Reading Twaddle

To go along with my earlier post, I always have these grand plans of the genre of books I should be reading particularly spiritual books and classics. But who am I kidding I have a weakness for popular fiction, especially popular mystery series. I go through spurts where I read them and then I find that I should be reading books that will be more spiritually and intellectual enlightening. I justify my reading popular fiction by my reduction in television watching. There a few shows here and there I like to watch but I try and stear clear from it. Like anything else I do have my momentary lapses with it though. Does anyone else have a weakness to the reading of twaddle?

Fresh Start

I have been in a bit of a funk the past couple months. Since becoming a stay at home mom earlier this year, I have gone through many highs and lows. Most recently I have been stuck in a bit of a slump. I get caught up in comparing myself to others and sadly try to be like others (i.e. cleaning routines, homeschooling, etc.) and bring myself and family down.

With the start of the new year, I am declaring it a fresh start. Most importantly I am going to try and stay patient and positive. It has taken me a while to realize I am who I am. I have flaws like anyone else. In 2011 I will pray that I am able to work on improving these flaws and be grateful for what I do provide my family with. I am able to maintain a positive attitude and be optimistic with my extended family and friends. Now its time to bring that to my immediate family and myself.

Season of Colds

It seems to me that the past two months we have been cycling through one cold after another.  It starts with one kiddo and travels to the others and keeps going in this vicious cycle. I am not sure how to stop it other than keeping the kiddos in a bubble, but they keep popping out. :)

We celebrated hubby's birthday yesterday it was a nice evening of fun. I made him a fast friendly cake although the icing was a bit thin it came out surprisingly well.

I think we finally settled on what we are doing regarding Pic Pic's schooling next year. We will be going with an online public school while implementing Orthodoxy and other resources. Some of the ones I am considering are language lessons, apologia and five in a row.

Our plans for the rest of the week will be celebrating the feast day of St. Nicholas.  After liturgy we will enjoy decorating the house. In the past we would decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving; this year we decided to start a new tradition and decorate on St. Nicholas day. I also must finish sending out Christmas cards.

For next week, massive amounts of baking. I am planning on giving baked goods as gifts this year.  We still have a few people to get gifts for and I need to start wrapping. We will be traveling next weekend to spend our extended family's Christmas with them. Not to mention the house and van need major cleaning and I have to pack for three kids. Add to the mix that hubby has a 15 page paper due on the 25th and Grandma will not be here this coming week. Lord have mercy!

Reading...

I have run across this book list a couple of times over the past week. Sad to say but I haven't read very many books on this list. I love to read but have found that I don't have much time for it any more. Or I should rephrase that, I haven't made much time for it. I used to make the time when I was reading popular fiction but found that many of the titles I was reading had a liberal tone to them. I have tried to read the classics but I have been reading The Brother's Karamazov for the past 6 months and it has been my second attempt at reading it. Its hard for me to focus all my attention on a book, which I need to do when I am reading the classics.  My goal is to try and read as many of these as I can in the next year. I have read some of them but don't remember much about them so I will try and re-read all of them, with the exception of Harry Potter. I read the set about seven years ago so I remember the stories more vividly. I will post my progress as I go but first I must finish The Brother's Karamazov.

Daybook 12/2/10

Outside my window... sunny 74 degrees. What a difference from earlier this week.

I am thinking... how do help others when we are orthodox and they are not. Who I am and am striving to be centers around the orthodox church. How do I give advice to someone that has different beliefs than my own?

I am thankful for ... a husband who sacrifices for his loved ones and for healthy babies.

From the learning room ... we are reading through the Nativity readings found here. We are also working on activities based off the letter B.

From the kitchen ... using a simple menu through this fast period.  I am starting to plan on a few big cooking projects, fast friendly pierogies, tamales, and chocolate cake.

I am wearing ...  linen pants and a red blouse. Bear Down Arizona!

I am creating ...a simplified home management notebook. I have condensed it down to about as big as it used to be. I can feel the weight being lifted off.

I am going ... no where. We went to the pediatrician earlier today for well appointments. All is well.

I am reading ... honestly haven't had much time for reading other than books for the children. I started the Brothers Karamazov and would like to return to it.

I am hoping ... to ger back to some sore of daily routine. November was a busy month for us. My mom (who lives with us) wen tou of town, we had two rounds of colds for the household, and guests in the home. Hopefully we can get back or should get in some order to our days.

I am hearing ...Mozart from Little Einsteins.  I don't know who enjoys it more, the kids or me.  Probably me because there are so many different reasons why I enjoy it. :)

Around the house ... need to condense and simplify.

