Making Fruit Leather...

Here is our first attempt at making our own DELICIOUS fruit leather!
We made it with the intention of sharing with Zaiden and Hunter on our COUSIN playdate today, until I realized it had to bake for NINE hours... OOPS! At least the children were able to enjoy some sunshine and play outside together. WE MUST do this MORE often! And NEXT time, I will be certain to read the directions first, like the day before!

Piano Man

Little man is clearly a musically connoisseur. Since BEFORE he was born he loved all types of music. Now that he is getting a bit bigger and we have made the decision to home-school, I have designated each Monday to be music day, normally it is just a bit of musical exploration. He'll sing or fiddle with my guitar or keyboard, even Matt's bongos on occasion. Today we were lucky enough to be able to play on an actual upright piano and to my amazement, he was playing rhythmically in a rather pleasant manner.

Good Luck MATT

Matt is on his way to Florida for a long weekend and some Marathon running...until Monday afternoon..



He did a super job! Ran a 1/2 and a full marathon and came home with THREE medals!!!

Bird Day

Our Social Studies Unit includes exploration of habitats, life cycles and comparing the needs of animals.

I asked these questions to the children,

1 Where do birds live?
-- How do you build a nest? What materials are used?
*We will make edible bird's nests:

Directions

Ingredients

Place squares of wax paper onto to individual plates. Put cereal in a large bowl. If using brick chocolate, break into pieces. Melt chocolate chips or pieces in the microwave, or over low heat on stove, just until melted. Pour melted chocolate over cereal, mix together to coat. Place mounds of chocolate/chow mien mixture onto several plates (on top of waxed paper). Have children form the mixtures into nests. Be sure the chocolate has cooled, but don't wait too long or it will harden! Using peanut butter as an adhesive, "glue" down the jelly beans and candy coated chocolate eggs inside the nest cavity. "Glue" marshmallow chick on the edge of or inside of the nest.

Rice Crispies, broken shredded wheat, or Chow mien noodles chocolate chips or brick chocolate Jelly beans or candy coated chocolate eggs marshmallow chicks (optional) peanut butter wax paper paper plates (colored plates optional)

2 - What do birds eat?
3 - What sounds do birds make?
4 - Why do birds fly south for the winter?

AWESOME Website for Science Questions:

Here's to YOU 2012

So carrying on the usual theme for the New Year, I have a resolution, well TWO actually...

1 - I am striving to be a better mom.
2 - I want us all to work as a more cohesive unit - On other words - BE A BETTER FAMILY.

With every change, lengthy or short, there are always steps to success. And of course being the planner that I am...
A: Reset priorities. While our children are the most important part of my life, I need to realize that I matter too, and the relationship between Matt and I is just as important. You’re a better mom when you place yourself as a priority.

2- Learn from the past. Instead of sulking and crying over the tough times encountered over the past few years, I will recognize that nobody is perfect. Yet, I will work toward it. No advice on being a better mom would be complete without suggesting that you learn from your past mistakes. Whatever it is that you weren’t satisfied with or that impacted your life in a not so positive way, review it and learn from it.

3- Stop worrying about what other people think. THIS IS MY SINGLE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE! How I raise my children is my business. While at times I will weigh what others say, (assuming they’re worth listening too) I will ultimately make the decision as to what I believe is int he best interest of MY children and just close my eyes and ears to what other people say. At the end of the day I know MY children and I’ve been given instincts by God on how to raise each of them.

In making a BETTER, more successful and HAPPIER family

A New Day
I know making simple, conscious decisions about our everyday life can influence our physical and mental well-being. Following through on the right resolutions about health and lifestyle choices is not difficult, especially if a firm idea of areas of improvement are established, and understand that small, gradual steps typically have better results than cold-turkey or all-or-nothing approaches.
Each day, I will take some time to consider areas of our life we would like to improve.
* Becoming healthier,
* More generous,
* Less stressed,
* Establish greater organization
* More optimistic.

2. Family Appreciation
We started last year on our weekly trips and they slowly faded for a number of reasons. While I know it is not feasible to commit to that, I know we can commit to family time each week. We will attempt to take a small trips together bi-weekly, whether it be going to an art gallery, museum, or simply walked down at the park.

3. Laugh it off
I have been long recommended using positive thoughts as a way to lessen or prevent the effects of illness and disease. Expressing positive emotions is associated with lowered production of the stress hormone cortisol, better immune function, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. Our GOALS are

* eating a healthy diet,
* exercising regularly
* getting adequate sleep.
* expressing emotional reactions honestly
* talking things through - view the cup as half full instead of half empty.

4. Learning to Forgive
Forgiveness is beneficial not only mentally but physically as well. People who forgive tend to be less angry, depressed, stressed out and anxious, and have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who hold grudges.

Soup Month

January is National Soup Month
Soup has been so popular throughout time that it’s actually considered one of the first fast foods. There is documentation that as early as 600 B.C., the Greeks sold soup as a fast food on the street, using peas, beans and lentils as main ingredients.

Before there was soup, there was broth, which people used to pour over a piece of bread in a bowl. That bread was known as sop, and from sop came the word soup.
No matter what you call it, there are lots of variations on the basic theme of soup, each offering a wide range of nutritional benefits.

Together we will make a simple soup for lunch...

Ingredients:
* 1 tbs Olive Oil
* 6 Cups Chicken Stock
* 1 tbs Tomato Paste (optional)
* 1/2 Cup Pastini
* 1/4 Cup Peeled, diced Carrots, Celery, Peas
* 1/4 Cup Diced, pre-cooked chicken

To Cook your soup:

Put a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan you can use a deep saucepan to start the vegetables off in... Soften the vegetables over the gentle heat on the top of the stove until they are soft but not browned.
Add the stock and pastina to the vegetables. Add tomato paste to the stock if you wish. Add chicken. Continue to cook the soup in a saucepan on a gentle heat on top of the stove until a simmering heat or less is suitable.

Did you WIN?

Jack's Enjoying is Holiday Scratch off Tickets.