Simple Woman's Daybook: March 2016

{outside my window}

Bright sunshine is streaming through my front bay window at the moment. The temperature has been warming up to the 50's and 60's by mid afternoon the past couple of days and we've been trying to take advantage, even if just for an hour or so before the sun starts to set and it cools off again. All the trees are still bare but I am beginning to notice the very very beginning of early Spring plants starting to bud.

{I am thinking}

... about the chicken cutlets I plan on making for dinner tonight {food is usually on the forefront of my mind} and how eating them dipped in honey instantly brings me back to my childhood.

{I am thankful}

... to be able to stay at home with my precious boys - I try to thank my husband at least once a day for this great gift.
... for the health of my family. The older I get the more I have learned not to take this for granted.
... that I followed my instincts and waited until I felt my two-year-old was ready for potty-training. Now that he is both verbal and excited about it, the process has been a breeze!
... that my husband and I are more in love, better at communicating, and simply happier than we were five and a half years ago when we got married.

{I am wearing}

... black leggings, grey t-shirt, orange sweatshirt, house-slippers, black stretchy headband.

{I am creating}

... a sewing nook.
... a baby blanket.
... a growth chart.
... a children's book.
... an apron.

{I am wondering}

... if my husband will be out of work on time today.
... how my sister's day in the city with her friend is going.
... what to give our youngest for his birthday.

{I am reading}

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis (aloud, to my four-year-old)
North & South by Elizabeth Gaskill (audio, while sewing)
Last One Home by Debbie Macomber
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder


{I am hoping}

... that my camera is fixed soon.
... for the grace to be more patient with my boys today.
... to embrace small crosses with joy.
... to find some time to paint my nails this week.

{I am learning}

... to budget my time throughout the day so that I am able to spend some one-on-one with each of my boys but also have a little time leftover for me to well, breath ;), and pursue some of my interests which, at the moment include sewing baby blankets, writing a children's book, and sketching.
... to let go of my perfectionism and let my sons do their chores, on their own, so that they learn important life skills.
... to physically separate my older sons for periods throughout the day so that they can each have some quiet, independent play time.
... to recognize opportunities to offer up little sacrifices.
... to look for moments of silence externally and internally.

{in my garden}

The birth of our youngest and an unusually cold March kept us from planting our seeds in time last year and, I must say, a bounty of fresh vegetables was sorely missed by us all! This year we have no excuse so, with some warm temperatures on the forecast over the next couple of weeks, my plan is to get the garden beds weeded and the seeds ordered from our usual source by the end of this week so that our garden is planted by the end of this month.

{in my kitchen}

An early Easter, a first birthday, and some Irish genes are going to make for a pretty festive month in our house. Since a festivity is not very festive without delicious food, here's a little sampling of what I'll be preparing in my kitchen this month:

... Corned Beef, Cabbage & Boiled Red Potatoes
... Irish Soda Brown Bread
... Shamrock Sugar Cookies
... Overnight Apple French Toast
... Roasted Lamb with Peas, Carrots & New Potatoes in Tomato Sauce with Mint Jelly (of course) for
... Cinnamon Banana Birthday Cake with Buttercream Frosting

{in my schoolroom}

four-year-old:

... Math: I introduced subtraction last week, expecting a struggle. He caught on almost immediately. We're working on counting by 5's and 10's, telling time, story problems, counting coins and writing numbers 1 - 100.
... Reading: Allowing him to select his own early readers to use for his reading lesson has much such a difference in his motivation. He now looks forward to it and is so proud of himself after he completes each book.
... Phonics: Since he is already reading, most of what he is learning is review but I like that his understanding of blends, vowels, and other important rules are reinforced while boosting his confidence at the same time. Plus he loves all the coloring.
... Penmanship: He is writing all his vowels plus the letters: L, T & B. He is so excited to learn all his letters so that he can start writing 'notes' in his cards all by himself. (Such a sweetie! :)
... Catechism: He can pray Hail Mary and Guardian Angel on his own, without any prompts. He can recite his verses with some prompting. We are learning about Saint Joseph.

two-year-old:

... Colors: He knows purple, orange, yellow, and green. He still struggles with blue and red.
... Shapes: He knows circle. We're still working on the rest... ;)
... Letters: We have reviewed A & B. He can sing his ABC's all by himself {and is very proud of this fact}.
... Numbers: We have reviewed 0, 1, 2, & 3. He can count from 1 to 9.
... Catechism: We are learning about Saint Joseph.

{one of my favorite things}

The adorable earrings my husband gave me for Valentine's Day.

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Linking up with Peggy today: