“A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad.” -Robert Wagner

First time the dogs have been in such close proximity without one jumping or chewing on the other; it’s a big victory!

from around the web

• Healthy reasons you don’t need to break up with coffee :: for my coffee-loving friends. You’re welcome.
• How to tame the Homeschool Information Monster :: Especially awesome read for newish homeschoolers because all that info can be paralyzing!
• We are wealthy. And why it matters :: a great dose of perspective.
• Busy is a sickness :: My favorite of this week’s links. The study mentioned is a huge eye-opener!

on the blog (in case you missed ’em):

• Random things in my brain right now
• Dog-training miracle tool

right here at home

I’m SO over cold and snow and mud. Mid-week church activities were cancelled, as were the girls’ enrichment classes, and Piper’s dog obedience class (along with local public schools). But  the snow was sloppy wet kind not sled-able or even worth playing in; wallowing in a mud puddle would be about the equivalent. Can we just have spring now? And sunshine? Pretty-please?

Before and after: melting snow + Georgia red clay. Blech.

I suppose I’m partly just crabby because this weekend is a hard anniversary: tomorrow marks two years since my dad died after battling ALS, followed by Scout and Jem moving in the very next day. That combination of events began the hardest year of my life. So this weekend I’ll be a little extra kind to myself: maybe I’ll do something productive like start tackling a room that needs to be painted — or I’ll renew my recently-expired library card and get myself a stack of good books and hole up in the new Starbucks down the road. Or maybe breakfast with my mom and then one of those other things. No matter what I end up doing I’ll be sure not to let my workouts slide because exercise helps my mental well-being immensely.

Scout and I have been working on learning to tell time, and I’ve added spelling to her workbox routine. Kathryn and I are already discussing next year’s homeschool plans; I take her input heavily in making plans at this point in her education. We’re still loosey-goosey with Jem’s “school” days, letting LEGOs and free play, conversation and daily life (like looking for volcanoes on the map!), make up his kindergarten education.

If you’ve been here long, you know I never leave my blog design entirely alone, but I’ve been craving simplicity everywhere, so it was time to work towards that end on the blog, too. Hope you like it!

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Linking up with Kris and Mary.

Jamie

Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »