WFMW: Book Organization

I'm a book freak. I can't help it. Really, I'm pretty weird. Love the smell of them. Don't like to break the spines. That sort of thing. BUT I also like to read them.  :)  And I want the same for my kiddos.


So we have a "Book Room." That's what we call it. Because I wasn't clever enough when I established it to think of calling it a "Book Nook." Duh. Oh, well. Anyway, it serves its purpose. We have lots of great kids' books. (Keep in mind I used to teach public school.) And a place to read them in peace and quiet. Of course, we pull them out for naptimes and bedtimes as well.

Notice paperback chapter books and Little Golden Books are kept up high, while board books are kept on the floor in a basket. For obvious reasons.

But we also enjoy the library. A lot. And I let the kids each bring several books home with them. Noah is allowed an unlimited amount. ('Cause I'm so sweet that way. Shh. Don't tell the others.) How do we keep the library books from mixing with our own collection and, hence, causing major freaking out on this momma's part when books are due?! 

We keep a small basket next to a bedroom door in the hallway. All the kids have access to it. It's handy for rest time and for bedtime stories. And the books...after they've walked off...have a place to which they can return. If only momentarily.

Some of the books will inevitably be chapter books that will take us quite some time to finish, so those books and any of our own collection that we are "working through" go on a tray in the living room. So that they're less likely to walk off.  ;)


I'm participating in Works for Me Wednesday.

Monday Needs a Menu

Monday


Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, fruit, cheese


Lunch: Crackers with cottage cheese, fruit, milk


Dinner: Spaghetti




Tuesday


Breakfast: Yogurt parfaits


Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches, fruit


Dinner: Black bean burgers, baked sweet potatoes


  To do: Soak oats for granola and batter for waffles




Wednesday


Breakfast: Soaked waffles, fruit


Lunch: Pasta leftovers


Dinner: Fish cakes with chipotle sauce, broccoli with cheese sauce, steamed carrots


  To do: Bake granola




Thursday


Breakfast: Egg in the nest (egg fried in the center of a piece of toast with circle cut out of it), fruit


Lunch: Apples with peanut butter


Dinner: Peasant stew


  To do: Make kombucha




Friday


Breakfast: Sauteed apples (with butter, cinnamon, and Sucanat), scrambled eggs


Lunch: Tuna sandwiches, pickle, fruit


Dinner: Pizza




Saturday


Breakfast: Soaked granola


Lunch: Picnic with community group


Dinner: TBD




Sunday


Breakfast: Granola with applesauce


Lunch: It's Mother's Day!! I'm sooooo not cooking.  :)


Dinner: Easy bean burritos

Project 365: Weeks 17 and 18

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday

I organized a little Palm Sunday march during worship this morning. You should have seen me out in the woods yesterday cutting branches from the trees (and sucking up as much pollen as humanly possible)! Ugh.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Noah's been having fun on the computer lately...

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

She announced, "I'm going to Africa!" In a British accent.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I ordered this sleep mask three weeks ago!! (That's another story in itself.) But I was blown away with the size of the shipping box for such a tiny, little mask. Can you say "overkill"?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Last week I went to Rhea Lana to suit everybody up for spring and summer weather. Saylor was so excited to model everything for her daddy. She had him announce her presence for each and every outfit and then she danced and leapt and twirled to the music. She's something else. I was also quite shocked when, just before I left for the big sale, she told me she would like to have some shorts. *gasp!* What?!!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Today was just crazy. Saylor had dance rehearsal. Then we went home for a quick lunch and to get ready for recital pictures. Bun, a little makeup, and scoot back out the door! Thankfully, Paul came home at lunch  for good (surprise! Call off the babysitter.) and could put the babies down for naps while Saylor and I did the photo shoot thing.

There were a couple of errands to run right after that, and then we had to get back home so we could get to church in time. Saylor was happy to wear her special hair-do to church along with some new clothes. It was a wonderful worship service, by the way! After church we were hungry. I had to get a picture of Saylor with her bun and in her new summery outfit. Isn't she getting tall?

(Gabe wanted his picture taken, too. Note how long his hair has gotten!!)

And Atticus couldn't be outdone. He's started to ham it up for the camera lately.  :)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Another crazy day. Had so many things to do, so many errands to run, mostly all in preparation for Easter Sunday. Can you guess where we were here??

Or here??

Among our many activities was this...!

Can you believe it????!!!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday

Monday, April 25, 2011

Sweet Gabriel saw a bunny paint book at Wal-Mart last week and asked for it. I was surprised but grateful for an idea for his Easter basket. And come Sunday, it was the first thing he wanted to do. Monday? All. day. long. he painted. In fact, he painted every single page in his book. With great care, too!! It was just precious. Maybe I'll have an artist in the bunch!!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Had Bible study this morning. That, homeschool, and lots of party planning went on today. And I never got around to taking even one picture!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Party preparations...

Yep. That's Noah made out of Legos!!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Long list of activities, including a little ironing.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Today I dropped off china for a special tea for international women in the area. The tea is tomorrow (Saturday), but I already had plans (see below), so I can't attend. However, it gives me great joy to send my pretties to functions like this. Check out my silver. My Mamaw Corene gave me one or two pieces of silver at every single birthday or Christmas my whole life from the day I was born. She even had one of the spoons engraved with my name and birthdate on it. I love this set. It's very girly. (And know how I polished it?? See here.)

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Noah's Birthday Party

(More details to come. Stay tuned!)

Whew! We've just had so. much. going on lately. Hence the looooong two-week post. But I'm glad to be back over at Sara's with all her cool peeps.  

Pineapple Cheeseball

Here's an easy "real food" appetizer (or easy lunch idea):


Pineapple Cheeseball


16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
2 Tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
1 Tablespoon Real seasoned salt (I get mine at Azure Standard)
2 cups chopped pecans, divided


Mix together the first five ingredients plus 1 cup of the chopped pecans.

At this point, I scrape as much off the sides of the bowl as I can to form a somewhat spherical mound in the bottom of the bowl. Then I cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least an hour. Once the cream cheese has firmed up a bit, I carefully add the remaining pecans, pouring with one hand and with the other, pressing them into the cheese. I also save some for the bottom once I've removed the cheeseball from the bowl.

The pecans that fall to the side in the bowl get mushed into the cheese as I form the ball with my hands. I then turn it upside down in the bowl and add the last of the pecans. Keep refrigerated.

I like this cheeseball best with good, sturdy crackers. If you haven't tried these homemade soaked crackers, they're worth a try. My kids adore them!! Just be sure to roll them reeeeally thin. And I add quite a bit more salt than the recommended amount. Just 'cause I like salt. Enjoy!


This post was originally posted at Real Food in Little Rock and is linked up today at Works for Me Wednesday and Real Food Wednesday.