So, Jayme, you inspired me.
We made banana "pi", Mixed Berry Pi, pumpkin pi, and savory quiche pi!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Happy Pi Day
As in Happy 3.14.....get it? My friend Jayme, who is married to our crazy friend Chris (who is a math whiz), texted me yesterday, telling me to plan for Pi day, 'cuz pi r squared!!
So, Jayme, you inspired me.
We made banana "pi", Mixed Berry Pi, pumpkin pi, and savory quiche pi!
So, Jayme, you inspired me.
We made banana "pi", Mixed Berry Pi, pumpkin pi, and savory quiche pi!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
That time of year again...
...for homeschoolin' mommas.
Yep, now is when we think about curriculum. We choose, change our minds, choose more, ask each other a million questions, search, change our minds again, and at some point between now and next August, decide on the curriculum we are going to use for the kids. OF course, we reserve the right to change our minds mid year as well. HA!
So, thanks to Melissa from At Home on the Last Frontier, I have decided to use Apologia Science for next year, and I am really excited.
As for History, we are going to continue with the Heart of Dakota books that we began this year (focus on the pioneer books), add in Alaska studies, and also include some hard core civics since it will be a big election year. I am hoping to find some fun ways to study our state history as well as civics. My dream goal is to make it all as hands on as possible.
Language Arts, with the biggest one at least, I am taking the easy route. She is a super quick learner, so she is just going to continue to march her way through the Spectrum books. That kid picks things up so fast, it boggles my mind. AND, for some reason, she likes those little workbooks. More power to her, I say.
Reading/Phonics/Language for the Twinkies will go back to Horizons (we took a break to slow down and review). I may or may not finish out the year in Horizons with them. I am playing it by ear. Anyone out there have a 1st-2nd grade level reading and language arts program that they want to tell me about. I am up for ideas/change...
Spanish will continue with our neighbor, Lord willing....
Math, we will stick with Horizons as well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, ya know... The girls all love the Horizons math, it makes sense to them, and I see them really doing well.
PE = TaeKwon Do
Music....I am praying about that one. Princess Hope wants voice lessons.
Yep, now is when we think about curriculum. We choose, change our minds, choose more, ask each other a million questions, search, change our minds again, and at some point between now and next August, decide on the curriculum we are going to use for the kids. OF course, we reserve the right to change our minds mid year as well. HA!
So, thanks to Melissa from At Home on the Last Frontier, I have decided to use Apologia Science for next year, and I am really excited.
As for History, we are going to continue with the Heart of Dakota books that we began this year (focus on the pioneer books), add in Alaska studies, and also include some hard core civics since it will be a big election year. I am hoping to find some fun ways to study our state history as well as civics. My dream goal is to make it all as hands on as possible.
Language Arts, with the biggest one at least, I am taking the easy route. She is a super quick learner, so she is just going to continue to march her way through the Spectrum books. That kid picks things up so fast, it boggles my mind. AND, for some reason, she likes those little workbooks. More power to her, I say.
Reading/Phonics/Language for the Twinkies will go back to Horizons (we took a break to slow down and review). I may or may not finish out the year in Horizons with them. I am playing it by ear. Anyone out there have a 1st-2nd grade level reading and language arts program that they want to tell me about. I am up for ideas/change...
Spanish will continue with our neighbor, Lord willing....
Math, we will stick with Horizons as well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, ya know... The girls all love the Horizons math, it makes sense to them, and I see them really doing well.
PE = TaeKwon Do
Music....I am praying about that one. Princess Hope wants voice lessons.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Chocolate Banana Brownies for BREAKFAST
Oh goodness, I can't figure out how to download pictures to the new computer, but these are so awesome, I am sharing now, adding pictures later!!
Finally, after many many experiments, the kids love these. Total nutrition per serving: 143 calories, 3.5 g fat, 8.6 g sugar, 5.5 g protein, 4.7 g fiber! (used online calculator)
Each batch makes 9 servings
Be warned, the ingredients are going to seem odd. Trust me. Make them anyway.
Also, my kiddos are used to reduced sugar. It is amazing how you can train your taste buds to need less and less. If your kids are used to super sweet, you may want to up the sugar to 1/2 cup. BUT, try it this way first. If you talk it up, they may never know.
1 can low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed REALLY well
2 ripe medium sized bananas
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup dry instant oatmeal (plain)
1/4 cup water
2 medium eggs
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (mini)
Preheat oven to 350 F
Lightly spray a glass 9x9 baking dish, line with parchment paper, then spray again (I used canola oil spray). You don't have to do the lining, but this makes it wonderful to lift them out for serving.
Toss the whole shootin' match into the blender (except the chips). Buzz til smooth. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chips on the top.
Bake 30 min, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
TRY to wait until they are cooled to serve.
