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Home ยป Blog ยป Ordinary Days

Ordinary Days

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane, Ordinary Days

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Showing me how much he’s grown.  I don’t need a reminder!  He’s gotten so tall.

I made thesethe other day.  So good.  I can’t wait to get back into my cooking/baking groove after this baby is born.  Everyone has been nice about it, but there is no way they haven’t noticed a serious lack of home-cooked meals and snacks around here.  

The boys were scared out of their wits the other day…they found an opossum, playing opossum, behind the shed. They ran, yelling up a storm, to the back door and burst in.  But of course, the temptation was too great and they had to check it out again, only to repeat the whole girly running and screaming thing.

 We memorize Napoleon Dynamite quotes around here.  

Another part of pregnancy I won’t miss.  Gross, but they’ve been necessary.

Isn’t school and sports paperwork completely overwhelming?  I finished it all…I think.  I hope!  They all ask for WAY too much information, and that bugs me to no end.

Matt’s clean desk, ready for school.

Summer is winding down. 

It’s gone fast.

Except when it’s gone slow…really really slow.

I’m ready for routine-stricter bed times, the end of non-stop kitchen cleaning, and constant house straightening.  I think the kids are ready to all be away from each other a little and with peers their own age.

I’m not ready for homework enforcement, school lunches and busy sports schedule during dinner hour.

I realized I have four “starts” this year….all almost exactly a week apart-first with Abbey going back to high school and then it all ends with Patrick starting afternoon preschool in September.  It will be nice that way I think, and give me time to keep up with it all.

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August 14, 2012 ยท 21 Comments

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  1. Erin says

    August 14, 2012 at 6:33 am

    Oh those TUMS bring back so many pregnancy memories Sarah! Can you believe you are almost done with them. FOREVER! Well – at least for pregnancy related heart burn. So fun to see your every day. I adore that first picture of Patrick. He really is getting so big! And thanks for the not so fun reminder about all of the back to school forms that will be coming my way soon. They drive me crazy too!

    Wishing you smooth transitions!

    Reply
  2. Magnolia Verandah says

    August 14, 2012 at 8:15 am

    I bet you are looking forward to a quieter house for a few hours a day!

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    I had to chuckle at the playing possum bit. Have your kids seen this commercial about getting a pet possum to save money? We're not TV people, but it makes me giggle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNihdGBu8k

    Reply
  4. Billie Jo says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    Love your Ordinary Days posts! And I agree… as much as I will miss summer, I am ready for routine! And those school forms… I have 3 separate stacks waiting for me on my desk! Have a great day! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  5. dee says

    August 14, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    Believe it or not, I will miss those sports forms this year! We move our two sons to college TOMORROW and one is our youngest child. I am not sure about this empty nest thing…

    Reply
  6. Mindy says

    August 14, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    I love Napolean Dynamite, and I love that you memorize quotes… too funny!

    Reply
  7. momto5minnies says

    August 14, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    I love the whole "summer went by too fast except when it's gone slow" … so, so true. I'm ready for school to start, but also not ready for the afternoon/evening busy times. At least you will have a sweet little baby to force you to take in the moment at a slower pace. I forget, and then time has passed.

    Best of luck to your kids as they start school …

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    I agree about summer going so fast… and so slow! Just like you, I am also ready for a stricter routine. I'm also looking forward to less sibling arguing 24/7. I'm not looking forward to lunches or the homework either.

    Seeing those Tums sure reminded me of my pregnancies.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    Oh, I love the Napoleon Dynamite quote! How fun! Thinking of you as your special day approaches and you welcome your precious baby into the world.

    Many blessings,
    jennifer

    Reply
  10. valerie says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I'm ready for school – but I'm not, too.
    Good luck with ALL you have….
    You are quite amazing to me. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    August 14, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    My wife reads your blog, and we like to laugh together over your Nap-D quotes. This one is my particular favorite, since I am from Idaho, and I do have a little thing called pride in the Gem State.

