Routine? Not yet

We are still working on getting back into our routine.  Everyone was up slowly today and moving even slower.  I wanted to get out the door to get some errands run but they were slow.

We needed to hit the bank, the grocery store and collect the mail.  We were supposed to go to the library too but the kids were a mess so we went home for lunch and to regroup.

The kids just seem to be on edge a little.  I think it is because we haven't started back on our regular routine yet so they feel a little out of sorts.  My kids thrive on their routines.

That is one thing I am going to work hard on this next year - creating a good routine and then sticking to it.

I also have started a couple new procedures for myself.  At night, I am going to make a to do list for the next day but it is going to be more specific but also more realistic.  My first goal of the day is always to teach the kids then I can work on all those other projects I want to do.  The second part of my to do list is going to be goals in certain categories.

For example, my categories for now are:
1) home organization
2) project completion
3) work on something for someone else
4) each of the kids

So today's to do list was
1) home organization - clean out the boxes by the front door
2) project completion - make list of projects that I need to get finished
3) work on something for someone else - write birthday thank you notes.
4) each of the kids - each kid needed to practice the piano (this was my priority for them for the day, then I also needed to make Skylar's practice poster for her recital and talk with Cairn about her new systems routine (more about that another day)

After lunch, we had some quiet time and then headed to the library.  It was so beautiful we went to the park after we picked up some books.  C was with us and the kids played for almost 2 hours at the park.  I got to sit and read a great book I found on Pinterest (more about that later too.)

After the park, we returned home so I could make dinner and the kids played a game.  After dinner, everyone was ready for bed.

Cool Sunday

We are all finally starting to feel back to normal.  Everyone slept well last night and some even got to sleep in.  I started the day off in the typical fashion with making pancakes but Andrew decided he wanted blueberries in them.  So we made blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes.

After breakfast and everyone finally getting dressed the girls and I headed to the library at noon.  We had some books on hold and I wanted to see if I could find a video on Jane Goodall.

After the library we walked up to the farmer's market that finally opened today.  We tried some gourmet peanut butters, smelled some handmade soaps, ate popcorn and talked to lots of people.  In the end, we bought some soap, some bread, a new dessert and tater on a stick.

We walked back to the car but we had to stop at the park and play for a bit.  We headed home for a quick bite of lunch before we headed to our 4 H meeting.  The girls decided it was the best one yet.  Why?

Because they had llamas there.  Both girls got to walk a llama through the obstacle course and work on some showmanship skills.

The woman who owned the llamas loved Skylar and said she was a natural.  Skylar has decided she wants to do a llama project.  I told her I would look into it and we would talk about it.  The woman offered to train Skylar and let her borrow her llamas.  We will see.

We got home late, had dinner, baths and everyone into bed.  Now, I just have to get back into my routine of getting school ready for the week on Sunday.

Girl Scouts a Singin'

Today was a regular day in the morning.  Everyone worked on their math, copywork, art and reading but Girls Scouts was a little different.

We went to a local music studio and had a free choir lesson.  Most of the girls had a great time and wanted to take more lessons.

First, they warmed up their muscles.

Then they learned Do, Re, Mi.

 Then they sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee".  We want the girls to learn Patriotic songs and Girl Scout songs.

After our lesson, we did some planning for next year.  Many of the scouts are on Spring Break so we couldn't go a lot.

After the troop meeting, we headed to the library.  Cairn left with 30 books, I left with 42.  It always makes me laugh because people look at us funny when they see the number of books we leave with.  One man asked Cairn how long it would take her to read all those books.  She said, a couple days and he laughed.  Then he looked at me and I nodded my head.  "Wow," was all he could say.

I added some pictures to Week in Review.