Synonyms & Weaponry with Mari

Yesterday at the lunch table, Mari Alice reported, "Big, Honkin', and Huge mean all the same thing."

Every time Luke and I get into a pretend scuffle - you know the kind where I've got him in a pretend choke hold & he's talkin' trash & pretending not to be in pain - Mari runs to her pretend kitchen and hurries back armed with a large wooden rolling pin. "Here, Momma, beat him with this!" Then we all just laugh, 'cause where did she even get that idea??

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, November 9, 2009...


Outside my window... Not sure...I was a complete hag-of-a-cave-dweller today. Is it my nose I had to the grindstone? or an ax? it's late and clever metaphors elude me.

I am thinking...that two weeks from tomorrow we will be heading to Colorado. SO excited!

I am thankful for...my kids. They helped me today AND got their stuff done. HUGELY productive day with minimal frustration...plus also: they are so stinkin' cute.

From the learning rooms...Mari read the word, "run" and now believes she should move on to chapter books. Speaking of books, Ashlin would prefer to be left alone with a pile of them instead of plodding through spelling or handwriting. Speaking of writing, Ardyn pens a fresh poem after every meal. Speaking of meals, Luke... oh, we're talking school, huh? Speaking of changing the subject, Luke & Landen are reporting to their dad for homework and such. VERY nice arrangement for the recovering "parade-rainer" mom and her game-hunting sons.

From the kitchen...Tonight we gobbled down homemade Lasagna, mixed greens, and Sugar Cookie Tea. Lunches are made for the next couple days and tomorrow's dinner is a crock pot deal, so we're SO good.

I am wearing...my soft gray v-neck gown that has subtle pink flowers. (CANNOT do blatant floral bleck) All Johnsons are bathed and resting within freshly laundered bedding. SUPER way to end a day!

I am creating...re-organized spaces. The arts & crafts cabinet had gotten WAY outa sorts and Elizabeth's clothes needed some TLC. Since baby clothes are so difficult to keep neatly folded, we have bins in which to toss her darling duds. But I found a sock in the burp rags, pj's in the blankets, and a bib in the pj's. Following my consecutive discoveries, I dumped her entire wardrobe onto the bed in piles. Breathe in. Breathe out. Begin again.

Ardyn is supervising the craft cabinet redo. (long story)

I am going...to MOPS in the morning and L'view on Wednesday.

I am reading...Fall magazines for moi, and a Nancy Drew mystery to the kids.

I am hoping...to finish this post soon. I'm getting wordy, and that means I'm NOT getting to bed.

I am hearing...nada. Isn't it nice?

Around the house...tidy, dusted, and "but for the lads' room" vacuumed. They're gonna deal with their dirt on a personal level.

One of my favorite things...laundry baskets. Do you KNOW how many things you can haul & store in those friendly, wipeable bins? I think that's a whole post in itself...mm mmmmm.

A few plans for the rest of the week...MOPS, Dr. appts, lunch with a friend, shopping, lessons, Bible Study, jot a couple notes, and smile as often as possible. Life is good.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...I'm fresh outa photos...but please visit my friend, Kathy's blog, for she has many, many cheerful pictures!

To participate or simply enjoy more daybooks, visit The Simple Woman.

Hey Diddle Diddle

The cow...
...jumped over the moon...

...and the dish...

...ran away with the spoon.



Fall Festival 2009

Motivational

Last summer I tried and tried to convince Landen NOT to wear the black tank top with his swim trunks. Beyond girlish tan lines and the conjured images of Bing Crosby in a 1930’s beach musical, it was just strange. He had a decent enough reason for wearing a shirt: the tag at the back of his shorts was “itchy”. Tucking the undershirt into his waistband solved the problem. Oh? I hadn’t mentioned the black tank top was tucked in?? Yes sirree!

Anyway, gentle prod after pointed discussion brought about ZERO change.

Until…he attended a Jr. High lake party. He magically returned home cleansed of all his warped stylistic preferences. In Landen’s words: “This girl with blond hair looked at me weird and I asked her what she was looking at and she just looked at my shirt one more time and said, ‘Nothin’.”

Super. I WISH I could have been part of the solution, but ultimately, as long as he’s not flaunting the “tank ‘n’ trunk” ensemble anymore, I’m pleased.

Next issue. For months, Landen has had a rash of sorts behind his ear. He scratches it all day and it gets raw and then spreads. We have seen the doctor twice about it. We have some medicine that keeps the skin clear as long as it is applied consistently. Therein lies the problem. Landen is 13. Consistency is not his strongest suit. It’s not really my strongest suit either, but I’ve already got an infant and a preschooler who NEED me to gear any consistency I’ve mastered toward the forefront of their personal hygienic maintenance. I’m only one woman!

Over the months, my frustration with his chronic “grossness” behind his ear has led to several different tactical approaches. I threatened to shave his head if he didn’t stop scratching it. I promised to withhold meals if he hadn’t properly applied the medication. I even authorized anyone who saw him scratching his ear to slap his hand…hard! I preached and I nagged. I begged and I griped. I pleaded and punished.

Then… a couple weeks ago I noticed he had clipped his fingernails down to the quick. He said he did it so he wouldn’t scratch his ear. “AH-HA! I’ve made a break though!” I congratulated myself. In the following days he began to proudly display the clean and clear skin behind his ear. My naive assumption that my eloquence and influence had won him over to a life of cleanliness was short lived.

Yesterday in the kitchen, I told him how pleased I was that he was making such consistently mature decisions about his ear. I waited for his “Shucks, Mom, you really are the best for patiently proving to me the importance of personal hygiene!”

To my disgrace, it sounded like this. “Well, Mom, you know a couple Wednesday nights ago? I was sitting in Bible Study and just as I reached up to scratch my ear, this blond girl behind me kind of coughed. I’m not sure if she saw my ear and thought it was gross, but I stopped scratching and pulled my hair over my ears just in case. When I got home I cut my nails and washed my ears really well and put the medicine on. I’ve been putting it on about 6 times a day since then. It’s working!”

A blond girl clears her throat, and the boy has revival in his life.

I’m done. I’m hirin’ me a blond girl with squinty eyes and a tickle in her throat. I’m gonna give her a list. She’s gonna change my world!

Catharsis

I am convinced that the Good Lord gave little girls long, tangle-prone hair so that once or twice per day, they might be afforded the much needed opportunity to "cry it out".

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Tuesday, October 27, 2009...

(By the inspiration of my lifelong hero, I'll attempt to complete each entry in less than three lines...cheer for me...I usually can't give my name & address in fewer than 200 words.)

Outside my window... The last rays of warm, bright sunshine cast long, broad shadows over our marshy meadow of a yard, while chilly children run and romp along the driveway.

I am thinking...that "needing to let your food settle" is an excellent excuse for avoiding almost anything...even the dinner dishes.

I am thankful for...my husband who loves me when I'm not very lovable and shows patience when I've lost mine completely and remains committed to me despite the notion that I might need to BE committed.

From the learning rooms...no formal education today. MOPS, "Phantom Tollbooth", Monopoly, GoFish, snuggling and chatting.

From the kitchen...Green Chili Venison Stew over brown rice with turnip greens and baby peas. The crowd has mixed feelings about the veggies...I love them both!

I am wearing...black sweats, Texas tee, and socks....it's chilly.

I am creating...a recipe notebook. We decorated binders at MOPS today. Brown and Cream Toille! Happy fabric!

I am going...to AWANA, Bible Study, Fall Festival, and Church...and probably to W@lM@art at some point, wouldn't you imagine??

I am reading..."Turn" by Max Lucado and my Fall magazines before bed. It's time to go to bed just a minute or two earlier...my pile is mounting!

I am hoping...to maintain good health - family wide! So far so good with operation: Dodge the Flu.

I am hearing...Preschool worship dvd in the living room and older kids happily hollering outside.

Around the house...messy, messy. This is the price we pay for a truly relaxing day. We'll get'er tidied up after baths.

One of my favorite things...giggling with the kids. I'm too serious too often. I'm a fun girl, and I need to act like it.

A few plans for the rest of the week...lessons, house cleaning, finalize plans and make some lists for Thanksgiving and live abundantly.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...Baby "LizBeth" (The kids have shaved two whole vowels off her name...not really what I meant by nickname)

To participate or simply enjoy more daybooks, visit The Simple Woman.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, September 19, 2009...

Outside my window... Bright and Chilly. The lawn is drying out after last week's flood status and is in desperate need of a trim.

I am thinking...that I have a kajillion chores to do, but the kids are all doing theirs and I would prefer to blog. Later we'll trade: I'll do chores while they read & write. :)

I am thankful for...two strong weeks of good food and exercise. Life is just better when you're not acting like a fool.

From the learning rooms...The three older ones have recently exploited my diminished involvement in their day-to-day learning. Assignments dodged, Quizzes overlooked, Reading ignored. Comprehension NOT checked. We had a little "come to Jesus" meeting last Thursday and I believe we've had revival & renewal...the restitution may take a few more days:)

From the kitchen...the dishwasher has been broken for a few weeks now. Evidently, my darling purchased the Mercedes Benz of dishwashers so we're having trouble locating a certified technician and replacement parts. So we wait. And I wash. Each person drinks out of the same cup all day and we eat lunch on paper towels. And once or twice a day, I enjoy the gentle roar of the faucet. My hands automatically scrub and rinse each dish, bounce it twice in the air to remove the water, and set it gingerly along with the others to dry. All the while, I get to chat with my Heavenly Father about all things we feel are important. Good times.

I am wearing...jeans, last year's MP3 shirt, and tennis shoes.

I am creating...Fall Festival costumes...one of my favorite expressions of frugal creativity. Ardyn attended a costume birthday party Saturday, so we got a bonus run at the craft. With less than 10 minutes and $0 she was transformed into a Japanese doll. She wore my red silk wrap-around robe with a wide black sash around her waist. We smeared diaper medicine and baby powder all over her face and accentuated facial features with bright red lipstick and black eyeliner. We poked two black pens and a sprig of silk flowers into the bun on top of her hair. Lots of fun.

I am going...to take Elizabeth to her 4 month check-up. She is such a great baby and growing so fast!

I am reading..."Turn" by Max Lucado and my Fall magazines before bed, and "Phantom Tollbooth" after lunch to the kids...it's really not a read aloud, but it was referenced by a character in our last book, so I was interested to read it. They are enjoying it too.

I am hoping...that MP3 does a great job next Sunday with the adult choir. I love those little worshippers!

I am hearing...the chattering children and muttering motion of several chores being accomplished simultaneously...and Ashli humming "Holy is the Lord God Almighty"...she ALWAYS sings while she works:)

Around the house...there is so much to do. I should wrap this up.

One of my favorite things...making Philip laugh. Strangely, it doesn't happen often. While he finds me beautiful, industrious, and intelligent, he fails to fully appreciate what I would consider my finest examples of humor and wit. But last night I got a good, hearty guffaw out of him - I don't remember what I said, or how I said it, but he laughed a wide, toothy laugh. Very satisfying.

A few plans for the rest of the week...lessons, costumes, house cleaning, and hopefully a family day in the garage to transition from baseball to deer season.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
She said she was a big girl and could listen to TWO chapters.


To participate or simply enjoy more daybooks, visit The Simple Woman.