Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/19/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.  

I almost missed posting today!  I usually will sit down on Sunday evening and type up my Happy Homemaker post but I was just too tired yesterday.  I decided that a nap was what was needed for that moment.

Then today, Monday, I was busy working from 10a-4p and then this evening we had Laken's very last High School Open House.  She was just going to go with her friends but we (the hubby and I) have been to every single one of her open houses and decided we weren't going to miss this one either.

There is officially one more day of Summer Vacation here in our house then the school year begins.  Where has the time gone?  I feel like I ask this question all the time but it seriously feels like the weeks fly by.  Fall is in the air!

Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)

The weather outside is:

This morning when I went outside to go to work, it definitely felt like the beginnings of  Fall.  It was warm but the breeze was cool.  I think the highest the temperature got today was 73F.  Tomorrow looks to be even cooler but then it gets a bit warmer toward the end of the week.  We've been getting rain here and there but on Sunday afternoon it absolutely dumped the rain.  It was as if someone were pouring the rain out of a bucket instead of being raindrops!  At least the grass has gotten green again :)

On today's to-do list: 

I had to work 10a-4p.  I keep telling myself that when I work this shift, I will get up early and get something accomplished before heading out the door.  Inevitably, I end up sleeping until I absolutely HAVE to get up to get ready.

As I mentioned above, this evening we had Laken's Senior Open House.  When we got home I jumped in the shower and then sat down at my desk to have my devotion time and now type this post.

Happening this week:

Counting today, I work 4 days in a row this week: M-TH.  I have Friday off but then work Saturday 7a-1p and Sunday 9a-2p.  My work schedule is really strange next week.  I'm also not happy about work on Sunday again  :(

Tuesday should be a fairly relaxing evening unless Laken decides that she needs last-minute items for school.  Other than that I have nothing planned.

Wednesday is the first day of school.  I need to make sure to get up early enough to get first day pictures.  I have the name "necklace" that Laken made on her first day of Kindergarten and I want to get a picture of her with it on.

Currently reading:

Only my devotional and Bible.

I do want to take a moment to mention a new blog I've been reading.  My oldest daughter, Kaylee, has started a brand new blog called Rants, Rambles and Reviews.  I would really appreciate it if you could go check it out and give her some blog-land love!

Listening to:

I really want to see TWISTERS!  Enjoy :)

Watching:

I managed to catch the last half of the Steelers preseason game against the Bills on Saturday evening.  We lost.  I ended up falling asleep for the last 10 or so minutes.

We watched a cute Christmas movie the other evening.  Now I'm not one to watch Christmas movies in the Summer, but I wanted to spend time with the hubby and he was already watching it.  The movie was about a "scroogette" who gets stuck in a Christmas movie.  A bit predictable, but aren't they all?   :)

In the Kitchen:

I was off last Friday, so I spent the day homemaking :)  One of my favorite things to do is bake.  I finally got a chance to make Zucchini Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins,  Yummy!  They were actually better the second day :)  If you'd like to check out the recipe you can click HERE.

In the Craft Basket:

I didn't even pick up my hook this week.  Please give me your opinion on whether to outline in Hot Rose or stay Ivory.

Picture from the Camera

Quackers getting a much needed bath :)

Prayer Request

My brother's surgery went well and he is on the mend.  Thank you for the prayers.

Please pray that Laken has a wonderful, healthy, fun and educational Senior Year!  She has had a rough go of it the past few years with being sick and having surgery.  We're really praying for an uneventful year!

Bible Verse

"God is the one I am trying to please."  Galatians 1:10 ERV

Have a great week!

Colletta

Friday Favorites ~ 5/17/2024

 

After a week of frustration and irritation, I think I finally have my new phone set up!  Creating an apple ID about kicked my butt.  I was trying and trying on my phone to remember what my apple ID was from way back when the girls got their ipods.  That was years ago!  Maybe I tried too many times on my phone but I absolutely couldn't get a new ID set up.  Finally, I tried on the hubby's new phone and it accepted right away!  I could have screamed!  I wish I would have tried that sooner and saved myself so much frustration.  

Then my phone wouldn't let me download Facebook, messenger or instagram.  Finally...I figured out how to turn my phone off (yes, I had to Google it) and then they downloaded.  Then..I had to remember the passwords for those apps because I apparently didn't update my password document the last time I had to reset.  Ughh....  BUT, as I said, I think I finally have everything set up and I am so glad to be done with it :)

Anywhoo.

Oliver has discovered that he can now climb up on our bed.  I was so tired Thursday that I came home from work, ate supper and promptly took a nap under a fuzzy blanket.  I woke up to the hubby and Oliver!  Isn't he cute?  We've had him almost 4 weeks and he has grown so much already.  He goes back to the vet next week and I'm curious to see how much weight he has picked up.  At his first visit he was only 1.9lbs.  Clover (aka Miss Kitty) has finally accepted Oliver into the pack so no more hissing and swatting, for the most part anyway!

It has been a bit cooler and rainy the past week which has done wonders for the azaleas.  They are in full bloom and so beautiful.  This bright pink color is my favorite.  

I am loving the camera on my new phone!  It is so much faster and clearer than my phone's camera was.  This was the main reason I wanted to upgrade phones, so I'm pretty happy about this.  With my old phone, I would never have been able to snap this picture of the green mountains as we were driving.  I can't wait to have time to take more pictures as this is something I've been meaning to do.

Laken's school work is winding down.  It has been a crazy year for her.  She started in-class school and then had her gallbladder issues which led to gallbladder removal surgery (after a very difficult time getting diagnosed).  After recovering from surgery and getting behind on her classwork, we decided to have her cyber school for the remainder of the school year.  She has finished all her classes early except for Latin and AP Language.  Latin is due to be finished today (Friday the 17th) and AP Language has to be finished next Friday (the 24th).  Laken has been working so hard and is REALLY looking forward to Summer break. The crunch is on but the end is in sight :)

This song is a bit how I feel about the weekend.  The hubby works third shift and I work daylight so we don't see much of each other through the week.  Hang Tight Honey by Lainey Wilson is such a fun song.  Enjoy!

I hope you had a great week and have an even better weekend!  Do you have any plans?  Leave a comment and let me know.  I'm always looking for fun things to do over the weekend!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Colletta 

The Good Stuff ~ 9/02/2021

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I've got some catching up to do!

~The Wedding!  Kaylee and Shawn's wedding was beautiful!  I didn't cry until the Father/Daughter Dance and then the tears streamed down my face.  

I was OK after that until I came home for the night.  All the preparations and changes hit me and I SOBBED!  Then I was OK...again :)  

The food was amazing and the photographer did an amazing job.  We have a full gallery of pictures.  I wish I could share them all with you but that would be impossible.  These are a few of my favorites:

~A Freshman!  Not only do I have a married daughter, I now have a Freshman in High School too!  The first picture below shows Kaylee and Laken on Laken's first day of Kindergarten.  The second picture is Laken last year (8th grade) and the next picture was Laken on her first day as a Freshman in High School.  Look how much she has changed in just a year!  I can just see the attitude oozing from her in the picture from this year ;)

~Homecoming!  Laken and her friends have decided to do the whole Homecoming "Thing" this year now that they are old enough to attend.  (There will be no boys in the group.  Thankfully, boys are still icky!)  They are going to do a fancy dinner, get photos and go to the dance.  This is the dress that was supposed to be delivered yesterday but wasn't due to the localized flooding.  Hopefully it comes today!  We're going to be adding straps and I'm hoping this model is REALLY tall and that the dress is a bit longer on Laken :)

~A New Job!  Kaylee started a new job the week after returning from her Honeymoon.  She is now working at Subway.  She's making more money for less hours so that is a plus :)

~No Complaining!  My dear sister-in-law, Kelly, has asked me to do a challenge with her for the whole month of September.  30 Days of No Complaining!  It has been 1 day and I've been catching myself more than I thought I would.  The idea is to DECREASE complaining and INCREASE gratitude :)

What has you thankful/smiling/exited this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/23/2021

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

After giving myself a week of recuperation post-Wedding, it is time to get back into my schedule and get back some sense of normalcy.

