Operation Purge in Full Force!

My word for the year 2017 was PURGE.  The year was off to a slow start due to my many illnesses, but the last two months I have been on a roll!  There is still a lot to do, but I am starting to finally feel a lot more settled and at peace.  We've lived here officially for 2 years now and there are no longer boxes that need to be unpacked.  Here is how I'm doing with my intentions 5 months in followed by a few pictures of the progress:

2017 Intentions
1. Purge 17 areas of the house (see below) (9/17)
2. Read 17 books for me (10/17)
3. Read 17 Chapter books to the kids (8/17)
4. Purge 17 items each week and blog it (3/52) *I've been purging like crazy, but not blogging it:(
5. Cross 17 things off of my 101 in 1001 list (9/17)
6. Have people over 17 times (3/17)
7. Go on 17 dates with Brian (7/17)
8. Try 17 new recipes (5/17)
9. Purge 17 pounds (14/17)
10. Run/Walk 170 miles (35/170)                              
11. Go to 17 new restaurants (4/17) Sandy's Pizza, BruBurger, McAllister's Deli, Smitty's Italian Steakhouse
12. Post 17 Homeschool Highlights (3/17)
13. Spend 17 hours Scrapbooking (0/17)
14. Work 170 hours in the yard PURGING (12/170) *Lost track of the hours, but it's been a lot!
15. Pray the Rosary 17 times (17/17)
16. Pay It Forward 17 times (3/17)
17. Purge Negativity by writing 17 posts about blessings in my life (0/17) *The only thing I haven't started..probably need to get on it!

17 Areas of the House:
#1 Kitchen
#2 Hutch and Credenza
#3 Macie's Room
#4 Gavin's Room
#5 Lilah's Room
#6 Our Bedroom
#7 School Room
#8 Laundry Room
#9 Garage
#10 Game Closet
#11 Coat Closet
#12 Downstairs Bathroom
#13 Upstairs Bathroom
#14 Storage Shed
#15 All Attic Storage (Garage, Lilah's room, Macie' room, Our room)
#16 Aztec
#17 Buick

The Back Yard: Remember when this used to be an overgrown jungle?  Well now, its a yard!  Still lots of areas to work on, but overall a massive improvement!

The Garage: I finally unpacked every box and got rid of a TON of stuff.  We also are finally utilizing the attic storage.  Instead of a place to park, we are using this as an extra living space.  We needed that more at this time.  The kids love it and so do I!

The Laundry Room: Have I ever mentioned how much I hate laundry? We have WAY too many clothes even though I keep getting rid of some and do not buy them, we still seem to get more and more.  I finally got this room and the former coat closet organized.  I turned it into a closet for the kids.  I'd rather have all of their clothes in one place at this point.  When they are older, they can be in charge of their clothes.  Right now, this is what works!

We aren't even half way through 2017 and I feel like I'm doing great with my goals.  Hopefully, I can keep it up!

4 Truths and a Dare

TRUTH...Brian I started eating a "low carb lifestyle" 6 and a half weeks ago.

TRUTH...I've lost 14.5 pounds!

TRUTH...If you add in the 9 pounds I'd lost in the Fall, I'm down 23.5 pounds!

TRUTH...I am almost halfway to my 50 pound goal!

DARE...Way back when, I dared myself to lose 34 pounds while being 34. I am only 10.5 pounds from the goal.  I dare myself to reach that goal!

People Change

The other day, the kids and I were driving by Lewis Bakery and the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread filled our car.  We were all oohing and ahhing and talking about how we should make bread at home.  Macie said, "I wish I was in there right now so I could eat all of the bread."  Gavin responded, "Macie, you said you didn't even like Bunny Bread."  Without a thought or hesitation and very matter of factly she said, "People change"

I let out a chuckle and thought, oh how wise and true that is!  When I think about myself and how much I've changed in the last 10 years, I am amazed.  My family has gone through so many changes recently and things we thought would be one way turn out another.  It's often hard for adults to accept that "people change" and here my 8 year old has embraced it!

Homeschool Highlights

Snap Circuits and More: Typically, we do not do school on birthdays.  However, Gavin had so many science kits he was wanting to do that we did those on his birthday and counted it as a school day! Macie and Gavin both got snap circuit kits (at different times from different people), but we'd never gotten them out.  They are SO cool and Gavin plays with his all of the time!

 We also made a color changing volcano, and that was a big hit!

 Homeschool Science Hour ~ Anatomy: The anatomy class was really cool because I was able to point out on Gavin where different parts of his body are that he's had procedures on.  The kids also made brain hats that were cool.

 Mneme Therapy ~ The Baby Owl:

Indianapolis Children's Museum: Last week, Gavin had an appointment at Riley.  We hadn't been to the Children's museum in a long time and my mom had never been, so we decided to make a day of it.  They had a circus exhibit that was fun!

 Mardi Gras Masks: I picked up these masks at Big Lots for 25 cents a while back.  Macie found them and wanted to make them.  I told her we'd make them for Mardi Gras.  All it took was a little puff paint and a few feathers, and voila!

 Mneme Therapy ~ The Beach: