No Soccer, Wolverine at Midnight, Visiting

Although the weather was lovely today, soccer games were all cancelled because the fields were too wet. We have only played two games so far, although today should have been our SIXTH game of eight. So, we have had to reschedule 4 games. Bummer! Messes with the master plan!

I read on weather.com that we had six inches of rain in April and the average rainfall for the month is 2.86 inches. More than DOUBLE.

So, instead of watching one game and coaching another, I went nowhere today. Did some odds and ends around here - weeded out the winter coats and boots, switched my spring clothes into the closet and packed away the winter ones, worked on May lesson plans, oversaw the housecleaning, went for a walk with my family. Only a leetle youtube. :-)

Thursday I went out to dinner with friends and then we went to see X-men Origins: Wolverine at the midnight show. What fun! I'll try to get a review up at Mirkwood soon.

Yesterday was park day for our homeschool group. Windy! The kids barely noticed though. They swarmed over the playground. The moms huddled in groups trying to avoid the wind. I walked three laps around the mile-long track with friends. That helped us stay warm too.

After the park we headed over to my friend Darlene's to play. She'd read my novel so she gave me some much-desired feedback on that and then we watched The Hunt for Red October, which somehow in almost twenty years, I'd never managed to see. Jennifer has been strongly (hehe) suggesting for a long time that I see it, so I took the opportunity when it presented itself. (Jennifer, I turned down THE MATRIX to watch it. Just so you know.... lol)

Friday night I read. And read and read.... I read about 3/4 of a Jodi Picoult novel (Nineteen Minutes) all in that one evening. Finished it today. Very gripping story about a fictional school shooting.

What's ahead for the coming week?
Sunday - Sunday School, Church, Youth Group (D)
Monday - Lessons, Writing, Coach a game (S), Homeschool meeting
Tuesday - Lessons, Writing
Wednesday - Lessons, Writing, Art Class (J, E, D)
Thursday - Lessons, Writing, Soccer (J and maybe S)
Friday - Lessons, Writing, set up for the curriculum sale
Saturday - Coach soccer (S) and watch soccer (J) and go tear down the sale

Only three more weeks of lessons for us before we call our school year finished. We will continue to work throughout the summer, though.

I'd also like to fit in a meeting with my co-leaders. I need to reschedule at least one of Suzy's games since our team ended up with a double-header for Monday night and I don't think they can handle that.

I have a huge to-do list too, that I need to tackle this week!

Creeping out of the BatCave

The warmth this afternoon tempted me outside. I crept out of the BatCave and ventured into the sunlight. Clothes hung drying in the breeze.

I took our science book and read-aloud novel outside and read to the kids at the picnic table, while Suzy and James climbed the swingset, Emily sat nearby, and David worked on the concrete step removal project.

The younger kids were seen playing baseball in the sideyard and also riding their bikes which were carried down from the barn loft. David tore his bike apart, repairing it and deciding that a new inner tube was necessary. Good thing Mom had a quick trip to Walmart planned. (Wait, is there such a thing?)

Chatting on the phone outside kept me outside longer in the sun, but I didn't get in a walk as I had hoped. I did spend some time organizing my co-op class stuff and made an easy dinner.


James was off to his last soccer clinic with Bob and the girls and I headed to Walmart for that "quick trip". Yes, we did it in less than 40 minutes, although I didn't get everything I wanted and easily could have spent twice that long. Got the necessities though and I will have to find another store for some of the craft stuff I need anyway.

Then I delivered them to their meeting which had a gardening theme. I read my book while the girls had their "circle time" and then I helped them plant some seeds to take home. Delivered one of their friends home and chatted with her mom for a bit.

Came home to a very bouncy David and a very tired James. (And a rather grumpy husband, if truth be told....)

The week only gets busier!

(OK, I'll admit the pictures are from MONDAY not Tuesday. But they did the same things outside on Monday that they did on Tuesday, so I figure it's all the same, right? lol)

Weekly Preview and "What I Did This Weekend"

Wow, it's nice out! Days of sunshine! And warmth!

On Friday I went to visit my friend Michele whom I have known for a number of years but never visited before. What an adorable welcoming restful home she has created! I enjoyed several sweet hours of conversation and crafting with her while David worked with her son on some computer and robotics issues. Friday night I think I read until quite late - Adriana Trigiani's newest.

Saturday, I SLEPT IN. That was nice. Once soccer starts, I can't do that. I had thought about taking the kids to the free matinee, but.... well, I didn't. We cleaned house and then they worked in the yard while I finished up in here. Then Emily, James, Suzy and I hopped into the van to visit two libraries and the thrift store, coming home with a full backpack of books and DVD's and several outfits for Suzy and a dress and a pair of boots for Emily, as well as a bunch of items from their 20 cent bin.

I whipped up spaghetti for dinner and then my friend Marla and I went over to Donna's where some friends from her new church were gathered and I did ANOTHER craft. (Two crafts in as many days? What is the world COMING TO?) We also had some yummy food. The chocolate-covered strawberries were TO DIE FOR. I came home and finished the Trigiani (which IS on my 999 list).

Today I need to hop off the computer and enjoy the lovely lovely weather. We're working on getting the dead leaves and broken twigs out of the yard. Maybe we'll drag down the bikes out of the barn. The kids would like that.

I'll post pictures of my crafts another time.

Also, Jennifer has been gone ALL WEEK to DISNEYWORLD. And she should return home today. I missed her!! :::waves at Jen:::

Sunday - SS, Church, Youth Group (D)
Monday - Lessons, Editing (MVR), IEW Meeting at night? (me)
Tuesday - Lessons, Editing, Soccer (J, last one), KAH mtg (E, S), St. Paddy's Day - wear green
Wednesday - Lessons, Editing, Pioneer Club (D, J, S)
Thursday - Lessons, Homeschool group leaders meeting, Library Program on Underground Railroad (D, E)
Friday - Co-op, Evening Plans Unknown
Saturday - Homeschool Book Fair (with Maryann and Dar), BOOK CLUB! (North and South! Come join us! WHEE!!)

This week I need to finish reading North and South - about 150 pages left, I think. I also should work on the taxes since I have yet to do that. I am going to redo the kids' commission sheets (allowance) to make them monthly instead of weekly.

Snippets

Little bits of what's been happening.

Bob found Em's other pair of glasses in the van. Guess HE gets the reward!

I have developed a new "appreciation" for Hugh Jackman. This is mostly due to watching the X-men movies, which I had never seen before and exacerbated by watching Someone Like You over the weekend. (I ordered it on ebay.) Yeah, I know. I say "appreciation" - you probably say "obsession." LOL I plan to go see Australia now, even though I really don't like Nicole Kidman. Yes, it's still showing at one theater near me.

I really don't like the cold and spend my time huddling in layers of clothes and blankets, avoiding going outside. And it is definitely COLD. The kids don't mind though. As I look at them right now, 2 are wearing short sleeves, one is barefoot. I've bribed them to wear their slippers. Yesterday they did play outside, but I don't think I'll allow it today.

I went to a library sale the other night and got a few cool things - books, of course, and some VHS movies. Those are cheap now! LOL We still have a VCR so this is a good thing.

I have been writing - am up to almost 9000 words to add to my 2007 NaNoNovel. My goal is 2000 words every day, including Saturdays. So far this week, I've done it.

I have TONS of books to read, but I am not getting much reading time. I have only finished one book so far this month, but it was really good. A Christian Regency romance called The Falcon and the Sparrow.

Bob got the heating ductwork put in so the girls now have heat in their bedroom. Yes, we've lived here fifteen years and he's just now getting it done. lol He is also working on patching the hole in the living room ceiling (and the boys' floor) where there used to be a register for hot air to rise from the oil furnace that used to be in our living room when we moved in. There was no central heating in our house when we bought it.

We are considering new auto insurance companies. Bob's not happy with the cost of our policy.

I've been exercising 3 days a week and counting calories. It's only been 2 weeks, so I guess it's early yet.

Bob subbed in Sunday School for me last Sunday while I was scrapbooking and one of the students told me later that he did a good job! No, not one of my own kids! lol

I'm still basking in the afterglow of scrapbooking. What a wonderful weekend it was!

