Simply Saturday!

Last night Morgan said "We should have a do nothing day tomorrow."  I thought it sounded glorious myself.  So this morning I told the youngest four who always get up at 7am...every morning....like clock work...that they could watch cartoons.  They excitedly got their comforters as Tim got an animated movie they had chosen loaded up to watch.  Sleeping in was sweetness, wrapped up in a warm blanket!  :)

The day hasn't progressed farther then that today really.  The kids all went swimming for a couple hours. They say the pool is warming up daily, so their swimming sessions are lasting longer and longer.  Lego's were played with, naps were taken, reading was done, computer games were played, talks happened and relaxing...lots of relaxing.

Max asked us if he could buy the family dinner tonight.  Why yes you may! :)  He received his first ever real paycheck and Tim said his eyes about popped out of his head.  He wanted to take us out for all-you-can eat Chinese, but we talked him into take-out Chinese (1/2 the price) with a movie at home.  The kids were extremely thankful!  We love us some good Chinese food!!!!  :)  I asked Max what he was planning on buying with his money or did he have plans to save up for something.  He said he wants to go white water rafting and possibly go to Uganda with Morgan this coming January, but that's all he's thought of so far!  :)

Becca and Johnston are our Lo Mein kids!

We watched a few episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise while eating dinner.  The kids are enjoying this series immensely.  After dinner the little munchkins headed to bed while the older ones headed to the pool.  Hoping they don't find any snakes or other unfriendliness on their travels down there in the dark.  Tomorrow we plan on purchasing pool lights and once we get the crushed rock done next week we will be starting on the deck.  I can't wait to get the torches and lights put out so we can see where we are going!  Until then they brave the darkness to enjoy thrashing each other in the pool!  :)

 Max and Johnston ~ Goof Balls

Always laughing, always wresting, always goofing off!

 Best Friends!

Wordless Wednesday!

Meatless Monday!

We were doing some blog reading a few days ago and I don't know which of us came across a "Meatless Monday" post, but we did.  Meatless Monday....sounds like something fun to try.  So we did and it was a hit all around!

Tomato/Cucumber Greek Pasta Salad

I made up this salad back before I was married.  Cucumbers, Tomato, Red Onion, Feta Cheese and a little mayo.  Easy to make, cheap meal for one, and oh so yummy!  I didn't think the salad served the way I usually made it would be a filling meal so Becca (my pasta queen!) thought we could add pasta to it.  Brilliant idea lovely girl!

Tomato/Cucumber Greek Pasta Salad

~ 4 cucumbers

~ 3 small boxes of grape tomatoes

* 1 large red onion

~ 1 large container feta cheese (regular)

~ a couple scoops of mayo

~ 2 large boxes of elbow macaroni

*Cook the pasta then let it cool while you chop the veggies

* Chop up all veggies and put them together in one bowl

*Add feta cheese and mayo (salt and light garlic powder if you choose)

*Mix everything up and let sit in fridge for 30 minutes

*Mix pasta and veggies together (Serve right away or put in fridge to chill)

 

~This made enough for our family of 11 with no leftovers!

Car Tags, VBS, Pool Time and more!

Tim took Becca, the four youngest Jeffries plus two of their friends to the last day of VBS this morning.  While they were at VBS he and Becca ran and got the tags for my van.  He is my hero!!!  They ran a few other errands before heading over to the church to watch the kids VBS program.  Becca said the program was wonderful!!!  It was all black lights, bright shirts, and glow in the dark bracelets!   The kids had a fabulous week and I am SO grateful to Blackshear Place and all the workers for all their hard work!

Holly all smiles for her last day of VBS!

The kids asked if they could play in the little pool with their friends which turned out to be a grand idea.  They played for at least 3 hours having a perfectly wonderful time!  Tim took a three hour nap, Justice and I watched America's Got Talent, Morgan played a new game on her computer and Max worked on a project for school he is trying to finish before his work week starts up.  It was a rather relaxing afternoon!  Eventually hungry bellies brought the little people in search of their dinners, all smiles and sun kissed faces.

The little kids were worn out and went to bed right after dinner.  It was probably the quickest I have ever seen them head for bed.  :)  The older kids and I stayed up and watched a couple episode's of Star Trek: Enterprise that Tim had already watched while eating yummy German chocolate cake that Morgan made me for my birthday.   I didn't let them stay up to late because they all have to be up super early for an adventure with Tim.  You can feel the excitement in the air!!!!!  We love adventuring!  :)

VBS 2013 and a whole lot more!

The kids have had a blast attending Kingdom Rock VBS this week!  This has been a full week.

Monday: I dropped the super exciting group of 6 off at VBS by 8:30.  It took us a little longer because for some reason when I registered them online it didn't go through so I had to register them all over again.  Thankfully Becca and Johnston came with me and were able to help fill out the forms.  We got all the kids into their assigned places and headed for the library.  I had planned to work on some school stuff with Becca and Johnston while the kiddos were at VBS for 3 hours, but the library was closed.  This threw a little wrench in our day.  I didn't want to drive all the way home to have to come back a couple hours later.  We ended up getting gas at the QT and the kids got free donuts.  Score for them!!!  We decided to check out the Dollar Tree in the area that we hadn't been to and were very happy to find it was WAY nicer then the one we usually went to in Gainesville.    We walked up and down each aisle just browsing and goofing off.  I got a few new posters for the school room, some work books for Jameson/Holly to do for fun, the kids grabbed word puzzles, I picked up a few Christmas presents and some other stuff.  It was so much fun hanging out with these two kiddos!  We picked up the kids at 12:30 and headed home.  They talked non-stop!  :)  We did some school, played outside, and the kids were all tucked in by 7pm.  They were tuckered out!  Tim and I had a wonderful date night after the little guys went to bed.  The older kids cooked us a wonderful steak dinner and served us dinner in out bedroom.  We watched a few episodes of a new series which turned out really good.  We are so blessed!!!!

Tuesday: Day #2 of VBS.  Becca and Johnston ran the kids into their classes.  Sign in went much smoother today.  The library was open so I was able to work on a school project with Becca/Johnston.  They found some new books to check out and a few for the younger kids as well.  We grabbed lunch at Nicole's Diner, which is their favorite place to eat in the Oakwood area, before picking up the littles from VBS.  I had made plans with a friend of mine for us all to meet up at the YMCA pool in Oakwood after VBS if the weather permitted.  It looked iffy, but I said we could take a chance.  The kids were so beyond thrilled!!!  This was the first time they were able to play with her kids since school let out for the summer for them.

 Johnston had nearly everyone in the pool playing Star Trek.  

Miss Holly and her two friends were playing family on the two sets of stairs.  I think she was the pet mermaid!  :)

Miss K was the pet puppy and Miss G was a mermaid as well.

There was much rough housing with this older group of tweens and teens!

 Jensen was trying to take Gabe down which is quite funny since Gabe is on the wrestling team at his high school.  He is such a great kid and was super gentle with my much smaller boys. :)

They finally cornered Gabe!

Dream had a great time hanging out in his toy seat while the older kiddos did their thing. 

But he also got a little pool time in the kiddie area!  What a cutie patootie!!!!

Wednesday:  Day #3 of VBS.  I planned a date with Morgan for this particular day, because she doesn't babysit baby Skylar on Wednesday's.  After we dropped the kids off at VBS we had breakfast at IHOP and then spent two very fun hours painting pottery at Fired Up in Gainesville.  We had alot of help from the worker there as we were the only people in the place.  He showed us lots of new tricks.  We didn't finish our projects so we will be returning next week to complete them!

 Morgan working on her mug!  I can't wait to see it finished!

After we picked up the kids we ran a few errands and made it home just in time to do school, have dinner and Tim took the teens to their youth group swim party.  I stayed home with the youngest four who were worn out.  We snuggled under blankets and read the new books we had checked out from the library.  I started reading Stuart Little to them which they kept begging for just...ONE MORE CHAPTER!  They ended up getting me to read a little more then I had planned and bedtime was rather on the late side.  :)

Max was ready to play in the pool after a long day at work.

 Morgan and sweet Lundon!

 I was told that the kids were all fighting over this float.  Johnston was holding his ground pretty well as they were trying to flip him out.  :)

Max and Johnston got a few minutes to enjoy the float without anyone trying to flip them over.  

Morgan told me they all freaked out when Tim tossed his camera into the pool for her to use.  They didn't know it is a water camera so it was completely safe.  LOL!  Once the girls found out it was good to go in the water they had a blast.  Here is one of the MANY pictures they took under water:

Thursday:  Today is my 39th birthday...Day #4 of VBS.  I woke up ready to take the kids to VBS and they surprised me with Birthday Cake Pancakes.  So yummy!  We only have these on actual birthday's because they are not at all healthy, but they are so much fun to eat.  The kids asked to stay home today and have a day off.  Or course!  We are such homebodies that even though they have had a blast at VBS they were craving a day to play at home.  So we did and it was marvelous.  They filled up the little rectangle pool and played for hours in it,  spent a few hours in the back playing on the tire swing and trampoline, crammed in some reading and crafting,  watched the Rise of the Guardians at lunch and played with Legos.  They got the maximum of fun into their day home!  Tim got home in time for my birthday dinner of Spaghetti (the meal I have requested since I was a little girl!), but as soon as he came in he told me about a neighbor up the street who had a tree fall on him yesterday.  Tim said he was outside watching his granddaughter playing in her wagon, as she does almost daily, and he heard the tree cracking.  He got the little girl out of the wagon just as it came crashing down, crushing the wagon and him.  There was only one thing we could do....take dinner of the stove and Tim and the older boys grabbed their two chainsaws and went up the road to clear the tree and see what else we could do to help this family.  My heart goes out to this man whom we have seen for the past...I can't even tell how many years...sitting in front of his home watching his children and grandchildren playing under this tree.  His is the first house we see coming into our subdivision and the last house we see going out.  My heart goes out to his family.

Not sure what tomorrow holds for us.  I know the kids are going to their last day of VBS.  Tim has the day off, so we might try and do a picnic/swimming with some friends after VBS finishes up.  Not sure....but I know we will have a grand day doing whatever we do!  (Lord willing!)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

Outside my window...the sky is pale blue as the sun is making it's appearance over the trees.  A small slight breeze is blowing and stirring the very tops of the trees, but all else is still.

I am thinking...of the very long list of things I need to accomplish this week.  Very long indeed.  Maybe I will put it out of my mind for just a bit.  ;)

I am thankful...for Sundays.  For a day to nap, sit and read, play games, build with Lego's, or do whatever ones heart desires.  I love the day to just relax and unwind before the new weeks is upon us.

In the kitchen...the smell of Tim and Max's breakfast is still lingering.  Amazing how it can take 30 minutes to make a meal for these men and only 5 minutes to throw it in as they rush out of the house this early morning.  

I am wearing...the same as every early morning.  Comfy grey sweats and light blue tshirt.  Comfy, comfy, comfy!

I am creating...a new video for Becca.  I was able to take 16 YouTube clips and put them all together into one smooth video for her to watch and practice her dancing.  It was my first time using Corel VideoStudio for this type of project, but it turned out great!  She was very happy with it and requested a few more so I am working on her next one. 

I am going...to hopefully get out of the house at some point today and take a few of the kids to get their hair cut.  Becca has been faithfully growing her hair out and is asking for a little style cut.  Jensen is needing his "Bieber" hair to be trimmed.  :)

I am wondering...oh....so....much.  With all I have to do this week...I'm wondering if I might not want to lock myself in my room and just come out next Monday.  Wondering if I could actually get away with that?  No.  I didn't think so.  

I am reading...Winnie the Pooh series with Jensen, Jameson, and Holly and The Hunger Games with the older kids.  

I am hoping...I can get through my major project of this week....Summer Clothing Switchout!!!!  That's just one of the things on my plate this week...but it's a doozy!  It usually takes us two weeks to accomplish this...I'm praying we can get it done in one.  (Any prayers you want to send my way I will gladly accept!)

