TRAVEL

pay off all debt

buy an RV

lost my weight

become more organized

have a stronger relationship with God

7. What is the best quality about yourself?

I think that I usually try to be kind, I try to be loyal, I try to think of others. People might tell you different qualities that they see in me? I also try to be honest.

8. From which person have you learned most in your life?

Probably my mom. I dont have to go far these days but I always have question for her. How do you do this? What do you think about? Hey what do you do when....

9. What historical figure do you most identify with?

I have NO idea.

10. What kind of music do you like?

MOST kinds, it would be easier to say what music I dont like.

which is rap, jazz and blues

TAG YOU ARE IT...

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

Please read the words carefully... this was sent to my by a man. Hmmm.

Saving the world, one date rape drug at a time..

So catchy title huh!

Anyway I get a call from my niece this morning... she wants to tell me what she has decided to do for her home school science project this year. She is hysterical and I cannot understand her plan besides she needed to use a thermometer...

So my sister gets on the phone to translate!

My niece was "watching" Good Morning America this morning and one
of the segments were on
"If you saw someone slip something in a girls drink would you say something..."

WEll Kirsten evidently paid attention...

She told Amy that she wants to make a 'tester' so that girls can test their own drinks so the boys cant make them sleep in their bed!

So my niece wants to invent the first ever over the counter date rape drug tester!

She will eventually save humanity!

It shall have to be replaced...

Okay, I sadly have nothing to say today! I have tons of posts that I have in my head but I need my CAMERA for them! I have updates, activities, things I did but I need pics for all of them! So today will be a post to tell you the good news...

When dh gets his
I am going here

or here

to get myself this...

because this is the same camera I had

and I like it and it is

Good, Better or the Best.....

I do not often link back to other people's blogs for an entire post but today...I am!

I read the Keeper of the Home almost everyday. She is personally inspiring! I feel like so many of things I WANT to do she is already doing and might possibly help me to put those things into place in my own home life. I too want to not just be a mom, wife, school teacher...I want to be a keeper of the home. I feel those words line up directly with the Proverbs 31 women, whom I aspire to be! Trust when I say I am no where near that, but if there is a path than I am somewhere in the vicinity of the way to the path!

Anyhoo! I read her post today and it is part of a series about SIMPLICITY...

I am craving simplicity. I am almost desperate for it. There are many things I do in my life because I think I should or I think it is good. Well in in today's post she reminds me that...sometimes doing the good things dont leave room for the best thing. Hmmm.

I am not a quitter and I certainly DO NOT jump into situation lightly. I am just not that kind of person. I pray, think, talk it through, think some more...you get the picture. I am telling you that about myself so that you wont think I am just one of those women who start stuff and dont finish it. I detest those women--- not just the ones who quit something but the ones who do it again and again and again (without good reason). You know!

So to say the least I do not want to be one of those women so I usually finish whatever I start! Well I am doing the same this year, I have started with activities that are good or even great..but they are not the BEST for my family.

Needless to say I will not be doing this again! Well you know for a few months anyway!

I have at different points of my life thought I learned the lesson about saying NO, but I always seem to need to learn it again! I thought this year was different because I wasnt asked to participate in said activities, I volunteered---by myself after talking with dh and praying! So I thought I was doing the right thing.

No I want to make it clear that I am not burnt out. I did not take on too much! I just feel like I took on the wrong activities? If they were different activities that I felt were the best fit I might feel differently! But it is not burn out, it is a bad fit!

So after talking to dh, we have decided that in one area I would back down and do what I needed to do in order to keep my commitments and in another activity I would remain just as active and simply finish out the year. I am okay with this decision. I am good with that.

What remains to be seen though is when other opportunities arise... and they will, how do I know if they are good or the best???

Any thoughts????

Fitness Friday...

Okay it is Fitness Friday! Brenda over at the Family Revised has given us our assignment! It is what makes us feel good. Well I really, really had to think about this! Not because I didnt have an answer right off the top of my head. I just felt like it was the wrong answer!

The right answer:

fruits and vegetables
water
exercises

The answer I thought of was:

food

Now I understand that is serious and part of the reason that I am as overweight as I am! I know that but it doesnt change the fact. I mean lets keep it real, does carrots and cabbage next to a whole wheat roll beside a glass of water make you feel good or does a slice of steaming hot pizza and an ice cold rootbeer make you feel good?

So I am all aware of the fact that a reason I am overweight is cuz I really like food. BUT...

what has been making me feel really good lately is not a food choice or drink choice. It is not eggs for breakfast or nuts and cheese for a snack but it is also not the mongolian beef and eggroll I had for dinner!

It is that I made a good choice. It is not THE choice...it is that I made a good choice.

Good choices made me feel GOOD.

So on to my new plan to help me make good choices! I have adjusted my "diet" plan. I have come up with a new one. The only rule involves a choice.

It is called EAT THIS OR EAT THAT....

Have you seen that book, they show you a page with that and than show you this and it is the same calories, fat etc but it is TONS more food. Now remember what is making me feel good lately is making a good choice so I am playing my own version of this or that. And IT is working for me! Yesterday morning I could have had waffles or eggs and waffles. Well I had half a waffle (yummy) and a whole egg!

GOOD CHOICE.

Or for lunch I could have a hamburger and french fries and dietcoke or I could stay home and have a grilled turkey and cheese sandwich on sourdough.

GOOD CHOICE.

Now I know that my choices are actually the best diet choice but it is the better of the two options given to me. It means I am making better choices. That is progress baby!

Um... can creativity please come out to play...

I am a very creative person, I love unit studies or themes of any kind! When I am given a theme to work with I am just happy! I know that sounds silly but it's true. I feel like I have kind of shut down that part of me and I just let it come out to play for certain events.

Well I have come to the very obvious conclusion that this is part of my problem! I put myself in a box- I just guess I didnt think I could get out of it!

Well I am lettin' all kinds to "me" out to play. I have devised a plan! I shoved all my school books in their OWN little box!- minus math which they will do daily and possible phonics (still wiggle room on that)

We are officially starting our fairy tale/ princess/ knight unit study. The kids voted and this one won hands down!

I am putting it together today and will tweak it I am sure in the next few days but I feel really good and the kids seem really excited!

We begin today by starting the book The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Wintrop.

We also begin coloring the card stock walls of the toilet paper castle that we are going to put together...

I got a ton of books from the library!

I plan to incorporate:

Bible

character training
spelling words

writing exercises

crafts

activities

books

movies

history

FUN, FUN and some more FUN

Also as my big thing I am starting the curriculum for the Princess Kiss and the Squire and the Scroll. I have the books, color book for each child and the lesson plans for each book. I am very, very excited about this. I have had it for quite a while but I just kept not doing in because of my BOX!

So thank you Jennifer- for inspiring me and reminding me to be creative and myself!

So thank you Brenda- for many, many idea and also encouragement!

So thank you Amy for helping me to talk it out and work it out!

and thank you Texan Mama- for not being a home school mom, you sure had great idea and I am incorporating the Teach ME day with the kids!

Oh and DH= thank you for letting me "change" stuff even though I told you when I bought my stuff that this was really, really, really what I wanted...I really had researched it!


So if you see any Damsels in distress over reading or Knights who need to know how to spell chivalry... send them to my castle!