The weather outside is:

This week looks to be a bit warmer than last week.  I'm ready for some fall weather but AM NOT liking the dark of night coming so early!  It was 8pm and dark this weekend :(

On today's to-do list: 

BIG day, today!

Today is Laken's first day of High School!  Only 4 short years and she'll be off on her adventures.  I plan on soaking it in as much as I can :)  After school is volleyball practice...

Kaylee and Shawn are back from their Honeymoon and Kaylee starts a new job today.  I pray she enjoys it :)

I also have a dentist appointment in the morning and need to get groceries.

Happening this week:

Trying to get back into my schedule of getting things done is utmost on my list this week!  I feel like this Summer has flown by and I've just been floundering to "get through".  Some has been good (wedding stuff) other not so great (surgery, doctor's appointments etc.)  Wish me luck!

Currently reading:

I am determined to get into this book during the coming week!  

On the TV:

Nothing for me!  I have been "trying" to catch up on some of my favorite youtubers though.

Listening to:

This week for "Songs on Sunday" I featured "My Jesus" by Anne Wilson.  I hope you'll check it out :)

On the menu week:

Not done yet :(  I'm getting really bad at waiting until the last minute to make my menu and grocery list.

Monday ~  

Tuesday ~ 

Wednesday ~ 

Thursday ~  

Friday ~ 

Saturday ~ 

Sunday ~ Potluck at Church

In the Craft Basket:

Still working away on the Wedding afghan for Shawn and Kaylee!  I'm hoping to get it finished and gifted this week!

Picture from the Camera

We got the pictures back from the photographer already!  She did such an amazing job!  I absolutely love them.  Look for more pictures on Thursday on my "Good Stuff" post :)

Memory Verse

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"  Romans 8:32

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 6/13/19

~Kaylee's 18th Birthday!  I absolutely cannot believe that I have a child who is turning 18 years old today.  I'm not old enough, am I?  I mean, I distinctly remember turning 18 myself just a few years ago!  Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

~School is out!  Laken successfully navigated her first year of middle school at a new school with all A's and B's.  So proud of her!  I get just as excited as the kids do when the end of the school year rolls around.  Time for sleeping in and hanging out with the family!

~Laken's last softball game!  We've enjoyed softball season but I have to admit that I'm kinda glad that her last game of the year is tonight.  It just happens to be a double-header!

~Church Camp Meeting!  It starts off Sunday with a picnic and then lasts all week.  The kids all get to stay in the dorms so it will be a bit quiet at home.  I am a bit jealous of the campfires and smores...

~Kaylee's College Classes!  She's registered and scheduled for classes that will start August 19th!  We been jumping through all the necessary hoops for registration and funding but at last, I think everything is ready for Orientation!  whohooo! 

 
What are you thankful for today?

Colletta

P.S.  I hope you can stop by my ETSY SHOP!

Wordless Wednesday ~ 9/5/18

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Colletta



Sanity Saving Routine Chart (remix)

I originally wrote this post about 2 years ago.  I wanted to update it and repost it for those of you who might be new to the school-year and how crazy and hectic those mornings and bedtimes can be.  Hope it helps!

It was the week before school was to start and I was dreading the inevitable fighting in the morning to get ready for school, the afternoon of doing homework and the night to get ready for bed and the new day.

I was trying to forget about all that when I came across a post at New Nostalgia about routine charts. Now, we had tried chore charts in the past with no success. But, I decided to give it another go for the sake of my sanity and mother/daughter relationship.

 

I thought about what reward to use.  For Kaylee we decided on an allowance system. She gets $0.50 for each day that she completes every one of her tasks. She gets paid when we get paid, which is every two weeks. She can use her pay for the student store, book orders, Dollar General, whatever she wants. It is her spending money and once its gone, its gone.  For Laken, we're still debating what award to use.  Any ideas?

Here's what we did for their charts:

I used DLTK's Custom Chore Charts to print them off. Then we pasted them onto colored posterboard. The girls decorated them with stickers and then I put them into a page-protector so they can use a dry-eraser marker and we could just wipe it clean at the end of the week.  (You can also use a simple spreadsheet to create your chart.)

We taped them on their walls in an area where it is easy to access them.

These are Kaylee's old charts.  Her's look different now than they did then.  I made individualized charts for each of the girls because their ages are so far apart.  Each child will really need one customized just for them.

Morning Routine:
Afternoon Routine:
Bedtime Routine:

I think you should be able to read what we have included in each of her routines. If not, let me know and I can type them out, but only you can know what you need for your child(ren).

Don't forget to post any ideas of a good reward system for a 5 year old!

Good luck to you! Let me know if you try it and how it goes.

Camera Critters ~ 6/2/12

Camera Critters is a Saturday meme hosted by Misty Dawn at Camera Critters  which is all about photos of animals/critters. 

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School is officially out for summer at our house!

My Mom has been doing a pre-k curriculum with Laken two days a week.  One day at her house, one day at ours.  On the day Mom comes down, Jas does  school-work with Laken. 

Jas has her pretty school dress on and a comfy spot to sit.

She got a little bit distracted by my picture taking :)

It must have been hard work because it looks like Jas is ready for a nap.  Apparently a bunny came to school that day, too.

This fall, Laken will go to Kindergarten and it will just be me and the hounds home during the day.  I don't know how to feel about this.  I guess I'll find out...

 

Have a wonderful Camera Critters day!

Time Flies and Clock Watching

Today starts the third week of school for Kaylee and the very first Monday.  Right now she is in her room getting ready for the day.  Thank God, she is loving school this year, mostly due to having a locker, I think.  hehe  Her teachers are all great and she is enjoying her day.  Hopefully this lasts.

Laken has been going to my mom's 2 days a week for "Mamaw's Pre-K" as I'm calling it.  She also loves it because, well, it is at Mamaw's house! 

I've been volunteering in Kaylee's school library on Tuesday's all day and Friday mornings.  I love helping out and being involved in our community charter school that has been a Godsend.  It really couldn't have happened without his intervention.

I've also been crazy busy with etsy orders.  A good thing but busy, busy, busy!  I thank God for every order I get and still get excited.

Although all these things are very, very good, I am struggling to get back on a "School Week Routine".  I'm so used to our summer routine.  Laid back, still busy, but not living by the clock.

Now we're back to living by the clock.  The clock wakes me up, (I wake the kids), I watch the clock for school drop-off, I watch the clock for school pick-up, I watch the clock for mail-drop off, I watch the clock for dinner prep time, I watch the clock for various meetings in the evening (some school related, some church), I watch the clock for bedtime-routine-time, I watch the clock to get the kids in bed on time, I watch the clock to get me in bed at a decent hour so that I can listen for the clock to wake me up.

Clock, clock, clock!

I'm hoping that I can get settled back in the fall routine this week.  It is the first full week of school and I'm going to be tweaking my schedule this week to make sure I'm not neglecting the most important parts of my day.  Especially my devotion time. 

I want to get back to spending my daily time with God before I get bogged down in the activities and busyness of the day.  I miss those quiet summer morning on the deck.  Just me and God.  Time to get that back.

Hopefully my body's internal clock will adjust soon and I won't be watching the actual clock so much this week.

Well, "time" to get Kaylee to school.  lol

Have a great week everyone!

It Has Begun

School supply shopping, PTO meetings, Fall Basketball meetings, getting back on the "school sleep/wake" schedule.

Coming soon: Early morning dragging out of bed, packing lunches, bus schedules, ...homework...

Oh the joys!

Have a great 2010-2011 School Year!!!