Finding Joy Friday

Thanks Angela for the reminder to look for joy in little things (check her out at Plains Life).

This week:

*I'm feeling better and not having as much pain with these stupid kidney stones, but when I do I have really good drugs to help.

*The possibility of major change in our lives.

*Dyeing my hair purple - doing the touch ups at home so I don't either pay my stylist every 10 days (NOT) or live with the fading.

*Feeling positively prehistoric when Toby asked me who 'Pebbles' is and when answered replied "What's The Flintstones?"

*The kids telling really bad knock-knock jokes in the car.

*Anna sewing her own American Doll clothes.

*Casey's always sweet generosity in taking care of me when I'm not feeling well.

*Good friends who don't judge when you email them high on pain meds and remind you to take care of yourself.

*Being thankful for every moment of every day we're given.

Where are you finding JOY this week?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Kite...

That's what I'm as high as right now!

After spending the wee hours of Friday morning in the ER for kidney stones (one of them is 9mm) I am now the proud owner of some sweet narcotics.

I'll be back with something more interesting when I can form more coherent sentences.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Finding Joy Friday

"Can we play Wii?" - Toby age 5

"No. You need to use your imagination." - Mommy age ...

"I'm done using my imagination" - Toby age 5

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.

Carl Sagan 

Finding Joy Friday is inspired by my friend Angela over at Plains Life.  Please check out her blog and join us in seeking Joy in the little things.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Not Quite Vacation,

But there was still fun to be had.

Riley, Toby, Casey, Anna, Xander, Mimi, Anslea

Toby & Anna on the pier

  
Cutest teeny frogs and toads caught by my kiddos at our rental house (sorry AmyN)

I mentioned yesterday that we spent some time in Gulf Shores, AL.  Unfortunately it was for a memorial service.  Casey's Grandmother passed away last week after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.  The service was lovely and even fun (think wake-ish but we're not Catholic) as stories were told and memories shared.

We did get out to the beach for a little while and then to the pier the next morning.  We saw a sea turtle, a shark, played in the sand and the rain, and hunted frogs and toads and millipedes.  I spotted the largest butterfly I've ever seen in my life.   It was hot and muggy (93 degrees + 78% humidity = heat index of 113 degrees - AT 7 A.M.) and stormy and a little frantic (I'm not fond of last minute travel with two kids and two beagles), but it was good too.

While I wish it was a more relaxed trip with more time for sun and sand, we are all glad to be home.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

So Today We Learned...

About the life-cycle of frogs, the children's interest being piqued after much frog hunting/catching whist in Gulf Shores, AL this past week.

The kids made books and origami jumpers and froggy puppets and booklets.

AND (more importantly)

I taught my precious children how to make armpit "toots."

I'm the BEST mommy ever!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

"When do They go Back to School?..."

How often I hear that phrase.

I am asked about my own children and I hear mother's bemoaning longs days with their children home for summer break.

I'll tell you right up front - that second part - I just don't get.

Maybe because we're homeschoolers (or maybe it's why we are), but I enjoy the constant companionship of my kids. My children are very interesting people and we play, and sing, and learn, and craft, and travel, and explore, and work, and just downright have a good time together. My mother used to HATE back to school for the same reasons; maybe it's inherited.

Now don't get me wrong - I TOTALLY get needing grown up time away from the kids and I make room for that as well (elsewise Mommy gets a little Norman Bates thing going on), but the whole 'back to school collective sigh of relief' is lost on me. That's ok though. While everyone else is up at the crack of dawn making lunches, chasing children out of beds, sitting in hot carpool lines, and fighting traffic we'll be snuggled up in our pajamas reading books (lots of them).

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Behind Already...

At first this post was entitled "I'm Late! I'm Late!" but then I realized that sounds like something entirely different. NO! NOT that.

There are only 143 more Crafting Days until Christmas.

I usually begin in January (yes I do that) and I have only JUST made my list. Now my friend Andrea is likely finished (She's AWESOME!), but me, I'm behind.

It's time to finalize that list and get crafty!

Oh yeah there's also those two swaps I need to finish and a sweater for a friend that needs some crochet work.

Suddenly I hear Devo in my head!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe