Friday DECLUTTERING!

[April Marie]

just got back from a.'s written test at the DMV
and HE PASSED!!
next he takes a driving test (in 3 weeks - first available appointment)
and then he'll go from learner's permit to driver's license (and INDEPENDENCE!)

washington state is soooooooo restrictive
first, you have to have a learner's permit for 6 months
then you get an "intermediate" license
then you FINALLY get your "basic" (regular) driver's license when you turn 18

there was a kid there doing his driving test and he looked SO nervous
(he had trouble backing out of the parking lot)

also called the vet to tell them about mr. smith's sneezing and runny nose/eyes
(he was just there last week for shots and a wellness exam)
our doctor agreed to prescribe a decongestant and an antibiotic over the phone (since he had a similar problem last year)
i'll have to go pick it up this afternoon but i WON'T have to bring the cat
mr. smith had an anti-inflammatory shot last week for a skin problem so i wondered if maybe it was some kind of allergic reaction (?)

[April Marie]

on the agenda for today:
*a. to DMV DONE
*call vet about mr. smith DONE
-study for certification IN PROGRESS (i'm sitting out on the deck soaking up the sunshine and reading)
-laundry (towels today) IN PROGRESS
*pick up meds for mr. smith
-college prep stuff (with a. - we've been doing something every day so we stay on track with the deadlines, pretty overwhelming)
-decluttering project (out-of-control "pending" basket, items from past school years' filed in appropriate bins in storage garage)
-exercise
-download susan wise bauer audio lectures to my iphone

[Jen in OK]

Well, I worked in the school room a while. You can't tell, though, because dd was working, too. Got in some good reading with both kiddos, though, and I took down the playpen and moved in a little table. We'll see how I like it there.

[Lisa in Ft. Worth, T]

Since last posting:

• Made up more bubble solution
• Both loads of bedding taken care of
• Made a snack and Koolaid (my kids hardly ever get Koolaid)
• Played Webkinz with Gracie
• Watched Emily draw some animals

I'm dragging now for some reason. I think I'm going to rest and then I'll tackle some in the school room.

[Tracey]

So I did my laundry and cleaned up the kitchen. I played 4 games with the kiddos, we did math and Latin, I and did some of my transcription work and now I am going to get ready to get dinner going. Hopefully after that, I will sit down and plan for next year. I will be at the convention most of the morning and afternoon tomorrow.

[Jen in OK]

Got dd down for a nap! She was about to lose it and I thought it would be bad if I tried to leave her at my parents' house that tired. I'm going to do a bit of odds and ends and then we'll head out. Have a great night!

[April Marie]

good news, jen!
hope alice gets a good nap in

just put some SUN TEA out on the deck to steep
(sun tea = summer for me )

i couldn't remember how to even do it even though i used to make it all the time in anchorage
i mentioned to e. that i wasn't sure if i'd made it while we've been back in washington
and he said "because the sun never shines?!"

yes, it's true - the sun shines more in alaska than in the pacific northwest
(at least in our area!)

on sunday (august 1) it will be three years since we moved to washington
i think it's time to move on . . .

hey - did anyone see my post about a.'s raccoon hunt?!
(that was very out-of-the-ordinary for my family)

[Colleen OH]

I was sitting on the front porch swing when dh casually mentioned he needed a hay rake hauled home from 30 miles away. The rest, as they say, is history.

I did take children places today, too. For some reason the twins HAD to have a battery for something. TODAY. It was the first thing they came to me with this morning. Hmmmmm..... Do I ask why they needed it???

Took ice to store, bought groceries on ice cubes.

Took Garth to get bee supplies.

Hauled the hay rake.... through a little historic old canal town. I always like that town. Glad I left it intact without dragging anything with me.

Hauled a bike to somewhere that Trent sold.

I'm hearing talk that our family is going to go biking tonight. I guess dil said she'll babysit.

[Heather W]

Let's see:

• Forgot to mention earlier that I put 3 bags of trash out to the cans. Two from the basement that I filled the other day and one from normal upstairs stuff. AFTER I finished processing the chicken Processing domestic style NOT Colleen style
• MOPS call
• picked up the book at the consignment store that I8 left there yesterday (they always read on a bench when we go there, but he found Gulliver's travels and just wanted to have it so badly that he was distracted and left his other book)
• picked up my copy of The Read Aloud Handbook that I lent to someone a year ago. She said she used it often and recently got her own copy for her birthday. The one I got from her porch looks awfully new...I hope she didn't give me her new book!! Anyway, I'm about to lend it gain! But I know it will come back...
• bought a strap for my glasses. Ok so as I was going in and J5 and I were discussing this he goes, "Mommy...I've seen people at church with strings on their glasses." I go...they are old ladies aren't they? and he answered yes!!! Did I tell you when I tried on varying glasses Monday the two little boys thought I looked like an old man???? I didn't even make old lady status!!!
• Target- they are having a wicked good sale on giant glue sticks right now- a 3pk for 1.86. Bought on plastic box for consolidating the hairdresser center. And some other stuff.
• saw a friend's car in the parking lot on our way out and the kids left a note! Very fun...I hope they notice the note.
• decided to leave the church dusting for the morning...PROCRASTINATION! But I wanted to get home and make dinner and the blueberry crumble. Then Dan can help since he signed us for for this!

That's my story...never did turn in those test scores, but as soon as the crumble is in the oven I will do that and then email it. I can get the response on Monday. That'll be fine. The kids ROCKED the test so you know...it's all good.

[Colleen OH]

Heather, you were processing chickens?

(Don't worry, any amount without equipment like we have is monumental. )