Paint, Paint everywhere

I'm not sure that picking out paint color can be listed as a favorite activities but it isn't bad and certainly isn't something I stress over. My brother has the huge Behr paint sample booklet/fan and we had picked out 4 colors that we thought might be right.  A friend had several samples of various green paint from when she was trying to find the right color for her room.  She gave us the samples to help us in our search for the right green.  We felt one color was really close to one of our picks so we painted a nice swatch on the wall.  Alas, it was too dark for us.  We narrowed our 4 picks down to 2 (the lighter 2) and I picked up samples of those 2 colors today.  I painted a nice swatch of each color on 2 different walls....our bedroom is becoming quite the multi-green patchwork.  LOL!   Hopefully, one of these 2 colors is "the one" and we can move on. 

Progress

School is going well.  Morgan has joined Alex and I to finish up the school year with physics. She finished her online science program in December (Dec to Dec).  She didn't like it and we've been researching science curriculum to find her a new one.  While we aren't ready to make a purchase, we'd rather start her in a new program at the beginning of the school year to avoid our current situation w/mid-year completion, we do want her doing science. Soo, she's doing science with Alex.  We are trying to get back in the swing with history reading (not a best for any of us) but we are making progress.  Alex is kicking it in math and will be in Teaching Textbooks grade 6 before the end of this school year.  Morgan is doing a lot of writing and creative arts on her computer. 

I am slowing removing the border in our bedroom.  It isn't easy working with my arms over my head for a long time so it is slow going.  However, I have time, no rush.   We had paint samples from a friend and one matched the #1 choice of green that we had picked out (on paint swatches) for our bedroom VERY closely.  We painted a big square on one of the walls and discovered that while the color family is correct it is too dark for us.  It doesn't seem like it on the swatch, so we will have to go lighter.  We will be going to get samples of the 2 newest choices soon and trying that. 

Morgan's knee is feeling better and she is chomping at the bit to be dancing again.  I think not being able to dance this week and just watching about did her in.  She's getting some practice in patience (sooo not her strong spot).  She will get to start back with lyrical on Monday and may dance as long as she is comfortable.  The only thing she definitely can not do this week is go up on pointe.  Doc wants her to give her knee another week or two of healing time before she tries that.

Morgan took up a big task...cleaning & sorting her closet.  She did a very good job...several things to give away to friends, several bags of clothes & misc toys to donate, and a small bag of garbage (things that were broken & just couldn't be used again).  I am proud of her for doing this and doing such a thorough job.  Also, she was adamant about giving away & donating as much as she could...not wanting it to go in the garbage & thus the landfill.   Now,  I have to help Alex with his closet.   We are really making some headway on decluttering!

Progress....I like it. 

Morgan & Alex - January 2011

On my list of 101 things to do is take a picture of each child every month.  Now I can take more than one picture each month but I would really like to have at least one picture each month of each child.  In the past I have had months with no pictures.  My goal is to take different kinds of pictures.  We shall see how that part works out. :-)   Here are the pictures for January. 

Alex and Bella having some fun playing with the new dog toy.

Morgan knitting, her replacement activity for dancing at the moment.  



Knees and Knitting

What in the world do knees have to do with knitting?  Well, when you are a young lady that LOVES to dance, you've slipped on the ice and injured your knee and can't dance for at least 2 weeks then you must find something else to do with yourself.  Morgan knows how to knit, found a skein of yarn in my closet and is working on a scarf for herself.  She's listening to music as always but instead of dancing around her room or the house, she's knitting.   She went to see the Orthopedist yesterday and found out that she has a patellar ligament strain and slightly injured the upper growth plate of her tibia.  He thinks it will heal just fine as long as she gives it some rest for a bit.  She has to keep it elevated, ice it twice a day, wear a knee brace when walking around, and no dancing.  Thankfully it isn't hurting as bad as it was Thurs-Sun. 

Snow Day!

About 10:30pm last night it started snowing and this morning we woke up to about 3-4" of snow covering everything.  The kids were very excited.  It looked gorgeous with everything covered in a layer of fluffy white. 

Schools were closed but we still did school work. I explained to the kids that they don't have any trouble getting to school. LOL! They got most of their work done and then we all took a snow break & went out to play in the snow....even Corey. The dogs can't decide if they want to romp in the snow, eat it, or forget about it & head inside. They seem to think that snowballs are regular balls & try to catch them. The last few times we've gotten snow here it has just been the powder & isn't very fun. This was perfect snowball/snowman snow. So Corey showed the kids how to roll up the snow to make a snowman. Bella loves sticks of all sizes and kept stealing the arms off our snowman. Poor snowman! 

The kids also made snow angels and had a snowball fight.   The weather forecast is for more snow tonight.  The schools are closed again tomorrow.  I guess we will see what happens tomorrow morning.  :-)  We just might have some more snow to play in.

101 Things To Do In 1001 Days

I finished writing my list yesterday so I thought I would share it today.  I am hoping to complete more items on this list than I did on the last one.  We shall see.  :-)   I have started working on the list already.  Woot!
Corey and I got the idea to try this in 2008 when we heard about the Day Zero Project.  Instead of your traditional new year's resolutions you create longer term goals that can be broken down into steps and you have more time for things that might take more than a year to complete (or save money for).  :-)   If you feel compelled to give it a shot and to share your goals than I'd love to hear about it.