I am looking forward to...celebrating Father's Day this weekend!!!!!!  Love hearing the kids plans for him and what they want to do to surprise him!

I am learning...that having Christ like love for people can be a big job sometimes.  Learning to love like He does, to have that unconditional, ungrudging, compassionate love.  It is something I am daily dying to my selfishness and learning to love like He does.

Around the house...Becca is downstairs doing her Math on one of the computers while Justice just finished walking Beethoven (Morgan's dog).  The rest of the kiddos along with three extras are still asleep, but soon I will start hearing the doors opening and shutting as one by one the groggy eyed critters will emerge from their caves to snuggle up in heaps with blankets drug from their beds. 

I am pondering...after an all nighter with Becca I am a little foggy and trying my best not to ponder!  ;)

 A favorite quote for today..."Which side should I put my tattoo on?"  blank look from me to Becca...after pause...."Your right mom...I need two....one on each side! Thanks!"  as she prances from the room to apply said tattoos to BOTH sides.  This is what happens when Becca stays up all night! ;)  I'm still trying to figure out where the tattoo thingies came from.  (I asked Becca and she said a church slumber party she went to this past weekend.)

One of my favorite things...is watching Becca putting together a new dance.  She has been working on a dance this past week to the song "Breakthrough" by Britt Nicole.  It has a hip hop flare to it which is new for her so I'm excited to see the finished work.

 A few plans for the rest of the week:

Monday:  Light school (Math and English only), summer clothing exchange, haircuts, date night with Tim!

Tuesday: Light school, summer clothing exchange continues, lunch with the older girls and Jasmine to work on their girls conference, Date night (Tim and the older boys)(me and the older girls)

Wednesday: Light school, summer clothing exchange continues. dance practice for Becca and her friends, youth at church

Thursday: Light school, sigh...I wish it was done...but...summer clothing exchange, working on girls conference, Tim's date night with the youngest four Jeffries

Friday: Free day for all the kids, girls conference starts

Saturday: Girls conference all day, guys cooking for all at the conference

Sunday: FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

A peek into my day...

Jameson and Holly snugging under Jameson's blanket.

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Thankful Thursday!

Things I am thankful for ~ 

....snuggling on the couch with Becca, surfing through youtube videos finding new songs we haven't heard.

....enjoying homemade cookie dough and a tall glass of milk with Morgan while chatting about this or that.

....trips to the ocean with my lovies and watching them swim, surf, build sand castles, but most of all...making memories!

....the ability to go and buy my child shoes when he/she grows out of the ones I purchased two months prior not knowing said child was going to have a four shoe sizes growth spurt in those two months.

....days when I wake up and say, "Today is a free day!!!!" and all the kids say I'm the bestest mommy for giving them a free day to do whatever their imaginations can get them into!

....how driven my teens are to minister to others through ways that God has gifted them.

....cell phones and the ability to send and receive texts to my hubby while he is gone from the house!

....snuggling a little one freshly woken from their beds, with messy hair and groggy eyes.

....wrapping my hands around a steaming cup of homemade hot chocolate, topped with yummy whip cream after playing in the snow with the kids.

....the ability to be teaching my children and watching the "light bulb" moments in their education.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wendesday

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...it is dark and quiet.  The street lights at the top of our driveway are the only light I can see.  Neighbors are most probably sleeping as I should be, for their houses are sitting with dark windows....almost eerily starring down at our house.

I am thinking...of how rare it is for me to find myself sitting in my living room alone.  Most often my faithful companion, Morgan, is enjoying her end of the day time quietly beside me on the couch.  Enjoying just the being together that no words need be spoken at the time when the clock leaves one day to embark on a new one, unless to share something of importance that one of us come across in our nightly readings.

I am thankful...for an amazing husband who works long, hard days so that I may be a full time mom at home.  I am so blessed!

In the kitchen...is dirty dishes from late night snacks from the children  who came home from various directions.  Youngest four at a local VBS, older four off on an adventure of some sort and the middle child off with Tim to run children hither and yon, just to turn around and gather them up again to bring home.  Dishes can wait until morning once in awhile! :)

I am wearing...comfy black sweat pants and a teal tshirt.  We haven't retrieved the summer boxes from the attic to do a major clothing swap yet, but soon....the boys are starting to go shirtless....it is time.

I am creating...lots of different stuff with my Corel PaintShop Pro X4 program.  Loving it!  This was something I was playing around with yesterday. 

I created the green rick rack border from scratch which was my BIG learning adventure.  I'm not sure where this project will end up...but it has been a fun outlet for my creativity.  Loving it!!!!!

I am going...to be putting together a new record system for our homeschooling.  Researching and playing around with ideas.  I hope to have it in running order by August when we end this school year and gear up for the next.  This is definitely not my strong point at all, but I am putting my best foot forward!  :)

I am wondering...how our back yard will turn out, how long it will take us to complete now that we hit a slight snag that needs to be fixed, and will be get the fire pit area finished as well or have to wait until the Fall to finish it?

I am reading...about  homeschool record keeping and other related things.  Not my favorite cup of tea!  I did just start a for fun book, Beverly Lewis' The Bridesmaid, but I'm not far enough into it to say how I like it yet.

I am hoping...to get some important mail next week.  I will post pictures as soon as I receive the long awaited items!!!!  Oh...the excitement in our house is bubbling over!  :)

I am looking forward to...the Born For This Girls Conference that my daughters put together.  I am so proud of them.  To see them working so diligently for something they are passionate about is just overwhelmingly wonderful to this momma's heart!  I look forward to seeing what God has in store for them stepping out in faith and for the girls that He brings to the conference.


I am learning...that life is often nicer when lived slowly.  Time is already flying past at a rate I cannot control, but I can control the things I allow into our lives that have the ability to steal our peace, joy, togetherness.  This I have found can be a seasonal thing also.  The past couple months we have not been going out as much to this activity or that meeting.  We were homebodies enjoying the woods and creek in back of our house, hours spent playing on the tire swing, daily readings, and much more.  These past two weeks we have seemed to hit a busier schedule and it looks to last until the end of June.  VBS time tends to do that.  The youngest four will be attending three VBS adventures this June, while the older five will only be attending one.  Basketball camp for Johnston and Becca is now on the calender for one week and a possibility of a four week Friday camp for the younger four.  This month will fly by and I am already looking forward to two weekends I've purposefully left blocked off for our family to just enjoy a slower pace.  Before I know we will be in August and facing the end of a school year and beginning of another.

Around the house...VBS crafts from tonight are laying here and there, a playpen is set up for little Bman whom we watch during the week, Lego projects are proudly on display being saved by imploring creators for "just one more day" before having to take them apart and putting them away....items of our daily life is laying around for anyone who were to come and visit to see exactly what we have been up to lately.

I am pondering...about my parents 50th anniversary that is coming up on November 21st.  Different party ideas are running around in my head like untrained children.  I know I need to take the time to sit down and organize my thoughts and get the plans put into action.

A favorite quote for today...courtesy of Jameson..."I've decided I'm only going to have two kids.  I'm going to come home to a house that is niiiiiiice and quiiiiieeet and caaaaaaalm and it will not get dirty because I will only have two kids.  You can live with me to when you are older and I will take care of you."  (I love that boy!  He doesn't realize two kids can take a house down as well as 12!)

One of my favorite things...is getting new curriculum that from the moment your child starts they LOVE it and are eager to get to it each day.  That is how it has been with our new math (Teaching Textbooks) and english (Rod and Staff).  I love when my kids ask to do their "fun" school work before we even start class time.  Love it!

 A few plans for the rest of the week:


Tuesday: school, VBS, three kiddos going to the local library for a lock in with friends, I might even sit and talk with a few of my friends whom I have not seen for months while our kids are locked in the library together!  :)
Wednesday: youth night at church
Thursday: school
Friday: preparing food for the girls fundraiser at a local store, girls going to a friends slumber party at their church where Morgan has been asked to speak to the teen girls
Saturday: Fundraiser!!!
Sunday: Church and a free day to do whatever we want!

A peek into my day...
 

Johnston and Becca as Captain Jack Sparrow and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

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