Our Weekly Wrap Up

We have had another great week filled with math, history, science, poetry, grammar,geography playing outside in between the rain showers, and chess club.

Jacob started his new Life of Fred book , and he loves it as much as the first one. Ashlynn is doing really well with her Saxon math. She had a test on Thursday and didn't miss a single problem. She had a really tough time learning long division in January. I am so grateful that she is doing well now.

I love studying history with Jacob and Ashlynn. This week we learned about the start of communism in China. It was very fascinating to read about.

We started a new poetry book, Poetry For Young People William Butler Yeats, for us to read together. Jacob also read the poem The Leprechaun by William Allingham on his own. He loved it so much that he did a drawing of a leprechaun based on the poet's description.

 

 

I decided to plan 2 field trips for us this month. In 2 weeks we are going to our local newspaper to see the printing process, and to have a look around the different departments. In three weeks we are going to a youth symphony concert.

I gave Jacob and Ashlynn a school assignment for the weekend. They have to pick 1 thing that each of them would like to learn about. In April we are going to do 2 week long unit studies on the subjects they choose. Ashlynn picked the stock market right away. I can hardly wait for the fun activities that we will do that week!

If you pray, please pray for the people in Chile who were effected by the earthquake their this morning, and for the safety of the people in Hawaii who are under a tsunami advisory.

Friday Freebies

A great free homeschool resource is the website Homeschool Freebie Of The Day. They have a different free book download or audio every weekday. If you haven't heard of them, you should have a look at the website. We have used a lot of their book downloads, and really enjoyed them.

Thankful Thursday

This is my third Thankful Thursday, the letter is C.

I'm thankful for:
Children (especially my own)
Christmas
Chocolate
Coffee
Candles
Cookies
Cake
Cheese
Cats
Cafes
Carnivals
Clowns
Carnations
Caring People
Good Character
Cousins
Chickens
Crafts
Cantaloupe
Comedy
Chai Tea
Cinnamon Rolls
Cherries

Beautiful Blogger Award

I was given my first  blog award last week by Milena at http://beyourbestmom.blogspot.com/. She has a great blog, be sure to take a look at it. Thank you so much Milena!

Here is what you do to accept the award.

1.Thank the person who gave you the award.

2.Copy and paste the award to your blog.

3.Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.

4.List 7 interesting things about you.

5.Pass the award on to 7 beautiful bloggers.

Here are 7 interesting things about me.

1.I love children and wanted to have 4 of my own, for as long as I can remember. I stopped after Ashlynn because I developed severe preeclampsia with both pregnancies. I don't think that I would be happier than I am now, if I did have 4 children. It was just how many kids I thought I would have.

2.I love cats and dogs, and would probably be a cat/dog hoarder if it weren't for my husband. I think that he has helped me become a better person:)

3.Most of the paintings in my house, I painted myself. I am not a great artist, but I love painting. It tickles me that I can paint a tree, and it actually looks like how I see a tree.

4.Ever since my kids were small I have made up songs about all sorts of silly things, and sang them to Jacob and Ashlynn. If you spied into my house most of the day would sound like a really bad American Idol audition.

5.I love playing rock band with my family.

6.As crazy as this will sound to some of you, I really love cooking.

7.I dream very vivid dreams every night about all sorts of things.


There are so many beautiful bloggers that it was really hard for me to only choose 7.
Here are my picks:


From Misery To Happiness

Never Just A Housewife

A Blonde Walks Into A Blog

Children Grow, Children Explore, Children Learn

New Mama In Spain

The Pursuit Of Mommyness

Amundsen House Of Chaos

Meal Plan Monday

Here is my plan for our meals this week:

Meatless Monday
Breakfast scrambled eggs and wheat toast
Lunch grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup
Dinner alfredo sauce pasta, broccoli, and salad

Tuesday
Breakfast oatmeal
Lunch gluten free nachos
Dinner beef stew and salad

Wednesday
Breakfast cereal
Lunch egg salad sandwiches and yogurt
Dinner leftover stew and salad

Thursday
Breakfast poached eggs and wheat toast
Lunch fishsticks and carrot sticks
Dinner pork tacos, re-fried beans and salad

Friday
Breakfast homemade blueberry muffins
Lunch quesadillas
Dinner lemon pepper salmon, broccoli, and baked potatoes

Saturday
Breakfast buttermilk pancakes
Lunch Sandwich Party
Dinner eat out

Sunday
Breakfast omelets
Lunch make your own sandwich and carrot sticks
Dinner roasted chicken, roasted red potatoes and peas

Our Weekly Wrap Up

We had another great week filled with science, history, math, geography, grammar, reading, piano, chess club, and lots of time outdoors. I would have liked to have gotten in an art project, but I always feel like we could have done one or two more things each week. I have learned to let that feeling go, and plan for the next week.

In math Jacob finished his first Life Of Fred book. It only took him 2 months to complete it. There was some review, because I had him start with Fractions The first book in the series. I just wanted to make sure that he wouldn't miss any concepts after switching from Saxon. Ashlynn is about 75% done with Saxon 5/4, and we are only half way through our school year. When she is finished I will just give her the next Saxon book. That is one of the many things I like about homeschooling, children can work at their own pace.

The weather here was beautiful this week . It feels like spring is here already. We spent a lot of time outside, going for walks, jumping on the trampoline, in the garden, we even did a science experiment outside. We blew up lunch bags, and popped them to demonstrate how thunder is made.

I hope all of you had a great week, and have a good weekend!

Food Friday

I posted our menu for the week on Monday, and I promised some recipes on Friday.
Here they are:

Here is a link for a wonderful cinnamon roll recipe http://thewelltrainedkitchen.wordpress
Your family will be so grateful if you make these!

 

Here is a link to my macaroni and cheese recipe

www.homeschoolingwithlove.com 

  

Here is a link to my recipe for grilled peanut butter banana sandwiches

www.homeschoolingwithlove.com

Happy 6th Friday Follow

It is Friday Follow time again. Crazy that a week can go by so fast. Friday follow is a great way to find new blogs to read and follow. Thanks to one2try.blogspot.com, heartsmakefamilies.com, and www.middayescapades.com for hosting.

Thankful Thursday

This week is my second Thankful Thursday so the letter is b.

1.All babies(so glad I had a couple)
2.Brothers and Brother-in-laws
3.Books
4.Blogs
5.Blog friends and Blog followers
6.Bananas
7.Banana Bread
8.Banana Cream Pie
9.Bells
10.Blueberries
11.Blueberry Pie
12.All Barbecue
13.Blue Skies
14.Bees in my garden
15.Birds singing
16.Bread
17.Brussels Sprouts
18.Butter
19.Beaches
20.Bagpipes

Easy Lunch Idea-Pizza Pasta

This is a easy one pot lunch that everybody here loves!

Pizza Pasta

Cooked Noodles
1 cup carrot puree
1/2 package of Hormel uncured pepperoni, cut into strips
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Parmesan cheese

1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain noodles, leave in pot. Stir in carrot puree, tomato sauce, pepperoni, olive oil, and spices. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until sauce is heated through. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

History Of The Medieval World Review

One of my favorite subjects I teach Jacob and Ashlynn is history. We use The Story Of The World Series By Susan Wise Bauer history curriculum. I was reading the Well Trained Mind Forum a couple of months ago, and came across the opportunity to review Susan Wise Bauer's newest book, History Of The Medieval World. I jumped at the chance.

History Of The Medieval World is written for the high school student, or adult. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is 746 pages, has 100 maps, 15 illustrations, published by Norton & Company, the list price is $35.00, and it will be released on February 22, 2010.

While it is a complete history of the medieval time period, it doesn't feel dry or boring. Instead it reads like a story filled with facts and famous people. We will use this book as part of Jacob and Ashlynns high school history curriculum when the time comes.  I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys history, or for a high school history course.

(I haven't received any compensation for this review.)

Meal Plan Monday

I hope all of you had a great Valentines Day! We had a relaxing day, with lots of chocolate, a bouquet of flowers, and a nice walk around our neighborhood. I know we need some healthy meals after our overindulging in chocolate, so here is my plan for the week.

Monday:
Breakfast wheat toast or oatmeal
Lunch grilled cheese sandwiches with oranges slices
Dinner Meatless Monday Tuscan bean soup and salad

Tuesday
Breakfast scrambled eggs and toast
Lunch pizza pasta
Dinner Italian Dressing cod, baked potatoes, broccoli

Wednesday
Breakfast oatmeal or cereal
Lunch potato leek soup with whole grain crackers
Dinner chicken ala king over rice and a salad

Thursday
Breakfast vegie sausage breakfast sandwiches
Lunch fish sticks and carrot sticks
Dinner pot roast with potatoes and carrots

Friday
Breakfast homemade cinnamon rolls
Lunch grilled peanut butter banana sandwiches
Dinner left over pot roast and a salad

Saturday
Breakfast buttermilk pancakes
Lunch make your own sandwich
Dinner homemade macaroni and cheese with broccoli

Sunday
Breakfast individual egg souffles and toast
Lunch left over macaroni and cheese with orange slices
Dinner balsamic vinegar pork loin, roasted garlic sweet potatoes, and green beans

Our Weekly Wrap Up

We had a great week filled with math, history, reading, science, art, geography, spelling, poetry, gardening, chess club, going for walks, and an orthodontist appointment. It actually looks like we were busier than I felt we were.

Ashlynn has been having a better time with division. I think (I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I write this) that she has caught on to the process. Thank goodness! I was considering changing to a different math program for her next year.

In between all of their school work Jacob and Ashlynn made stained glass hearts. They chose three different colors of crayons. They grated the crayons with our cheese grater. They put the crayon shavings in between pieces of wax paper. Ironed the wax paper with a towel on the top and bottom of the wax paper. Then they glued hearts that they cut out over the wax paper, and cut the excess wax paper off. Viola, a stained glass heart for Valentines Day.

 

We also had to make my favorite heart shaped spritz cookies for Valentines Day. 

There aren't any left for the actual day, but they were yummy while they lasted.

 

This week in geography we studied Greece and Italy. The meals we had to represent these countries were cheese tortellini for Italy and moussaka for Greece. We really like tortellini and eat it once a month for dinner, but we have not had moussaka before. I found a recipe for it in one of my cookbooks. I followed the recipe, but I don't think that it turned out like it was supposed to. I was the only one who liked it at all. Oh well, at least we all tried something new.

I took Jacob to his orthodontist appointment, and the exciting news is he is going to get his braces off in 7 weeks! I am so ready for them to be off, and I am not the one with the braces. I feel bad when his mouth is sore from them. I get tired of trying to cook food that can be eaten while having braces. The bad news is the orthodontist wants to see if Ashlynn is ready for her braces the day Jacob gets his off. I hope she isn't:) If she is, I will try to help her make the best of it.

I hope that all of you have a Happy Valentines Day!

 

Happy Friday Follow!

This is my second week joining in the Friday Follow fun. It is a great way to find new blogs to read. Thanks to heartsmakefamilies.com, www.middayescapades.com, and one2try.blogspot.com for hosting.

Thankful Thursdays

A couple weeks ago I saw a Thankful Thursday post at This Is What It's All About!.
I thought I would start Thankful Thusdays post here. What you do is post what you are thankful for each week that starts with a letter from the alphabet. This is my first week, so A it is.

1.Ashlynn
2.My niece Arabella
3.Being an aunt
4.My Aunt Kathy
5.Angels
6.Authors
7.The ants in my garden that eat the aphids.
8.Apples
9.Apple Pie
10.Apple juice fresh from my juicer
11.Apple Butter
12.Acorn Squash
13. Au Grautin Potatoes
14.Art
15.Artist
16.Air
17.Autumn
18.Apples to Apples board game
Can you guys tell I am getting hungry for dinner?

We Were Chosen To Host A House Party

A while back at Home Grown Families I read a post about www.houseparty.com. The idea is that different companies sponsor a party at homes to advertise their products. I applied to host the Arnolds-Orowheats Sandwich Flat Breads-Sandwich Revolution House Party. Well I received the news a couple of days ago that this crazy homeschooling family was chosen. We are going to be hosting a Sandwich Revolution House Party. How fun is that? I'm the kind of person that loves planning a party. Which is why this House Party stuff appealed to me. We actually use these flat breads, and really like them. That is why I chose this party to apply for. I have a recipe post on here for Open-Faced Italian Chicken Sandwiches, and I use Orowheat Flat Breads for the bread. The sandwiches I am going to make for the party are Philly Cheese Steak, BLTs, Mini Pizzas, and a Vegie. Wish me good party luck!

Dennys Free Grand Slam Breakfast

In spite of being a crowd phobic, I asked Jacob and Ashlynn last night if they wanted to go to Dennys this morning for the free grand slam breakfast deal? I actually have never taken them to a Dennys, not because I have something against the place, we just don't eat out very often.  So they jumped at the chance to try a grand slam breakfast.

We woke up and had toast, and all of us got ready. They did some school work, and we were on our way. We finally arrived at Dennys late in the morning, and made the grand slam more of a brunch for us. I was really impressed at how fast we were seated, and at how fast we received our food, even though they were very busy. Now Jacob and Ashlynn have finally had the Dennys experience.

Setting A Good Example

Okay my curling iron broke this morning, and with my flat hair, bad hair day would be a understatement. All that I can do is put it in a ponytail until I can go to the store to pick up a new one. I really understand how overwhelmed Ashlynn feels when she doesn't think her gorgeous, thick, golden hair looks good, and why she does the ponytail thing everyday. Another thing I  understand is the urge to have a temper tantrum about my hair, like she has been doing so much lately. I'm not going to have a fit though, because I have to set a good example for my little girl. I have to show her that I can take a really bad hair day in stride. I guess my kids really do make me a better person, or at least act like one.

Have a safe and fun Super Bowl Sunday!

Making Our Geography Lesson A Little More Fun

This year we have studied all of the countries in North America, South America, and we have studied Australia and New Zealand. This week started Europe and Asia by studying Russia. During geography I had an idea to make our lesson a little more fun. We are going make a craft and eat a meal from the country or countries we are covering each week.

The meal I made was Beef Stroganoff. It was my first try at it, and lucky for us it was a success. Jacob and Ashlynn have always turned down anything with mushrooms so I was a little nervous, but they loved it. It makes me so happy when my kids try new food.

For the craft I purchased a couple wooden eggs from the local Michaels store. We read about Faberge Eggs, and looked at some pictures. Then Jacob and Ashlynn painted the wooden eggs.

 

They like craft projects as much as when they were small as long as they get to put their own creative spin on the project.

Friday Follow

I saw this Friday Follow button on survivalofahomeschoolmom.blogspot.com. After a couple minutes of investigation I decided to join in this Friday Follow craze. Honestly, it looks like a great way to find fun new blogs to read. Thanks to one2try.blogspot.com , www.middayescapes.com and Hearts Make Families for hosting!

Finding Time

Monday, I  sat down to write a post about Ashlynn. She has thick,curly, golden,long, beautiful hair, and she hates it. She looks longingly at my hair and tells me, she wishes she flat hair like mine. She means that as a huge compliment. To Ashlynn flat hair is superior to all other types of hair. The only thing she has done with her hair the past year , is put it in a ponytail. Every once in a while she will decide to try and wear her hair down. After about an hour she will be screaming about how her hair is frizzy, or poofy, or something, and want it in a ponytail. I wanted to write about this, and the gratitude I feel that I don't have to deal with this hair drama in the morning before she hurries up to get ready for school. I don't have to endure this experience, because we homeschool. When the hair drama occurs she can go to her room, until she calms down. There is no rush to get ready. In fact, she can wear her pajamas for our school, as long as she gets her work done. I honestly don't know what I would do if I had to make sure she was ready to go to school. I do know that there is a good chance I would be a very irritable mother after dealing with that in the mornings.

I was trying to write all of this on Monday, but then Doug needed help with something. So I stopped and helped him. Then Jacob came and sat down next to me so I could read the comics from the newspaper that he thought were funny. So I stopped  writing, what I had barely started. I read the comics, and laughed with Jacob. Then Ashlynn came in and starting chatting about what I can't remember now, but I thought, okay I give up. Instead Ashlynn and I talked about Webkinz and beauty and how much I love her. I am so happy that I have kids who want to spend time with me. I don't even mind, that sometimes I can't do all of the things I want to in a day. I love my family and things can wait, time together can't.