Healthier Options: Denny's and IHOP

I have never been a big Denny's or IHOP fan, except that here (and maybe everywhere), they feature Kids Eat Free times or days and the kids like those places, so we do find ourselves there from time to time.  In the past week, we found ourselves at each place once.

Kiss of Silence

For the first time in a long time, between shuttling kids around to various activities today, C and I found ourselves in our home by ourselves for a brief moment.  It was strange and wonderful all at once.  We shared a single kiss to commemorate the moment.

Tooth-y

Just putting a little request out there for prayers for two of our kids who have some teeth stuff coming up this month.

Field Trip: Petroglyph National Monument

Sunday afternoon, the weather was just so perfect (sunny, high-50s and no wind), I was desperate to get outside and do something new and fun.  C had a whole plan to do some baking (bagels and banana muffins), so I offered to take some of the kids (who wanted to go) to burn some energy so he could focus on the baking.  Three of our kids went (S, Z and J) and our three oldest nieces came along.  The seven of us (including me) visited the Petroglyph National Monument right here in Albuquerque for the first time.

High School Homeschool Help

I'm always searching for ways to better educate our kids -- new books, new materials, new techniques, new resources and most of all, new, inexpensive ways to make what we do even more exciting for them.

Saturday Morning

Oh, how I love Saturday mornings.

All the running around during the week makes me savor the quiet in our house early on Saturdays even more.  Bliss!

The kids are still asleep.  My tired, hard-working husband is still asleep.  Even our dog is still asleep.  All that I can hear right now is the hum of the computer and the clickity-clack of my fingers on the keyboard.

As I pause to inhale the sweetness of this moment, even my fingers grow quiet........

The silence is short-lived though.  I hear my husband walking towards the bathroom overhead, which means others will, too, be waking soon.

Oh, but those few moments of quiet were like a piece of heaven!

On the Run

Busy days this week!  Lots of running.  For example...

Monday:

• Went to the glasses store to get boys' glasses adjusted.
• Went to the gas station to donate an arm and a leg in trade for fuel.
• Went to the bank and set up bank accounts for all the kids (finally).
• Went to Staples to get more toner for my printer.
• Went to three stores till we found work boots for S.

Giraffe Stuff

Yes, I love giraffe stuff.  I used to say I wanted a pet giraffe.  Now, I can hardly keep up with the kids and there aren't enough trees in NM to keep a giraffe satisfied.  So I don't think so.  But I do like visiting them at the zoo.

Anyway, most people who know me well, know that I've been collecting giraffe stuff for most of my life.  Sadly, since we arrived in NM, I have not been able to display my collection for lack of a good space to set it up in our home here.  But I still acquire a giraffe or two per year that get added to the closet full of boxes storing the ones I have -- waiting for that glorious day when they can be displayed in all their spotted splendor.

One such person (who knows about my love for giraffes) sent me this link and I had to share it here because these are so fun!!  I want these for my collection.  Ha!  Check them out.

Breakfast Note

Good morning.  I just finished my breakfast and I was so deeply satisfied with it that I was compelled to write about it no matter how many grimaces this post might yield.

Post Office Faux Pas

Oh my, dear Post Office:  After doing a nice complimentary write-up about you during the holidays, this is how you repay me?