Daybook, a wee bit late

Outside My Window

Stephen is practicing soccer. He’s a little guy on this team. A little guy with a big heart and a crazy amount of skill. His team entered the travel soccer rotation for this club the year Michael’s team had just graduated. So,Stephen's team inherited the team name. And now, Stephen has Michael’s former coach. Little guy. Big heart. Same field. Same name. Same coach. Déjà vu..

I am Listening to

Shouts and whistles. And traffic outside Tyson’s Corner.

I am Wearing

Jeans and a sweater. I’m inside the car and I am COLD. Really.

I am so Grateful for

Where do I begin? I went to see Patrick last weekend.

~Sarah Annie was a doll baby on the plane, just perfect in every way.

~After agonizing through the first day and night there, Mike recovered from the stomach virus that gripped our family the week between Williamsburg and the Florida trip in time to enjoy two days with Patrick and to fully participate in Parent’s Weekend activities.

~my boy is in good hands. US Soccer is an institution America can be proud of .

~it was so good to see him and to hug him and to feed him.

~his school is nice.Nice people. Beautiful building. Ahem. I am no longer worried that home education was inadequate.

~I am even more committed to an essentially classical curriculum with a Charlotte Mason twist. And I’ve very grateful for the resources available to make it happen. Twaddle free, my friends. Twaddle free.

~Siesta Key is a beautiful place. I wish I could share pictures, but we took them with Paddy’s camera and then I took his cord home with me.

~some very good people took good care of my kids at home, despite a ridiculous number of unforeseen catastrophes.

~it only took me a day to restore order to my house.

there’s more, but that’ll work for now.

I'm Pondering

This video. Patrick's biology teacher shared it with us and told us it summed up perfectly what the class was all about. She also mentioned that the boys didn't understand why they need the class. I'm still pondering it. Because, I think I'm missing the meaning, too.

I am Reading

The teacher’s notes from Tapestry of Grace Year 2Tapestry of Grace Year 2; I bit a very big bullet and bought this curriculum guide. Shortly after we returned home from Williamsburg, everyone started throwing up and I thought, “You know what? Someone else, smarter than me, has figured all this school stuff out. I’m going to let her help me and I’m going to go wash sheets and towels and hold sweaty heads.”

There are schedules and assignments for the children, but honestly, I bought this mostly for my own education. I want to know this subject matter very, very well and to teach this subject matter well and these are the tools to do it. So I ordered (and I admit I was extremely sleep-deprived when I did so.)

Then, everyone was mostly better and I left for Florida. I was pretty sure I'd have buyer's remorse. When I got home, we pulled it all out of shrink wrap and got to work. So far, so good. I’m subbing my booklist into the framework. And, I’ve already re-worked the “reformation” weeks, too. It's not a Catholic curriculum. History is subjective and so is literature, so I offer my experience, sure that you already know that you have to adapt any curriculum to meet the needs of your family. This one is so complete and so thoughtful and so darn smart that I’m not doing that much tweaking. Mostly, I’m just working my books in and some of their suggestions out.

I am Thinking

That it sure was nice to get away with my husband and we sure did enjoy having Sarah Annie all to ourselves. A bit spoiled that last one is;-).

I am Creating

A color scheme for my house. I really, really want to paint the walls before Thanksgiving. Ironically, I loved the color scheme at Paddy's school and it was all I could do not to ask them if they had swatches.

On my iPod

Pop Quiz. Genius idea.  A little homework for Dad, keeps him totally in the loop, and I've listened, too and learned a lot already!

Towards a Real Education

I am so very happy to have a “regular” week this week. Please God, no illnesses or unforeseen injuries. And next week would be good, too. I am quite ready to settle into a nice pattern of ordinary days.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

This week we will begin to bring touches of autumn inside. The nature table begs for a change of season. And I just want to keep filling the house with the smell of apples and spice. Need to figure out a way to feed Patrick better. Word is he doesn’t eat fruit or vegetables. He does at home. But the vegetables in that cafeteria don’t look like anything he’s ever wanted to eat.

To Live the Liturgy

Thursday is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

I am Hoping and Praying

For some dear friends on the brink of something new. Clinging to the sure knowledge that all things work together for good for those who love God.

In the Garden

Just as soon as it stops raining, there are so many weeds to pull and then we need to plant pansies and to put the beds to sleep for the winter. ‘Tis truly fall.

Around the House

The last of the summer clothes get put away tomorrow and then we inventory winter coats and hats.

From the Kitchen

It's been about six weeks since Patrick left. He's gained eight pounds. And I've lost eight pounds. His coach says he doesn't eat enough vegetables. (In his defense, he's always been a great eater of all things good for you, but the vegetables there are not really worth eating.) On the other hand, I've not eaten meat since he left. And I've eaten fruit and/or vegetables at every single meal. It's been nearly thirteen years since I gave up vegetarianism. I got rather fat in those years. I thought it was age. Now, I'm thinking my body really does run better on green fuel.

One of My Favorite Things

safe landings. Sarah Annie absolutely loved the the deceleration after touching down. She said, "Whoa....!!" And then, "Do again?

Sarah Annie this week

Oh my goodness, so many things! She insisted on a blue car in the rental car parking lot. And Mike accomodated her. That meant that we lovingly referred to the blue car all weekend long and we miss the blue car today. She was a little shy with Patrick's teammates, but warmed up after awhile and did charm them. I thought his coach was going to adopt her--and I definitely tightened my grip. He's already got one of my children; he can't have another;-). She loves the beach as much as Karoline hates it and was happy to check out the west cloast of Florida and report that there is no oil to be seen anywhere. Quite the happy traveler, she's ready to go again soon.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Lots of time at home during the school week. My mom comes down at the end of the week. It's a four way split for soccer this weekend. Nicky is in Virginia Beach. Stephen is in Maryland. Michael plays in Fairfax. And Patrick is playing at Red Bull Arena in New York (I think; that roster isn't firm until Thursday.)

Picture thoughts:

Big birthday smiles.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Daybook: Birthday week begins

Outside My Window

Stink bugs. These are tomorrow’s nature study subject. They are as obnoxious as they are ubiquitous. Ugh. Nasty. They dive bomb from out of no where and they are so ugly. Yuck.

I am Listening to

The postgame show for the DC United match. I’m think  Mike is producing it, which is the only reason I’m watching it.

I am Wearing

pajamas.

I am so Grateful for

~some time away with the children. We so enjoyed Williamsburg.

~the homeschooling moms at Colonial Williamsburg who recognized me (or my children) from this blog and stopped to chat. It was genuinely nice to connect. It was a really beautiful day and we enjoyed CW like never before. I think it was the happy homeschooling atmosphere that added an extra dimension.

-early bedtime tonight for my wee ones.

I'm Pondering

 the quote on the home page of Susan Wise Bauer.

I am Reading

The Complete Writer: Writing with Ease Instructor Text. I highly, highly recommend it and the workbooks that go with it: one, two, three & four. Highly recommend. Highly. (I just wish I'd thought to check Amazon before I invested in the whole shooting match.)

I am Thinking

I’m really, really tired. I’m only writing here because I’m forcing myself to stay awake until Mike gets home. I pretty much haven’t seen him in two weeks. Which is probably part of why I’m so tired. I’m also thinking that I do miss having time to blog. Seems like I can never cobble together enough time for a whole post lately. Forgot to link to this column this week, too.

I am Creating

Yet another packing list...

On my iPod

Where is my iPod and who keeps taking it???

Towards a Real Education

Last week, we listened to history in the van all the way down to Williamsburg and back and did some math and writing on Friday. We spent an entire day living history in Colonial Williamsburg. This week, it’s back to the sunroom table and business as usual.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

This week will challenge my efforts at routines. It always does. We have four birthdays in six days and four feast days to celebrate. And this year, we’ve decided to throw in a huge surprise.

To Live the Liturgy

The Feast of the Archangels, St. Therese, the Guardian Angels and St. Francis.

I am Hoping and Praying

~for my birthday babies: Michael on the 29^th, Katie on the 30^th and Patrick on October 2^nd.

~for Mike. Big, big week at work this week. Would you whisper a prayer to St. Joseph on his behalf, please?

~for safe travels.

In the Garden

The mums are blooming and I think it’s time to pull the petunias and think about some pansies...Last year’s fall pansies got totally trampled by the wood guys during winter. This year, we’re going all in for some color now and even more color in early spring.

Around the House

The house is in good shape. We’ve hauled out at least two bags of “stuff” every week for the last month. And we’ve made considerable progress in the basement. One thing that made a huge difference very quickly was pulling all the DVDs out of their cases and putting them in these.

From the Kitchen

Saturday

Quinoa Waldorf salad with apples, grapes, blue cheese, almonds

Sunday

Chicken salad sandwiches

Monday

Chili w/sweet potatoes

Tuesday

Green chile corn pudding  and hoppin' john

Wednesday

Curried chicken soup

Thursday

Steak, potatoes, salad

One of My Favorite Things

EO Hand Sanitizer. This stuff is ridiculously expensive. I'm playing with adding lavender oil to cheap hand sanitizer to get the same effect--which is hand sanitizer with a beautiful, natural scent. It's not the same, but still...

