The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 7.13.11

A little Simple Woman's Daybook on a quiet afternoon...

Outside my window...
hot, hot, hot. We had a week of beautiful weather in Ohio and came home to a heat advisory. Our poor air conditioner is running 24/7 and still can't keep up. Also a blow-up kiddy pool--which Elijah bit holes into the very first time he used it last night. Seriously?

I am thinking...
that you just can't kiss a fat, happy, squishy baby enough :)

I am thankful for...
my beautiful friend Sandra, who drove five hours yesterday with her two kiddos to spend a couple of days with me! We have known each other since the seventh grade, and while we didn't grow up together exactly (we lived in neighboring towns and went to different schools), our paths crossed at various times: Junior Choral Society was the first, then Chrysalis and church camp and then we ended up at college together. It is so wonderful to catch up with her this week after not having seen her in almost two years--during which time she and her husband adopted two children!

From the kitchen...
lots of vegetables after a week of vacation eating :) Probably going to make some chicken, corn and tomato pitas this week...another round of zucchini pizza...and then I'm hoping to get some fresh tomatoes at the farmers' market on Saturday and go nuts. Tomato pie, perhaps?

I am wearing...
khaki bermuda shorts, a brown tank top and an aqua tank top, and brown flip flops.

I am creating...
a new writing project dealing with prayer and parenting. I'm really excited about it.

I am going...
to try to mop my kitchen more often. Having done it last night, it feels so good to have a clean floor after it was so nasty. Mopping, at least with my steam mop, is one of those dumb chores like ironing, where I put it off and put it off and then once I finally get around to it, I wonder, Why did I wait so long to do this? It doesn't take that long, it's not that hard or unpleasant, and it's so nice to not have it hanging over my head anymore!

I am reading...
several books simultaneously, as usual. I'm rereading books one and two of Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga because the third book came out recently. I've also been enjoying new(ish) books by favorite authors: Elyse Fitzpatrick's Give Them Grace and Tim Keller's King's Cross. Always, always, too many books and too little time...

Bible-wise, I am digging into Proverbs and working through 1 Chronicles, still trying to grow in "how to read the Bible Christianly."

I am hoping...
to sort, edit and upload a slew of photos and videos soon--I took a TON of pictures last week, plus we had Steve's cousin take family photos for us. I so love pictures. Also hoping to do a vacation recap with some of those pics here on the blog.

I am hearing...
Jude bouncing and squealing and giggling in his doorway jumper. Best $5 I spent this summer--he LOVES that thing.

Around the house...
Steve just walked in the door, home from work early! That's a fun surprise.

One of my favorite things...
frappuccinos. I just discovered that a mocha frappe from McDonald's is actually really good and way cheaper than Starbucks. Also way more accessible...thus way more dangerous.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Sandra and her kids are here until tomorrow, so I anticipate another late night talking after the kids all go to bed. After that I am looking forward to a quiet weekend with my guys--nowhere to go except church, no schedule or rushing around, just resting and spending time together and getting things done around the house. Ahh.

A picture thought I am sharing...
the boys had tons of fun splashing in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard last week: