Tuesday, August 30, 2016

things I don't need

I have a window in the kitchen that looks out into the screened porch.  I like to hand food to the kids out the window.  They love it when I do that.  Recently I got the idea that it would be fun to have a shelf there to set pans on when I want to let something cool outside.  Currently I have to walk around the dining room and out the sliding door.  So it's precarious!

I had a shelf in the garage but P doesn't like to put holes in the house, go figure!  So I needed a narrow table to mount a shelf to.  I was interested in getting a baking rack but am not actually motivated to buy something that is not exactly what I want there.  So we went to many thrift stores and didn't find a narrow table. 

Back at home I did find a sewing table in my garage that is close enough.  And I got the porch re-organized.  I threw away assorted wrappers from treats, and vacuumed quite a bit of kinetic sand off the rug.  I love eating on the back porch.  It feels glamorous even if it is hot...

I love kinetic sand!  I haven't let my children play with playdough for years.  My house is 90% carpet.  But this kinetic sand is so easy to clean up and provides a lot of the same benefits for creativity and fine motor strengthening.  Yay!

Another nice thing that happened recently was that P fixed the sliding door.  I was worried when he took off the bottom metal part and the glass was just...glass!  But he put in new pieces with rollers  and it slides great now.

My success with re-organizing the back porch got me motivated to go through my clothes.  It's so nice to let things go.  I've lost 20lbs in the last 4 months and clothes fit better now.  I don't want new clothes, I just want to get rid of clothes that make me look homeless.  Stains, tears... I deserve better.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

always learning

Today I told the kids I was happy they like to learn.  I really love that learning is fun for us.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

saturdays are awesome

G cleaned his room last night after doing his online math class.  The girls cleaned their room this morning before lunch time!  I'm so grateful that they are learning to clean up.  I'm so glad for the days with less tantrums about it. 

We'll go to the beach and clean up the rest of the house that is not even so bad because we put away 90% of the toys in my bedroom...  I love not having so many toys.  Unfortunately I also love having a lot of toys.

Clothes are clean, food is in the house, house is clean.   It's great going into Sunday with order.

Friday, August 12, 2016

assorted moments











Road trip

We went Everywhere!  I'm amazed at all we did: 
We visited my dad and sister
DC 4th of July on the Mall
National Archives
Air and Space museum
I finally bought an astronaut suit (for the kids)
Visited with MB
Deaf Branch DC
DC Temple Visitors center
Ft McHenry
Hersher Chocolate tour/ride
18" Twizzlers
Visited my HS Best Friend
Priesthood restoration site
Whitmer Home
Palmyra
Pageant
Niagra!
NYC
We visited another sister who let us stay with her for 4 weeks!
Little Red Lighthouse
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Isle
Sailing on the Hudson
Deaf Branch NYC
Subway
Truck Food
NYC Parks
Laundry drying on a line in the breezway
Playstreet
Central Park
NYC Natural History Museum
Firehydrant sprinklers
Free Lunches at the park
NYC gigantic pool
Cloisters
UMASS George Parks band room
Swimming and hiking and camping
Boston
USS Costitution
North Bridge
Rocky Connecticut beach
Amazing touch tank at Hammonasset State Park
USS Intrepid Museum
Valley Forge
Liberty Bell
Independence Hall
US Army Band and Choir 60th Anniversary concert
Visited childhood neighbor BW
Visited with MG's family

Many Wendy's 4 for $4 meals and free frosties were enjoyed by our family over the 5 week trip!