Outside my window...windows & doors open to the cool fall breezes and gentle sunshine which magically began appearing with the turn of the calendar - heavenly!; Laird & I saw the roadrunner & a young mockingbird in the wash a bit ago

I am thinking...that I have a lot of laundry to do & I better get packing soon AND that I need to start excercising again

I am thankful for...a new water heater, working appliances, and warm showers (didn't have any of that all weekend) and General Conference this past weekend

From the learning rooms...studying Thomas Jefferson

From the kitchen...probably having chicken enchiladas, salad, vege, & fresh pineapple for dinner; Jodee & kids coming for dinner after Miss Jenee's musical theater class

I am wearing...periwinkle tshirt & skinny black cotton pants (that are covered in lint from the laundry I'm doing); no make-up, jewelry or shoes

I am creating...blog posts about girls weekend (but I did make Grace a new bracelet last week - see below)

I am going...to do a bunch of laundry; just about every washable item we own needs cleaning!

I am reading...Jonathon Stroud's The Golem's Eye: Bartemaeus Trilogy #2

I am hoping...somehow I get to see NieNie (Stephanie Nielsen) on Oprah tomorrow

I am hearing...the click-clack of metal eggs and warbling/squabling voices as my kids playing "Rattlesnakes" game at the top of the stairs; the laundry timer going off to tell me to switch my loads over; the breeze rustling through my backyard foliage

Around the house...my kitchen sink is nice & shiny, but the rest is the usual mess. in the family room there are pens, crayons, notebooks, worksheets, and lapdesks leftover from General Conference weekend scattered everywhere. but on the upside, finally got the new bookcases in my bedroom filled up with the boxes of books that were clogging my closet and various corners around the house.

One of my favorite things...H.K. Anderson's peanut butter filled pretzel squares (found at Costco)

A few plans for the rest of the week...heading up to Greer for the rest of the week after Laird's preschool class tomorrow; should be lots of time to read, lots of playing outdoors, many pictures to take, cozy nights inside by the fire, and too many treats

Here is the picture thought I am sharing...

our lime tree is dropping more limes than we can keep up with. Grace enjoys collecting them for me.

Outside my window...the usual summertime bright heat although it has been stormy with monsoons this week. At the beginning of the week, the worst storm we've ever had ripped through our yard, felling a 4 year old cottonwood tree, which was shading the NW corner of the house, and several others. It took Adam hours to fix everything. Very sad. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever keep anything alive in our yard.

I am thinking... I will let the kids play with the hose on the trampoline again after dinner. We've done it the last 2 nights since the weather has been reasonable around 6pm - something like 90 degrees I'm guessing. That's tolerable for me if I sit still in the shade and perfect for water play for them.

I am thankful for... a good husband and children.

From the learning rooms... Saturday - no school. For the entire week the 4 oldest children did soccer camp each morning at The Barn.

From the kitchen... no idea what to cook, as usual, since I am still in a cooking slump. But I am surviving today off of leftover Hawaiian pizza from Barro's and some green grapes Adam picked up a few days ago. My favorite fruit! Had them in my Cheerios this morning, Grandpa Tom style, and keep snacking as I pass them. Also keep picking up the leftover crusts from my kids who don't like pizza crust. That's okay by me since I love it. Something about that thick, grease saturated bread that is so yummy!

I am wearing... an apple green ModBod Perfect Tee, older pair of Gap bootcut jeans that are ripped at the knee (the rest of my denim is in the laundry), no shoes, a green & clear crystal bracelet.

I am creating... a scrapbook page for Colton (Visiting The Farm) and printing pictures for several others, including a mini-book I want to make about my birthday trip to San Diego.

I am going... no where! Just a lazy Saturday at home.

I am reading... Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince (#6) since I just saw the movie. Book is sooooo much better. Movie was okay, but as Adam says, it was more like one long trailer that really only hinted at the story. Wish they would make a television series out of it so they could thoroughly cover the entire story in depth. And accurately.

I am hoping... Adam's deposition on Monday goes well. That the Universal Health Care plan will not pass Congress. I am very scared about that one.

I am hearing... Sage read Pumpkin Soup to herself & Colton practice piano.

Around the house... Macey is creating a game in the schoolroom; wanted to know how to spell "acting." Colton just made a chocolate cake all on his own - not sure how he did that. Grace is napping. Adam is studying for his deposition & talk in church tomorrow. Sage is playing with a bunch of quarters in my room (she's done reading now.) Laird & Abbey are playing together. The dishwasher refused to turn on at breakfast, but mysteriously is now running.

One of my favorite things... Bare Minerals make-up. I just spent a small fortune on their foundation kit, some eyeshadows, and mauve lip kit. Love it! It comes with instructions - brilliant! I'm actually wearing make-up and feeling rather pretty. I may even get really bold and go get a consultation done at their store.

A few plans for the rest of the week: the week is almost over. I need to spend some quality time with Adam tonight. No date night this week since our sitters were busy.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The disks pulled by the tractor at The Farm where we took a tour last year. I was working on a page about the tour for Colton's book and ran across this picture again. I think they have visual interest.

Sage just dropped a quarter into the back of my photo printer. Oh, goodness.

Outside my window... a day so hot it feels like you're in an oven. well over 100degrees. I call these days "bakingly hot" because of the oven effect.

I am thinking... about how to help Colton be his happy self again (new teen attitude at 8 lately) and that National Geographic is a very pessimistic publication. Every single article is doom & gloom. Lighten Up!

I am thankful for... gospel knowledge so that I know the Earth is provided with enough for her inhabitants and that the human race isn't doomed like NG seems to think it is. Sure we need to be be better stewards, but it will be okay.

From the learning rooms... craft day today; worked on softies. Gearing up for new school year with project units on Thomas Jefferson & Weather. Need to figure out where we are with math & spelling.

From the kitchen... I am totally uninspired to cook lately. Adam brought home a Jamba Juice & Subway sandwich for me, so I had Macey whip up some grilled cheese for dinner & I added Campbell's Bean & Bacon soup, Single Leaf Salad, and fresh sliced peaches. Maybe icecream bars for dessert if they are good to me.

I am wearing... that mustard-yellow v-neck again; vintage-washed Gap jeans, my Hawaiian pearl necklace & a gold chain bracelet; no shoes so I can look at my newly pedicured tootsies.

I am creating... oooooh, lots today! started with learning to applique shapes on my softie (did the face); worked on a scrapbook page for Grace (Out to Lunch); and some new posts.

I am going... to the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with Adam, Macey, & Mom!!! I probably won't like it all that much - the movies always disappoint me. But since there will be no new books, it's the next best thing for a fan. And since Macey has read all the books (twice now) she can finally go with us to see it at the "big movies," a first time for her.

I am reading... some instruction books on embroidery (Sublime Stitching & Doodle Stitching); the June 2009 National Geographic; a new softie book: Softies Only a Mother Could Love, and Sharing Your Story by Ali Edwards - about recording your life in mini-books.

I am hoping... that Adam's health problems get worked out soon - poor boy has some new, unidentifiable issue with his throat and he tore his hamstring playing soccer a few weeks ago so he has been going to physical therapy again.

I am hearing... Laird yell at me to "come get GusGus!!! GusGus NEEDS you!!!" (she's just finished eating/bathing in her bean soup and needs a shower.)

Around the house... Allee & Nathanael came to play today; Macey & Laird went to the Oteros' house. I played with Sage and took some photos of the baby girls.

One of my favorite things... new eye make-up by Physicians Formula; it actually came with instructions so I finally have a clue what to do with it at this late age in life.

A few plans for the rest of the week: shopping with my Gymbucks at Gymboree on Wednesday; J.Jill with my giftcards for me. Maybe visiting Scrapbooks, Etc. for my birthday shopping spree (20% off coupon - stock up for the year); Jewel concert at the Mesa Arts Center with Adam on Friday; teaching a Joseph Smith lesson in Relief Society for Jill Doi on Sunday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I really wish it was another book coming out tonight instead of just a movie. I miss Harry!

Outside my window... night time, a full moon and clear sky

I am thinking... it's been a great holiday weekend and pleasant Sabbath day

I am thankful for... my country & my freedoms

From the learning rooms... no school on Sunday

From the kitchen... we forgot it was Fast Sunday (oops!) cereal/toast & veggie sausage for breakfast; Adam's wheat waffles with Nutella & Whipped cream and fruit for lunch; the rest of the grilled hamburgers from Friday night, steamed brocolli, and cold watermelon for dinner.

I am wearing... a mustard v-neck t-shirt, my pink cowgirl pj bottoms, my Bronze Tahitian Pearl necklace Adam gave me for our anniversary, and no shoes. Earlier today I had a long tan skirt and my favorite Clark leather slippers on for church.

