School Food Inspiration

These are real school lunches that I've made. I find them easy, quick, filling, & the boys love them all!! I use leftovers that aren't enough for everyone to have as another dinner for fillers in lunches. It's a great way to make the lunch full and use up leftovers that you would otherwise throw out. :) 

 Sauteed Peppers, Watermelon, Pulled Pork, Dried Cranberries

 Boiled Eggs, Bacon, Applesauce, Dried Cranberries

 Grilled Chicken, Brown Rice, Sauteed Peppers

 This is Pioneer Woman's Chili ~ insanely good ~ not School Food ~ I just wanted to post it :)

 Watermelon, Pasta & Cheese, Angry Bird Gummies

 Cracker & Cheese Sandwiches, Banana w/Peanut Butter, Applesauce 

Lentil Chili, Salad, Crackers, Blackberries 

Mountain Born

We finished this book up over the summer. It is about a boy that lives on a farm. He helps his Dad with the sheep and saves a little one. This book is a read aloud for Sonlight Intro. Into World History Part 1. 

We found this book very slow moving. Still good. Just slow. The writing is a different style. I'm not sure how to explain it but I did have to explain what things meant to Chris (7yo). 

Here's a paragraph for an example:

"The sun passed its zenith and the tiny leaves cast their shade at the base of the trees. The sun moved slowly on its course while the shadows of the leaves reached eastward down the slope. A lamb baaed; a sheep stirred. One by one they rose and shook themselves and moved across the pasture to the stream. Snuffing the water in their fussy way, they touched their noses to it. The cool, clear stream was its own assurance. The sheep drank fastidiously, and the lambs baaed curiously at other lambs whose faces look up at them from the water." 

As you can see, it's well written and slow moving. With every other paragraph like that, it really called Chris up in his comprehension. Needless to say - we took a few months on this one. So there were a few read alouds we didn't get to this past school year. That's ok. 

We both cried at the end. 

Do I recommend? Yes - to a mature 1rst grader, or 2nd grade +. The back of the book says ages 9 - 12. 

The book should be linked to amazon. 

Sunday Sermon

LOVE this song! One of my absolute favorites!!!

**Link Love**

Most Saturdays I devote a little free fun time for me on the internet. I try to catch up on checking in with long distance friends on facebook, pin my heart away on pinterest, poke around on blogs, youtube, and instagram. It's my chill computer time. : D I thought it would be fun to start linking up some of the stuff I find!

** My Pinterest Page 

** Dishwasher Detergent Recipe ~ I've tried their Laundry Detergent Recipe and it works great!!

** Momma's Playground movie tickets for a family movie night 

** Cards for Soldiers ~ I want to start doing this with the boys. I've been looking for a meaningful way to     give with the boys.

** Doodle Bugs ~ loving this teacher's blog!!

My Father's World ~ K ~ take 2!

My second son starts kindergarten this year! I can't believe how big he is! We are doing My Father's World!

• I've gone through this once with my oldest son, Chris. You can see those posts here. 

• I received and organized all his school work for the year. I'm pretty impressed with the changes they made. I linked up with A Mama's Story's MFW Blogroll. I plan on posting everything I do again with Zack this year.

• Mama Jenn has a great MFW Kindergarten resource page here. 

Summer 2012 Part 2 of 2

Lots of Bike Riding: Chris (not pictured) learned how to ride without training wheels! 

Fun Art Days: 

Mom won't let me watch TV days:

 Sick Days:

 Fun Pool Days:

We enjoyed our 2012 summer & welcome fall! 

Summer Fun Part 1 of 2

Beach Trip:  I planned on 3 of these this summer - we managed 1! Still a fun day though!

Tried My Hand at "Gardening": I usually kill plants. Every. Single. Time. I really wanted to change that mainly because I want a small vegetable garden. So I'm starting small and getting in a routine and knowledge of plant care. :D ~ boxwood basil, parsley, sweet basil, tomato, and sunflowers

 Hair Cuts: much needed!

 Summer Camp: The boys went to the YMCA day camp for one week! They loved it!

 

Nathanael's First Hair Cut:

Chalk Days: Quite a few!

Our Mini Taco Buffet:  

 The Real Deal: 

• I was really disappointed that we were only getting one day at the beach. Ungrateful - yes! I'm constantly having to remind myself when things don't go "my way" to be thankful for what is! 
• Beach day had serious moments of stress - 3 little ones in a potentially dangerous situation (ex. endless ocean where you may never find your child if lost in it! - do I have worry issues -  a big fat YES! would be the answer), sticky sunblock, sand, wet clothes, etc. = stressful moments. Lots of fun - YES! I love the beach!!!
• Camp was my idea. I still plan on it next year too. However - I had a list of projects that I planned on doing during those glorious hours of just me and my youngest little gentleman. Yeah, none done. Not one! So I realized - I'm so glad I homeschool. If I sent my kids to school - I'd still get nothing done. Might as well have fun schooling them! This way I at least get something accomplished! ~ that was a little joke :P ~ though there is some truth in there Ha Ha! They really did have such a blast!!
• Our youngest son was diagnosed with autism during this time. We are on a waiting list with Duke for a second opinion. I agree with the diagnoses. However, I always said that if we were ever in a serious medical situation we would always get other opinions. Also, there were some tests ordered ... and I'd rather them be done a Duke. The hardest thing about this is actually dealing with other people! People seem to mainly do one of two things - Stare him & us down because he is loud and appears to not listen to us or they know he's autistic so they study him as if he is a case and not a human with emotions or has parents that love him dearly standing right there watching them do that! This has happened with strangers, friends, and family. I HATE it! I breaks my heart. No matter what he may be diagnosed with - he is who he is - Nathanael! No more. No less. and he is one of my greatest loves!
• I would say the hardest thing about summer was - TV time! We've never had cable until recently and once school was done - I found regulating TV time very hard.

We had lazy days, fun days, stressful days, work days, lots of tennis days, lots of riding bikes days - it was summer! We loved it!