{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Menu Planning Monday - September 26th

Monday: Beefy Taco casserole

Tuesday: Chicken and rice

Wednesday: Ravioli and salad

Thursday: Breakfast night (apple spice waffles, omelet, toast, etc)

Friday: Asian orange chicken, over rice with broccoli

Saturday: Pizza night (homemade)

Sunday: Chicken divan

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Where I'm From

This is writing exercise that one of my friends posted on her blog. The template I used was taken from another blog here.

Where I'm From

I am from the family television, the WWF and R/C cars.

I am from the the big white house that was an apartment, the blackberry bushes and walnut trees.

I am from the gladiolas and bleeding hearts, from the backyard flower bed.

I am from big Sunday morning breakfast and Christmas cookie trays, from Barbers, and Hunters, and Millers and Pavicks.

I am from the denial and addiction.

From Do as I say, Not as I do and If they jumped off a bridge, would you too?

I am from Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Agnostic. A do as you will, but don't preach to me mixture of beliefs.

I’m from the Finger Lakes region of New York, from Ireland, Wales, France, England, Germany, Italy and the unknown , of potatoes and cheese.

From the brother fooling us all about being shut in the car truck, but really climb in through seats that fold down to the backseat, and the dad taking us to swim lessons at the company pool every summer, with the every popular min golf course.

I am from photos and items in dusty boxes, scattered among the homes of various family, including my own, of hard drives and memories, more priceless any other possession I own.

Menu Planning Monday - September 19th

I can't believe it's almost autumn! And our dinners are taking a turn for the super easy lately, as well as warming us up. This week 2 out of 3 open houses at the kids school, plus a school dance. Let the hectic school days being!

Monday: Tomato soup and grilled cheese

Tuesday: Pasta with marinara sauce

Wednesday: Subs and chips

Thursday: Picnic at one of the kids open house nights (will supplement with healthy snacks at home, too)

Friday: leftover night

Saturday: Pizza and wing night (ordering in)

Sunday: Chicken divan, noodles, salad

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

It's been a chaotic life!

The title for my blog has been really on spot as of lately, as proven with my lack of posting on here.

Here's a quick run down on the last couple of weeks events

~Started painting the girls bedroom
~8 yo old's first horseback riding lesson
~Start of school (all kids are full day now)
~Rally day (start of the Sunday school year. This year I'm "in charge" of acolytes)
~First mid-week kids church group
~Restart of handbell choir (YAY!!), and decisions about joining choir
~More horseback riding for the 8 yr old
~Oldest started Lacrosse camp
~A meeting with a 3rd grade teacher

and coming up is 3 open houses (cause none of the kids attend the same school, of course), pictures days, first school dance of the year, more lacrosse, more horseback riding, thinking I should find something for Andrew if the girls get to do a sport each, knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, helping out at church when I can (fall rummage sale anyone?), looking for a job and trying to keep our home running smoothly with everyone's schedules being as hectic as they are

*Whew*

I promise to get back in this space posting more regularly. really... i mean it this time :)

Until then - i hope everyone is having a happy chaotic start to autumn!!

Menu Planning Monday - September 12th

Still getting into the routine of being back in school. This week, all our regular activities start back up too. Welcome fall!

Monday: Chicken and Rice

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday: Pasta night

Thursday: Chicken Divan

Friday: Leftovers/YOYO

Saturday: Lunch: Macaroni and cheese muffins
Supper: Homemade pizza night (and Doctor Who!)

Sunday: Gonna use the grill 1 more time before it gets too cold :)

School lunches:
The kids actually wanted school lunches for most of this week (and almost not at all next week), so for the 1 day the younger 2 are bringing, it's just your typical sandwiches, but we're going to turn the traditional PB&J into a PB&J sushi rolls

Menu Planning Monday - September 5th

So here we are, September already! Where did the time go this year?? This week the kids head back to school, and for the first time they all be gone for the full day. There is obviously a mixture of elation and sadness with this, but I'm going to go with the positive, and say "yeah" for all the housework i can finally get done that has been slacking over the summer months!

So, we had an unexpected heat wave over the weekend, and dinner's meal that my husband picked was move to Monday, for the holiday here in the states. Otherwise, just working on trying to get a nice routine going again before we get busy with all the after-school activities.

Getting to this a day late (was busy with all the back-to-school stuff yesterday to post), but here is how our week is going to shape up!

Monday (Labor Day) - Chicken-fried Steak with mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday - Chicken and rice

Wednesday - Pasta night

Thursday - Breaded chicken (baked), baked potato, salad

Friday - Vegetarian chicken nuggets and french fries (maybe the kids will stop begging for McDs)

Saturday - Homemade pizza (daiya cheese pizza for me)

Sunday - Slow cooker ham, scolloped potatoes, green beans.

School lunches. In trying to make sure the kids have healthier lunches then the standard lunch room fare each day, I'm going to be packing the kids lunches at least 3 or 4 days out of the week. I imagine they will want to partake in the weekly pizza day, and the girls have liked breakfast for lunch, but I'll be trying to pack them that. And it seems this year that the menu for the schools is different from the elementary to middle/high school buildings. Also, they do not have access to any way of heating their meals at school, so I'm going to learn to get creative with lunches this year. Without anymore chatter from me, here is the lunches planned for their first week back to school.

Tuesday - Sandwiches, grapes, carrots, milk box and pudding cup.

Wednesday - Sandwiches (or dinner leftovers), pear cup (or whole pear), milk and brownie.

Thursday - (pizza day for the younger 2) I'm going to ask Lexi what she would like

Friday - Mac and cheese, broccoli, orange wedges and drink mix.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Have a lovely weekend!

My First Sweater

I've been wanting to post about this for awhile now, but really hadn't gotten to it.

I'm working on my first knitted sweater!!

Now, I've done plenty of crocheted sweaters. Granted, they have all been small child size and smaller (and the majority were newborn baby size). So in keeping with that, as well as that doing the smallest size i need first will result in less time/supplies lost if I end up really making a mess of the the thing. But, I'm almost nearly 1/2 way done, and it's looking great!!

sweater, before the pouch was fully attached.

sweater after attaching the pouch
(updating with a better picture this afternoon!)

This sweater is going to be for my son, the youngest. The pattern is called The Wonderful Wallaby (ravelry link). Right now I'm actually up to the arm pits and needing to cast on sleeves. I need to run and grab another needle so i can knit those this weekend. I was hoping to be done before school started, but realize for a first sweater that was an ambitious goal for myself. But, I can see myself getting it done before mid-September (when he'll really need to start wearing a sweater).

And then I'll have to cast on for one of my daughters (who are already begging for one of their own!)

Menu Planning Monday - August 29th

WOW! Has it been a busy summer! And here we are, the last week of summer vacation for my kids (we seem to start later then everyone else, going back after Labor day). Now it's time to get busy getting back into a routine of wake up, bedtimes, and regular, healthy meals (and meal times!). Something new, Sundays are going to be my husband's dinner choice each week. That might be challenging for this non-red meat eating momma, as this week's choice may show!

So without further ado, here is our menu this week.

Monday: Sandwiches, carrots and chips

Tuesday: Chicken fajitas

Wednesday: Pasta night

Thursday: YOYO (your on your own, aka leftovers)

Friday: "Brinner"

Saturday: May not be home, will play it by ear (and maybe update this day later in the week!)

Sunday: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans

Next week's menu I hope to include what I'm packing for kid's lunchboxes (and for the younger 2, their at school snack)

For more menu ideas and links, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by Soulemama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same., leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Taking a shot at the blog entry Melis posted over at The Joys of Home Education tossed out this morning.

Top 5 Things I am Thankful for This Summer

• Sunshine: I may hate the heat, but I LOVE the sun. It makes my whole day brighter when the sun is shining
• Sandals: I live in mine from the time snow is (mostly) gone until the ground is cold enough for snow to stick around
• Sleeping in: Since not all my children homeschool, I'm going to enjoy sleeping in!
• Air Conditioning: 'nuff said!
• Autumn: Knowing that my FAVORITE season is just a couple of months away! Fall in upstate/western NY is the best!

So, what's your top 5 things to be thankful for this summer?

My Poor Blog...

I know I've been neglecting this space lately, and that we'll be gone away for the holiday weekend camping out at my in-laws, but look to having a LOT more action in this space starting next week!

But until then, I'll have another garden update and a {this moment} before spending the weekend with some of my most favorite people!

The Final Homeschool Village Garden Challenge Update

Well, here we are, the last Garden Challenge update. That doesn't mean I won't be updating about the progress of our "garden", but I will be doing so on my own.