101 Things to Do in 1001 Days


January 4, 2011 – October 1, 2013

1. Remove border in master bedroom.

2. Paint master bedroom.

3. Help pull up carpet in master bedroom.

4. Help put in new flooring in master bedroom.

5. Clean & organize my dresser.

6. Clean & organize bathroom closet.

7. Clean & organize master closet.

8. Clean & organize laundry closet.

9. Help Morgan sort & organize her closet.

10. Help Alex sort & organize his closet.

11. Donate all items that can be donated.

12. Take books to McKay’s.

13. Help Morgan remove the wallies from her walls.

14. Paint Morgan’s bedroom.

15. Help pull up carpet in Morgan’s bedroom.

16. Help put in new flooring in Morgan’s bedroom.

17. Help Alex remove the wallies from his walls.

18. Paint Alex’s bedroom.

19. Help pull up carpet in Alex’s bedroom.

20. Help put in new flooring in Alex’s bedroom.

21. Remove border from upstairs bathroom.

22. Paint upstairs bathroom.

23. Help finish painting stairwell.

24. Hang pictures in stairwell.

25. Replace old stove hood with new white one to match new stove.

26. Get new chairs for dining set.

27. Get new couch/loveseat/chair for living room.

28. Take a monthly picture of each child. 0/33

29. Take a yearly family picture. 0/2

30. Take pictures at Stillhouse Hollow Falls in Spring/Autumn.

31. Learn how to play at least one song on the piano.

32. Make 1 liqueur, using my liqueur book.

33. Dance in the rain with Corey, Morgan & Alex.

34. Exercise - 100 crunches a day for 1 month.

35. Exercise - go for a walk 2 days a week for 1 month.

36. Exercise - go for a walk 3 days a week for 1 month.

37. Weight loss plan - meet 1st goal weight. (written in a journal)

38. Weight loss plan - meet 2nd goal weight. (written in a journal)

39. Weight loss plan - meet 3rd goal weight. (written in a journal)

40. Use Wii Fit every day for 1 month.

41. Participate in a Breast Cancer walk.

42. Stop swearing for 1 week. (Bonus if I can keep this up.)

43. Read 1 book each week. 0/143

44. Post on our family blog at least once a week. 0/143

45. Finish knitting scarf.

46. Start & complete another knitting project.

47. Make a sourdough bread starter.

48. Bake at least 1 loaf of bread from sourdough starter.

49. Try 1 new recipe each month. 0/33

50. Plan & take a weekend away with Corey.

51. Plan & take a trip to a state we haven’t visited.

52. Take the kids to Washington, D.C.

53. Plan & take a trip to visit family in NY.

54. Plan & take a day trip.

55. Get a passport.

56. Plan a weekend with friends.

57. Complete certification process for DONA birth doula.

58. Get sketch turned into logo for use on website, business cards, brochures, and t-shirt.

59. Create brochure for business – A Doula 4 U.

60. Network with other doulas and midwives.

61. Get a back-up doula.

62. Buy 2 shirts with doula sayings on them. 0/2

63. Meet a CBE and audit a local childbirth class.

64. Average 1 doula client each month.

65. Take 1 class/workshop that will help as a doula or towards becoming midwife.

66. Attend a doula/midwife conference.

67. Sign up to volunteer with Operation Special Delivery.

68. Volunteer at CDA dance recital.

69. Get Midnight neutered.

70. Maintain monthly meds (heartworm & flea prevention) for the dogs. 0/33

71. Maintain monthly nail clipping for dogs. 1/33

72. Celebrate the Wheel of the Year.

73. Teach the kids more about each of the 8 festivals in the Wheel of the Year.

74. Organize recipes in recipe notebook.

75. Make quilt for Mom using her fabric squares.

76. Sew at least 1 thing for myself.

77. Sew a “bed buddy” for Morgan’s dance instructors for year-end gift.

78. Make dinner for dance instructors during recital week (dress rehearsal or extra practice night).

79. Don’t eat out for at least one 2-week menu cycle.

80. Get all photos from computer(s) onto a CD or thumb drive or similar.

81. Maintain homeschooling schedule to complete curriculum & progress each year.

82. Encourage each child to pursue their interests.

83. Assist with By Kids For Kids (BK4K) as much as I am able.

84. Start decorating for Yule & Christmas the week after Thanksgiving.

85. Plan and host a cookie exchange in December.

86. Help & encourage Corey to take a guys’ weekend with his friends or brothers.

87. Deposit $100 into my Roth IRA.

88. Meet up with 1 Sept98mom or April01mom that I haven’t met yet.

89. Meet up with 1 friend that I haven’t seen in over a year.

90. Lunch with my mom.

91. Have a date night with Corey every quarter. 0/11

92. Tell Corey & kids “I Love You” every single day.

93. Maintain a calm voice when frustrated with the kids for 1 week. (Bonus if I can keep this up!)

94. Get a pedicure with my mom & Morgan.

95. Spend a day with Morgan.

96. Spend a day with Alex.

97. Lunch with my brother.

98. Attend Alexa & Elliot’s wedding in July 2011.

99. Participate in at least one random act of kindness each month.

100. Post this list online.

101. Write a new list of 101 things to do in 1001 days.

Happy New Year - 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We hope that 2010 was a good year for all of you.  We had our ups and downs but overall it was a good one for our family.  We are looking forward to 2011, what it has to offer and what we can accomplish.  We had a wonderful holiday season.  We spent a lot of time with extended family and that is always a good thing.  We just don't get to see everyone enough. 

Homeschooling is going pretty well.  We still have days that are a struggle and are frustrating but who doesn't.  Overall we are learning and making progress.  We've made new homeschooling friends and that has really helped with the morale.  A new family coffeehouse has opened in Franklin. It is called, Sodium and is for the whole family.  After attending the Open House and a few visits after they completely opened we decided to join.  Check them out if you are in our area.

Corey and I don't do New Year's resolutions but we do participate in the 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days.  This helps create long term goals & changes.  We both had a list end in Sept 2010 so we are starting new ones.  I might be posting mine here....not sure yet.  ;-) 

This year I plan on working to finish up my DONA, International birth doula certification.  In the past 4 days I have met with 2 expecting couples to interview as their doula.  If they decide we are a good fit than I will have 1 or 2 more births under my belt.  I am also hoping to get together with some other doulas. 

That's about it for now.  Hopefully, I will be blogging on a regular basis.