School Week 6 - Letter F

Our memory verse this week: John 3:16

     We didn't get around to doing any worksheets this week, but we had a lot of Fun.  And since it was "Ff" week I figured that was okay.  We go to Parents Day Out on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are our school at home days.  Monday we had fun with Play-doh and made these Faces that I printed and laminated from Sparkle box - Make playdough faces . . . . 

     I told the kids that "a glad heart makes a cheerful Face" (Proverbs 15:13).  Then we talked about how our Faces show how we are Feeling on the inside and we took turns deciding how each of these monkeys were Feeling.  I printed and laminated these from Kiz Club - How Do You Feel? 

     On Monday we also went to the library to return our "E" books and find some "F" books.

     Then on Wednesday we learned that "F" was for Fall and we talked about the seasons and how the leaves are Falling off the trees.  We took a picnic lunch to the school where daddy teaches so we could eat with him and enjoyed Finding the leaves, acorns, etc...  There was a cool rope swing in a tree and a ladder to climb up to a tree house and so much nature to explore.

     We also decorated pumpkins . . . .

     Friday was our day to do worksheets and sing our "F" song and learn all about firemen and fire safety, but we never got around to that.  However, my in-laws came to take me out to eat for my birthday and my MIL just so happened to give Weston a Fireman costume.  And we went to a Fireman birthday party the weekend before, so learning is taking place all the time even if it's not official. :)

She's making the sound of a siren

     We decided to Fast from tv and movies this week, so I'll let you know how that goes.  We are three days in and I'm really liking it so far.

School Week 5 - Letter E

     Each week I give them another letter and number to recognize while playing in the bathtub and we put them in order.  The post is shorter this week since we had a crazy week and didn't do that much organized school work at home.


Review verse: "Every knee will bow before me: Every tongue will acknowledge God." - Romans 14:11
Memory verse: "Even a child is known by his deeds." - Proverbs 20:11

Letter Ee:

Letter Ee for egg coloring page - nuttin but preschool (2 yr old)

Letter Ee for Elephant coloring page - education.com (4 yr old)

Just For Fun:

Egg Letter Matching Upper and Lower Case - Kiz Club (4 yr old)

"E" is for Exercise:
We love exercising with youtube videos like these...

Gummi Bear Song
Yo Gabba Gabba Song
Five Little Monkeys
Kids Yoga
Kids Zumba

And we made it back to the library this week to get some "E" books, which are hard to find...

Chocolate Cola Cake

     This is one of those recipes that I believe is even better the next day.  I have made other versions of this cake in the past, but this one struck me as quicker and just as good.  My husband loves homemade vanilla Blue Bell ice cream with it, but I prefer strawberries.  Alivia loved it also, but was a little distraught when she got it on her nose. . . . still hot out of the oven.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup butter

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup coca-cola

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup coca cola

4 cups of confectioner's sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease 9 x 13 baking dish with Crisco.

2.  Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.

3.  In a saucepan over medium heat stir butter, cocoa, cola, and milk until it boils.

4.  Remove from heat and add to flour mixture by whisking

6.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix.

7.  Put in baking dish and bake for 30 minutes - don't over bake!

When cake is almost done make glaze topping:

1.  Stir first 3 ingredients over medium heat until boiling.

2.  Remove from heat and stir in confectioner's sugar and pecans.

3.  Pour over cake right out of the oven, let cake stand for a few minutes.

recipe from:  May Flaum

School Week 4 - Letter D

Review verse: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." - Luke 6:31
Memory verse: "Do everything without complaining or arguing." - Philippians 2:14

     We sang our Dexter Donkey song and found all of the "D" items on our poster.

We read some "D" books.

Letter Dd for dog coloring page - nuttin but preschool (2 yr old)

Letter Dd for Dolphin coloring page - education.com (4 yr old)

We learned about the Dentist and read a story about Button Bear visiting the Dentist.

These Dinosaur Counting Practice sheets and numbers came from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  The kids took turns counting the Dinosaurs and putting the correct number in the square.

And last, but certainly not least, I finally got around to drawing a coconut tree on poster board and hanging it on our wall so that we can read Chicka Chicka ABC and hang up our letter of the week.  I'm obviously not an artist, but the kids were super impressed!  I got this idea and the letters from Confessions of a Homeschooler.

BBQ Chicken Nachos

     My best friend from AL (we now both live in TN) recently posted this recipe on her blog under the name BBQ Kitchen Sink Nachos.  Our church service was cancelled last Sunday night because we had a church picnic after the morning service.  That night we needed dinner, but something light since we had eaten a lot at the picnic for lunch.  This recipe seemed like just the thing.  We loved it and my husband ate leftovers for the next couple of days.  Thanks for the recipe, Melinda!

