Planning some plans, dreaming some dreams...

Planning for this family is a whole-weekend affair.

Sometimes, it feels like a tapestry. It's an overused metaphor, I know, but hang with me. First, I have the strands of the season. Then I have holidays, birthdays, namedays. There's a saint's day pretty much every day, but we pick the ones we want to make a concentrated effort to celebrate and throw them in the pot-- how's that for a mixed metaphor, LOL!-- and then I work in the liturgical year as well. Each new month brings new main lessons for Michael and Katie Grace. Nicholas and Daniel don't have main lessons yet, but they need planned for as well. There are church events and homeschool co-op events and musical events to be woven in as well. That's a lot of strings to weave into our month!

Thankfully, I have some structures in place. We have a pretty solid daily and weekly rhythm for things like meal planning, cleaning, etc. I'm actually hoping to do a post on that soon. I also have many notebooks and lesson planners. Possibly too many. In order to plan, I got out
1. My family calendar
2. My household notebook
3. My homeschool notebook
4. My monthly notebook
5. Michael's lesson plan book
6. Katie Grace's lesson plan book
7. Nicholas's lesson plan book
8. Daniel's lesson plan book (don't freak out; three boxes are labeled "Wonder Boxes" and three are labeled "Time with Mama" and they just note things I want to be intentional about, like letting him help stir the soup or making sure he doesn't miss his turn feeding the fish.)
9. My planner for "Together Time"-- Story of the World, art, crafts, mama projects and things we do together.

First I planned the menu. Well, back up. First I noted important feasts and festivals this month. And oh my goodness, what a full month it is! There are some great saints' days this month, Lent begins, Michael turns 11. So much to celebrate and remember! After that, I planned my menu around those days. We're having an Irish meal for St. Brigid, some edible candles for St. Blaise, St. Agatha Rolls, blueberry muffins in honor of Our Lady on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and of course, lots of Valentine's Day treats!

Next, it was time to plan the main lessons. I read a great post on artistic planning on Marsha Johnson's fabulous Waldorf Home Educators list. Tweaking it a little to suit my needs, I planned out Michael's North American Geography and Mapmaking block:
And Katie Grace's astronomy block
To give credit where credit is due, many of the ideas for Michael's block came from Eugene Scwartz's knol on the Grade Five lesson block and many of the ideas for Katie Grace's lesson came from this blog post at Black's Cool Homeschooling. After getting an idea of what I wanted to do with Nicholas and Daniel this month, I was home free.

OK, that oversimplifies it. It actually took from Friday till Saturday. But the good news is, I'm all planned for school through the end of the month! And my menus are planned for the first two weeks! It makes an OCD mama's heart happy. :)

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Sigh. Another crazy busy week.

Monday, May 4
Katie Grace has ballet dress rehearsal at 5, and a soccer game at 6:30. Michael has soccer practice at 5:30, followed by Scouts. Once again, we have to figure out how to be several places at once.

Tuesday, May 5
We have a day off school today since we need to travel up to State College for eye exams. All three of the older kids failed their vision screening. Since Michael has to see a pediatric ophthalmologist, we figure we may as well take all of them to see someone who specializes in children. We may visit the visitor center at Beaver Stadium while we're up that way.

That evening, it's swim team sign ups!

Wednesday, May 6
Today we're going on a field trip to an organic farm. Another day off of "regular school". Then in the evening Katie Grace has soccer practice.

Thursday, May 7
The hubster has the Bishop's retreat, and we're back to business as usual. Katie Grace has Brownies in the evening.

Friday, May 8
Katie Grace turns 8!
Wow, two birthdays in two weeks. And tonight is "Awards Night" for our co-op. Everyone gets an award, there are presentations, and of course, yummy food. And Nicholas gets a special little presentation since he starts kindergarten next year. *sniff*

Saturday, May 9
Katie Grace has a home game in the morning. Poor Michael will be missing his game to attend Katie Grace's recital in the afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa are coming up to visit.

Sunday, May 10
Mother's Day
I get to celebrate Mother's Day by taking care of the church nursery, LOL! Other than that, it should be a pretty normal day. Children's Choir rehearsal in the evening, and then our busy week ends.

