Random

Frog bellies.  They aren't usually this cuddly.

 I like solutions.  For....just about ever...we have been having trouble with our afternoon chores.  Some of them are bedtime chores, some of them don't need to be done every day, some of them won't get done if we leave them til bedtime.  Anyway, we chronically omitted 2 of Caleb's chores.  This week I suddenly was inspired to attack our afternoon chores the way we do them in the mornings and do them all at once, even the ones that make more sense to do at bedtime.  100% at check time, 2 days running.  Let's keep up the pace!

Our grill...so rustic and yet, I like it.  Plus the kids get so excited to see me light the charcoal!

I've started cooking chicken for about 5 minutes per side directly on the grill and then putting foil under them.  It has helped prevent too much charring

 A Caleb inspired trivia clue: "Those green things people give you that get soft after a while."

Avocados, obviously!  People grown them in their yards sometimes and find themselves with hordes that they have to give away.  The same thing goes on with mangoes.

My new skirt.  New-to-me.  I bought it at a yard sale for 50 cents.  I have very little fashion sense, but I know the shirt doesn't "go" with it.  I don't have a shirt that goes with this color, but I love it just the same - what I love is the two ENORMOUS pockets on each side.  The height of practicality!  And in my line of work practicality trumps fashion big time!  Plus I've finally discovered (I've lived in Florida for 13!! years) - skirts work like shorts for our heat!  That and having two girly-girls who live in play dresses just makes me want to wear a skirt too.

Let me just say that this set up works wonders for teaching your kids why they need to wear their seat belt!

Annalise would be in K-4 this year.  We are "unschooling" K-4.  But Annalise is very self motivated when it comes to this stuff.  I had a handwriting book set aside for her and she wanted to work on it on her own.  There is so much I could say about her handwriting and general attitude toward learning how to read do math, but I will sum it up with: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.