I am creating... just blog posts

I am going... to put the garbage out since the truck comes for it early in the morning

I am reading... nothing but my own posts & some other friends' blogs today

I am hoping... everything goes smoothly in the morning when we try to go to the chocolate factory tour with some S cousins. Our Suburban has a blown tire that needs changing and Adam's van died yesterday because of some electrical problems. Very unusual for us to have car difficulties like this.

I am hearing... the laughing, roaring, delighted screaming of Adam wrestling with the kids.

Around the house... the usual messes, but not too bad in public spaces.

One of my favorite things... Sunday naps and cuddling with Adam.

A few plans for the rest of the week: the chocolate factory tour tomorrow, my birthday later in the week. Adam is making surprise plans for a short getaway for the 2 of us.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Outside my window... It is sunny & hot (low 100's) but really not too bad for June in the AZ desert. It's actually been the coolest June since 1913, according to Lance.

I am thinking... that I spent way too much time on the computer today.

I am thankful for... having known Elder D. Todd Christofferson as my Stake President in high school

From the learning rooms... Miss Jenee's "That's Entertainment" Musical Theatre Summer Day Camp for the 4 oldest children for these last 2 weeks of June, so we are not having school

From the kitchen... very low on food in the fridge! I've been lazy. Threw a roast in the crock pot for dinner and did it the lazy way, even for a crock pot meal: didn't brown the roast, sprinkled on garlic salt (goes with almost everything, doesn't it?), threw in some beef broth & diced frozen onions rather than slicing fresh ones myself, and NO veges. I'll add some salad for dinner. We already had a mini-dinner at Gma J's next door of pizza rolls.

I am wearing... a lilac, v-neck J.Jill tee; vintage wash, boot-cut Gap jeans; leather Bjorn sandals, and a bobby pin in my hair (put there at Sage's request to encourage her to wear one in her hair to keep it out of her face while it's growing back.) No make-up, no jewelry, no shower yet today.

I am creating... a few blog posts and some albums of old pictures on Facebook.

I am going... to get everyone together for dinner as soon as this is done. Went to Safeway for a quick run this morning and got gas: $80.03 for 29 gallons of 87gasoline, $2.729/gallon.

I am reading... May 2009 Ensign and maybe Ali Edward's Life Artist before bed.

I am hoping... my fingers & neck stop hurting after I get off the computer; to hear from some people I messaged on Facebook.

I am hearing... the laughter of Macey, Skylar, and a friend as they swing in the backyard

Around the house... is very messy - I haven't cleaned a thing all week. Also, several cousins are in and out between here and Gma J's next door.

One of my favorite things... low-fat Oreos and skim milk. Bought some at Safeway this morning then shared them with the 3 youngest on the kitchen floor this morning. Good times!

A few plans for the rest of the week: the kids' performance Friday evening, date night Saturday. Anna Vincent will babysit.

Here is picture thought I am sharing:

{Daddy & me, 1973}

It's my dad's 59th birthday. I need to go call him!

The Idea

I am taken with the idea that Ali Edwards promotes (and does so beautifully well) of capturing everyday moments and snapshots of what a period of time in your life generally looks like. I came across a template to fill out periodically that helps you do just that. It is called The Simple Woman's Daybook. You just fill in the blanks of the list on a regular, even scheduled, basis. I will tweak it over time to match my life and what I want to capture. I think it is a brilliant jumping point to get me going in the right direction. It will help me slow down, notice the beauty of every day, and be more in the moment. It will also show changes in the seasons of my life over time.

The moments of my life slip by so fast. Many of them I capture, but I am missing the over-all picture of the everyday details that are so normal today, but will look completely different at another point in time. Ali has done many "Today" pages for her 7 year-old son, Simon, over the years, which I adore. But I struggle with how to do that for 6 children. There just isn't time. (Now that she has had another baby, I am eager to see how she will manage it for more than one child.) I am considering coming up with a schedule of when to do such pages for each child through out the year. Maybe once a quarter. That would cover each season of the year.

There is so much"doing" to do. I simply can't always stop. I want to capture and store away details so that someday I can take them out and examine them at my leisure. And as much as we all hate it and think it won't happen, we do forget those precious fleeting moments that come and go before we know it. I'll never capture them all, but I want to be better organized with a system for gathering as many of them as I can.