The Simple Woman

FOR TODAY July 28, 2008

Outside My Window...I am looking out my front window and admiring the trees along the riverbed. I can also see part of the desert with the mountains in the backgroud.

I am thinking...It is nice to have all my children home. One was in Australia for two weeks. Two were at camp last week.

I am thankful for...my husband's health. You will see why when you see the photo I am sharing.

From the kitchen...not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.

I am wearing...a sassy red top, denim capris, and bling flip flops.

I am creating...a list of things that need to be done before my college roommate arrives with her children tomorrow.

I am going...for a swim and a walk tonight. Maybe the walk first and then the swim.

I am reading...I am playing catch up with magazines this week.

I am hoping...that the homeschool year goes smoothly this year.

I am hearing...my daughter Jessica tapping (tap dancing that is, with her bear feet).

Around the house...Things are quiet. It is quiet time. Three are quietly watching a cartoon, two are sleeping (my youngest is two, my oldest just went from winter to summer and her body is not liking it), one is tapping, and I just heard a train go by.

One of my favorite things...having lunch with my mom. I got to do that today.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Missy and her daughters arrive tomorrow. We are planning to hang out around the pool. A couple of the kids have dance rehersal during the day. Farmer's Market is Thursday. The National Catholic Family Conference is this weekend. We are really looking forward to going to that as a family.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...My husband was a passenger in this car. He was injured the worst. He endured three back surgeries in three years. He is finally back to work, Praise God!

She is home!

Ok, not quite. She has landed safely at LAX. She said that Saturday, July 26, 2008 is a day she is going to remember for a long time. She saw the sun come up twice today. Once in Sydney and once over the Pacific Ocean.

She also arrived before she left. Her flight left Sydney at 1:25pm. She landed at LAX at 1pm.

I am so glad that she is home. I can't wait to hear about her experiences at World Youth Day and at the sightseeing that she was able to do.

Praise God that she was able to make the pilgrimage and that she returned home safely.

Last day of my vacation

Today is the last day of my vacation.

We went on vacation July 10-16. It wasn't a vacation for me. When you are in a hotel, it seems like keeping track of everything for everyone gets that much harder. I am not sure why. You are in a more confined space. Then, moving on to Grandma and Grandpa's house, you have the same thing as with a hotel, but there are different rules that our family is not used to.

So, Jessica and Deanna left for camp on July 20th. Theresa is still in Australia having been to World Youth Day. There are three children left at home. We have been having a very relaxed week. We have gone swimming, cleaned out the girls' closet, taken evening walks, and went to a Rosary BBQ for fellowship and prayer, and some bouncing (in the bounce house).

The dance studio is closed this week for a dance convention.

Today all that is on my list of things to do, besides cooking, is laundry. I think that we will take a swim later in the afternoon and then after dinner, it will be time for another walk.

Theresa's plane arrives tomorrow afternoon. I have no idea how long going through customs will take. I don't expect her until dinnertime. Then Sunday morning we go to pick up Jessica and Deanna.

I am enjoying the quiet and my vacation. By Sunday everyone will be home and the house will be full and noisy again.

The Simple Woman 7/21/08

July 21, 2008

Outside My Window...I just watched the garbage man pick up the garbage with my little guy. He was a little concerned when the recycle cans weren't picked up. I told him that a different guy would come around and get those.

I am thinking...of the things that I want to accomplish this week, there are quite a few.

I am thankful for...The Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Daughters #2 and 3 are up at camp this week. It is the same girls camp that I went to as a young girl and teenager.

From the kitchen...I have hard boiled eggs cooking.

I am wearing...still in my jammies. :)

I am creating...still working on my home journal.

I am going...nowhere this week. It is wonderful to think about. We were on vacation for two weeks and then we took two daughters to camp yesterday. The dance studio is closed for the week, so no one has to be anywhere. We are just going to enjoy being at home this week. I will make a run to the farmers market on Thursday.

I am reading...Surrender by Carmen Marcoux.

I am hoping...That I hear from daughter #1 who is still in Syndey after making a pilgrimage to World Youth Day.

I am hearing...I can hear my little guy watching Cars. It is summertime and his sisters are still sleeping. And, actually that is a good thing. On vacation their sleep patterns were horrible. They really need the sleep

Around the house...are blissfully quiet.

One of my favorite things...a nice cup of coffee in the morning.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Clean out girls' closet, register daughter #2 with Seton Home Study School, clean the floor of the soapy residue from when hubby "cleaned" the floors (I use a steam mop and he decided not to use it), straighten up office.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...(add your picture here)

This is my little guy (or my big strong boy) yucking it up for his sisters. He discovered a new trick a couple of weeks ago. He can get his foot into the seam in the sofa and get up on his head. As you can see this delighted his sister.

FOR TODAY July 7, 2008

Outside My Window...I can see shadows of late afternoon clouds on the mountains.

I am thinking...that I will miss my oldest while she is in Australia for World Youth Day.

I am thankful for...my children. I am constantly amazed at the gifts God has bestowed upon them. Lefty-big-eye plays the piano very well. Greg had her first singing lesson today. She has great pitch.

From the kitchen...I can hear George chanting a chant from Finding Nemo.

I am wearing...a chocolate brown t-shirt, denim capris, and borrowed flip flops from George.

I am creating...a home management journal.

I am going...to the high Sierra in a few days. It will be good to meet some of my husband's aunts and uncles...finally. We have been married for twenty years and there will still be some that I haven't met, even after the reunion

I am reading...a sweet Christian novel. Nice light reading.

I am hoping...that the World Youth Day trip is safe for all the youth gathering in Sydney and that the youth who are gathering have their hearts open to the Holy Spirit and that they heed His call.

I am hearing...my son digging around in a shopping bag that he should not be in.

Around the house...the kids are chatting. GM is trying to convince his sisters of something or other.

One of my favorite things...my new amethyst bracelet that Steve bought for me on our anniversary trip to La Jolla.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Help the girls work on some unfinished school work. I need to pack for myself and for the four youngest for the mountain trip.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

. My girls and I decided to go to Laura Ingraham's book signing earlier this year. I think it was during Spring Break. Laura made sure to say hello to each girl. She was amazed that I had five daughters. That earned us a photo on her website.