Eat these with a glass of milk for a yummy treat. Add toast or more fruit and milk and call it breakfast.
Finally, after many many experiments, the kids love these. Total nutrition per serving: 143 calories, 3.5 g fat, 8.6 g sugar, 5.5 g protein, 4.7 g fiber! (used online calculator)
Each batch makes 9 servings
Be warned, the ingredients are going to seem odd. Trust me. Make them anyway.
Also, my kiddos are used to reduced sugar. It is amazing how you can train your taste buds to need less and less. If your kids are used to super sweet, you may want to up the sugar to 1/2 cup. BUT, try it this way first. If you talk it up, they may never know.
1 can low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed REALLY well
2 ripe medium sized bananas
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup dry instant oatmeal (plain)
1/4 cup water
2 medium eggs
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (mini)
Preheat oven to 350 F
Lightly spray a glass 9x9 baking dish, line with parchment paper, then spray again (I used canola oil spray). You don't have to do the lining, but this makes it wonderful to lift them out for serving.
Toss the whole shootin' match into the blender (except the chips). Buzz til smooth. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chips on the top.
Bake 30 min, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
TRY to wait until they are cooled to serve.
Eat these with a glass of milk for a yummy treat. Add toast or more fruit and milk and call it breakfast.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
TV Attempts to Mock!
HSLDA protects not only the freedoms of homeschoolers, but those of all in our country who put faith and family first. This alert was just posted:
ABC-TV has decided that it can take direct aim at Christians with what amounts to hate speech. This is the premise of its new program GCB (which stands for Good Christian B*****es). We need to fight back.
This program ridicules Christians, Christianity, the Bible, and Christian symbols in ways that would be unthinkable if aimed at any other religious group. For example, in the official Facebook page for GCB it said that “cleavage will help keep your cross straight.” Can you imagine the reaction in the Muslim community if that kind of message (complete with a highly suggestive photo) would have been made aiming at a symbol of the Islamic faith?
Here is why this impacts homeschooling. There was a decision of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire about a year ago affirming a decision to take a girl out of homeschooling because this method of education had the impact of advancing the girl’s Christian faith. The government of Alberta, Canada, is trying to force Christian schools and homeschools to affirmatively teach the moral equivalency of homosexuality—and specifically forbidding any instruction that homosexuality is sin—during the school day.
These decisions are being made because it is becoming publicly acceptable to demean Christianity. Our freedoms go with our faith. If they can attack our faith, they surely will attack our freedom. There are law review articles which I have written about in the past with law professors at major universities arguing that homeschooling should be eliminated in the United States because it is necessary to teach our children tolerance.
These anti-Christian homeschooling arguments are a subset of anti-Christian hate-speech and bigotry. We need to stand up and fight back.
I am posting a list of all of the sponsors of this program. But please start your protests by contacting ABC Television with an email. The link is provided.
Wal-Mart was originally listed as a sponsor for GCB, but the retailer has since clarified its position. I talked to a press representative for Wal-Mart Tuesday. They informed me that the ad which included Wal-Mart on this highly objectionable program was placed by one of their vendors rather than by a direct purchase by Wal-Mart. She was unable to clarify whether Wal-Mart had participated in the cost of the ad, but promised to check on that for me. She also indicated that Wal-Mart would not be advertising on this program in the future. We very much appreciate the cooperation of Wal-Mart and their appropriate response.
Thanks for your action.
Here is the link to the site with the article, as well as links/list of all the supporters of this program http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/2012/20120305FB.asp
ABC-TV has decided that it can take direct aim at Christians with what amounts to hate speech. This is the premise of its new program GCB (which stands for Good Christian B*****es). We need to fight back.
This program ridicules Christians, Christianity, the Bible, and Christian symbols in ways that would be unthinkable if aimed at any other religious group. For example, in the official Facebook page for GCB it said that “cleavage will help keep your cross straight.” Can you imagine the reaction in the Muslim community if that kind of message (complete with a highly suggestive photo) would have been made aiming at a symbol of the Islamic faith?
Here is why this impacts homeschooling. There was a decision of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire about a year ago affirming a decision to take a girl out of homeschooling because this method of education had the impact of advancing the girl’s Christian faith. The government of Alberta, Canada, is trying to force Christian schools and homeschools to affirmatively teach the moral equivalency of homosexuality—and specifically forbidding any instruction that homosexuality is sin—during the school day.
These decisions are being made because it is becoming publicly acceptable to demean Christianity. Our freedoms go with our faith. If they can attack our faith, they surely will attack our freedom. There are law review articles which I have written about in the past with law professors at major universities arguing that homeschooling should be eliminated in the United States because it is necessary to teach our children tolerance.
These anti-Christian homeschooling arguments are a subset of anti-Christian hate-speech and bigotry. We need to stand up and fight back.
