Wordless Wednesday

The day after my birthday Daybook

Outside my window: Sunny and 91 degrees with a high of 94

I am listening to: my summer playlist! My awesome birthday present from Ryan was a speaker system for my iphone! Thanks, hon!

I am thankful: that Rayzor is acting like himself more and more every day. It makes me feel so grateful when he is laughing at jokes, and yelling at the boys like he used to! I'm also thankful for our new counter/shelf/cabinet that Ryan's grandfather, Pap, custom built for us and installed on Saturday...thanks Pap!

I am pondering: "The perfection of souls, and the degree of excellence to which they have attained, can be gauged by their fidelity to the order established by God."~~Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ

I am reading: small steps for catholic moms by Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Foss

From the kitchen: Pasta

I am thinking: My mind is still swirling from the past weeks, but it isn't as bad as last week. Right now I am thinking about when I have to leave to pick up the girls and their friends from VBS. I'm also thinking about writing another birthday post like I did last year, a kind of recap from the past year. Maybe at naptime or later tonight or tomorrow or...???

I have created: I took part in creating a FUN Great American Backyard Campout! The girls especially had a great time. Thanks to E for coming and helping so much!!! Love you!!

On my ipod: my summertime playlist has been playing a lot! There is a little of everything on there from Led Zeppelin to Jack Johnson.

Toward a living education: Now that Rayzor is feeling better, we need to get back into a regular routine. Perhaps after this week.

Beauty in the home: Ryan did a lot of cleaning, while I did some de-cluttering on Saturday for our party. I am working on laundry today!

The Domestic Church: The girls are going to Vacation Bible School this week!

I am hoping and praying: for Rayzor to continue to heal especially on Thursday when he is getting his stitches out, for my father-in-law who is at the ER right now for some pain in his arm, and to continue praying for patience for Ryan and I and patience for the kids

In the garden: continue cleaning up the backyard from Saturday

One of my favorite things: hearing Rayzor laughing

The Baby this week: rolling over from belly to back! And lots of smiles and sounds!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Picking up the girls and their friends from VBS, my Mom's birthday on Wednesday! Rayzor's appointment on Thursday. We are unsure as to what to do this week-end: Option 1: stay home and pick up incubator to hatch chicks (a program for homeschoolers...don't worry we don't keep the chicks...at least I don't think so!) and go to a pool picnic on Sunday afternoon. Option 2: head to the Eastern Shore for some Park Questing

Picture thoughts to share:

Great American Backyard Campout

Joz at her first A meet

This is a video done by our friend Dave! Thanks Dave!

Baby MC - 13 weeks old!

OHC Summer Series #1: Mosquitoes and World of Smell

We picked up Barb's new e-book and got started on our summer outdoor hour challenges tonight. We turned it into a lightning bug and tv tag challenge as well! I really enjoyed the time spent outside. We went out right around sunset, it was about 8:15 pm and stayed out until 9 pm. Lovely! Check out more at Handbook of Nature Study

Summer Mantel

A glimpse at our summer mantel. Craft idea by teach mama.

Baby MC - 12 weeks old!

The longest day of the year Daybook

Outside my window: A HOT! 88 degrees

I am listening to: the song on the blog from Little Miss Sunshine, kids asking for Rita's, and the whir of the baby monitor

I am thankful: last week I was thankful that Rayzor didn't have appendicitis...boy was that wrong!!! The dr. we saw last Saturday misdiagnosed his symptoms and I took him to the ER on Thursday and he did have a burst appendix that required immediate surgery. So today I am thankful that Rayzor is home and healing well! I am also thankful for Dr. Wasson who ordered the cat scan at the hospital, and Dr. Schaefer who performed the surgery.

I am pondering: "Take shelter under Our Lady's mantle, and do not fear. She will give you all you need. She is very rich, and besides is very generous with her children. She loves giving."~~Blessed Raphaela Maria

I am reading: small steps for catholic moms by Danielle Bean & Elizabeth Foss

From the kitchen: Ham and Pineapple in Foil from the Joy of Camping

I am thinking: My mind is a swirl of swimming schedules for the girls, Rayzor's schedules of medicines, drinks, food, walking, dressing changes, showers, and baby's schedules of napping and eating.

I have created: a craft idea that the kids are working on right now

On my ipod: Angry Birds passed the time in the hospital

Toward a living education: Ryan said they could take off the first day of summer!

Beauty in the home: Continue with my cleaning to-do list. Did the bathrooms today!

The Domestic Church: I'm checking out Jessica's Summer with the Saints post. Perhaps when things settle down a bit!

I am hoping and praying: for Rayzor to heal quickly, patience for Ryan and I, patience for the children, and for Ryan and I to be able to meet all of the children's needs.

In the garden: Filling in the raised bed with soil and plants, and lots of watering!

One of my favorite things: Dr. Wasson said "Never trust a patient. They never go by the book."

The Baby this week: I feel like I haven't bonded with her in a while. I know she feels it, too, because she woke up at 3 am last night and she hasn't done that in weeks. I'm going to make a point to get down on the floor with her more this week and "play" together!

A few plans for the rest of the week: besides nursing Rayzor back to health, Josie has swim team all week (thanks to M for taking her!), B-Rad and Seany have swim lessons, Rayzor has a follow-up appt. with the surgeon on Thursday morning, Mass Friday morning, Mass Saturday morning, Soccer registration Saturday afternoon, and as long as Rayzor is still healing more and more every day, we are still planning on having our Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday night, and my 34th birthday is Sunday!

Picture thoughts to share:

Hooray!

For Summery Arts and Crafts!

OHC Spring Series #6: Black Raspberries

We were supposed to study an apple tree this week, but I let the kids take the reins on this study and we ended up at a u-pick farm, picking black raspberries that are in season. If you want to see some studies on apple trees, go check out Barb's blog Handbook of Nature Study!