Our Spring Break

We are back from a great Spring break trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We love being only five hours away! Our family REALLY loves the beach, especially my ex-Navy hubby. We had both my parents and my mother-in-law along for the trip, although not all in one condo. We spent time on the beach, at the pool, bike riding, shopping and just enjoying life. It was a well needed and much anticipated vacation.

C-Sunshine enjoying the sun on her face and the breeze through her hair. Can't you just smell the ocean?

K-Doodle in the "surf" trying to jump all those waves. She loved the beach and playing in the ocean until she spied a dead jelly fish! Then it was, "Can we go to the pool?"

This is an alligator we saw sunning himself by the water close to the golf course. There were a lot of alligators around where we stayed. Did you know it's a $1000 fine to feed alligators in SC?

My talented hubby took this photo of a seagull on the beach (as well as all the rest on this post).

We had a great time and can't wait to go back next year. But we did miss our cousins!

Happy Spring!

You Are Kids Playing

You are a free spirited soul. More than anything else, you are often just happy to be alive. You are always laid back and cheerful. You enjoy whatever happens to come your way. You are spontaneous and zany. You're the kind of adult who still runs through the sprinklers. You don't take life too seriously. You try to have fun at all times, even when you're working.

What Part of Spring Are You?

My Shamrock Test

Your Shamrock Says You Are Level-Headed

You are brilliant, analytical, and somewhat of a perfectionist. You are ultra competent and knowledgeable. At times, people find you intimidating. You can be a bit sarcastic and harsh. You don't really consider yourself a lucky person. In your view, people create their own luck. You are creative, innovative, and complicated. You definitely have a unique spin on the world.

The Shamrock Personality Test
What Shamrock personality are you? Happy St. Pat's Day!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Prayer of Saint Patrick

Christ be with me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ with me in quiet times
Christ with me in dangerous times
Christ in the hearts of all who love me
Amen

In celebration of the life of Saint Patrick, we will be making a rainbow craft to remind us of God's promise and love for us. We will be having a crock pot Shepherd's Pie for dinner along with Grasshopper Pie for dessert. Wishing all of you a very Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

What Makes A Home

When we relocated to Georgia, we decided to lease until our home sold in Illinois. Well, through God's grace, our house sold in just nine days! We have been struggling with trying to become settled in the home we are leasing (which is a nice home), simply because we don't "own" it. We have looked at houses, but are hesitant to purchase with today's market and economy. This drives me to the question of What Makes A Home? Is it the actual walls of the home or what is happening on the inside? I do know the answer to that question. I am just reaffirming our decision to wait out our lease (of two years) and spend my time making this house our "home" and give Joy to my family; Concentrating on my family from the inside out. Concentrating on developing the character of my girls (and myself) from the inside out....... not a bad plan at all.

A Lenten Home Blessing

During Lent I like to try and take stock of our home and clean out the clutter. Because we just moved, it's more like rearranging the clutter and finding the things we need. Although we could still donate one third of our "stuff". After visiting Elizabeth, I have shamelessly swiped her list of things to do during Lent and made it my own in the hopes of establishing peace and order in our home. What to come along on the journey?

Our Lenten Home Blessing

March 9th: Main Desk
March 10th: Girls Bathroom
March 11th: Hall Closet/Foyer
March 12th: Linen Closet
March 13th: Learning Room
March 14th: Laundry Closet
March 15th: Sunday
March 16th: Hallway and Steps
March 17th: Entrance and Closet
March 18th: Office Closet
March 19th: Living Room
March 20th: Craft Shelves
March 21st: Storage shelves
March 22nd: Sunday
March 23rd: Scrapbook/Crafting Area
March 24th: Baseboards
March 25th: Windows
March 26th: Master Bathroom Drawers and Cabinets
March 27th: Kitchen
March 28th: Bonus Room
March 29th: Sunday
March 30th: Pantry
March 31st: Freezer
April 1st: Refrigerator
April 2nd: Drawers
April 3rd: Cabinets
April 4th: Paschal Baskets and Clean Garbage Cans
April 5th: Sunday
April 6th: Master Bedroom
April 7th: Master Closet
April 8th: Garage
April 9th: Clean Bedding
April 10th: Clean Car
April 11th: Plant Spring Flower Pots
April 12th: Easter

Happy Week!

Small Successes Week Two for Me

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1 - I began a Bible Study to help me focus more on Him during this Lenten season. I have also gotten up an hour earlier to do the study before the girls get up. This is a BIGGIE for me as I like my sleep. :)

2 - I made dinner each night this week. I am working towards getting a better handle on menu planning and including whole foods in our diet.

3 - I spent time playing with K-Doodle this week and doing some special Mommy and Me reading time alone with her. I would like to expand on this with each girlie. I would write more, but I am only suppose to write successes here. I am struggling a bit this week. Can you tell?

A Day at Imagine It! - Atlanta

We recently went to a "Homeschool Day" at the Imagine It! Children's Museum in Atlanta. Overall, I thought the museum was worth the money and a lot of fun. There are activities for the very young as well as the upper elementary age to do. There is a large section where the children are involved in an assembly line to transfer colored balls up the conveyor belt, through this and that, to the crane to be sent down the track to start the process all over again. My girls had a blast doing this. They also had a very cute play (well acted) and two educational classes. We look forward to going again.

Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

For Today...

Outside my window... rays of sunshine, trees with no leaves and the absence of the white stuff.

I am thinking...a busy week ahead with homeschool activities. The weeks end will bring a special visit with a dear old friend from highschool. I am really looking forward to reminiscing with her.

From the learning rooms... I am still thinking about next year's curriculum and adding to this years Language Art's. Looking into creative writing. I am also trying to pump up the fun for my now six year old to make her Kindergarten experience more fun and creative.

I am thankful for...My oldest daughter Amber. She is such a joy to talk to and has grown into such a wonderful person. What a priveledge to be her mother.

From the kitchen... tonight we will hot chilli from the crock-pot with cheese and crackers. For desert will be some of that great organic fresh fruit with whipped cream! Yum!

I am wearing... red snow flake PJ's and white socks.

I am reading... Psalms bible study by Beth Moore.

I am hoping... that I can get the house together this week and do some serious spring cleaning. I am also hoping that we find our niche in our new town.

I am creating... more scrapbooking going on this week. I am going to be updating school scrapbooks for both C-Sunshine and beginning one for K-Doodle.

I am hearing... my little girls playing cards together on the floor beside me.

Around the house... Laundry, cleaning and prep for a new sofa being delivered today!

One of my favorite things... the smell of fresh baked bread!

A few plans for the rest of the week... gymnastics class, booth sales for girl scouts, girl scout meeting, library day and lots of outside play.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Domino Creation by C-Sunshine!

In Like A Lion.........

What's this?...Snow in Georgia? I thought when we left Illinois that we had left the snow behind. Well, I was wrong. We got about 6 inches of the white stuff on this 1st day of March. We loved watching it fall and the best part of opening the door and listening to that sweet quiet snow sound. I love that! We spend the day inside enjoying the view, but we have no more snow pants and boots. It was a fun change. I do miss the snow......