Daily Delights

Menu for August 9-15

2010-08-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

We repeat the same breakfast and lunch menus each week for 2-3 months or until we get sick of them. Here is our current rotation:

Monday
B: Puffy Pancake
L: Bean and Cheese Burritos, tortilla chips

Tuesday
B: Muffins
L: Sandwich, carrots, wheat thins

Wednesday
B: Bagels w/Cream Cheese
L:Fast English Muffin Pizzas

Thursday
B: Cereal
L: Hot Dogs, peaches

Friday
B: Apples and Oatmeal
L: PB Honey Tortilla Roll ups, apples

Saturday
B: Eggs, Toast
L: ***Leftovers***

Sunday
B: Pancakes
L: Soup/Salad/Sandwich

Here are the dinners I have planned for this week:

Monday: Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Tuesday: BBQ ribs, Crockpot Baked Potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans
Wednesday: Chicken W/ Black Beans and Cream Cheese, brown rice
Thursday: Spaghetti, meatballs, green salad, green beans
Friday: **Pizza Night**
Saturday: Maui Grilled Chicken Sandwiche s, Potato Skins
Sunday: McGriddles, fruit

I use Plan to Eat to do all my meal planning. Plan to Eat is a simple meal planning website that helps you keep all of your recipes in one place, and plan your meals and shopping lists so you can eat well and save time and money. It takes a little time at first to get your recipes entered, but it is well worth it. Once the initial work is done, you can drag and drop your meals, create your shopping list and you're done.

For other great menu ideas, check out OrgJunkie.

Summer Fun List

2010-06-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

These are all the activities we want to try this summer.

I've added the list to the sidebar so I can cross them off as we do them.

go camping

go fishing

go swimming

ride bikes

go to beach

ride motorcycles

concert in the park

movie in the park

free movie

make sundaes

climb spencer’s butte

climb skinner’s butte

play mini golf

wii tournament

go to the library

go to the museum

go to the zoo

play tennis

slip n slide

go to the lake

go to the water park

have a garage sale

24 hours of reading

blow bubbles

use sidewalk chalk

water balloon toss

run in sprinklers

dine outside

go to em’s game

picnic at the park

go to saturday market

go to a car show

make rootbeer floats

make s’mores

sit by campfire

movie in backyard

stay in hotel

go gold panning

watch a parade

go to ruckus

go bowling

seed spitting contest

got to farmers market

go to vbs

sleepover at grandma’s

watch monster trucks

Books Read in 2009

2010-01-01T22:15:00.000-08:00

* Confessions of a Shop-a-holic
* Finger Lickin' Fifteen
* LA Candy
* My Bible
* Shop-a-holic Takes Manhattan
* The Shack
* The Yada Yada Prayer Group
* The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down
* The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real
* The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough

Backyard Habitat

2009-09-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

In order to tie science in with our studies of the globe, we are looking at the different ecosystems that correlate with each country. This includes a weekly nature walk. For our first nature walk, we were to examine the habitat in our backyard. Since we haven't watered all summer, it was looking a little barren. We walked down the street to the lushly watered apartment complex and explored their habitat instead.

The goal: to become aware of different elements in your surroundings/habitat.

First we roped of an area and took a look, recording our observations.

Then we got an even closer look.

As the Orange Turns

2009-09-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

We began our study of the world by comparing globes and maps.
The goal: to help the kids understand how the world is distorted in a flat map.

They drew the world onto an orange

then peeled it and tried to lay it flat.

And then we ate it.

My Father's World

2009-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

We are using a new curriculum this year, called My Father's World. I love, love, love it. I had looked at it in the past, but the price really scared me off. Well, after a few years of doing all the planning myself (which meant being tied to stacks of papers and books on a Sunday afternoon when I'd rather be hanging with my family), I decided it was worth a little moolah to buy a teacher's manual that had done all the thinking already. I am hoping this will open up a little more time for the fun things, like crafts, cooking, science experiments, and nature walks.

I decided to use ECC (Exploring Countries and Cultures) this year. We are taking a trip around the world, studying diverse countries, learning geography, and reading about missionaries.

We watched a movie over the summer, called The Other Side of Heave n. It is the story of a missionary in the Tongan islands. It gave them a real picture in their mind of what it is like for a missionary to enter a strange culture and land and spread the word of God.

On the first day of school, Z and E filled out their "passport applications" and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new "passports". Since we are studying North America first, they won't be needing them for a few weeks...........

Let the adventure begin!

Back to School

2009-09-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

We started a back to school this week.

Z (3rd grade) and E (2nd grade) are still home with me.

M (7th grade) and B (6th grade) headed out to middle school.

Marathon of Fun

2009-09-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

On Labor Day, B and I had planned to work around the house. However, I awoke around 6 AM with the inspiration to throw our plans out the window and just have a little fun. So, we loaded up the kids and headed out to the coast. On the drive over, we asked each person to choose something they would like to do, I wrote it all down and stuck it in the visor of the car. It was our last day of summer bucket list and we weren't coming home till we checked everything off the list!

M wanted to rent a sandboard

B wanted some clam chowder at Mo's

Z wanted to do some letterboxing

BJ wanted to get some saltwater taffy

E wanted to see the Sea Lion Caves

I wanted to hike the Hobbit Trail

and we all wanted to play on the beach

One Year Flashback

2009-06-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Rebeca issued a challenge to go back one year into my photo folders. This is what I found.

Brad made coffee ground beards for the kids. In case you are wondering, left-front is Bailey making his "six pack abs" to go with his wolverine beard. That was fun, Rebeca!

Roll It Up

2009-04-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is how the menfolk in our family store their pants. We roll them up and stick them in the drawers in rows like this. They can pull out the exact pair they want without rifling through the drawer and messing everything up. When they were younger, I would roll up a t-shirt, underwear, and pair of socks inside the pants. Then they could just grab a roll and be all set for the day. The bigger they have gotten, the more they like to choose which t-shirt to wear with which pair of pants, so only the pants are rolled now. I do pack for trips using the outfit in a roll concept though.

Check out other great tips here.

Look What I Made

2009-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Crepes. They always so seemed so intimidating. So difficult. So impossible. Last night I tackled them.......................and I did it! The first few were a little thick, but eventually I got the hang of it and ended up with 9 perfectly edible crepes. The ones I made were intended to wrap around a savory chicken/broccolli filling. I can't wait to sweeten them up and try them for breakfast next week.

A House of Fools

2009-04-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

You had to be on your toes around here today! BJ got industrious yesterday. He looked up a website full of April Fool's pranks and shared lots ideas with his siblings. Here are some of the "jokes" I observed today.

* A cup full of paper confetti strategically placed over the door
*Salt on the toothbrush (They got me with this one!)
*Gatorade replaced with colored water
*Clothes, towels, and even bath mat removed while boy taking shower
*Hiding cell phone
*Disconnected computer mouse
*Changed mouse movement to slow
*Changing the time on the clock

Knit Wit

2009-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

I finished another hat this week. I am officially addicted to knitting. I've had to make a file on my computer for all the knitting patterns, websites, and blogs I stumble across. There is even a collection of yarn forming in piles around my house. For this hat, I learned how to make the pom poms and add them to the top as well as the tassels. I also figured out how to put that stripe in all by myself. I'm really missing watching TV while I knit. I tried to knit while reading a book. It didn't work out so well. I had to tear out a bunch of rows AND re-read several pages. I guess multi-tasking cannot be applied to everything.

Princess Polish

2009-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

B was painting E's fingernails on Sunday.
She wanted them to look just like a princess.
Bright pink with blue sparkles, in case you've never seen princess polish in person.
As he was finishing up, he says to me, "Would you like your nails painted too?" "Pick a color."
As I sat down, I said, "you choose".
I guess he thought I was a princess too,
because my nails are bright pink with blue sparkles as well.

The TV Is Still In A Coma

2009-03-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

It has been THIRTY days since we shut off the TV. I read somewhere that it only takes 30 days to form a habit. So, by that reasoning, we should have fully formed the habit of not watching TV by now, right? NOT!

This has really been a struggle for me. I have found that I am trying so hard to keep busy and fill my time that I am completely exhausted. I miss just zoning out, relaxing in front of the TV, letting *it tell me what to think.

I've overheard the kids discussing old episodes of favorite TV shows that they remember. We all cringe when anyone talks about a show we missed or asks what we thought about the latest episode. Or the worst was, last night, my mother in law says she has to get home to watch Celebrity Apprentice. UGH, stab straight to the heart. The thing is, she didn't give it a second thought. The only time it has impacted her was when the kids were at her house and couldn't turn the TV on. This thing that is constantly in our thoughts has not impacted anybody around us.

That is the biggest lesson we have all learned. How we take for granted things that a lot of people do without. I will be able to draw on this experience in teaching my children compassion for all those in the world who have less than them. Also, how to face temptation and turn away from it, just as Jesus did. I guess that was the anticipated outcome of all this. It is so much more difficult to deprive yourself of something that is right in front of you, tempting you, calling you, than to learn to make do without something that is not available to you.

Menu Plan for Mar 30 - Apr 1

2009-03-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Monday

Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: hot dogs, peaches
Dinner: Hawaiian Chicken, egg rolls, rice

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, corn

Dinner: Burritos, bean, rice and cheese squares

Wednesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos

Dinner: Grilled chicken, hasbrown caserole, green beans

Thursday
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, toast
Lunch: Dee-licious soup

Dinner: Grilled chicken, fettucine alfredo, salad

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: Mac 'n' cheese, corn
Dinner: Small Group (taking bacon/sausage)

Saturday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: Hamburgers, fries

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Menu Plan for Mar 24-29

2009-03-23T08:50:00.001-07:00

Monday

Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: hot dogs, peaches
Dinner: wrestling banquet (bringing coleslaw pasta salad)

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos

Dinner: Grilled chicken, fettucine alfredo, salad

Wednesday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: Quesadillas, apple slices

Dinner: Potato Soup, salad, bread

Thursday
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, corn

Dinner: Spaghetti, salad, bread

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: Mac 'n' cheese, corn
Dinner: BBQ chicken wings, coleslaw, baked beans, tator tots

Saturday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: Hamburgers, fries

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Haircut

2009-03-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

BJ had managed to "miss" the last several times Dad did assembly line clipper cuts for the boys. He kept telling big stories about how he was letting it grow, and it was going to be so cool. The longer it got, the worse it looked. Therefore the more I was put off. However, I believe in choosing one's battles and for me it will never be hair. It just isn't that important. If they want to rebel with their hair, fine by me. As long as there are no piercings or tattoos, we are good.

Eventually the glorious day came, he declared "I think I'd like to get my hair cut. I'm tired of it".
Yippee!! go ask your dad for a haircut.
"Let's do it this weekend when I have more time" was the reply.
What?! Didn't you hear the boy? He wants a haircut!
Well, the weekend came and went, and the one after that, and even the one after that. Now, I have no intention of hubby bashing here. He has been busy, so I took things into my own hands. I drove the boy straight to the nearest Great Clips and PAID to have his haircut.

Afterward, BJ says, " That was weird. Nobody else has ever cut my hair before. She messed with my collar and then she kept touching my head!"

Uh, duh.

Yada Yada Prayer Group

2009-03-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

I've stumbled upon a new series of books, The Yada Yada Prayer Group. I love, love, love them. Prayer is a part of my spiritual life I've really wanted to focus on. These books have given me a great deal of inspiration. They are about a group of very diverse ladies (an ex-con, an ex drug addict, Jamaican, Honduran, South African) who are thrown together at a ladies conference and decide to form a "prayer group" . They make me laugh. They make me cry. They make me praise God for all the blessings in my life.

We Killed the TV

2009-03-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

Well, we put it into a coma, anyway.

B and I talked about what the family could give up for Lent this year. We decided giving up watching TV would be an ideal sacrifice. Not only would we experience self-denial, but we hoped it would have the added bonus of getting us to spend more time together as a family.

The kids and I had already made the big step (and it was big for us, believe me) of leaving the TV off until 4 PM each weekday. We called it Happy Hour when we could turn the TV on. Anyway, I decided that since we weren't going to be watching the TV, it would be silly to be paying for it. So, I called and canceled the cable, unhooked the boxes and returned them. No going back now.

I haven't really missed any of my "must see" shows.
Well, maybe American Idol.
The hardest part has just been trying to think of something else to do.
The kids have drug out some board games that have been accumulating dust. We went for a walk down to the wetlands one night. I've been working on some crafts and reading. We had all been doing really well.
Until last night.
I stumbled.

Z and E were hanging out with their uncle. BJ had gone over to a friend's house. M was at youth group. B was sick in bed asleep. I had absolutely no idea what to do with myself. I didn't have to make dinner for anyone, so grabbed a sandwich at Subway after dropping M off at church. I returned home to a quiet, empty house and was at a total loss. I turned on my laptop, and watched the new Celebrity Apprentice, the 2 HOUR premiere. Does that count as watching TV? Yeah, I know.

Look What I Made

2009-03-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a few craft projects over the last week. I knitted this hat, being modeled by BJ. We are still trying to decide if I should put the pom pom on top. What do you think?

I also made these PJ pants for E. She told me they were "extra warm and toasty because they were made with love." Isn't that the sweetest thing? I'm hoping to get a pair made for each of the boys by the end of the month also. I'll post them when they are done.

Weather in a Jar

2009-03-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

We have moved onto studying weather this month. This week we were learning about cloud formation. Z and E are waiting for "something" to happen in the jar. We were able to create a fog, then condensation, and even a few drops of precipitation.

Menu for Mar 2-6

2009-03-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Monday

Breakfast: Bagels and cream cheese

Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, corn

Dinner: Chicken Fried Rice, Egg Drop Soup

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup

Dinner: Stuffed Shells, peas, salad

Wednesday

Breakfast: English Muffin w/ peanut butter

Lunch: Quesadillas, apple slices

Dinner: Taco Salad

Thursday

Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes

Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos

Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie, salad

Friday

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Lunch: Ham 'n' cream cheese roll ups

Dinner: Small Group (bringing pies)

Saturday

Breakfast: English Muffin w/ PB

Lunch: soup

Dinner: BBQ Chicken Wings, potatoes, salad

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Artichoke Spinach dip
Grilled Steak
Baked Potato
Broccoli w/ cheese sauce
Asiago Artisan Bread
Molten Lava Cake w/ vanilla ice cream

We had a great family dinner, with candlelight and church shirts.

We exchanged handmade valentines. This is the origami lotus flower BJ made me.

Then we watched a movie called World's Fastest Indian. It was not a real romantic flick, unless you count his relationship with his motorcycle, but it was a great story.

Electronics 101

2009-02-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

Large mound of speaker wire
Piles of electronic equipment
Triumphant 10 yro boy

He just finished hooking up the tuner, cd player, vcr, dvd player, and TV to 6 different speakers. That wire, along with 5 of the speakers, have been piled up behind the armoire for months. My little techie spent the afternoon getting everything set up beautifully.

Check out other projects here.

Look What I Got

2009-02-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

I had been saving for months to get a new washer and dryer. Then last spring, I fell and broke my wrist. Thanks to thousands of dollars in medical bills, my washer and dryer dreams were forgotten. Until Now.

After B hooked them up on Sunday, he wanted me to do a test run to see if there were any leaks. The kids and I watched the clothes wash, crowding and elbowing each other for a good view, for over 40 minutes. That thing is amazing! I even bought these cute little blue mats to make W and D feel welcome. As a free bonus, the kids got a new fort.

Menu Plan for Feb 16-21

2009-02-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Chicken Tetrazini

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Hot Dogs, peaches
Dinner: Potato Soup, bread, salad

Wednesday
Breakfast: English Muffin w/ peanut butter
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Corn
Dinner: Spaghetti, green beans, salad

Thursday
Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Burritos

Friday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, toast
Lunch: Pizza
Dinner: Bible Study

Saturday
Breakfast: English Muffin w/ PB
Lunch: soup
Dinner: BBQ Chicken Wings, potatoes, salad

Tough Love

2009-02-11T08:32:00.000-08:00

I've really been trying to get more exercise into my day. I've discovered that if I don't do it first thing in the morning, it just doesn't happen. However, what I like to do, love to do, want to do first thing in the morning is drink a big ol' cuppa joe and check email/blog/facebook in my slippers! So, I made a deal with myself. I CANNOT go on the computer (or have my coffee) until I do my workout. It really is tough love. It seems to be working. So far.

Check out other great tips at Rocks in My Dryer.

File It!

2009-02-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

These neatly sorted piles of paper used to be dumped in this bucket. I am estimating it has been a YEAR since I filed. (I know, I know. ) Anyway, I managed to sort, purge and file ALL this stuff. It has been hanging over my head as a must do for ~~weeks~~ months, and it only took me a couple hours. What a relief!

Check out other projects here.

Menu for Feb 9-14

2009-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

My pantry was getting quite full, so I took stock of what I had and planned the majority of these meals without having to buy much at all. I'm planning to splurge most of the week's grocery budget on a yummy Valentine's Day meal for the 6 of us.

Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Hot dogs, peaches
Dinner: Shredded beef tostadas, rice, beans

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Chicken Noodle Soup
Dinner: Pot Roast, carrots, potatoes, salad

Wednesday
Breakfast: English Muffin w/ peanut butter
Lunch: Dee-Licious Soup
Dinner: Hawaiian Chicken, egg rolls, rice

Thursday
Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: Bean and Cheese Burritos
Dinner: Leftovers

Friday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: BLTs, fries

Saturday (Valentine's Day)
Breakfast: Apple Crepes
Lunch: soup
Dinner: Steak, baked potatoes, broccoli with cheese, green salad, rolls, choc mousse

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Picture Tag

2009-02-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

A little photo meme.

Here are the rules:
Find your 5th photo file folder,then the 5th photo in that file folder.

Post that picture on your blog.

Tag 5 others to do the same.

Here is my photo. It is me (age 7) on the right, with my grandpa and cousin. A few years ago, I made a scrapbook for my grandparents' 60th anniversary. I have very few pictures from my childhood, so I took advantage of having all their photos and scanned in a bunch I wanted to have.

I have tagged: Angie, Sheri, Rebeca, Heather, and Shanna

The Agony of Defeat

2009-02-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

It was a loooooooooooooong day of wrestling. Z and BJ were competing in two separate tournaments today. In two separate cities. So, I accompanied Z to his tournament and B took BJ to his. Z got a tough, tough, tough 6 man bracket which meant he had to wrestle 5 matches. He was the youngest and lightest in the bracket and it was a physically challenging day. However, it was even more of a mentally challenging day, he wanted to quit, but he persevered. I am so proud of you!!

Friday Funny

2009-02-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, 'But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!'

I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye!!

To Do Lists With Style

2009-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Ambiance (finding beauty everyday)

I always have a to do list sitting on my kitchen counter. I generally make a list each morning as I drink my coffee of the things I'd like to accomplish that day, then as things come up throughout the day, I add them to my list. Best of all, I get to cross off all the things I've done. What a feeling of accomplishment!! These lists are written on scratch paper, usually re-using the back of something the kids used for school. Last week, while shopping at Ross, I came across this beautiful set of Laura Ashley notepads. They came with a bright colored holder. Twelve pads, each with a month of the year written on a beautiful Laura Ashley pattern, 40 pages in each, and a magnet on the back. Now my to do list adds a bit of style, beauty and color to my day.

See how others live a beautiful life at The Inspired Room.

What's Up in the Yo?

2009-02-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

When E was very young, she used to run around the house saying "What's up in the Yo? What's up in the Yo?" while throwing her arms into the toddler version of gangsta signs. Ever since, the phrase has been commonly heard from all of us when we are feeling silly. Lately, it has come to have new meaning.

The boys have succumbed to a yo-yo obsession. It all started when B was cleaning some things out of the attic and came across an old yo-yo, he gave it to Z to play with. Eventually, they all realized that this was "way better than the ones we get at the Dollar Tree". In the never-ending quest to have the best, most up-to date of everything, BJ began a little online research. After pooling money, and enlisting my help to get out of paying the exorbitant shipping rates (find us one of those online coupons, mom), they placed an order and the waiting began. I was prohibited from running errands during "mailman time". What if we missed the delivery of the "package". One afternoon while standing in the kitchen, I saw the mailman pull up. I announced this exciting news and the entire gaggle of us stood at the front windows and watched the mailman hold a large parcel in his hand, scan it with his thingamajig, slip our mail into the box and drive away WITH THE PACKAGE. We stood there in disbelief. I ordered BJ to run over there and check the mail. He sprinted across the street, pulled the mail out of the box and held up that little orange slip. I signalled wildly with my arms through the kitchen window, go after him! So, BJ proceeded to sprint down the street, nearly two blocks he would later report. He caught that mailman and demanded his package. Now, BJ was so excited to receive the delivery and probably really enjoyed the chase, so he did not realize that the mailman deserved a tongue lashing for this behavior. Can you believe he did not even get his lazy butt out and attempt to deliver the package? He obviously did not even LOOK at our house to assess if someone was home, or he would have seen FIVE of us staring out the window at him. Oh, I was steamed.

Anyway, we now have four yo-yo's, a Fireball, the Brain, a Gamma Brain, and a Duncan reflex. According to M, "They have centrifical clutches in them that release the axle so they can return on command." Huh? They came with a dvd showing 150, I repeat 150, different yo-yo tricks. I believe BJ has mastered 12 of them. I did manage to slip in a little history lesson about the origins of yo-yo's. "A weapon?? Cool."

"What's up in the Yo?"

A Leap of Faith Too

2009-02-04T07:43:00.001-08:00

Well, we did it. Together we faced our fears. I dropped him off at junior high and watched him walk away. He stepped out of the safety of his mother's presence and walked into public school. Alone. I drove home and sat in the driveway, sobbing. Questioning God. Maybe I misunderstood him. Maybe he made a mistake. I mean after all he has so many to look after. Maybe I should go back and get him. Then I heard God whisper, "trust me". So I got out of the car, slamming the door in utter frustration. This whole idea was a lot easier to digest when it was just a concept. Now it was a reality. An in my face, my baby is gone, reality. It was the longest day of my life. I kept watching the clock, thinking I wonder what he is doing now. We got there 20 minutes early to pick him up and waited anxiously in the parking lot, searching each group for him. Finally, he emerged. A big smile on his face as he waved across the parking lot. I was so relieved to see him. He climbed into the car, full of happy chatter about the days events. We did it. God is good.

If you are wondering why this homeschooling mama sent one of her lambs out to the big bad wolf, you can read about it here: A Leap of Faith

Shop Vac

2009-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, we ripped all the carpet out of the living areas of our house. We put in laminate flooring. Ever since then, I've been struggling with how to clean it. I tried several vacuums that had "bare floor" settings, but they never seemed to work that great. For the last few years, I've been using one of these

We call it R2D2 because of the way it follows me around the house like a little robot. I've never used the "wet" feature of my wet/dry vac, but its good to know the option is available if the spills get out of control. You can also get lots of great attachments for it, including one to clean your computer keyboard!! That's what works for me!

Menu for Feb 2 - 7

2009-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Macaroni 'n' Cheese, corn

Dinner: BBQ Beef Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Baked Beans, Tator Tots

Tuesday
Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins
Lunch: Macaroni and Cheese, Corn
Dinner: Artichoke/Spinach Lasagna

Wednesday

Breakfast: English Muffin w/ peanut butter
Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Chicken Noodle Soup
Dinner: Ajiaco Soup (see recipe below)

Thursday
Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: Bean and Cheese Burritos
Dinner: Chicken Curry Crepes

Friday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Chicken Parm, penne pasta

Saturday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:
Dinner: Burgers 'n' Fries

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

I got the recipe for Ajiaco Soup from my friend, Rebeca.

Here is what she has to say about it:

It's super easy and goes together very quickly, in spite of the long looking list of ingredients. It has only a little meat, and could easily be made without it. It freezes well, and I often double it and freeze half. (Never, never make a small pot of soup!) Best of all, it's yummy, and everyone I've served it to likes it a lot. I originally got this recipe from a Wycliffe dinner theatre, and it originates in Colombia. For your cooking and eating pleasure....

Ajiaco Soup

1 Full boneless skinless chicken breast

6 C Water

6-8 Chicken Bouillon Cubes or 6-8 t Buoillon Powder

3 small to medium potatoes, unpeeled and diced

2/3 C each Garbanzo, Kidney, and Green Beans, well drained (I usually double the recipe and use one can of each.)

1 1/3 C Instant Mashed Potatoes

1 Bunch chopped Green Onions

2 T. Oil

3-4 t. Minced Garlic

2 T Onion Flakes

1 1/2 t. Basil

3/4 t White Pepper (I use black)

3/4 t Paprika

1 C Frozen Corn

For Serving:

1/2 C Chopped Cilantro

Capers- 1 t per bowl

Avocado- 2-3 slices per bowl

Cream

Use a 6 Quart stockpot. Simmer the chicken with two bouillon cubes and two cups water until cooked. Turn off the heat and remove the chicken from the broth and chop or dice then return to stockpot. Saute the garlic in the oil in a small skillet until tender. Add the onion flakes to the garlic and stir together then add to the chicken and broth. Add four cups water and the rest of the bouillon. Return to burner to start cooking. Add the other ingredients in this order: potatoes, mashed potatoes (whisk in and then stir to dissolve), kidney, garbanzo, and green beans, green onions, and spices. Cook on low-ish until the potatoes are tender, then add corn and simmer about ten more minutes. Stir cilantro into soup just prior to serving, or use it as a garnish. Serve with capers, avocado, and a splash of cream. (Sour cream is nice too, if you prefer not to use real cream.)

