Happy Homemaker Monday

Obsessing a bit over my latest granola recipe...

{weather outside:}

At this early hour, there is a light frost on the grass and a chill in the air but the forecast for today {and for the rest of the week!} looks dreamy: mid-60's to low-70's and sunny!

{around my home:}

Bright sunshine is streaming through the kitchen window as I sit in my usual spot to nurse my youngest. My other two boys are playing 'King George vs. Dragon' on the rug near my feet. Toys are scattered on the floor, pillows are dispersed around the couch, clean dishes are waiting to be emptied from the dishwasher, and laundry is piled in a basket needing to be folded: looks like a typical Monday.

{on the breakfast plate:}

me:
plain greek yogurt topped with cinnamon almond granola, blueberries & a drizzle of maple syrup
fried eggs topped with fresh baby arugula
apple cinnamon herbal tea with honey

boys:
strawberry banana smoothie
fried eggs topped with fresh baby arugula
toast topped with cashew butter, maple syrup & cinnamon

baby:
plain yogurt with cinnamon & mashed banana

{menu this week:}

monday: Chicken Pot Pie
tuesday: Roasted Chicken Thighs, Brussel Sprouts & Potatoes
wednesday: Chili & Cornbread
thursday: Beef Stew over Mashed Potatoes
friday: Fried Flounder with Grapes, Rice & Green Beans

{new recipe:}

Creamy Carrot Soup topped with Roasted Chickpeas

{today's to-do list:}

~ pay bills
~ 2 loads of laundry
~ straighten
~ upload photos
~ clean bathroom
~ vacuum bedrooms
~ empty dishwasher

{on my nightstand:}

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis {aloud, with four-year-old}
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill {audio, while sewing}
Last One Home by Debbie Macomber
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

{on my television:}

How I Met Your Mother {with my husband}
Fuller House {hopefully with my sister... hint hint ;)}

{in my craft basket:}

apron for my aunt's birthday
blanket for my friend's baby shower

{on my mind:}

I'm trying not to dwell too much on the fact that my baby is going to be a year old! I really don't know how an entire year went by since he was tucked snugly in my tummy. What a crazy, busy year it's been. Everyone is right, it goes by so very fast and, while I do try my best to enjoy this time while my littles are still little, in the day to day moments when one is crying on my hip, one is pulling on my leg wanting his cape tied for the eighth time, one is running around in circles around the kitchen table singing Jingle Bells {yes - in March}, and I haven't even had a moment to take a bite of that egg I fried for myself twenty minutes ago, well, enjoying the moment can get a bit tricky. At the end of the day, however, I could not be happier living my life as a stay at home mom with full hands and a full heart and I hope that, in the future, when I look back at this phase of my life, I will be content in the fact that I tried my best to enjoy each moment in spite of my utter and complete exhaustion - ha!

{lesson learned:}

My Mother-In-Law gave us a Christian Lullaby album for Christmas and I finally played it one afternoon upon the request of my four-year-old. Well, the calming effect it had on the entire house gave me the idea to play it right before naps each afternoon. Such beautiful 'Baby Jesus' music - as my boys call it - gets everyone in the mood for some shut eye.

{looking forward to:}

A week filled with sunshine and high temperatures - let's hope the forecast is accurate anyway!

{verse:}

Rejoice in the Lord alway, again I say, rejoice. 

- Phillippians 4:4

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Linking up with Sandra today: