Outside My Window… it is c.o.l.d. We went from +1 to -26 and it was not fun!! It’s not supposed to warm up any time soon but at least there won’t be much more snow.

I am Listening to… Dr. Ray. I love The Doctor is In podcasts, listening to Dr. Ray makes cleaning house much more fun.

I am so Grateful for…  ~My husband’s new job. Are you sick of reading that yet? I guess it’s not even really new anymore but after 4 years of him never being home it is so wonderful to have him home at night and on the weekends. We had a great weekend together, I love having him around!
~Good friends. We had friends over for dinner last night and it was tons of fun, I made Sunday pork roast with mushroom gravy from the America’s Test kitchen 2011 book… it was YUMMY! My sil introduced me to Cook’s Illustrated and every recipe I have made has turned out super yummy. (Thanks sil!)
~Having a nice clean house and leftovers in the fridge for dinner, it’s a great way to start the week.
~My library’s ebook collection! It is so awesome to be able to borrow books from home and download them to my ipad.
~for the mommy group at our church. It has been such a blessing to connect with other Catholic moms! I was unsure how Mary and Luke would do in a different room being cared for by people the don’t know but they are loving it! We are about to start an apologetics series by Scott Hahn, it’s going to be great!

I’m Pondering… each days Small Steps entry. I’m really really loving that book!! I am thinking about ordering the companion journal, it sounds really interesting.

I am Reading… Way too many books right now. The Best Kind of Different, 20 and Counting, Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi, and The Thorn. I like having more than one book on the go, what I want to read depends on my mood.

 I am Thinking… a lot about my word for this year. I found a word that really sums up what I want this year to be and I have it sitting by my sink. I have a post started about it, hopefully I’ll finish it soon.

I am Creating… A peaceful home, a Jesus tree, mittens for Mary, a quilt, book lists, school plans, budgets, and jelly… no wonder I’m so tired!!

On my iPad Bob Books. are really popular with Mary right now. She has also been listening to a lot of Cat Chat. For me I have been doing lots of reading.

Towards a Real Education
I’ve been looking over the CHC website. I want to find something to do with Mary that isn’t really school-ish but will still satisfy her desire to learn. I’m leaning more towards something like Five in a Row, I am hoping it will be a good fit for us.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty… I have devoted January to regaining our rhythm and making some adjustments to it. I’m trying to focus on that more than the projects I have on the go.

To Live the Liturgy
I have been taking a planning afternoon every two weeks. I pack up and go to the library and plan out our activities and feast days for the next two weeks and then pick up anything we will need for crafts or special food on the way home, it has been WONDERFUL! I am able to plan and focus so much better when I’m not at home.
  I am Hoping and Praying… for my husband and kids. Taking time to pray for each of them specifically every day is something I should have done ages ago.

Around the House… New Christmas toys are being played with a great deal. The Plan toys garage, barn, and stable are just as popular as I hoped they would be.

From the Kitchen
I have a few more recipes planned for this week from my Best of 2011 America’s Test Kitchen magazine.

One of My Favorite Things… My Contigo travel mugs. I haven’t had time to sit and drink coffee in the morning lately but these keep it nice and hot until I have time to finish it.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week
I don’t think I can keep it to only a few, we have a busy week!
Tomorrow we have dance and I have an extra kid in the afternoon, Wednesday we have Little Scientists, I have an extra kid all day and dh and I are going out (hopefully… if he isn’t working late), Thursday we have a playdate and have to grocery shop, Friday is mommy group and I’m doing newborn portraits for a friend. 

A picture to share:

Mary and Luke sledding with Grandpapa over Christmas. 🙂