Outside my window... Sunshine slowly melting the drifts of snow into mud.

I am thinking... If I had just one day a week alone in the house, how much I could accomplish!

From the learning rooms... Standardized testing this week for Andrew, and on to the O word families for the girls.

I am thankful for...Serendipities; when things that should be catastrophes just keep on working together for good, I feel so grateful. Case in point, my broken washing machine that flooded the house. Finally, the construction that I have been waiting for years to be completed is going to get done. Paul has already knocked the walls out of the laundry area so that we can open the kitchen and living room areas up more.

From the kitchen... Salmon steak for dinner tonight, with oven baked home fries.

I am wearing... jeans and a purpley 3/4 length sleeve shirt...but wonder of wonders, in size 14 for the first time in ages!

I am reading...Little Pilgrim's Promise, out loud to the kiddos.

I am hoping... for someone to offer to take these kids off my hands long enough for me to clean something and have it stay that way for more than half an hour.

Around the house... let's see; my flooring is only halfway ripped up and we're waiting for the demolition to be completed so our new flooring can be laid. Did you hear about my washer? The rinse cycle switch malfunctioned, and it poured water all over my house. All the flooring Paul and I had worked so hard to lay had to be torn up, some drywall will have to be replaced, and of course I have no washer now. Yes, 6 kids and no washer! But here's more serendipity; I get to go to my Dad's house and enjoy the pure bliss of peace and quiet for a few hours while I do laundry and visit with him. It's all good.

One of my favorite things... Getting skinny again...in time, I hope. I've discovered Kundalini yoga, and I really enjoy it. I'm not so big on the aerobic workouts, but they're a necessary evil I suppose. I wish I had the enthusiasm for running, but the best I can work myself up to is a fast walk. I recommend "Walking Off the Pounds" and RaviAna's Kundalini Yoga to anyone interested; those are the workouts I like the most. And the book "When Food Is Love" made a big difference in my eating habits.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Moving forward on the reconstruction of my house, possibly a trip to the movies with the kiddos to see Alice In Wonderland...kids are enjoying Wednesday outings to go roller skating...we'll see what unfolds beyond that.