What do you do all day?

This one is dedicated to all you stay-at-home moms out there. I kept a little log the other day and now I know why I feel like I have A.D.D. and short-term memory loss and at the end of the day don't see much tangible fruit for my labors. From 7 am to 9 pm I literally did not do any one thing for more than 10 minutes straight (except a little cooking and dish washing.) Some things happened so rapid-fire that I didn't remember to right them down. And I omitted a few choice activities like wiping little bottoms. Well, there, now I guess it is no longer omitted.

------
cook breakfast
feed Caleb
help Kate put on dress up (see previous post)
dishes
cut Caleb's nails
start laundry
read to Caleb
change Caleb
put Caleb in bed
strip Nate's bed (a daily chore due to a case of lice)
read paper (why now? It's the A.D.D. I guess)
make my bed
help Nate assemble Hot Wheels track
switch laundry
fertilize pansies
draw on water mat with Kate
cut Nate's nails
cut Kate's nails
scrape yellow goo off Meg's mirror frame
make phone calls
switch laundry
start grocery list
more phone calls
help Nate with computer game
more grocery list
fix lunch
feed Caleb
lunch dishes
read to Kate
put Kate in bed
play with Caleb
put Caleb in bed
help Meg with craft
help Nate find a ball
check email
put chicken in oven
more phone calls
discipline (this only made the list once...?)
make snacks
switch laundry
supper prep
get Kate up from nap
help Kate get dressed (again, previous post...)
more snack
more email
more phone calls
more supper prep
open mail
feed Caleb
eat supper
put Caleb to bed
start dishes
give Nate a bath
clean out pumpkins (to be carved later)
more dishes
put sheets back on Nate's bed
declutter downstairs (oh yeah, this also took more than 10 minutes!)
vacuum couch (again, the lice)
snuggle in bed with three cutie little kids
more dishes
more laundry
-----

I'd say I got a lot accomplished, wouldn't you?

Clothes Horse

noun: a conspicuously dressy person (or in some cases un-dressy; see below)

Recently I decided to document Kate's many wardrobe changes throughout the day. She kind of tapered off after naptime, but this gives you an idea of what a revolving closet door--and sense of style--she has.

8:03

8:18

8:20


9:37



10:48


3:15

(Note the book in her "pocket." She is a school girl.)

Dahlias

Mandy, these pics are for you. The children's ministry had a picnic at Stone Mountain. The Dahlia Society has a display garden there and John Kreiner gave us a little tour/lecture about the flowers. They were just past their peak, but still gorgeous. I wish I could have cut about 30 stems and stuffed them all in big vase on my dining room table!

Helen

A few weekends ago we took a little day trip to Helen, GA.
We were about a week early for the leaves, but a nice get away.

A still-working grain mill on the Chattahoochee.

(p.s. Yes, we forgot to brush Meg's bed head before leaving the house.)

After a short carriage ride around town Nate fed the horse a carrot.

Charlemagne's Kingdom:
"A model railroad of Germany from the North Sea to the Alps."
A "must-see" when visiting Alpine Helen.
It actually was pretty neat, and as you can see from
the next picutre, the kids really enjoyed it.

Walking up to Anna Ruby Falls.
Probably the longest 4/10 of a mile walk we've taken.

The falls were a little low due to the lack
of rain, I guess, but still pretty.

Notice the tongues.
They really had to concentrate to keep from sliding off this rock.


Little Pudge.

Tent Camping

Two weekends ago Erik, Meg and Nate slept in our tent at Camp Westminster during the Fall Family Camp Out. Everyone made it through the night! A good start. Hopefully in the next few years this will become a regular family activity.

Rise and shine campers! Meg and Nate with our friends the LeBlancs.
As long as he gets his morning coffee...

Misc

A Captive Audience

Meg and Daddy time. They rode to the top of Stone Mountian and hiked down. Check out the Atl. skyline in the background.

Bedtime Story

Look, Mom, I Finished a Project!

Great things about Meg's new closet:

1. It's pink (bedroom is green)

2. It's 6-yr-old friendly (Meg can reach the hangers and shelves)

3. It's NOT 2-yr-old friendly (Kate can't reach the lip gloss and piggy bank, at least without a stool...)

4. It's organized (for now)

"Puppy Licks"

Kate's name for one of her new favorite games.

First Swing