So, as I mentioned previously, we really had to scale down our garden plans this year so we can have a spot in our roof repaired. We ended up with just the hanging basket for cherry tomatoes, one pot with basil (that isn't looking so good), and we started some pumpkin seeds. The lettuce didn't make it once we took it outside. We keep the planters on a old, small kids table so we can move it around our half of the yard as need be.

So, being in NY, I'm not surprised that our tomatoes are looking a further behind other garden pictures I've seen online. We are JUST finishing up strawberry season here in Western NY (took the kids to a u-pick farm yesterday), where as southern states were done a month ago. So the tomatoes are looking GOOD and i have HIGH hopes of getting SOME produce from them!

Here's a photo of what's growing now!

Pumpkins

Tomatoes

Basil

This is such a big change from where we were when we started!

tomato seedlings

It has been wonderful to do this challenge, and I likely wouldn't have thought to grow ANYTHING this year. Both the kids and I have learned a lot starting just the few plants that we have, and it's something I know I'll be doing again next year (with hopefully more then what we are growing this year!)

last minute edit add-in: The website just announced that there will be ONE more link up in July! So look for us again at the end of July!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by Soulemama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same., leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!

Menu Planning Monday - June 6th

A day late, oh well. It's one of those kinds of weeks where having time to breath needs to be scheduled in! Without further ado, here is this weekend menu.

Monday: YOYO (you on your own).
Tuesday: Pasta night
Wednesday: Chef salad
Thursday: BBQing turkey burgers and hot dogs, chips
Friday: Something new... I'm pouring over my cookbooks to be inspired
Saturday: Pizza night (grilled, hopefully. each time we've tried we've been rained out!)
Sunday: yet to be determined.

Make sure you go check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links to more blogged menus!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by Soulemama.

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - 4

In My Life This Week:

Not much happened this past week. Just plugging along with everything. I have an interview this upcoming Saturday for a position I was too "chicken" to apply for last year. As luck would have it, I have the rare opportunity again this year.

In Our Homeschool This Week:

We're done with a lot of the "formal" stuff we are doing for the year, and focusing on a lot of interest-lead topics now. Current interest, building bikes from parts.
I'm doing a lot of looking into for items in the fall, if we continue to homeschool. We are also looking into a private Christian school she wants to attend (where she also takes flute lessons and plays in their band already). Even if we homeschool, we may consider taking individual classes from there, if we choose. It really is a nice option to have.

My Favorite Thing This Week Was:

Getting a piano from freecycle! Sure, it's FAR from perfect, but it's perfect for the kids to bang on and we're considering lessons for them. We're all pretty excited about the piano.
The weather! Sure, we're had a couple of good storms this week, but it hasn't been the CONSTANT rain that Western NY has had for the last 6 week. Definitely looking forward to more blue skies then gray.

A Photo, Video, Link or Quote to Share:

She lost 2 teeth in 3 days!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Our Garden Challenge Update

Another Garden Challenge post!

Too bad NYS spring weather hasn't been as cooperative :( But, that's just 1 thing I've learned, it's no joke to say that in western NY don't really plan on planting outside until AFTER Memorial Day (today). But considering I'm generally a black thumb, the fact I have anything surviving 2 months after I started seeds, is amazing! We are learning so much about growing this year!

So here are the tomato plants we have left. I gave 1/2 to my in-laws, and some are growing stronger then others, so this week we'll be planting the 3 strongest tomato plants in a planter outside. I'm not sure what we'll do about the basil and parsley (the smaller containers in the upper right). The small container in the upper left is my oldest tomato plants.

I know my husband is looking forward to these cherry tomatoes, they'll be in a nice pasta salad no doubt once we have some to pick!

We also planted a lilac bush outside this weekend. It wont be ready for another year or 2, but for now, we have it in the dirt at least!

I need to mulch around the lilac, but for now the kids have started a stone surround it (from rocks we mostly found digging up the spot we planted the bush). this is right outback next to our door, so it will be lovely to smell in and out (and in the kitchen), when it finally blooms.

We are also going to start some pumpkin seeds this week for the fall. A friend has invited us to start and grow pumpkins at her mother's. The kids are going to have a blast growing their own pumpkins this year!

So there is what we have growing! It's not as much as we had hoped for this year. Because of needing to do some roof repairs later this summer, we can't build our garden box, as debris from the roof would ruin it in a micro second. But, if we have some success with what we grow next year, we can look forward to growing more next year!