Journal: Nov. 5

Today

Outside my window: Mid 50s, gorgeous autumn-colored trees.  Our maples out front are especially beautiful right now.  One is a shade of reddish orange that could only have come from the mind of the Master Painter.  Seriously, even Crayola couldn't come up with a name that is worthy of the color of this tree.  It makes me happy each year to watch it turn.

Clothing myself in: Black long sleeved shirt, jeans with a belt.

Around the house: I did actually clean a lot of the house on Friday.  Still haven't cleaned the swamp aquarium.  I scrubbed the floor last night.  That made the house feel a lot cleaner.  It's odd, but if the kitchen isn't clean, I don't feel like the rest of the house is (even if it is.)  Andy replaced the light pull switch in the kids' fan.  It'd been dark in their room for a couple weeks!

Ruby: Still not potty trained at naps/night - on my mind b/c I had to buy diapers today - I was hoping I wouldn't have to buy them again.  Speaking of naps - she's at that point where taking a nap during the day makes bedtime a total circus.  So we're trying to figure out exactly what we want to do about that.  She was a total riot trick-or-treating.  Totally got into it this year and struck up conversations with everyone who answered the door.  Someone asked her who she was (dressed up as) and she answered with her first, middle, and last name.  She was also really good at getting extra candy by asking "What's that pink one right there?"  "Oh this one, here you can have it too!" Latest phrases: "Dad do you know what's in there? (her cup) It's chem-i-lade!"

Ira: Is all too content to pay me to do his chores.  Something must be done about this...  Was a scuba diver for Halloween.  Did an awesome report on St. Joseph for All Saints day.  Asked what "circumcision" was (part of the research on St. Joseph had about when St. Joseph named Jesus on the 8th day after his birth, the day he first shed his blood for us.  And of course, Andy is not home for this conversation, so I get to answer it.)  There was lots of wincing and grimacing involved when I answered.  LOL.  Still has his very very loose tooth.  Would not allow Grandpa to pull it - even for $10.

In the Kitchen: Spaghetti & Meatballs with green beans; Pumpkin Pancakes with eggs, bacon, and fresh apples; Chop Suey American with california medley; Cheese Pizza with lettuce salad and fresh fruit.

My Hobbies: Well, the gallon and a half of yogurt that I made last Tuesday is totally gone!  As is the granola!  Looks like I'll be making some more of each this week.  Edited some more photos.  In editing, I'm realizing that I need to pay more attention to exactly which of the 9 focus points is/are focusing, and/or changing them to suit my needs.

Bringing me Joy: After never really having a jacket that fit (other than hoodies) I found a Columbia jacket for half price at Marshalls today.  The sleeves are long enough and it fits perfectly - and it's a women's jacket to boot (I may or may not end up in men's jackets/coats most of the time.)  Getting the ball rolling on going to PPVI.  It will still a number of months before we go there, but I am so glad to be getting started.  Having a "clean soul" after going to confession.  Celestial Seasonings "Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride" Tea.  It is SO good!

Thinking About: The election.  And praying so hard for the future of our country.  Also, I'm reading a book about pathogens (bacteria, infections, etc.) affecting fertility.  It is incredibly compelling and I also found out (happily, because some of the stuff in it really hits close to home) that Dr. Hilgers has studied under this doctor and applies his theories in his own practice.  Hooray!  I am so hopeful that we will get solid answers at PPVI.

Pictures to share:

What I Loved About Last Week 7th Edition

Here's what I loved about the week of April 30th - May 6th.

1. The scent of roses wafting through the house.  When we have the windows open, I often catch the smell of the rosebushes in the front of the house.  I don't like the smell of rose-scented things (lotions/soaps/perfumes) but there is nothing like the smell of a fresh garden rose (our yellow ones are especially fragrant.)

2. My Kitchen Aid Mixer.  It was our wedding present from my parents and although it's almost 7 years old, it still works (and looks) like it's brand new.  The kids and I used it this week to make pretzels and it made the whole process SO simple.  Well, as simple as baking can get with a 6 year old and a 2 year old bicker over pouring in every. single. ingredient.  Not that that frustrates me or anything.

