snuggly baby

It doesn't get much better than sweet tea, a new magazine and a sleeping baby.

organization

One of the things I'm finding that is the hardest about being a stay at home mom is the changing schedule, or lack of schedule, each day.  I would go through weeks and feel like I didn't actually get anything done.  So with the help of my computer savvy husband, I made a weekly planner.  There are things on there that I try to do every day and then blank spaces where I can write in things that change each week.  I have a spot for things to accomplish by the end of the week and even a spot where I can put down meal ideas.

I've found that planning meals for specific days doesn't work for us.  What does work is to plan out a bunch of meals and have all the stuff on hand and then just pick the day of what we're going to eat.  It's working great so far and will hopefully help us save some money.

harvest festival

This past weekend, we drove to Canon City for the Harvest Festival at the Abbey Winery.  Though not a fallish as I would have liked (thanks 85 degree weather), it was nice to get out of town.  There were lots of vendors selling over priced items and food that smelled wonderful, but we just stuck to the wine.
I had four different tastes, but they were all wines I had tasted before.  I thought they were releasing a new Riesling for the fall, but it was just the same wine with a fall label.  Disappointing.
After the wine, we stopped at a brewery so Mike could try their beer.  Hudson took a great nap while we were there.  We ordered a sampler of their onion rings, waffle fries and sweet potato fries. All were yummy.

almost forgot

fall

Even though it does not feel at all like fall outside (we're supposed to have record highs today), I decided it was time to make it seem like fall inside.  I have started keeping the table set in the hopes that it will stay cleaner.  Jen and Carey gave me the idea and so far, it's kind of working.  Plus, it gives me the chance to show off my cute leaf plates that I got from Target last year. 

I also tried to be good this year and not spend any money on new decorations and just reuse what I already had.  My mantle is simple, but cute and it makes me feel like fall is here.  I have a couple of craft ideas I want to get to if Hudson will ever sleep.

muffins

I had some bananas to use up so I went with another old standby from Miranda. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. They're my favorite muffins and always turn out yummy. They're great as mini muffins so I made a tray of regular size muffins and mini muffins. No pictures of the final product because they're almost all gone. They don't last long in our house.

changing my thoughts

I knew this book would challenge me, but I didn't know how much.  I'm talking about the book Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy.  She's the mom who let her 9 year old ride the New York subway by himself a few years ago and took a lot of flack for it.  I vaguely remember the story from the news.
Now, right up front, I do not agree with everything that is in the book, but it was so good for me to read.  I am a worrier by nature and being a mom is bringing it out even more.  The first night we put Hudson in the crib in his room, I cried (a lot) and made sure my husband had closed and locked all the windows in his room and the living room.  So I know that I'm in for lots more worry and tears as Hudson grows up, especially if he's anything like his dad.
I want Hudson to have the type of childhood where he has friends in the neighborhood and I feel comfortable with him going to play with them.  I want him to walk to school by himself someday (I did and amazingly I never got lost!)
Skenazy's book helped me realize that a great number of my fears (abduction) are not really founded in facts.  Most kids are taken by a relative and your child has a more likely chance of dying in a car crash than being picked up by a stranger and killed.   I know there are horrible stories out there, but the media really plays them up.  I hope this book has helped me become less neurotic as I raise my kid.

labor day

Over Labor Day weekend, I read the book Labor Day by Joyce Maynard.  And then I forgot to blog about it.  So we'll see what I remember.  I really liked the story and it was a great coming of age tale.  There was enough drama to keep the plot moving, but it had that feel of the lazy days of summer.  I'll probably be looking for some more books by Joyce Maynard in the future.

halfway

 
I memorized half of verse three last week.  I hung the verse up by the bathroom mirror and over the changing table.  I covered up most of the verse and once I had a part learned, I uncovered more of the verse.  This week the goal is to memorize the rest.

The Spirit of the Soverign Lord is upon me
because he has annointed me to preach good news to the poor
He sent me to bind up the broken hearted
Proclaim freedom for the captives
And release from darkness for the prisoners

To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
And the day of vengeance of our God.
To comfort those who morn
And provide for those who morn in Zion.
To bestow on them a crown of beauty
Instead of ashes
The oil of gladness
Instead of mourning

and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the LORD               
    for the display of his splendor
-Isaiah 61:3

cheating

It's been a long week in our house.  Hudson decided he didn't want to take naps or sleep at night for a few days, so I didn't get much done.  I did sit on the porch swing a few times to try and calm down Hudson.  I knew I needed to bake brownies for this weekend and was going to make them from scratch, but when I priced how much just buying the chocolate would be, I knew I could make them for much cheaper since these were on sale for a dollar.

cinnamon goodness

Last week, I made the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls.  This was my first real baking with yeast and it went pretty well.  The recipe was easy.  I made the dough on Friday and then made the rolls on Saturday.  They were so yummy.  I wasn't sure I would like the frosting, since it had maple in it, but it was great.  I actually think the rolls were better the second day.   They managed to stay nice and moist.  I will be making these again.

mixing the dough

rolling up the dough

fresh out of the oven

frosting

yummy

Isaiah 61:3

This week's verse is a long one.  It may take me more than one week to memorize it (especially since I was supposed to memorize it two weeks ago).

and provide for those who grieve in Zion
    to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
    the oil of gladness
    instead of mourning,
    and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the LORD                
    for the display of his splendor
-Isaiah 61:3

I will definitely be breaking this up into chunks.  I'm also going to print it out on a card and hang it in a couple of places as recommended in this post by The Simple Wife.