    Reply
  12. Crystal says

    August 14, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    If I don't get to comment again before you have the baby…I just wanted to tell you how happy and excited I am for you. I think of you everyday and am anxiously anticipating the birth of your new little one! I am so happy for you that you followed your heart and had another baby. I remember years ago when I first had emailed you about starting my own blog and baby questions you were so kind enough to share with me your secret wish for one more. Now after my fifth (I am no better at blogging than I was then.I still just aspire to you and Shawni) baby turning eight months old, I have such mixed emotions with having another. One woman commented to me the other day that I was a baby addict. Whatever. It has been such a joy to experience this little "family project" of ours.I also could have never in a million years imagined Connor (#4) being a big brother. I cried and was so torn about moving him out of my room and bed because a new baby was coming. He was so good and ready with moving on to his big boy bed. He still comes to visit…Often! But he has been so good with the baby as I know Patrick will be. (I am also ever mindful of the Issac sitch…and I am not even going to go there…:( Good Luck with that.

    You were certainly born to do this Mother thing and you serve as such an inspriration to us all, thank you for that. I just couldn't be happier for all of you!

    (Just think when you had Patrick you didn't have a fan base yet!)

    Reply
  13. Kelli says

    August 14, 2012 at 5:43 pm

    Oh yes Tums…I would get sick each time I put them in my mouth, but I could not live without them as well.
    You are almost there!

    Reply
  14. Meagan Kenney says

    August 14, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    I know! I am counting down the days until normal routine starts again! Week and a half! We're doing afternoon preschool for the first time this year, I think I will like it a lot considering my preschooler doesn't nap anymore but the baby does. I can only imagine what I can get done with one sleeping baby and the others at school!

    Reply
  15. julielion96 says

    August 14, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    I only have 2 young kids (and a teacher husband who is home much more in the summer) and I am going nuts with the nonstop kitchen cleaning and constant house straightening! Nuts! The kids started out the summer as friends and are now the bickersons. My parents had 6 kids and my mom was a SAHM. Every day, every *minute* sometimes I am thinking: how? How?? How did she do it???? ha, and I also have those oceans of respect and awe for you! Best wishes to you and your fam and the new little one! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  16. Madeline says

    August 14, 2012 at 10:25 pm

    As you prepare yourself for off to college, back to school and new baby I would like to wish you a happy anniversary. I am 98% sure it's today–same as mine. Enjoy your family, enjoy your day!

    Reply
  17. Jennifer says

    August 14, 2012 at 10:26 pm

    I am with you on the TUMS. I am at 35 weeks and going through them by the truck load. It does not matter what I eat or do not eat, I have reflux. These next few weeks cannot come soon enough. Good luck to you.

    Reply
  18. nikko says

    August 15, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    I don't know if I have ever commented before, but I found your blog earlier in the summer and have been enjoying reading. I had to login because I thought we were the only silly ones that memorize Napoleon quotes. ;o) I'm even thinking of putting "Tina you fat lard, come eat your dinner!" up on the wall in the dining room.

    Good luck with the last few weeks of your pregnancy and all the transitions coming up!

    Reply
  19. Unknown says

    August 17, 2012 at 5:13 am

    instead of tums, try a few dashes of bitters in soda water, its not the best tasting, but can be acquired. i drank a pint a day through my first pregnancy. it works well…unless you are taking them for heartburn, in which case, im no help

    Reply
  20. Melanie says

    August 17, 2012 at 7:10 am

    the tums part made me laugh because upon initial glimpse of the photo, the immediate thought in my head was "ooh, yum!" (seriously? yum? pregnancy really does make you crazy!) i'm 6 months pregnant and have been sitting here with a yucky stomach all evening and somehow forgot tums existed! ha! i'm heading to the cupboard now to grab some …

    Reply
  21. The Handmade Biz says

    November 6, 2012 at 1:28 am

    I love your blog. I love seeing a glimpse into parenting.

    On the tums, for anyone interested I've found that the "orange Cream" flavored tums don't have that chalky taste. I like them.

    Reply

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When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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The snow was so gorgeous I couldn't be mad-it help The snow was so gorgeous I couldn't be mad-it helped to know it would melt quickly. 
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I've been reading more and trying to stay in a strong intentional living - slow paced, thoughtful, healing, small accomplishments, and enjoying a daily routine. ๐ŸŒฑ
Wake up early, make beds, get the kids to school, laundry, dinner prep, cleaning, appts, errands, hopefully soon blogging, painting, writing, (now that I can use my wrist without pain) and then the day is almost over, and homework, sports, dinner, bedtime. The days fly by even with the intention of a slow pace.
Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. ๐Ÿƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
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A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
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Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
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I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
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Clip on bed lights save space. 
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A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
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When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
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All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
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