January 22 Throwback to 2014

 Facebook asks what is on my mind. Hmmm, let's see here. Everything. Nothing. Minute details that matter to no one but me. The prospect of a visit from an old friend. My mom leaving today. Wondering if Hercules got enough sleep last night to be safe at work today. Fretting over taking David to the doctor tomorrow for the cough that won't go away. Trying to remember what's for dinner tonight, and if I'll even have a chance to have any with all the Mama Taxi Running all be doing this evening. Being amazed that I found my homeschool confirmation letter from the current school year, and without spending 3 days looking for it. Appreciating my cozy home, faithful friends and silly sons. Reminding myself that I need to eat breakfast, take my supplements and take a shower before work so I really shouldn't be on FB right now. Wishing some hot tea would magically brew itself for my sipping pleasure. Feeling guilty that I am behind in my morning Bible study. Being thankful for the kind words of a dear friend from yesterday. You know, normal stuff.

So there you have it, the jumbled ramblings of my mind at 6:45 am. Better scoot.

Happy Wednesday everyone! Wow, the difference 7 years makes. And then again, not so much.

Random Thoughts

I am heading to bed early tonight, following the advice that every hour of sleep before midnight is worth two after 12.

But first, three things.

1. My hair is long enough for the sprout hairstyle again, I NEED a haircut!

2. I have amazing, encouraging, marvelous co-workers who spread joy wherever they go.

3. The sun broke through this afternoon after 3 days of clouds and drizzle, and it was GLORIOUS!

#SproutHairDontCare

Hi Friends!

Howdy Howdy Howdy! Just zipping past the iPad on my way somewhere else, but I have been missing blogging, so I am going to start working it back into my self care routine, as it’s a little something that is just for me and brings me great pleasure. Plus, it is free! 

Here is to seeing you all here more often. 

  ~Mama K~ 

A Day in the Life at the Man Crew House

Hey Everyone! In the interest of not going another 6-8 weeks without a post, I'm just popping by to say hi and Happy Monday. Today was a whirlwind of activity that looked a little like this.
6am: Up and At 'em. Dan off to work with a full belly and a tasty lunch packed.
7am: Back to bed just to warm my toes
8:30am: Oops, apparently I fell back to sleep. With 2 nights of 9+ hours of sleep under my belt, one would think this would not be a problem. However, since I average 5, the extra sleep was but a small dent in the deficit. :)
9am: Everyone except Dad is up, dressed, fed and started on their chore/school lists. Mom and I plan meals for the week, belatedly start making Easter dinner plans and review the contents of the freezer.
10:30am: Where did the morning go? Busy busy busy, and feels like I'm getting nothing done. Sit down to some concentrated school time with Derek.
11:30am: Time for lunch, which today consists of leftover chicken tacos, wahoo chili dip with nachos. Not bad for leftovers. Watched an educational movie about presidents 11-25. I learned a LOT. Kinda embarrassing. hee hee. Dinner in the crock pot and simmering away.
1pm: Back to school. D working on math, P working on grammar and then math, DT painting a picture, reading books with me and playing outside a bit.
2pm: Whoa, already? Time to be out the door for some errands, meeting Jodi early at the library for some shop talk, and being ready for tutoring. After a flurry of activity, I'm out the door. Paid the rent, picked up a Sonic Raspberry tea (during happy hour, of course) and headed to the library to turn in all the books we've neglected to turn in since the move.
3pm: Meet with Jodi, meet new tutor joining the crew, and set up for working with the kiddos. So far, all the kids I have only need 'supervision' not real tutoring, so I'm good with that. : )
3:30-5:30pm Tutor, supervise, remind them to work, nag nag nag, play Fluxx with them as the finish up. They all like it a lot.
5:30-6:30pm: I *intended* to get some things done while still at the library, but Negative Nancy (young adult librarian) decided to yak my ear off for quite some time, after my last kiddo got picked up late. So, didn't accomplish a THING there. Oh well
6:30pm: Head for home, eat dinner, prepare to go pick up David from gym. Grma to the rescue, and went to pick him up. HURRAY!
8pm: Settled on the couch next to hubby, adding pics to old blog entries, digging through old emails looking for a link to a 'how-to' blog post about making your own liquid soap, and just enjoying a few minutes of downtime.
8:45pm David back with Grma, along with groceries and a new pool stick. : ) He's testing it right now.
Rest of the evening *should* look a little like this...
9pm: Kiddos to bed
10pm: Another early night for us old fogies. Sounds good to this tired mama. Good night everyone!

Just a Random Picture Post

Sometimes, ya just gotta post some pics. No big story behind them, just random life snapshots. So enjoy.
It's amazing what passes for entertainment around here sometimes, LOL! Pat was being a robber with an mandarin oranges mesh bag on his head, what goose!

Dan has been polishing up a storm for his gas pump project. SO SO shiney!

Story time before nap time. Derek isn't 'really' reading yet, but he loves to read a story to Mr. T before he goes down for a nap.

