A New Year!

I have arrived at a fresh year of life.  I am halfway to 70!!  I have decided not to grieve my age as some do, but to enjoy it!  Honestly, if you ask me anytime after this week how old I am, I will probably have to think and calculate for a while.  Maybe, just maybe, with the halfway to 70 comment, I will remember my age this year??  

Last week, Kevin's dad had an anniversary at the farm he has been working at and his mom decided to hire a photographer for some extended family pictures.  The timing was right and so were the backdrops!!  We haven't done it since L was just a bump! 

Here is me and my sweets on a combine that I mislabeled as a tractor.  I just thought all the big green vehicles on the farm were tractors...  I guess I am neither a city nor a country girl!  Since I have never ridden in a tractor (or a combine), Kevin's dad said that we could come up one day this fall to ride in one.  I'm excited for that, now I just have to follow through!  There are so many experiences available if you just have the follow-through!  I'll be working on that this coming year.  I don't know how long I'll be homeschooling or how long this flexibility will be in our lives, but for now, I want to do what I can. 

Also, happy 9th anniversary to us!!

L was reminiscing about my last birthday.  She reminded me that I had been sick and daddy had stayed home from work and made macaroni and cheese for lunch.  That was fun!  ...for her...

Lunch Game and Mn Science

No, we don't play games all day.  I am just realizing that games and puzzles are important and can teach things.  For instance, in the game of Sorry, 7 can be split between two game pieces.  So, we reviewed the addition sentences for 7. 

We played during lunch because Mn was occupied and L had an additional reason to stick to the game (she had to be at the table for lunch anyways).  L appeared to be winning midway through the game, but as the game progressed, the rest of us did some catching up.  L, with some firm coaching (No, you may not quit now!), persevered to the end and did win the game.  

When Mn was done eating, I gave him some magnets to play with.  They stuck to his chair and the cover of the game container and so he continued to test to see if they stuck other places.  He tried his eye (closed) and his forehead.  Nope, they didn't stick there, oh, well, back to the chair.

School Extras

We went outside for math today, working with chalk and rocks.  Adding without thinking and subracting and writing out the "sentences".  Then a bit of biking and back in for some puzzle time.  I turned on a cd and they went to work.  

L voiced her uncertainty about being able to do such a difficult puzzle (25 piece for Kindergartener - was just a guess).  But, after telling her that I would gladly switch washing dishes for her puzzle, she decided that it would be ok.  I told her that I was taught to find the edge pieces, put those together first and then work inward, she proceeded to do it her way...from the inside out!  Why did I not expect her to do the opposite?  ;) 

I tested Kj out on a little bit more difficult puzzle (100 piece for a 2nd grader).  She started at it as she was taught, edges first and inside afterwards. 

They both conquered their puzzles and went on to other puzzles that had been stowed away for a while.  I am hoping to have more such afternoons with the girls. 

Flash Flood

We "enjoyed" a little flash flood adventure on the way home from the library tonight. Before we left to go to the library, Kevin said, "20% chance of rain." L didn't want to wear her rain jacket and I told her she'd get soaked, but it was up to her. Kevin said, "Not soaked!" We all got a bit wet on the way into the library and the rains came down harder and harder.  By the time we were heading out the door it was pouring, flash flood sort of pouring.  Oh, yes, she and we all got soaked even with the jacket.  

We prayed our way home!  I was the voice wanting to say, "Turn back.  The library is safe."  But then kept reminding myself that I trusted my husband!!  I did, and he got us here.  We wondered if this was similar a hurricane (only of course without so much wind).

Kj takes these things as sort of adventure.  "Can I check the basement?"  L on the other hand gets a bit "freaked out".  "I'm not getting out of the van until the garage door is closed."  Mn just falls asleep, it was bedtime.  

I was getting the kids in bed, and sopping up the water that had come in their windows while we were gone and Kevin inspected the basement further.  In the laundry room, we had a nice little "fountain*" coming in the window and some constant dripping coming around and out of the electrical box.  Kevin and I did some investigating and deduced the probable cause of the trickle: 
full rain barrel and in general too much water, so it started coming in where the communication line comes in.  We disconnected the rain barrel and made a plug for it.

Well, the "rush" is over.  Our emergency candles and flashlights are gathered to be put away, the power is on.  Here I am trying to remember all the details. 

*fountain - think nice little fountain that you find at a florist shop.  Just a nice flow of water over bricks...so mesmerizing...

P.S.  We just found out that we were in the middle of the flood zone!!  I hope the librarians are safe where they are!  

Illustrator: Ted Rand

My mom's cousin recommended Ted Rand books.  I didn't realize that he was the illustrator until I got all my reserves from the library.  

Mailing May
Written by:  Michael O. Tunnell
Set in 1914, it is too expensive for May to take the train to visit her grandmother.  Her parents find another way to keep their promise to send May to visit.  They send her by U.S. Mail!

Anna the Bookbinder
Written by:  Andrea Cheng
Anna observes her father in his bookbinding shop.  Her father gets a very important order just before her mama is about to have her baby.  While her father and mother are busy with the new arrival, she goes down to the shop to finish her father's job on time.

Mama and Me and the Model T
Written by:  Faye Gibbons
Mama teachers herself to drive the Model T when Mr. Long says that the new motorcar is for the boys. 

Quinoa Enchilada Bake

Original recipe from:  Two Peas and Their Pod

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed,diced
1 red pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 orange pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

My version (changed due to supply in our kitchen)

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
Boil for 5 minutes, cook on low, covered 15 minutes

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
equiv. of 2 colored peppers, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed
1 can vegetarian refried beans
leftover hamburger (1/2 lb...)
1 small can crushed tomatoes
1 cup medium salsa
1-2 cups shredded cheese (part mixed in and part on top)
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

Saute veggies with oil and spices.  Mix together all ingredients, leaving some cheese out.  Bake in 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Top with remaining cheese, bake 10 more minutes.  Let set 10 minutes then serve with optional toppings.  Tortillas are nice as well if you want to make it into a burrito sort of thing. 

It will feed our family of 5 3 meals!  You could spice it up with additional salsa or switching the crushed tomatoes with salsa.  I have found though that the milder I make things the more kids take to it.  So, I have decided that we can add spice on the side!

Ladies' Night

My friend, April, has started to coordinate a ladies night with some church ladies. This last time she suggested that we do a craft project. There were a few different ideas, but we decided to paint. I took a canvas that I already owned, and painted all the color on the canvas at the gathering.  Then, not knowing what to do after that, I took it home to think and wait.  Got back from traveling with little Mn and decided to finish it off with a design.  Some of the others had chosen to apply letter stickers, paint over and remove the stickers to reveal a saying.

I used my typical random way of being creative instead of a chevron pattern that I had seen on someone else's post. 

The girls and I were out shopping for spray paint and other art supplies and Kj pointed out the glow in the dark spray paint.  I thought that would be interesting, as I wanted white and had decided that this would be the first and only decor for the kids' bathroom.  Well, it turns out that it doesn't actually spray out white spray paint as the label implies.  Therefore, I had to find some white semi-gloss paint that we had leftover from bathrooms and closets and sponge that on.  Then, spray some more. 

Took off all the tape strips and here is the final outcome.  Next time:  don't rush so much you can't go out and buy white spray paint...lines will be cleaner!