Mom is Just a Nickname

I’m not sure what possessed me, but a few days ago I decided the kids and I needed a schedule to follow this summer. It had to be flexible enough to be spontaneous, but firm enough to guide our actions in the day to day.  I dedicated Mondays to sticking around the house, Tuesdays are grocery shopping day, Wednesday we go to the pool, Thursday to the library, and Friday is our Adventure Day, where we go somewhere exciting around town and explore. Adventure Day should mean the zoo, or a museum, or the beach. But, I’m still trying to recover from our late night Wednesday so I wanted to to stick close to home.  So we followed Monday’s schedule more than Friday’s, yesterday.

Here’s what we did:
7-8am: read in bed, watch TV, or check email
8-8:30: breakfast and get dressed
8:30-10: Gardening: planted the rest of the iris and started some seeds in containers
10-10:30: Shower/change clothes, have snack
10:30-12pm: Craft Projects (I was collaging our summer schedule, J was doing a sort of engraving project and X was painting)
12-12:30: Lunch
12:30-1:30: Chores (Clean up lunch dishes, clean kids’ bathroom, scoop cat litter)
1:30-3: Shopping at Home Depot and CVS
3-4: Quiet time
4-5: TV watching

About that time, J got a phone call from a friend inviting her over for the evening. So we dropped her off for that and then went out to eat, instead of eating at home like we were going to. Ooops.

So far, the schedules are popular with the kids, and I liked it too.  I feel like I was more productive today than I normally am, and this made me happy. I felt like the kids enjoyed their day. There was enough time for them to go off on their own and do their own thing, but not so much free time that they were whining at me about boredom. They got to do fun things (gardening and crafts) but it was balanced by getting things done that we needed to get done (chores and shopping).  Jillian especially seemed to appreciate being able to look at the schedule and know what was coming.

I really hope that we can keep up this schedule. I’ve never been one to stick with things like this, except when necessary. But I really think we NEED this structure to our days this year.

So, if you’ve got kids, what do you do to help tame the wild days of summer? How do you keep from hearing “I’m bored” all summer long?

I finished this blanket today. It is made with Lion Brand Chenille Thick and Quick in Wine and Antique White. The body is open weave with the edging done in a tighter stitch. It’s very cozy and I hope the recipient will enjoy it! My kids are once more disappointed that it won’t be theirs!

Warmer weather is coming to Florida, and with it my aches and pains seem to lessen. They aren’t gone completely, but they have not been as bad lately. Perhaps it’s just that I haven’t been at the computer for more than quick email checks lately.

Today, I updated my wordpress installation, and have been trying to make sure all of the plugins are updated so that the site runs smoothly. If you notice any problems, please let me know. I’ve also updated my feeds to run through feedburner. If your feeds give you problems, you might want to resubscribe through the new links. Sorry for any inconveniences this causes.

So, what have I been doing with my time in the last couple of weeks? We took off to St. Augustine one weekend to see the Castillo de San Marcos and to meet up with some blogger friends from South Florida. Meeting Elliot from 21st Century Dad and Renee from 21st Century Parenting was fun! We wandered the historic district, poking through shops with them…and their Twilli is just adorable. From the pictures I’d seen, I knew she had beautiful eyes, but they were really captivating in person. And she (and her parents) even let me hold her for a bit!

Other than that one trip out of town, I’ve stuck around the house a fair amount. Last week was J’s spring break, so we did get out and do some things – if only to keep the two rugrats from driving me into insanity. We met up with friends at the park and at the zoo, and we did some shopping.

The big things that have been occupying my time are knitting and crocheting. More crocheting than knitting actually. I have finished one blanket of granny squares and I’m nearly done with another blanket (not granny squares). I’m also working on a felted belt for each of my kids, and coasters for my living room. My first attempt at a coaster has resulted in a hot pad for my kitchen instead…it was a little too big! Maybe the kids will use it for their doll house, as a rug. We’ll see. Live and learn, right?

In any case, for any crafters out there, here are some pics and specs on the blanket I finished:

It was made with about 2.5 lbs. of Peaches & Cream cotton yarn in Peppercorn Ombre. I made 80 granny squares, attached them all with slip stitches, and then put 3 rows of single crochet along the edge. I really like this blanket and have learned a lot about crocheting by making it. It is destined for another household, much to my children’s disappointment.

Both kids are now clamoring for blankets of their own. First, I have another blanket to finish (another gift) and in the meantime, they are getting other odds and ends I put together.

In addition to the knitting and crocheting, I’m planning some sewing projects. The first I’d like to do is a needle bag, to hold my growing collection of knitting needles and crochet hooks and assorted other supplies I use frequently. Xavier wants me to make him a pair of pants with some Spiderman fabric I picked up. And Jillian always wants lessons in sewing, crocheting and cooking…I wish I were a better teacher.

Next week, look for my review of The Fiction Class by Susan Breen. You can find more information and links to other reviewers of this book at Blog Stop Book Tours.

Hopefully, I’ll have more posts between now and then. I stole Toph’s computer chair in order to get comfortable enough to work on the computer…I can only do that while he’s at work, though! I need to get one of my own, is what I need to do!

My bulletin board is bare. I have stripped it down to the naked, brown cork board, riddled with holes from push pins past. It hangs still on a wall in the corner of my kitchen, as if in disgrace. It has been forgotten since my desk was moved to the living room.

I have a large baggie full of things I want to use to decorate it. I’m not sure it will be enough. I suppose I will add to it as I find new words and images of interest, making it a large collage. I face the prospect of having all of my mind’s inner workings on display to anyone who enters my home. Most people pay no attention to the bulletin board, though. Either they look right over it, not even noticing it, or they purposely avoid looking so as to respect my privacy. I’m never quite sure which, unless they look and quickly dart their eyes away.

But before, the board had mostly post it notes with hasty notes scrawled. It was a working board, as I layered ideas on it for my novel. Soon, it will be full of images I find compelling. Perhaps some future visitor will also find it compelling.