Lazy Days of Summer?

Whoever coined that phrase did not have children!

We're only 1 1/2 weeks into our summer schedule, and I'm exhausted!  Mostly because I spent all last week getting ready for the used book sale I participated in Monday at our local Home School Building.  It's a huge sale; approximately 200 tables worth of used books and curriculum set up in the gym.  It was hot, crowded, and rather mind-boggling at times, but I did sell a lot and made some money to use for next year's curriculum. 

In regards to my summer goals, I accomplished 2 out of 3 last week.  My first area of cleaning and organizing was our homeschool books, which was mostly accomplished before the book sale.  But I still have this past year's things to put away.  Also, I exercised 6 times! Two of those days I walked first thing in the morning - something that hasn't worked for me in the past.  It sure feels good to cross that off the list so early in the day!

This week I'm way behind due to the book sale and other various appointments and scheduled events.  Hopefully I'll be back in the game next week.  Oh, yeah, then family is coming.  Well, maybe the week after that?!

The kids are certainly enjoying their summer!

Summer Goals

With homeschooling done for the year, I've made 3 goals for myself this summer.

Putting it in print will help keep me accountable, I hope!

1. Extra, heavy-duty cleaning and organizing of one room or area of the house per week.
2. Walk or exercise regularly - my goal is daily, but I'll be happy with at least 5 days a week.
3. Try one new recipe a week from several cook books that I haven't had time to explore yet.

The cleaning and exercising are the most important to me.  Dealing with depression and health issues on and off for several years made regular, consistent exercise an impossibility, and anything beyond basic survival-mode cleaning usually didn't happen.  I have muscles and a house long-neglected that I aim to pay a lot of attention to now that I'm feeling better.

I still have to keep boundaries in place to keep from over-doing things and exhausting myself. But I'm hopeful that my health will allow me to meet my goals as much as possible. Wish me luck! 

Always Be Prepared

You never know when you might need to defend yourself or your family from the bad guys.  So even when doing school work, be prepared!

I love how boys are just born with a natural, God-given desire to protect, defend, provide, and conquer.  It's busy work raising 3 Knights-In-Training!

Sweet Shot Tuesday - June 1

The pier and lighthouse at sunset in Grand Haven, MI, over Memorial Dad weekend.

What a great way to end the day!

Aaron's favorite books

I love it when my kids love the children's books that are my favorites too.  Aaron has (finally!) started to enjoy books more the past few months.  He's still not reading on his own, but he likes when I read to him every day.  A few recent favorites:

"The Little House" by Virginia Lee Burton (copyright 1942) is not as well-known as the others.  It's a heart-warming story about a little house that loves living in the country, seeing nature around her, and watching the seasons change.

But as time goes on, the city that was once far away creeps closer and closer until the now-abandoned little house becomes completely surrounded by tall buildings, trains, noise, cars, and smog.  The house is very sad because she can't even see the sun in the day or the moon at night.

Then one day, the great-great-granddaughter of the man who built the house rediscovers the house and has it moved back out to the country where it is fixed up and becomes happy again.

Aaron's other current favorites are all mice books - his latest phase.