The Toman Family's Tidbits: July 2010

Outside My Window: ...its dark and still outside...very little breeze and right at 80 degrees. Even though it may be calm now, we did have a bit of rain/stormy weather earlier in the day. Thank goodness because we were needing the precipitation for once.

I Am Listening To: ...the hum of the refrigerator and the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard....oh, and A'Pexi snoring every once in a while.

I Am Wearing: ...pink and white pajama pants, a pink cami and white slippers.

I Am Thankful For: ...a whole day that my hubby was able to spend at home. :-) Doesn't happen too often lately so I feel blessed when it does.

I Am Pondering: "Fear is the enemy of hope." ~Dave Ramsey

I Am Reading: ...The Discipline Book by the Sears, Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski, Don't Let Me Count To Three by Ginger Plowman and The Fussy Baby Book by the Sears. Bruce and I have also started reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover together in the evenings. For those of you that are familiar with Dave, we have already completed Baby Step #1 and are looking forward to plowing through Baby Step #2 'with the intensity of a gazelle'. :-D

To Be Fit And Happy: Since it is hotter than the dickens most days, we've been trying to

limit our outside time to the evening hours unless bathing suits and water is involved. A few days a week, we go for walks around the neighborhood after dinner or let Brinley piddle

around the yard. Other than that, Bruce and I use the Wii to get the ol' tickers going.

From The Kitchen: This evening's meal consisted of t-bone steaks grilled to perfection, steamed sweet potatoes topped with cinnamon & sugar and baked zucchini halves.

I Am Thinking: ...that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Rest In Peace Mrs. Melontree.

I Am Creating: ... a less cluttered home--which amazingly enough seems to help create a less cluttered mind and a less cluttered heart. Thankfully, the Lord has continued to give me the

motivation and strength that I need to push through.

On My iPod: I've gone back to being on a KSBJ kick again...gotta love that KSBJ iPhone app!

Towards A Real Education: Oy...I'm not even going to get into this. My head has been swimming with various curricula options and home education programs. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks we'll decide on something and have it ordered.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: I can feel the summer drawing to an end--school supplies fill the bins at the office supply stores, fall clothing and school uniforms fill the racks at the clothing stores and Halloween decorations have made their way to the shelves of...well, every store inbetween. If only all of this meant that the 100+ degree heat index days would be coming to an end soon. Unfortunately not...

To Live The Liturgy: "God gave Himself to you; give yourself to God." Blessed Robert Southwell

I Am Hoping And Praying: ...that the sun will continue to shine.

In The Garden: Garden? I think its starting to resemble a jungle. Since it has been so hot

here, but the rain has continued to come, plants have gone crazy. I think if I want my flowerbed to look tame again, I'm just going to have to get out in the heat and humidity for

a day or two...yuck!

Around The House: Sticking to the basics lately. With Bruce spending last weekend out-of-town and this week and weekend working overtime, on the days he did come home I did good to get the basics done and on the day--today--that he stayed home with us, we spent our time together enjoying each others' company instead of worrying about nit-picky household chores.

On Keeping Home: Last weekend, while Bruce was in Ohio visiting family, I decided to tackle a little project that I've been meaning to do for...oh, about a year. You see, the

previous owners of our home had a white, vertical mail rack in the kitchen and I fell in love with the idea. I hate our bar area getting cluttered up with mail, keys, cell phones, etc. For a few months, I looked and looked and LOOKED for a white vertical mail rack in stores and online that I liked, but I just couldn't find one. Finally, last summer/early fall I settled on a bamboo vertical mail rack that would need to be painted white. Well, life happened, and I was finally able to tackle this little project last weekend and I have to say, every time I walk by my cute little mail rack with our keys, mail and what-not organized in the little slots and on the little hooks, I can't help but smile. Ahhh...the simple things.

One Of My Favorite Things: ...is when Brinley wants her 'nuggles' (snuggles).

Brinley Anne This Week: ...has begun pretend play. Actually it began a few weeks ago, but

since I haven't done a daybook post the past few weeks I am telling you about it now.

Anyway, Brinley has started this little 'game' I guess you can call it. Usually she does it while I'm cooking in the kitchen and she'll use the door that goes from the kitchen to the utility

room. She closes the door (not all the way) then opens it and walks through to the utility room, closes the door (again, not all the way) while she's in there, then opens it and walks

into the kitchen and says, "hewo" (hello). I'll usually say "hello" back and then she does the same thing over and over. She has also started saying, "be wite (right) back" then she runs into another room, comes back and says, "I'm home!" I'll then greet her like I haven't seen her in a week, tell her how much I missed her and how glad I am that she's back--including lots of

hugs and kisses. Then she'll say "be wite (right) back" and start the whole thing over again. I'm loving her sweet, little imagination...

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: We're hoping to get the Grand Prix to the Pontiac

dealership to get a few things checked out...nothing major. Depending on how that goes kind of determines what we do the rest of the week. Obviously if the Grand Prix is in the shop than Brinley and I will be spending our days at home.

A Picture I'm Sharing: Since I haven't shared pictures in a couple of weeks, and I didn't share any with the last daybook I posted, I am sharing several with you this go 'round. These were actually taken during the week before Fourth of July Weekend. It was an evening that we

spent out in the front yard. Bruce mowed while Brinley and I piddled around. Obviously the piddling turned into a mini, very impromptu (or else I would have picked a better shirt for

her) photo shoot. Enjoy!

She makes me look good. ;-)

Sniff, sniff...smelling our purple lantanas.

Trying to be GENTLE....because we don't pull on Mommy's pretty flowers.

Keeping an eye on her Daddy...always.

Practicing being gentle again.

Checking out the orange and yellow lantanas.

Making sure Daddy is doing a good job. ;-)

Yes...she DID take a bite of Mommy's purple lantanas. Then we had a discussion that being gentle with flowers includes not eating them. :-D

Smelling Mommy's crepe myrtle blooms.

Practicing her shapes on the sidewalk.

~Watching Daddy~

Every Fourth of July since Bruce and I have been married, my parents have made the trip to visit with us for a long weekend, and last year we were blessed to have Brandon, Emma and Cole tag along. As most of you probably know our families have gone through quite a few changes over the past year including Brandon and his family moving out to West Texas, as well as Bruce and I buying our first home and moving across the Mississippi border to Alabama. With these changes, many more miles have been added between us. We are approximately 560 miles east from my parents house, while Brandon and his family are approximately 460 miles west from Mom and Dad. With these changes, we decided that it would be best for everyone to meet at Mom and Dad's for the Fourth of July weekend since it is the central location. Overall we had a wonderful weekend full of great company and amazing food. After spending this past week uploading and editing photos every. single. evening. I am finally ready to share some photos with you--predominately of the babies-- from this past weekend. Enjoy!

Brinley smelling Nana's bright, red flowers.

Cole showing Nana some of Brinley's toys.

What I wouldn't give to be able to have my feet together flat on the floor and my bottom about a millimeter off the ground for several minutes at a time.