Ingredients:

1 Rotisserie Chicken

1 bag of tortilla chips

1 red onion, chopped

1 small can of baked beans

6 slices of bacon

2 cups shredded Mexican cheese

BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)

1 small container of microwavable Queso

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 and cook bacon on cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil for about 30 minutes or until done.

2.  Prepare baked beans.

3.  Saute red onion in butter in skillet until tender.

4.  Shred chicken in bowl.  Stir in 3 Tbsp BBQ sauce.

5.  Place tortilla chips in a 9 x 13 baking dish and layer in the following order: chips, chicken, baked beans, onion, bacon (cut up), cheese, and drizzle BBQ sauce on top.  

6.  Place in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  

7.  Serve immediately with Queso for dipping.

Fettuccine - Spinach Toss

     I bought this pack of Parmesan Encrusted Tilapia from Sam's not long ago and was thinking about a side to go with it when I remembered a fettuccine dish I made a few years back.  Hopefully posting our favorite recipes on here will keep me organized and I won't forget about great recipes like this for so long next time.  It comes from the April 2009 issue of Southern Living, and I, of course, adapted it to fit our family.  This is a quick and easy recipe and the Tilapia just popped in the oven for about 20 minutes.  It's a great way to get spinach and mushrooms in the kids and I have even added carrots in the past.  The recipe makes about 12 servings.

Ingredients:

12 oz package fettuccine

2 Tbsp olive oil

8 oz can sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup diced onions

2 garlic cloves, minced

10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed

16 oz jar Alfredo sauce

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

basil, salt, and pepper

Directions:

1.  Prepare fettuccine according to package directions.

2.  Saute mushrooms, onions, and garlic in oil for 3 or 4 minutes.

3.  Add spinach, and cook another 3 minutes.

4.  Stir in Alfredo sauce, cheese, hot cooked pasta and basil to taste, stirring just until blended.

5.  Cook 1 or 2 more minutes until heated through, season with salt and pepper, serve immediately.

ENJOY!

Soul Nourishment #9

A way for me to share what has been most nourishing to my soul recently. . . .

The Mission of Motherhood Book Study - take time to watch the 8 minute video

Hebrews 10:39, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Marriage and Pastoral Ministry - C.J. Mahaney gives practical application for husbands in ministry, but all husbands can benefit from these ideas and I as a wife was encouraged

"If I don't plan I will always do the urgent over the important." - C.J. Mahaney

"The most effective mothers are the most cared for wives." - C.J. Mahaney

"We can have a burning bush experience (Exodus 3) everyday with the Bible." - Grant Gaines

2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

"The best way to discover the will of God is to search the Word of God." - Donald Whitney

Strengthening Your Marriage In Ministry Panel Discussion

"The temptation is to view the home as a refuge for relaxation rather than a context to serve." - C.J. Mahaney

"When I'm reluctant to forgive, it's because I'm self-righteous." - C.J. Mahaney

40 Years of a Grace-Filled Marriage - Dennis Rainey shares 40 tips
1.  Purpose of marriage is God's glory
2.  Context of marriage is a battleground, not a romantic balcony
3.  Spouse is not our enemy
4.  Pray together (daily), stay together
5.  Isolation is a subtle killer of relationships
6.  It's easier to build a house with the same set of Biblical blueprints - are we on the same page theologically?
7.  It is healthy to confess my sins to my spouse - give your spouse access to the interior of your soul
8.  Be liberal and lavish with your forgiveness of one another - bitterness does not lead to oneness
9.  The greatest threat to marriage is losing a teachable heart
10.  Every couple needs a mentor couple who is one lap ahead of them in the season of life
11.  What you remember is just as important as what you forget
12.  Marriage was designed by God to be missional
13.  It's okay to have one rookie season in marriage - it's not okay to repeat it repeatedly
14.  Never let the "D" word (divorce) cross your lips, instead use the word commitment
15.  Honoring your parents brings life to your marriage
16.  Different isn't wrong, its just different
17.  Marriage and family is redemptive - they save us from self-absorption
18.  Your wife is your #1 disciple
19.  Go near the orphan...150 million of them
20.  Make your home a storm shelter
21.  Suffering will either drive you apart or merge you together
22.  Men and Women process suffering very differently - give each other grace
23.  Loss is a part of life and increases as we age - process it well
24.  Communication is to marriage what blood is to the body - the life giver of a relationship
25.  Husbands, no shepherd can lead any faster than the sheep can follow
26.  Maximize your wife's talents, gifts, experience, and passions as you would an olympic athlete
27.  Wives, your respect will fill your husband and your contempt will empty his tank - 93% of communication is non-verbal
28.  Women spell romance differently than men; Women spell it... relationship / Men spell it... sex
29.  Our romance gives us children and our children try to stop our romance; your marriage must be built to outlast your children
30.  Build too many guardrails rather than too few - don't trust yourself alone with the opposite sex
31.  Wives, generously use your sexual power in your husband's life
32.  Disciple your children - help them find their identity (including sexual)
33.  Teach your children what real love is - how to love and experience love (relationships)
34.  Disciple your child to be wise and not a fool (character)
35.  Help your children to be about the great commission (kingdom work)
36.  Determine your core values as a couple as you raise your children
37.  Interview your daughter's date and train your sons to not be clueless
38.  Your adult children need you to become smaller not bigger in their lives
39.  Laugh more, gripe less, and give more love, grace, and mercy to your spouse
40.  The most important thing about you as an individual and as a couple is what you think about God


The Search for Joy and the Supremacy of God In the Gospel - John Piper speaks at the Gospel Coalition's 2012 National Women's Conference

School Week 3 - Letter C

Letter C: 

     Monday was a holiday and Nonna took us to Chuck E. Cheese!

Review verse: "Create in me a pure heart, O God." -Psalm 51:10
Memory verse: "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord." -Colossians 3:20

Letter C - Coloring Page - nuttin but preschool (2 and 4 yr old)

Follow the Letter C path - education.com (4 yr old)

C is for Cleaning up coloring page and letter trace - preschool post (4 yr old)

We learned about Cars and Car safety

Read:
There Was A Coyote
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie - barnes and noble online book
The Little Engine That Could
Play Ball, Corduroy!
The Emperor's New Clothes

Some ideas from alphabet soup: (2 and 4 yr old)
Let kids pretend like they are a Clown and walk the tight rope (jump rope)
Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar (read along on YouTube)
Make a Caterpillar out of egg carton, paint, pipe cleaners, and wiggly eyes
Kids act like they are animals - Cat, Caterpillar, Cobra, Crocodile, Crab, Cow
Act out the following words - Cook, Cut, Cough, Catch, Clean, Cry, Clap, Comb hair
Draw a capital C on construction paper, fill in with glue, place Cotton balls inside

Number 3:

Number 3 in a jar worksheet - first school (4 yr old)

Played "Find the #3" everywhere we went (2 yr old)

Just for fun:

     This Saturday morning I had the option of sweeping and mopping my kitchen floor or playing this Escape The Volcano Floor Board Game. . . .

These were our game pieces :)

. . . . The floor is still dirty, but the kids had fun


First post in this series:  Back To School

School Week 2 - Letter B

     I usually introduce the letter of the week on Monday by singing along with the Animal Alphabet Friends CD from A Beka Book. We then look at the poster and learn about the animal - this week was a bee.

     We also learned about buses and boats, so we made these school bus crafts.

     Livi's 4 year check-up was this week, so that is what the two bandaids are for.  I opted to get two this year instead of the recommended four and save the other two for when she turns 5.  And yes, Weston has a bruise and knot on his forehead most days.  That just means we are having fun!

Letter of The Week:  B

Review verse:  "Be kind to one another and build each other up." -1 Thessalonians 5:11
Memory verse:  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." - Matthew 5:9
   We learned about the Holy Spirit and how he helps us to be peacemakers instead of troublemakers.  We also learned about confessing our sins, specifically when we aren't kind, encouraging, or making peace.

Letter B for Butterfly coloring page - nuttin but preschool (2 yr old)

Upper and lower case B trace and color by number page - a heart for home (4 yr old)

Banjo craft - no time for flashcards (2 and 4 yr old)

Bus craft - no time for flashcards (2 and 4 yr old)

Practice Writing Upper and Lower Case B - Kiz Club

Number of the Week:  2

Practice writing #2 - kids learning station (4 yr old)

#2 Coloring Page - all kids network (2 yr old)

Just For Fun:

Letterella Online Game - tvo kids (2 and 4 yr old)

Bees Game - tvo kids (2 and 4 yr old)

Make A Book - education.com (4 yr old)

     We also played with balloons, balls, and bubbles.  Livi has been putting this red basket (part of a salad spinner) on her head since before she could walk. :)

The kids love playing with these window stickers I found at the Dollar Tree.

This was fun to put together, but I'm trying to remember where I found them.

Livi learned how to be a cheerleader at a high school football game Friday night.  The girls were so sweet to talk to her and make her feel special.

     We spent Tuesday and Thursday at Parent's Day Out.  The kids seemed to enjoy it.  I, on the other hand, suffered some separation anxiety on Tuesday and did a little better on Thursday because I was able to spend two hours in Weston's class.  Being the mom of two little ones can be stressful at times, but I can't stand being away from them.  I know I will have to release them one day, so I guess this is a good first step.

Want to read last week's post?  Back To School