I am posting a list of all of the sponsors of this program. But please start your protests by contacting ABC Television with an email. The link is provided.
Wal-Mart was originally listed as a sponsor for GCB, but the retailer has since clarified its position. I talked to a press representative for Wal-Mart Tuesday. They informed me that the ad which included Wal-Mart on this highly objectionable program was placed by one of their vendors rather than by a direct purchase by Wal-Mart. She was unable to clarify whether Wal-Mart had participated in the cost of the ad, but promised to check on that for me. She also indicated that Wal-Mart would not be advertising on this program in the future. We very much appreciate the cooperation of Wal-Mart and their appropriate response.
Thanks for your action.
Here is the link to the site with the article, as well as links/list of all the supporters of this program http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/2012/20120305FB.asp
Voting and Civics lessons
Yesterday was Super Tuesday in the political world. In AK, you don't get to vote, but you do participate in a poll that the party puts on. Then, from there the party officials decide on the delegates. Of course, yesterday morning, I didn't know this. After several calls to official people trying to figure out what to do, I gave up and contacted a friend, born and raised in AK, who just happens to be a bit more involved in the political scene than the rest of us via her awesome dad ;-) She helped me figure out what to do. My poor friend spends an awful lot of time teaching me to be Alaskan! I should pay her tutoring wages or something.
So, in the midst of a winter storm warning, I shoveled what measured to be almost 1 foot of snow off of my 54 foot long driveway, loaded up the kids, went to the store for TP ('cuz you DON'T let that run out. Food, fine, TP, not on your life!!), and then made the drive to go vote. Why did I shovel snow first? 'Cuz my vehicle is a 2WD, and the previous owner of this house told me that the only place she ever got stuck was the end of the driveway. I have a bit of a fear of being stuck anywhere. So, I shoveled!
Honestly, I vacillated on the voting thing (polling...whatever), but it is so important to us. It was a great civics lesson for the kids. This is the first time I have taken them to do anything like that since I voted absentee for years. We got the chance to talk about how/why we choose candidates, the process of primaries and the upcoming election.
BUT, most importantly, we talked about WHY we vote, and who gave us the right to vote. When it all boils down to it, not voting is like saying to all those who sacrificed their lives, "Your life wasn't that important." I explained to the kids that for the entire history of our country, people have given their lives to protect our rights to be free, to choose our own government, and to participate in the system of democracy. While it is not perfect, we need to participate, or we have to right to complain. So, for that very reason, I shoveled the drive, loaded up all 4 kidlets, and drove through a snow storm to vote. I seriously contemplated staying inside and not risking it. But, if figured Alaskans are nice. If I got stuck, someone surely would pull me out. We never drove over 30 mph to get the 5 miles to the voting area. It was worth it. I think the kids really got a lot out of it. We talked about it all day afterwards.
So, in the midst of a winter storm warning, I shoveled what measured to be almost 1 foot of snow off of my 54 foot long driveway, loaded up the kids, went to the store for TP ('cuz you DON'T let that run out. Food, fine, TP, not on your life!!), and then made the drive to go vote. Why did I shovel snow first? 'Cuz my vehicle is a 2WD, and the previous owner of this house told me that the only place she ever got stuck was the end of the driveway. I have a bit of a fear of being stuck anywhere. So, I shoveled!
Honestly, I vacillated on the voting thing (polling...whatever), but it is so important to us. It was a great civics lesson for the kids. This is the first time I have taken them to do anything like that since I voted absentee for years. We got the chance to talk about how/why we choose candidates, the process of primaries and the upcoming election.
BUT, most importantly, we talked about WHY we vote, and who gave us the right to vote. When it all boils down to it, not voting is like saying to all those who sacrificed their lives, "Your life wasn't that important." I explained to the kids that for the entire history of our country, people have given their lives to protect our rights to be free, to choose our own government, and to participate in the system of democracy. While it is not perfect, we need to participate, or we have to right to complain. So, for that very reason, I shoveled the drive, loaded up all 4 kidlets, and drove through a snow storm to vote. I seriously contemplated staying inside and not risking it. But, if figured Alaskans are nice. If I got stuck, someone surely would pull me out. We never drove over 30 mph to get the 5 miles to the voting area. It was worth it. I think the kids really got a lot out of it. We talked about it all day afterwards.
Friday, March 2, 2012
TaeKwon Do update
All 4 of "us girls" tested tonight in Tae Kwon Do.
Princesses Grace and Joy earned their first rank of yellow stripe.
Princess Hope earned her green stripe on her yellow belt.
I earned my green belt. For the first time, I had to break 2 boards at once. They were small boards...but two, none the less. It felt awesome when I finally put my foot through them!
Princesses Grace and Joy earned their first rank of yellow stripe.
Princess Hope earned her green stripe on her yellow belt.
I earned my green belt. For the first time, I had to break 2 boards at once. They were small boards...but two, none the less. It felt awesome when I finally put my foot through them!
Standing with our class mates.
Yahoo!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
TRULY an Alaskan Adventure: Sled Dogs!
We were blessed last weekend by a ride on a dog sled. Actually, not "we", but the kids were. A local group sponsored free sled dog rides for kids during the running of an annual local race. It was such a blessing to let the crew take a spin around in the dog sled.
The musher was awesome. We didn't know the event was happening until after the end time. When we got there, they were getting ready to load up the dogs. I asked if the kids could just come see the dogs and the sled since we had never been near them before. The guys were so kind, they hitched the dogs back up and took the kids for a spin. THAT was amazing.
Prince Charming and Princess Grace racing like the wind!
Up close of Charming and Grace
Princesses Hope and Joy coming in from their ride.
I am TERRIBLE with the camera, so I sent these to a friend to crop and edit so that I could share them with you. Shout out to my Texan Photography Gal!!! Thanks, my friend, for your help. One day, this old dog will attempt to learn some new tricks. OR, you can just come up to Alaska and take some amazing photos for yourself?!?!?
The musher was awesome. We didn't know the event was happening until after the end time. When we got there, they were getting ready to load up the dogs. I asked if the kids could just come see the dogs and the sled since we had never been near them before. The guys were so kind, they hitched the dogs back up and took the kids for a spin. THAT was amazing.
Prince Charming and Princess Grace racing like the wind!
Princesses Hope and Joy coming in from their ride.
I am TERRIBLE with the camera, so I sent these to a friend to crop and edit so that I could share them with you. Shout out to my Texan Photography Gal!!! Thanks, my friend, for your help. One day, this old dog will attempt to learn some new tricks. OR, you can just come up to Alaska and take some amazing photos for yourself?!?!?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Homeschool Update
Gotta brag a tiny bit...
The three girls participated in our local science fair today. We had three blue ribbon projects, and 2 of them were chosen to go on to the big area wide science fair.
I am SUPER proud of all three of my girls. This was the first time for the Twinkie Princesses. They have never done science projects before.
This was the second year for Princess Hope. I am the proudest of the fact that I didn't have to help her one bit. She designed and carried out the project all on her own. All I had to do was help type. She remembered the steps of the scientific process all by her self. This is one proud momma who once upon a time was a real life science teacher!
Sorry, I can't show pictures. Unfortunately, they were wearing name tags, and I haven't the foggiest idea how to edit that out. Oh well....
The three girls participated in our local science fair today. We had three blue ribbon projects, and 2 of them were chosen to go on to the big area wide science fair.
I am SUPER proud of all three of my girls. This was the first time for the Twinkie Princesses. They have never done science projects before.
This was the second year for Princess Hope. I am the proudest of the fact that I didn't have to help her one bit. She designed and carried out the project all on her own. All I had to do was help type. She remembered the steps of the scientific process all by her self. This is one proud momma who once upon a time was a real life science teacher!
Sorry, I can't show pictures. Unfortunately, they were wearing name tags, and I haven't the foggiest idea how to edit that out. Oh well....
Texas Style Brussels Sprouts
I am back! Here's a recipe I have been trying to post:
While living in Texas, we learned to eat green beans this way. One night, I looked at a bag of Brussels sprouts and wondered if they would taste just as yummy cooked the same way.
THEY
ARE
AWESOME!!
2 lbs Brussels Sprouts (I only had frozen on hand, so that is what I used)
generous dash garlic powder
Serve warm.
YUM!
...and yes, that is a sloppy Joe with french fries in the background. HOWEVER, it is a ground turkey sloppy Joe on home-made whole wheat rolls with baked "fries". You can still eat "kid food", but just make it as healthy as you can. They can't tell the difference, but you will know and feel better for it.
While living in Texas, we learned to eat green beans this way. One night, I looked at a bag of Brussels sprouts and wondered if they would taste just as yummy cooked the same way.
AND
THEY
ARE
AWESOME!!
2 lbs Brussels Sprouts (I only had frozen on hand, so that is what I used)
3-4 strips center cut bacon, cut into "lardons" (really tiny strips)
1 medium onion, diced (or handful dried onions)
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock/broth
generous pinch red pepper flakesgenerous dash garlic powder
1 1/2 T butter
Saute Bacon in skillet until completely rendered. Saute onion in bacon renderings until soft. Toss everything else in and simmer until liquid has reduced and formed a yummy sauce.
Serve warm.
YUM!
...and yes, that is a sloppy Joe with french fries in the background. HOWEVER, it is a ground turkey sloppy Joe on home-made whole wheat rolls with baked "fries". You can still eat "kid food", but just make it as healthy as you can. They can't tell the difference, but you will know and feel better for it.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
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