25 Random Facts

2009-01-31T22:32:00.000-08:00

1. I was an only child until I was 19.
2. I moved around a lot, went to 8 different schools.
3. I watch way too much tv, especially reality tv.
4. My favorite movie is Sixteen Candles. Can you believe Molly Ringwald is on TV every week now?
5. I wanted to grow up to be a career woman, and wear high heels and power suits and carry a briefcase.
6. Instead, I stay at home, homeschool my kids, cook dinner every night and knit dish rags. What the......?
7. I have a fabulous husband who works hard everyday so I can be home and he never complains about it.
8. One of my favorite possessions is my label maker.
9. Another is my Ugg slippers. I live in them.
10. My closet is arranged by color.
11. My bathroom is *never clean, no matter how hard I try. Did I mention I have three boys? Mothers, heed my warning.................teach them to aim when they are young!
12. I am addicted to blogging.
13. I graduated from OSU with a BS in Sociolgy, emphasizing in deviant behavior.
14. One of my college roomates was Benny the Beaver.
15. I worked at a KOA campground.
16. The first car I bought myself was a 1991 Red Jeep Wrangler. I loved it.
17. I have never been to Las Vegas or Hawaii. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one.
18. My favorite place to eat is Red Robin. Unlimited fries and diet pepsi . What more could you ask for?
19. I just ordered a new bedding set and my husband is thrilled because it doesn't have pink flowers. It is a nice manly brown.
20. I don't have a single plant in my house. I kill everything.
21. I skipped the fifth grade.
22. I taught myself to knit from a book.
23. I've just started liking country music. I NEVER thought I would say that.
24. I order my pizza without sauce.
25. I alphabetize everything. My spices, movies, cd's.

Laundry Schedule

2009-01-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

I have a laundry schedule.

Every person in our family has an assigned laundry day. Each family member has a laundry basket in their room. They keep all their dirties in there. On their scheduled laundry day, I remind them to bring the basket out to the laundry room. I wash and dry their clothes (and if I'm feeling especially energetic, I'll even fold them). Then I return the basket full of clean clothes to them and they put them away. After I've done the scheduled laundry, I throw in whatever else needs done (towels, sheets, rugs, wrestling gear, etc). Now, here is the payoff of my system..................my laundry room is closed on Sunday. CLOSED. What better motivator to keep myself on "schedule" than being able to take a whole day off! That's what works for me.

Check out other great tips at Rocks in My Dryer.

Something in the Air

2009-01-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

Do you know what this is?

It is a barometer! We are continuing our study of the atmosphere by taking a look at atmospheric pressure, and by attempting to measure it as it changes in our house. Who thinks I can keep this experiment in the kitchen all week without knocking it over???

Menu Plan for Jan 26- 31

2009-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

Monday

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Lunch: Macaroni 'n' Cheese, corn
Dinner: Smothered Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf

Tuesday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Corn

Dinner: Bee rocks

Wednesday

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Cream of Chicken Soup

Dinner: Massaman Curry

Thursday

Breakfast: English Muffin with Peanut Butter

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Chicken Tetrazini

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: Sandwiches

Dinner: Crockpot Tamale Pie

Saturday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch:

Dinner:

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Dee-Licious Soup

2009-01-25T17:14:00.001-08:00

It is a chilly, winter day outside and we are having soup for dinner tonight. This soup was named by BJ when he was only 3 or 4 years old. It was adapted from a Love Soup in a jar we made for gifts one year. It only takes about an hour to make this soup. Very simple. I make it without meat, but of course you could add some if you like.

1/4 cup beef bouillon granules
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1/2 cup dried split peas
1/4 cup barley
1/2 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup long-grain white rice
1 cup uncooked tri-color spiral pasta

DIRECTIONS
In large kettle, Add all ingredients except pasta to 12 cups water. Let come to a boil and simmer 45 minutes. Add tricolor pasta and simmer 15 minutes more. Serve with your favorite bread or rolls and a tossed salad.

Puffy Pancakes

2009-01-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

This "Puffy Pancake" is one of my kids' favorite breakfasts. The single recipe can be made in a glass pie dish but I usually double it and make it in my Pampered Chef Stoneware. When it comes out of the oven, we just slice it up and sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top. Yumm. Here is the single recipe which will serve 2-3.

1/2 cup flour

2 T sugar

dash salt

1/2 c milk

2 eggs

2 T butter

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, milk, and eggs. Beat with wire whisk until smooth. Place butter in 9" pie pan and heat in oven until butter sizzles, 2-4 minutes. Remove from oven and tilt to coat bottom of pan with butter. Immediately pour batter into hot coated pan. Bake at 425 for 14-18 minutes, until pancake is puffed and golden. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Up High in the Sky

2009-01-22T15:43:00.000-08:00

We began a new unit in science this week, studying the

Coolest fact About...................
The troposphere: It produces our weather.
The stratosphere:It is dust free and cloud free.
The mesosphere: The winds are very strong.
The thermosphere: Meteoroids get vaporized!!

Things Kids Say

2009-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

"I hate it when you are carrying something around and it is really dumb and boring, so you just stick it in your pocket. Then later, you feel something in your pocket and you get all excited because you think it is going to be something really cool. Then it turns out to be that dumb old boring thing you put in your pocket. Like, today I felt in my pocket, and I thought, Cool! A sucker! It was just this dumb old flashlight I put in there. Boring." ~ Z (age 8)

Blog Search

2009-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon something new last week and I am loving it. I'm sure most of the world is already aware of it, but on the off chance there is someone as behind the times as me, I wanted to share.

Google Blog Search

Blog Search is a Google search focused on blogs. It is a great way to search for blogs and blog posts that share your interests. It allows you to search on whatever topic or subject you can think of.

Try It!

Be sure to check out all the other tips at Rocks In My Dryer.

Look What I Made

2009-01-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

At Christmas, my grandma gave me a hand knitted round dishcloth. I fell in LOVE with it. I sent her an email asking if she'd give me the pattern. A few days later, a package arrived in the mail containing the pattern, a set of circular needles, and a sample of the yarn. My grandma rocks. Now would probably be a good time to mention that I just taught myself to knit (from a book) last year. So, after looking up some of the abbreviations in the pattern and watching some online videos, I set out to make my own dishcloth. I started it on Sunday night and finished it this afternoon. Isn't it cute?? and look how well it drapes in the middle of the sink!

Menu Plan for Jan 19-24

2009-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Hot Dogs, Peaches
Dinner: Lasagna, Salad

Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancakes
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Corn
Dinner: Potato Soup, Salad, Bread

Wednesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup
Dinner: Hawaiian Chicken, Rice, Egg Rolls

Thursday
Breakfast: English Muffin with Peanut Butter
Lunch: Bean and Cheese Burritos
Dinner: Taco Salad

Friday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Burgers "n" Fries

Saturday
Breakfast: Pancakes
Lunch:
Dinner:

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Coop de Coop's Potato Soup

2009-01-18T17:58:00.000-08:00

3- 14 oz cans chicken broth
5 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cubed
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
garlic powder
dehydrated onion
ground black pepper
green onions (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Pour chicken broth in large pot. Bring to a boil. Add potatoes and seasonings, simmer until potatoes are tender. I use an immersion blender to puree the soup to the desired consistency. You can make it as chunky or smooth as you like. My family prefers to find bites of potato. If you don't have an immersion blender, you could use a blender as well. Once soup is desired consistency, stir in cheese until melted and add bacon. If you top with green onion and sour cream, it tastes like a baked potato. I serve this with a nice crusty bread and a green salad.

Coop de Coop's Egg Rolls

2009-01-17T18:02:00.000-08:00

I don't know if these meet the actual specifications of an egg roll, but that is what we call them.

1 package large egg roll wrappers

1 bag coleslaw mix

1 can sliced water chestnuts, chopped

green onions, sliced

1 /2 t. garlic powder

1/4 t. ginger

1 T sesame oil

1/4 c soy sauce

vegetable oil for frying

The measurements are guesses. I just pour it all in a bowl and mix it up. You can add any veggies you like to the filling. Then scoop some filling into the middle of an egg roll wrapper. Roll them up, being sure to tuck the ends in. Use a little water on the edge to seal them up. Fry in oil, turning once, until golden brown and crispy. I serve with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Easily Distracted

2009-01-15T17:24:00.000-08:00

Z got out the plastic tangrams in order to solve a math problem during school this AM. I watched him work through the problem until it was solved and then turned my attention to someone else. After a while, I realized he was no longer at the table and went to find him. This is what I found...............................

BJ and Z had built this set of "bowling pins" at the end of the hallway. By the way, the guy in front is "Mr. Greenleg" . He is eco-friendly.

They then took a plate, launched it like frisbee and

knocked them all down. They laughed. A lot. I don't get it.

Shopping List

2009-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

I don't like to run out of things.

I only go grocery shopping once a week. I refuse to go more than that.

In order to keep our house fully supplied AND not make frequent trips to the store, I keep this notepad on the refrigerator.

I have my family trained to write something down on the list whenever they use something up. I keep extras of the basics in the pantry or linen closet. So, when they go to get a new ketchup out of the pantry or bottle of shampoo out of the closet, they head directly to the list . As in straight to the list. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Then when I do my weekly shopping I pick up the items on the list. Even the younger ones are able to copy from the label in order to add an item to the list. They can also add things to the list like socks, underwear, toothbrush, etc.

Be sure to check out all the other tips at Rocks In My Dryer.

Brown Rice and Lentils

2009-01-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

I had planned to try a new recipe for dinner tonight, a lentil brown rice casserole. Well, I was having so much fun playing with my new blog, that I didn't notice that the dish required 1 3/4 hour cooking time. So, I went into the kitchen to start dinner about an hour before it was due on the table, and promptly realized it wouldn't actually be on the table until nearly 8 PM. (oops!) I had hungry boys due back from wrestling practice and it would not be pretty if they were greeted with "Dinner should be ready in an hour or so". With some scrambling, some improvising, and a bunch of math to figure out liquid amounts and cooking time (don't worry I had my 12 yro check my math), I came up with this recipe. It was sooooo good. I should mention that when I served it up, everyone thought it was oatmeal. It does not have a real pleasing appearance, but it was yummy. Next time I need to make more, there was barely enough left over for hubby's lunch tomorrow. Try it!

2 cans chicken broth (about 3 1/2 cups liquid)
1 c brown rice
1/2 c lentils
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dehydrated onion
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 c grated cheddar cheese

Combine broth, lentils, brown rice, lemon juice and seasonings in pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir in cheese.

*Note: I added the lemon juice because my friend, Jenny, says it is the *only way to eat lentils.

Shape Poem

2009-01-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

Some poets arrange the words into shapes. The shape may help the reader see what the poem is about. Here is Z's shape poem.

Blue

with bright

white stripes goes

high when you fly it in the

sky red string controls

Its flight

entertaining

fun

Wrestling Photos

2009-01-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

Z competing at a dual meet.

Sense Poem

2009-01-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

One of the best ways to describe something is to tell how it affects each of the five senses. Here is BJ's sense poem on bacon. Yes, I said bacon. It is a real obsession in our house.

Bacon

You can feel the warmth of the bacon

You can smell the grease

You can hear the grease popping

You can see the rectangular meat

You taste the smoked flavor

Menu Plan for Jan 12-17

2009-01-12T17:06:00.000-08:00

Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Hot Dogs, Peaches
Dinner: Tortellini Soup, Salad, Bread
Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancakes
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Corn
Dinner: Oven Baked Chicken, Lentil Casserole
Wednesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Cream of Chicken Soup
Dinner: Burritos
Thursday
Breakfast: English Muffin with Peanut Butter
Lunch: Leftover Burritos
Dinner: Skateworld Snack Bar
Friday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Date Night here or here
Saturday
Breakfast: Pancakes
Lunch: @ Wrestling Tournament
Dinner: BLT's , Tator Tots, Baked Beans

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Iced Down

2009-01-10T19:50:00.000-08:00

"By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen" ~Job 37:10

Objective: To simulate the movement of glaciers and observe the debris they can leave behind

First we made two glaciers. One made of solid ice, the other half debris, half ice. We set them up on an incline and observed.

This is what was left behind.

(along with the puddle of water all over the

counter and the floor)

After observing what was left behind by our tiny glacier, and reading how the combination of rocks, dirt, ice, and water along the path erodes the land, the kids were able to imagine the damage a massive glacier could do.

Heather's Hawaiian Chicken

2009-01-10T19:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a super simple, family pleasing meal that I got from my friend Heather. You can just dump the frozen chicken breasts or tenders straight from the bag into the baking dish. The ingredients cook up into a yummy sauce so it serves great over rice or noodles. The first time I made the recipe there was too much sauce for my family so I scaled it back a bit. I also omitted the cheese. I'm posting both versions, decide which you like best.

Heather's Original Recipe

chicken breasts
1 can sliced pineapple rings (reserve juice)
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 c soy sauce
1/2 c pineapple juice
grated cheese

Put chx in a baking pan and cover with mixture of brown sugar and flour. Pour soy sauce mixed with pineapple juice (from a can of sliced pineapple rings) over the top. Put the rings of pineapple on top of THAT. Cover with grated cheese. Bake one hour at 350.

My Revised Version

1 pkg frozen chicken tenders
1/2 can pineapple chunks
1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c pineapple juice
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c flour

Put chx in a baking pan and cover with mixture of brown sugar and flour. Pour soy sauce mixed with pineapple juice (from a can of pineapple chunks) over the top. Put the pineapple on top of THAT. Bake one hour at 350.

A Leap of Faith

2009-01-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

B and I have decided, based on the leading of God, to let our oldest son return to public school. I started getting nudges from God last summer, but I refused to listen. I stuck my fingers in my ears and sang "la,la,la" at the top of my lungs. Even when I did hear him, I thought I must have misunderstood. Why on earth would he want me to do that? I've been struggling with this for months. Reluctantly, I brought it up to B. Now B was able to come up with some good reasons why he thought returning was a good idea. I still, have come up with none, other than God told me when to pull him out and he has told me to send him back. I have to believe there is a great purpose for M to serve.

So, Today, with much fear and trepidation, I walked my baby into the office and said "We'd like to enroll". At that very moment, I felt God's arms around me in a warm and re-assuring embrace. We were greeted in the most friendly and positive way. Nobody grilled me about why he was coming back . We were made to feel welcome.

You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day

To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place

Worthy, Worthy

I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours

I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth

Worthy, You are worthy

Of a child-like faith

And of my honest praise

And of my unashamed love

Of a holy life

And of my sacrifice

And of my unashamed love

Artist: Ten Shekel Shirt

Title: Unashamed Love

Halloween

2008-10-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Only Thing Better Than A New pair of Tennis Shoes...................

2008-09-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

The UPS man delivered a much awaited, highly anticipated brown box to our door today. M has mowed lawns, washed cars, sold scrap metal and any other money earning activity you can think of in order to save over $200 to purchase the Traxxas Slash. It is an electric R/C car, a short course race truck, 1:10 scale. Don't know what that means? Me either!! But, he sure is happy about it!

Another Home Improvement Project

2008-09-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

We have had this one spot of dirt in a patio filled with cement since we bought this house over 10 years ago.

We finally got around to filling it in.

There were several stages and several helpers involved in the process.

The bags of cement weighed 80 pounds each. M carried all 7 of them over to the project site. He is *so strong.

First they mixed it.

Then they poured it.

M, BJ and Z each took a turns lifting the wheelbarrow filled with cement in order to pour it into the hole.

And then they smoothed it.

Actually B smoothed it, but Z supervised
closely and gave his approval upon completion.

Reading Pays Off

2008-09-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

E went to Build-A-Bear today and got the new (just hit stores today) Hannah Montana bear as a reward for completing her summer reading goals. She named her Miley, of course. She read 15 books over the Summer:

The Spooky Old Tree

A Kiss for Little Bear

Frog and Toad All Year

A Bargain for Frances

Little Bear's Visit

Stanley

Mildred and Sam

Frog and Toad are Friends

Stuart Little at the Library

Berenstein Bears Clean House

Wacky Wednesday

Chang's Paper Pony

Thank You Amelia Bedelia

Mouse Soup

The Golly Sisters Ride Again

Journey to the Center of the Earth

2008-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

This week in science, we studied the structure of the earth. M and BJ made playdough replicas of the earth, showing each layer: inner core, outercore, lower mantle, upper mantle, and crust. Did you know the center of the earth is made of solid iron?

E and Z made their models of earth using paper.

Did you know the earth's crust is 6 miles thick?