One of my favorite things ... a loving husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week ... shopping with my mom and the kids tommorrow. Addressing Christmas cards. The Entry of the Theotokos. 

Picture thoughts to share ...

Behind

At this time last year I was a full time pregnant mother of two with a demanding career. I was constantly busy, but somehow I managed to have all my shopping done, most of the gifts wrapped and cards sent.  Where did I find the time? I know, that precious one hour lunch break.  I was able to complete almost all my planning and check items off that list within in that almost uninterrupted hour break. 

I had been longing to be home so that I would have more time to be a homemaker and all though I had been warned that it was hard work, I thought it couldn't be much harder than what I was facing. After all, I was managing a department of  17. Boy did I get a wake up call. Being a stay at home mom is much harder than I anticipated. Most of the time I find myself behind on homemaking and planning which has been hard since I am a planner type of person. At this very moment I am even behind on my routines I had posted about. I do have one little excuse a sinus infection but I remember going to work ill and still utilizing lunch to tackle the never ending to do list.

Back in my working days, I used to carry a small notebook that would list routines, to do lists, project planning etc in my handbag. I have been trying to transition into using a binder and word and excel spreadsheets, all things that  I use to use at work but I realize now that I can't run my home as a business. I need to go back to the good ole fashion way, with pen and paper.

Beauty

Last night I watched the Hallmark movie November Christmas. It has one of my favorite actors in it John Corbett (I like referring to him as Ian Miller ;)). It got me to think about the beauty of Nativity and the significance of Christ's birth. It was such a nice way to start the fast.

Routines

In order to stick with my Nativity plans of simplifying, I have come up with some basic homemaking lists. I plan on trying to stick with these through out the fast to see if it helps me to develop a routine.

Morning

Prayers

Breakfast

Dress for the day

Start laundry

Tidy house

School

Afternoon

Lunch 

Kids nap and rest

Finish any school items left

Tidy house

Any projects

Evening

Dinner

Tidy house

Bath time

Prepare for tomorrow

Computer time

Prayers

Laundry

Monday - Colors

Tuesday - Linens

Wednesday - Whites

Thursday - Colors

Friday - Baby Clothes

Weekly

Monday - Master Bath & Bedroom

Tuesday - Kid's Rooms

Wednesday - Laundry Room & Den

Thursday - Kitchen & Family Room

Friday - Yard Work

Simplify

Week One - Master Bath & Bedroom

Week Two - Kid's Rooms

Week Three - Laundry Room, Linen Closets & Den

Week Four - Kitchen & Family Room

Week Five - Garage

Week Six - Miscellaneous 

Black Friday ...

We spent our black Friday by going on a small road trip to the monastery.  It was a nice way to spend the day after Thanksgiving. The fresh air was much needed as most of us of have been a bit under the weather. Here are a few of the pictures I took:

When we made it back into town we stopped for a fish taco dinner that was just what the doctor ordered. We came home to see our Cats lose to the #1 Ducks. Bear Down Arizona!

Nativity Fast Plans

As our nativity fast is approaching (we are old calendar) I have come to the conclusion that in order to make homemaking work for me, I have to come up with my own routine. I have come across many routines via blogs and websites and tried to follow them but have never really made them my own, therefore they haven't worked for long. I am definitely a list person but I have a tendency to take make them more complicated and detailed. I need to work on simplifying, not only my list making but also our material possessions. Here are my plans for this nativity: 

• Create a Basic Daily and Weekly Routine and stick with it.
• Simplify Simplify Simplify
• Utilize Mat. Emily's Jesse Tree Plans 
• Finish the books I have started

The Joy in Reading

Last night I began to read The Explanation of the Gospels by Blessed Theophylact. It brought me such joy to begin reading this that I think I could read it in one sitting if I had the time. I look forward to my next reading session once the children are fast asleep.

About My Family

I am a convert to the orthodox faith who together with my husband are trying to live a pious life. We have been blessed with three children 2 girls and a boy. After the birth of our youngest, we made the decision for me to stay home to raise our children with the plans of homeschooling them. We have begun to homeschool our oldest girl Pic Pic who is four. She is a quick learner and picks up things relativly easily although she is very opinionated . I don't know where she gets that from. :) We also have a 23 month old Dan Dan who is a very spirited girl; and a 6 month old baby boy, Ice Man who's personality it just starting to peek through, he is such a good sweet boy. I look forward to growing with my family into our orthodox faith and learning from others who are blogging and more wise than I.