Ok, back to reality. The kids are watching a History Channel documentary on the Dark Ages on DVD. I got it from the library with interlibrary loan.

Tuesday Toodles (ok it's corny)

I feel better today.

Finally finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which I liked very much, but it wasn't a light read at all.

I am going to read something fluffy before going on to Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. At least I think it will be fluffy. It has a picture of a cupcake on the cover. lol Can't remember the author or the title.

I went to Walmart with David last night. Lots of school supply clearance! I bought a lovely notebook in which I will be writing fiction, as well as some brightly colored felt pens that I'll have to hide from my kids. lol David bought duct tape and then proceeded to annoy me happily all through the groceries section. I thought there was a RedBox movie kiosk in our Walmart but if there is, I don't know where. Anyone? Anyone?

We also went to Home Depot and got 5 more gallons of Melted Butter. Or paint. :-) It was on sale! That was a lovely surprise! (I'd even say serendipitous, if I didn't think I'd get teased for using big words. lol)

I have boxes of stuff to sort from my girls' room and I am going to go help Bob paint in a little while.

Learning to Read

My mom said:
You pretty much taught yourself to read (off cereal boxes to start) and we simply encouraged you along the way!!!

Reading Meme

I was just thinking last night how I would love to answer a good meme. This one is about reading - how apropos! It comes from the blog of Angela Elwell Hunt, an author I enjoy reading.

She says: This meme comes from Linda. Feel free to use it on your blog if you like!

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
My mom read to me a lot and taught me to read by age 4. It sort of took off from there! LOL

2. What are some books you read as a child? I read lots of series books - Trixie Belden, The Happy Hollisters, The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Dana Girls, Cherry Ames, The Triplets. I also remember some books - true stories of nurses, true stories of heroic horses, and such. And of course, The Chronicles of Narnia, which just about defined my childhood. I read SO MANY books. I remember one summer I read over 100 books for the summer reading program.

3. What is your favorite genre? I read many kinds of things, but not much sci-fi. I really enjoy mystery novels, especially with a comic element. For a while I read a lot of "cozy" mysteries, but I am getting bored with them now - how many dead bodies can one person stumble across? lol

4. Do you have a favorite novel? The Lord of the Rings

5. Where do you usually read? At the table, at work, in the recliner, on the porch swing, and yes, even in the bathroom. Never in bed.

6. When do you usually read? Whenever I can - while I eat usually. On my breaks at work sometimes. After work sometimes.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? Definitely I read more than one book at a time.

8. Do you read non-fiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? No, I read it the same way. If it's good non-fiction, it's just as compelling as fiction.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? I check them out of the library or get them on paperbackswap. I also buy them used. Sorry, starving authors, but my $10/hr job doesn't allow for purchasing a lot of new books. I REALLY have to like a book to buy it brand new.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them? I don't buy a lot of fiction since I don't often re-read fiction. Otherwise I do keep most of my books, maybe 80%. I always have a pile of books for sale and for swapping.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child? I have read quite a few of my favorites aloud to my children - not the series books. I've read aloud Gone Away Lake, Key to the Treasure, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Homer Price, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The 21 Balloons, and lots more.

12. What are you reading now? I just finished Persuasion for my book club. I also read Journey, the 3rd book in the series about Joseph by Angela Elwell Hunt. I am reading Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist. I have two other books sitting here that were recommended to me by family members and neither one is calling my name.

13. Do you keep a TBR (To Be Read) list? I do now, since I found Shelfari! Also I made an 888 reading list this year and that has helped me when I've been at loose ends for what to read next. Also I am in a Jane Austen book club and that means I will be reading all her novels this year.

14. What's next? I'm hoping Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility for book club. Other than that, I'm not quite sure. I have a stack and something waiting for me at the library.

15. What books would you like to reread? The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis, the Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill, Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. I will re-read all these before the end of the year, except maybe the Evanovich.

16. Who are your favorite authors? J.RR. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Diana Gabaldon, Janet Evanovich, Francine Rivers, Jeffery Deaver, Ted Dekker

That's it! Feel free to be tagged!