Sarah Annie this week

I love it when she calls out to her brothers and sisters: “Wait for me, guys!” They always do.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Birthdays and Feast Days. Big celebrations!

Picture thoughts:

Daybook

Outside My Window

An absolutely perfectly gorgeous autumn Sunday: bright blue sky, just a few clouds, no humidity, and about 78 degrees. Perfect soccer weather.

I am Listening to

The “soundtrack” that Mary Beth has created for the ballet class she will teach her little sister…and 13 of their friends.

I am Wearing

A cream-colored lightweight, longsleeved t-shirt with a  ruched neckline, a purple boyfriend sweater (that I ended up tying around my waist about noon) and not my daughter’s jeans (which I got for a steal on Amazon--there was a coupon added at checkout).

I am so Grateful for

~ an unbelievably fun time in a friend’s van while it poured rain our sons’ soccer practice. Eleven kids total in the van. They all voted on a movie choice and we watched Pride and Prejudice. It was even more darling to note that both my children and hers had many of those lines memorized. Those homeschooled kids just don’t get socialized well, do they?

~sweet, subtle changes for the better in a child who had me worried. And for the friends who are influencing those changes.

I'm Pondering

The soul which remains attached to anything, even to the least thing, however many its virtues may be, will never arrive at the liberty of the divine union. It matters little whether a bird be fastened by a stout or slender cord -- as long as he does not break it, slender as it may be, it will prevent him from flying freely. -- St. John Chrysostom

I am Reading
Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman. Quite a book. Quite a testimony. I’ve long been a huge Steven Curtis Chapman fan. I was hesitant to read this book, because I knew that the story of how the Chapmans  5-year-old daughter Maria died  would be gut-wrenching.  I read that part first so that I wouldn’t be dreading it throughout the first half of the book. Mary Beth writes a compelling story of lifelong  surrender to the will of God.

I’m particularly grateful for her honest accounting of the trials of depression.

.

I am Thinking

That God has heard me plea for kindred spirits to befriend my children and me. And, despite the overwhelming busyness of our fall schedule—actually because of it-- there are moments of grace-filled friendship abundantly sprinkled throughout the week.

I am Creating

Lists. Before we leave town. I always make lots of lists when I pack. We’re taking a three day trip. Seems like those kinds of lists should be committed to memory by now, but that’s not the point. The point is that the list lets me maintain the illusion of having control.

On my iPod

A History of US, Volume 3. Our listening on the way to Williamsburg this week for homeschool days.

Towards a Real Education

We’re taking a little diversion from our Medieval Studies to skip across the pond and visit Colonial Williamsburg.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

The schedule works. It works beautifully. There’s no time to kick back and do nothing and I can’t deviate from the plan even a little bit, but the schedule does work…

To Live the Liturgy

We’ll celebrate the feast of Padre Pio this week..

I am Hoping and Praying

~for Mike, who is badly in need of a vacation. Or maybe just a few hours off.

In the Garden

The roses rock. Really.

Around the House

The house is quite pulled together now.  We shall have to see whether the new maintenance schedule keeps it that way. In other, much more interesting news, it is definitely time to paint the walls. I chose our current colors on the way home from the midwife’s office five and a half years ago, after learning  we’d suffered a miscarriage. The painters had been scheduled and I didn’t want to cancel, so I just went to Home Depot, totally numb and not at all there, and picked out colors. I remember asking the guy to darken it three times before I left the store.

It’s time for lighter and brighter

From the Kitchen

Gluten free pumpkin muffins from this new cookbook. Jodi wrote and told me about it a couple of weeks ago and I took a chance. The muffins are the first things we’ve made using her gluten-free baking blend. They are so good. No weird bean taste; no starchy falling apart consistency. Just pumpkinny yumminess.  I’m looking forward to trying other things.

One of My Favorite Things

My icon wall.

Sarah Annie this week

She loves our new “after school” routine. It’s a playground for several hours every day of the week. I’m really happy to have playground time, too.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

We have a new friend visiting . She came to see Michael, but Karoline is pretty sure she came to see her. We’ve loved having her. She’ll be here tomorrow when Mary Beth transforms the main floor of our house into a dance studio and Mary Beth and her friend Mary Kate introduce a whole bunch of homeschooled little girls to the wonderful world of ballet.

Then we’re going to get away for a few days. Mike has been working 18 hour days getting ESPN’s Washington shows ready to launch in HD from their new studios at ABC. We’re ducking out and leaving him to yet another week of that. We’ll go to Homeschool Days in Colonial Williamsburg and stay at Great Wolf Lodge. We’ve never been there, so we’re all eagerly anticipating our time.