3. Mulberry Vinaigrette.  Andy was feeling all hunter-gatherery and foraged some Mulberries from a vacant lot that backs up to ours.  Then he made them into the most delicious vinaigrette to eat on our home-grown lettuce.  Pretty cool if you ask me.

4. Ira. Ira. Ira.  One morning before school, he was looking at some papers on the desk.  One of them was a sign up sheet for Room Mothers.  At the bottom it said "Please circle which grade you would like to serve" then had each grade listed out: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.  So he says to me, "Mom!  Look what the teachers are doing this year!  What grade do you think I should be in next year?  I'm pretty smart."  And in case that isn't clear as mud - he thought that he was going to get to pick what grade he'd be in next year.  Love that kid!

5. Diary Fieldtrip.  Each year Andy's mom's kindergarten class takes a field trip to their dairy farm.  Before Andy was in Kindergarten, he got to go along.  Before Ira was in school, he got to go.  Now Ruby gets to go.  Marilyn delights in showing off her grandchildren and her students love getting to meet the kids behind the stories she tells at school.  Not to mention it's just a little more in-depth of a look at the dairy than we get when we go to get milk each week.  The kids get to see a cow being milked, feel a milker, feel fresh, warm milk, see and learn about the milk tank, bottle feed a calf (pronounced "kev" for those who've never been around a dairyman), take a hay-rack ride, climb in a tractor, a combine, and a swather, and eat an ice cream sandwich.  Ruby was a little shy at first, but after awhile she was marching around acting like she owned the place.  She put her finger in the milker twice (that's a big deal, a lot of kids are scared of that) and ended up being in each of the 3 kindergarten classes' pictures (with "Crampa Beel")  She's such a goose!

6. Swimming.  It was hot on Friday, so I set up the kids' pool for the first time.  They LOVED playing in it.  Seriously, they were in there for no less than 2 hours.  I foresee LOTS of swimming this summer for those two.

7. Cream in my tea.  I've been skimming the cream off the top of our milk and using it in my tea in the mornings.  It adds such richness!!  I always wondered why my friend Jolene's tea tasted so much better than mine (despite the fact that we had the same tea.)  Turns out, cream vs. milk makes a BIG difference.  Yummy!

8. Playing Monopoly.  Monopoly has LONG been my favorite game to play.  When my younger sis and her hubby come over, we like to play games.  We usually rotate between Canasta, Pitch, International Rummy and Monopoly.  For the longest time we avoided Monopoly because it took FOREVER.  Well, it turns out, if you play by the REAL rules (not house ones like putting money in free parking, selling houses/hotels back for the same price you bought them, giving immunities when trading properties, etc.) it actually doesn't take any longer than any other game.  So we played on Friday night.  My brother-in-law royally trounced all of us, but it was still tons of fun.  I got out first, so I made the pizza (because it's not a get-together with my sister if we don't make a second dinner at 11pm.)  Life is good!

9.  Saturday.  It was just a great day.  Andy and Ira got up early and went fishing.  They brought home enough fish for lunch.  After lunch, I got to go shopping for new clothes by myself!  Andy watched the kids and put in the rest of our garden (tomatoes, peppers, herbs, melons, cucumbers...)  I shopped 'till I dropped and for once had WONDERFUL luck.  I feel like a new woman!  It's so nice to have "pretty" clothes to wear each day.  Maurices and Vanity were where I got most of the clothes.  Those stores just "get me."  I never have luck at the department stores because I feel like all the clothes are either way too young (and tight and short and skinny) for me or way too old (and baggy and dull and big.)  Although I did pick up a few pairs of shorts at the dept. stores (and another 2 lightweight cardigans - that I now have 4 of because I love them SO much - the picture in the link really doesn't do them justice) I got about a dozen (I really needed clothes) short sleeve/sleeveless shirts between Maurices and Vanity.  Vanity also had some really GREAT camis/layering tank tops that were both long and had modest necklines.  I am excited that all the clothes I found are both stylish and modest.

10. Birthday party.  We celebrated my Mother-in-law's birthday on Sunday and had a wonderful time.  The kids got to play with their cousins, we ate lots of delicious food, and just had a great time in general.