Daybook, June 21, 2010

Outside my window...scorching sun...blackberries ripening...garden needs hoeing
I am thinking...about how much I miss my little ones when they aren't here
I am thankful for...suppers cooked with garden vegetables...a rainbow of colors arranged in a vase...God's continual refinement of me
From the learning rooms...eager learners...seeking the sanctuary of the house in the hot afternoons
From the kitchen...blackberries...freshly picked...waiting to be made into a cobbler
I am wearing...T-shirt and pants...stained with blackberries
I am creating...a list of words to define and explain from Bo's year one readings...we will begin in January
I am going...to gather the eggs...the green beans...and the zucchini
I am reading...verses on gentleness...how to scaffold during narration article...couponing blogs
I am hoping...to be a more understanding and gentle mother...my utter failure in this area has been so obvious lately
I am hearing...the pitter patter of baby feet...unusual quietness...the big kids are gone to grandmas
Around the house...a renewed determination to keep a couple of clutter areas clean
One of my favorite things...holding my little ones and smelling their hair
A few plans for the rest of the week:

• plant the strawberry runners
• harvest the first of the peas
• speak words of affirmation to my little ones daily

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Daddy's homemade slip-n-slide was a big hit!

Our First Harvest...

Today the boys and I decided to dig the carrots, onions and some potatoes.  We also had a few green beans, three zucchini and a squash.  This was our first big harvest day.  They were so excited as we were harvesting our vegetables.  Bo kept saying,"I wonder what we are going to have for supper tonight?"  I love gardening with the little ones and seeing their excitement when we get to harvest our hard work.


Tonight I'll have to cook a supper of vegetables so we can eat our hard work.

Couponing With The Kids

So I have been trying my hand at this couponing thing.  Saturday I took the littles on our regular trip to the farmer's market and to pick up our milk.  I decided to stop by Wal-mart and browse the grocery aisles for any sales that might match my coupons.  I was so proud of the little ones patience as mommy slowly went through her coupons on each aisle.  I was proud of my efforts. 

My total at Wal-mart after coupons was 12.90.  I had 9.10 worth of coupons.  I usually do not buy a lot of pre-packaged items.  I tried to clip coupons that were more for whole foods.  There is one box of crackers in the back, but other than that, I think I made fairly good decisions.  I should have compared banana prices, because Wal-mart will match competitors prices, but I didn't.  Also the tomatoes were not on sale but I had a dollar off coupon.  That made them 32 cents.  I could have waited and possibly gotten them for free, but I didn't.  The yogurt was fifty cents after coupons and the taco bell taco items were almost free.  I had tried to buy some wipes but my coupon didn't work.  It turned out is was a buy two get 2.00 off and I had only picked up one. 

Lesson learned:  Read coupons closely and Wait till items are on sale


Next stop:CVS

CVS had Aveeno baby lotion on sale for 75% off.  They were marked 1.84 per bottle.  I had a 2.00 off coupon for two lotions.  So my total at CVS was 2.06


Next Stop:Piggly Wiggly

My local Piggly Wiggly doubles coupons up to 90 cents.  I have printed off several coupons for my butter and ended up buying the whipping cream as well.  The coupons were 75 cents doubled.  The best deal is the whipping cream for several cents after coupons.  I happened upon this corn I had two 50 cents off coupons and they doubled it for me.  Total at Piggly Wiggly 8.00.


All stores total:22.96

Total saved: 17.10

Special Moments With My Little Ones...

dusky dark...lightening bugs emerge...let's get a jar mom...running through the yard catching lightening bugs with the my little ones

little girl...first time to catch lightening bugs...grabbing my hand...pulling me along..."Oh, here's one momma." she says

mulberry picking...little hands stained mulberry...faces too...shirts not coming clean...moments to remember...always

excited boys...running to momma..."can you come quick and see what we've found"...see a mouse..."we are really getting to see a lot of God's creation lately"...

baby steps...chubby legs...noticing the hill...deciding to scoot down on here tummy

chubby fingers pointing...baby babbles...grinning...reaching up for me to take here...moments I want to cherish

big boy...upset daddy's schedule is changing...crying in the dark...daddy comes to comfort and lay beside

Mulberry Picking

My brother has a mulberry tree in his yard, hanging full with fruit.  I took the littles to pick some a couple of days ago.  I love picking fruit during the spring and summer.  The boys were so excited about going.  The branches were a little high for us to pick from.  We managed to get 1/2 gallon from his tree and another in the neighborhood.



We thought the mulberries were very yummy! I liked them better than blackberries.  My grandfather says when he was little, they wouldn't let him eat mulberries...but none of us have gotten sick yet!?!  We made a yummy mulberry cobbler and mulberry syrup for our pancakes.

Blackberry and blueberry picking will be here soon...
Until then...here are the littles loving the mulberries!

Celebrating His Gifts...

Yesterday we headed out to a local park in our area. The littles took their bikes and I packed a picnic. Since Chris was off work, he was able to go along. We had a wonderful time strolling around the pond watching the littles ride their bikes and look for crawfish, frogs, minnows and salamanders at the creeks.

brothers...hats on head...racing around the pond on their bikes...laughing

little sis...riding the tricycle...pink dress flowing...hair blowing...looking so proud...her first time to get to ride on the trail

baby girl...riding in the stroller...waving to everyone who passes

my love and I...enjoying the blessings God has placed in our life...walking along side by side

brothers...peering into the creek...carefully lifting rocks...squeals of delight when they find something hidden beneath

little sis...trying to catch a tiny toad...learning to be brave as she holds it in her hand

After our picnic, I wanted to take a walk over to the wildflower garden. I have been reading a book about medicinal plants of the southern Appalachians. I had noticed a couple of ladies from the wildflower society working in the garden when we arrived. I wanted to walk over and see if they could help me identify some of the plants that were listed in my book. They were very helpful. They pointed out several plants around the garden and even gave me some jewelweed to plant in our yard. I hope the jewelweed does well, because it is a natural remedy for poison oak and I have one little one highly allergic.

Upon returning home, I put the little ones to bed and planted the jewelweed in the yard. I decided to take a walk down to the spring and see if I could identify some plants. Bo went with me while the others slept. We had such a fun time hiking along the creek bed and enjoying the beauty of nature.