And, next  weekend, we  will return with Sarah Anne to the NICU for a reunion. It just makes me smile so to think about taking my relatively big smiling girl back to the people who cared for her so well in those early days. I can’t wait!

Picture thoughts:

 

Daybook

Outside My Window

It is still dark.

I am Listening to

The hum of the refrigerator and nothing else.

I am Wearing

A t-shirt and boxers—pjs;-).

I am so Grateful for

~a daughter who conspires to celebrate the day her family began (Thanks, Mary Beth, for anniversary sweetness;-)

~starting the week in a fairly tidy house

~soccer moms (and soccer dads, too)

~come to think of it, soccer siblings, too

~regular updates from Patrick in Spain

~the gifted educators who have published excellent curricular material that has blessed our new school year

~homemade miso soup

~grocery store carnations

~lunch date on a Sunday

I'm Pondering

Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants. ~Michael Pollan

I am Reading.

I just finished a pre-publication copy of a very good parenting book.

And

Food Rules by Michael Pollan

I am Thinking

About the coming weekend.I’m so looking forward to having company here.

I am Creating

A new ‘do. Well, I’m not really creating it, but I do desperately need a haircut and I’m considering asking for something different. Appointment this morning. We’ll see.

On my iPod

Mossflower. We finished Redwall over a week ago and spent some time talking about whether we’d listen to another or the boys would be on their own to binge through the series. As a compromise, we’re going to listen to the prequel and they’re going to read the sequel. This audio version is so well done. The author narrates in a rich, deep, lovely accent. It’s a full cast audio that does truly bring these books to life.

Towards a Real Education

I can say with all sincerity that we are off to our best start ever.I’m rocking the Charlotte Mason Organizer to its fullest potential. The children seem to understand that if we’re going to keep up the pace of soccer and ballet that they want, we have to use those morning hours to their fullest. They are working hard and genuinely seem to like that resources I’ve chosen for them.

I’m happy to report that each and every one of my children spent a full hour or more working on math every day last week (even Labor Day—and we had a soccer tournament final that day). I attribute this astounding fact to the warm embrace our family has given to Dreambox and Aleks. They love it. They are definitely learning something. I am not a math teacher. I am grateful for a computer that is. Hooray!

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

I have stressed and stressed over The Schedule. I have lost countless hours of sleep trying to make it all work, to figure out how to be at one opportunity east of me, one west of me, and another north of me at the same time, in order to meet the needs (and wants) of different children. And then something amazing happened. I handed it all over to God and watched in awe as He worked it out in ways I could have never imagined. I started to write about it here, but it’s gotten too long, so I’ll save it for a post of its own. Hopefully soon.

To Live the Liturgy

It’s nearly time to begin our preparations for feasts of the fall.

I am Hoping and Praying

~for Patrick, who is in Spain this week. He plays the Spanish U17 national team tomorrow and Thursday.

~for the traveler who will come to stay with us this weekend. I pray her time here is everything she hopes it will be. And then more.

.

In the Garden

The mums are starting to pop. The petunias look a little beaten up after some serious wind last week, but I’m going to leave them in a while longer, yet. Tomatoes are looking a bit bedraggled. Roses are beautiful.

Around the House

I still haven’t created a new chore chart. I’m using the “see a need, call the first person who comes to mind” method.Mary Beth and I thoroughly organized the little girls’ room last week. That’s probably a post in itself, too…

From the Kitchen

I’ve temporarily abandoned my cycle menu while we experiment with some new recipes. This week, we’re eating

Sunday: chili (with sweet potatoes added-it was yummy)

Monday: chicken and white bean salad

Tuesday: Maple Dijon pork chops, Caesar salad, roasted broccoli

Wednesday: Chilled Linguine with Gorgonzola and Basil

Thursday: sandwiches to go—we’re eating at the park.

Friday: Cowboy beans and cilantro lime rice

Saturday: grilled sandwiches before Michael’s game

Almost all from the Whole Foods Market Cookbook

One of My Favorite Things

Happy Anniversaries.

Sarah Annie this week

After nearly two years of living in our room, she has discovered “her room.” She could easily spend several hours a day playing with the dollhouse in there. And she prefers to sleep in “her” bed, too, much to her daddy’s chagrin. It’s sweet to see her moving into the territory of her sisters and to see them envelope her in their world.

Gonna miss her, though.

Gosh, there’s a lot of missing going on around here, isn’t there?

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Hmmm: haircut; ballet planning meeting with dear friends, the kickoff game of Monday Afternoon Football season, two playdates in the park, much soccer, ballet, and the hum of busy excitement as we prepare for Saturday’s trip to the airport to meet our guest.

Picture thoughts:

My anniversary lunch: a Sweetheart Roll at our favorite sushi bar. Isn't it beautiful? (Cell phone photo)

Daybook on the Feast of St. Augustine

Outside My Window

A beautiful, unseasonably cool day.

I am Listening to

The little girls “reading” What Do You Say Dear?

Stephen and Nicky talking about how they’re going to work out and get really big and make the National Team…

I am Wearing

A yellow t-shirt that says Virginia State Champions  2009 U14 and a pair of Umbro sweatpants that I’ve long coveted. They are were Paddy’s. He’s sponsored by Nike now and can’t wear any of its competitor’s clothes. Adidas anyone? We have plenty.

I am so Grateful for

~dear friends who have been tender and kind in so many ways.

~ a bushel of peaches on a day when rhythm and beauty around the kitchen island brought comfort and

~ the person who knew that peaches would be a very good idea. That would be the same person who got up early to sit with me at Nicky’s soccer game right after Paddy took off and just talk about normal stuff.

~my mother and stepfather who made a computer possible for Patrick and thereby guaranteed we’ll see and hear him often.

~the chance to see how much my kids care about each other.

~sweet blond heads on my shoulders.

~gifts and blessings, even when it’s really, really hard to see that’s what they are.

~ Patrick, who assured me it was good enough.

~ Mike, because…

I'm Pondering

I have sometime placed my hopes in my own virtue, which was no virtue; and when I attempted to run, thinking I was very strong, I fell very quickly and went backward instead of forward. What I expected to reach, disappeared, and thus, O Lord, in various ways You have tested my powers. ~St. Augustine

I am Reading
Nothing. I can’t concentrate right now. Surely this week that will improve.

I am Thinking

I think that any time a child leaves home, it’s only natural to think reflect on our role in that child’s life. When we homeschool, the role is such a large, all-encompassing one. When a homeschooled child graduates and moves into the next stage, we think about a job completed—what we did right, what we’d do differently. I did that when Michael left. It prompted stinging criticism at a time when I was already raw. So, we’re not going there this time. And this time is different. This time, I wasn’t finished. I had four days to take a child who’d never stepped foot in a classroom and ship him off to boarding school almost a thousand miles away. This time, he left three years earlier than I thought he would. And so, I’m definitely thinking big thoughts. This time, I know better than to share and I’m keeping them very much in my heart. But I offer this for your pondering: if your child unexpectedly left home and went to school next week, no doubt there would be things undone, well-laid plans untouched. But off he’d go and you would be left to think about what you did do, what you did offer. Are you doing things in the right order? Would the important things be done?

I am Creating

Zilch. I am so exhausted that I’m just sitting here waiting for life to happen. It always does.

On my iPod

My Wish. I’m not listening to it though.

Towards a Real Education

On Monday, we will settle into our new normal. I will be grateful for the sweet faces around my table and the opportunity to begin again, a great deal older and wiser, I think, than I was just a month ago.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Remember this line, from last week?

Until the inevitable unplanned….

Oh my. The inevitable unplanned. And then some.

To Live the Liturgy

Having trouble getting through Mass without crying. No doubt that will improve, too.

I am Hoping and Praying

~for Patrick, who starts school on Monday, for his teachers, his coaches, and all the people who will touch his life for the next fourteen months. Please, God, be with them all.

~with gratitude for the Campus Ministry at George Mason University, which has been everything I prayed it would be three years ago, and so much more.

~for Michael, who begins his final semester on Monday.

In the Garden

Paddy, I promise—I really, really promise—to take very good care of your roses.

Around the House

The house is trashed. I’ve been gone for the better part of the last two weeks. And the people who moved out of here? The left huge messes in their wakes. Monday we clean. Cleaning is always healing.

From the Kitchen

Peach pies and peach crisp. And we cooked a lot last week. Paddy in the kitchen is a happy thing and we were going for lots of happy. This week, we tweak the menus and make sure they work with the fall schedule. And there will be apples—lots and lots of apples.

One of My Favorite Things

Skype.

Sarah Annie this week

Sweet darling. Snuggle in and sing to me in that dear voice. Be patient as I hold you and inhale your baby head. Know how much you are loved and hear me promise again to treasure every moment.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Colleen and her boys will spend part of this week with us. We’re planning to go apple picking on September 1^st. I am astounded by God’s providence. Last year, I wanted so badly to be with her. This year, we’ll mark the anniversary together. God is good.

Picture thoughts:

 

Sarah picked the picture this week.