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, April 27:
Soccer for Michael, followed by Scouts, and the rest of the day is business as usual
Tuesday, April 28:
Ballet for Katie Grace
Wednesday, April 29:
Daniel turns 2 today!
Also, the feast of St. Catherine of Sienna
Thursday, April 30:
Nothing going on today except chimes for Michael and Brownies for Katie Grace
Friday, May 1:
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and of course, May Day
I also plan on leaving the kids with Chip in the morning so I can go to the co-op mama meeting unhindered by small people.
Today is also First Friday, so we might check out what's going on downtown.
Saturday, May 2:
Two soccer games today, one at 9:30 AM and one at 2. It's also Scout Day at Knoebels.
Sunday, May 3:
Church in the morning and children's choir at night, as well as the feast of Sts. Philip and James

Michael is working on a zoology/animal classification main lesson block. He's making a lapbook as his cumulative project. He'll also be creating a "pet store" with an animal from each classification. I'm interested to see how he'll do this! He's reviewing double digit multiplication and working through Life of Fred on his own, and is also working on a research paper that needs to be complete by the end of the year. The book he is reading is The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963. He also has orchestra this week.

Katie Grace has completed her rainforest main lesson and wanted to learn about music. The materials I am using can be adapted for Nicholas as well, so the two of them have been working together to learn about the different families of instruments as well as note values. Katie Grace has really taken off with reading. I believe she has started her first Bobbsey Twins book.

During May, Nicholas will be learning nursery rhymes about flowers, with corresponding activities.

Other plans this week include calling the Rescue Workers to come take away the fruits of our decluttering, tidying up the backyard, getting to the recycling center, and starting our garden.

Have a great week!

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception! We like to celebrate Mary's birthday with a cake.
Also, Michael has Scouts and Katie Grace has basketball practice.

Tuesday, December 9
Nothing but Katie Grace's ballet practice. Whoo hoo!

Wednesday, December 10
Human Rights Day

Thursday, December 11
Blessed Franco Lippi
Chime choir and basketball for Michael, Brownies for Katie Grace.

Friday, December 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe, which means Mexican food for dinner! Then tonight is the church hike down Candy Cane Lane, followed by cocoa and cookies.

Saturday, December 13
Santa Lucia!
This is also the day of our family Christmas party.

Sunday, December 14
The third Sunday of Advent. Choir practice tonight.

We'll continue to do Advent stuff this week and slowly start decorating the house for Christmas. I'm also hoping to get back into a cooking and cleaning routine. I've been lax!

Thanksgiving Vacation

I made the impromptu decision that we're going to mostly take this week off school. We have 90 of our 180 days, so we can afford it.

Today we got the living room clean... mostly. You'd never know it to look at it now, though. We also had homeschool book club--Sarah Plain and Tall--and some friends came over to watch a movie this afternoon.

So, for the rest of the week, a to-do list:
1. Catch Michael up on math
2. Catch Katie Grace up on math
3. Do planning for December main lesson blocks
4. Clean kitchen
5. Clean bathroom
6. Clean bedrooms
7. Vacuum halls and stairs
8. Clear porch
9. Take stuff to the Rescue Workers
10. Mop kitchen and bathroom floors
11. Stuff for sale
12. Change signature on MDC
13. Call library about missing books
14. Make shopping plan DONE
15. Make menu plan
16. Make wood cleaner
17. Make other cleaners with Katie Grace for scout badge
18. Call Katie Grace's Brownie leader
19. Call about twin mattress
20. Clean wood in kitchen and living room
21. Black Friday plan
22. Send packages
23. Research window blankets
24. Sewing
25. Catch up on emails.
26. Finish cleaning out mudroom.
27. Paint kitchen trim. Or at least start.
28. Bathroom floor mat.
29. Kitchen curtains
30. Christmas planning
31. Clean out and document PM box DONE
32. Cut Katie Grace's bangs
33. Christmas crafting and cooking planning
34. Ebay
35. Trip to Amish store and thrift shop

OK, 35 things by Monday. That's doable, right?

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, November 24
I don't understand how November is over already. :(
Ah well. Monday brings our homeschool book club- we're reading Sarah Plain and Tall this month-- as well as a pack meeting for Michael and basketball practice for Katie Grace.

Tuesday, November 25
St. Catherine of Alexandria
I don't know if Katie Grace has ballet today or it's been canceled.

Wednesday, November 26
The children's choir sings at the Thanksgiving service today.

Thursday, November 27
Thanksgiving! We'll be leaving bright and early to travel to Lancaster, and then leaving around bedtime to come back home.

Friday, November 28
Black Friday! Also, Chip has a wedding rehearsal tonight, and a wedding tomorrow.
Today is also the day everyone starts on a course of echinacea. Every year we all get sick at Christmas. Maybe this will be the year we manage to stave it off!

Saturday, November 29
Nothing on the calendar.

Sunday, November 20
First Sunday of Advent-- "Stir Up" Sunday!
"Stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come."

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, October 27
Holy Hannah, how did we get to the end of October already?!?!?!
Today we have our homeschool book club. We're discussing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Michael also has orchestra all week, and a soccer game tonight. I think it's the final soccer game. Hooray! We made it through another season!

Tuesday, October 28
Saints Simon and Jude.
Just ballet for the girl-child today.

Wednesday, October 29
Soccer for the middle two, and that's it.

Thursday, October 30
The Brownies have their Halloween party. Poor Michael just has chime choir.

Friday, October 31
Happy Halloween!
Trick or treating, obviously. At least I think it's trick or treating. Note to self: Find out when trick or treat night is. Also fix porch lights.
It's also Founders' Day for the Girl Scouts.

Saturday, November 1
All Saints' Day!
Also Habitat for Humanity work day for the youth. I think we'll bake some cookies and take them over for the workers.
It's WVIA Day at the Lackawanna Coal Mine, but I'm only going if I can take a helper. I think it would really fit in well with our Pennsylvania History lesson block.
Of course, that all depends on soccer being finished. I really, really hope soccer is finished.

Sunday, November 2
All Souls' Day
Also, the end of Daylight Savings Time. I love getting an extra hour of sleep. It's also amusing to see how many people are late to church.

School Plans
Michael: Continue with his Pennsylvania Main Lesson Block. He's going to paint his salt dough map of PA and do copywork from William Penn's The Fruits of Solitude. We're going to talk a bit about PA's waterways. Also review basic multiplication and division facts.

Katie Grace: Continue with a main lesson block on Celtic Saints. I think we're going to cover St. Brigit and St. Brendan this week. Also review addition and subtraction facts.

Nicholas: We really enjoyed Miss Muffet last week, so in the spirit of Halloween, I think we'll carry on with The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Science: Still working on tree identification and seasonal changes.

Social Studies:We're up to Chapter 10, "The Bottom of the World" (Australia and New Zealand) in Story of the World. We'll be having our Japanese meal Monday night though, since we missed it this weekend.

I hope you all have a lovely week!

This week's plans and projects

To survive.

That's it.

This week's plans and projects

We've got a lot going on this week! We didn't quite get the porch cleaned off-- our September decluttering netted us a whole bunch of stuff that's sitting there waiting to be whisked off by Freecyclers or the Rescue Workers. After it's gone, we're going to really give the porch a scrub down and get it ready for winter.

I also want to get the living room super-cleaned this week-- wash the curtains, maybe steam-clean the floor, move the furniture and vacuum. I need to call someone to come check our fireplace and put in the storm door and windows as well.

Tomorrow we're going to the Amish produce stand to get apples. We're going to dry some and make a bunch of applesauce--yum! While we're out that way, we might do some nature hiking and collect autumn leaves. I also wanted to pick up some nuts. Michael has soccer and Scouts in the evening. Daddy has a funeral.

On Tuesday, the pastor is taking the youth group to Gettysburg. Katie Grace has ballet, but we might skip it this week. The boys get a little out of control waiting while she dances.

Wednesday nothing special is happening other than soccer for Katie Grace and Nicholas.

On Thursday, Michael and Katie Grace are going to see The Miracle Worker. I'll have to plan something special with Nicholas. Then in the evening it's chimes for Michael and Brownies for Katie Grace and me. Apparently it's some kind of makeover/beauty thing.

Friday is family day. I'm trying to come up with something fun to do. It's the first Friday there hasn't been a wedding rehearsal in a long, long time!

Saturday we may go to Thomas Day out at Toys R Us after everyone has their soccer games. Then again, maybe we won't. In the evening we have a church weenie roast and hay ride.

Sunday brings the first children's choir performance and, in the evening, Michael wants to audition for A Christmas Story.

Have a wonderful week!

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, September 29:
Nicholas turns 5 today! It's also Michael's nameday and the Feast of St. Michael and all angels. Michael has soccer and scouts today. He also has orchestra all week, and I'm going to focus on getting the porch cleaned. Daddy's taking off today as well.

Tuesday, September 30:
"All" we have today is Katie Grace's ballet class.

Wednesday, October 1:
St. Therese of Lisieux. Oh, how I love the Little Flower! Katie Grace and Nick have soccer today.

Thursday, October 2:
Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Michael has chime choir and Katie Grace has Brownies.

Friday, October 3:
Nicholas's birthday party! We're having it at the church so Daddy can poke his head in before and after the wedding rehearsal. It's been crazy busy with weddings lately. It's going to be pretty simple, mostly family and one or two friends. We also have co-op today.

Saturday, October 4:
St. Francis of Assisi, one of my favorites! Soccer games in the morning and, if I can stand it, I'll take the kids to the Insect Fair afterwards.

Sunday, October 5:
Harvest Home at church today! Choir in the evening, and that's it.

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, September 22: St. Maurice and his companions: Daddy's name day--he's taking the day off.
And it's the first day of autumn!
Also the first meeting of the homeschool book club at the library. Book: Because of Winn Dixie, and soccer and Scouts in the evening.
We were going to try to go pick green beans today, but I think the day will be packed as is.

Tuesday, September 23: Nothing but ballet today.

Wednesday, September 24: Our Lady of Ransom. Also, two more soccer practices.

Thursday, September 25: Library book sale! Now, to figure out how to get there while Michael is at chime choir...

Friday, September 26: In the morning, Nicholas has his physical and then we're going out to lunch. In the afternoon, Katie Grace is getting her picture taken. In the evening, Chip has another wedding rehearsal.

Saturday, September 27: St. Vincent de Paul. I really wish we had a St. Vinny's shop around here! Soccer and weddings... a typical Saturday!

Sunday, September 28: Church in the morning, choir in the evening.

I'm also hoping to get some shelving for the basement for our food stockpile. I was trying to keep it in the mudroom, but it gets really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter, and the jarred stuff pops its lids. So, I'm hoping to get stuff moved down and the mudroom cleaned up.

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Monday, September 8: The Nativity of Mary
We usually make a cake to celebrate the Blessed Mother's birthday.

Today is the first day of the homeschool Writers' Workshop at our library. I'm very excited about this, but nervous, since I don't know if anyone will show up.

Michael has soccer and then Scouts tonight.

Tuesday, September 9:
Nothing going on today except Katie Grace's dance class!

Wednesday, September 10:
Soccer for Katie Grace and Nicholas, but that's it!

Thursday, September 11:Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks
Today we go to Camp Susque for Safety Day! This is a great way to meet PA's fire safety requirement, which otherwise consists of me saying "No, you can't use matches."

Michael starts chime choir tonight.

Friday, September 12:
Other than a Michael check-up in the morning, we have no plans.

Saturday, September 13: St. John Chrysostom
We like to make something we honey in it to remember this "honey-tongued" saint.

Today is the retreat for the Heart of Mary Educators--H.O.M.E

Sunday, September 15: Feast of the Holy Cross
This day ends with the youth group kick-off bonfire!

This week's plans and projects

On Monday we're taking the day off school and Daddy is taking the day off work. We're ending the day with a cook-out, including root beer floats.

Tuesday will be a little crazy. We have to figure out how to get Katie Grace to ballet and Michael to soccer at the same time.

Wednesday is St. Gregory's feast day. We like to walk around the house singing in chant. We're odd that way. Nicholas and Katie Grace both have soccer,

Girl Scout sign-ups are on Thursday.

First Friday is on Friday. We celebrate both by going to Mass and by going downtown in the evening. This is also the first day of co-op, where we'll be learning about popes and the papacy.

The first soccer games are on Saturday.

Sunday is not only Grandparents' Day, it's also Rally Day at church. We make sundaes during the Sunday School hour, and after church we have a pizza lunch and a showing of Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Adventure.

We also are adding in writing, spelling, Latin, and geography to our school day. Our easy start is over!

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Have I mentioned how good it feels to be back in a routine again? Oh yeah. *happy sigh*

Monday, August 25: We are officially back to school. We started dipping our toes in the water last week, but this week we're jumping in with both feet! It's also Leonard Bernstein's Birthday so we'll be listening to a Young Person's Concert or two,

Wednesday, August 27: St. Monica
I love St. Monica. She was a mama just like me, and St. Augustine gave her more trouble than mine ever will.... and look how great he turned out! I know novenas are supposed to begin 9 days before a feast day, but since God is outside time and space I am hoping He and St. Monica won't mind if I start my novena to St. Monica on her feast day. I could use some mama-guidance from above. It's a pretty simple one. Just pray this prayer, either nine days in a row or every hour for nine hours:

Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine,
You perserveringly pursued your wayward son
Not with wild threats
But with prayerful cries to heaven.

Intercede for all mothers in our day
So that they may learn
To draw their children to God.

Teach them how to remain
Close to their children,
Even the prodigal sons and daughters
Who have sadly gone astray.

Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother,
Many sorrows pierced your heart
During your lifetime.
Yet you never despaired or lost faith.
With confidence, persistence and profound faith,
You prayed daily for the conversion
Of your beloved husband, Patricius
And your beloved son, Augustine.

Grant me that same fortitude,
Patience and trust in the Lord.
Intercede for me, dear St. Monica,
That God may favorably hear my plea
For

(mention your petition here)

And grant me the grace
To accept his will in all things,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God forever and ever. Amen.

Thursday, August 28: St. Augustine

When I was in college, we sang a beautiful collection of choral pieces based on quotes from St. Augustine. One of my favorites:

Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.

I smell copywork.

Katie Grace has Little Flowers today. They're learning about loyalty, going on a picnic, and meeting with Sister Kelly, one of the Capuchin Sisters from the Mother of the Eucharist Convent. Katie Grace loves Sister Kelly, and is really looking forward to seeing her again. She's talked with the girls before, and they all love her.

Friday, August 29: The Martyrdom of John the Baptist

I don't know how much we'll celebrate this one . I tend to avoid the gory stuff with my kids. Although, who knows. They might like it.

Michael and Katie Grace also both start soccer this week.

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Thank you St. Anthony and Michael, the date book has been found! It was Michael who remembered where I last had it. That kid has quite a memory when he wants to.

The kids are going to Vacation Church School this week. I know it must start to look like I just shuttle them off from one VBS to another (hey, that's not a bad idea!) but really, it just worked out this way. Our wonderful church organist has grandchildren who are Katie Grace and Michael's ages, and this was a way they could spend some time together.

Monday, July 21
Daniel's name day! There are several St. Daniel's, but we decided to go with good Old Testament Daniel of lion's den fame. We may or may not make a lion cake or cupcakes. He won't really notice, I guess, since he's just one.

Tuesday, July 22
Mary Magdelene
Haircuts for Katie Grace and Daniel (his first!)
Also, a swim meet in the evening.

Wednesday, July 23
St. Brigid of Sweden. I have a little booklet of her writings. I should definitely try to read some of it.

This is also the big day our brand spanking new Target opens--whoo hoo!

Friday, July 25
St. James.

Dentist appointments for all in the morning, and then we leave for Grovesmen Weekend. The Grovesmen are a group of 5 guys who met at Grove City College in the early '90s. Now, with wives and babies, we are up to... oh, 24 of us I think? And we still get together every year.

Saturday, July 26
It's my name day! The feast of Good Saint Anne.

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Another week of craziness... At some point, we need to slow down our summer.

Monday: Swim practice in the morning, and then Nicholas had his first "Stay and Play" preschool session with early intervention. Tonight, another swim practice. All this was interspersed with errands.

Tuesday: Stay and Play again! Michael and Katie Grace have a swim meet tomorrow evening, and I have a planning meeting withe HOME (Heart of Mary Educators). I'll take Daniel, of course, but I have got to find a place for Nicholas to stay.

Wednesday: Nicholas has art in the morning. I may or may not get the older two to swim practice. Depends on if Daddy can pick them up, because good as I am, even I can't be in two places at once.

Thursday: Free movie in the morning! Veggie Tales: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. Then in the evening, another swim meet.

Friday: Swimming in the morning, and there are some big yard sales around town today and tomorrow. Daddy has a wedding rehearsal tonight, so we'll probably do a movie for family night. We'll also need to have a family meeting before he goes.

Saturday: St. Veronica I'm thinking about getting them all new hankies to celebrate St. Veronica's feast day. Is that too weird?
Swim meet in the morning, and the Dad is off to wedding in the afternoon and early evening.

Sunday: Church in the am--we're doing the nursery!--and in the evening the symphony is playing in the park.

Sigh... I was also hoping to get some school going this week. Nothing major, but Story of the World, math, and Katie Grace's reading lessons. Who knows? Maybe we will!

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

This week is "Scout Week." I'm having each of my older kiddos go through their Scout handbooks and pick a badge they want to work on.

Monday, June 30
First Martyrs
Michael and Katie Grace are going to try to get two swim practices in today, since they missed practice all last week due to camp.
In the afternoon, I'm going to go get my hair done for the first time since I was pregnant with Nicholas!

Oh, and how could I forget? Michael's portfolio is due in the school district office today.

Tuesday, July 1
Canada Day- We don't actually do anything to celebrate Canada Day. I just thought I would note it.
Michael and Katie Grace have swim practice in the morning, and compete in their first swim meet ever in the evening!

Wednesday, July 2
Nicholas has Art Kids in the morning, and the older two will go to swim practice in the evening.

Thursday, July 3
Feast of St. Thomas
In the morning, we're going to see The Water Horse out at the mall. It's part of the free summer kids' movie program. I'll have to see if we have any errands to run while we're out there. Then in the evening, swim team practice!

Friday, July 4
St. Elizabeth of Portugal
Independence Day- We'll have a cookout, but I don't think we have all that much planned.

Saturday, July 5
Blissfully, nothing planned this day except for church!

Sunday, July 6
St. Maria Goretti- I have a special place in my heart for Maria Goretti. She's my confirmation saint! I pray her intercession in the life of my own daughter.

And finally, a quote from my planner:

Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough. --Pierre De Beaumarchais

This week's feasts and festivals, plans and projects

Feasts ALL WEEK: Chip is pastor-in-residence at Camp Mt. Luther, and the oldest two are going as well. That leaves just me and the little boys! Luckily, my good friend down the week will be flying solo this week as well, so we're making some plans to hang out together.

MONDAY: Marketing day! It will probably be an all-day affair. We need to go to the surplus outlet, the grocery store, the natural foods store, and the dairy. Then we're going out to dinner with friends--kids eat free at TGIFridays!

TUESDAY: St. John's Day/Midsummer In the morning we're going to the free kid movie downtown--Veggie Tales, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. We're going out Tuesday night with friends as well. I want to try to felt a sun for the nature table today as well.

WEDNESDAY: We have art class in the morning!

THURSDAY: Feast of St. Palageus

FRIDAY: Feast of St. Cyril Daddy and Big Brother and Big Sister come home!

SATURDAY: Feast of St. Ireneus

SUNDAY: Sts. Peter and Paul and Chip's parents anniversary

Some day this week we'll go spend the day at camp, probably Thursday. Also, my friend said she'd watch both the littles so I could go get my hair cut. I haven't gotten anything done with my hair since I was pregnant with Nicholas. I'm probably a little past due!

I've Got Several Irons in the Fire

Yesterday I looked around the dining room table and realized I had managed to spread out projects-in-progress pretty much at every seat.

We have (beginning down center):
1. Instructions for the new ice cream maker that I better figure out how to use soon before the kids rise up and revel
2. Plastic bag on chair for MOMYS project foam scrappies (did you know foam goes completely undigested through a baby into a diaper? Freaky. They also smell bad, even before they are in the diaper. Ah well, it's the project that was assigned to me...)
3. Foam numbers sorted for my now-overdue MOMYS Preschool Bag Swap.
4. Volume 2 text and activity book for Story of the World.
5. Directions, sheet protectors, and bags for aforementioned swap.
6. Already sorted and bagged letters for the swap.
7. Material and pattern for Katie Gracie Girl's new skirt.
8. Paint and little ceramic figurines the kids want to paint.
9. Flower cut-outs still in the package to be labeled for our May Calendar.
10. Birthday party invitations for Katie Grace's flower fairy party.


I really need to get that all done by our next family meal... or at least all hidden away.

This Week's Plans and Projects

All week long: Orchestra!
Monday: Scouts (Michael)
Find out what's up with Michael's cello pegs.
Michael starts fourth grade math, assuming we can find the books.
Tuesday: Make Earth Day Bars for Earth Day.
Wednesday: Soccer Practice (Michael)
Do some fun St. George and the Dragon stuff for St. George Day. It's all rather nebulous at this point.
Thursday: Ballet Recital Practice (Katie Grace)
Friday: Co-op-- Last day! In the first class they're doing St. George and the Dragon from Catholic Mosaic. In my (last!!!) geography class, we're doing England. Then after the pot luck, we're going to the park to hang out while the big kids have their final rehearsal.
Saturday: Soccer Game (AM)
Katie Grace's Ballet Recital (Afternoon)
Sunday: Michael's Play (Rumpelstiltskin)

Another crazy busy week!