And here is Mr. T, sleeping with the fishes. : ) Yes, I know I'm a dork. I can't help myself.

Sand Art. Derek has been looking forward to this project for quite some time. And we FINALLY made it this week, hurray!!

Wildy Exciting Week

This week has been a plethora of super highs and extreme lows. Let's see how quickly we can cover them, shall we? I always feel bullet journalling does the trick, so here we go....

• Dad and Mom will be OFFICIALLY retired at the end of this week and are coming soon for an extended visit (HURRAY) but Ellyn won't be with them as previously planned (BOO)
• We ARE moving...not sure if that's the good part or the bad part. Both I guess...I don't really want to move, but I am working at finding the good points, like living in a neighborhood again so the boys can make some new friends.
• We found kittens in the wall...yes, really and the boys and I fell in love with them instantly, but we did the right thing and gave them back to the mama. I miss them already.
• My Best friend Liz is having a terrible time with her oldest daughter and while I REALLY wish I was in IL so I could 'do something'...I know that I'm better off here caring for my family right now, plus the learning to trust God to handle things is a lesson I need to learn over and over...and over *sigh* I'm so stubborn.
• Dan and 'Shua are finally one week away from finishing up the side job and will have weekends to relax again...HURRAY! So, they took on another one...LOL! Someday, the two of them will learn to relax : )
• Game night went well for it's first 'pizza free' night and everyone still seems to love me : ) I enjoyed the extra free time, but missed pizza. However, I really enjoyed having pizza for just us on Saturday. However, that single batch of dough looked soooo small and lonely in the big bowl...LOL!
• School is going well...and there IS no downside to that : ) As Jodi's days are freeing up, she's coming more and more for school and we are FLYING through the MFW curriculum, and the 3Rs are coming along nicely as well. It's good : )
• Another bonus, we haven't caught a mouse in almost a week and I'm seeing no evidence of them hiding somewhere. HURRAY HURRAY HURRAY!!!

I guess that covers most of them, so this one turned out shorter than I thought it would be. Yeah! Signing off before I make it any longer...hee hee!
~K~

Just Sayin'

I added this neat~o feature at the bottom of my posts, it recommends some others that you might like. I don't know about anyone else...but I'm really enjoying reading through some of my older posts. : ) Just sayin'
~K~

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... June 1st, 2009... (my, this year is flying by!)
Outside my window...the clear blue sky overlooks a balmy 70 degrees with a cool breeze, but not for long as we are headed to the mid 90s today
I am thinking...that at 8:30, it's already been along day... ha ha
I am thankful for...bread already baked so I don't have to heat up the kitchen today
From the learning rooms...this is the LAST week of school, a few lingering worksheets, a projects or two that needs wrapping up and excitement over summer trips and activities
From the kitchen…nothing so far, but for dinner...catfish, rice and broccoli, YUM~O
I am wearing…Olive drab cargo pants, a pink and brown printed t shirt, and my new favorite item, pink and brown polka dotted converse...so cool! Hair is back in barrettes cascading down my back, but only until it gets hots, then up it goes!
I am creating…organized shelves, letters to friends and family, and healthy food for my family, despite 'Shua's objections, he will get the hang of healthy eating..he WILL
I am going...to pick up VBS kiddos, to work tonight and maybe to the library, time to start stocking up on summer reading materials
I am reading...The Reaper's Song by Lorraine Snelling, Bible, Homeschool material catalogs and food labels with 'Shua
I am hoping...that this last week of school is as productive as I need it to be...and that work goes smoothly this week, last week's drama NEEDS to be over.
I am hearing...the washer and dryer working hard to get our clothes clean, the big boys playing with the baby (middle boys are at VBS) birds chirping and the random thoughts tumbling in my head
Around the house...much to do, even though the house is tidy. A bathroom to S&S, boys rooms to inspect, laundry to fold and letters to write.
One of my favorite things...A clean house on a Monday morning...it's a nice feeling to start the week ahead of the game, not behind.
A few plans for the rest of the week…wrapping up school, sending Dan off to Hurley for the rest of the week, working 4 nights, the return of game night, and finding some extra time to read, scrap or sew this week....been missing my ME time.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...me with my cool tennies! Just to prove that I do, in fact, exist...LOL!

This post is written in response to the call for simplicity by Miss Peggy at http://www.thesimplewomansdaybook.com/ Check it out!

Catching up with us MeYeR's

Greetings from HOT and SUNNY New Mexico! The temps have stayed in the high 90s all week with overnight lows in the low 70s...I do believe that summer has arrived!! We actually got some rain this week, bring much needed moisture to town and cooler weather at least while it was raining...ha ha! It's been another buys week at the MeYeR/Bean/Starnes house, with MUCH coming and going. Dan and 'Shua left for Hurley early Tuesday after an enjoyable 4 day weekend since they are working 4 days a week in Hurley. The boys, Jodi and I put the house back together after one too many days of enjoying ourselves and not being diligent about house work and by early afternoon, things were back to the way they should be looking. Dan and I decided over the weekend that David and Patrick are now responsible for ALL the dishes...let the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth begin! They did rather well and have fallen into a nice routine. Pat does the breakfast dishes alone, David does the lunch dishes alone and at dinner time, they work together and sometimes James helps, too. It has taken a large burden off of me and I surely appreciate Dan reminding me that they are old enough to help more than occasionally. Jodi had a full week of Dr appts, errands to run and misc appointments that kept her on the go most of the week, but I think she is starting to enjoy being at home. Back to the coming and going...when I got home from work on Tuesday, the van was parked out front and after hearing about fist fights and layoffs during last week's work week, I was a bit apprehensive...and when I realized that 'Shua was not home, I was truly concerned...WHAT WAS GOING ON?? So I ever so gently woke Dan up at 2:30 AM by snapping on the light and demanding to know where my child was...Ha ha ha! Poor Dan, he was kind enough to explain that 'Shua was still in Hurley working and that Wooten had called Dan back to work in town this week. So I relaxed and Dan had a good laugh at my paranoid behavior and then went back to bed. So I enjoyed having Dan around in the afternoons before I had to head to work. Since I had to work Friday, there was no game night and everyone really missed it but sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do! I worked M, T, W, and F this week and actually I am supposed to work tonight but I called in and begged off, I need a break~ So we are taking all the boys to the race track tonight to watch the minis race. 'Shua arrived safely home courtesy of the supervisor who lives here in town and we were glad to have him home again. Dan and he spent a happy part of the evening looking up dune buggy tires and then ordering one as a continually flat tire has been the fly in the ointment of their happy trailblazing hours...LOL! I spent Friday afternoon playing counselor for some friends, and although I though I had a bit of success, they are still not quite right, so I may have to try again...of course, them actually LISTENING to me might help a bit more...ha ha ha! And that brings us to today...and I am enjoying my afternoon, it's actually almost quiet in here! Jodi had the boys write a short report about how 3D glasses work this week and then took them to see the movie UP in 3D as 'research' and a reward for their hard work...we've been working on Internet research and they all worked hard. We are going to push hard for one more week and then school will be out for the summer. We've done our required amount of days but have a few last lingering worksheets to wrap up and a project or two that needs finishing. We will continue to read and write and think over the summer, I'll probably even insist to Mom and Dad that Pat do the same as he spends time with them this summer. Speaking of Pat's travels, he is flying to IL on the 20th of June with Lauren...return date unknown, he's actually pushing to stay until the wedding in Sept, but that's a REALLY long time for a 10 year old to be away from home. Anywho...back to coming and going, Dan is staying in town again for at least part of the week and 'Shua is headed to Hurley early Monday morning...so we shall see how this week pans out. I have another long week of work ahead and then the next week...nothing, so I'm hoping this week will pass quickly and we can start enjoying a non-working week...yeah! Well this is long and random so I'm about done, but a picture and a parting thought...

This is what Dan found after one of the rain showers this week...

God is Good, ALL the time and just because we forget doesn't mean he falls off His throne! : )

Have a great week and be blessed! Many Hugs, Kristy and the Man Crew

Busy, Busy, BUSY!! ...and other random thoughts

This has been a busy week...with all the holiday stuff going on, preparing for visitors, last minute shopping, Jodi's handbell concerts, a birthday party for Devin, working 3 nights, (all of them late nights) Christmas baking...(yummy!) and all the regular stuff...church, AWANAs, school, taking care of the house, kids, hubby and friends...Christmas sure is a busy time! Anywho...I decided to take time to write my Christmas letter this week, and it turned out great if I do say so myself. Those of you who actually know me and are held near and dear to my heart, expect yours in the mail soon. We also got new carpet today, so all the hustle and bustle of emptying 3 VERY FULL bedrooms and closets to make room for that added to the FUN that was yesterday. My 35th b-day is coming up next week and it's throwing me for a loop...feels like I should have done something marlevous, fantastic, earth shaking or life altering with myself by now...but then as I look at the happy faces of my kiddos and Dan..I remember that I AM, have been and will continue to be doing something fantastic, wonderful and life altering with myself. We are all getting anxious about Mom and Dad coming...they will be here next Sunday...Woo Hoo! 7 months is WAY too long! I have a very busy work schedule next week and I may just call in a night or two...Kohl's will go on without me. Not really sure what this next week holds...probably as much school as I can squeeze in, some extra sleep for the boys, more baking...zucchini bread anyone?, more Christmas specials on TV, bunches of sorting boxes after dragging everything out and deciding once again that we have WAY too much stuff, and some good family time. OK, this really is a random blog...so random that it;'s getting on my nerves, so I will sigh off and come back later when it's not 2:30 in the morning and I'm 3/4 asleep.
Love to all!!
Kristy